We had chickens in the back and geese in the front yard (back in the 80's). Ofcourse we had rats at the feeders, when the sun went down. Bought a pump up BB gun, worked great for the first year. Next year she said she couldn't hit any thing. We sighted the Benjiman, good to go. She missed a few and said ; they jump out of the way.
I, of course- said BS, and found out she was right. These rats heard the click of the trigger and jumped straight up, BB went underneath (@ 750FPS). Studied the speed of sound and bought a RWS break barrell Diania 54, one shot one kill. Speed of sound around 1100FPS, Diana some where around 1000FPS. They never heard the shot.
Don't believe what the poision salesman tells you. Pick off rats every night, you'll be out of targets by end of summer. They can't mutiply if they're partners don't come back from the dinner table. It may take a month or so, but the next year will will show the benifits. And keep after them, every spring will produce lesser problems.
And you don't need .22 caliber, .177 is plenty and cheaper to shoot. Just sight in your rifel before hand and have fun. I shoot a PCP air rifel .177, and always shoot for the shoulder, knocks them down (if not up in the air) and no twitching. Head shots can maim, slow death if your not the best shot.
Shooting may not agree with every one, but better than poision or drowning.
I, of course- said BS, and found out she was right. These rats heard the click of the trigger and jumped straight up, BB went underneath (@ 750FPS). Studied the speed of sound and bought a RWS break barrell Diania 54, one shot one kill. Speed of sound around 1100FPS, Diana some where around 1000FPS. They never heard the shot.
Don't believe what the poision salesman tells you. Pick off rats every night, you'll be out of targets by end of summer. They can't mutiply if they're partners don't come back from the dinner table. It may take a month or so, but the next year will will show the benifits. And keep after them, every spring will produce lesser problems.
And you don't need .22 caliber, .177 is plenty and cheaper to shoot. Just sight in your rifel before hand and have fun. I shoot a PCP air rifel .177, and always shoot for the shoulder, knocks them down (if not up in the air) and no twitching. Head shots can maim, slow death if your not the best shot.
Shooting may not agree with every one, but better than poision or drowning.
