Advice wanted on discreet varmint control

[PJR]

We live on a semi rural 40 acre horse farm/woodlot with neighbours about 150 yards away. Varmints include foxes, coyotes, porcupines and various other small pest critters. Ranges are unlikely to exceed 100 yards. I've used a .223 bolt action but I'm now seeking a quieter option.

I had just about settled on a .22 Hornet but a recent range trip has caused me to reconsider. At the range a guy was shooting a .357 lever action rifle and I noted that it wasn't all that loud. I asked him if he'd mind shooting a few of my .38 specials while I stood beside him and I was impressed with how quiet the .38s were even under a covered firing line. His .357s were a little more noticeable but not nearly as loud as the .223.

My .22 Hornet options are either a Ruger 77/22 or a CZ527. I once owned a 527 in .223 and didn't care for it and I'm not enthused about the Ruger either. I have never owned a lever action but the Marlin 1894C with a compact lower power scope seems like an appealing option. I could use .38 when more discretion was required or .357 if I needed a little more stopping power.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can provide on helping me make the decision.

Paul

 

[ctchapman]

Have you considered using a 22 long with sub sonic loads such as the Aquila made rounds, I picked some up and my sons BB gun makes more noise

 

[esldude]

.17 HMR surely. Has a bit of a loud pop. But it is high pitched sound, doesn't carry well, and doesn't penetrate walls into the indoors much. Better, yet the bullet disintegrates if it should touch much of anything. Combined with good accuracy making it very useful to 150 yards more like 200 for some. What more could you want?

 

[CBX]

.17 HMR surely. Has a bit of a loud pop. But it is high pitched sound, doesn't carry well, and doesn't penetrate walls into the indoors much. Better, yet the bullet disintegrates if it should touch much of anything. Combined with good accuracy making it very useful to 150 yards more like 200 for some. What more could you want?

i agree .17HMR is a great round

 

[mscott]

Savage has a new .22 Hornet rifle. http://www.savagearms.com/40Varmint.htm

 

[db_tanker]

+1 on the hornet...

Get it in a 21" Contender...Load it up with small amounts of fast pistol powder and you will be good to go.

I prefer my 43 Winnie...but a TC is just as nice...you can go with a 16" custom barrel if you want somthing more discreet, size-wise...

And you inferred in your post that you reload...so there you go...tailor your loads to your environment.

a nice 35 gr. v-max would be a hoot.

D

 

[mnrivrat]

Nothing the matter with your thinking in regards to the lever gun in .38/.357 . It can also serve you better than some lighter rounds for larger pest control & SD if needed.

It is very good to the ranges you want it to operate in ,and will do the job just fine in my opinion.

 

[Cacique500]

I agree .17HMR is a great round

+1

Relatively quiet and an extremely accurate little round. My dad was busting the little 2 inch clays at 100 yards consistently with his .17 - I was doing ok with the .223 but he nailed them dead center every time.

(That's when I pulled out my M39 Mosin and started blowing large holes in the berm...didn't need to hit the clays dead center, just had to get close )

 

[jerkface11]

357 handi

The quietest gun i've ever shot is a .357 handi rifle shooting 38 specials. Even quieter than subsonic .22's. In fact it didn't even sound like a gun going off. They don't make that barrel anymore so if you want one you'll have to find a used one.

 

[rudolf]

I'ld take the .357/.38 lever gun.

 

[OEF_VET]

Buy a suppressor! You can buy a .22 suppressor for about the same price as a .357 lever gun and I promise you it will be infinitely quieter.

Unless you live in one of those 16 vile states who ban civilian ownership.

 

[TheEgg]

I have taken all those varmints and more with an air rifle - fairly quiet.

I use a Beeman Crow Magnum .22. I never take a shot over about 40 yards though -- shot placement is critical with an air rifle. I have a Leopold EFR 3-9x scope on it, that allows precise shot placement. Used correctly, this combo will result in DRT varminting.

If you have to go longer range, I would get a regular firearm, and the .17hmr would be a good choice.

 

[cookekdjr]

I'd consider an excellent .22 LR. Practice is cheap cheap cheap, and you can buy a world-class rifle (CZ-452, for example) for less than $250. Scope and a thousand rounds of ammo, and you're still under $350.

 

[brickboy240]

We have two 17HMR rifles on our family ranch, that we use for coyotes, wild dogs and bobcats along with other smaller varmints, like skunks and raccoons.

The 17HMR ought to do nicely for you. It is a small round, but I am amazed at the killing power it has. We popped a stray dog about the size of a lab with the 17HMR from maybe 30 yards and dropped him dead. Amazing killing powrer. It is also a very accurate and fairly quiet round.

I'd serioulsly look at a few of the 17HMR bolt actions or a Taurus pump like mine, if you're shooting short distances. I really love this little round.

- Brickboy240

 

[deadly50bmg]

You should take a look at the post entitled "Most useless round"

Guess who won?

.17 HMR.

22lr if your staying inside of 100 yards.

 

[benEzra]

I'm sure .22LR would be fairly quiet out of a rifle with the Aguila 60-grain subsonic rounds, but you need a fairly fast-twist barrel to stabilize them due to their extra length.

Personally, I'd probably go with the .38/.357 lever-action carbine, since it will have way more stopping power than a .22 even with .38's, and it is so much more versatile.