Shooting in the barn- how not to put a hole in the roof??

[jaydog]

I didn't want to sidetrack the other thread about choosing a good air rifle for hunting with a concern I have. Have others shot pests inside barns? Is there a limit to fps, special kind of pellet construction, whatever that won't (generally) punch holes through the roof/walls when you miss? Some of the tin in the roof and walls sure seems thin.

I'm hoping for pigeon free barns, not livestock living under a colander!!

 

[SandRoad]

You should be good in the 600 to 700 fps range with a 177, however it might still dent thin sheet metal if hit square.

 

[jaydog]

You just can't beat real life experience! Thanks.
Would you expect a 495fps .22 cal air rifle to be about the same then? That whole 'not a firearm' thing could be handy.....

 

[IanC]

You need a .22 cal instead of 177 which will blast through tin at 600fps.
I have experience with that. A. 22 at 500-600 will stay inside the barn.
Use wad cutters and you wont have a problem.
May I suggest a Weihrauch 50 in .22 cal
PM sent

 

[Papaclaude]

You may also want to use only lead pellets. Don't use bb's, and I don't know about the PBS (or whatever the high velocity ones are called), whether or not they will penetrate more than lead.

 

[SandRoad]

You need a .22 cal instead of 177 which will blast through tin at 600fps.

I guess our old barn has thicker steel. Or maybe I just couldn't see the holes from the floor

 

[Turkeyslayer 1300]

Best thing in a barn is that ratshot they sell for .22's. I have always wanted to try one of those "air shotguns".

 

[armorman]

If you have a 22 rimfire rifle try these shotshells for 22LR. They don't cycle worth sh!t in a semi auto though. And try to stay about 10 ft+ away from thin metal on the walls or roof:

[youtube]zh0jCg8Ymuo[/youtube]

 

[Lodi]

"Tin" roofs are made of different materials. The older steel ones seem to withstand hits much better than the aluminum ones. I usually test fire into the eaves where a hole really won't cause damage, it frequently is also the closest that you can get to the roof from the ground.

Felt cleaning pellets soaked in oil seem to work well.

 

[crazydave]

A accurate 177 at less then 25' doing 495 fps will kill the pests, been there, done that.

 

[haha49]

Don't miss... is key number 1. Key 2 is what is the roof made out of. Another is use sub sonic rouds they are enough to kill pests but slower and less likely to do Damage. My grandmother used to shoot squirals off her barn roof all the time. I asked about holes she simply replied just dont miss and see no holes yet.