I live in a neighborhood of 1.5 acre lots. No houses within at least 500 yards of the houses across the street from us (they live behind those houses), and most of the houses are 50-75 yards apart. I killed two armadillos last year after they started rooting up my yard and flower bed. I've had a couple this year tearing stuff up and haven't been able to get them yet, mostly because they're always on someone else's lot when I find them and I'm worried about shooting a gun close to their house for fear of waking them up and for fear of bullet ricochet.

I have a 10/22 carbine and that's what I shot the two last year with (both point blank with the rifle pointed into the ground). That's not threadable due to the way the sight attaches to the barrel. So here are the options as I see them:

- keep shooting them with the 22 at point blank range only when they're on my property
- get a Ruger American 22 or Charger pistol with threaded barrel and put a silencer on it ($275 for the gun plus $150 for a silencer plus whatever a stamp costs plus a scope and rings)
- thread my Savage 308 and put a silencer on it (whatever a stamp costs plus $50 for barrel threading plus the cost of the silencer)
- thread either my Springfield XD-9 or Taurus 24/7 .40 S&W and use that at close range only
- use my bolt action .410 instead of these (probably worse from a noise perspective)

Concerns/questions:

- is silenced standard velocity 22 or 308 much quieter than non-silenced standard velocity ammo?
- is subsonic 22 or 308 going to be powerful enough to take armadillo with a body shot at any sort of distance (25-50 yards)?
- if I do shoot one with a subsonic bullet at distance, how much would I have to worry about bullets ricocheting or going through both sides and into someone's house or car? How much does caliber choice effect this concern (is 308, 40, or 9 going to be worse than the 22)?

Thanks in advance for your help.

I would recommend using birdshot at close range with 20 or 12 gage. It's the safest way to go and rolls them over at close range.

That far apart they probably won't think much of it. I've killed many this way in my neighborhood late at night when they usually come. No problems with neighbors because the shot just wakes them up and they go back to sleep wondering what woke them. But if you shoot before midnight they will hear it and after that depends on your neighbors.

22s are much more risky for ricochet.

What do you mean "close range"? 5 yards or less? Would shotgun pellets ricochet off the ground if shot at a 30-45 degree angle?

.22 cal pellet gun

Bow

I've got a .177 cal Gamo pellet gun. Would that be effective at close range?

Yes I believe it would but I've never tried. Sounds like you can get real close so a head shot would probably do it

CCI CB Shorts in a Ruger Single Six but watch the background.

I use the CCI CB shorts and they're even quieter in a bolt or pump rifle.

http://www.basspro.com/Winchester-SuperX-22-Long-CB-Match-Rimfire-Ammo/product/10220931/

Would these be ok? I've got a BPS gift card and a BPS close by, so something I could get there would be ideal...

Also, will longs work in my 10/22? I assume they'll shoot, but will subsonic longs cycle the action?

Bayonet charge? Some of the air guns they make today would seem to be more than sufficient but that's my opinion.

I've got a Yugo SKS with a bayonet. Maybe I'll borrow my buddy's gopro and try that first!

Only kidding - those things allegedly carry leprosy and I really don't want to get bloodied up.

Anybody had any luck trapping them?

Why not pick up a threaded barrel for your 10/22? You can get one pretty cheap.

I think we trapped one in a live trap once, but honestly our best luck was sneaking up and grabbing them by the tail and throwing them in a toe sack. If you try that, grab as close to the body as you can and lift straight up being sure to keep them at arms length. Those claws are something else.

From a cost perspective, finding some Super Colibris (or similar) for your 10/22 is your best bet. They won't cycle your action, but can be single loaded. They are crazy quiet in a rifle and would kill an armadillo with a decently placed shot. There would probably never be an exit, so a ricochet would not be an issue.

Similar to what QSYB said, the quietest way is to catch them by the tail. I swing them by the tail and hit their head/shoulders on the ground. It may sound barbaric, but it is instant death on the first shot... every time. I have killed more armadillos this way than with firearms... it works well.

Yep. Those are pretty much the same only Winchester rimfire is about an 80% success rate for me. As far as the 10/22 goes, get any LR length quiet (not just subsonic). For them to load in the rotary magazine they need to be long. You'll have to hand cycle them. I have a box and a half of the a fore mentioned super colibri.

Read the book Texas and pay close attention to the part about the Armadillo's and the tennis court's. That's how ya do it!

An axe or 10lb sledge has always worked for me when I'm neighborhoods. They can't hear very well, but can feel vibrations in the ground to alert them to potential danger, and since they can't turn their heads around without turning their entire body it makes sneaking up on them very easy. Sneak up from behind and smash them.

45-70 works well.

I live in the same type of neighborhood. Shotgun with a light is the key. You shine the light and they come running towards you and when they get close enough where you are aiming mostly down that is your shot. I kill 4-5 a year like this.

Go all sling blade with a machete. They'll let you walk up to them most of the time and if they decide to bolt you can chase them down pretty quick.

Very easy to trap. Use a live trap and put it in an area that will funnel them to the trap. (Against a wall or curb) dumb things walk right in.

I'd probably use my 39A with subsonic ammo.

Years ago somebody mentioned on this forum or one other that you don't want to kill the armadillo immediately, since if fatally wounded they are self burying. That is true.

About 10 yards, no they will not ricochet, if they did it would be off cement and go for a very short distance. It will put a hole in their side the size of a softball.

I've killed at least 10-15 like this, so I know what I'm talking about. Trapping them is a 50/50 at best. Unless they take the same path every time.

I've used this as well. It zips right through them so they can take several shots to kill and you risk them dying in your neighbors yard.

Killed many with shotguns, 22s, and pellet guns. A good sling shot or bow would make it sporting.

Get a Ruger American compact for 269 at academy and a couple boxes of CBs and enjoy.

I just bought an American. It uses the same mags as a 10/22 however it will not work at all with CB shorts. The rounds get stuck in the mag due to length. Would have to drop them in one at a time.

Probably find a used cricket pretty cheat that would do the same thing. I'm just giving you an excuse to buy a new gun.

A really cool gun for semi urban pest control would be a browning 39A lever gun. I have one and its good with S, L, and LR. Ya could lay down some lead shooting CBs.