what gun to buy for "varmints"

[polo1665]

Sorry, unless you're fending for you life, that's a darn sad attitude when it comes to killing.

EDIT: For the original question per this topic, a .308 is good for most anything when it comes to putting something down.

Sorry, took me a while to get back to this thread. Perhaps I wasn't clear enough. I take no great enjoyment in taking the life of any animal, whether it be humane or not. For safety's sake I choose to use the gun that I do. If this means that every shot does not instantly kill the pig then so be it. If you think I have a hard time sleeping at night because a groundhog crawled down his hole to die you are wrong. Dead is dead and it makes you a killer either way. This is no business for the squeamish.
Why would it matter if I was "fending for my life"?

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

 

[zzvyb6]

I personnaly use a Remington 700 bolt action heavy barrel bipod scoped rifle in .223 to dispatch woodchucks in the range of 70 to 150 yards. They just fall over, the bullet stays inside. I prefer this round because the noise/sound is bearable and I don't need/use ear protection. My friends with 22-250 rounds are all suffering from hearing loss or they don't get the chuck because they forgot the muffs. The heavy barrel makes the aiming, holding and recoil very managable and my SO has no fear of touching one round off. I practice often and can easily put 3 -5 rounds inside a dime at 100 yards. Same dime.

It is considered a varmit rifle, not a deer gun, though.

For those not wanting to risk the agony or fear of surrounding homes or families, I have also successfully used a feed trough fill with 75 to 100 gallons of water to chase them out and hit them with a spade shovel when they crawl out. My latest adventure involves spraying a can of starting fluid into the hole for 5 - 7 seconds and then spraying a 2 -3 foot trail of the stuff away from the hole. Light it with a barbeque lighter and wait for the whumpf. End of chuck.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

I have a gun safe full of guns but I will only comment on the 2 that I use for small varmints, 17 HMR great shooting little gun as long as there is no wind blowing, the slightest breeze and you can forget accuracy. 22 Magnum obviously not very popular on here as I have only seen it mentioned in one other post, but it is my absolute favorite for small varmints, I guess some will argue about the distance that the bullet will travel, but as with all firearms you must know what is beyond your target, position yourself so you are not shooting toward anyone's house. Good luck and have fun while you are rocking those varmints world.

 

[scott_vt]

22 Magnum obviously not very popular on here as I have only seen it mentioned in one other post, but it is my absolute favorite for small varmints, I guess some will argue about the distance that the bullet will travel, but as with all firearms you must know what is beyond your target, position yourself so you are not shooting toward anyone's house. Good luck and have fun while you are rocking those varmints world.

Good Evenin Lineman,
Thanks for reading my post !

 

[2manyrocks]

Let's buy a new unfamliar gun and put it in the hands of someone who hasn't practiced or maybe has never shot one before. Never mind that the sights might be off from the factory or that the barrel is inconsistent because it's new and unseasoned. And let's buy something with a good hard trigger pull, too. Maybe we'll get one with a scope with a narrow field of view so we can't see the neighbor's kid that just came into the field of fire. Oh, and let's use some cheap bulk ammo so we can get a first round flier. And let's bury a rock just under the grass where this bullet is going to hit. Now 400 feet to the neighbor's house at 1200 fps means in 1/3 second means we've just made a huge mistake over a woodchuck that should have been left alone in the first place.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Let's buy a new unfamliar gun and put it in the hands of someone who hasn't practiced or maybe has never shot one before. Never mind that the sights might be off from the factory or that the barrel is inconsistent because it's new and unseasoned. And let's buy something with a good hard trigger pull, too. Maybe we'll get one with a scope with a narrow field of view so we can't see the neighbor's kid that just came into the field of fire. Oh, and let's use some cheap bulk ammo so we can get a first round flier. And let's bury a rock just under the grass where this bullet is going to hit. Now 400 feet to the neighbor's house at 1200 fps means in 1/3 second means we've just made a huge mistake over a woodchuck that should have been left alone in the first place.

Then how about you don't shoot any of them let's let the OP do that.

 

[LD1]

A mangled bloody mess on the outside may look impressive to you (a little sick if you ask me) but that will put you at a handicap in any chuck contest because of the lost body mass.


The 22/250 may not be the best chuck gun, but it certainly a good one. Something I can not say for the 223.

I know you said you were done, but I felt compelled to reply.

First, a big mess is impressive to me and there is nothing sick about it. Dead is dead and the hog doesn't know wether the bullet left a mess or not. The insides are the insides, wether removed by the bullet or the hunter. I don't say it's sick when someone hunts for pelts and peels the skin off. Or when someone takes game for meat and is gutting the animal with bear hands and a knife. It's just the nature of the beast and I have done all of the above. People do it every day.

To the second part, everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but to say the .223 is not a good varmint round is absolutly crazy. It may not be the best or most powerful, but it certainly is a good varmint round. I bet if you were to poll 100 varmint hunter and ask them weather the .223 was a "good" round for varmint, 99 would probabally say yes.

 

[foggy1111]

+ 1 If you travel out west, you will likely find the 223 to be the most popular cartridge for Prairie Dog shooting (by far). Why? good power and reasonably flat trajectory to 300 yards or so.......AFFORDABLE ammo to shoot......normally can see the results of the shot due to low recoil (about the max cartridge to do this with a scope). Barrels stay cool for more shots than other higher intensity calibers too....resulting in longer life before re-barreling.

With the right bullets these make wonderful varmint guns. Probably the best choice for the guy that wants ONE all-around varmint gun.

 

[Sigarms]

Why would it matter if I was "fending for my life"?

Because your primary goal at that time is to make sure the animal doesn't eat you

Dead is dead and it makes you a killer either way. This is no business for the squeamish.

You're absoultely right. However, sometimes death doesn't come in hours, but days, and needless to say, it's no fun for the animal who is at the receiving end of the bullet. Guess it's just a matter of your perspective. I know men who give up after looking for a wounded animal they shot hunting in just hours, and men who take shots at animals at distances they don't regularly practice at.

Edit: Anything more than a .22 rimfire or shotgun (410 or 20 gauge) is overkill and probably dangerous in the OP's situation.

After re reading the the OP, and noting that there are 10 houses on 3-6 acre lots, I'd say even a .22 would be asking for trouble. I was wrong for even suggesting that a .308 (even with very light loads) would be an appropriate caliber for this particular situation.

As mentioned, traps would be the way to go.

The 22/250 may not be the best chuck gun, but it certainly a good one. Something I can not say for the 223.

I love my 22/250, but have no qualms with using my bolt 223.

 

[RobertN]

I am on 5 acres, surrounded by other 5 acres properties and homes.

I'll only shoot shotgun here. Even then, I have a couple "zones" where I'll shoot.

There are too many houses, barns and stuff around. And, who know's when people are outside. Like my neighbors 5 year old, who likes to come visit and pick strawberries and blueberries in our garden. We have a lot of trees; a tree or branch would probably catch an errant round. Probably, but no gaurentee.

I would trap if I was in the same position as the OP. Once trapped, a close up shot might finish the deal. But no shooting out across the property.

We had some rats getting in to the chicken coup. I took the 22 out there. And then brought it back in and put it away. No way for a safe shot.