Armadillo pesting?

[JonnyReb]

 Hey guys, I was checking out a 400 acre hunting lease with a buddy a few months ago in low country S.C and they're were dilla's EVERYWHERE, checked the regs and found them to be pest and so i'm planning some armadillo hunts with ag's inbetweenour hog hunts. My question to those who've dealt with them is what power level humanely puts them down with headshots? Vitals shots? They were bigger than I woulda thought and looked tough as nails. My friends carrying a .22 350 mag, 23-24ftlbs, I want to take a walther talon .22, 29ftlbs. Will these work HUMANELY or do I need to tote a scuba tank? Thanks!  Jeff

[amb5500c]

With head shots, it'll work. But there aint much of a target there, and its usually moving. You'll probably be able to penetrate the armor but it was designed to be fairly tough. The more power the better for the body shot. .22 rimfire is my preferred weapon for Dillers.
Richard

[JonnyReb]

Thanks Richard, so a standard .22rf will take them with a well placed bodyshot? Pass through penatration by chance?  Jeff

[Rescue912]

Last time I was plinking armadillos I was using a 300 Win Mag and it was just a tad overkill. Then again, you can't have too much overkill...

I would imagine almost 30 FPE would do the trick with no issues. I used my .25 WFH for coyotes and never had a run-off...

[amb5500c]

Jeff, .22 rimfire will bust them up real good. Sometimes they will jump 4 feet off the ground when hit. You'll have a blast if there are plenty of them.
Richard

[JonnyReb]

They were in view almost all the time during the late afternoon, of the first day. We saw dozens, sometimes as close as 20 feet or so. The last day we were there I went out specifically for dillas with a fire 201 9mm and only saw one. So its all up to the lunar charts I guess but we have the potential of seeing many. They seem to be a tremendous problem along with the nonnative piggies and kinda looked like the best pest targets ever.

[Nate the airgunner]

Any of those two AGs putting a pellet in the fuse box will drop those dillas. Just try to keep shots within 30 yards. Good luck.

[jimmie lee]

Armadillos are known carriers of Leprosy so be careful when handling them and cook thoroughly if you're going to eat them.

[LAalex]

They are a constant nuisance here and I have killed many.  I would not use an airgun.  .22 LR with CCI stingers opens them up like a canteloupe.  Be forewarned though, a body shot that misses the vitals will often result in a show of acrobatics like you've never seen.  You will get pass throughs with most of the high velocity stuff, but they tend to get the job done.  These are tough animals.

Scotty

[JonnyReb]

Thanks guys, I feel like i'm a bit more educated all the way around on these critters, sounds like bigbores would be our best bet, guess i'll tote the infinity .25 and we'll do our best to use headshots. Thanks and I look forward to posting some results.  Jeff

[Tater]

Can't wait to see pics!

[only1harry]

The guns you mentioned will work fine with head shots.  You might get a passthrough depending on the distance.  We have had a couple of guys here posting their Armadillo hunts with Springers.

[rsterne]

What do these guys weigh?....

Bob

[amb5500c]

Ballpark figure? Up to approximately 15lbs.
Richard

[miller12505]

Just in case anyone searching was wondering. I took 2 armadillos out with my Marauder .22 using JSB exact jumbo 18 grain pellets.  Both kills were made with body shots. Tried to go for head shots but these things are way to busy and I didn't have time to wait for the perfect shot. One from 45 yards and one from 10 feet.  They weren't full size yet and went down fast so I must have  hit vitals.I have no doubt this rifle will do the job on a large crusty old one. There were four total in my yard so I had to work fast. Two got away in some brush before I could get them.

[Bullfrog]

My wife killed one clean with a .177 Gamo Whisper with a headshot and a Polymag. I have killed them with body shots with both a Gamo Whisper in .22 and my .25 Mrod.

Be prepared for a lot of flopping. I've never seen an armadillo die without a lot of running, jumping, or panting if they do fall right down. They are just tough animals. I've never even seen a .22lr kill one without some flailing or prolonged death.

I used to deer hunt in SC and the low country is full of them. The land managers usually shoot them on sight.

I don't see as many armadillos as I used to in my part of Florida. I figure coyotes have had a big effect on them.

[Lightninrod]

Go gettem Jeff and do show us some pics.

Dan

[45Bravo]

Jeff, .22 rimfire will bust them up real good. Sometimes they will jump 4 feet off the ground when hit. You'll have a blast if there are plenty of them.
Richard

Yea buddy, we used to plink them at camp Livingston in Ball Louisiana (yes it goes into grant parish too)

They are fun to shoot.
We have shot them with everything from a Benjamin 312 in .22 and up.

Sometimes when they are facing you, the best shot is just over the top of the head, but under the shell, there is a gap there directly into the soft skin.
when they have their head down, (the head is always movies  as they said)

And just like any game shot placement is key, vut the more energy you can bring to the table the better..

Not only are they fun to watch when you hit them,but if you wound one they are incredibly fast..when they want to be..

[chancers]

Dillos sure are fun to shoot.  Lots of acrobatics.

Here are a couple of pics of dillos I have taken with body shots (25 caliber Marauder and I think 25 Condor)


This one took a pellet closer to the neck.


This one took a pellet or slug to the chest.

Head shots are too tough for me.  Those dillos are constantly moving.  I'd love to hit one with my 9mm Rainstorm with a center mass shot.

[454 Big Block Chevy]

20+ foot lbs should be plenty.  bring the rain!!!
keep the shots more forward for a kill shot, it might run a little but 20 FPE at 20 or so yds is more than enough.  there shells aren't super hard like a turtle.