need possum control ideas

[DieselPower]

I have a AR50 and a AR30. Just for shi**'s and giggles I shot a white tail deer with the 50 2 year's ago. Did less damage than my normal hunting rifle does which is a Flaigg's custom 270 Win. Huge extra thick jacket bullet traveling at much greater speeds just passed right through with a .50 inch hole in each side. I was going to try my .338 Lapua this year but I think the results would be the same. Big bullet that would do no damage.

If you want to shoot night rat's (possum's) at night and are concerned about noise you might want to try Aguila .22 SSS (sniper sub sonic) rounds. They are basically a 22 short cartridge with a huge 60 grain bulllet. Out of a bolt action rifle they don't make much more noise than a air rifle. I have gotten a bunch of possum's with them over the years. Work great with head shot's to.

 

[TrippleT]

Why not get a 155 howitzer? I can't believe what I am reading here LOL You can take a 22 short and kill a bull. You have to hit the vital spot is all. If you get a shot IN the brain he is gone. I don't care if it's an elephant. We used to hunt deer here with 22 rifles. Hit their lungs, stand right there, and he will fill up and die. I have seen my dad kill hogs with a 22 they wouldn't even squeal. Just drop in their tracks. I have seen my dad shoot the stems off pears to get one to eat. You just have to hit them in the right spot fellows. We used to have community hog killings and my dad did most of the shooting. We used to hunt possums to and sell the hides. OH by the way, we used a 22. Of course I am from the state of the white feather sniper too. Now watch the fireworks. LOL

 

[BillyP]

Yep, when it came to hog killing time, the 22 was the weapon of choice. Preferably a 22 short or long.

 

[Soundguy]

I've never heard of a 5mm mag. I do own a 5mm (0.20 cal) pellet gun that's great fun. The quietness you seek is available with the super quiet 22 CB long rifle rounds. They are city rounds for crow shooting. I believe Dargo about the possum being tough to kill but I also believe a gut shot or any other bloody shot will eliminate your problem. Is it humane? Well.... I've salted a slug or two in my life also.

That 17HMR is a nice little round, you can convert your ruger 10/22 to shoot it with a kit. More range for sure.

The 5mm rem mag is a rimfire cartridge left over from the early 70's .. I actually don't shoot mine anymore as ammo is hard to come by.. usually to the tune of 3$ per cartridge. I hear that old western scrounger was going to tool up and make 1mil rounds in rimfire. I put in a preorder on their wishlist.. but have not heard from them in 3ys.. i don't think they got enough interest to get the custom work done affordably.

Also.. there is a centerfire conversion for the gun.. but I'd rather mothball it as a semi-rareity and just hold on to my last box of ammo vs converting it.

Hmm.. I do have a ruger 10/22 .. hmm...

Soundguy

 

[Soundguy]

I wonder what my AR50 would do to one?? I'd tend to think the .50 BMG round might make for a quick humane kill...

I've got a hand howitzer chambered in .50ActionExpress with a gasport3 on the front of the barrel... but I'm -QUITE- sure it would wake the neighbors.. and perhaps the dead. That pistol has a huge report. Of course.. just about any target you shoot with it is obliterated...

Soundguy

 

[Soundguy]

I've actually got a good supressor.. but I only bring it out for special occasions.. and the possum don't count special enough to have to install a new set of wipes.

Soundguy

I would use the .22, a make shift noise reduction device especially with a sub-sonic round is to tape a 2-liter pop bottle to the end of the gun, hard to aim but you would be surprised. Also hollow out a large baking potato, about 1/2" hole place over the end of the barrel, also hard to aim but it works.

Skip the poison if you have any critters around, or even Hawks, Eagles, or Owls that may then eat the poisoned opposum.

I have the easy way, our Great Dane/Lab hates opposums, and she is good at killing them. She even killed a full grown racoon this summer, not a mark on her. Our Hound (Bloodhound we think/lab mix), can sniff out just about anything.

steve

 

[Soundguy]

Well.. I got off work at 11:45pm tonight.. Got my bullet proof vest on ( I -always- wear it when I go tot he range or do target shooting.. too many idiots ont he range. Figured I'd wear it tonight just in case i got a ricochet accidentially somehow. ) Had my trusty old romanian milsurp clip fed, bolt action .22 tack driver, and loade dit with .22lrcci shotshells, Had my old arminus 8 shot revolver loaded with .22lr 'thunder' tucked into my favorite shoulder rig, and then, just to make Dargo happy, i took my sig p230 (.380) in a beltclip paddle holster. Grabbed my Zenit night vision scope and headed out to the chix pen. No action after 1/2 hour, so i set a saf-t trap baited with catfood. saft is a humane trap with spring loaded panels.. however if it is occupied in the am.. it's still getting the gun....

I kinda felt like rambo out there.. if it weren't for all the small caliber smoke poles I had on me

Soundguy

 

[1bush2hog]

Too Funny Soundguy - I got the visual on that one

Current Score - Possum 1 Soundguy 0

Possums are slow movers and fairly easy to catch - just distract them with one hand while you grab them by the tail with the other. Once you grab them just keep shaking them every now and then so they don't flip up and bite you.

Put them in a toe sack and drop them off at your choice location.


Possums have rights too you know

 

[GaryM]

That 17HMR is a nice little round, you can convert your ruger 10/22 to shoot it with a kit. More range for sure.

Sorry, no can do!

But you can convert it to shoot the 17M2 round. 17 HM2 Ruger 10/22 Conversion Kits - 17 Mach 2 barrels and Heavy Bolt Handles convert your Ruger 10/22 to 17HM2

The 17M2 is a .22LR necked down to a .17 cal bullet.

The 17HMR is too long to work in the 10/22 action.

 

[junkman104]

Here is our possum eradicator, and squirrels, and rats. She keeps the varmints in check.