Anyone use an air rifle coyote hunting?

Well we all have our opinions which is what is great about these forums and have all had our own experiences on what works and what does not work. So you agree that it could drop a coyote just not on a "consistent basis." I never said it would drop them every time I have shot many coyotes with my .223 in the chest and have had them take off a ways. I have had my own experiences using a Daystate Air Ranger and having them killed instantly, and other not so easily. The store I purchased my air rifle from has a gentlemen who works there he is the ex president of a well know Arizona predator calling association and he told me that certain air rifles (like the Daystate Air Ranger 50ft/lbs) are more then enough power to shoot a coyote with. He told me from his own experiences of using them that he has done it plenty of times. This is what got my attention and got me interested in actually purchasing and using one. Now that I have done it and been successful I know for a fact that it can be done. But like I said we all have our opinions but I can say from experience that if you have the right equipment (not Crossman or Gamo pellet guns!) but the high end air rifles it can be done successfully.
 
Sure, it "can" kill a coyote no doubt.

Azhunter03 did say it would drop a coyote under 75 yards "no problem". That is what I was responding to.

The former world record Grizzly Bear was taken by a lil' Native American woman shooting a single-shot .22LR.

Shot placement can go a long way, though I'm not about to take a .22lr on a Grizzly Bear hunt.
 
why not just be "safe than sorry" and take something that you know will kill it. All of this shot placement,"if you can hit it in the heart it will drop" stuff is great, but if you've hunted coyotes before you know you will not always get the perfect shot. Why risk it, you're just gonna wound the coyote and there is a whole "ethics" thing there. I don't know how many I've made good shots on, behind the shoulder, with a 22-250 55gr. HP and have them run 100 yds+. IMO, i think its ridiculous. Everyone wants to throw out all of these heroic stories of killing world record bears with 22's, how about all of the many more numerous stories of animals lost, wounded and never found shooting with 22's. Everyone gets lucky every now and then. I try not to rely on luck,- be good, not lucky-luck runs out eventually. --my $.02
 
The real issue here is an ethical shot...


That is a sportsman's responsibility. Proper shot placement, shot distance, adequate knockdown power and penetration. All these things in combination are necessary for that margin of error that is called, human. The words, "Will" and "should", are two words that don't fit in that scenario.

With the proper tool in hand and all factors considered for it's power range, a coyote can succesfully be killed with an airgun just as well as a powderburner.
That to me means a close shot... less than 100yds(preferably 15-40yds), a well placed shot... preferably a head or heart shot... and a solid projectile of at least 30grains moving fast enough at the intended target's range to have suffient penetration.

That said, a .25cal airgun is the minimum in my opinion for taking coyotes and preferably a heavier caliber such as the 30's, 45's and 50's. It's just that simple!

Know the game laws concerning your state and hunting area and know your weapon's capabilities and then go have fun!

Nikonut /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
I purchased an adult air rifle and it is very powerful. I haven't tried it yet, but someday I'm going to take it with me and see if I can take down a coyote with a head shot. I know it'll drop them as I've seen video of the same gun taking coyotes, hogs and other critters. Personally though I do think a shot 50yds would be my max and a head shot the only shot of choice. That is just my opinion as I don't like tracking wounded animals and I'm not much of a fan of taking any animal with a 17 caliber pellet that I have seen run over 200 yards [beeep] with a 30-06 with 20 feet of intestines hanging out and taking another shot to dispatch them off once reached, so to the head and a close in shot would be my only choice with a air rifle!

Good Luck~!
 
Quote:
I purchased an adult air rifle and it is very powerful. I haven't tried it yet, but someday I'm going to take it with me and see if I can take down a coyote with a head shot. I know it'll drop them as I've seen video of the same gun taking coyotes, hogs and other critters. Personally though I do think a shot 50yds would be my max and a head shot the only shot of choice. That is just my opinion as I don't like tracking wounded animals and I'm not much of a fan of taking any animal with a 17 caliber pellet that I have seen run over 200 yards [beeep] with a 30-06 with 20 feet of intestines hanging out and taking another shot to dispatch them off once reached, so to the head and a close in shot would be my only choice with a air rifle!

Good Luck~!



Curious: where did you see video of a coyote being killed with an air rifle? I have yet to see an airgun coyote kill on video, and would love to watch it. Fox kills I have seen, but not coyote.

If the airgun hog video (or any other video) you are speaking of was produced by Gamo, don't believe it. Myself, and many (if not most) knowledgeable airgunners believe they are lying thru their teeth, and we boycott Gamo for what we see as their irresponsible/false advertising.

They have a bad reputation amongst most knowledgeable airgun hunters. Their alloy pellets are known to have some of, if not the WORST accuracy potential on the market, with very little penetration.

There is GamoHog video where the animal grunted AFTER going down from a supposed brain shot using these alloy pellets, but I believe it was just the shock of the pellet hitting it's skull that took it down. You can hear the hog grunt a few seconds after the shot.

Anyone ever hear a real brain-shot hog grunt, or make any vocal sound whatsoever?

Check out some other Gamo "hunting" video, and you will notice the hog that is surrounded by hounds looks to be drugged, and also appears to be tied to the ground. I'll bet they shot several hogs before getting any footage that was remotely believable.

I have seen some legitimate video of a few very small hogs being brain-shot with .22 air rifles (I know those that did the video) and know a guy that killed a small, 30lb hog with a Rapid .25. I have never seen, nor heard of one making so much as a peep after having the thinker taken out.

I have hunted hogs with people that have shot smaller hogs in the skull with .22 and .25 airguns that put out much more power than any Gamo rifle, and they didn't always get the job done, even with proper shot placement.

Yes I am on a rant. It boils my blood the way Gamo does business, and I feel they deliberately fool people into buying their products with blatantly false, and exaggerated claims. In my opinion, they make the sport of airgun hunting look bad.

This post was worded carefully so as to reflect my "opinion" of Gamo without getting a lawsuit thrown at me. They probably wouldn't do that, though. For one, the owners of the ranch they shot the hogs on would be called to testify, and I don't think Gamo would want any part of that.
 
Sorry to have gotten your blood boiling Butcher. I didn't know posting what I did would hit a nerve in anyone. The air rifle I am talking about is in fact made by Gamo and advertised to reach 1600fps. Whether or not it does it I have no idea, but after seeing what a friend of mine was doing with his and how powerful it was made me buy one. He and his son have several hog traps they run at all times for farmers and ranchers wanting them eradicated and occasionally they will get a coyote in one that I guess thinks its an easy meal and he has also found a trap with 2 hogs and a dead coyote where I guess the 2 hogs turned the table on the coyote. Anyway... his son always takes a video camera as proof for the farmers and ranchers to see what they have taken off their place as they get paid by the head. This is the personal video I have seen and even though the shots were from only 10 yards it puts them down. Maybe his is an exception as to what you've had experience with I'm not sure, because I haven't shot mine more than 10 times since I got it and that was to only sight in the scope. I'll see if he has a way to upload it to a computer and share it.

As far as seeing a hog grunt after a brain shot? I personally have seen it and all 4 legs going as if it was trying to run a race. I shot a boar with a 300 Win Mag from 150 yards exactly dead center between the ear and eye and it fell like a rock, but it squealed and kicked for about 20 seconds. The top of it's head was missing when I reached it and it was still twitching. Involuntary as it may be even a person can make noises and move at the instance of massive brain trauma or a brain explosion as it may be.. lol

Anyway... Sorry again for getting you heated~!

Take care,
 
I didn't know that a brainshot hog could grunt/make vocalizations. The one I shot, and the ones I have seen shot in the brain (not just the head, but that itty-bitty brain) didn't squeal or grunt even one time. Many did a break-dancing routing (the one I brain-shot pedaled with one leg a few seconds after it went down, for a few seconds) but no noises when the brain was truly taken out.

Gamo says their ultra-light alloy pellets go 1600fps. I feel they are likely exaggerating their numbers (as many airgun manufacturers seem to do), but regardless of that, no pellet is even close to being accurate at anywhere near that speed from all the reports I have heard.

That is about all I have to say on that.
 
gamo's newest commercial---gimmik--
is showing the hunter extreme shooting pigs and a coyote and some other vermin with it /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
 
So far I've dropped one last year and one this year with the Benjamin Bulldog using NSA 110gr hollowpoint slugs. Both at around the 50 to 75 yard mark. Neither ran more than 15 yds. Both hit right behind the shoulder. Both full pass through.
 
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Originally Posted By: Direwolf357So far I've dropped one last year and one this year with the Benjamin Bulldog using NSA 110gr hollowpoint slugs. Both at around the 50 to 75 yard mark. Neither ran more than 15 yds. Both hit right behind the shoulder. Both full pass through.

This thread is over 11 years old!
 
Originally Posted By: derbyacresbob

This thread is over 11 years old!

WOW...Thanks for pointing that out, just noticed it! Perhaps there's been an increase in airgun capabilities in the past decade. I know the FX Impact MK II, exceeded all of my expectations.
 
Originally Posted By: skinneyOriginally Posted By: derbyacresbob

This thread is over 11 years old!

WOW...Thanks for pointing that out, just noticed it! Perhaps there's been an increase in airgun capabilities in the past decade. I know the FX Impact MK II, exceeded all of my expectations.

Im right there with ya James. The Impact MKII Is amazing, I have a 25 and was so impressed I just picked up the 35, She is a real hammer.. I think im going to do some Thermal action with the 35
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Originally Posted By: carvercallsOriginally Posted By: skinneyOriginally Posted By: derbyacresbob

This thread is over 11 years old!

WOW...Thanks for pointing that out, just noticed it! Perhaps there's been an increase in airgun capabilities in the past decade. I know the FX Impact MK II, exceeded all of my expectations.

Im right there with ya James. The Impact MKII Is amazing, I have a 25 and was so impressed I just picked up the 35, She is a real hammer.. I think im going to do some Thermal action with the 35
thumbup.gif


Mines the .25 as well, nuts how accurate they are, did you just get a 35 caliber barrel or another rifle?
 
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