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FlA-10

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Jan 25, 2022
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FL, United States
Hi all, I have an issue with raccoons. Looking for a good rifle that will easily dispatch these fat asses feeding off our garbage cans. What do you guys recommend for a decent model designed to do that? Don’t necessarily need NV but it would be cool. Wouldn’t even mind having the ability to record the action. Don’t have a budget as I don’t have any idea what they cost. I’ll figure out the budget after I find Find rifle. 


TIA

Scott
 
Hi all, I was have an issue with raccoons. Looking for a good rifle that will easily dispatch these fat asses feeding off our garbage cans. What do you guys recommend for a decent model designed to do that? Don’t necessarily need NV but it would be cool. Wouldn’t even mind having the ability to record the action. Don’t have a budget as I don’t have any idea what they cost. I’ll figure out the budget after I find Find rifle. 


TIA

Scott
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A repeater in .30 or .35 caliber that can shoot Predator Polymag pellets accurately is a good place to start. A compact carbine or bullpup would likely be ideal since it sounds like you don’t need to shoot long distances. If you’re a decent shot I’m assuming you can set up and dispatch the pest animals in under 30 yards. Personally I like the Edgun R5M platform, but I don’t know where you can get one in .30 caliber. An AGT Uragan, a KalibrGun Cricket, or an FX Wildcat would be capable. 

Wildcat details https://www.airgundepot.com/fx-wildcat-mkiii-sniper-700mm-barrel-synthetic.html#AGD-523210492

AGT Uragan details https://talontunes.com/shop/uragan/

KalibrGun Cricket details https://www.airgunsofarizona.com/precharged-pcp/kalibrgun-cricket-2-wsa-.30-caliber/

If you’re feeling luxurious look at an Edgun Leshiy 2.

EDgun Leshiy 2 details https://www.edgunwest.com/store/edgun-leshiy-2/item/edgun-leshiy-2-250-mm-barrel/


Does the noise level concern you at all? If not a .357 Benjamin Bulldog is a good option and can be purchased for under $1000. They aren’t the quietest airguns.

Benjamin Bulldog details https://www.pyramydair.com/product/benjamin-bulldog-357-bullpup-shrouded?m=3592

Maybe look at some people shooting raccoons on YouTube with that particular gun. @estarkey7 also has some good videos demonstrating the gun’s capabilities. Here’s an @estarkey7 video where he’s shooting a raccoon with a .357 Benjamin Bulldog at night using an ATN night vision scope and Predator Polymag pellets at 25 yards. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iRFWtJZMlyw



He also has videos where you can see the projectiles passing through the animal I’m slow motion. Another thing to consider is power of the rifle because pellets and slugs can pass through, exit the animal, and hit something else. Some rifles are easier to adjust than others. Carefully consider this factor and the potential liability. These are just a few. Others members will comment and suggest more rifles that are capable of achieving the same goal. 
 
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unless you just want high end stuff, which the possibilities are endless in how neat and cool you can create a system ... all you need is a .25 marauder ... when you have a pest problem like that the trick is setting 'them' up, and getting them right where you want them, you dont need fancy equipment ... a 25 marauder, a light where it can be left on, and a simple regular cam in a window, which can also be your shooting postion will work as good or better than anything else ...
 
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I've read several times (though no personal experience shooting raccoons) that frontal head shots can be tricky, due to the angle of their thick skull. In other words, a shot between the eyes from straight ahead may actually deflect off the skull and exit, only wounding the critter. All animals, pests or not, deserve quick, clean ethical kills (well, other than maybe starlings...).
 
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I shoot raccoons with the Benjamin Bulldog .357. Raccoons are not only a pesky nuisance, they are predators, so they are hard to kill. I have used a .25cal 50 foot pound gun on raccoons with a headshot between the ear and the eye to get the job done, but if you can't get that shot and decide to go for the body, the raccoon will probably run off if your lucky, and run at you if you're not lucky! Using bodyshots on raccoons is even harder to do with the .30 cal Hatsan break barrel because of less penetration, and that gun is underpowered for a typical .30cal.

Taking bodyshots gives you more room for error. The first video that Ezana4CE posted I used the Benjamin Bulldog shooting 81gr Predator Polymags, and I did not get a passthrough. But these next two videos show where I used 110gr NSA slugs, and both shots got passthroughs.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxqnSF0WzbA





https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9z6H5Joxsaw

20211002_135837.1643143947.jpg


And here is the results of the quartered shot the next morning.

Note that in every case, I baited the raccoons to an area which gave me a good, safe shot. These shots took place in a residential neighborhood in the wee hours so both of my Bulldogs use suppressors to keep them quiet. They both have scopes that can see in the dark, and both scopes record video. One scope is traditional night vision with a separate IR illuminator (ATN X-Sight 4K Pro 3-14x $699) and the other is a thermal scope (ATN THOR 4 384 1.25-5x $1999). A cheaper alternative to look at for nightvision is an add-on that let you see in the dark

20210915_132742.1643143340.jpg



 
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Why does everybody recommend high end ,high dollar guns ???????? this guy wants to shoot pests in his yard . a high power Gamo in .22 will do the job .
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I can’t speak for anyone else, but I recommend costly PCP guns because I shoot guns and shop for guns that cost money. The OP didn’t state any budget constraints and I didn’t mention high-end guns with the exception of the Leshiy 2. “High-end” to me is something of proven quality priced somewhere north of around $2000. He asked for “decent” recommendations and that’s what I provided. 


What I won’t do is recommend a smaller caliber that might kill a raccoon, although I’ve taken one with a smaller caliber PCP rifle. These are animals I’ve hunted since I was a youth. 
 
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I've had a ton of success with a 25 @ 50 ft lbs. But you need to brain them. This requires patience and an accurate shot to get them to drop in their tracks so to speak. I've had best luck exactly between the eyes or side shots to the brain (emphasize accuracy).



If you just want something more forgiving when you're not precise then bump up to 30 cal assuming it's beyond 50ft lbs. But still recommend head shots to the brain. 
 
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A .30 or .357 would be a good option since like that you can opt for both head shots or body shots as it presents itself.



Don't need to spend uber dollars,.....you can get the new .357 from Artemis for 300 some buck, a friend has it and likes it a lot



I have the ATN Day Night scope and for the price is really good I think
 
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I use my Huban shooting 25 MRD’s in 22 now. Used an Edgun R3M in 25 for years. I lived on a creek that they used as a highway, didn’t hurt my neighbors had chickens. Had quite a few hat tricks, a few in the yard at the same time. I use a Wraith now. They destroyed every bird feeder I ever had. Like Sasquatch said mostly brain shots, but be warned, they bleed profusely!
 
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From Ohio as well, I have taken many racoons with my .22 cal R1 at distances of 35 yds plus. An RWS model 54 ,52 or 48 in .22 will do that or more. Guess it depends on whether he wants a self contained springer, or a more expensive PCP then having to get all the extras needed to make it work. For simple, quick pest control, cant beat a good springer!!!!
 
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From Ohio as well, I have taken many racoons with my .22 cal R1 at distances of 35 yds plus. An RWS model 54 ,52 or 48 in .22 will do that or more. Guess it depends on whether he wants a self contained springer, or a more expensive PCP then having to get all the extras needed to make it work. For simple, quick pest control, cant beat a good springer!!!!
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Well actually is quite the opposite,



for quick pest control can't beat,....even a bottom line PCP :)



.......Only need to rack the bolt or sidelever and also with a magazine you have a number of quick shots at your disposal,

on top of that the first shot on a PCP is a sure thing, not so on a springer where often the first cold shot is way off, and then you need to ad on the hold sensitivity on springers and you sure don't have that in PCPs, and then power...



Jeez PCP just wins in every department, LOL







.....also the more expensive part is fiction for less then 400 bucks you can get a PCP that is way more accurate and powerful and a Handpump, and that is less then a good springer
 
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