Air rifle for raccoon? Needs to be quiet

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If the poison is "ok" for that use, again I have no real issue with it.
There is only one FACT that matters.....No animal and I do not care what it is deserves to crawl off to a hole and die coughing up blood. End of story.
Seems contradictory to me but whatever.

These will kill a coon if you are reasonably close. Another option would be 22 shorts. I think people worry to much about gunshot noise. If you are blasting away for an hour sure. An occasional pop from a 22 short, don't worry about it.

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I can judge you by your actions on this thread....pretty simple.

Yea and even with "pest" birds or "pest" anything else I just hate not getting a clean kill....but mistakes happen, we as ethical hunters should try to take down animals in the most humane way possible.....however we all know it just does not always happen for one reason or another....sometimes out of our control.

We do however seem to be on the same page with this......and this is one reason I both enjoy and totally hate forums......I SUCK at the written word.

I read your post as coming to the defense of a poster that (I) read to be using a marginal, and he knows it is marginal tool to do a specific job.....this is what got my hackles up.

Like I said someplace else, I really have had my fill of killing, I don't have animals so having pests around is not much of an issue any longer.....really you are correct in one respect, aside from the one or two destructive animals that might wonder by I do punch paper, ring steel and shoot flying orange things....that is about it for me.

As to the ethical nature of killing stuff I don't eat....I hope to never be in a place where I am eating starlings, mice, rats, groundhogs, skunks.....bla bla bla.

One last thing, your statement on animals are usually more resilient then people....not sure. In my 50+ years on this doG forsaken rock I have learned two things.....the smallest thing can kill a human, and then the human body can take a huge amount of damage and keep going....it is all up to luck, karma, or whatever you choose to believe in.

Perhaps, as my daughter has always said people believe you are complex; but you aren't. My second wife agrees with my daughter.

I spent 30 months of my life in a place far away myself. Glorified light infantry is a fair description.

We have something in common. I stink at the written word too. Somehow what I meant to say doesn't communicate what I meant...

I pass by more shots than I take. Even with tree rats (squirrels) I study them at 10X. If they want to eat some bird seed, I don't care. OTOH, if they chew my feeders up; then, I pay attention to their markings. Hopefully, I will only cull the destructive ones. I view taking a life, any life as a very serious thing to do.
I struggle with the cowbirds as they lay their eggs in the nests of other birds. The song birds which we enjoy.
Somehow, I feel I am certain you understand what I am saying.

I apologize if you thought I would come to the defense of marginal and I mean that apology.

We feed birds, deer and hummingbirds as we enjoy watching them. Seeing two young bucks raise up and bump heads is really special. OTOH, if feral hogs came; I'd shoot them. Drop them off at a local butcher who will donate the meat to the local food bank with no questions asked.

Humans are quite resilient; if and when they decide if they will die; a lot of the enemy will company them to the promised land..
 
This is what I did, let him go on some federal land not far from my house....I have really had my fill of killing to tell the truth.

Just look at that face...and this little bastage had killed at least 3 chickens...good layers as well.

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We used a trap on the last raccon that was visiting at night to snatch chickens. Caught him the first night and disposed of him via 9mm then next day.
No catch and release here. I don't think you could relocate far enough away. Once they find easy pickings, they will be back.
 
We used a trap on the last raccon that was visiting at night to snatch chickens. Caught him the first night and disposed of him via 9mm then next day.
No catch and release here. I don't think you could relocate far enough away. Once they find easy pickings, they will be back.

Game can said he never came back.... coyote tried but could not dig under...only thing that came back is skunk
 
The old Sheridan Blue Streak Rifles in 20 cal worked on the farm ! A single shot 22 with subsonic short HP work too.
My go to for pests around the yard, is an old Sheridan Blue Streak. Has a hearty snap to it for sound, but is far quieter than a .22 short. Found that out the other day when I fired off 3 of the shorts to sacrifice them for their brass, to experiment on BX-25 mags.

They seemed a lot quieter when I was a kid. Coulda swore they were no more than a phut.o_O
 
I used to hunt raccoon as a teen.
We ran walker hounds.

Yes the coon will most likely die if the shot makes it past the skin and muscle.
Just how many air rifle shots you going to hit it with before the wounded coon croaks on your neighbors back patio?

I think the .22 magnum is the perfict raccoon hunting round.
Ive seen a trapper dispatch a coon in a boxcage trap with a .22 handgun
It seems coon wont sit still for a perfict shot and with a marginal firearm?
Your chances of a anchoring single shot is not great.

If the bullet makes it through a 2x4 it should kill a coon at prudent range.

Id suggest using std velocity LR in a long barreled .22 rifle and close range on a windy night.

In town I can hear the neighbor kid shoot his air rifle.
The muffled PAP is unmistakenable.
In the house with TV going you'd mostblikely not hear it.

Usually coon once hit by a bullet coon will stop running and do some roilling around a bit trying to bite what stung it before it takes off.
Usually but not always.

Best option is
A live trap secured open a couple days as you bait coon using a can of sardines in back the trap.
Then set your trap and bait with a can sardines (poke some holes in can w ice pick) wired to floor at back the trap.
When you get your coon.
Slide trap in a big burlap bag and you can take it outta town for disposal.
How you dispatch the coon is your choice.
https://www.harborfreight.com/32-in-x-15-in-x-10-in-medium-animal-trap-63008.html?cid=paid_google|

You will need a hunting license and furbearer permit.

Just remember this.
If your trying to keep this on the down low.
89% the time the critter is not going to stick to your plan.
Its going to expire in the worst possible place, at the worst possible time, and in front of the worst possible people.
To make you look as bad as can be.
(Why do you suppose you think I said that?)o_Oo_O
 

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I used to hunt raccoon as a teen.
We ran walker hounds.

Yes the coon will most likely die if the shot makes it past the skin and muscle.
Just how many air rifle shots you going to hit it with before the wounded coon croaks on your neighbors back patio?

I think the .22 magnum is the perfict raccoon hunting round.
Ive seen a trapper dispatch a coon in a boxcage trap with a .22 handgun
It seems coon wont sit still for a perfict shot and with a marginal firearm?
Your chances of a anchoring single shot is not great.

If the bullet makes it through a 2x4 it should kill a coon at prudent range.

Id suggest using std velocity LR in a long barreled .22 rifle and close range on a windy night.

In town I can hear the neighbor kid shoot his air rifle.
The muffled PAP is unmistakenable.
In the house with TV going you'd mostblikely not hear it.

Usually coon once hit by a bullet coon will stop running and do some roilling around a bit trying to bite what stung it before it takes off.
Usually but not always.

Best option is
A live trap secured open a couple days as you bait coon using a can of sardines in back the trap.
Then set your trap and bait with a can sardines (poke some holes in can w ice pick) wired to floor at back the trap.
When you get your coon.
Slide trap in a big burlap bag and you can take it outta town for disposal.
How you dispatch the coon is your choice.
https://www.harborfreight.com/32-in-x-15-in-x-10-in-medium-animal-trap-63008.html?cid=paid_google|

You will need a hunting license and furbearer permit.

Just remember this.
If your trying to keep this on the down low.
89% the time the critter is not going to stick to your plan.
Its going to expire in the worst possible place, at the worst possible time, and in front of the worst possible people.
To make you look as bad as can be.
(Why do you suppose you think I said that?)o_Oo_O
 
Couple of things, twice I've trapped boar coons in a hav-a-heart trap. Tried shooting both of them with sub-sonic 22 shorts as I live in an area with 1 acre lots and we all know how funny some people get about animals. Anyway, both of them were shot in the head down through the top of the trap and both times I had to get a S&W 22 long rifle revolver to kill the animal. Both cases they were after the food for the cats, the last one was going in the garage through the cat door.
 
A .22 or .25 PCP air rifle with integral silencer (no tax stamp) would do the job with the right pellet and shot placement. You can get PCPs in 9mm and 357 calibers as well.
 
i shoot coons that go on my east deck with one of my .22 revolvers or my 22 rifle. i live in the country so noise is not a problem. the problem is even if i do a good shot they flop a lot and throw blood every wheres. i really have to hose down good after each time. as for me they dont kill easy. skunks do but not coons. i bet they would even run away with a arrow in them. my rancher neighbor flipped his deck light on once and 12 coons sat looking at him. they are tough. once they find your place you have to get rid of them. same for skunks. same for snakes in the summer. same for mountain lions. sorry got off subject some. weasels, the cats kill them.
 
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Any of the Hatsan Magnums would do the trick. And you only need the rifle and some pellets. PCP is great but expect to spend $$$ on the extra necessary equipment. 20200117_170959.jpg 1579028836_5850570585e1e1164254961.54903397_IMG_20200114_103746_2.jpg
 
Raccoons show up on occasion, but the groundhog problem is far worse. The neighbors are ok with the (loud) RWS 48 going off...IF I get lucky enough to spot one and get a shot off, but that method is not effective on groundhogs because they're too alert and will be back in the burrow if they spot a person.
I agree with the posters who advise the trap & kill solution. Conibear traps are the real deal. I would set the conibear trap at the burrow entrance (they lived under my garage), and lay a large rock over the other burrow hole. The groundhogs will eventually have to pass through the trap. It has worked so well that I've not seen any in my yard in for some time. When possums tried to take over the burrow, the conibear did the trick on them as well. Around here these animals are considered to be (possibly rabid) pests, so no trapping license is needed.
 
Raccoons show up on occasion, but the groundhog problem is far worse. The neighbors are ok with the (loud) RWS 48 going off...IF I get lucky enough to spot one and get a shot off, but that method is not effective on groundhogs because they're too alert and will be back in the burrow if they spot a person.
I agree with the posters who advise the trap & kill solution. Conibear traps are the real deal. I would set the conibear trap at the burrow entrance (they lived under my garage), and lay a large rock over the other burrow hole. The groundhogs will eventually have to pass through the trap. It has worked so well that I've not seen any in my yard in for some time. When possums tried to take over the burrow, the conibear did the trick on them as well. Around here these animals are considered to be (possibly rabid) pests, so no trapping license is needed.

What? You're not following Bill Murray's method?????:D
 
t.
Seems contradictory to me but whatever.

These will kill a coon if you are reasonably close. Another option would be 22 shorts. I think people worry to much about gunshot noise. If you are blasting away for an hour sure. An occasional pop from a 22 short, don't worry about it.

View attachment 884625

Super colibre at 550 fps is not IMO a good choice for a Coon. They are much tougher than folks give them credit for. The risk of wounding one is great.

If you want to shoot a coon you need at least 25 flbs of energy. Wanting Quiet, power etc. Then you have to go PCP and be prepared to spend the money. And make sure you are familiar with the right pellets for a good kill.
I have taken them down with a Magnum Springer 22.cal at 900 FPS and loud. Also hard to cock.
PCP's are Not a expense I would do unless I wanted to become a Air Rifle enthusiast. (which I am)
Here is a very good article.

https://www.grandviewoutdoors.com/predator-hunting/why-airguns-are-perfect-for-hunting-raccoons

"The airguns I think are appropriate for these tough little critters generate at least 25 ft./lbs. of energy and can be either spring piston or pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) power plants. My preference, however, is a PCP generating 35 ft./lbs. or more. While I have taken many with .22s, I prefer the .25 caliber. More recently, the .30 calibers are impressing me with their outstanding terminal performance. One reason I prefer a PCP is that they’re more powerful and easier to shoot accurately, but more importantly springers are single shot and many of the PCPs are magazine-fed multi-shot guns. In the cold weather and dark shooting hours, when coons are often hunted, you don’t want to fumble for pellets with frozen fingers or when there’s not enough light to see what you’re doing. Additionally, raccoons will often come in two or more at a time and a fast follow-up shot can be a good thing to have."
 
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What? You're not following Bill Murray's method?????:D

:evil:I would like to but I need the garage.

These are 7 year old pics ...they were really thick back then. Hopefully i won't see any more. You can see that putting bricks in the entrance did no good

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I tried trapping but was not successful. Unfortunately the raccoon killed a blue bird nest. And it eats up and destroys my bird feeders. I am sufficiently rural I can shoot my 45-70 Government in my backyard as I do have a range out to 100 yards. However, shooting without a backstop, as would be the case with varmints, I do need to be careful. My Benjamin 392 will kill a raccoon quickly. My 392 is modded and does produce 20+FPE. A PCP in .25 can easily do that as well by double the FPE. But the CCI Quiet Segmented and the new Quiet Segmented Semi-Auto will anchor a raccoon easily. But truth is that a 22 Magnum is not overkill and if I knew I had a good backstop in the direction my 9422 Magnum would get the call to service. That said, I took him down with the 392, head shot at 15 yards.

There is not a box of 22LR anywhere to be found again, good thing I have been buying .22 ammo long before the last shortage. Pellets seem to be always available so hoarding (ammo collecting) not required. Everyone needs a Benji 392. Do not let the naysayers tell you they are junk now, old or new including the new 392S (synthetic), they are the same guns and shoot and work and last as well today as they did decades ago. You do need to get the paint out of the end of the barrel carefully, lol.
 
That was the reason I purchased a break barrel for plinking.
The Obama dry spell.
When .22 rimfire ammunition was made of unobtainium.
For the longest time our local hardware store only stocked flat point target air rifle ammo (cut neat holes in targets) yet that ammo was bouncing off critters.
If you want to kill critters you really need to step out of the target class air rifles with just enuf power to punch paper.
You need at least 25 ft/lbs to make a mark.
 
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I am no expert on anything and I prefer to leave critters be save for certain ones who become a pest or even a danger. So, if I am confident of a headshot or will pass (on the shot) if not and inside 20 yards then a Benji 392 or a Magnum .22 or .25 break barrel ought to do (15 to 30 FPE). If confident of a head shot or will pass if not and inside 30 yards then a good PCP (30 to 50 FPE) or a .22 with CCI Quiet Segmented. Beyond that range or if considering a body shot will be required then a .22 with CCI MM HP or Velociter and if the proposed smackdown will require a body shot and possibly out to and beyond 50 yards then .22 Magnum. YRMV, I am trying for ethical kills. And a .410 pump will put the hurt on them also inside 25 yards but neither it or a .22 shooting high velocity rounds could be considered quiet and that was the premise. So I am back to the Benjamin 392, everybody needs one, it can put food on the table and take down pestiferous varmints if used with skill and appropriate judgement.
 
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