How to pick the right gun

[Miranda_Darling]

Hey y'all. We have a variety of critters invading my garden. A friend has suggested hubby and I take care of the problem ourselves. We live in an unincorporated area btw just for frame of reference. I have heard suggestions ranging from H & H Mag to thirty ought six to a 20/20. I don't think a .38 or a Glock .40 would be a good choice unless it gets to be close range. I know this isn't a sex related question. Thanks in advance.

 

[Sigmund7]

What kind of critters? It makes a difference. A .22 or 2.mag is fine for bunnies, groundhogs, and the like. A 30 ought 6 might be good for bears.

 

[fire_breeze]

Hey y'all. We have a variety of critters invading my garden. A friend has suggested hubby and I take care of the problem ourselves. We live in an unincorporated area btw just for frame of reference. I have heard suggestions ranging from H & H Mag to thirty ought six to a 20/20. I don't think a .38 or a Glock .40 would be a good choice unless it gets to be close range. I know this isn't a sex related question. Thanks in advance.

Welcome to Lit

Would trapping them and releasing them someplace far be out of the question? Or even calling animal control; if it's bothersome critters, they will do this for free, ensuring that the animals do not return (at least up here).

The reason I am asking is because all I can think of is a stray bullet, injured animal (and if it's a larger animal, it could attack you, no matter how good of a shot you are) and a litany of other potential issues that could compound your initial problems. Also, I don't know about the local bylaws because in many cases, shooting wildlife is illegal or strictly regulated, so that may be an issue.

 

[Pure_Euphoria]

A small .22 rifle should work fine if they are small. The guns are cheap and the bullets are cheap as well.

Really, it depends on what kind of "critters" you're talking about. Also, you should confirm that you're not illegally shooting wildlife. You can get fined pretty heftily if you are caught shooting even squirrels on your property.

 

[FGB]

http://cdn2.armslist.com/sites/armslist/uploads/posts/2013/01/29/950202_02_ruger_mini_14_ranch_rifle_w_ex_640.jpgStandard ranch rifle.

Looks like mine. I have a .223/5.56 cal. Doesn't kick. I use 52 grain hollow points. Good for anything less than a Grizzly.

https://search.yahoo.com/search;_yl...1&fp=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8&p=mini-14 ranch rifle

 

[Miranda_Darling]

We have possums, racoons, wild rabbits, havalinas, and feral hogs just to name a few. Plus coyotes. I don't like the idea of having to kill any animal but if they were to attack the dogs and livestock it would be a nightmare. Garden wise there are non toxic repellents I know.

 

[Steffi200051]

Unless you are a really good shot, I recommend a 20 gauge shotgun with #4 shot. A Remington 870 pump is perfect.

 

[FGB]

I've killed running deer at 200 plus yards away. Where the cross hairs are is, that's where the bullet goes pretty much. I think the rounds I use rise 1/2" at 100 yards. Its an auto loader come with a five round clip...the twenty round makes a great handle and fits in the palm of your hand when kneeling with a strap on it is rock steady. I've killed several deer just throwing the rifle up and snapping a shot.

I suggest a 3x9 power scope with quick find cross-hairs built in.

 

[Miranda_Darling]

Thanks y'all. I will definitely consider the suggestions.

 

[Weird Harold]

Hey y'all. We have a variety of critters invading my garden. A friend has suggested hubby and I take care of the problem ourselves. We live in an unincorporated area btw just for frame of reference. I have heard suggestions ranging from H & H Mag to thirty ought six to a 20/20. I don't think a .38 or a Glock .40 would be a good choice unless it gets to be close range. I know this isn't a sex related question. Thanks in advance.

Unincorporated doesn't necessarily mean unpopulated; just how close and numerous are your neighbors.

Without knowing that answer, I'd have to second the 12Ga shotgun recommendation. You have a wide selection of rounds from birdshot to slugs and almost none of them are usually dangerous beyond a hundred yard or so.

Also, check local and state hunting seasons and restrictions. You might also check on laws and restrictions for dealing with "varmints" (eg destructive animals and pests.) There may even be a bounty on coyotes that will help pay for your ammunition.

 

[Ubernaught]

If the critters are on the smaller side, like squirrels, you might consider a higher powered airgun. Some of the PCP rifles, while expensive, are quite powerful and quiet, not to mention extremely accurate.

A .22 rimfire will handily deal with slightly bigger game, if, as in all aspects of hunting, you do your part. Don't take chancy shots, always be sure of what is in the background, etc.

Of course, if you mean wild hogs, get a rifle in 7.62x39 or larger caliber, I hear they can be quite nasty. If possible, shoot from a height, that way the ground is a good backstop and said critter won't be able to get at you before you finish the job, if that first shot isn't perfect. We all hope it is, but stuff happens.

Best of luck.

 

[desertslave]

You can also check with your County Extension office. They often have some helpful info on varmint control specific to your area.

 

[Weird Harold]

We have possums, racoons, wild rabbits, havalinas, and feral hogs just to name a few. Plus coyotes. I don't like the idea of having to kill any animal but if they were to attack the dogs and livestock it would be a nightmare. Garden wise there are non toxic repellents I know.

Would you need to kill them, or would deterring them from coming into your space be sufficient?

A paint-ball gun loaded with "pepper balls" -- cayenne powder or tear gas -- will convince most varmints that somewhere else is a better hunting ground.

The non-toxic repellents -- lion scat, etc -- will work for more than just gardens; it will take more to ward an entire compound or ranch, but might well reduce your varmint problem to manageable proportions where a tender-trap (tm) can remove anything that isn't repelled.

 

[Christopher2012]

Okay .40 and .45 caliber handguns are not as easy to aim and hit small targets like television has made it look. Yes, some people have good aim but there is heavy recoil on those guns and a 3-lb trigger will shift the aim off enough to miss the target.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I use shit to discourage varmints. I spread fresh shit by the veggie planters. I also encourage beneficial critters to hang out, my wasps make the old lady nervous but they discourage all the wormy pests.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Go big or go home...

This should meet all your varmint needs...

http://www.gunslot.com/files/gunslot/imagecache/page/images/40534.jpg

 

[Tx_Rattlesnake]

.22 longrifle or maybe 12 gage pump-action shotgun. 50 grain bullet will probably do it. Those havalinas are mean sum bucks. Be careful. Best of luck to ya Miranda

 

[albertaboy]

I've killed running deer at 200 plus yards away. Where the cross hairs are is, that's where the bullet goes pretty much. I think the rounds I use rise 1/2" at 100 yards. Its an auto loader come with a five round clip...the twenty round makes a great handle and fits in the palm of your hand when kneeling with a strap on it is rock steady. I've killed several deer just throwing the rifle up and snapping a shot.

I suggest a 3x9 power scope with quick find cross-hairs built in.

A deer running at 10 mph, requires about a 6' lead at 200 yards, doing that with a .223 is bordering on irresponsible.

 

[Emerson40]

Hey y'all. We have a variety of critters invading my garden. A friend has suggested hubby and I take care of the problem ourselves. We live in an unincorporated area btw just for frame of reference. I have heard suggestions ranging from H & H Mag to thirty ought six to a 20/20. I don't think a .38 or a Glock .40 would be a good choice unless it gets to be close range. I know this isn't a sex related question. Thanks in advance.

Darling Miranda,

There was a recent thread called Which Gun Do I Use?, which is full of discussion and suggestions on the type of gun to use to deal with an aggressive raccoon.

You'll probably find some helpful info there.

 

[Conager]

I've killed running deer at 200 plus yards away. Where the cross hairs are is, that's where the bullet goes pretty much. I think the rounds I use rise 1/2" at 100 yards. Its an auto loader come with a five round clip...the twenty round makes a great handle and fits in the palm of your hand when kneeling with a strap on it is rock steady. I've killed several deer just throwing the rifle up and snapping a shot.

I suggest a 3x9 power scope with quick find cross-hairs built in.

Rise? We have gravity here that works the other way...

 

[Emerson40]

Rise? We have gravity here that works the other way...

I think FGB makes his own ammo, and mixes a pinch of crushed Cialis in with the powder.

 

[twister947]

Soliciting advice on a porn site to buy a gun to deal with an imagined threat...<shudder>

 

[Zeb_Carter]

I've killed running deer at 200 plus yards away. Where the cross hairs are is, that's where the bullet goes pretty much. I think the rounds I use rise 1/2" at 100 yards. Its an auto loader come with a five round clip...the twenty round makes a great handle and fits in the palm of your hand when kneeling with a strap on it is rock steady. I've killed several deer just throwing the rifle up and snapping a shot.

I suggest a 3x9 power scope with quick find cross-hairs built in.

Rise? We have gravity here that works the other way...

Here is a ballistics graph of a .338 lapua, probably one of the most powerful rounds on the market today, with a range well over a Mile.

Please note the almost immediate bullet drop...and at 6100 feet it has dropped almost 300 inches.

Now if you were to zero your scope at 1000yards, then it might appear that the bullet would rise as the barrel of the rifle would be pointed well over the target so the bullet would impact the target at 1000 yards. But that's the way ballistics work.

 

[twister947]

I'm no fan of the NRA, but they do offer excellent training courses on a wide variety of topics, including firearm safety. Take one before you buy, and remember, how you shoot means much, much more than what you shoot.

 

[Bottomlover]

It depends on how close you can get to the varmints. I have a 'varmint gun" with which I can kill varmints a half mile away if I have the patience to sit and watch for them.

For close in varmint control by a non-gun person, the 20 Ga or even a .410 shotgun is the right choice. I've killed lots of porcupines with a .410.