what gun to buy for "varmints"

[LBrown59]

I don't think they should be armed

 

[two_bit_score]

Edit: Anything more than a .22 rimfire or shotgun (410 or 20 gauge) is overkill and probably dangerous in the OP's situation. If he decides on a gun to take care of his problem I hope he gets some training. I like the idea of traps for his situation.

Mark

If he was my neighbor, living that close, I would feel a lot better with him shooting a .410 than a .22 any day.

The .22 is just too deceptive to people. And it's 'normal' to think of it as a low power gun that is less dangerous than maybe a shotgun or larger caliber rifle. That's what makes them dangerous because people under estimate them and the range they have.

 

[polo1665]

If he was my neighbor, living that close, I would feel a lot better with him shooting a .410 than a .22 any day.

The .22 is just too deceptive to people. And it's 'normal' to think of it as a low power gun that is less dangerous than maybe a shotgun or larger caliber rifle. That's what makes them dangerous because people under estimate them and the range they have.

I agree that the range is a concern. I am always careful to plan a shot ahead. You definitely can't have a knee jerk reaction and just fire at will.

Mark

 

[mbohuntr]

If I'm understanding this post correctly, the houses are the same distance back from the road, 400' apart. In order for a bullet to do a 180 degree richochet, it should lose at least 1/2 it's power. (physics) A .22 rimfire rapidly loses energy. At 100 yds, it drops something like 4". At 100 yds, the distance will equal 565' from the 100 yd richochet point to the nearest home. So, you have 300' to the target, and 565' back to the nearest home. I'm not saying that it's completely safe to shoot, But it NEVER is. The chances of a richochet round having sufficient energy to do much on the return are slim. And if it's legal to fire said .22, I would get elevated, and as close as possible to the target. We are allowed to use centerfire rifles here in NY for deer, but the reality is the woodlots are really too small for complete safety. I get elevated so richochets are less likley to go far(the greater the angle, the less energy, and the greater the deformation of the round.) My shots are limited to VERY safe directions, and steep angles. You might consider green tag shorts, or a 36 cal muzzleloader. I have taken quite a few woodchucks in my time, and only one was with a shotgun. It isn't realistic to patiently wait for a hog to get that close, and since your not planning to eat your target, Do your best to make humane shots and call it good. Your trying to kill them. Just my 2 cents.

 

[foggy1111]

+1 well stated. I too use 22 caliber "CB Rounds" (minimal velocity 22 shorts) in an old falling block winchester for pest control at our lake cabin....where the lots are acre size or so. These rounds sound more like an air rifle, rather than the "crack" of a 22 as they are sub sonic and really quiet out of a longer barrel. As stated.....you need to know when to pass on any kind of risky shots.....but I normally thin out about 6 red squirrels each year. Just be sure to have a good back stop.....I am able to shoot down at the ground from a high deck in my case. The CB rounds will limit the effective range tho and are better for smaller pests (probably not a wood chuck unless very close range and a head shot).

 

[JohnDeere4300]

Here in Kentucky & in West Virginia where my dad lives, the law says you can't shoot a gun within 500ft. of a dwelling..... and that can be a small building for storage or a pump-house.

You need to be careful using any kind of gun.

Like others have said, trapping is a good way to go also.

 

[caver]

I don't think they should be armed

 

[Knotbored]

If its close enough then hit it with a hammer, if its up to 40 yards away then use a pellet gun, if its farther then that then walk up closer.
Shooting any rifle even a 22 that close to neighbors without a thought-out range and a solid backup is just borderline criminal. Buy and use a rifle for the fun of it but build a safe place to use it. If you expect to rid any varmint with firepower then prepare to spend most of your retirement time and finances on it. Get a dog, buy some poison, build a fence, learn new cusswords and get some target practice fun with a slingshot- but don't risk your neighbors welfare to just waste a tiny percent of criters.

 

[MossRoad]

If its close enough then hit it with a hammer, if its up to 40 yards away then use a pellet gun, if its farther then that then walk up closer.
Shooting any rifle even a 22 that close to neighbors without a thought-out range and a solid backup is just borderline criminal. Buy and use a rifle for the fun of it but build a safe place to use it. If you expect to rid any varmint with firepower then prepare to spend most of your retirement time and finances on it. Get a dog, buy some poison, build a fence, learn new cusswords and get some target practice fun with a slingshot- but don't risk your neighbors welfare to just waste a tiny percent of criters.

A pellet gun at 40 yards isn't very humane for a woodchuck.

 

[Highbeam]

Here in the NW where Knot-bored and I live, our "woodchucks" are actually little mole critters that are about as big as a rat.

If people never shot guns anywhere within the range of houses then there wouldn't me much shooting. My deer rifle is lethal out past 7 miles but I can gurantee that I have killed deer within 7 miles of homes.

Use weapons responsibly with safety being more important than killing the woodchuck.