Raccoon and .22

statjunk · 08-14-2009, 10:40 AM

A Raccoon was shot the other day with a .22 long. I "hear" the first shot went through the head just in front of the ear, the second went through the neck, the third went right behind the shoulder and the last one through the guts.

None of the bullets exited. I was really surprised.

Even after the third shot it was attempting to escape. It wasn't the usual thrashing of a spasming animal.

Are raccoons normally shot with a .22?

Thanks

Tom

switchback hunter · 08-14-2009, 10:47 AM

I have shot over 300 coon while trapping and a simple 22 long right between the eyes and it's over. They are a very tough animal I used a 25 cal for a few and if shot between the eyes all you would do is knock them unconsious for a short time. I found with that caliber you had to go to the back of the head between the ears to take them out. 99% of trappers and coon hunters use a 22 and alot of times you do not get pass thru

Ron Duval · 08-14-2009, 10:47 AM

removed by RD

09monsterbuckmaster · 08-14-2009, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by statjunk

A Raccoon was shot the other day with a .22 long. I "hear" the first shot went through the head just in front of the ear, the second went through the neck, the third went right behind the shoulder and the last one through the guts.

None of the bullets exited. I was really surprised.

Even after the third shot it was attempting to escape. It wasn't the usual thrashing of a spasming animal.

Are raccoons normally shot with a .22?

Thanks

Tom

use a 410 remington drop em every time

nchawkeye · 08-14-2009, 11:49 AM

1) Don't believe everything you hear, most folks either get the facts wrong or simply don't know what they are talking about...

2) I've also killed plenty of raccoons with a .22, both a rifle when hunting in my youth and a Ruger Mark II while trapping, no problem...

3) In the 50s and 60s, we butchered, cured and smoked 18 hogs a year, all were killed with a Hi-Standard 9 shot revolver in .22 caliber...We used shorts to make sure the bullet didn't pass through the brain and into the front shoulder...

mauser06 · 08-14-2009, 12:44 PM

i cant count how many coons ive dropped and seen dropped outta trees by a 22lr...most times its regular ole ammo...but ive done it with shorts when i was in tight to the houses treed..only do that when the owner comes out and says "kill that coon he eats my garbage!" and theres no other neighbors around...happens enough that i carry shorts just for that purpose!

a solid head shot and hes comin out dead...the key is actually hitting them in the head...it took me a little practice, but i got it down now that most are 1 shot kills and come out dead as can be...

depends on the bullet path but i find bullets pretty often while skinning...their pelts are thick and i find many stuck in the pelt itself...

anything other than a headshot from a 22 is likely going to agitate the coon..if i cant get a head shot i'll put one in its body somewhere and when he swings his head around i drop em...

i dont recommend using a shotgun! coon pelts are sold inside out...a shotgun is going to do a pile of damage and most buyers arent going to buy it from you...if they do your taking a major price cut...

i run hounds and a scoped 22 is all ive ever used...

statjunk · 08-14-2009, 01:06 PM

I "hear" means I might have been privy some how. But who knows.

Tom

homers brother · 08-15-2009, 04:57 AM

It's likely that more raccoons have been felled by the mighty .22 LR than by any other caliber.

No doubt, they're ornery and on the tough (determined to live) side, but a solid head shot - as has been described above - is a guaranteed dead raccoon.

On the other hand, claims by the shooter as to where the shot was placed generally are not nearly as reliable.

oldsmellhound · 08-15-2009, 05:27 AM

I've shot many, many coons with the .22. Coons are tough, and like someone else said, a poorly placed shot is going to just **** them off. Well, actually a solid body shot will kill them, but not right away. A proper head shot will kill them instantly - that's what I aim for.

If you miss the brain, it can take several shots to kill a tough coon. You need to use the right kind of ammo too - high or hyper-velocity hollowpoints. If the person you're talking about had actually hit the brain, the coon would have been DRT. My guess is they missed the vitals and therefore the coon didn't die right away.

gonzojr · 08-15-2009, 02:14 PM

my friend shoots them with a .223 i have shot them with a 22 mag between the eyes about 40 yds and thats all it took