Rat killing...

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Every time that they burn off the fields or we get a bit of flooding then we get another invasion of vermin.
Then my Border Jack, Mister Peanut, Dog of Adventure, gets some exercise... .
I usually don't get a chance to break out the air guns before he's done.
 
I would suggest buying some inexpensive night vision and putting it on your rifle. For what you are doing, you could get by with the cheapest of stuff as you won't be shooting over 25 yards. If you wanted something useful for other applications, I would suggest something like a Sightmark Wraith 2x and then you can shoot it on your .308 of you want to for hogs or larger vermin.

The Brits put night vision on their air rifles and go 'ratting.' Plenty of videos on Youtube you might want to look at for inspiration.
 
Opted for airgun myself. I dont like holes in the barn or hay shed, plus there is usually other animals milling around when the rats and mice are visible. Regular traps seem to attract the dogs and ants take all the bait in a night or two if they find it. A bucket trap is a whole lot better! About 6 inches of water is enough to drown them. Works good and safe for other animals.
 
My barn has been overrun by rats lately. Day by day, I’ve been decreasing the colony with my Marlin 60. I’ve tried Hi-Velocity, Standard Velocity, Subsonics, and shotshells. I’ve found the shotshells easiest to hit with in the waning evening light, but they don’t always kill the rodents. Next is Subsonic. It’s accurate, but my aging eyes sometimes can’t discriminate between leaves and rat at dusk.

What is your favorite rat killing ammo?
A walk-the-plank type or a log-roll attachment for a garbage bin half full of water is a much more efficient means of rodent control. Bonus is you don't have to touch the little dead buggers.

But if I where to forced to only shoot them, a 12 gauge with a duck-bill spreader.
 
Rats need some kind of birth control. Rats have a gestation period of 21-24 days (quick). The only animal with a shorter gestation period is the hamster. 14 days! believe it or not!
If it were not for their short life span we'd be up to our butts in them. :)
 
I use rat shot, usually in my Colt Woodsman. But go to the feed store and ask for One Bite -- it really works. Leave some in the corners and near the holes they use.
 
D-Con and a barn cat.

That works a treat, but you've got to be careful that the cat doesn't eat one of the poisoned rats. If they do, you'll have to find another cat. Fortunately, we don't have a rodent problem around our place. We have about a dozen cats that live around the shop/sheds/barns, so a rat or mouse hasn't much of a chance. Even the chickens will get in their share of rat killin' if one happens to stray into the chicken house.

As far as actually shooting them, I like my Henry or Marlin 39 with CB shorts; very little noise, very little damage. The Marlin holds 28 of them, so unless you're a terrible shot one magazine should get you through an evening's shooting. Plus, with the lever action the follow-up shots are quicker and there's no worry about running out of air or having to pump up a pellet gun. Sorry, but I'm not really an air rifle fan.

Here's an interesting idea: a 9mm RF shotgun. Chiappa still makes one, and the ammo is available at MidwayUSA . Used guns can be had at Simpson Ltd, for less than $200 in firing condition. They are called "Garden Guns" overseas, and fairly popular for ridding large gardens of pests such as rat and rabbits. I'd say they'd be less than effective past 10 yards, but you're not gonna shoot much past that at rats, anyway. Just a thought.

Mac
 
Haven't seen any rats to shoot around here, but I'd probably opt for my Webley/Beeman air rifle if the opportunity arose. Even CB longs are a bit loud for use across the street from a California elementary school nursery.

We've thinned the possum population a bit via live trapping, but thus far the suburban foxes and raccoons haven't been much of an issue in our neighborhood. We usually see gray foxes pass through our yard for a few weeks every September, but so far the chickens three houses down have remained safe thanks to their pair of dogs.



With eight different semi-feral cats hanging around our yard off and on, our rat, gopher and mouse problems are minimal. They usually show me the bodies before they eat them.
 
Grandpa always carried a 8 shot h&r 22 pistol with rat shot in it. Popped a few ground squirrels with it. Then momma cat showed up one night and took care of the problem for us. For the record both grandparents hated cats. Except momma kitty. She earned her keep. Every morning a new surprise. Rats or chipmunks.
 
Trash can/barel with peanut butter covered soup can running across the top, and water in the bottom. Google 5gallon bucket mouse trap and scale up. Or you can get the CO2 powered repeater traps from New Zealand.



While shooting them is fun, it is time consuming to actually make a dent. Passive methods work while you are off doing something else.
 
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Jack Russell Terriers have been my favorite means of rat extermination for many years. Even the 10wk old pups are fur fighting monsters!

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Jack Russells, how can something that cute and lovable be so fierce. My son had one. He loved being held, would jump up on you until you picked him up. Would chase a squirrel half way up a tree on sheer momentum.
 
PLEASE don't use poison as it not only kills the vermin, but also the owls, hawks, cats, etc. that find them to be "easy prey" if they're out waiting ti die.
Well, I’d be inclined to feel somewhat sorry for the owls, but the hawks can take a hike anyway. They’ve been killing my chickens, and I don’t have a cat, so.....
 
It is called relay poisoning and it is possible you could be liable if you are not poisoning according to the law. For example, if they find the guy in Maryland killing pests with an illegal poison that has been linked to several eagle deaths, that guy is going to be in a heap of trouble. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-new...les-killed-banned-pesticide-maryland-n1001671

However, raptors get killed all the time where it is not a federal crime, such as when they are struck by vehicles. So long as the driver isn't intentionally trying to hit the birds, then the driver isn't going to be charged with a crime.
 
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Well, I’m using Just One Bite II placed inside a building where anything short of a rat, bat, or barn swallow would have difficulty getting into, and my indifference to the hawks is in no way active and open aggression toward them. If I wanted the hawks dead, I could have done it long ago. My concern is the rats, and they must go.
 
.410 with Rio 2 1/2" # 12 shot will drastically enhance kills without exponentially increasing damage. You can get a Rossi single barrel youth for $140.
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Exactly, that is death on rats in a barn with no holes in roof ! The .22 magnum shot is much better than .22 lr shot. .22 lr shot is equal or better in smooth bore barrels however. Sounds like you need a low power full size ( to gather some light) scope on your .22 and stick with subsonics.
 
Rats are notorious for running into/under/close to something that can be damaged, and 410 increases the likelihood that I’ll damage something; even if it is just a piece of barn wood.

Not so ! Not with #12 or #9 shot. Standard .410 is death on barn rats and provides the least damage other than a true .22 smooth bore. The only thing better is a thermal or NV equipped suppressed semi auto .22 with subsonic hp ammo and careful hits.
 
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