Calling coons....what's your preferred firestick

[Bristleback]

Will likely try calling some coon this fall......what's your recommended firearm set up, thanks.

[Corey]

A ruger 10/22 mag is the perfect gun for coon calling.

Any 22mag bolt action will work fine though.

Coon calling is pretty fast and furious at times, and they are tough to anchor with a 22lr.

[stickbowhntr]

Corey, have you ever used a rimfire 17 of anything? What for ammo do you use in the 22mag? Too bad we can't use semis here or I'd go with a hot one I have ( very good shooter).

[Corey]

I've never used a 17 rimfire for coon, I can't tell you how it would preform.

All I know is those coon that come into the call have their dander up and are hard to stop with a 22lr.

[stickbowhntr]

Corey,what preferance do you have on the mag ammo?

[Bristleback]

Anyone use a 17HMR or 17Mach 2 on coon?

[17HMR]

Yup, Kills em dead, buddy had a 22 mag so I bought a 17 to compare to it. right now I would say if you have a 22 mag use it I dont think you gain anything with the 17, calling coon( mostly 10 to 40 yard shots). However if they ever come out with a 25 grain bullet for the 17, I think at coon calling ranges it would be a little better.

[edge]

Ruger 7722 in 22 WMR,all weather,laminate,any 4xplus scope with a 40 mm bell or better.I couldnt have said it btter than Corey,the coons are PUMPED when called,the only times I would use a 22 rf on called coon would be A)ADC,or B)when I sold in the round.

Edge

PS I use the smallest light that Optronics makes(clips on the scope and has a switch you can mount on the forearm).

[qwagoner]

I have both a 10/22 mag and a 17 HMR Volquartsen but to compare the two would be tuff as they both have their strong points. My only consideration when deciding between the two for coon calling would be safety issues. Coon calling doesn’t always end up with a coon charging the caller on the ground. You will be shooting a lot of coon out of trees meaning a missed shot or pass through will send a bullet to God knows where. In my country we are very rural so the chances of being hit in the head by a falling bullet would be far less than being struck by lightning. But that being said I would think a 17gr bullet would cause much less damage falling back to earth than a 40 grainer.

Also I would really consider a semi-auto for the task. Not all shots find there mark exactly so it is very important to get a wounded coon killed before he gets back in the hole. No one likes to wound animals and if a coon dies in the hole it is ruined for at least the rest of the season. It is a lose, lose situation.

Good hunting.

Q,

[minaskaoutdoors]

I agree with Quinton the 22 mag and .17 HMR both have their strong points. When it comes to covering ten shots with a dime @50 or 100 yards the 17 has the nod. We have used the Volquartsen 22 Mag Superlites for several years with excellent results. We just started using the Volquartsen Fusion with the 17 barrel last season and it is also impressive.

The "ULTIMATE" setup would be the Fusion with both barrels.....but I have shot five coons off the call with a bolt action Marlin and I would have to admit the "RUSH" factor was a little higher with the Marlin.

Here is a little clip to get you pumped up

www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzkptYCsEu0

[Bristleback]

For a couple reasons, I'd prefer the 17HMR over the 22mag.........NOW a couple questions:

**Did some checking, seems that Remington is having lots of issues with their 17HMR auto, model 597.......Any good 17HMR autos out there?

If one were to us a 22LR auto, for calling coon...is there a HOT 22LR round that is a coon stopper? I love my 10-22.....accurate and OHHH so reliable.

[stickbowhntr]

what bolt guns do you guys like, here in PA we CAN NOT use semis( I wish we could got a very accurate 10/22) so would have to consider a "NEW" gun and here I have been getting rid of some just to buy more traps.lol.....Do you like the polymer tips or reg Hp mag ammo?

[Bristleback]

Personally for an over the counter gun a Savage is hard to beat, sure not the most stylish......but they are hard to beat accuracy wise....out of the box. Get the trigger the way you like it. This will sure fire this thread up...LOL

Going custom, different story.

[buckfreak]

Bristleback, I have the Savage I showed you and I forgot to show you the .17 I have. It's a Ruger, in .17hmr. It's a lever action version of the 10/22. It might be a 77/22? Not sure but it is a fast action and pretty accurate. I think it's a tossup on these two calibers for coon.

[rk660]

semi auto marlin 22 mag, with smallxexon bulb shooting light/lazer combo that mounts to scope ring with formarm switch. a semi auto is the way to go as allows you to dump 2-3 shots quick into body on runners. light mentioned gets out to 50 yards pretty well for shooting light, and enough light to shoot at eyes to about 80, be sure you know what your shooting at. Like quinton mentioned many will just go up a tree and sit. lazer is the nuts for fast chargers, can shoot from hip if needed. 22 mag needed to really stop them on running body shots, 22 lr just wont cut it. 17 are nice if shooting all head shots but fail on body shots. now if one could find a mag that would shoot like a 17 youd really have something. forearm switch is the best thing you can do for a night shooting light, as you dont have to take eye off scope to activate light. about any light can be fitted by getting a flush mount normally open 12 volt switch, and tapping into the positive wire. in bobcat country dont be surprised to have one come into coon sounds, if you see a cat, turn volume down real low and switch to high pitched bird if possible, usually youll get a sitting head shot at the glowing eyes.