Will a pellet/BB gun kill a rat?

[Sphinx]

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?

 

[blucoondawg]

First of all, shooting rats is little more than cheap entertainment. You will not curb their population that way, poison and/or trapping is the only thing to seriously drop their numbers especially if you have a farm nearby, you are likely dealing with a healthy rat population. Also they can get wise to shooting, I have opened the window and shot one under the bird feeder before and after you do it once or twice the others start to get smart and run when they hear or see the window crank open. I would use a bucket trap, fill bucket just under half full with water and sprinkle feed so it floats on top, the rats will fall in and can't get out eventually drowning. You can cover the bucket with chicken wire to keep chickens out but rats can go through the wire. There are examples of these traps on youtube.

As far as the bb/pellet gun, I would suggest a Crossman 2100 Classsic type pump up model or anything better than that like the stronger break action or pump up Benjamin Sheridan models. You will not want a Daisy Red Ryder type bb gun, they don't shoot very accurately and aren't too strong. Another option to consider since you have a .22 is to look around for some CB caps, they are a short 22 shell they don't have much gunpowder, only a primer and small charge, make no sound other than the click of your firing pin hitting the shell casing. They are around the strength of a good pellet gun and I believe more accurate as they are coming out of your rifled 22 barrel rather than a cheap smoothbore bb/pellet rifle. Get the 22 cb caps or cb shorts, not the cb longs, That would be your cheapest route.

Here is a link to she shells I am talking about, only 710 feet per second: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/1301376838/cci-ammunition-22-cb-short-29-grain-lead-round-nose

These shells aren't strong enough to cycle a semi auto 22 but can still be fired through them or any other 22lr rimfire by manually loading them into the chamber.

 

[Hillschicks]

A .22 doesnt sound like a gun anyway... Keep it to one shot and its just one small crack... If your neighbors are really nosey, smack a piece of wood with a hammer a few times after that, they'll assume that must have been the noise they heard

 

[jeepgirl13]

Lmao! They do sound the same almost. I can just picture it. "No I'm not shooting. The guns just there for looks. I'm actually building. See?" *hold up a block of wood and hammer* sad part it the majority of people would buy it

 

[Mikedero]

I have a gamo Varmint Hunter Stalker .177 Caliber, 1250 fps with PBA Platinum (1000 fps with lead), 4X32 Air Rifle Scope with Laser Sight and Flash Light

Totally bad *****. I hunt with it all the time, Racoons, Skunks, Rabbits, etc Never had a issue. the only tihng is buy a different scope, the ones they comes with kind of suck. I put on a 3X12 Nikon M-223 scope I got cheap at the bargin cave in Cabelas.

I have killed coons out as far as 75 yards with one shot

 

[jeepgirl13]

Ya them pellet rifles are really bad ***. Mine is loud as crape when I dry fire it. I do that to shut my stupid neighbors dogs up when they decide to bark all night in my front yard..... grrrrrrrrr. I don't have a scope on mine. The factory one was horrible. I use the iron sights and always hit what I'm aiming at

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

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...

 

[Sphinx]

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?

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

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?

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!

 

[Hillschicks]

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