I need to spend somewhere my existing stock of AA and HD 15gners before I make a jump
I have only shot at raccoons twice in my life. So not a whole lot of data points. One was .22 Crosman 14.3 pellet running 900 FPS, direct hit between the eyes at about 25 yards. The coon was dead in a few seconds. The other was .25 JSB 25.4 pellets running 900 FPS at about 30 yards. This coon was smaller than the first but it took 4 shots. It was sleeping with its back facing me. It didn't even move after the first 2 shots, the 3rd one woke him up and he started to climb up. I had a very good exposed head and placed the 4th pellet to the side of his head. It dropped dead without any additional movement. Headshot is what you need. I bet .177 to the ear would do it. I wouldn't take a shot at a raccoon if my gun is not supported by a bipod or a bag.I have been seeing raccoon’s in the early mornings around 6:30-7:00 heading back to their homes. I have been stalking them in my upstairs window to have an elevated view of my backyard and neighbors yard. Well this morning I managed to shoot both raccoons in the head and that did absolutely nothing! The shoots were about 30yds away center of head. I know I nailed the first one pretty good but it managed to scurry off. I waited a few minutes and I saw the one I just shot and it was unfazed and made it back to its sewer hole. A few minutes later I saw the other coon trying to get back home and I shot it also in the head and it ran off as wellWTF! The weapon of choice is a .22 m3 using hades at about 900 fps which is plenty to take out the coons. I think it’s time to ditch the 22 barrel for a 25 I didn’t like those coons running off not one bit!!
Are you shooting for fun or for results? Use the best tool/ammo that gets the job done. When I shoot raccoons, I used the Bulldog .357 taking bodyshots shooting 110gr NSA slugs, but I am confident the Bulldog shooting Hybrid Slugs will be a safer bet with no overpenetration like the NSA slugs.
To verify your shot hold over, do a postmortem test. Put a Target down where the raccoon was and take a few shots exactly as you did for the raccoon and see where the pellets hit. If you don't have the small group size you could have missed and if the shots aren't going where you thought it did then your holdover was incorrect. For raccoons I always set up a bait station at a known location and prior to taking shots verify that my gun is hitting small groups at the exact location. Take nothing for chance. The zero could have changed you could have regulator creep or number of other factors.
X 2 on the Baracuda 21grs. I seen the same results on big groundhogs . I have had lighter slugs skip off the heads on angles , so I only take side or front quartering head shots w/ pellets and moved up in weight w/ slugs. I keep the range under 50 yrds w/ MY guns.
My gun is dead on out to 50 yards but I did do a couple of test zero shots after the coon ran off and the POI was dead center
Then you just had raccoon fever. It happens, just part of trying to take an animals life. The biggest thing I try to remember when shooting a critter over 10 pounds with an airgun is reminding myself how underpowered I am. And that goes for my slug guns too. It’s a reminder to really focus and try to be precise, or pass on the shot. We all hope for a highlight reel shot when we are rushed or excited, but most don’t end well. If you didn’t kill them, they will generally be back. Smarter, maybe with only one eye, but they’ll be back.
www.airgunnation.com I enjoy shooting as well, but if there is a problem pest that needs to be dealt with, I use the most effective methods at my disposal.
