What caliber for armadillos

[The Reverend]

I seem to have developed a problem.

The property that I manage has laid down sod early last fall (not my call). The sod has not rooted in the soil as of yet and I have developed a nasty armadillo problem.

These little buggers are coming into the yard late at night and are literally flipping over the pieces of sod to get at the food source they are seeking. With two acres of property that has been professionally landscaped, you can see how I might be getting sick of "resodding" everyday.

I do not have the opportunity to have the yard treated, and I see no other recource but to humanly dispose of the critters. So, I thought I would float the question to you folks. What caliber would you recommend for disposing of the armadillos? If a .22 is adequate that would be my preference, but if something like a 1000 fps. Gamo air rifle is adequate that would also be a viable option. Keep in mind that excessive noise is an issue so a cannon or howitzer is really not an option.

Feel free to give any other suggestions as well. If there is a simple non-violent solution, I would love to hear it.

Thanks, in advance, for your thoughts.

Peter

 

[Hoploholic]

I would say that anything above a 22 lr should get the job done. I would like to caution you about touching the critters after you dispatch them. They are know to carry the bacteria that causes leprosy or Hanson's disease.

 

[HankB]

A magnum .177 air rifle (>1000 ft/sec) will penetrate the shell and kill them. They'll probably run off a bit, but if you place the shot carefully, no more armadillo. The problem is, pellets are so light, velocity falls off quickly. You'll have to get close, probably within 50 feet. And 30 would be better.

A .22 would be more effective - a standard velocity hollow point out of a longish barrel wouldn't be too loud. If you shoot from an open window, with the muzzle well inside, the outdoor "pop" won't be excessive.

 

[Diggler]

Don't you think you might need some armor-piercing ammo for these guys?

 

[The Reverend]

Dirk Diggler???



Hence part of the reason for my beginning this thread...

 

[Art Eatman]

Ya gotta be careful. Armadillos are the most vicious animals known to man. What other animal would lie on its back in the middle of the road, waiting to trap a car?

Anyhow, a standard velocity .22 LR is plenty adequate for them.

Armadillos eat earthworms. They just really go bonkers over them! So, earthworms make good bait if you want to use a HavAHart-type trap.

Armadillo poop is rather smelly, however. I guess it's a dietary thing. (Sounds reasonable to me.) Ergo, to wit and therefore, be advised...

Art

 

[critter]

I'd say a .22 rimfire is about minimum and with that you may have several kills but failure to stop as they are likely to run off. Solves your problem though.

I have used .44 mag to good effect and a .357 mag hollow point works well. (I know, I know, noise!)

The absolute BEST was some 150 gr flat point bullets designed for use in a 30-30. I loaded them good and hot in a 30-06 and they shot quite well. On the 'dillo's, they absolutely EXPLODED them as in DRT (dead RIGHT THERE!) Again, noise though.

Good luck with the pests!

 

[Brian Williams]

I have heard that a 1894 Marlin in 357 is the ticket, use 125 gr hps

 

[Ky Larry]

Many years ago (1971), I was stationed at Lackland AFB in San Antonio for basic training. One day on the rifle range an armadillo ran across the range right in front of the targets (100 yds). I can tell you from first hand observation that a .223 NATO ball round is VERY effective against an armadillo attack.

 

[MeekandMild]

I used to hunt them in the rain when I lived on the gulf coast. They usually come out at night, but on rainy days they get up early and move about, grunting to themselves like pigs.

The only thing I ever used was a Marlin 336 in .35 Rem, made back in the 70s with some sort of tough plastic paint on the wood. So I don't have any other real recommendation. It sort of makes them puff out like popcorn getting ready to pop. A good coat of paste wax or vaseline will make an old Marlin just about waterproof. My Viet Nam vet friends tell me a condom over the muzzle helps, but I just shook out the little bit of water that got in thataway.

I suppose if you could find an old nylon 66 that would be just about perfect. Just paste wax any metal that shows and you're ready to, er, wade into them.

 

[TarpleyG]

My dad has(had) the same problem. He bought a single shot .410 and loads it with heavy bird shot. Seems to do the job just fine. Only problem is, you have to stay up all night and wait for 'em.

GT

 

[Greybeard]

Remington .22 Sub-Sonic sounds like a fit, altho they do generate some noise. The longer the barrel, the quieter. IIRC, 38 grains at around 1000 fps.

Trappin' 'em of course is another option that might save some time - but then maybe again not . If they've already got 2 acres of prime habitat, getting the trap set in right place at right time could be a trick. Te little fellows can sometimes be "helped" into the cage by using a couple of long boards stood on edge to form a "V" into entrance of trap. While the manufacturers of the traps (coon size recommended) can give you some other suggested baits, another trick of the trade is to suspend a little sack (made from a foot of your wife's panty hose full of nightcrawlers) at the far end of the trap. (And keep it moist.) Also, you would want to put some cardboard on the floor of the trap or else the wire on their tootsies may inhibit their desire to enter.

Either way, they can take some real patience.

 

[Diggler]

Here's a little tip... with all that armor on them, they're pretty much blind if you sneak up directly behind them. When vacationing in FL many years ago, we'd go out at night just for fun and try to catch them. Got our hands on them but they always pulled away (hadn't heard about the leprosy threat at that time). Later we found that they are so strong from digging that you'd have to pick them up instantly so they didn't get leverage.

If you get that close, a sledgehammer would crack 'em like a walnut!

 

[twoblink]

If you want free fertalizer, then a 30-06 will do just fine

I think a .357Mag rifle (Marlin or Timberwolf) sounds perfect here...

BTW.. they are fast little suckers when they want to be..

 

[Greybeard]

' Recon some may need a repeat of The Reverend's statement: "Keep in mind that excessive noise is an issue so a cannon or howitzer is really not an option."

 

[Watchman]

The most amazing thing I ever saw was an armadillo that walked right in front of our 600 yard target as we were shooting at a 9"steel plate. We had already shot .308 and .300 and two of us had migrated to out 50 BMG single shots.

Since we were already zeroed, I figured what the heck.

The .50 exploded that critter and it reminded me of a balloon being popped. Armadillo was everywhere. I would have bet you a coke that the fifty would have jsut left an half inch hole in it but it didnt.

I think that armadillos have around 5 gallons of blood in them.

Ive shot em with just about everything at one time or another, form the .22 to the .50 and most things in between, they'll all work.

 

[Surely]

quiet

If you have an accurate .22 the super colbri shells with the 20 grain bullet will take them if you get a good head shot. Else I would use some sort of subsonic 22 shell in a bolt action, that would also be pretty quiet, the longer the barrel the better for controling noise. Also a bow would be fun to shoot them with I bet, I used to shoot gophers with my bow. It was pretty funny watching them jump up and down for a few seconds with the arrow through them.

 

[The Reverend]

Much Appreciation

Well guys you have done it again...

I every door in life that I walk through, it is my goal to have a little more knowledge leaving than when I originally came in. And this is one of those cases.

I have decided to pick up a basic Ruger 10/22 at what I hope is a good price (which is someting I wanted to do anyway) and we will see how that goes. I am also think of a .22 handgun in the near future as well. Thinking again Ruger, but in this case a sp-101.

Again thanks and I will let yall know just how I perform.

Peter

 

[Harry Tuttle]

so the 50 bmg "temporary" cavity is larger than an armadillo

 

[Newt]

Here's the deal, if you're not eating the critter (and I assume you aren't) then who cares! 50 BMG would do the job, a bit messy but would do the job the same as a .223.

BTW, Diggler, them buggers are hard to catch. Tried to do it for several years. Finally caught one who tried to get into a hole smaller than him. I couldn't pull him out for the life of me. Once they get a hold, they are stuck there.

 

[Ol' Badger]

Dirk Diggler and Piercing

Hmmm........

 

[Greybeard]

Reverend -

Just saw Ruger ad in gun rag on new "40'th Anniversary" model of 10/22. It appears to come with an extra magazine, a clear one as well as standard black.

If ya don't aleady know about, ya might wanna check out http://www.22ammo.com/.

While Rem. Subsonics may be readily available in most stores, I've found this site handy for at least onesey-twosey purchases of harder-to-find loads. Subsonic and weightwise/penetrationwise, near the high and low ends, ya might wanna try a box each of Aquilla 60 grainers and CCI Long CBs (either of which may cause the 10/22 to malf. after first shot - not generally a problem with Rem. subsonics.)

FWIW, altho the quietest of any of the rimfires, I'm not a believer in Aquilla's primer-only loads for any more than maybe just paper punchin'. ' Hit a crow head-on COM with one and it flew off, so also probably way underpowered for 'dillos too.

Happy huntin'.

 

[Smoke]

.22's work great. My Grandmother dispatched many an armadillo with an old Savage single shot loaded with .22 shorts. (Don't mess with her vegetable patch)

I've shot armadillos with every gun I own. All worked fine. Never tried an air-rifle but I do know from experience that a Red Rider BB gun will not penetrate the armor. Armadillos are very easy to catch, you can sneak up behind them and grab their tail and yank 'em off the ground. Just hold on tight! They tend to flop a bit.

If you gather up about a dozen or so you can turn them loose in the hall of the local high school and.....ummmmm.....never mind.

Smoke

 

[Surely]

Super Colbri

These out of my 10/22 will penetrate about 100 pages of one of my college books. but they are very inconsistent and some barely make it out the barrel, but that is fairly rare. They are incredibly quiet though, They drop pretty fast so practice with them at the range you will be using them, I aim about 2 inches high at 15 yards if I remember right. They will not cycle the action of a 10/22 so you have to cycle the action manually

 

[Diggler]

You know, the 'dillo is armored on the top, but maybe you could set some miniature mines... when they walk over them, BOOOM! It seems to work for the terrorists in Iraq.