Is 22lr great for coyotes and raccoons?

Posted by IntrepidSelf1113@reddit | Firearms | View on Reddit | 34 comments

Hey guys, I was looking to buy recreational land most likely in Wisconsin and I was just wondering if 22LR was good enough for defense against coyotes and raccoons. because I wasn’t really sure that I needed multiple firearms or even any for a self-defense against people since it looks like a really nice state so I was just mainly concerned about coyotes and other vermin so I was just wondering if 22 LR would get the job done. I also don’t know like how real of a threat black bears are in Wisconsin ? 😅 so yeah i just wondered if that one would do the trick for everything.

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harrysholsters@reddit

Shot placement is key and it also depends on distance. It'll do fine on a raccoon if you shoot it in the head.

Into the body, they're tough, but outside of a shotgun I'm not sure what rounds will work that well as they're so small most will zip right through them before they can expand. I've shot two with a 300 blackout with supers and they both took the rounds way better than a hoped. Subs might have done better.

Coyotes I doubt you'd get close enough where I'd want to use a 22 for a humane kill.

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Brilliant_Wealth_433@reddit

I have popped half dozen 100+ hogs with my Ruger 10/22 this year alone. Up to 70 years out with the ear shot and they all dropped. So I would say as long as you can hit a quarter at a decent distance. You'll make quick work of coons and yokes. Just practice, and find the ammo that you can shoot tight groups with. If you are getting a lot of flyers keep trying different rounds as long as you have a decent rifle. I have the 60th anniversary 10/22 and just molded a couple things. So pretty stock, but has been super accurate epically running mini mags, or best the Eley ammo.

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IntrepidSelf1113@reddit (OP)

Woah really how did u drop hogs with a 22? Haha thats crazy

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Brilliant_Wealth_433@reddit

I always take hogs with an ear shot, aiming at an angle from towards the back of the ear facing towards the opposite eye. The bullet goes right into the brain cavity and it's over. Every hog I have shot this way drops the first round. If they are flipping around still and it looks like they may make a run I will pop some more heads hots but honestly even the ones I have done this on likely wouldn't have ran far with a brain shot already completed. They have thick skulls, especially big boars so it's crucial you put the round in an ear canal or eye socket. I prefer the ear shot but both will work. Now when I hunt them with the AR I am not so picky with shot placement as the .223 or bigger will penetrate most any location on anh pig.

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Banner_Quack_23@reddit

An inexpensive, single shot, 12 gauge shotgun is a very versatile gun. There are suitable loads for: pigeons, quail, pheasant, grouse, ducks, geese, rats, squirrels, woodchucks, coyotes, hogs, deer, bear, elk, and moose. And bad guys. Check them out at GunBroker dot com

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ottermupps@reddit

22lr is perfectly capable of killing raccoons and coyotes - but it's a little underpowered for the task. Yotes are not very small and I would want at least a 223 or similar for an ethical kill, and raccoons are tough little buggers.

The recommendation, as for most 'I want to put holes in things' questions, is an AR15. Light, easily able to kill the game in question and defend against bears (black, not brown), ammo isn't crazy expensive, accurate, 30 rounds is the standard capacity - there's a good reason ARs are popular.

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IntrepidSelf1113@reddit (OP)

Yea I see what you mean The only thing is wouldnt 223 be too nasty against a coyote or a racoon ? Like what kind of wound would it leave? I just mean it sounds nasty to have to clean up a racoon or coyote thats split in half or like super gory lmao 😂

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ottermupps@reddit

223 is not going to split a coyote or raccoon in two. It's powerful, sure, but not that much. I've hit a chipmunk with 223 - that is more of a detonation (don't ask).

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IntrepidSelf1113@reddit (OP)

Jesus Christ 😂😂😂

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DarthMonkey212313@reddit

It takes at least a .375 h&h to pierce the beer belly on rabid packer fan, so I'd up your caliber if your going into cheesehead territory.

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DirtyDon-44@reddit

Get a .22 magnum or .17HMR

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HunRii@reddit

Definitely better rounds suited to the task.

A 410 shotgun with the proper loads would work too. That's what my Grandfather and Uncle used on the family farm.

Otherwise, a .223 or 22-250 rifle would give more range and be better yet. For Wisconsin, if not in farm country, distances offering shots tend to be pretty short.

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Agammamon@reddit

Only if you're an exceptional shot.

Get an AR.

If you're worried about bears, get an AR upper in 7.62x39.

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MentalTelephone5080@reddit

I have used a 22lr to dispatch raccons in hand traps. It works great because the raccoon isn't running and you can pretty much take a point blank shot. I rarely ever had to take a second shot.

In your case of self defense on a small moving target a shotgun is the best weapon. With enough practice you can shoot instinctively and not have to worry about pin point accuracy. Don't believe the lie that a shotgun can pepper a huge area. It certainly has a bigger margin of error but you still have to make the shot.

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islero_47@reddit

Short answer: no, 22lr is not "great", but it can get the job done

A raccoon or coyote attack is highly unlikely

If you have problems with raccoons, trapping them is more effective

When I lived in a rural area, but still within city limits, I didn't want to use a gun to dispatch the raccoons; I wasn't sure how the neighbors would react and I was in a state with very restrictive firearm regulations

So I used a live trap (paw type, not cage) and a shovel to take care of the problem

If a raccoon did attack you, it would probably be more of an ambush, leaving you at a disadvantage to draw and target in time; your best course of action would be to pull it off of you and toss it, and get indoors

Coyotes generally avoid human contact unless the human does something dumb, like feed them regularly

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IntrepidSelf1113@reddit (OP)

Ahh i see thanks for the info its very helpful so what happens after the trap like you meant shovel to hit them and then bury them? I also wonder that in general im a city person kind of a sensitive to nasty stuff i mean ik ima have to get used to alot of things being outdoors but is it really nasty to have to bury a racoon or coyote? Haha i mean i imagine its not pleasant but maybe its not as bad as I think 😆 sorry im such a city person still

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islero_47@reddit

Blunt force trauma, yes

I didn't bother buying it, small enough to triple bag and toss in the trash can

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IntrepidSelf1113@reddit (OP)

Ooo true true yea i forgot they are kinda small animals

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Ornery_Secretary_850@reddit

Racoons can weigh up to almost 60 lbs. Not a small animal.

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IntrepidSelf1113@reddit (OP)

Yea definitely i mean i didnt consider that they were small enough to toss in the trash

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hoosier06@reddit

Coyotes worked over with 22lr make sounds that animals shouldn’t.

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DrunkensAndDragons@reddit

I would personally use at least a 16 gauge, or centerfire rifle. I shot a racoon twice at point blank range with .410 buckshot and it growled at me with blood coming out its face.

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Ornery_Secretary_850@reddit

You could use a .22 LR, but in my opinion it's not ethical.

Song Dogs are tough critters, so are racoons. I've seen some city racoons that were pushing 50+ pounds.

If you're thinking a rifle, I'd get a .22 Mag at a minimum. Sadly small centerfire .22 cartridges have all buy vanished from the landscape. A .22 Hornet, .218 Bee, or .221 Remington Fireball would be ideal.

If you could find one of the RIA rifles in .22 TCM that would be a decent choice, you can also get that in a handgun.

For a handgun, just get a 9mm.

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therealjody@reddit

Neither of those animals attack humans under any kind of normal or even normal-ish circumstances, so you'll probably be OK in terms of "defense".

As for critter and pest management, .22lr is fairly marginal for coyotes and raccoons. Coyotes because you need to be close enough to get a vital shot, and raccoons because those fuckers are TOUGH.

Can you kill both animals with a .22lr? Of course. Buy if you want an insta-drop, you'll need something with more weight and energy. I have seen raccoons get pumped completely full of .22lr, and still run off a good distance before doing.

Most coons out in nature or your backyard don't roll around on the ground screeching "Dat mofo just SHOT me!!" from a marginal wound as they slowly bleed out, they try to get the hell out of dodge right quick.

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IntrepidSelf1113@reddit (OP)

Ahh i see thats great info it helps alot Im a city person havent ever seen a coyote😆, do they respond well to warning shots? I thought that maybe 22lr was good in the sense its not deafening and maybe just with some warning shots the coyotes or racoons or others run away without having to actually injure them. I originally thought of a shotgun since its versatile and cheap but i imagine its hard to do warning shots with bird or buckshot and i dont want to have to clean up after a coyote that i split in half lmao 😆🤮 and its probably extremely loud right

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bassjam1@reddit

Warning shots are generally a bad idea. And it sounds like your request is based more on fear vs eradicating varmints. If that's the case I'd recommend bear spray or pepper spray. Neither of which you'll ever have to use because your mere presence will scare off either animal.

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IntrepidSelf1113@reddit (OP)

How come warning shots are a bad idea? Sorry im genuinely curious

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bassjam1@reddit

You never want to fire a gun unless you know where the bullet will end up. This means a backstop like a steep hillside or very large pile of dirt. A warning shot could ricochet and or tumble for a very far distance and hit something or someone you don't even know is there.

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IntrepidSelf1113@reddit (OP)

Ahh I see yea definitely makes sense Thank you I appreciate the explanation

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WhiterunWarriorPrjct@reddit

I've seen that warning shots and signal shots should be fired directly into the ground at a spot you can find in case the cops ever come around asking where or why you were shooting.

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Averagecrabenjoyer69@reddit

Coyotes will occasionally attack people if in packs. There's been several cases in California, or if you get one with rabies. However generally they're not a huge threat. Enough to warrant carrying a gun sure, but not enough to lose sleep. I personally have never had any problems put of coons.

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