Cartridge for beaver

[labnoti]

For a beaver in a trap, a rimfire cartridge is fine. For a 50 yard shot on a swimming beaver, given the choices of cartridges you mentioned, I suggest a centerfire rifle cartridge loaded with Trail Boss. Load the .223 with Trail Boss powder. With Trail Boss, a 55 grain bullet can be shot out of a .223 with subsonic velocities (around 1075 fps with a 24" barrel). That's going to hit harder and penetrate better than a 22 LR without being explosive on impact. You might even be able to use a hollowpoint at those velocities and have it stay intact without much expansion owing to the design having integrity at triple that speed.

Besides Trail Boss, you can also use some other high speed powders in .223 like Titegroup and Clays. They achieve a similar velocity. Hodgdon publishes data for all three.

 

[Jack Ryan]

Yup!................Once tried a .22 short to the head as the beaver was on the dam not sliding down the drowning wire yet when found, Well needless to say, That did not work! 22 LR did, up close and personal.

22 LR is "ok" if all you are doing is exterminating vermin but you want "one shot, one kill" in the head, thats the money. ANYTHING you can hit them in the head with bigger than a 22LR is going to be pretty good. I killed a lot with a 22 WMR and 17HMR, both. If you are looking at a $20 bill out there or more, take your 223 or the other 22 center fire you have PRACTICED with and have it zeroed dead on the money at the distance you are killing them.

If they start rolling, they are gonna dive, then you have to shoot 'em again or you won't find it until it starts to rot and floats up. All your money is gone out of that. If you shoot it again after it is shot once, a head shot is just going to be dead luck, more than I've ever seen to make two head shots on one beaver and no more to get it back, LOL, nah I don't think that is gonna happen and even one hole in the body and at least half your money is gone.

 

[brewer12345]

Money not an issue. I am learning to tan and will keep and use the furs. Agree the target is a moving dollar bill. Need to fool with the centerfires I have.

 

[d2wing]

I have only ever used a 7.62x39. I would consider a .223 or 5.56. I agree a .22 mag might be a good choice and much better than a 22lr.

 

[CraigC]

To me, coons and possums are fine with the .22LR but something the size of a big beaver begs for a rimfire magnum.

 

[horsey300]

Money not an issue. I am learning to tan and will keep and use the furs. Agree the target is a moving dollar bill. Need to fool with the centerfires I have.

More like a moving quarter with large dividends if handled properly