.22LR Rat(Squirrel) Shot

[smitholdtimer]

Squirrels have been knawing on my "Ground Neutral" power line causing fluctuations in the current so I've decided to purchase a Smoothbore .22 Caliber rifle. Found a rifle (Not Inexpensive) and went looking for some ammo (I'm at a local gun show) and find three 50 round boxes @ $25.00 ea. Haven't bought any in a while or even seen any but that's HIGH PRICED Squirrel ammo, it may not be powerful enough unless I'm really close and the squirrels aren't "Sitting Still" targets either. Any experienced Rat Shot Squirrel shooters reading this?

 

[mikerjf]

Not sure I’d consider rat shot ethical on squirrels (too likely to wound without killing) but FWIW I did a head to head between Winchester and CCI shot loads, and the blue plastic CCI was clearly superior.

 

[max503]

A Daisy Red Rider would be a whole lot cheaper and probably more fun.

And probably more effective. All you'll be doing is scratching their butts for them with that rat shot.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

That #12 "rat shot" in ANY .22 will not kill a squirrel. It will hardly kill a carpenter bee. You need a 410 shotgun. Shooting them with .22 rat shot will make them laugh at you.

 

[Camster]

I doubt that you can get close enough for it to be effective.
Expensive, but if effective, I would think just one box would solve the problem.
If shot was known to be effective, I'd probably buy the cheapest .22lr bolt gun and make it a smoothbore.
Ages ago, I think I used cb short ammo to solve a squirrel problem, but it wasn't around power sources. They had decided that they wanted to remain in my attic and were not to be discouraged by any other means.
Nowadays, I'd probably buy a pellet rifle.

 

[dwh]

I tried some on barn rats. First with a Ruger Bearcat and then with Winchester 9422. You had to be with in 10-15 feet and even then it wouldn’t kill them flat dead. I switched to cb cap 22 shorts. I had much better success.

 

[smitholdtimer]

I need to correct that the Ammo is labeled as "Bird Shot"

And add that it is manufactured by Federal & is Long Rifle Bird Shot, 25 Grain No. 12 Lead Shot with the brass case crimped instead of the plastic capsule enclosing the shot pellets. Not much room for Power & Pellets.

 

[armadillo]

I use the plastic capsule rounds in a revolver-only. I am afraid that they would break going through a magazine and make a real mess.

Also, I no longer use shot ammo (crimped case) in a semi-auto rifle after I broke an extractor once.

 

[Rudi]

I have shot rats, eating my corn, with .22 shot shells. Went out at night, quiet, hit them with the flash light, bang, from 10 ft. Dead rats.

 

[gmiller0737]

I have shot rats, eating my corn, with .22 shot shells. Went out at night, quiet, hit them with the flash light, bang, from 10 ft. Dead rats.

Same experience I had (I used a Rifle) If noise is a concern the Crimped End Style are a good bit quieter than the Blue End CCI Brand

 

[vipermd]

Squirrels have been knawing on my "Ground Neutral" power line causing fluctuations in the current so I've decided to purchase a Smoothbore .22 Caliber rifle. Found a rifle (Not Inexpensive) a?

. Who makes a smooth bore 22 rifle? Be Safe,

 

[Camster]

. Who makes a smooth bore 22 rifle? Be Safe,

Anschutz made one. A few other brands in the late 50s/1960s. (Winchester offered a version of the model 61)

 

[Green Frog]

Back in the Fifites through early Seventies Remington sold their single shot bolt action in a smooth bore as well as a pump action repeater. The barrels had a “Routledge Bore”. They were used with miniature skeet birds called “Mo-Skeet-Os”. I’ve been told they were actually developed during WW Ii to practice indoors in gyms for aerial gunnery. I remember they were hard to break even if you hit them squarely!

Froggie

 

[glenwolde]

It'll kill them if you're close enough, but maximum range is going to be on the order of 10-12 feet.

I'd agree with an air rifle. Some these days are very quiet and your maximum effective range would be way out there.

I'm more of a squirrel sniper. Though I seem to have eliminated my problem at this point.

 

[AZgman]

I would use an air rifle with a suppressor if noise is an issue. My .25 cal Air Venturi Avenger has taken ground squirrels at 25 yards or more.

 

[ZGrand]

I had the same issue with squirrels chewing on the neutral just last month. I was also experiencing bad voltage dips. Thankfully, the electrical co-op came out and replaced the line.

I had heard them chewing on the line, so I would get my air rifle, pump it twice, and plink them on the butt to make them leave (at least temporarily). But since they actually did some damage, the next one I hear/see gets full power and a different point of aim.

 

[Drm50]

22 shot is a joke. Serious squirrel problems like I have seen with Squirrels is better accomplished with traps. I’ve never known any kind of vermin to be shot out. In the end it’s traps or poison that gets them under control.
Go on You Tube and check out DIY traps for squirrel.

 

[racoonbeast]

A half way decent .22 or .177 cal air rifle of most any make would do that job ten times better than that .22 rat shot.

 

[smitholdtimer]

Smoothbore Rifles

vipermd asked:

. "Who makes a smooth bore .22 caliber rifle"?

The rifle I found was a Remingtom, Model 121 produced in Dec. 1939. Others who have produced smoothbore rifles are:
Winchester M-61, Savage, Henry is making a lever action and this is a short list, there are likely others who I have not included.

 

[sophie]

For squirrels I would recommend a good pellet rifle and a little patience. That’s what my neighbor and I use on the squirrels around here. As others have posted about the rat shot, I think if you could get Mr. Squirrel to stand still for 4 or 5 shots, then you might get him, but I doubt it.