Carpenter bee control S&W style

[RalphK22]

I had the garage door open in my shop today, and noticed all the carpenter bees hanging around outside. The Little SOBs were digging holes into the side of my fascia. I grabbed a BB gun, but had no luck hitting the dodging and weaving targets, so I went in the house and got the 34 -1 and a handful of old shot shells that were laying around. I'm four for five, with two of them completely disintegrating. Made me laugh like a mad scientist.

I just read recently on some forum, where someone was loading cream of wheat into 45 shells for carpenter bee control. They were using a cardboard wad over the powder and to top off the cream of wheat. Sounds like a blast and I wouldn't have to wait for the bees to hover away from the side of the building. I'd give this a shot in some 38 cases if I could figure out what the powder charge might be.

 

[kennyb]

S&W welcomes in spring

 

[thedane]

How long should you cook the Cream of Wheat before you load it? What about other pests? I was going to spray one of my wasps nests, but maybe I could just shoot it!

But seriously, what about a non-lethal shot load for deer? They managed to eat all of my shubbery over the winter.

I've used CCI shot loads on Copperheads quite successfully.

 

[RalphK22]

darn, I never thought about how long I'd have to cook the cream of wheat. This is going to get more complex than I anticipated.

 

[RalphK22]

oh man, this gets even worse. I found a recipe for the carpenter bee loads, and it calls for grits, not cream of wheat. I'm a northern boy, where am I going to find grits?

 

[sheriffoconee]

oh man, this gets even worse. I found a recipe for the carpenter bee loads, and it calls for grits, not cream of wheat. I'm a northern boy, where am I going to find grits?

Send me a blue steel Model 58 and I will send you enough grits to kill every carpenter bee in all of Yankeeland....

 

[RalphK22]

If'n I had a model 58 there ain't enough grits in all of Dixie that could get it out of my hand.

Pennsylvania Dutchman through and through, but 1/4 Johnny Reb on my grandmaw's side

 

[Engineer1911]

Pest loads

Carpenter bees respond well to Raid wasp killer. What do you use on jet skies when quietly fishing by yourself -- until the jet skies arrived?

 

[Andy Griffith]

What's cream of wheat?

I've used grits in a 1851 Navy before- it works great!
(Sorry, I know this is a S&W thread.)

I wish .22 shotshells were a bit cheaper.

 

[RalphK22]

Well, I reckon I could use bug spray.........but where is the fun in that?

 

[sheriffoconee]

Roger that, why use the right tool for the task (Raid) when there is a much more FUN tool to use (gun)
Gun>Raid
Gun>Carpenter Bees

 

[RalphK22]

And besides ain't grits more eco friendly than all those nasty chemicals? Now remember think green.

 

[semperfi71]

I can see the gun-mag titles now.

"Which load is best? Cream of Wheat or Wheaties?"

"The Myth of Bee-Stopper Loads and Malto-Meal."

"Best Bee-Stopper Loads."

"Handloads versus Factory Loads. Will a Jury Go Against You In a Legal Bee-Stopping Case?"

"9mm versus the .45 in Bee-Stopper Loads. Our Best Gunners Go At It."

"Wringing Out The Latest Smith and Wesson .38 With Bee-Stoppers."

"Concealed Carry Rigs For Bee-Stopping."

"Bee-Stopping Around The Globe and Proper Weapons Choice."

 

[floats]

Actually a can of bee spray can be entertaining when used with the companion tool of a propane torch. A fresh can works best. Jim

 

[RalphK22]

I like the way you think, Jim

 

[flagman1776]

I'm thinking uncooked rice...
I had a lot of fun with a tennis raquette for a time... bouncing them nasty critters off the barn walls, but I had to be quick about stepping on them because often they could get back up.
Probably work on green eyed monsters (horse flies) as well. Nick might not have cared for me shooting them off his rump however.

 

[flagman1776]

A friend of mine was prone to carry as SA clone in a quick draw in his gunsmithy. Very few of us were authorized for behind the counter. One unautherized customer, stepped into the back room just as "Dick" whipped out his pistol & triggered a round at a shop mose scurrying across the floor. Now the rest of us knew that SA was loaded with shot shells but the unauthorized person did not... turned white as a sheet & retreated back the way he'd come. Mr Mouse did not fare too well in the encounter...

 

[Class III]

In my opinion you are using the wrong firearm in the wrong caliber. You need to put some distance between you and the wood bees so as not to get stung by any of the swarm. The firearm/cartridge combo you should be using is a Taurus Raging Bee, in of course 218 BEE.

Class III

 

[zoom6zoom]

oh man, this gets even worse. I found a recipe for the carpenter bee loads, and it calls for grits, not cream of wheat. I'm a northern boy, where am I going to find grits?

Y'all call 'em polenta up there.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Much fun. I shoot them around my house with .22 "rat shot" in the spring too. Those pesty buggers want to bore holes in my front porch ceiling and I'm not standing for that. PLus its fun.......wingshooting with a handgun.

On a related note I use to take .38 special cases and drill out the primer pocket till it would just hold a primer. Then I would take a cake of canning wax and push the case through it forming a wax wadcutter in the case. Powered by just a primer it shoots pretty fast. Shot lots of wasp nest of the eaves of the barn and house. And..........Taped a target to the top of my fireplace screen, sat on the couch and shot into the fireplace. MUCH FUN too!