Shooting armadillos at night
 

I need a setup to shoot armadillos at night. Range is about 30yards max.

caliber is restricted to 22 rim fires probably or. This will be a dedicated setup as I have other options for daytime,

I know this isn't much to go on, but I don't know much. I'm going to a big gun show iBirmingham and will be shopping if I know wha to look for.

Thanks
Mike

If you are limited to rimfires, you can't go wrong with a Ruger 10/22.

A light source with a red lens will allow you to see without scaring the critters away.

didn't know you all shot those crazy little critters. The last time I was in Oklahoma they were all over the highway as road kill....they must not be very smart?!

Question, why restricted to a .22?

Ruger 10-22 with a night vision scope.

Can you use 17hmr? I think this round will penetrate the shell much easier.

PS: What is your budget?

I have a green LED flashlight attached to my AR and 870. Cheap off of Amazon. All you need. Mount it on a 10/22 or something

This. Check out my setup:

-Ruger 10/22 takedown threaded barrel (for when suppressors are taken off the NFA list :) )
- Nikon ProStaff Rimfire 150BDC reticle. Amazing.
- Blackhawk! bipod, fully adjustable (height and tilt)
- Volquartsen Hammer kit and my own shim job. Amazing trigger pull, tight trigger box.
- Ruger 10/22 bolt release mod

Pic of my little beast:
http://i67.tinypic.com/fkpndh.jpg

Last armadillo patrol I used a 10/22 with a low powered scope (1.5-4x) and Federal Champion (bulk box stuff) hollow points. Time before I used Federal Game Shoks. The Game Shoks put them down faster. That of course is a daytime rig, but I have another scope for low light with a huge objective lens (54mm for squirrel hunting at dawn and dusk)

We started hunting them aggressively last year, and we have killed so many that they are starting to get smart and will take off like a scalded dog before you get within 30 yards of them. And they don't stop until they get into a hole. We used to be able to get right up on them and club them to death.

Phil, it's not that they are dumb, it's that they have dull senses, both hearing and sight are weak. And unless startled, they move so slow that it takes them longer to cross the road than other animals, thus allowing a longer time for a vehicle to hit them.

Even though I detest them, I try to make clean kills. A 22 High Velocity Hollow Point anywhere in the body will kill them eventually, but if you hit them near the head, they will go down immediately. Solids, whether hardball 45 or 22 solids, will not put them down immediately unless you hit the spine.

A DRT kill shot will make it go tits up and quivering.

http://www.cotep.org/forum/picture.p...&pictureid=888

I'm in my back yard and trying to keep the noise down

I've killed tons of them with nothing more than a mag light and a single six. a 10/22, 2 power scope and a strong light should be a good set up Col.

interesting:
just doing some internet reading on them and I didn't know they were also a bad disease carrier. Are they as populated as say raccoons are down there?

I have to stay under $2k....would really like less than $1.5k

My setup didn't cost more than $600

I would look at the A17, it is 17 HMR in Semi Automatic. A 17 caliber scope and a Redlight mounted on top of the scope, I use one for yotes.

http://www.basspro.com/Savage-A17-Se...5013108270785/

http://www.cabelas.com/product/NIKON...Q&gclsrc=aw.ds


NAP Apache Predator Hog Hunting Stabilizer Green LED Light With Pressure Switch



Clyde

For 1.5 k I'll come up and kill every dillo you got

A .22 for 300 yard shots? :confused:

I think you need to sneak up about 150 to be sure. :)

I don't think it needs to be crazy. Armadillos are almost blind but have a great sense of smell. The kids and I followed a few in the yard with flashlights and it never changed pace.

I bet if you got a good strong weapon mounted light and a 100 yard scope on a 10/22 you would be The Dillo Reaper!

Never hunted them in the dark, but have shot a few. If you shoot them in the behind they will put on a remarkable turn of speed! I third or forth the 10/22.

If you've got someone to spot them with a flashlight, you've got a sport!

I'm thinking of this setup
Ruger 1022
Some sort of high power flashlight with laser sight

Does the model of 10/22 matter to this setup. Any got to have or essential accessories for mods?
Do I need to mount a scope on the top for day sighting or will the laser work for day night

Thanks,
Mike

Armadillos are a work of the devil, and will literally dig hundreds of holes in a yard overnight!

I shoot them in the head with an old .22 pump, with whatever bulk .22 ammo is handy.

I have killed them with a machete, but they get spooked pretty quickly.

Hey, your talking about the Texas unofficial state animal! :D

So do I bore with back story? You said 30yds right??
If you're in to smithing a little this setup has been running for a while now with one of my mad engineering group buddies. He lives on a lake has a beaver/otter/ vermit problem. The issue isn't the vermit killin as much as the shrub huggin neighbors. With a 22 he runs the risk of Billy beaver getting off in to one of the neighbors yards and flopping around in the old ladies pansy patch... Just won't go over well.:eek:

We enjoy playing with the AR platform and 80%'s. We got ahold of a 16" upper in 45acp, blow back type not gas operated. Modified a lower to use an 18 round 1911 mag. It worked ok, not real smooth or reliable, but worked. We since moved to grease gun mags and with a little tuning DAMN!!! Pretty quiet for what we're doing too. We running out to100yds!

We are now exploring a 10" version w/muffler or un pinned flash suppressor.
I ran into this scope at a gun show and got a couple to screw with. I'm surprised and pleased with them. 3 color LED mil-dot 1-4x 28. With a little work and hunting around you can put the basics together for around $1100. A real ass kicker for sure.

https://www.amazon.com/SNIPER-Tactic.../dp/B008PXIX08

http://www.rmwxtreme.com/

If you're going to a show look around for a completed lower for grease gun mags they're starting to show up now.

We are also looking in to the oil filter muffler, for when stealth is a must.:D

Don't eat em. They do carry Hanson's disease (leprosy) as well as a few other nasties. If you've got horses or cattle, you don't want 'dillos.

The taste is between pork and rabbit - clean white meat like pork loin. Cooked there is no danger, just cook it like pork. Cleaning them is where you have to be careful (use nitrile gloves)

When I ate Armadillo I thought it tasted like chicken, but I was young. Later as I ate more variety I thought it tasted more like rabbit.