My preference: a .357 Hades to the side of the head only, ear hole is POA from my .357 Benjamin Bulldog. Six in the last 2 weeks can provide references.
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Raccoon Pellet Choice/Tune (vs plinking)
- Thread starter Jalan
- Start date
Smelly cat didn't make it, the trap made him sleepyLooks like the "Stinky Kitty" is contained. Not dead? I use No.3 Conibears for Ghogs where I can't shoot w/ anything. The Farmer knows where & approves !
I don't have to deal with raccoons , thankfully. Did plenty of that at home years ago when the sweet corn was coming on & dealt with a ( presumed ) rabid
'coon once as a young man one afternoon that was headed toward the chicken coop. A learning experience for sure!!
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Everything it had. And so did the 2nd one that was far larger......all night because it was only trapped and chained to the ground.
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Buy DP foot traps from ebay or Amazon.. Put small marshmallows in the trap and a few out side from the trap. MAKE sure to fasten the provided chain down with a wood screw to a tree of something to prevent the coon from dragging it off. Next morn PTH. Pellet To Head..
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I've killed two raccoons, both small ones, under 10 lbs. I shot the first three times with my P35-22 using 21 grain Baracudas going about 825 fps (32 fpe). First shot went into the chest and got it's attention but it was sitting and hissing at me and my dog. A shot between the eyes stopped the nonsense but it's heart was still beating so I put one in the neck and it bled out. For the next one I used my P35-25 shooting 34 grain JSBs a little under 800 fps. One between the eyes dropped it. No evidence of life.
I've also tested penetration of 25 grain and 34 grain JSB pellets in wet paper (reasonable simulation of muscle tissue). 34s definitely penetrate deeper. I would test them for accuracy in your gun (my old full length Avenger likes them) and if they are accurate switch. FX are usually a little cheaper and effectively the same thing. If your barrel does not like them I think the 25 caliber H&N Baracuda is 31 grains and should also penetrate further. There are also other 34 grain pellets.
Better placement would definitely help but I think more penetration would too and is easier to make sure happens. I would not switch to any sort of expanding projectile because in my opinion you need all the penetration you can get. Any expansion will reduce penetration.
I've also tested penetration of 25 grain and 34 grain JSB pellets in wet paper (reasonable simulation of muscle tissue). 34s definitely penetrate deeper. I would test them for accuracy in your gun (my old full length Avenger likes them) and if they are accurate switch. FX are usually a little cheaper and effectively the same thing. If your barrel does not like them I think the 25 caliber H&N Baracuda is 31 grains and should also penetrate further. There are also other 34 grain pellets.
Better placement would definitely help but I think more penetration would too and is easier to make sure happens. I would not switch to any sort of expanding projectile because in my opinion you need all the penetration you can get. Any expansion will reduce penetration.
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That's why I will never use traps in my backyard for coons or skunks. Can't have the yard smelling for months!Everything it had. And so did the 2nd one that was far larger......all night because it was only trapped and chained to the ground.
Make one of these that gives you plenty of time to get good shot off.
Coon Feeder 3D print files.
If you have coons you want to feed for while only using a small amount of food, this should help you out. These feeders give you ample time to observe the coons feeding to your delight! I recommend filling with dry cat food. If you want them to find it faster, fill the spout to the brim with...
www.airgunnation.com Raccoons
This 3d printed feeder is modeled from a dog proof. Gives one the option of thumbs up or thumbs down. I lengthen the spout 2 times to get it long enough so that skunks can't clean it out. I would hate to deal with a skunk stuck in a dog proof.
www.airgunnation.com Two Trash Pandas Down, One Takes A Big Fall Down
Most wild video I've made, double raccoons, I pop the first one quick and easy, the second one runs almost all the way up the tree, I miss once while he's climbing as the angles mess with your point of impact on the scope, so I quickly use my range finder, get a new firing solution and pop him...
www.airgunnation.com Had a few visitors last night
I new I had a problem with all their poop in my gravel and rocks that I've been seeing. So my plan is trying to figure out their pattern so I'm not wasting a lot of time waiting for them.
www.airgunnation.com I don't like these skunks either
The skunk comes by quite often and cleans out my coon feeder. So I made the spout 30 mm longer hopefully that stops it. However today the skunk came by and got some food out but I don't think he cleaned it out. Hard for it to reach that far down. I refrain from shooting it because I don't want...
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This was the most insane sprayer. He also rooted up a good 6 feet of my lawn before he got stuck in the trap. I bought (impossible to set without their tool or squeeze wood clamps) a 220 lb coyote rated trap from scheels. It's overkill and smooshes them flat instantly. This is the one that just soaked up a magazine of 18 jsbs and 6 hybrid slugs. He died honerably imo.That's why I will never use traps in my backyard for coons or skunks. Can't have the yard smelling for months!
Make one of these that gives you plenty of time to get good shot off.
Coon Feeder 3D print files.
If you have coons you want to feed for while only using a small amount of food, this should help you out. These feeders give you ample time to observe the coons feeding to your delight! I recommend filling with dry cat food. If you want them to find it faster, fill the spout to the brim with...Raccoons
This 3d printed feeder is modeled from a dog proof. Gives one the option of thumbs up or thumbs down. I lengthen the spout 2 times to get it long enough so that skunks can't clean it out. I would hate to deal with a skunk stuck in a dog proof.Two Trash Pandas Down, One Takes A Big Fall Down
Most wild video I've made, double raccoons, I pop the first one quick and easy, the second one runs almost all the way up the tree, I miss once while he's climbing as the angles mess with your point of impact on the scope, so I quickly use my range finder, get a new firing solution and pop him...Had a few visitors last night
I new I had a problem with all their poop in my gravel and rocks that I've been seeing. So my plan is trying to figure out their pattern so I'm not wasting a lot of time waiting for them.I don't like these skunks either
The skunk comes by quite often and cleans out my coon feeder. So I made the spout 30 mm longer hopefully that stops it. However today the skunk came by and got some food out but I don't think he cleaned it out. Hard for it to reach that far down. I refrain from shooting it because I don't want...
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To bring it back on topic and add context, I found these smelly cats to be much harder to dispatch than even a cocker spaniel-sized racoon. I've just neglected to add that context and why I'm sharing an entirely off topic species.
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When it come to eliminated pests, I think coons and skunk go together, if you have one of them you probably have the other. I retrain form actions against skunks because of the difficulty of getting a stink free termination.
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Raccoons can be very large and difficult to put down, even much more so than coyotes.
Skunks can take punishment. I usually try to get a body shot on the skunks, head shot on the raccoon. I use the .25 JSB 34 as preferred. I am not against a Texas Heart Shot if it turns on me.
Rabbits (diggers) go much easier but at least a .25 Hades will surely put the smackdown on the hole digging b-tards.
Skunks can take punishment. I usually try to get a body shot on the skunks, head shot on the raccoon. I use the .25 JSB 34 as preferred. I am not against a Texas Heart Shot if it turns on me.
Rabbits (diggers) go much easier but at least a .25 Hades will surely put the smackdown on the hole digging b-tards.
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I've been using JSB Heavies (34gr) to keep the racoons away from our chickens. Most of my shots are in the 15yd range. A headshot puts them down quick. They do jump around for a few seconds, but that seems to happen with head shots regardless of what you hit them with.
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Over the past several years I've killed somewhere around 12 to 16 raccoons with a .22cal air rifle, shooting plain Crosman domed pellets. I'm shooting around 800-850 fps.
A headshot tends to result in instant lights-out. A body shot might only piss them off. But I have a setup where follow-up shots are usually fairly easy.
Regarding the traps some people are suggesting, at least around where I live I've had mixed results. I have neighbours that feed the raccoons so they're very leery of most forms of traps, as they know where they can find "sure thing" feeding stations. I can catch babies with live traps, but the adult raccoons around here, most of the time, stay far and away from all traps. I've caught one in a foot trap. I haven't had any success with body traps.
A headshot tends to result in instant lights-out. A body shot might only piss them off. But I have a setup where follow-up shots are usually fairly easy.
Regarding the traps some people are suggesting, at least around where I live I've had mixed results. I have neighbours that feed the raccoons so they're very leery of most forms of traps, as they know where they can find "sure thing" feeding stations. I can catch babies with live traps, but the adult raccoons around here, most of the time, stay far and away from all traps. I've caught one in a foot trap. I haven't had any success with body traps.
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I was considering this, using a heavier pellet for that extra penetration. I'm still really new with this rifle (PCP/air guns in general). Would changing to something heavier require me to tune my gun to accommodate it properly? or is it reasonable to shoot them with my current factory setup.
I do have a budget Chrono and I'm not opposed to giving it a go, it just shoots so nicely as is I hate to mess with it. That said, eliminating these monsters is my priority.
I managed to get another one. I think, from what I see on the cam, I have 2 left. Once their gone idk how the neighboring territories will figure it out? Maybe this is a never ending story.
This last one, shot to the head. Flipping and flapping all over. Still breathing when I approached though. Quick point blank head ended it.
I'm still shooting from 35 yards. I just can't get a good line of sight from a closer position.
Anyway, to my original question, try the heavies at current tune? Or best to dial it up? (AV Avenger 25 Bullpup 2)
Thanks everyone here... I'm grateful for all the info I can get...
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If you shoot 34s at the tune you are using for 25.4s you will get more fpe (but only 1 or 2) and deeper penetration. If they are accurate enough no need to change. My P35-25 shot 25.4s at 930 fps yesterday and 34s at 840 fps. Your Avenger should be able to do this or more.
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