a 22lr coon calling ?

or is a 22mag bare minimum for not having a lot of them go back in the hole?

or what else do you use / prefer?

Ive used 17hmr when calling and it has worked for me, however, I have not done a lot of coon calling so Im far from an authority on it.

I’m not a coon caller, but there was an excellent article in FFG on coon calling earlier this year maybe late last year. Sorry I’m no help. Eric

Always used a 22 mag even after dark with low powered optics amazing how many you see !

i aint no coon caller but wouldnt you want to call with something else? i would use the 22lr to shoot em not call em.

Have always used the 22 mag

The few times I've done it I've always used a shotgun. It's always been a fast furious and up close affair

Never tried it. Whose call do you recommend? Do you call at a den tree or will a coon come from a distance?

Leave rifles at home unless you’re just wanting extra targets when thermal hunting. You will miss more with a .22 than you’ll hit, if you hit them. Shotgun with at least #6 and plenty of shells within reach. Coons come in on a run and leave on a run. Not sure if y’all are referring to something I’m not aware of about calling when using a .22 though.

Den trees, Charles. Set up and call near those that look like they'd be den trees. Some will be and some won't. Sometimes coons will just peek out at you if they are home, and sometimes they come boiling out looking for a fight. Sometimes they hit the ground and run off like the devil is on their tail. Lots of fun.

I've always used a .22 or .22 mag. A shotgun will do the trick, but can be hard on fur at close range.

For day calling, .22 mag all the way. Generally, longer range shots in den trees. Nighttime is a much closer endeavor, .22 LR if fur hunting or shotgun for ADC.

For the record, I've taken a couple of coon with my FoxPro. Day and night, in Nebraska.

.22 mag, with scope. CCI MaxiMag Hollow points. Head shots only. If you can't get a head shot, don't pull the trigger. Best sound out there: Dennis Kirk Coon Puppies. Best night for calling: slight mist in the air. Best night so far: 39 'coon.

Mike Sells has a couple good coon calling videos.
just

About to be building. A .22 TCM AR pistol, gonna load it with some spicy stuff that should be perfect.... That and still need to get around to loading .410

Back when we had fox my favorite was a 12 gauge with copper plated 2s or bbs....Dennis Kirk's 'coon puppies tapes are outstanding!
Killed lots of gray fox along with the coon. I tried rifles but night lights and scopes back then when I was poor just difficult back then...lots of misses.

.22 mag is definitely superior. Even if the first shot isnt a kill shot, seems like there was enough energy to immobilize for a follow up. .22 shouldnt be used in my opinion. Ive taken some dumb shots before and got lucky before, but probably the most important part is letting them clear the hole before shooting.
A complete game changer was when I got a .17 wsm. Absolutely lights out upon impact.

Raccoon calling den trees might be some of the most fun hunting I’ve ever had. I’ve used Foxpro’s Coon Fight and Coon Distress sounds, heard good things about the pup sounds as well. It’s amazing the reactions you can get from some raccoons barreling out of their dens.

I was going to recommend the 12 ga, and the exact same shot sizes, great choice!

For the ones saying a shotgun will do excessive
damage in close, hit them with the edge of the pattern.