paintball gun accuracy?

[MyRoad]

I'll start by saying that I know nothing about paintball guns. I'm wondering how accurate they are at 25 - 50 feet?

Reason? I just got a cat, and I live "in town". I have a back yard that's about 30x50ft, fenced on all sides. Today alone I've seen about a half dozen cats wander through my back yard, and my cat has already been in two fights, and although he's a good sized cat, he doesn't seem to be coming out on top. I've heard that getting hit with a paintball stings pretty badly, but I don't think it would be lethal to a cat. For various reasons I don't really want to kill them. I'd just like to give these neighborhood cats a good reason not to get into my back yard.

I'm open to suggestions.

 

[taliv]

plenty accurate to hit a cat. i'd recommend using something else though

 

[MyRoad]

...i'd recommend using something else though

Why? And what would you suggest?

 

[Kenneth Lew]

The velocity of a paintball can kill cats!

 

[taliv]

because the paintball culture, much like the gun culture, is fighting a difficult battle to improve its image. the responsible people who enjoy playing paintball are not amused when hooligans shoot stop signs or cars, etc. it's possible some of your neighbors who see painted cats running around their yard will appreciate what you were trying to do, but doubtful.

use a pellet gun if you have to shoot them. better yet, get a trap that catches them live and unharmed and turn them in.

 

[MyRoad]

taliv, thanks for the info. that's why I'm asking.

 

[BucksDC]

Hello

+1 for taliv.
If you don't want to kill them, try a live trap. Not as much fun as a paintball gun, but much cheaper. Plus you won't run the risk of maiming instead of scaring or killing. Ever heard a wounded cat? Neighbors won't like you

Or you could get your cat some good defensive training videos, so he can kick cat ass.

Good luck

 

[taliv]

np, myroad. i took it as an honest question... hope it didn't sound like i was accusing you of anything. myself, i'd kill the cats and never give it a second thought.

i was just trying to say that while we're thinking, "man, he sure is a nice guy for not wanting to kill those poor cats. must not be from around here",

your neighbors will see the paint and think, "that evil paintball man is torturing my poor kitty! I'm going to call PETA and channel 4 news and tell them we should ban paintball guns! i just know he voted republican too!"

 

[Cuerte Kid]

Just use a water gun or a hose on the cat. Cats hate getting wet more than anything.

 

[Sindawe]

Just use a water gun or a hose on the cat.

Yep, they sure do. Well, MOST cats. I knew one once that had no problem with water. She would climb right into the shower with ya if given the chance.

For a squirt bottle, try putting a little lemon juice in the water. So far, every cat I've know HATES citrus.

 

[Dionysusigma]

Why not Airsoft?

I've used mine on "enemy" cats with good success. A cheap ($40) AEG Steyr AUG and a distance of ~50' was enough to deter but not injure.

 

[Low-Sci]

As a paintball freak, let me say this...

Accuracy is largely dependent on your paint size- bore size match. If its too tight, you're going to be losing gas efficiency. Too loose, and you'll get blow-by and your velocity will drop. So you want good, clean, consistent paint if you want your marker or any marker to be accurate.

That said, accuracy is relative. Sure, you can bean a cat with a paintball gun thirty feet away, but on the other hand, if you're using bad paint, you might bean your cat or the neighbor's house instead. Get paint that's got a dry shell, no oil or paint residue on the outside. Check it before you go home with it to make sure none of them broke in the store. Greasy paint can do all kinds of things you might never have seen before, and all of them are unpleasant.

If you've got your paint matched right and your marker tuned right, you wont have any problem at all stacking shots at say sixty, maybe even seventy feet. Further than that you should expect it to begin to open up dramatically.

As far as can a paintball kill a cat, actually it can. Especially if you're not very careful in making sure that your velocity isn't too fast and the cat isn't too close. Paintball guns are dangerous to humans, potentially lethal. Thats why you're required to wear protective masks and keep your velocity under 300 feet per second on paintball fields. Nobody needs their mask broken into their eyes. Its happened.

What might be more appropriate would be an airsoft gun. The projectiles will still sting, very much so, but don't have the capacity to do a whole lot of damage because they're so light. Your range won't be as good, but your accuracy would probably be acceptable and you wouldn't risk killing anything. On the other hand, I'm a paintball geek, not an airsoft geek, so maybe I'm wrong about that last part.

 

[MyRoad]

...myself, i'd kill the cats and never give it a second thought.

If I lived in the country and I thought they were wild or ferrel I'd kill them, but these cats look too healthy to be ferrel. In case it's not obvious, I live in too heavily populated a neighborhood to discharge a firearm (even if it were legal), so my options are limited. About a year ago a stray cat was spraying my motorcycle in my car port. I tried trapping him in a humane trap using tuna fish for bait, and the little fkr was too smart.

I'll look into airsoft, I was considering that too. Eventually my cat will have to hold his own, he's just so out numbered I thought I'd lend him a hand if I could.

 

[Hal Romberg]

Airsoft seems made for deterring nuissance animals. I would definitely go that direction. The long haired hippy in me says it's better Karma if you can stop annoying behavior without causing harm. Not to mention the fact that your neighbors will probably like you more. Heck, they might even join you for some target practice. Here kitty kitty.....

 

[Destructo6]

You can use a paintball gun.

Run the velocity down to 200fps or lower. Use "Reballs" instead of paintballs so you don't actually mark the cat or your fence.

 

[jerkyman45]

Hose 'em or trap 'em, don't use a paintball gun. I just think its too expensive for that purpose. A good spring airsoft gun runs about 20 bucks (for a pistol) and you could hit that little kitty from about 35 feet. But I'd say that a good strong garden hose would do the trick even better, and cheaper too.

 

[MyRoad]

By the time I get out there and turn on the hose, they're gone. I'm sure it'll work out in time. Thanks for all of the thoughtful comments.

 

[hoji]

Out here in the sticks, we shoot ferals on site, period.
One of my dogs got tangled up with one and it cost us about 600 bucks in vet bills{ quarantine included}
Where you live maybe bring your cat indoors{ we have 5 all indoor cats}
Try setting up a sprinkler and bait it with food. Have a turn on valve in the house, when they come up to eat..........

 

[bigun15]

Well we got a couple paragraphs out of the paintball guy. So I'll throw in my two cents as the airsoft freak.

What you would want is either a spring gun or an AEG. The spring gun is going to be single shot, but almost no maintenance (no battery,charger,crazy internals,etc.) The AEG has all the little complications that I mentioned but is full auto and is probably going to be a little more powerful.

When/ if you start looking for an electris airsoft gun for this be sure you get an LPEG (Low Powered Electric Gun) since you don't actually want to kill them or anything. They have batteries that need to be charged, so you will need the battery and charger if you get it. Some guns come with it and some don't.

I'd probably suggest a spring gun. Just concentrate one shot rather than spray. Depending on whether you want a handgun or rifle is your choice to make. Just make sure that if you do get a handgun you don't get one of the really nice expensive ones. Those can break skin and land you in a bit of trouble. For some good retail stores on the internet, look at the Retail Stores section of the airsoft forum at www.airsoftretreat.com.

You could get a gas gun, but you need to continually replenish the gas and it needs more maintenance. Spring sounds best to me for your situation, but it's your choice.

 

[Brandon]

Make a few calls...

I grew up way out in BFE and we would kill feral animals.

I am in a little more civilized area now I guess I would say a "rural subdivision inside city limits". I could probably still shoot if I wanted to and were discreet but I don't think many of these animals are actually "wild". Some look rough but not that rough and they don't display the same behavior.

I contacted city hall and they put me in touch with the right people in animal control. They said they would keep bringing me traps until I called them back.

The next evening there was a trap and they even left a can of food to bait it with. I set the trap and called for a pickup when I caught one. repeat.

This went on and on... and I set a record of 12 cats in 30 days all using city equipment and them doing the drop off and pick up.

I suspect most places would help you out if you ask.

 

[gunlover77]

Well I have been paintballing for a couple years now and a cheap Spyder should be sufficient.
Though it might kill them.

Airsoft guns might be your best bet.

 

[Navy joe]

BTDT I had a can of expired pepper spray. Got the bully cat in the face and in the butt as it ran off. Ever see a cat drag it's butt and wipe it's face at the same time? That cat never came near my yard again. For years. Actually it would see me blocks from my house and run. No more getting my cat beat up. No more pooping in my flowerbeds.

 

[MyRoad]

...I suspect most places would help you out if you ask.

Good suggestion, but I tried that. In my town animal control rents traps at $10 a week, and I have to go get it and bring it back. The time I tried to rent a trap from them, it smelled like a skunk. So they washed it down and then it smelled like bleach. Either way, the cats weren't interested in it.

I'll have to research high powered water guns, and maybe mix a little chayenne pepper in it. Looks like this may become a bit of a hobby for the summer.

 

[DBR]

Try the high powered water gun with lime juice. Cats seem to hate lime. May seem effete but we take our cats out on a harness. The threats here are coyotes, fisher cats, bobcats, foxes, lynx etc. If they are hungry they will come in like lightening. I have seen them all here in day light. Not a good environment for domestic pussy cats on the loose.

 

[nadeem]

a paintball gun could well kill a cat, imagine you being hit with a soccer ball full of paint going at 300 fps, and then think what it would do to you.