Guns & Outdoors Forum

I'm working PT selling guns at cabelas. Helps pay the bills in retirement. So this old farmer comes in and wants cases of buckshot, 00 but any size he said. Asked him if he had bear problems. In a heavy country accent he says "armadillas". Killed 102 last year. I said it may be a little overkill but we didn't have cases. Another farmer comes in and wants a .22 mag semi auto, scope rings ammo and already has a case of steel birdshot 12 ga. Asked him what he was shooting and in his TN country accent, he says "armadillas" Told him we don't have any .22 mag semis. He asked what we did and I showed him a .17 hmr. Told him it was a little bullet but very fast and probably would work. He ended up screwing up his 4473 and got prohibited. Felt really bad for him. Anyhow, what do you guys think is an affective round for armadillo hunting? Oh yea, the first guy bought a $2500 thermal scope too.

My old boss killed a boatload with .22 shorts, shooting at them at night.

I would go with. 22 LR just for availability.

I’ve used a bow, .357 Mag, .22lr, .223, and .308 on them. Probably others I can’t remember.
If he just wants them dead and doesn’t mind if they run down a hole, the .22 LR is the cheapest and easiest.

I've used a 24" 2216 arrow with a satellite broadhead and a 115gr 9mmJHP for the 2 I've killed.
Currently have one burrowing in my back yard and one of the CCI segmented 22LRs will probably be its demise once I get a chance at it

Last one I shot was with a 230 grain .45ACP...it worked

Buckshot seems reasonable. Those little bastards are FAST when they want to be, be a bit easier to hit with a shotgun when they are moving.
I’ve got several with a .22, one with a .223, and one with a 9mm.

I have probably shot more of them with a .22LR than anything. Second place would be a lower powered bow so the arrow stays in the dillo. That keeps em from going down a hole

If you're having to clean them up post-shooting, you don't want something high powered. An '06 will cause them to separate and rupture. Heard the same is true with a .54 patched round ball.

Assuming you can get them to hold still for a sec .22 or .17 works fine. Shotgun with a light sounds like a solid approach for backyard work.

This reminds me of one of my Dad's old buddies that could run down and catch an armadillo before it could get back in its hole. It was a thing to behold when riding around in the woods. He'd spot one, call for an immediate stop, and bail out of the truck in a full sprint after it. Armadillos don't typically run in a straight line which made this all the more entertaining. This guy was no pillar of health either, but something about an armadillo on the run turned him into Carl Lewis.

I'd say his success rate was around 50%.

If you kick them or hit them with something, they will either ball up or jump and flip. They can jump surprisingly high.

If it's legal, you can also pop them at night, when they're moving around more freely and not really caring about the world around them.

The one and only one I ever shot was with a 500 S&W while hog hunting on Brahma Island in Florida. I wouldn't recommend it. 22LR is the way to go.

Scott E. Mayer wrote: ↑Wed Oct 18, 2023 3:24 pm The one and only one I ever shot was with a 500 S&W while hog hunting on Brahma Island in Florida. I wouldn't recommend it. 22LR is the way to go.

Regarding the one(s) in my back yard... If they make it back to their burrow and die, they were kind enough to bury themselves for me

GrapeApe wrote: ↑Wed Oct 18, 2023 4:11 pm Regarding the one(s) in my back yard... If they make it back to their burrow and die, they were kind enough to bury themselves for me

That's good if the burrow or where they go to is not under your house, garage, shed, etc.

It's not

jkp wrote: ↑Wed Oct 18, 2023 2:32 pm Assuming you can get them to hold still for a sec .22 or .17 works fine. Shotgun with a light sounds like a solid approach for backyard work.

This reminds me of one of my Dad's old buddies that could run down and catch an armadillo before it could get back in its hole. It was a thing to behold when riding around in the woods. He'd spot one, call for an immediate stop, and bail out of the truck in a full sprint after it. Armadillos don't typically run in a straight line which made this all the more entertaining. This guy was no pillar of health either, but something about an armadillo on the run turned him into Carl Lewis.

I'd say his success rate was around 50%.

I’d pay to see it.

We’ve had the little bastards now for about 10 years. The keep spreading north, getting WAY more abundant. Common place to see them now, were before not so much. I had only seen them at night in my camp, and popped them at close range. They were just doing their thing, ambling through the woods.
This year I started seeing them in the day. And they saw me. Holy poop those bastards are FAST. I was about to shoot one with my pistol. By the time I drew he saw me and was GONE

Scott E. Mayer wrote: ↑Wed Oct 18, 2023 3:24 pm The one and only one I ever shot was with a 500 S&W while hog hunting on Brahma Island in Florida. I wouldn't recommend it. 22LR is the way to go.

Bet it was dead

A challenge between me and my friends was always to try and catch one. Their senses suck and if you do everything right, you can sneak up and catch them. Then the rodeo starts. They are like rabbits in that they convulse and kick like crazy.

If you pick them up by the tail make sure their back is toward you. Little turds can pee far. Memories from childhood visits to Llano area.

Since they can carry, and infect humans, with leprosy, I wouldn't handle them without gloves

GrapeApe wrote: ↑Wed Oct 18, 2023 5:08 pm

Scott E. Mayer wrote: ↑Wed Oct 18, 2023 3:24 pm The one and only one I ever shot was with a 500 S&W while hog hunting on Brahma Island in Florida. I wouldn't recommend it. 22LR is the way to go.

Bet it was dead

I can confirm that the diameter of the permanent wound cavity exceeded the diameter of the armadillo.

breamfisher wrote: ↑Wed Oct 18, 2023 4:15 pm

GrapeApe wrote: ↑Wed Oct 18, 2023 4:11 pm Regarding the one(s) in my back yard... If they make it back to their burrow and die, they were kind enough to bury themselves for me

That's good if the burrow or where they go to is not under your house, garage, shed, etc.

I have three different groundhogs dead in their holes within 50 feet of the house (.22 short thru the lungs). I fill in the hole as far as I can (2'-3') and never smell them.

jbp-ohio wrote: ↑Thu Oct 19, 2023 8:58 pm

I have three different groundhogs dead in their holes within 50 feet of the house (.22 short thru the lungs). I fill in the hole as far as I can (2'-3') and never smell them.

I have a couple whistlepigs living under my deck. Living in the city has some major limitations when it comes to being able to take care of nuisance critters. A .22 would be good medicine, but im not risking getting caught. Probably try to rip the deck out this year and then figure out what to do with the buggers.

mitdr774 wrote: ↑Thu Oct 19, 2023 10:59 pm

jbp-ohio wrote: ↑Thu Oct 19, 2023 8:58 pm

I have three different groundhogs dead in their holes within 50 feet of the house (.22 short thru the lungs). I fill in the hole as far as I can (2'-3') and never smell them.

I have a couple whistlepigs living under my deck. Living in the city has some major limitations when it comes to being able to take care of nuisance critters. A .22 would be good medicine, but im not risking getting caught. Probably try to rip the deck out this year and then figure out what to do with the buggers.

.22 quiets out of a bolt gun are not that loud.. one shot does not get a response. I used to shoot nuecence iguanas in Miami

mitdr774 wrote: ↑Thu Oct 19, 2023 10:59 pm

jbp-ohio wrote: ↑Thu Oct 19, 2023 8:58 pm

I have three different groundhogs dead in their holes within 50 feet of the house (.22 short thru the lungs). I fill in the hole as far as I can (2'-3') and never smell them.

I have a couple whistlepigs living under my deck. Living in the city has some major limitations when it comes to being able to take care of nuisance critters. A .22 would be good medicine, but im not risking getting caught. Probably try to rip the deck out this year and then figure out what to do with the buggers.