is rat shot effective

[n.c.outlaw2024]

i'm usually tolerant of most 4 legged visitors. but i draw the line at mister rat. those evil furry little...well i'd better be careful. don't want a strike for bad language. lol.

 

[Rick300]

It works great from 6 inches

 

[Preacher]

My 63 S&W carry's 3 in the cylinder all the time, small critters are in deep stuff out to about 15 foot...

 

[swd]

I’ve had good luck with 22 bird shot out of a rifle to about 15’ on rats. And 38 shot capsules with #9’s out of a revolver to 8’-10’. Rats are disgusting but fun..

 

[K22]

When I was a kid, my best friend and I were master rat killers. Dumps were commonplace and infested with rats. We used our 22 rifles quite effectively at distances of about 25 yards or so. The key to success was controlling your movement, those buggers' pickup on movement quicker than any critter I ever hunted and would spook. So, you had to be in the ready position to make a shot and preferable concealed.

Then we hit the "rat bonanza"! A fellow owned a donut shop in a rural area and the back of the shop looked like Iwo Jima. Holes everywhere. Rat galore! He even gave us stale donuts for bait. We had excellent cover, and rests, shooting off wooded crates. Because of the PA Blue Laws back then, his shop was closed on Sunday, so Sundays were rat days. While other kids where in Church and Sunday School, Craig and I were rat hunting.

 

[rayporter]

going to the dump to shoot rats was a blast in the 60's

but we did not use shot

 

[AndrewB]

My favorite load for rattlesnakes is a bud lite.

From a lawn chair 20 yards away while someone else with a 12 gauge handles the issue.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Just for grins, I decided to test the 9mm CCI shot capsules out of my Kimber Micro 9 at 10', as I carry this little one a lot due to it's small size and wanted to see real world performance. It would probably work, but due to the fragile nature of the capsules, they won't survive the violent trip from the mag up the feed ramp to the chamber, so they're a single shot proposition at best.



I'll stick with 22LR HV HP's or my own handloaded shot capsules out of any of my .357's or .44's for rat or snake duty.

 

[6BRA]

CCI was making the "BIG 4" option in several calibers. These were shotshells loaded with #4 lead shot.
In my current carry gun, my first 2 rounds are loaded up with these, 38 revolver small J frame. As you can imagine...4s carry more energy. There is still plenty of shot in there. Accuracy may not be so much required when in a speedy situation.

Buy Pest Control Big 4™ Shotshell 38 Spl/357 Mag Ammo 84 4 | 3714CC

Shopping for the Pest Control Big 4™ Shotshell - Learn more about the latest Pest Control Big 4 Shotshell and other hunting or shooting gear at CCI.

www.cci-ammunition.com

 

[rockhound78]

How is the performance of the crimped 22 shot rounds vs the 22 shot capsules (CCI)?

 

[redrockranger]

It works great from 6 inches

Handgun ? More nerve than I got.

 

[Rick300]

Handgun ? More nerve than I got.

10/22

 

[Rick in Oregon]

How is the performance of the crimped 22 shot rounds vs the 22 shot capsules (CCI)?

One word: Sketchy.

The downside of the crimped shotshells is that the lead pellets are in full contact with the bore all the way from chamber to the muzzle, and leading builds up. The plastic capsules 'insulate' the shot from the bore, preventing that leading.

I stopped using the old crimped ones years ago, have never looked back. JME

 

[jxb]

I see no reason to ever waste perfectly good ammo or any beer on snakes when a rock, stick, or shovel work just fine for those with fangs.

But then when I was living in Idaho on the main Salmon I had daily opportunities in summer to practice. It gets to where if they aren't aggressive just go about your business.

 

[CaptainMal]

My 22 mag 5 shot NA Arms has sure killed multiple Georgia rattle worms. An old 22 S&W K model did many in with both old old crimped LR ammo and the new CCI plastic ones. Just get close.

Past couple years I have been carrying a S&W 5 shot 38 special during food plot time in Georgia. Did two last year with it and figure on carrying it in a couple weeks there for the food plots.


The 38 is more of a "one and done" compared to the 22's. Both do get the same results.

 

[swd]

I see no reason to ever waste perfectly good ammo or any beer on snakes when a rock, stick, or shovel work just fine for those with fangs.

Guns are more fun than shovels, LOL. But yes, a flathead shovel is very effective!

 

[6MMsteve]

I use no9 shot in my 9mm 4.0 titegroup, pc of heavy box, shot, another pc of heavy box then a little crimp works like a champ, by heavy box I mean something that's about .040 or .060 thick of somekind of box or wrap that a tool or something comes in, not cardboard....if this makes any sense

 

[rayporter]

so, some of you fellers carry a shovel everywhere you go?

me, i have to run in the barn to get the shovel while it crawls into the hay or under the wagon or in with the horses.

 

[JoeMcNeill]

I have personally witnessed Ray dispatch copper heads during our camping adventures at the BR ranges we frequent. Mostly with a NAA 22 mag which is very effective and the reason I bought one!

JDM

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Guns are more fun than shovels, LOL. But yes, a flathead shovel is very effective!

After its over with the shovel, I then wish I hadn’t done it. Usually pull a muscle somewhere or get some kind of ache out of the deal. The shovel handle seems pretty short when you get down to business.