A Question about Rats and Air Guns

[Gubbins]

We have an ongoing problem with rats which is more to do with where we live than anything else, we live near a River and a Canal with a Railway Embankment the other side of a drystone wall at the bottom of my garden.
A friend gave me an old air pistol but its barely better than useless as I cant hit a dustbin lid at 5 metres away. Today there are 3 young rats playing in my garden so I think I might buy a new one.. but what to buy?
Not asking about legality as I am up to speed with the law and no problem there, its just what to buy thats not too big and will do the job..

 

[LeighPing]

what to buy thats not too big and will do the job..

A Jack Russell.

 

[soundwave]

https://www.gunstar.co.uk/accuracy-international-axmc-stock-with-26-remington-heavy-ba/rifles/1023436

 

[Gubbins]

A Jack Russell.

Where do you insert the bullet?

 

[Gubbins]

https://www.gunstar.co.uk/accuracy-international-axmc-stock-with-26-remington-heavy-ba/rifles/1023436

C'mon SW. It was a serious question!

 

[soundwave]

you can buy one just say there fkn massive rats

a decent air rifle wont be cheap but have a look on that site a cheap one wont have enough power to kill a rat in one hit.

if you use the 50cal there wont be any rat left

 

[oldtom]

C'mon SW. It was a serious question!

I'm sure it was and if you wish to only use an air weapon to reduce your rat population, you will be a long time trying.

There are other methods which, if used safely, will work better than secreting yourself for hours on end in a good spot to hopefully kill rats. If you imagine that shooting as part of a multi-string strategy is essential, I would say first, forget pistols, only a decent rifle with a good scope will be up to the job.

There are several sites on t'interweb where you might find advice re the weapons and prices as well as the best field strategy. Shooters must always observe several disciplines, not least of which is the backdrop behind your target area.

Tom

 

[Gubbins]

I'm sure it was and if you wish to only use an air weapon to reduce your rat population, you will be a long time trying.

There are other methods which, if used safely, will work better than secreting yourself for hours on end in a good spot to hopefully kill rats. If you imagine that shooting as part of a multi-string strategy is essential, I would say first, forget pistols, only a decent rifle with a good scope will be up to the job.

There are several sites on t'interweb where you might find advice re the weapons and prices as well as the best field strategy. Shooters must always observe several disciplines, not least of which is the backdrop behind your target area.

Tom

Thanks for the advice Tom. Yes its a multi strategy using bait, traps and general good housekeeping. They often pop up and hang around for a few days, I suppose until the poison gets them but they manage to elude the traps (sealed bait station including internal trap). I wont be laying prone on the lawn as we see them from the conservatory and I have a chair right next to the door where I see them as they run about in and around the drystone wall which will be the backstop. so am going to the local gun shop tomorrow if it doesnt rain, but want to be armed with as much info as I can so I dont buy something inappropriate.

 

[tommie]

lol,
but seriously, have a look here , it recommends the best air rifle for taking out rabbits,.. rats should fall well into this category then

https://www.shootinguk.co.uk/guns/air-rifles/could-you-advise-on-the-best-air-rifles-for-shooting-rabbits-20824

 

[soundwave]

but the 50cal can do rabbits and rhinos and this will kick a ak47s ass.

they cost $275.0000 and costs 12$ a second to push the trigger.

 

[Nealh]

I use a pcp Air rifle .22 (2nd hand airarms s200) with scope,silencer & 10 shot magazine, to deal with pesky grey bush tails. PCP/pressurised are quiet but need addition of compressed air cylinder or a pcp pump. . Depending on the pellet used a chrono shows it fires right up to 12 ft lbs, accuracy set up is good and can generally get most shots within 1 - 2 " on a target approx. 80ft away.

My back drop is a metal shed at the end of the garden (150/160ft) before railway embankment, said shed is testament to a dozen or so dents.
Never keep gun loaded and always point it at the ground when not in use. Be aware of straying bullets as is an offence to allow pellets to stray out of your boundary.

 

[flecc]

Ditto. I use an entirely legal 12 lbs pressure .22 air rifle and it's despatched 168 grey squirrrels* to date.

AKA Tree Rats.
.

 

[Gubbins]

So far have found this as inexpensive and not too big.
https://m.pellpax.co.uk/airguns/air-rifles/co2-powered-air-rifles/crosman-2250-ratcatcher-co2-air-rifle-22/15

 

[soundwave]

it will prob kill a rat at close range but anything else it wont be very accurate.

 

[Planemo]

I can vouch for the AirArms S series as well. I have a .22 one and it is incredibly accurate, quiet (the silencer does actually work very well) and zero recoil being a PCP. It has kept me fed with many a pigeon breast. I cant remember what scope I have of the top of my head but it has more magnification than I need and an illuminated reticle which I found is much handier than I thought it would be.

I would never go back to springers after PCP, they really are fantastic.

 

[Nealh]

Get a selection of pellet trial packs to see which works accuracy wise with gun you buy.
Some seem better then others.
One I have used tended to pull a bit left to others I use.
AirArms own Diablo Field pellet is good for me as is the JWS Super Field both fly pretty straight.
You can get pointed ones like Bisley Premier but may be dosen't produce the same blunt force trauma as the convexed ones above, for closer range and you can get Bisley Pest Control with convexed end for blunt force trauma but not good at long range due to flight characteristics
Trial and error but practice accuracy first with target.
Having a pellet that can kill is no good with out accuracy as you will just cause suffering..

 

[Gubbins]

Wow.
And I thought it's just get a gun n shhot em

 

[soundwave]

Wow.
And I thought it's just get a gun n shhot em

it is if your getting a glock

 

[Nealh]

Over all can't go much wrong with AA but be guided by products available locally. I did my homework and settled for the AA S200 .22 over .177 and saw a nice used one for sale with in 20 miles.
Gun case, rifle, silencer, scope and 10 shot magazine conversion.
May post a pic of set up tomorrow.

 

[soundwave]

https://anticsonline.uk/N752/N812/N831_CO2-Powered-Air-Rifles/106197352_SMK-SYN-XS78-Tactical-Multi-Shot-Co2-22-Air-Rifle-1-1-ZSYNXS78C.html