Need some help with an air rifle to take care of some raccoons

[TheHunt]

I stabbed one with my bow and now they know what that does and they take off.  I need an air rifle.  If you have knowledge of an air rifle that is quiet but had knock down power that would be great. 

I am also wondering if the price of a nice air rifle is as high as a silencer for a 22 it might push me to that solution. 

[boneaddict]

the price of a nice air rifle is amazingly high, AND they are not quiet.   Its louder than my .22   Great gun, but definately if you are trying to stay under the urban radar, the silencer may be what you need to look at. 

[Bulldozer]

Single shot or bolt 22 with subsonic rounds.

[jackmaster]

a .22 with some cb longs will do the trick, ya just gotta hit them right coons are pretty damn tuff a shot at the base of the ear or through the eye will knock the down for good oh and the the cb long is so quit you wont believe its out of a 22 good luck to ya keep us posted

[bobcat]

I agree with jackmaster. The cb longs are what you need. Your standard air rifle will not pack enough punch to get the job done. Yes there are air rifles that do have enough power, but it would be way more money than you're going to want to spend.

[let.it.fly]

yea nice air rifles are loud once you pass the 1000 fps mark, i just picked one up for yotes trying to get my dogs. its an older gun but it has put a yote down, hit it, spun a few times staggard off and i found it the next day hung up in my barbwire fence. i live in southern cali now, inland just south of lake elsinor on ten acres, the yotes here arent big, but the go after cats and dogs like its cool. and there everywhere. i just lunged him, im not worried about recovery, just my two jack russels. anyways the gun i got kicks hard enough it gave my girl scope eye. its silly how powerful these things can be. i will get pictures up if i can figure it out.

[Heredoggydoggy]

a .22 with some cb longs will do the trick, ya just gotta hit them right coons are pretty damn tuff a shot at the base of the ear or through the eye will knock the down for good oh and the the cb long is so quit you wont believe its out of a 22 good luck to ya keep us posted

I second the CB Longs.  Surprisingly, they are quieter than CB Shorts.  And lots quieter than my .177 Air rifle.

[MP123]

I'll third the CB longs!  And also mention that air rifles aren't legal for hunting in WA...

[TheHunt]

Great advice.  I think I will pick up a box of CB Longs and go shoot them. 

[Muskrat]

Great advice.  I think I will pick up a box of CB Longs and go shoot them.

Hunt, here in the Olympia City limits, it is illegal to discharge a firearm. An air rifle is not a firearm. I have a Gamo and with the proper projectile it will achieve 1200 FPS. However, I do not think the kinetic power is enough to do a coon in. I have taken inumerable eastern squirrels with it, but have not tried it on the racoons. In my opinion, the CB's from the .22 is the way to go if you are not concerned about discharging a firearm. I use CB Caps, they are
pretty deadly, and very quiet. I have not tried the CB Longs, sounds like a good idea. Congratulations on the awesome bull you bow killed it was beauty. Muskrat, an immigrant from the BTC website. 

[let.it.fly]

some air rifles are rediculas. they have the KE for a coon. look on youtube and you will see at 150 lbs hog done in by an air rifle, dogs on it and right between the eyes at about 10 yards. it dropped.

[bobcat]

Yes, some air rifles are powerful enough for big game. But how much would one like that cost? $1000, $2000?
 
A box of CB longs is what- about $5.00?

[jackmaster]

Yes, some air rifles are powerful enough for big game. But how much would one like that cost? $1000, $2000?
 
A box of CB longs is what- about $5.00?

bobcat hit it on the head, those type of pellet guns arent cheap and who dont have a 22 and the cb longs are cheap

[boneaddict]

I could probably kill a deer with my air rifle though I wouldn't attempt it. 

anyways the gun i got kicks hard enough it gave my girl scope eye.

Same thing with my daughter.   She'd rather shoot the 32 spl than that air rifle.   Caught her pretty good in the eye. 

[FC]

I have a Crossman air rifle I got from Wally World for $100, lead hp pellets at 1000 fps or the alloy pellets at 1200! It takes crows down no problem and is very accurate although I swapped out the scope it came with, it was so cheap it was like looking through the peep-hole on your front door  talk about fisheyed!

[demontang]

If you use an air rifle youll want a 20 cal or bigger I would feel better with a 25 to tell you the truth. I know the cb long between the eyes can do it too, with a coon and a 22 or air rifle that would be the only shot I take cause they are tough nasty things 

[FC]

So far lung shots seem to work just fine for me. I used to kill possums with my old RWS all the time too with lung shots.

[Curly]

I killed a very large coon at my house.  But I didn't have to go the air rifle or cb long route.  I used 3 shots from the old 870 12ga with #6 lead.

[Bob33]

I killed a very large coon at my house.  But I didn't have to go the air rifle or cb long route.  I used 3 shots from the old 870 12ga with #6 lead.

Isn't that cheating?

[Curly]

I killed a very large coon at my house.  But I didn't have to go the air rifle or cb long route.  I used 3 shots from the old 870 12ga with #6 lead.

Isn't that cheating?

Yes it is. 

[TheHunt]

Great advice.  I think I will pick up a box of CB Longs and go shoot them.

Hunt, here in the Olympia City limits, it is illegal to discharge a firearm. An air rifle is not a firearm. I have a Gamo and with the proper projectile it will achieve 1200 FPS. However, I do not think the kinetic power is enough to do a coon in. I have taken inumerable eastern squirrels with it, but have not tried it on the racoons. In my opinion, the CB's from the .22 is the way to go if you are not concerned about discharging a firearm. I use CB Caps, they are
pretty deadly, and very quiet. I have not tried the CB Longs, sounds like a good idea. Congratulations on the awesome bull you bow killed it was beauty. Muskrat, an immigrant from the BTC website.

Muskrat,
It has been a long time since we have chatted. How are you doing?  Thank you for the kind words on my bull.  I am still walking on the clouds.  You still living down by Cabelas?  Glad to have you on this site...   

[wadu1]

I like to use Agulia .22 SSS SNIPER SUB. 60GR or 22 SUPER COLIBRI both is much quieter than my RWS .177.

[high country]

I have an rws in .177 don't be fooled.....this is no red rider. For down and dirty work, look at the .38 and .45 cal air guns.......bad medicine.

[MP123]

I have an rws in .177 don't be fooled.....this is no red rider. For down and dirty work, look at the .38 and .45 cal air guns.......bad medicine.

Wow, no kidding!  I didn't know they made air guns that big.  The .45 pushes 180 grains at 780 fps.

[demontang]

There are some wicked air rifles out there with more then enough energy for small game.

[Sumpnneedskillin]

There are some wicked air rifles out there with more then enough energy for small game.

A lot of the .22's are running around 800fps or more.

[bobcat]

There are some wicked air rifles out there with more then enough energy for small game.

There's a big difference in size in animals that may be classified as small game. A squirrel or a rabbit is one thing, but a raccoon is entirely different.

[high country]

And a wounded coon is 35lbs of pure pissed.

[birdwacker]

CCI makes a subsonic 22lr segmented hollow point at 1050fps they are quiet out of the 28in barrel on my cz452 and six cotton tails Iv'e shot in my garden this summer had no exit wounds and instant death.

[BOWHUNTER45]

There are some wicked air rifles out there with more then enough energy for small game.

There's a big difference in size in animals that may be classified as small game. A squirrel or a rabbit is one thing, but a raccoon is entirely different.

  Plus a coon is a mean machine and do not pi$$ one off ... best get something a little bigger than a pellet gun

[yorketransport]

I like to use Agulia .22 *censored* SNIPER SUB. 60GR or 22 SUPER COLIBRI both is much quieter than my RWS .177.

I used these to put down a coon 2 nights ago on my back deck. The wife didn't even hear the shot. They don't stabilize out of most guns, but at across the deck range, they work well enough.

Andrew

[demontang]

Dont get me wrong I wouldnt shoot a racoon with a low powered pellet gun. I was thinking of the pcp 22cal and up and I would go for head shots.

like the .357 crossmen

[high country]

If my rws in 177 will not kill a coon at 20 paces I will eat my hat. I shot it 40 to 50 feet in my shop at a piece of 1/2" osb. It went through the wood, through the steel garbage can holding the wood up and stopped inside......I was floored. They don't use the mamby pamby pellets you get at wallmart and they let the neighbors know you might be nuts......but it is not a firearm.

The 38 and 45 cal guns would be like barking off a 38spl or 45acp......very angry.

[demontang]

Man My hw77 20 cal wont go through 1/2 plywood but it does make the back side break where the pellet stops. Ill have to try the osb and see how it fairs against it. I think most air rifles are louder then a 22 cb long

[FC]

My 1000fps Crosman is significantly quieter than my 21" barreled Savage 22 with 22longs in it and has plenty of power to go clean through a crow at 30-40 yards, the hp pellets I use make a pretty big exit wound too. I used to shoot opossums all the time with my old RWS 900fps gun and they barely even wiggled if you shot them in the head, I would shoot a problem coon with it without reservation.

As someone else said, these later more powerful air rifles definitely ain't your old Red Ryder! They are incredibly accurate and far more powerful.

[huntinguy]

Hmmm.... It is all a mater of shot placement... Sorry to say.

I may have it on good authority that a 9gr. .177 pill properly placed will solve the problem out to 20 yards or so when started in the 900 fps neighborhood. (that would be a $100.00 range pellet rifle). Spring guns (single stroke barrel cocking rifle) is much quieter that the shooter thinks. Much of the sound is from the spring, transferred into the cheekbone and then to the ear drum.) The new gas pistons are quieter from what I have heard...

I also may have it on good authority that a 22CB Long will have minimal effect with a poorly placed head shot at 10 feet. Raccoons must have small brains or something. And... don't ask me what I may know about a CB body shot... 

I also may have reliable information that a 12 gauge 3inch number 2s work without any questions asked. For some reason this method is not so shot placement critical.

[ICEMAN]

Live trap and drown it in a trash can. Silent and deadly.

[Heredoggydoggy]

I'd shoot a coon with my .177 Benjamin Discovery PCP airgun, but it would have to be an eye or ear shot.  It's death on starlings, sparrows, and other lightly feathered birds.  Pigeons and Collared Doves, not so positive a kill, so I just got a Benjamin Marauder .22 PCP pistol, with shoulder stock.  THAT I would definitely shoot a coon with.  I temporarily stuck a cheapie Bushnell scope on it just to try it out, and it went through target, cardboard, and 1/2" cedar fence boards like hot knife thru butter.  Can't wait for the good scope to get here and try it for real.  The manual keeps saying airguns are not toys, and they are sure right!

[1911fan]

I had an old Beeman R1 that lost it's poop, so I sent it out for rebuild and upgrades.  Since I got it back, my friend and I have killed 100+ rockchucks and a bunch of starlings with it, out to about 45 yards.  If it'll kill chucks at that distance, it'll sure kill a coon.


1911fan

[addicted]

Single shot or bolt 22 with subsonic rounds.

[Helix]

shot a largeish coon a while back with a 10/22 and cb longs.  If you are going to use them I'd suggest a bolt gun, while they are quiet they don't have enough gas to reliably cycle a semi auto .22.  the Coon was in a live trap and being uncooperative so he sealed his fate to be shot.  however it took about 8 hits with cb longs to ge the job done.  First was an attempt at a heart shot.  The coon just rubbed the spot it went in for a second and then looked uber pissed off and thrashed he trap for a while.  The second was a shot between the eyes.  No visible effect but there was a sick thwack sound and the coon made an even more evil expression, then turned around.  several more vitals shots and finally the rest of them in the head finally spilled a spray of coon blood and he keeled over.  Gave me a whole new respect for the durability of a thick skinned thick skulled coon.  If you can use mini mags or Remington hollow points in your .22 you will have much better results as far as lethality but that comes with a lot more noise.  however in may places you can still get away with a few shots from a .22 even with super sonic rounds.  just don't go johny-jihad and dump fire a bunch of rounds.  a shot or two can't easily be distinguished from a pneumatic nailer.  especially if there is a second or two between shots.  Not that I am advocating breaking any laws.      

[carpsniperg2]

A good pellet gun is as much as a 10/22 now days! I bought a gamo shadow like 5 years ago and it was a great gun and hard hitter. They are like 180.00, I do agree with the others. If you are in a area you can shoot a 22 safe I would go with the cb and knock them dead

[marlin]

Aguila super quiet Colibri.. 20gr bullet with no powder charge out of a .22 rifle..

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/AMM066-5.html

I love this stuff..  The longer your barrel the quieter it is. A marlin 39a would be perfect for this stuff. I use my remington 512 with it because it has the longest barrel at 25"

[bobcat]

Aguila super quiet Colibri.. 20gr bullet with no powder charge out of a .22 rifle..

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/AMM066-5.html

I love this stuff..  The longer your barrel the quieter it is. A marlin 39a would be perfect for this stuff. I use my remington 512 with it because it has the longest barrel at 25"

 
What about this warning?
 
 

Not recommended for use in long barreled guns as the projectile may become lodged and be dangerous (lethal) if a regular cartridge is shot as a follow up. Will not cycle in semi auto guns.
Uses: Indoor training, pest control.

[marlin]

yeah i know about the warning.. I just know from experience the longer the barrel the less noise it makes. You can see the impact.. so I feel that I would know when i got one lodged in there, though it hasnt happened yet. Lodged bullets are alot easier to get out then lodged boresnakes btw.. i loaded some 9mm ammo once that wasnt crimped well enough and had to dislodge a bullet.. I noticed before shooting another round btw.. even with earmuffs.

[bobcat]

Yeah you're right, they're probably just fine out of a rifle. Just have to be careful. I think I might order some.