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  #1  
Old 04-02-2012, 10:15 PM
Wanderin_in_circles Wanderin_in_circles is offline
 
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Default beaver caliber

Hello,I'm new to beaver hunting and i'm not quite sure what caliber to use. I have both a 22. LR and a 22-250. I'm not sure not sure if the 22-250 will do too much damage on the hides or if my 22. LR will be enough. Any preferences?
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  #2  
Old 04-02-2012, 10:21 PM
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flyguyd flyguyd is offline
 
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I prefer the 22 mag, but my 222 rem works for the hard to reach ones. As long as you shoot them in the head the damage shouldnt hurt the sale price.
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Old 04-02-2012, 10:43 PM
MadTrapper MadTrapper is offline
 
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22 mag hollow point works like a charm
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Old 04-03-2012, 04:39 AM
NoKlu NoKlu is offline
 
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I've used a .22LR for years and it works great. Like any kill shot,you just gotta hit them in the right spot.
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Old 04-03-2012, 07:09 AM
Wanderin_in_circles Wanderin_in_circles is offline
 
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Okay, thanks
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  #6  
Old 04-03-2012, 08:07 AM
IHUNT IHUNT is offline
 
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17HMR is the best beaver gun. Ive used 22mag and regular 22 long. 22mag is a little to much and the 22 long dosnt quite have enoughf range. 17HMR has the range power and does the least amount of damage.
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  #7  
Old 04-03-2012, 09:48 AM
antlercarver antlercarver is offline
 
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Default Beaver

Try .22 stingers
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  #8  
Old 04-03-2012, 11:49 AM
NoKlu NoKlu is offline
 
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Any high velocity .22, in the ear will take them right out. The skull in the front of the head is very thick but if you hit them in the ear or in the back of the head they are done.
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Old 04-03-2012, 12:04 PM
canishunter22-250 canishunter22-250 is offline
 
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I've always used a 22 LR with CCI stingers and it's always killed them instantly when you hit them in the right spot. Half way between the eye and ear is where I aim.
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Old 04-03-2012, 05:14 PM
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I've shot them with 22LR's, 22WMR's, 17 Remington, 204, 223's and shotguns. Ideally you should shoot them in the head at about 25yds with a 22LR. I liked the 22WMR a little better...and now because I am not so worried about the hides I use the centrefires. These are a little more accurate and harder hitting out to 100yds, plus, if you have a beaver on land it anchors them with a body shot.
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Old 04-03-2012, 07:34 PM
Wanderin_in_circles Wanderin_in_circles is offline
 
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Thanks, i'll get practicing with my 22. LR so i can hit them well.
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Old 04-03-2012, 07:46 PM
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22 lr work really well, longer shots I like using a 22 hornet
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Old 04-03-2012, 09:31 PM
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Yellow Jacket 22 LR worked a couple hours ago .
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Old 04-03-2012, 10:14 PM
moose maniac moose maniac is offline
 
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I like the 17 hmr shot 50 last spring works great.
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Old 04-03-2012, 10:27 PM
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Wow! That's a lot of beavers in one spring. What part of Alberta are you from? And, how far are most of your shots?
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Old 04-04-2012, 01:03 AM
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For me there was only one option. Remington Vipers.
But any hyper velocity solid would do as well.

We used to use any 22 LR solid but found the hyper solids worked a little better.

22 mag works well, but a bit too much damage for my liking.

We stayed away from any hollow points. In 22s we found they will wound far too many beaver.
Centerfire they will blow the head to bits.

Matter of fact the 218 I own was bought brand new spacifically for hunting beaver. It was my uncles gun and he soon abandoned it because it caused too much damage.

Mind you, that's for hide hunting. For problem control, I would recomend 22 mag or more. And hollow points.

Thing is, if you hit them hard enough they will sink like a stone.
Good for problem control, not so good for hide hunting.
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Old 04-04-2012, 07:52 AM
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I use a 22 mag all the time, great gun and great hitting power. I never see the "too much damage" that everyone else is talking about. I use 40 gr hollow points between the eye and the ear, I don't like shooting them when they are swimming away or straight towards me.
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  #18  
Old 04-04-2012, 08:51 AM
bullgetter bullgetter is offline
 
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I use 17 HMR with 20 grain full metal jackets in the head. I don't like Vmax bullets as they like to blow up and I want the hides.
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  #19  
Old 04-04-2012, 12:04 PM
NoKlu NoKlu is offline
 
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I used to shoot them between the eye and ear but had too many swim away with their noses high out of the water. It usually was just a shot to the nasal cavity. When I looked at a few skulls you can see less bone from the ear back and where the brain case is located. I started getting more one shot,stone dead kills with hollow points.
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  #20  
Old 04-04-2012, 12:51 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wanderin_in_circles View Post
hello,i'm new to beaver hunting and i'm not quite sure what caliber to use. I have both a 22. Lr and a 22-250. I'm not sure not sure if the 22-250 will do too much damage on the hides or if my 22. Lr will be enough. Any preferences?
.338
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  #21  
Old 04-04-2012, 02:30 PM
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22. Long Solid Point or 17. HMR Hollow Point
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  #22  
Old 04-07-2012, 01:44 PM
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Thunder Elk Hunter Thunder Elk Hunter is offline
 
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Default beaver gun

Quote:
Originally Posted by Wanderin_in_circles View Post
Hello,I'm new to beaver hunting and i'm not quite sure what caliber to use. I have both a 22. LR and a 22-250. I'm not sure not sure if the 22-250 will do too much damage on the hides or if my 22. LR will be enough. Any preferences?
The 22 hornet with hollow points, no exit and kills them dead if you do your job. Have shot hundreds of beaver with that combo. Great recovery with them, way less sink with the hornet than with the 22. LR.

Hornet is nice to reload as well.

The 22LR will do the job just not at the range or with the effect that the Hornet does. The 22-250 is to much gun for hide damage.

Good luck shooting spring beaver.
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  #23  
Old 04-07-2012, 01:54 PM
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Do not body shoot them if you are keeping the hides they down grade for holes in the body part of the hide. The idea of going to the work of skinning them is to get the most you can get for your work. So start with a head shot beaver.

Want a good recovery rates shoot them in the head. If spring beaver are a good price you want as few as possible sinking.
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