Gun and ammo question

[/pine]

Around here it will take a while for all the cows and goats etc. to get gone before the deer start to disappear...

 

[Soundguy]

IMO...It should at least be noted that although they are adequate, centerfire calibers of .22x... do not make ideal deer, hog etc. rounds....sure they are deadly with well placed shots but not everyone is an experienced hunter (or marksman) and there is a big difference between taking aim at a paper target and a live hoofed beast...especially for someone that has never hunted...

In many parts of the country almost all the deer harvested are taken within effective shotgun range regardless of the firearm used...a pattern of .30 cal.+ lead balls is far more effective over a small cal. single projectile that one small twig will send well off the intended trajectory...
Just Sayin...

I can tell your hunting experience is limited in the .22X range.

My brother and father and I put a significant hurt on the deer population and hog population in florida for about 30 years using mostly ruger mini 14's and an occasional bow shot. If the hogs are under 175# and / or are florida deer. which are on the smallish side for north american deer.... and you are an AVERAGE shot... you won't have an issue. later in life I did switch to carrying a 30-06 or 35 remington and for a while a 30-30, but that was mostly because I didn't want to meet up with a bear with 5 rounds of .223 on me.

 

[/pine]

I can tell your hunting experience is limited in the .22X range.

My brother and father and I put a significant hurt on the deer population and hog population in florida for about 30 years using mostly ruger mini 14's and an occasional bow shot. If the hogs are under 175# and / or are florida deer. which are on the smallish side for north american deer.... and you are an AVERAGE shot... you won't have an issue. later in life I did switch to carrying a 30-06 or 35 remington and for a while a 30-30, but that was mostly because I didn't want to meet up with a bear with 5 rounds of .223 on me.

Not really limited...I'm not making any personal claims...but "a lot" of local (like most places) deer have been downed with .22LR and .22wmr...like I said...small rounds are adequate with well placed shots but some shooters should use Curare...
Also like many other areas...the buzzard populations increase as soon as archery season opens...

 

[Fossil Farm]

If raccoons are the major headache, live trap them using marshmallows, then let them go for a swim while in the trap in the water trough. Tie a rope to the handle to put them in and out of the water. Raccoons are most active at night and that way you will not spook the horses or have to spend time waiting around for them to show up. You will be amazed how many raccoons you will trap in a few weeks. Actually, two or three baited traps at a time would be better. Then you won't have to worry about ricochets, spooking your animals, missed shots, etc. and you can buy any gun or guns you want. Many good gun choices have been listed. Good luck.

 

[/pine]

People that treat any animals inhumanely should get the same treatment...!

 

[TheMan419]

If raccoons are the major headache, live trap them using marshmallows, then let them go for a swim while in the trap in the water trough. Tie a rope to the handle to put them in and out of the water. Raccoons are most active at night and that way you will not spook the horses or have to spend time waiting around for them to show up. You will be amazed how many raccoons you will trap in a few weeks. Actually, two or three baited traps at a time would be better. Then you won't have to worry about ricochets, spooking your animals, missed shots, etc. and you can buy any gun or guns you want. Many good gun choices have been listed. Good luck.

I would not drown a Racoon. Interestingly Indiana law provides that I can live trap and then humanely kill them without a permit on my own property. If I want to hunt them I need a permit, even on my own property and have to comply with various hunting regulations.

I have a desire to comply with Indiana law because it is not too much of a pain in the rear.

Drowning them in the water trough that the horses drink out of is a non-starter for two reasons. First is that is a terrible way to die. Second we want to get rid of the raccoons because the disease they carry is harmful to horses. So why would I want to dunk one in the horses water supply?

 

[TheMan419]

Get a Ruger 10/22 with some high capacity magazines. I have had one for well over 25 years and its a great gun. The bolt release is a little strange, but once you see how it operates, its just a rocking motion. Other than that, that's the only quirk about that gun. It's rock solid. Dependable. Highly customizable if you choose to go that route. And can be had for about $219 on a daily basis, and cheaper on sale frequently. 25 round magazines are easily obtained for about $29 on a regular basis as well. I have an old 50 round magazine, and man, that would be a lot of squirrels! :laughing: The only thing that has killed is many bags of pop cans.

If it comes down to our social situation being so bad that we can't get to any stores to purchase food safely, or the supply chain has been hosed, and you running out of food and having to poach a deer, my guess is within a year, there will be no more deer in our area, as so many rural folks will have the same idea. You'd be better off stockpiling rice and beans, canned goods, water source, etc... Shooting only attracts attention. And I'd hazard a guess that once the food runs out in town, guess who's going to start roaming the countryside looking for food and plunder?

So for protection, get an AR15 to go with your 9mm.

Personally, I'd ditch the 9mm for a shotgun, but you've already said that isn't an option.

I get the debate between the shot gun and the 9MM. However I can conceal carry the 9. Not so much with a shot gun. With 100 shootings in South Bend this year you and I need to be careful!

 

[MossRoad]

I think you mean .243 / 6mm

Yes, you are correct. I , oh look, a chicken! got distracted...

 

[MossRoad]

I get the debate between the shot gun and the 9MM. However I can conceal carry the 9. Not so much with a shot gun. With 100 shootings in South Bend this year you and I need to be careful!

Pray for me... I've been driving Lincolnway West and surrounding neighborhoods twice a day for 22 years. It was Western Avenue for 11 years before that.

 

[TheMan419]

Pray for me... I've been driving Lincolnway West and surrounding neighborhoods twice a day for 22 years. It was Western Avenue for 11 years before that.

For 16 years I took Western from the west side (Lydick area) up to near the UP Mall area. Twice a day 5 days a week. Thankfully never took fire.