.22lr shotshell or super colibri

[General Geoff]

I know the use of these is not recommended for much, but it seems there's a critter who just migrated to living within the wall between my bedroom and the adjacent room (bathroom), and he's making very annoying scratching noises randomly. The only way to get into the wall without tearing out drywall is via the crawlspace (attic). When I find the bugger, I don't want to have to go chasing after him with gloves and such and such, especially not while he's scamping through the wall corridor. If he's thoroughly entrapped (say, between studs in the wall) I should be able to capture him with a bit of food and a standard trap. but I want to be prepared to take him out without him somehow escaping.

I don't want to use a standard .22lr round because it could conceivably do some damage to the studs or other materials. So this leaves me with the choice of a .22lr shotshell, or a .22lr super colibri (primer only). Which would you recommend for a small rodent at a range of 5 feet or less? The gun I'll use is a ruger mark III 22/45 (6.5" bbl) if it makes a difference. I know that the use of either of these rounds probably won't cycle the action and thus I'll have a manual repeater.

 

[mgkdrgn]

He's (more likely "they", there is no such thing as one) has to come out of the wall somewhere to eat.

A couple of mousetraps baited with peanut butter should do the trick nicely.

 

[RandyB]

Glue traps. Place a bit of peanut butter in the center. Tie a string onto them and place in between the studs. Also great if they get in the ventilation system. I love glue traps for this.

 

[beatcop]

Poke a small hole in your drywall and gas them out! Maybe a little ether with a plastic extension?

If that doesn't get them, just follow it up with a match!

Just joking! Don't do it.........glue traps....that's the ticket!

 

[tank mechanic]

22 lr shotshells are perfect for killing tiny rodents.

Very minimal damage to the surroundings from any of the lead shot that doesn't hit the target.

They are also a little more forgivng than a single bullet, because the shot pattern widens up the further the shot travels from the barrel. (probably not a whole lot in 5 feet, but wider than a single bullet none the less)

 

[RippinSVT]

12-guage with 00 Buck outta handle the critter.

 

[rcmodel]

Yep! CCI shotshells are just the ticket.

Be aware that the shot can bounce back off a hard surface and hit you, so you might ought to wear eye protection.

rcmodel

 

[General Geoff]

I picked up some CCI .22lr shotshells, but when I got home last night, there were no more sounds coming from the wall. I stayed up till 4am listening for any sounds, but nothing.

He must have moved on to somewhere else, considering there's no access to the inside of that wall except for the freezing cold attic, and there's no food or water available anywhere nearby. I'll keep an ear out in my kitchen, though.

 

[rcmodel]

What you need to do is get yourself a Ferret.

Or maybe a cat?

rcmodel

 

[RyanM]

Glue traps are about the most inhumane animal traps in existance short of old-fashioned bear traps, if that matters to you any. Just get the plain old wood and steel snap traps, and bait with peanut butter. Those things are cheap enough to throw away with the mouse if you don't want to touch it. Position them correctly, and they kill instantly. Whatever's in there probably would have died by now if it weren't coming out to forage. One time I had about 5 meeses making noises in the walls, in the ceilings, etc, in most of the rooms of the house. Killed them all within about a week with snap traps placed just in the kitchen.

 

[regal]

My new rodent gun is a savage with the .22lr super colibri. At close range it will quickly dispatch a full grown rabbit or ground hog. It is silent, and best of all another round can be chambered in seconds vs minutes with my old pellet rifle.