Caliber for coyote and raccoons.

[Roadkill2228]

Because no one seems to be advocating it, I must bring to attention the .22 hornet. Much less power, and VERY much less noise than other centerfire varmint rounds...but far more potent than rim fire rounds, ethical killing with conventional body shots on coyotes at the ranges listed. I believe savage offers a nice bolt gun in the hornet. Sounds like just the ticket here.

[Lucas McCain]

I agree partially with Art E. we have an older couple, and according to the OP they don't seem to be very well acquainted with firearms. They may live in a rural area, but I doubt if you would consider it "open range". The issue here is safety. Do they have the training to consider what is behind the target. Are they really qualified to use a high powered rifle. What is the environment of their location. How close are neighbors, or livestock, equipment, buildings, public roads.
If they need a gun, a 20 ga. single shot is my recommendation.
A live trap would be more economical than a gun, and for all involved safer.

[loic]

Here 17 hmr, good enough with remington ammo, cci seem to open up a bit more. I was on top of my hood, so not the best set up, 100 meters group of 5

[gyvel]

A .223 would be fine, or perhaps a cheaper option, i.e. an SKS in 7.62x39, which seems to be particularly effective on coyotes (got plenty of 'em around me).

[Art Eatman]

I'll shoot the occasional coyote because we're in competition for quail. Otherwise, not being in the pet/poultry bidness, they don't really bother my world.

Coons are fun to play with. They like hen scratch, and birdseed from my hanging feeder. I occasionally have one on my porch, in a vulnerable position. They get very upset when I poke them in the ribs, and my raucous laughter doesn't help their emotional condition even a little bit.

[Gunplummer]

Anybody new to guns, a single shot shotgun. I shot a lot of coons when trapping, and a .22 is O.K. for head shots (Except a .22 short!), but a shotgun is better if you are new to the game.

[Sure Shot Mc Gee]

+1 for a 410 ~~~What I had in mind.
Little 410 single shot shooting 2-1/2"__#4 bird shot shells exhibit plenty woop a_ _ fire power having little recoil. Especially suitable for any yard varmint I know of. With a Slug chambered. Best have a pointed nose shovel handy.

[reynolds357]

A big variable would be whether they will be shooting the coons on the ground or in a tree. I would say .223 if they are shooting them on the ground. Unless the nearest neighbor is 5 miles away, I am not shooting a .223 at a coon in a tree. My friend was shooting buzzards in a tree several years ago with a .223. He hit a teenage girl 2 1/2 miles away in her wrist. Its amazing how much damage the round still does.

[Unlicensed Dremel]

.223 rem, .222 rem, .221 fireball, .219 wasp, .22 hornet, .22 K-hornet, .20 Tactical, .20 vartag, .19 calhoun hornet, and all the rest in this general range - there are dozens of others. They've been popular for decades for a reason, chambering in this general family. Small enough for p-dogs, big enough for yotes & beaver. And everything in between.

[SVTCobra306]

My choice would probably be a .204 Ruger. 40 or 45 grain rounds will be more than adequate for what they want to do.

[BWM]

The 223 is a very good way to go! There is a lot of 223 makers out there. The savage Ax and the Rem 783 they are both good guns and will not cost and arm or a lag. I hope that they will take tour advice.

[SVTCobra306]

Because no one seems to be advocating it, I must bring to attention the .22 hornet. Much less power, and VERY much less noise than other centerfire varmint rounds...but far more potent than rim fire rounds, ethical killing with conventional body shots on coyotes at the ranges listed. I believe savage offers a nice bolt gun in the hornet. Sounds like just the ticket here.

Fifteen years ago I'd have agreed in a heartbeat. Today, Hornet ammo is just too expensive and hard to find. For a handloader it's a non issue, but to somebody who has to buy it retail it is harder to justify. I had thought .17 Hornet but dismissed it for the same reason.


Another economical thought would be .22 Magnum, I have no experience shooting coyotes with it, but in close to a residence it should do an acceptable job.

[agtman]

For the 'yotes, choice of cartridge would depend on the distance at which shots are likely to be taken in their locale, and the shooter's skill to make the shot, but .223/5.56mm would be the default choice.

For racoons, you don't need more than a .22l.r.

Took this one (about 44lbs) at about 35yds, give or take ...



... using 60gns of subsonic rimfire:

[dakiwi13]

Might be overkill for the application but i use my 300 bo ar15, then again i use 300 on everything from coons to black bears

[Gunplummer]

My one neighbor used subsonic on ground hogs, with bad results. Isn't that loaded below what a short is? That coon looks about 12-15 pounds. I used .22 short hollow points to kill coon and fox in traps. One morning I shot a large coon in the forehead and it dropped like a stone. That should have told me something right there. Head shots usually have nerve movements after. I was just at the beginning of the line, so I left it lay and was going to throw it in my pack on the way out. When I came back there was one ****** off coon sitting there like the RCA dog, and growling at me. I got out a .22 Long Rifle and shot him again. I skinned the coon and found the first bullet. Apparently, when coons get older, they grow a sheet of muscle across the top of their head. The first bullet went through the muscle and flattened out on the bone, knocking him out. I was lucky I was not at the end of the line and threw him in my pack.

[Art Eatman]

Looks like we've wandered away from talking about the problems of the old folks, and what non-gunners could use.