Farm Rifle

a small lever action in 45 colt . , something on a 1892 action is small and compact .
the low velocity stuff is fairly quiet , with little recoil . with practice your good out to 200 yards and handloads are approaching low pressure 45-70 territory
 
Pests are typically ground hogs, stray coons the odd skunk but coyotes are a possibility. The last coon I shot took multiple rounds from the 22lr and the shots weren’t terrible. That’s what has me thinking maybe something with a little more omph. Ricochet isn’t a huge concern as anything is probably better than a 22 lead round nose in that department but for piece of mind I like the idea of a bullet that breaks up when it hits the ground. I’m leaning toward 22mag but wasn’t sure about bullets. 22 Hornet would be great to if I could find one reasonable they always seem to be priced rather high.
 
Last edited:
I'd recommend a .17 HMR for folks worried about ricochets. The report from the .17 is not bad from a 22" or longer barrel. Bigger pests like raccoons and yotes are best taken with head shots using 20 gr bullets. The .22 LR will do the same job at 50 yds or so using high speed hollow points in the 30 gr weight range like Yellow Jackets etc.
 
Most anything in the 22 cal and up will be loud. If you want to stay quiet, look into the air rifles. A few calibers to choose from, can run several shots before recharge, and the quietest you will get. Pellet rifle quit.
Guys are shooting gophers at 400 yards with these now, so a 50 yard shot will be peanuts.
 
fwm said:
Pests are typically ground hogs, stray coons the odd skunk but coyotes are a possibility. The last coon I shot took multiple rounds from the 22lr and the shots weren’t terrible. ...
Click to expand...

If you had trouble with good shots on racoons with the 22LR, that sounds like something wrong with your gun and/or ammo. Unless you're shooting them out at range I guess.

For coyote, yes, you definitely want more gun. 22 magnum is a proven option for close-medium range, as long as you can find ammunition suitable for your needs. They're pretty loud, but unless you go subsonic there's no real better option in that department. Subsonic options being something like a 45LC lever, or 9mm (147gr) or 45ACP PCC - And again you'd need suitable ammunition. Whatever you choose, longer barrels really help in the noise department.

The 410 /22Mag combination gun is very versatile.
 
metalbender said:
400 yrd gopher shots with an air gun????????? Weed is legal now, it shows.
Click to expand...

Well, PCP airguns have come a long way... Just like airgun slugs... this been said. You're talking silly $$ and nothing some you'd want to leave around the farm for the occasional use.

-

Depending on the $$ the OP is willing to spend, a lever action in a pistol caliber would be my choice. Noise level probably on par with a 22mag, and pack a bigger punch
- But also more $ than a typical 22mg rifle
 
coon I shot a couple weeks ago, I had to hang sideways from the side of my chicken coop to lean under it and reach one hand under with the little badger (bonus points for the mounted flashlight). Smaller, raggedy coon. Solid body shot, but it still ran out from under and made it about 100 yards back into the bush.

I knew it wasn't going to be a nice clean headshot kill, but I wouldn't have tried a shot like that with anything larger than .22. Pretty sure it was a short golden bullet as well. Couldn't leave it either, as there was still a live chicken stuck under there with it. (Sometimes the roosters chase the smaller ones out, and the kids don't catch it at door closing time, and dad forgets to doublecheck, haha)

Sights on the little badger are garbage though. Nothing beats the iron sights on an old Cooey. Especially when every .22 shot should ideally be a headshot.
 
Coons are typically pretty darn tough... they get pretty tough hide with the accumulated scars from fighting. Pa said you never want to try skinning one...ugly job.
Remember this, one on one...better have a damn tough dog to kill one, IMO
'Yotes ain't that tough.
 
burnt_servo said:
a small lever action in 45 colt . , something on a 1892 action is small and compact .
the low velocity stuff is fairly quiet , with little recoil . with practice your good out to 200 yards and handloads are approaching low pressure 45-70 territory
Click to expand...

Yeah, if not .22 mag then I was thinking a carbine that shoots a pistol round, 9 mm or .45 cal.
 
Maybe I should try some hyper ammo in the 22lr. I don’t remember off hand what I’ve been using but more than likely just CCI standard that I use at the range. Otherwise I could try loading my 223 down to Hornet levels but then I’m going to be constantly resighting in.
 
Last edited:
fwm said:
Maybe I should try some hyper ammo in the 22lr. I don’t remember off hand what I’ve been using but more than likely just CCI standard that I use at the range. Otherwise I could try loading my 223 down to Hornet levels it then I’m going to be constantly resighting in.
Click to expand...

I know from shooting woodchucks, and I mean lots of them, that you get a lot more anti-varmint performance from a hypervelocity hollow point than you will from a standard .22 LR round.
 
fwm said:
Maybe I should try some hyper ammo in the 22lr. I don’t remember off hand what I’ve been using but more than likely just CCI standard that I use at the range. Otherwise I could try loading my 223 down to Hornet levels but then I’m going to be constantly resighting in.
Click to expand...

Absolutely - CCI Standard would be one of my last choices for small game with 22LR. Any high velocity 22LR would be much better, my pick would be CCI minimag HP (a proven killer). Or hyper velocity: CCI Velocitor or Segmented, depending on the critter.

Also agree about downloading the 223, it's a PITA. Unless you have a scope with a mildot or BDC reticle, or are comfortable adjusting your elevation turret back and forth to known zeroes.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom