Tree Rats

[ralph7]

Somewhat interesting discovery. .22 rat shot form a 6" K frame works better on tree rats than 38 rat shot form a 2" J frame.
Edit to add: Both Speer/CCI.

Surprised to see you had better results with the .22 over the .38 shot, my experience has always been different unless I used my Remington 510 smoothbore rifle.
But that's cheating...

 

[venomballistics]

I always liked the concept of light loads and shot loads for big game rifles and larger handguns. Years ago, shot loads were available for most handgun calibers and a few big game calibers like 43 Egyptian and 45/70. There are now shot loads for the 50 BMG. I wish for those blue shot capsules with copious amounts of shot for most other calibers. A 30/06 with 1/2 ounce of #7 1/2 shot backed by approximately 5 grains of Bullseye would be a great addition to any hunting pack. If they can make them for 22 caliber, there is no reason why larger caliber shot capsules couldn't be produced.

I often contemplate the practicality of 3D printing shot capsules for some of the collection.
45-70 seems reasonable, 300 blackout and 350 legend might be fun as well.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

My mom feeds them. It makes her happy.

Feed them peanuts and cracked corn-makes for a tasty morsel!

 

[oink]

Surprised to see you had better results with the .22 over the .38 shot, my experience has always been different unless I used my Remington 510 smoothbore rifle.
But that's cheating...

I haven't tried the 38 rat shot in my 6" 686. Maybe I should.

I've always had good luck with the rat shot in my J frame for snakes but those are always much closer shots. I found that with the J frame I got about a 6" spread at about 6'. That's about perfect for snakes.

I've had some pretty good luck with the .22 K frame. I've knocked them down with good 10+ yard shots. A coup de grâce is always necessary on the longer shots but it knocks them down and slows them down enough to accomplish that.

Due to the cost of the CCI rat shot I've taken to having the cylinder loaded with a combination of rat shot and the Aguila Super Colibri. Rat shot then move the cylinder to a CB if needed.