Quiet coyote rifle

[redhawksixsh]

Hey guys.  I live on a hundred acres, but have neighbors close by, like 250 yards to the east and west.  Have several coyotes coming by and causing a mess in my trash.  Which handirifle/caliber would be the best to not offend my neighbors too much,  22 magnum or 357 magnum.  Most all shots under a hundred yards.  Thanks, Jeff

[Dee]

I doubt the 357 mag would carry noise wise any further than the crack of the 22, and it will definitely put the coyote down.

[trotterlg]

22 Mag could be a little light, 22 Hornet would be just the ticket I think.  Larry

[quickdtoo]

I'd consider ricochet possibilities in your decision too, the 22mag with lead bullets is real risky, I'd probably opt for the Hornet with frangible bullets.

Tim

[Dee]

Maybe I missed something. Does he have a 22 hornet, or does he  just have a 22 mag, and a 357 mag, or is he buyin?

[Lon371]

 If .22 mag and  .357 are the only options. Work with the .357 If your neighbors are socialble, let them know what you want to do.

Lonny

[Oldshooter]

What ever you shoot em with in the boiler room or head will kill em! if its light in the boiler room it may take a while. I recommend the 357, rarely are you gonna get more than one shot anyway and the 3 fitty sebn will do the job with no more noise really.

[peternap]

Out of your two choices, I'd go with the 22 mag unless you handload. Then you can get creative with the 357.

If you have good neighbors (Not many of them) use what you want.
If you have bad neighbors, use an AK and tell em to go to he.....You get the idea

[mechanic]

Go with the 357 with 38 wadcutters.  Your neighbors won't know the difference..the coyote will.

[redhawksixsh]

Thanks, guys.  I know a friend who has both the 22 mag and the 357 mag in a handi, and he will part with one or the other.  I do handload, just wondering which of the two calibers was easiest on the ears.  These coyotes keep my dogs barking all night long. They like my pasture the best and never seem to move on.

[hillbill]

persnally id use the 22 mag and lung shoot them. they will run off and die. yu wont have to dispose of them.

[mrgd]

This wasn't mentioned as an option, but a friend and I have been toying w/ the idea of loading 7.62x39 to sub sonic 300 whisper type velocities.  I don't think you could stabilize the heavy bullets often used w/ the 300, but a sub sonic 124 grain 7.62 would be good medicine for them. 

Do you have neighbors in all sdirections?  Would you have safe shots in case there was a skip shot?  If you don't have a lot of safe shot options, then I would get some #3 or 4 leg traps and do some reading on how to do a good dirt hole set.

[MSP Ret]

redhawksixsh, I have both and use a .22 Mag for coyotes out to about 100 yards, very effective with good shot placement. However since you rleoad I highly suggest the .357, you can tailor your loads and Kieth design semi wadcutters loaded to .38 Special velocities, or even store bought .38's or .357 Mags (if needed for long shots) or hollow points, if loaded fast enough to expand, will do perectly for coyotes and even more. I really like my .22 Mag but in this case it's a no-brainer, the .357 is the MUCH better choice....<><....

P.S. - I think .38's are quieter than .22 Mags and .22 Mags are about equal to .357 Mags for loudness if this helps, for sound I would go with the .357 Mag, especially if loaded to .38 Special velicity, and for effectiveness as well. Both the .38"s and .357's would have more "knock down power" in my opinion, especially at any distance....

[Doublebass73]

Easy choice if shots are 100 yards and under - .357 Mag loaded with light .38 Special 148 grain target wadcutters. These are quieter than a .22 LR never mind a .22 Magnum. Very accurate, too.

[rickt300]

I would put a steel trap (#2) out there by the trash in just the right spot. Then shoot him in the head in a safe direction with a .22.

[torpedoman]

If they are in your trash just use a sub sonic 22 long rifle and no one in the area will hear anything.

[sachel.45]

persnally id use the 22 mag and lung shoot them. they will run off and die. yu wont have to dispose of them.

bad idea if they run off and die in his neighbors yards. id use a 12 gauge and some number 4 buck shot

[Lon371]

persnally id use the 22 mag and lung shoot them. they will run off and die. yu wont have to dispose of them.

bad idea if they run off and die in his neighbors yards. id use a 12 gauge and some number 4 buck shot

Would the buck shot penetrate at 100 yards?

Lonny

[springfling]

If you have good neighbors (Not many of them) use what you want.
If you have bad neighbors, use an AK and tell em to go to he.....You get the idea

My kind of thinking!!!!  Now that was funny.

[Datil]

  Seeing where you live, I say use what you want to H___ with neighbors.
  Most would like yotes gone. Marv,

[jlwilliams]

   Since you load, the 357 is reloadable and the 22mag is not.  The economics are heavily in favor of the reloadable over the rimfire.  When you add in the lower noise option of 38 special or 357 soft loads, and the fact that it's just a bigger hole than the 22, the choice seems clear.

[Jimbo47]

Get yourself a 20 gauge slug gun, and you won't have any problems or worries of hitting the neighbors, and you'll have enough gun to get the job done.

[PHATINJUN]

I know you don't have one but my .32H&R mag Handi rifle is the most quite centerfire rifle I have ever seen I have used it to dispatch 6 yotes at night in suburbia. Never had to shoot one more than 60yrds but they have all been DRT.Only thing I think would be quiter would be subsonic .22's but not the same effects. Kurt

[fr3db3ar]

personally i'd recommend the 22 mag and shoot from inside a partially closed window.  The neighbors won't hear a thing.....if they're in your trash.... move it closer to the house for a better shot.

[Sourdough]

I use a .223 and I live in the middle of a big subdivision.  Neighbors don't have a problem with it. 

A friend who has grumpy neighbors uses a suppressor on a .308 with subsonic loads.  The bullet strike is louder than the gun, and no one knows anything about it.

I have also been reading about people using large caliber Air Rifles, .45 and .50 caliber.  Very effective and low noise. 

[Dee]

I have said this once before, but maybe it bears repeating.
Fire "once", and they skip a word or two in the paper their reading.
Fire "twice" and they stop, and say: What was that?
Fire "thrice", and the get up and go look.
Fire "four" and they call some one.
It's really that simple.

"S"HOOT
"S"HOVEL
"S"HUTUP

[Sourdough]

DEE:  You're right.

[mcwoodduck]

357 Mag out of the two.  I would use it with 38 Special 158 grain slow loads.  Even 38 S&W with the 147 will make more of a POP than a BANG.  but they are a little expensive.  I had a problem with a coyote that would dump in my dog's bowl.  I used a 32 Long rimfire on it.  I can clap louder than that gun.  But same idea.  Long barrel heavy bullet and slow speeds.  With slow 38 Specials it should be a POP rather than the CRACK BANG of the 357 Mag loads.  At the time with the Coyote I was on a 40 acer Avacado farm, with the rats and the 22 shot shells I was in a 30 house 1/4 acer developement.
I found that shooting around people during the dinner hour or shortly after with my 22LR with Bird shot was not a problem.  As Dee said no one noticed.  They did notice after 8:30 when the TV's went off.  Also noticed before dinner hours with the kids outside.
Now I would use some of the 60 grain 22LR loads out of my CZ 452 and set up over bait at 20 yards if I wanted to be quiet.  my 22Mag and my 22 Hornet are about the same volume and toss in my 17 HMR with them.

[ironglow]

  Can't speak from real experience, but something I've been thinking about..It seems that .38 wadcutters loaded to subsonic level would be the ticket. Then, if you decide to take up deer hunting ..you would have a handy little deer carbine.
        I have to agree with Dee though..from my experience, people react EXACTLY that way. Truth is, one shot leaves them wondering if that "really was a shot" or just some kid with a firecracker. The long, "peeling' sound of a high velocity rifle may be a bit different though.

[ssjohnnie]

17hmr hands down ......... 100 yards or under they drop like rocks