After barely going 2 for 2 in treed racoons, I'm done taking the bastages down with a .22 rimfire. I'm especially done with doing it in the dark, with a head-lamp and a handheld light and a .22 rimfire!
Tonight, I let the doggies out to pee, and the beagle-cross treed a 'coon that was bigger than he is (a post-partum female, it seems). I spotted it way the heck up in a cottonwood tree, so headed to the house for the rifle. After 5 shots (from a 5-round magazine), the dang thing finally falls - all were hits, as I heard and saw the resulting impact. My mag is empty, the thing is still alive, and I'm trying to stuff single rounds in the mag while holding the rifle, mag and light. Luckily, it's hurt bad, and not interested in eating me. It took two more to make certain it was most definitely dead. Three, actually, but the second failed to ignite - twice.
A couple years ago, I had the same thing happen, but that one was huge; 35 pounds if it was an ounce. It ran off but was only 40 yards into the grove when it died - again after multiple hits.
Those SOBs are damn tough. I told Mrs. B. that this is the last time for the rimfire. Next one, I go out with the M-4gery and a 30-round mag of 62-grain hp ammo! It has an EOTech holo sight on it; should mount a light, too, I guess.
jb