Coon calling gun options

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Garyoutlaw

New member
This winter I got the chance to do some daytime Coon call hunting and now I'm hooked so want to put together a respectable & functional Raccoon calling gun for next year - I have my heart set on a .22 WMR but that's about as far as I've got -

What models get high marks from guys in the know - What optics are best for such close range work would a set of raised/look thru rings work or should I look at a red dot style low power illuminated reticle scope?
 
I am new to this. So my opinion is probably not worth much. But what I bought was a lever action rifle in 32-20. With a hard cast bullet(that I cast). Usually just one small entrance hole. Rarely an exit hole. And I can load about 1,000 shells for about $100.

The lever action is extremely fast for follow up shots. And the rifle is light and very fast handling. I see no need for a scope. I use an aperture stlye peep sight. Then for close in hunting I just take out the aperture and I have a great "ghost ring" style sight. Probably not the most popular choice. But very fur friendly, and very effective, and very fast handling with more than one shot. And a whole lot more fun.

Plus the cartridge is effective on about anything you want to shoot out to about 150 yards.

The picture is of my 44 magnum, but my 32-20 is exactly the same. Been looking real hard at a 25-20. But they also made the rifle in a 218 Bee which would be a real dandy!! Tom.

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Hogghead,
I'm curious about your aperture sight mounted that far forward? I have quite a few "peep sights" on my guns and have always used the rear most mounting holes to get the aperture closer to the eye. How does that sight work out for you since it is so far forward? That would also seem to fall just about where the hand would go to carry the gun. I've never seen one mounted that way, that's interesting.
 
My choice would be the CZ 452 American or FS/Manlicher version with either a fixed 4x or 1-4x variable.CZ's are known for great out of the box accuracy.If you're looking to keep the cost down Savage is hard to beat and also great shooters OFTB.
 
22WMR's a good choice IMO.
Never called Coons, but from what I've read and heard it gets pretty fast and furious at times, so in my mind a lever (my choice) or semi auto would be the ticket.
I picked up this little Henry in 22WMR last year that's a real shooter. While I agree with GC about an aperture sight being as close to the eye as possible, the Williams sight didn't work out with the narrow receiver very well so I put one of Skinners sights on her. I'm getting along fine with it out to fifty yards or so which is as far as I can see with irons anyway.
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Really a nice little rifle for what they are.
FWIW,,, their little carbine with the shorter barrel's even lighter/handier and less expensive. Might give em a look-see.

Another option might be a Remmy 597. Lots of guys are PO'd at Remmy about having to have their Hummers converted to WMR and are selling em. Probably find a good deal on one if ya look around.
A red-dot or reflex on a 597 or 10/22M (if ya can find one) would be awful handy.
Luck
 
im guessing your shooting these coons for the fur market...i have used a 22 mag a 17 hmr and a standard 22 long rifle shooting stingers...and im here to tell you that with the 17 and the 22mag if your doing the put up of the hides you will learn to hate them when you skin out your coons heads..you will spend alot more time on the fleshing beam just doing the heads to get all the fragmented bone than its worth....and if you body shoot you will be docked in fur prices from the hole and the shock ring thats left on the leather.(a buyers excuse to down grade your fur so he can make more money from it when he sells it)......
 
If your buyer is docking you for a bullet hole in your coons then you need to find a new buyer, almost every coon bought whether it was hunted or trapped will have a bullet hole in it somewhere. I have trapped and hunted thousands of coons and can not ever remember being docked for a bullet hole. I think your buyer is taking you for a ride.
 
Here' what we have found after a couple years of steady coon callin (had a running post this year if ya care to look it up). First off, a .22M is better than a .22LR but not as much as you would think. If ya don't get a CNS hit (brain, spine) they will still run a little. And believe me, CNS hits can be dang hard on a fast moving coon. Bad news when they're makin for a hole in the tree or the ground. Personally, I won't buy a .22M just for hunting coon but instead use one of my 10/22's and stuff it with Velocitors. Don't stop with the trigger till it's on the ground. Not on par with a .22M but not that far behind either. If you do get a .22M my partner is having good reliability and accuracy with his Rem 597 Mag. You'll still want fast follow up shots so that's what I'd recommend. Next I'd recommend a shotgun. I'm gonna give one a whirl next year in hopes of limiting potential runners. Figure on 4 buck or BB's like you would with coyotes but due to the fact that your ranges may be shorter you might want a modified or standard full choke instead of the turkey chokes or the like. Smaller shot will kill coon but might also rake the heck outta the fur. The only concern I have with shotguns is will the extra noise limit additional coon from showing themselves. I don't think this will be a problem though.

Good Luck,
CB

Edited to add: I use a red dot but any low power scope from 1.5-4x thru 2-7x will work. You don't want much magnification and sometimes even a 3-9x or a straight 4x can be too much while coon callin.
 
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Over the past four years my partner and I have been fortunate enough to take over 150 coons. In the course of our travels we experimented with a variety of calibers and cartridges trying to find the perfect coon gun. What follows is an account of what we found to work and why.

Lets set the stage for just a second. Most of our coon are on the move between 15-30yds when taken and pairs are the norm. We also tried and tried but at the end of the day we decided we wanted a cartridge that would put them down quick with a center mass body shot.

.22 rimfire= Too often its not enough. You will cripple coon!

.22 magnum = Can't give a solid nod this direction either. My buddy had one for a short time but it was paired with a red dot, not a precision set up. May be right on with a good 3x9 scope.

.223 = Great if you hate skinning them! We've had excellent success with reduced loads using shotgun powder and 40gr V-max's. Little entrance, no exit! They crumble everytime, no matter where they are hit.

20 gauge = rarely enough!

12 gauge, 2 3/4", #4 buck, mod. choke = works every time! 27 pellets, minimum pelt damage.

.22 Hornet = untested, but the velocity and energy would be right inline with our reduced .223 loads.

In Kansas, a 12 gauge autoloader is the way to go! Hands down. Especially when a coyote runs up on your coon set, we are always in brush and trying to find a running coyote in your scope in a stand of trees is tough at best.

Hope this helps and good hunting!
 
Originally Posted By: GCHogghead,
I'm curious about your aperture sight mounted that far forward? I have quite a few "peep sights" on my guns and have always used the rear most mounting holes to get the aperture closer to the eye. How does that sight work out for you since it is so far forward? That would also seem to fall just about where the hand would go to carry the gun. I've never seen one mounted that way, that's interesting.



There are two good sights like the one I have. One is the Williams, and one is the Lyman. I also have a Lyman on another one, and the Lyman is mounted in the rear scope holes. The rear scope holes are probably a tiny bit better to mount the sights in. However on that particular Williams sight the sight impedes the hammer just a bit. So rather than to take a chance of a slip on the hammer finger. I just moved it up to the front holes. As far as using it is concerned, I have noticed no difference. However when taking pictures it does look a bit odd. However I have had zero problems with it mounted in the front holes. And for close in fast shooting like raccoon shooting can be-I remove the aperture and shoot it like a "ghost ring" sight. So I have never had any light pick up problems with it either. Tom.
 
Hogghead,
Thanks for the response. I was just curious of the positioning. I have two Williams, one Lyman, one old steel Redfield, and two XS Sight Systems aperture units on various rifles. I like peeps...
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I have one of the NECG peep sights that mount onto a Weaver base that I am about to put in the classifieds as soon as I can get a picture of it. Tom.
 
Duckhunter, care to elaborate on your reduced 223 load. I was thinking of picking up something like a 17 fireball or a savage in 5.7 for coon calling but maybe a reduced 223 would be just the ticket.
 
Blue Dot is a great powder for reduced 223 loads. Do a Google search on "Blue Dot 223 reduced loads". And there is plenty of good data out there. There is a fellow called "Seafire" on the "Reloader's Nest" forum that has done a bunch of 223 testing with reduced loads with Blue Dot. That is where I received my information from. Tom.
 
rogge, Hogghead hit it on the nose. We are using Blue Dot with 40gr V-max's. We've experienced almost no pass thru's on coon, and they don't take another step.

It seems like 2,500 fps is the key velocity. Much faster and its messy, much slower and they keep on running. Now this speed is right in-line with the Hornet and .22 magnum. We just didn't have good results with the magnum but I'm very interested to try a Hornet.
 
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