Will a pellet/BB gun kill a rat?

So, we have developed quite a rat problem. I would see the occasional mouse/rat before, but our neighbor has moved in some cows, and feeds them sileage (?) and other stuff, and ever since, the rats have gotten worse and worse. I can't control the neighbors' cow feeding, and I really think that's where the problem is coming from. I really want to get rid of the rats.

Here is my problem. I have a cute little rabbit that roams freely around my yard. He/she showed up around December, and I figure if it managed to survive this long on its' own, it deserves to be free, so I hesitate to catch it. I don't want it getting into the poison, traps, etc. I also worry about my chickens getting into traps or poison.

I know it wouldn't completely fix things, but if I could shoot any rat I saw, I'd feel better about it. But, I live about 3 blocks from a police station, and have neighbors fairly close. The closest neighbors wouldn't mind at all (they'd probably even lend me the gun), but the further away neighbors COULD possibly call the police if they heard shots. So, I hesitate to use a .22 or something along that line because of the noise.

BB guns are really quiet, and I think I would never get caught shooting that. But, I don't want to bother buying one if they won't actually kill them.

So, BB gun or silencer for my 22?

Well I have .177 cal Pellet gun that'll kill squirrels and rabbits. Do you live on an acreage? Cause if you do I don't think a .22 would be to loud...

I live on just over an acre. The three houses close to us wouldn't mind at all. One would lend me a gun, the other is the one with the cows, and she's even more revolted than I am, and the third is ill and wouldn't hear. But, we're surrounded by people on .18 acre lots, and I think they would hear, and I don't know if they'd call the police or not.

I'd rather not get arrested for discharge of a firearm in city limits. Three blocks from my house is the police station and an elementary school.

Ok, stupid question: what's the difference between a pellet gun and a bb gun?

Sphinx said:

I live on just over an acre. The three houses close to us wouldn't mind at all. One would lend me a gun, the other is the one with the cows, and she's even more revolted than I am, and the third is ill and wouldn't hear. But, we're surrounded by people on .18 acre lots, and I think they would hear, and I don't know if they'd call the police or not.

I'd rather not get arrested for discharge of a firearm in city limits. Three blocks from my house is the police station and an elementary school.

Ok, stupid question: what's the difference between a pellet gun and a bb gun?

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Pellet guns are generally more powerful then BB guns. BB guns are used for target shooting were as pellet guns can be used for small game aswell as target shooting.
The difference is what the guns shoot whether it be BBs or pellets, or both in some cases!

Used my pellet gun today to dispatch 2 coons caught in my live traps... Sure it was point blank and in the brain cage but they went down

Hillschicks said:

Used my pellet gun today to dispatch 2 coons caught in my live traps... Sure it was point blank and in the brain cage but they went down

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Was it a .22 cal?? I only have a .177 cal. :/

They have top quality pellet guns the guys use at work here on break to take out groundhogs... They are semi auto and powered with a ait container sorta like paintball guns...

Mine which would absolutely be effective for rats n things is single shot... The barrel folds down, pellet goes in, and barrel goes back up... Thats it for pumping

Them you have your combo guns which can pump multiple times and take either a pellet or bb... These will also kill a rat handily if your somewhat close range

Red rider bb gun, give them a sting and they will be back tomorrow

.177 mine is ... *i think... I havent bought pellets in like 2 years cuz i only use it to kill whats in my live trap that needs killed

Hillschicks said:

.177 mine is

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oh okay!! I have a break barrel!

I dont see why it wouldnt kill rats... Ive killed possum out of my kitchen window with my break barrel... Most only made it a few feet... Today the coon in the traps went down with a pellet just as good as they do with a .22... Id always prefer the 22 but 14 years ago i was a dumbass teenager and got a felony... Now im limited to pellets... Oh well, a country boy can survive as they say