22. rimfires

[Mickey Rat]

I once shot a yote sized dog with a 22.

I live in a subdivision outside of town where shooting is OK. A stray dog came around with a HUGE absess (grapfefruit or larger) on his neck where he had a piece of rope imbeded in his neck. It SMELLED TERRIABLE! And looked worse. The neighborhood had a lot of small kids, and we were concerned that one of the kids would touch the dog and get bit.

Animal control set out traps but were unsucessfull. Calling the dog close enough to capture failed.

I was home for lunch, smelled then saw the dog. I got my trusty Marlin 39M (Mountie version) wnd loaded it up with 22HP's. Range was about 70 yards. I fired from by back door supported aginst the door frame. The shot was deflected by a weed stalk. Instead of hitting him behind the ear (he was quartering away) it hit behind his jaw. He took off and I stood up and toow 5 rapid shots from standing. He dropped at about 90 yards.

I approached him and he was dead. I had put 5 rounds in a fist sized cluster thru his chest, perfect for heart/lung. His absess had ruptured and was VILE.

Yes, it will do the job. But it won't be pretty. I was sickened by having to shoot the dog and worse to blow the head shot.