Good morning all, in my second year trapping. Have used a 22LR for my first two seasons, I’m wondering if you have any recommendations for a better caliber to dispatch on my trapline. 17HMR, 22-250. Not a firearms expert so really hoping for some feedback from you fellas.

For stuff in traps a revolver with regular velocity long rifle 22 and solid 40 grain bullets is great. If your pistol is a semi or your using a rifle load 22 shorts. You can load them into the chamber like you would a single shot firearm if shorts wont cycle. That wont damage the firearm.

If want something to shoot out there aways a 22 hornet is a great fox gun. 22-250 works for bigger stuff

Thank you very much i appreciate the info! Have not considered a pistol but that seems like a great way. Lot easier to tote around.

I use a Heritage Rough Rider .22lr for all non-pole dispatches. Works awesome on coyotes, very quick. If you are set on something bigger maybe .22wmr but I feel it's a bit too much for most critters in a trap. It's ballistically like a .38 special.

I appreciate that! Going to do some research on 22 cal pistols!

Get yourself a cheap ol heritage rough rider 22 revolver.

If you're using it on your line it's going to get abused, no need to tie a lot of $$$ up in a gun that takes the beating a trap line will give over the years.

You cant go wrong with a ruger single six in 22 rimfire. Not cheap but you wont regret buying one. Single action so very safe. Safe to load six rounds. VERY durable firearm.

Ruger wrangler 22 is what I use. They make a super wrangler now, 22lr plus 22mag in 1 pistol

X2

i bought a heritage not long after they came out. 5 years of hard trapping it would keyhole bullets when I could get it to fire. Returned to the manufacturer and they repaired it. For fee. 60 bucks if I remember right. Ruger wont charge you. Heritage is cheap for a reason. Dont waste your money. My single six has had at least twice as many rounds through it. Still accurate. Never had a problem with it.

I have had this gun probably 20 years. You can see from the wear how much use its had. Don't waste money on a heritage.

1959 still kickin’

I'm using an old Cooey single shot with open sights, takes a beating and no scope to get banged around. I usually use CB Longs for everything from coon to wolf. If I could carry my little 22 Bersa Thunder I would. The CB Longs don't have the jam to operate the slide, but that'd be OK, single shots fine.

My handgun is a 22. I use it if I am a foot checking traps, less to carry. If I am on my Atv or in my pickup I use a .177 caliber pellet gun which works on everything I have used it on.

My heritage is not good enough for a dispatch firearm. The cylinder and bore of barrel are so out of line it loses to much energy driving the bullet through the barrel it won't consistently penetrate a heavy furred coyote for a chest shot and isn't accurate enough for a head shot. Hate that gun.

Heritage Rough Rider. You can get the WMR cylinder to swap out if you want, although I have both cylinders I only use LR for dispatch. Don't use shorts out of it though, it won't have enough powah. I have the version with fiber optic adjustable sights.

I use a ruger mark II I've had since I was a boy for trapped critters, have shot many snakes, rabbits, snow shoe hares, coons, ptarmigain, grouse, foxes with it that I chanced upon while trapping. While running a line by snowmachine, I also carry on a sling a AR 15 I made for snowmachining, it's light weight and works well in subzero temperatures.

This was dad's trapline gun, and the first gun I ever fired. It's an H&R 9 shot made around 1953. Dad always shot shorts in it, as do I.

CCI Stingers?

heritage rough rider .22. Mine has worked for 20 plus years.