Hunting rats indoors

Status
Not open for further replies.
S

Seattleimport

Member
Joined
Mar 13, 2008
Messages
181
Location
Washington
I'm buying a property that has a significant rat problem. Any recommendations on how to deal with them?

House is in Seattle, in an urban area. Neighbor-audible gunshots are not acceptable.

Options I've been considering (in addition to "hire an exterminator" and "get a cat"):

1. Airsoft rifle.
2. Shotshells (my two options are .22 or 38spcl)
3. BB/Pellet pistol or rifle

Any ideas/recommendations? Found a silenced BB gun at GAMO that might work not only for this, but for fun basement target practice. http://www.gamousa.com/family.aspx?family=Whisper Series&familyID=71
 
iron frying pan extension cord end cut off peanut butter
if your imagination fails fasten one bare wire to the handle of the pan suspend the other in the middle on an insulator with the end smeared with peanut butter
plug in cord and leave when lights flicker you got one repeat doesn't work n a gfi circuit
 
I used to shoot mice in the garage with .22 shotshells; you had to be really close..... I don't know if you could kill a rat with one. :)
I would set out several snap traps. At least you know where the bodies are; the problem with poison is they stink to holy hell after they die. Try finding a dead rat in the wall..... lol
 
If you actually have an itch to not sit around n wait for the poison to take effect or whatever traps you've put out to produce, I think any good quality BB or pellet gun would be very effective, very productive and very fun.

I have a Benjamin pump I think it's the .20 or .22 pellets it shoots. That thing would easily dispatch a bald-tail squirrel at a time.

If you decide to take this approach, you could then more strategically place your poison and traps to compliment your onslaught -I mean calculated attack or necessary extermination or whatever.

Place the traps along their escape paths 'cause I'm sure every time you snipe one, the others will head for hills...or the holes or.....

Maybe recruit a buddy with another equally humane disposal device and make bets on shot placement and total kills?

They ought'a sell air rifles at the Home Depot if you ask me.
 
If you want to shoot rats and gunshot noise is unacceptable, you should try a box of Super Colibri 22 LR. I've bought a few bricks after trying out a bunch of sub-sonic ammo - it was the best of the bunch. It is too loud out of a pistol and won't feed worth a darn in 10/22 due to the magazine design, but my Henry Lever Action will eat it all day. A pellet gun is actually louder than this ammo out of a rifle. If you don't believe me read the customer reviews. Definitely has enough power to put down the meanest rat. If you only need a few boxes and not a brick, MidwayUSA sells it by the box.
 
Use .22 subsonic in a bolt-action rifle or a revolver.

Pull the bullets out of new .22 sub cartridges (be careful not to spill the powder) and replace the bullet with a little plug of soap. I just cram the cartridge end into a bar of Ivory and tear out a little slug.

Mash two or three #8 shot pellets into the soap plug.

It's accurate enough at short ranges, is deadly to rats, is reasonably quiet, will not ricochet, and will not destroy your property.

KR
 
Last edited:
That's a good idea, KR. I was intrigued by subsonic but I don't want bullet holes in my house.

So, soap will kill rats? Or will it stun them until I can apply a shovel?

If this works, it's a good excuse to pick up a .22 bolt or wheel gun.
 
So, soap will kill rats? Or will it stun them until I can apply a shovel?
Click to expand...

Soap with a couple of lead shot pellets wadded into it will absolutely kill rats.

(I had to do this at a dive apartment I rented outside of Memphis).

The only thing you'll need the shovel for is burying the bodies.

Enjoy :D

KR
 
If you decide on poison,put a dish of water beside it.They'll drop right there.D con doesn't have enough warfirin in it a rat can eat an entire box,box and all.
Go to an ag supply and get the good stuff.
 
Seattleimport said:
So, soap will kill rats? Or will it stun them until I can apply a shovel?

If this works, it's a good excuse to pick up a .22 bolt or wheel gun.
Click to expand...
The soap is the "sabot" holding the shot.

It's the shot that kills (although I'm sure getting whacked by the soap doesn't feel real good).
 
Someone mentioned in another thread, and it seems like a pretty good idea:

Take a 5 gallon bucket, put about 6-8" of water in it, put a wooden ramp up to the edge, and float a bowl of peanut butter or something else enticing in the water. They jump in to get the food, can't get out, and drown.
 
Best thing to shoot rats indoors would be an air rifle. More than capable for the job. I sometimes shoot them with mine in my back garden.

But, they will damage the inside of your house! And cause dangerous richochets quite likely. If you were shooting in a barn, or a house thats going to be renovated, then no problem, otherwise I would certainly go with the poison idea.

We have rats come into our attic every winter, and poison is the only answer, I know, I've tried everything else, including electronic deterrents!
 
Poison is the best bet. But go commercial. The store bought poison is designed to relieve you more of money than pests, though in time it will work.
 
Release the hounds.
"...buying a property..." Pay a professional exterminator. Too much money involved to screw around. Time will cost you money too.
 
CCI CB long .22 works well too. I've used the super colbri and it's good stuff, probably a good match for rats. The CCI is a little more powerfull and may do more damage than you like. I found the CCI would barly go through a 3/4 pine board while the SC won't, but the will both fly through drywall.

If you like the bucket idea, try one of those big "garden totes" I got 2 squrrels in one day.
 
Last edited:
Oh boy. Gun forum! .22 CB or BB caps. Out of a rifle they are almost silent and are as powerful as a quality .22 air rifle.
Al
 
The only problem with poisons is, if any domesticated cats, dogs, etc, happen to eat the dying carcass, the pet may end up with chemical poisoning. Even if you do not have a cat or dog, neighborhood cats typically have their own "territory" that they cover.

I wouldn't think you would want to inadvertantly injure or kill someone's pet!

As for the question whether the rat could die within the dwelling, yes, absolutely, that is a concern as they could very easily die somewhere inside the building. If you have water outside, yes, they may go out to drink, only to relieve their thirst symptom - then come back in and slowly die inside a wall, crawl space, attic, etc. The rat may want to go back outside to drink more - yet is unable to move as it is in the process of dying. So, I don't think that having water outside is a guarantee that the rat won't die within the building.

The safest thing would be to have a large cat that is not afraid to catch and kill rats.
 
Coca-Cola

---- or Pepsi-Cola will do the trick. Rats can't belch, but they sure do like coke. Just pour a little cola into the LID of an old Mayonnaise Jar. Depending on how many Rats are in the house, you'll have to keep it refilled. They'll drink and return to their hideaway and blow-up.

This was discovered by my neighbor who had a dog kennel. The rats were robbing his dog-food by the 50# sacks. He tried shooting them, but they were too smart. Not wanting poison on the premises, he bought a case of Pepsi-Cola. The Rats soon were non-existant. Try it, You'll like it.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

B
  • Locked
Mr. Tactical Rat Versus The Air Rifle
Replies
6
Views
2K
Baltimore_900
B
Back
Top