I have a rat problem in the barn that is not been affected much with traps. Poisons are out because I have small stock that might eat it. Don't have a cat. The little air rifle can put a hurt on them but they usually have enough juice left to escape. .22 shorts bowl them over, dead, but, because of neighbors and animal stock, I'm limited on shot angles. Even bought a laser beam sight for the air rifle so I can get on them faster in the dark.
Bought a box of rat shot for the .22. That should take care of the rickoshays but I've heard that they can screw up a .22 rifled bore if you shoot too many through it. How many RS's are too much? Do you have to clean the bore every time you use the shot? The rule of thumb for rats is: "If you've seen one, you have 20". I've shot 5 and trapped another 6 after finding out I had a rat problem originally. That means one box of fifty shells should keep me busy for a while. I'm wondering if 50 rat shells is going to mess up my rifle. Thanks.
Bought a box of rat shot for the .22. That should take care of the rickoshays but I've heard that they can screw up a .22 rifled bore if you shoot too many through it. How many RS's are too much? Do you have to clean the bore every time you use the shot? The rule of thumb for rats is: "If you've seen one, you have 20". I've shot 5 and trapped another 6 after finding out I had a rat problem originally. That means one box of fifty shells should keep me busy for a while. I'm wondering if 50 rat shells is going to mess up my rifle. Thanks.