Air Pistol Dispatch

[shropshire mole 190]

Hi,

 

I am normally found on the pest control forums, but have a question on air pistols?

 

Looking for an air pistol, to dispatch rats/squirels that have been trapped live. I have a .22 Air Arms air rifle which I use, but need a covert "keep in the bag" pistol ideally

 

Would a pistol be sufficient for this job, have been told to put in pellet wrong way round, that way get a much more explosive punch?

 

Any thoughts greatly read

 

Cheers

 

Chris

[shergar 42]

At work use a crossman co2 pistol in .22 for despatching rabbits caught in cage traps . But would put the pellet in the right way round use hollow points found it does a good job at really close range

[forest of dean redneck 11,809]

That's what I was thinking when I asked in the trapping section,I was thinking of one of the Ratbuster pistols.

[Blackbriar 8,569]

Agreed ! RWS Super H-point the right way round.

[ratbuster 808]

I did a picture of " the other way round pellet " in the trapping section. But as this is the airgun section, I'll do it here as well

 

Power wise I would use either a 22xx Crosman CO2 model ( cheap) , a HW45 / BSA 240 Magnum spring pistol (expensive), or a Brocock pneumatic( more expensive). These all come close to the UK max of 6 fpe

 

 

These were shot from a distance of 7 meters in a piece of pine with a BSA Supersport .25 doing 10 fpe with 18 grain Norinco " Apache " pellets. (< 500 fps)

 

Using a soft lead pellet " towr " will shown more expansion than using a RWS hollowpoint or similar pellet (been there, done it all )

[ratbuster 808]

 

Another one (sideways)

 

Penetration is half that of loading the pellet the right way in the barrel. Gives all its energy to the target, no over-penetration this way

Edited November 5, 2014 by ratbuster

[shergar 42]

the one I use at work is a Crossman 2240 think it was around £ use hollow points ( right way round) head shot at very close range have never needed a follow up shot to finish off , keep a note of how many shots you have had as there's no pressure gauge

Edited November 5, 2014 by shergar

[shropshire mole 190]

Edited November 5, 2014 by shropshire mole

[Rez 4,961]

Erm. I've come to this post late, but what's wrong with breaking the neck the traditional way? Holding back legs and pull on the head/top of neck area downwards. At least you know the rabbit is dead so to speak, it can be felt breaking.

[jamesS410 106]

Erm. I've come to this post late, but what's wrong with breaking the neck the traditional way? Holding back legs and pull on the head/top of neck area downwards. At least you know the rabbit is dead so to speak, it can be felt breaking.

You're a braver man than me rez if you want to stick your hand in a cage trap to despatch a rat or squirrel as per the op

[Rez 4,961]

Arrrhhhh. Apologies, I thought the topic was about rabbits. BSA 240 Magnum then. If ya can get one.

[shergar 42]

Not everyone where I work who keep an eye on traps feel comfortable dispatching rabbits with there bare hands so to speak and like James says there's no way I am sticking my hand into a cage trap with a angry rat inside . Caught a stoat in one the other day and that was bad enough trying to get that nasty little shite out.

[shep41 31]

I used to use a Webley Nemesis 22 for cage trapped rats only one shot needed. I don't use cage traps now as I only shoot on my property so I gave traps and Webley away.

[Coypu Hunter 486]

For mice, moles and rats, I use an Umarex Beretta .177 BB gun (CO2). For larger pests, I use a Crosman 2240 .22 or my Crosman 357 .177 (also CO2 pistols). They're more than enough to despatch trapped coypus, which have a much thicker skull than a fox.

 

You'll get overpenetration with BBs or domed pellets on smaller quarry, but I use an old tin of Walther hollowpoints in .22, and Crow Magnums in .177 -- hollowpoints don't normally come out the other side.

 

I use domed pellets on coypus to penetrate the thick skull, but don't get any overpenetration.

[redial 81]

These days carrying a pistol is asking for problems if the wrong person sees you.

When I had a lurcher, I would take the trap to a open area and release what ever from the trap.