Varmint Rifle - .177 - Which one ?

I have been told, in the area I am thinking about moving too, SoCal, high desert, there is a Coyote presents that may need to be addressed, some rattlers and Fire Ants.

I am thinking on a .177 Winchester Rifle for most varmints but I do not know anything about them except I shouldn’t need more than a pellet rifle.

I do not want to kill or maim them but just sting them enough so they get the idea to stay away.

If I can get a rifle that has a range of about 50 yard or so I think that will do it.

Any ideas or comments about this or another rifle that will work ?

Thanks ahead of time,
ltr

 

Join RnagerForum.com Today!

get a paint ball gun, thatll scare the hell out of them lol seriously tho most .177 pellet guns would probably still have enough force to break skin and possibly go in a little. i may be wrong but i know my friend has a .177 and even at like 2 pumps it goes through a lot more than you would think

 

I'd go with the paintball gun idea or even a shotgun with " less lethal " ammunition

 

I'd go with the paintball idea at least then if you end up moving into a fairly populated area you wont have the cops there every time you take a shot at the varmints but I do also like the less lethal option on the shotgun if your neighbors are far enough away from you that they wont call the law every time you need to get one or two of them away from your house..

 

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/ItemListing.aspx?catid=1959

 

Do they make a 410 shot gun any more.
We used to call it the girls shot gun (flack coming soon) but it is the smallest of the small shot guns.
Maybe with a varmint shot or something along that lines.

Maybe I will wait and see just how well the two dogs next door take care of things.
I maybe jumping the gun… lol, so to speak.

Now to get things straightened out with the property.

 

Yeah they absolutely make the .410 still. They even make it in handguns now, Taurus Judge and Smith and Wesson Governor. I had my eye on a stainless lever action .410 about a year ago at cabela's but it sold before I could get it

 

Winchester makes a lever action .410.

My problem is, I don’t want to kill or hurt the animal, just scarce the $hit out of them.

 

honestly, a paintball gun wouldn't be a bad idea. some of them pack a punch and won't kill an animal but a well placed shot with an air rifle could kill

 

Hand grenades.

That'll make 'em crap themselves.

 

Yes GRENADES will make them $hit themselves.
The paintball gun is really the best idea short of one main thing, do the paint balls come in clear… lol ?
The wife would have a fit if I turned the ground around the property red or green…

I think the local police department will have to be talked to before the final decision is made.

Thanks to all for your input, I am still leaning towards the .177 pellet gun, it has the range, it has some hitting power but I will try to hit the ground around the animal and the gun isn’t too costly.

ltr

 

You could freeze the paintballs so they don't break when they hit lol

 

In the heat of SoCal they would thaw by the time they hit the target or in the bucket waiting for the varmint.

 

Anyone have an idea about .177, I am looking for Pellets that are designed more to sting than seriously hurt the animal ?