Which rimfire for coon calling?

G

gillnet

New member
Getting ready to tool up for calling coon next fall/winter. Pretty much restricted to rf. Which calibre and gun for calling coon. 17M2, 17HMR, 22WMR or 22lr. Have Browning sa and a rem fieldmaster pump both lr, and a 22 nylon but the nylon is dedicated boat trapline gun. This should be a working gun and able to anchor coon. I'm planning to make this a dedicated gun and I think there are better fits than the browning and fieldmaster. There are several gun shows soon so I'm gonna be on the prowl. What ya say? Thanks, gillnet
 
I use a 10/22 22LR. We just tree them and shoot them out of the tree. Never had any trouble. I wouldn't want to use anything more. Don't want the bullet to travel too far when shooting up in a tree.

I also have a laser on mine, which makes shots at night a snap. Ruger actually makes a factory 10/22 with a laser mounted almost exactly like mine.

kevlars
 
Id go with a built 10/22 with a shorter barrel that is easy to swing on running coons. A 2-7 power scope would be about perfect. Follow up shots would be a breeze as would shots on more than one coon.
 
If you can live with a lever gun, the Henry 22WMR's an accurate, affordable, fast handling little work horse.

JMO,
 
This is what I use sometimes. I call it my CQCR (Close Quarters Coon Rifle) Its a 10-22 with a Butler creek Folding Stock,Quad rail, XL red Led,Mag lite XL50 5w White Lite,Lazier lite Laser,25rnd mag and a Bushnell Trophy Red dot 4 reticle. It does the job and fun to shoot


 
Ive killed a ton of coons out of a tree over hounds. 22lr works fine, 22mag works better for some shots, never was impressed with the 17. Ive shot several dead center in the chest and had them do little more than flinch. Ide stick with a 22

jmo
Casey
 
Why in the world would you shoot a treed coon in the chest?! Last time I went coon hunting i killed 8 treed coons in one night with head shots with my .22 rifle. They're not going anywhere, they're treed. Pick your shot.
 
I typicly go for the head shot. It was new rifle and I was curios. The op was asking about calling not shooting out of a tree, which doesnt always offer a head shot. I was just relaying my experiance.
 
In order:
#1 = 12ga.
#2 = .22m
#3 = .17hmr
#4 = .22lr shooting something like Velocitors

Now I don't like the way a 12ga. treats the fur on coon due to the extreme spread in ranges you'll shoot them at (5 feet to 50 yards) so while the shotgun is the best killer it's a tough call on if you want to use it.

Rimfire Platform: Semiauto preferred, lever or pump OK. Fast movers and multiple critters require fast shooting. Toss the rimfire bolt action in the creek.

While I rank the rimfire magnums above the lowly .22lr I don't think their gains are worth the cost of an additional gun if you already have a semi-auto .22lr. Shoot for the head if you can, neck second, heart/lung third. Shoot straight and be ready to shoot again (and again, and again) if required.

CB
 
If it's for coon only, I only bring my old 10/22 (22lr). The bullets are cheap and I have put a couple 10/22's through he11 and back. Still shootin fine. Light and easy to carry. Good luck buddy!
 
Shotgun not really an option as these will go to NAFA and shotgunned coons aint hardly worth skinnin. If I had to use a shotgun I'd let them go. Got plenty o shotguns but they are for the long fur, fox, yote and cats. They get graded fur side out. Coons are leather out and all them little holes cut you to the damaged grade quick. gn
 


New one on me calling coons. We use dogs and one shot to the head. I like to use a trap and get the alive. Then, one shot to the head.
 
Another one to look at is CZ's new 512.
http://www.cz-usa.com/products/view/cz-512/
I'm not much for plastic on my guns or knives, but CZ's generally a safe bet as far as accuracy and reliability goes.

A guy on another site I visit has recently started calling Coon at night. He's shot a pile of this winter with several different rifles and swears by the 5MM to take em down efficently in calling situations. Course, the 5MM's not for everyone but it's an option.

I'm far from an expert on Coon, but I had a bunch move into my Cat trapping area this winter. Didn't take me long to figure out that they can take some lead. The fisrt couple I caught definatly fall into the damaged goods catagory.
frown.gif

Luck
 
Treed coon over dog,i dont think is what he was asking.
22lr is good for that.
Calling them out of dens is a good amount differant,thats why a 22mag would be better.Harder to make a head shot in a running coon.
 
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