This discussion is on the use of Federal's 'Classic' 22 rim fire ammo., and specifically, upon their HYPER VELOCITY, 31 grain, copper plated, hollow point; this ammo has a truncated style bullet/slug. Federal's product number for this 22 rim fire fodder, is # 724, which is visibly marked on each brick (of ten boxes, or five-hundred rounds), and again on each individual box/container (of 50 rounds) of this ammunition sold. This product number is important to note, as Federal packages other 'Classic' lines of 22 ammo similarly. 

The animal that I chose to do my testing on, during the fall of 97, was the raccoon. The raccoon is regarded as a relatively tough animal, and is one of the largest 'small game animals' that most North American hunters will harvest using the 22 rim fire. Since this ammunition works well, and humanely on raccoon, then consumers can be assured that it will also function humanely for smaller sized quarry, such as rabbits, squirrels, ground hogs, woodchucks, grouse, and similar sized game. Since doing the tests, I'm also convinced that for close range work, such as when calling red fox to a MOUTH CALL, that this ammo would certainly be adequate for harvesting them (relatively close ranged red fox) humanely, when the shots are 100 yards or less. 

The raccoon in my 'neck-of-the-woods' are relatively large, and averaged 19.9 lbs each. I believe that the North American raccoon's weight average will be more in the neighborhood of about 15-18 lbs each. At the North American Fur Auction house (where I often sell my pelts), all of these 'test' coons were graded XL or larger, and my sale average was over $27.00 per pelt. I mention this so that you can get a better appreciation of the size of the animals I harvested during the test. You can see some of the these coon pelts I've harvested, by going to my 'hunting' section of this web site, and choosing 'raccoon' from the menu on the left of the page. Use the size, as compared to either the dog, or the rifle, in these photos 

I did my testing in the fall, during (of course) the open raccoon season, and tested 50 raccoons in the order that I found them. I didn't continue after 50 raccoon, because the results obtained were relatively consistent for field testing, and the paperwork and extra test equipment was burdensome out in the bush, especially, during often 'inclement' weather. 

In the accompanying photo here, you'll see some of the slugs that I retrieved from harvested animals; these are a good indicator of the slug's 'mushrooming' abilities under actual field tests. 
 

HERE ARE SOME  OF THE TEST RESULTS: 

The average temperature at which the coons were harvested was 42.8F. 

• 40% of harvested coons were male
• 60% of harvested coons were female
• Average weight was 19.9 lbs.
• The average distance of actual shots was 33.36 yards (about 100 feet)
• 52% of coon were taken from coniferous (evergreen, such as pine etc.) trees
• 48% of the coons were harvested from deciduous trees, such as maple etc.
• 54% of the shots were obstructed by leaves, needles or small branches, despite my best efforts to secure clear unobstructed shots. I ALWAYS try to get the best, clearest shot possible!
• 46% of the shots were clear unobstructed shots
• 70% of the shooting was done 'free-hand'
• 30% of the shots were taken using a rifle rest, such as another tree
• I used a semi-auto loading rifle, with a four power scope to be sure of the best, and most efficient shot placement possible. Re-targeting in was done after every 10 coons harvested, or whenever I was dubious of a poorly placed shot.
• 62% of the harvested animals were with one 'instant killing' shot
• 16% of coons were taken using two shots
• 12% of coons took three shots to harvest humanely
• 10% of the coons took more than three shots to quickly kill
• ALL of the coons, even those requiring subsequent shots, were killed humanely, determined by world agencies standards in 'bench mark' comparison. This is one of the major reasons I use a semi-auto-loading rifle, which offers quick follow-up shots when I need them - humane and ethical.
• 92% of the bullet slugs exited the bodies of harvested animals, showing that there was more than adequate 'power' in these slugs, to humanely dispatch raccoon.
• Of the bullets recovered. 98% mushroomed nicely, and was evidenced similarly for slugs that exited the harvested coon's bodies.
• Meat damage was negligible in ALL of the harvested animals, and wouldn't be a detriment to those eating these harvested animals.
• Pelt damage from the harvested coons was also negligible, and not one pelt was down-graded because of 'bullet' damage. This includes the exit hole that was present from the slugs that exited the bodies of the coons.
• I estimated the 'shock value' of the bullets, from the time it took to actually kill coons, and from the audible 'smack' that the bullet made when hitting the coons. Compared to the usual 'high velocity bullets on the market, and those that I used for coon harvest other years, these 'pills' rated very well. This shock value is often needed to 'disrupt' the coon's life process, and these slugs running at 1450 feet per second (Federal supplied data) certainly did well.
• 76% of the time these bullets had 'HIGH' shocking values
• 20% of the shots these bullets provided for MEDIUM shocking value
• 4% of the shots produced what I regarded as LOW shocking value. In the situations of the low (especially) and medium shock value ranges, likely the bullets were producing results other than high because of the brush, leaves etc., on the bullets flight path. Even so, IN ALL CASES, THESE BULLETS PERFORMED WELL, AND KILLED THE COONS HUMANELY!
• No misfires, often referred to as 'dud's, occurred, and all ammo functioned flawlessly through the semi-auto-loader's action.

CONCLUSION: 
The Federal Classic 22 rim fire ammo, HYPER VELOCITY, with a 31 grain slug, going 1450 feet per second, with a truncated, 'mushroom' slug/bullet, known as Federal's product number #724 is an excellent choice for humanely harvesting of raccoon(s) It will likewise be efficient at dispatching similar and smaller sized small game animals, as it has great 'shocking' power. This ammunition is very accurate, and functions well in semi-auto-loading rifles. It is competitively priced, and is 'very available' from most retail outlets selling ammunition. It is AMERICAN MADE.

RECOMMENDATIONS:
I strongly urge anyone hunting game animals to use the best ammunition they can afford. I recommend that all hunters use HYPER VELOCITY ammo when hunting raccoons and other small game animals, because it has superior 'shock' power over that of standard 'high velocity' ammo.

I recommend hunters use Federal's HYPER VELOCITY, 22 rim fire ammo product # 724 to efficiently and humanely hunt and kill raccoons and similar and smaller sized game animals.

If you've enjoyed this write-up, please visit my product section for a look at some of the other fine 'work' I have for sale. Indeed, I too, must 'make a buck' to be able to afford to live, and maintain this home page. - with thanks - John A. Vance