Favorite coon rig?

T

Treerat-sniper

Member
After a decade plus absence, I recently delved back into the .22 WMR game by picking up a gently used pre-accutrigger S/S Savage 93. The local Scheels had it in the used rack for $199 & I had a $50.00 gift card...So it came home with me. I sold my last WMR to a buddy over a decade ago (S/S Marlin 882). I found it too destructive for small game. My buddy uses it as his coon /yard varmint rig.

Years back, I switched to my 77/22 Hornet (loaded down) for a coon gitter. We grew up shooting them with .22 LR's with good success but every once in a while a big boar would get away into a hole. I've shot em with everything from rimfires to a .17 Rem to a .223 (even shot a few with .22 & .25 PCP air-rifles)! Shot one last year in self defense with a 20 ga. turkey load... So, what is your favorite coon gun & load?
 
I use a savage B-mag, I've had great luck with the 17wsm. My particular gun really likes the 20gr V-max. I've also carried my 12ga 870, I've shot hornady heavy magnum BB with good luck but have done well with the Winchester varmint BB as well as just using goose loads in BB and BBB.
 
I am currently using a .17 Hornet, but am kicking around the idea of setting up my .22lr. It gets old wasting ammo on these buggers. If you don't shoot them in the head, they're hard to kill. Too much fat on them most years for good penetration in the chest/heart area. The .17 Hornet usually takes two shots, even good ones that blow their shoulder apart inside them...rarely have any exits.

Plus, a .22lr is just compact and easy to use and cheap to supply. Having brains everywhere is the only downside I can see.

This year I took over 30 coon. I usually focus on them in the early season, waiting for fox fur to prime up. The coons are so bad we just roll up to a corn field and open fire. It's typical to find 6-10 coon in every corn field during warmer weather.
 
.223 has always done pretty good at putting down big boar raccoons. I like the .22mag as well. I've had trouble killing big ones with the .17hmr in the past but I've shot and killed some with it as well as .22lr. I'd prefer the .223 over just about anything though.

I'd imagine the .17WSM would be a good raccoon cartridge. It's done well on everything else I've shot with one.
 
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22 Hornet shooting a 35 gr Vmax. Been shooting this setup for the last 5 yrs. works great for coons and cats.
Have taken few coyotes every year while calling cats, just shoot then in the neck they drop like a rock.
 
I den call all my coons. Gave up the 17HMR long time ago. Use either my 22 mag with 34gr jhp or 17 Hornet with my reloads of either 23gr sp or 25gr sp. I prefer to use the Hornet, but during deer season can only be out with a 22 cal or smaller rim fire.
 
Ruger American Rimfire 22 mag with an 18" barrel, 3-9x Leupold VX-2, and 40 grain CCI JSP loads. I like the tougher bullet for coons. They might exit on occasion but they always penetrate deep enough on tougher angle shots.

I had a Magnum Research semi-auto 22 mag that was a really sweet feeling gun but it never shot as good as the cheap Ruger. I kept leaving it at home and carrying the Ruger so I finally sold it.
 
Have you tried the [beeep] (sub sonic sniper) 60 grain slug by Aquila? they are quiet and hit like a sledge hammer and they are accurate at 30 -40 yards.
 
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No I haven't tried them. I've had good luck with the 40's and bought a 500 round case of them back when I couldn't find the darn things any other way, so I'm set for a while!
 
22LR, CCI SGB, all head shots. I average about 100 coons per year, all shot in the face, only 5 or so each year require a follow up shot. Most shots are 25-35 yards, and I try to limit them to 50 yards. I don't know what it is about that round, but it's a hammer, and plenty accurate.
 
Originally Posted By: jimmy917 22LR, CCI SGB, all head shots. I average about 100 coons per year, all shot in the face, only 5 or so each year require a follow up shot. Most shots are 25-35 yards, and I try to limit them to 50 yards. I don't know what it is about that round, but it's a hammer, and plenty accurate.

Might have to try those flat point .22's. I know when running dogs that I would rather shoot solids as opposed to HP's.
 
A well placed 22lr CCI mini-mag will dispatch most short order for me. I coon hunt with hounds so lighter shorter barrel is what I like..JMO
 


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