.22 LR Shotshell Ammo

[mangy1983 51]

I have some shotshell ammo at home for my .22 long rifle but l have wondered would it be safe or not to fire at birds in trees or say birds flying overhead as l know this is a no no with normal bullets but wouldn't the shot dissipate faster, lose its speed and be affected by the wind more? What do you guys reckon?

 

cheers Callum

[theinvisiblescarecrow 0]

The guys In the USA use 22 (& larger cal')shot shells in pistols for snakes at very close range.

In the UK It's mice or rats at very close range.

Small birds at close range in the UK in the old days but the more commenly used cal' was the No3 or as we know it now 9mm & that was used in orchards shooting birds such as Bullfinches or sparrows in feed stores Etc.

Crows, Magpies, Pigeon with a 22 shotshell ?

Get an air rifle.

In the US they use 22lr for shooting into trees for Squirrels Etc but they do have a bit more space in the forest compared.

[stubby 175]

what distance will ammo travel?

would have though it will travel further than a shotgun shell, so you'd need to be alot more aware of backstops, as it will come down somewhere?

so not so much of what members think, but what would your FAO think?

Im sure he/she would say NO

[Malt 379]

what distance will ammo travel?

would have though it will travel further than a shotgun shell, so you'd need to be alot more aware of backstops, as it will come down somewhere?

so not so much of what members think, but what would your FAO think?

Im sure he/she would say NO

 

It wouldn't travel anywhere near as far as a shotgun shell Stubby, I think it's only like dust loaded into a 22LR case going on what I've read on here over the last few years.

[mangy1983 51]

Thanks for the replies

I just wasn't too sure if the bb's inside the shot would travel that far as they are not shaped as well as a bullet is for wind resistance nor are the bb's as heavy as a bullet is. I did notice on the ballistics chart on the cci website My link that the muzzle velocity is 1000ft/sec but no more data was available at other ranges. This was why l asked weather or not it would be safe enough to shoot upwards as l got some with my rimmy but never used them.

 

cheers Callum

[nod 285]

these shells only hold a pinch full of shot and they are normally size 9 so it wont do any damage past 15 yards or so to a piece of paper

[mangy1983 51]

Thanks for the replies guys!

 

Very informative. So l guess if l did get something in range it would be quiet safe to shoot without a backstop as long as there are no houses or roads in the line the shot is to be taken in as l know the bb's still have to land somewhere

 

cheers Callum

[RicW 67]

No danger to other people. Too weak to use except indoors on rats up to ~15 ft. Sub-12 air much better.

Ric

Edited September 21, 2010 by RicW

[matt_hooks 188]

A 12 bore shotgun is considered safe to shoot into the air, and a .22LR with a shotshell will dissipate energy far faster than the 12!

 

The only problem with the shot shells through a rifled barrel is that you will end up with a nice "donut" of shot with a big empty space in the middle.

 

The shot shells are designed for very close range stuff, definitely won't take birds past about 10 yards, less for squirrels.

 

An air rifle will do a better job, or get a .410.

 

As for the .22LR with subs for squirrels, it's risky. The .22 will travel several hundred yards, so if you aren't absolutely sure that if it goes through, when it comes down to earth it'll do it somewhere safe, then don't shoot it in the air. If there's any doubt, there's no doubt, shimples!

[saxosportsaxo 2]

what distance will ammo travel?

would have though it will travel further than a shotgun shell, so you'd need to be alot more aware of backstops, as it will come down somewhere?

so not so much of what members think, but what would your FAO think?

Im sure he/she would say NO

 

a shotgun shell has smaller shot than a .22 lr round. The shotgun shot looses energy quickly as it is much lighter than a .22

 

Keep it down i say......