best gun/caliber for shooting..................

Plink Floyd · 07-09-2005, 08:53 PM

I shot two of them over the Fourth of July weekend that were trying to kill my father-in-law's geese. I was using a old Savage .222 bolt gun. killed both of them cleanly with torso shots at 100 or so yards. That was his gun, and it was what I had at the time. I'd use a heavier caliber/load just to be sure. I love dogs too much. I know, they're feral, and should be killed, but they deserve a humane death. I say anything would probably work, but heavy 22-250, or 243 and up for me. just my two cents.

07-09-2005, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Otter

Savage Model 12 with Accu-trigger in .204 Ruger

I wonder why there is almost always a response for a question like this mentioning the newest "Super Blaster" of the moment..the one that all the gunrags are shilling for their advertisers

pipsqueak · 07-10-2005, 07:02 PM

It does seem like there are advertisements on these forums all the
time now that you mention it.

georgeld · 07-15-2005, 10:43 PM

Mostly it depends on the range, neighbor problems etc.

We kill dogs quite often that people have dumped out in the country that have joined up with coyotes. Three things happen: they are killed, whipped into line and become one of the pack, or IF they are big and bad enough to whip the coyotes they'll be leader of the pack and get into much more mischief than coyotes on their own. Couple yrs ago a Rotwieler leading a pack stood his ground with the land owner trying to enter his property. He called me. A .223 did a job on it in an instant death scene. That's what we use, or partner uses a .17 Rem. Both seem to be instant death at the shot with a body hit nearly all the time.

Tell us more about the situation.

George

utahvarminter · 07-24-2005, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DANA

22-250

DANA

I 2nd the motion, 22-250 in a 55, or 64 grain ballistic-tip, should get the job done.

for the gun, a Heavy barreled(for shooting alot of them buggers) Bolt action rifle. My bet would to go with the Savage 12 Vaminter Low-Profile.

however if you want it to be lighter weight for stalking, go with a semi-varminter(remington makes two I believe)

Bountyhunter · 07-27-2005, 05:03 PM

On the ranch we carried an old 1906 Winchester pump for years. It accounted for untold numbers of coyotes and dogs. A few years ago, we took it in the house to retire and put SKS's in the ranch trucks. Russian ammo works just fine.

Coyotes and dogs are not normally difficult to kill, most going down with one shot, even from the .22 long rifle.

I did however encounter one situation which scared me. I had been chasing this guy for several weeks, he had quite a bounty on his head and I located him in a town in Kansas. Knowing the address, I slipped into town and cased out the house and decided to go in though the back. There was a picket fence around the yard which I stepped over and headed for the back door. The house set up about a hundred feet from the alley giving it a large back yard. About half way to the house, a big Rottweiler came blasting around the house and braced me from about 15 feet away. I had a handfull of warrants in my left hand and my .45 in the back of my belt. The dog went into the crouch that they do just before they spring and I threw the papers at him, temporarily distracting him and drew my .45. He had not barked or even growled at that time but I knew he intended to have me, and there was no way I could get to the house or back over the fence without him getting me. When he looked up from the papers, I put two quick Golden Sabre 230 gr hollowpoints right in his chest. He did not even flinch, his lips peeled back and he began his spring, and I put the third one in his forehead. Even that big old 230 gr hollowpoint did not knock him off his feet. He just sort of went cross-eyed and melted down where he was.

The guy I was after came boiling out of the back door to see what happened to his dog, and since I had the gun in my hand, I detained him, cuffed and shackled him and picked up the papers to serve him and left by the alley.

I stopped at the SO on the way out to let them know what the shooting had been about, and the undersheriff said, "It appears to be self defense to me." I left them copies of the warrants and set about to deliver my fugitive.

Had the dog not been adrenalined up, or had he been at a safe distance, I'm sure he would have died from the two shots into the chest. I have no doubt that they were heart shots. But, at real close range, I advise having something between you and the dog, or have a shotgun that will knock them down.

Bill

alraicer · 07-31-2005, 10:44 PM

I have done .243 on many coyote and a former room mate went the .30-06 route with some great success with both.

SilverRun · 07-31-2005, 11:13 PM

Pretty much everything listed above will work fine. But, I would like to point out that if you have neighbors close by - shoot em in the head or they will make a god aweful amount of noise. No one will have to guess what you just shoot. I was raised on a cattle farm - I had to shoot them outa our cows pretty frequently. I like dogs as much as the next guy, but sometimes they just gotta go. Be careful though - not many people see it that way anymore. They convicted a guy down my way recently for shooting a dog. I think it was a felony something or other - no more guns! Descretion may be more important here than firepower. .22 pistol to the back of the head would be very descrete - if you can get up close. Good luck!

SilverRun · 07-31-2005, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilverRun

... But, I would like to point out that if you have neighbors close by - shoot em in the head or they will make a god aweful amount of noise. ...!

Shoot the dogs not the neighbors!

Read what I posted after hitting the send button - need to do that before I hit send!

Later

practical · 07-31-2005, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pipsqueak

It does seem like there are advertisements on these forums all the
time now that you mention it.

Can the mods see if the IP's trace back to Connecticut?

mark8252 · 08-18-2005, 09:21 PM

Several of my (Colorado) rancher friends take out coyotes in their yards at night with a simple 22lr rifle.
Just because bigger calibers are made does not mean you need them.
These same men hunt elk with lever action 30-30's. Just like their Grandfathers did.

mark8252 · 09-05-2005, 09:05 PM

Just about any rifle will take out a dog. I used to do it with a 22 rifle when I was fishing all night. I had a 357 with me for backup but never needed it.

chester12 · 09-26-2005, 06:18 PM

What ever you have in your hands at the time that you see them.

09-05-2005, 09:05 PM	#32
mark8252 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 181	My Choice? Just about any rifle will take out a dog. I used to do it with a 22 rifle when I was fishing all night. I had a 357 with me for backup but never needed it.

07-09-2005, 08:53 PM	#21
Plink Floyd Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 43	I shot two of them over the Fourth of July weekend that were trying to kill my father-in-law's geese. I was using a old Savage .222 bolt gun. killed both of them cleanly with torso shots at 100 or so yards. That was his gun, and it was what I had at the time. I'd use a heavier caliber/load just to be sure. I love dogs too much. I know, they're feral, and should be killed, but they deserve a humane death. I say anything would probably work, but heavy 22-250, or 243 and up for me. just my two cents.

07-10-2005, 07:02 PM	#23
pipsqueak Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Southwest Washington State Posts: 78	It does seem like there are advertisements on these forums all the time now that you mention it.

07-15-2005, 10:43 PM	#24
georgeld Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 22	Mostly it depends on the range, neighbor problems etc. We kill dogs quite often that people have dumped out in the country that have joined up with coyotes. Three things happen: they are killed, whipped into line and become one of the pack, or IF they are big and bad enough to whip the coyotes they'll be leader of the pack and get into much more mischief than coyotes on their own. Couple yrs ago a Rotwieler leading a pack stood his ground with the land owner trying to enter his property. He called me. A .223 did a job on it in an instant death scene. That's what we use, or partner uses a .17 Rem. Both seem to be instant death at the shot with a body hit nearly all the time. Tell us more about the situation. George

07-27-2005, 05:03 PM	#26
Bountyhunter Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: New Mexico Territory Posts: 103	On the ranch we carried an old 1906 Winchester pump for years. It accounted for untold numbers of coyotes and dogs. A few years ago, we took it in the house to retire and put SKS's in the ranch trucks. Russian ammo works just fine. Coyotes and dogs are not normally difficult to kill, most going down with one shot, even from the .22 long rifle. I did however encounter one situation which scared me. I had been chasing this guy for several weeks, he had quite a bounty on his head and I located him in a town in Kansas. Knowing the address, I slipped into town and cased out the house and decided to go in though the back. There was a picket fence around the yard which I stepped over and headed for the back door. The house set up about a hundred feet from the alley giving it a large back yard. About half way to the house, a big Rottweiler came blasting around the house and braced me from about 15 feet away. I had a handfull of warrants in my left hand and my .45 in the back of my belt. The dog went into the crouch that they do just before they spring and I threw the papers at him, temporarily distracting him and drew my .45. He had not barked or even growled at that time but I knew he intended to have me, and there was no way I could get to the house or back over the fence without him getting me. When he looked up from the papers, I put two quick Golden Sabre 230 gr hollowpoints right in his chest. He did not even flinch, his lips peeled back and he began his spring, and I put the third one in his forehead. Even that big old 230 gr hollowpoint did not knock him off his feet. He just sort of went cross-eyed and melted down where he was. The guy I was after came boiling out of the back door to see what happened to his dog, and since I had the gun in my hand, I detained him, cuffed and shackled him and picked up the papers to serve him and left by the alley. I stopped at the SO on the way out to let them know what the shooting had been about, and the undersheriff said, "It appears to be self defense to me." I left them copies of the warrants and set about to deliver my fugitive. Had the dog not been adrenalined up, or had he been at a safe distance, I'm sure he would have died from the two shots into the chest. I have no doubt that they were heart shots. But, at real close range, I advise having something between you and the dog, or have a shotgun that will knock them down. Bill

07-31-2005, 10:44 PM	#27
alraicer Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 134	I have done .243 on many coyote and a former room mate went the .30-06 route with some great success with both.

07-31-2005, 11:13 PM	#28
SilverRun Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: AL Posts: 1,666	Pretty much everything listed above will work fine. But, I would like to point out that if you have neighbors close by - shoot em in the head or they will make a god aweful amount of noise. No one will have to guess what you just shoot. I was raised on a cattle farm - I had to shoot them outa our cows pretty frequently. I like dogs as much as the next guy, but sometimes they just gotta go. Be careful though - not many people see it that way anymore. They convicted a guy down my way recently for shooting a dog. I think it was a felony something or other - no more guns! Descretion may be more important here than firepower. .22 pistol to the back of the head would be very descrete - if you can get up close. Good luck!

08-18-2005, 09:21 PM	#31
mark8252 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 181	Several of my (Colorado) rancher friends take out coyotes in their yards at night with a simple 22lr rifle. Just because bigger calibers are made does not mean you need them. These same men hunt elk with lever action 30-30's. Just like their Grandfathers did.

09-26-2005, 06:18 PM	#33
chester12 Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 49	What ever you have in your hands at the time that you see them.