Rats

870P

870P

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I've been charged with ridding an outdoor chicken coop of a rat infestation.

I was handed a Crosman Phantom .177 495 fps break open air rifle and some pointed pellets, so far I've managed hit 25 of the buggers, but they've all run off, even one that I managed to solidly hit twice.

Is this to be expected with a low powered airgun and pointed pellets?

My recent experience in putting down a couple of rats that I found caught in traps that were still alive, is that they can take an unbelievable amount of damage. I'd go for headshots only, but can hardly guarantee them with this rifle, which seems difficult to shoot well compared to any other airgun I've used.
 
I was doing the same thing but with a 22LR. Did a great job, but the little buggers are smart: I'd get 2 or 3, and they would hide for a couple of days before coming back into the open. Then I started using the 20ga. Wait until they are grouped together and get 3 at the same time.
 
I have seen videos on YouTube about attaching a specific type of video camera to a scoped rifle and then you can use it at night time when they all come out and think they are safe. Some kind of hacked night vision that seems to be very effective.
 
It has to be the pellets.

I just through and throughed a small one diagonally and it flopped around and squealed but ran off before I could run up and crush it.
 
I'd say your on the light side of energy likely certainly with the 177. I shoot alot of pigeons for farmers year round and have settled with a nitro piston in 22 (scoped 3-9) shooting approx 850fps after trying MANY different springers. Doesn't put holes in the tin from the distances I maintain and i try to keep my shots at 30yrds, 1 shot in the breast folds them nearly every time with domed hollow points (crossman).

I'd recommend going to a 22 with more fps if you are a pal holder. I've shot alot of pigeons and grouse with a .177 but the .22 gets it done. You'll find alot of those 495fps rated guns are realistically actually in the low 400 range if you chrony them or at least that's been my experience.

If your local to me drop a pm and I'd be happy to let you try my pigeon getter.
 
Metrocruiser said:
I have seen videos on YouTube about attaching a specific type of video camera to a scoped rifle and then you can use it at night time when they all come out and think they are safe. Some kind of hacked night vision that seems to be very effective.
Click to expand...

years ago i strapped a maglite to my HW77 air rifle.just enough light to sparkle the rats eyes and see them thru the scope
 
It may not be the pellets just the limitations of the airgun and the distance you’re shooting, your own results seem to show that. I imagine a .22 would be what’s needed as it would give you a large increase in energy.

If you’re stuck with a non pal airgun for whatever reason if you can afford it maybe switch to a pcp like a regulated Artemis or storm rider in 22 cal. That way you could get the velocity to the 480fps mark with 14.3 grain pellets
 
Ronan_357 said:
It may not be the pellets just the limitations of the airgun and the distance you’re shooting, your own results seem to show that. I imagine a .22 would be what’s needed as it would give you a large increase in energy.

If you’re stuck with a non pal airgun for whatever reason if you can afford it maybe switch to a pcp like a regulated Artemis or storm rider in 22 cal. That way you could get the velocity to the 480fps mark with 14.3 grain pellets
Click to expand...

The distances are fairly close, with the last shot being less than 7 yards, and most of the pellets are going through the rats, so power seems sufficient.

I had a non PAL .22 years ago and it sucked overall, on one hand it would have been more effective up close, but stretch the distance a bit and it badly lacked for penetration and had a ridiculously looping trajectory.
 
I read that if you put out a containment trap with a good falling trap door, 1st lock the trap door, put out a good amount of bait and let them get comfortable and feel safe, you let this go on for 2 to 3 days, then replenish the bait and activate the trap door.
 
870P said:
The distances are fairly close, with the last shot being less than 7 yards, and most of the pellets are going through the rats, so power seems sufficient.

I had a non PAL .22 years ago and it sucked overall, on one hand it would have been more effective up close, but stretch the distance a bit and it badly lacked for penetration and had a ridiculously looping trajectory.
Click to expand...

If you’re getting pass through, I’m not sure what the issue is. Short of braining them, they’re gonna run off somewhere to die.

If you do want to try new pellets though, give crossman destroyers a go. Accurate and effective for me

D467603-A-11-F9-4-A44-85-EA-FB655-C89-FE4-B.jpg


That’s them on the right. Really open up nicely. (Although that’s at about 900 FPS)
 
Last edited:
Metrocruiser said:
I read that if you put out a containment trap with a good falling trap door, 1st lock the trap door, put out a good amount of bait and let them get comfortable and feel safe, you let this go on for 2 to 3 days, then replenish the bait and activate the trap door.
Click to expand...

Tried that and nothing, I think a lot of folks around here put a lot of effort into trapping them, and they're wise to it.

kodiakjack said:
If you’re getting pass through, I’m not sure what the issue is. Short of braining them, they’re gonna run off somewhere to die.

If you do want to try new pellets though, give crossman destroyers a go. Accurate and effective for me

That’s them on the left. Really open up nicely. (Although that’s at about 900 FPS)
Click to expand...

I'll give them a shot, while it'd be nice to kill them on the spot, I'd even settle for a more dramatic reaction when they're hit, regardless if they still run off.
 
870P said:
Tried that and nothing, I think a lot of folks around here put a lot of effort into trapping them, and they're wise to it.



I'll give them a shot, while it'd be nice to kill them on the spot, I'd even settle for a more dramatic reaction when they're hit, regardless if they still run off.
Click to expand...

I’m sure they find it sufficiently dramatic. ;-)


Oh, and I meant to say “right” not “left”. I’m an idiot.
 
I've been using head shots on rats for several years, using a Pardini K12 so precision placement isn't a problem. A piston rifle like you're using can indeed be very challenging to shoot accurately - the 'artillery hold' being the rule, let the rifle move a little as you fire instead of trying to restrain it. Lots of practice in daylight at different ranges will tell you what's working, what's not, and you can establish a range card for these closer ranges. With a PCP the gun doesn't move at all, just point and click. I have a little NV200 infrared monocular set up behind a 4x scope (the infrared flashlight element extracted and raised above the scope turret and put into a tube with a focusing lens up front) and can take them anywhere between 2 yards and 15 yards with confidence, beyond that I would worry the low power was insufficient.

I'm using JSB round nose pellets in .177 weighing 8.43gr, shooting at a little under 500fps. I had the pistol for competitive shooting and when I stopped doing that owing to a shoulder injury this was the next role for the thing. I find that for head shots a sub-500fps airgun is plenty, body shots I'd probably want to go for a PAL-rated airgun, something around 700fps in .22", and still trying to get the heart if possible. But on a rat that's likely harder than a brain shot, so I don't really see the point.

Close range holdover is the most challenging part, with head shots requiring placement within less than a dime sized target to ensure a quick drop. I usually go for side of the head, slightly in front of the ear hole, but if the rat is facing me (they often are, as they can see the dull red glow of the IR LED) it's usually with their nose down, so I can get a decent forehead shot. Haven't taken a body shot since my first few rats as though such hits worked, it wasn't an instant death. I really don't want them running off where I can't find them, having rotting rats laying around.

For my setup, with fairly high-mounted scope, I have to shoot about 2" high for point-blank (2 yards or so is as close as I've ever got one), about 1" high at 7 yards, 1/2" at 10 yards, zero at 15 yards. Every spacing between scope and bore will make for a different trajectory of course. I tried a Torrey Pines (now changed to Sector Optics) T20 thermal unit for a while, but the screen resolution just doesn't offer precise enough reticle adjustments to stay on a rat's head beyond a few metres. Too bad, as a rat has no idea you're looking at it with a thermal scope. So back to the infrared, which I have to turn on and shoot within a few seconds or they spook and run off.
 
I always use pointed pellets with my .177 sub 500fps on rats. if you get them in the heart/lung area their dead they will most likely run off into their hole/tunnel and die.
I got one that lost a good amount of blood leaving a trail that went under the old patio under the addition of the house best I can tell I got the top of the heart. their rats I don't worry about it if its a solid it its a solid hit and they will die.

in 2015 we had a bad year burrows allover the place a little thickened fuel down the holes gets the job done.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom