Hammerli - Any good for Raccoons

[dougk]

I noticed the Hammerli Storm with scope is on sale for $145 at Cabelas.

Is it any good?  Also is 1000 fps enough to dispatch a raccoon with a body shot?

thanks

Doug

[doc_kreipke]

In my experience, 1000 fps is not enough to routinely dispatch those vile ring-tailed demons with a body shot. I got lucky once, but that was a hit on the varmint's exposed underbelly (12 yards, Air Arms ProSport, .177 Beeman Crow Magnum pellet). I was actually surprised that he croaked. Judging from the entry site, I'd say that the round probably penetrated enough to put a hole in the aorta. Hits on the chest or flank have just annoyed them.

Other hits where I've had some success: nasal bridge, where the nose joins the skull; skull just above the eye socket; side of head just under the ear.

So, my personal opinion is that 1000 fps can get the job done, but shot placement is the key factor.

[dougk]

thanks

I get the shot placement thing.  But when its at night and rhe raccoon is running spot placement is the body.

[doc_kreipke]

Yup ... The aforementioned targets were stationary, in a well-lit area, blissfully munching on suet in my bird feeders. If you can hit a fleeing raccoon in the dark, you're a better man than I.

Many moons ago, there was a similar thread (check out "Anti-raccoon rounds" under my byline). As I recall, one of the contributors stated that to reliably take out a raccoon with a body shot, you'd need something as powerful as a Beeman Crow-Magnum, Theoben Eliminator or such. I'm not familiar wth Hammerli specs, but I would bet that it doesn't have enough muzzle energy to kill a raccoon with a body hit.