Tell me about shotguns (and a little about pellet guns)

[pepperluvsmee]

Quote:
Amen on the Remington 597 Sista!
-Theresa

 

[Meesh]

Oh cool, I picked up that exact pellet/BB gun yesteday... And some 'rat shot' for my .357.

My brother found a good used Remington 870 20ga w/ 26" barrel at the pawn shop that I need to go look at... He suggested the Remington that will accept the larger shells.

Cheers,
Michelle

 

[da-cajun-angla]

I THINK THAT THE .17 U HAVE WILL WORK GOOD FOR SHOOTING SOMETHING AT A DISTANCE...U DON'T REALLY NEED A 12 GAUGE FOR WHAT UR TRYIN' TO DO...GOOGLE SNAKE CHARMER AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT...ITS SMALL ATABOUT 3', AND U HAVE THE OPTION OF USING SLUGS, BUCKSHOT, OR LIGHTER LOADS, AND U WON'T SQUINCH WHEN U GO TO SHOOT IT B/C IT HAS VERY LITTLE KICK. SNAKE CHARMER'S ALSO COME WITH A FULL STOCK, AND A 4-SHELL STORAGE IN THE STOCK...STAINLESS ALSO. BUT ANY 410 OR 20 GAUGE WILL WORK...UNLESS UR GOIN' HUNTING, I THINK THE 12 GAUGE IS A BIT OVERKILL, BUT EVERY1 SHOULD OWN ATLEAST 1 12G.
SHAUN

 

[BaronRenfrew]

For the neighbour's dog, a pellet gun is better than a bb. the bb is solid and will penetrate a soft target, where the pellet will squash flat. I use target style pellets as they have a flat nose. Use a cheap gun with a low speed, or a pump that you can pump lightly. A slingshot with crab apples works as well, if you miss they explode on hitting the house and scare things away.

For other critters, a shotgun is probably better as you have to shoot fast at a moving target.

Predators look for an easy meal and if they learn that your place is dangerous they will stay away.

I'd suggest you urinate around your yard as a human scent that strong will keep things away as well.

I'd also suggest that you turn your chicken house into fort knox, you won't always be home.

Last, if you have a light near the yard, make it a red light. Or put a red filter on your flashlight. Predator animals don't see things as lit up when you use a red light. It gives you a better chance at a clean shot with a light.

 

[yankeemtfarm]

From a lifetime of experience of life on the farm, as well as hunting all types of game.

My choice in arms from small to large for farm use.

1 a good pellet/bb gun. a pump air rifle .
Good for snakes, small predators,close to the coop or barn. not bad for some distance if you are practiced.

2 .22 bolt action, most accurate. However i have a semi auto .22 and a .410/.22 over/under. The over/under is the most used by everybody on the farm.

3 Shotgun .410 to .12 gauge, take you pick for the type of predators you have.

4 A good hunting rifle ,depends on your terrain ,a good brush hunting rifle ,or a long range gun.

There are a lot of choices when buying a gun, a gun too small or too big will make you unhappy.

BA

 

[unionwirewoman]

Quote:
In my experience of being born and raised in the country in Montana ....I have shot at many a dog with bird shot and 95% have not come back . I will take every measure to protect my animals......but I won't go so far as a slow and painfull death . I think that is just sick . When you shoot something to injure it or kill it , you better make dam sure it is a killing shot . I am a little confused about your post however . You say shoot to kill towards the end and before that you say a slow death from lead poisoning .....which is it ? A dog is still just an animal with animal instincts . Why would you let it suffer for something that it has no idea is wrong ?

 

[kj7ty]

Words of advise to all who have guns... Stock pile on ammo... Besides the fact of rising prices for ammo, there are those in high places that would like to hinder the sale thereof...
If you reload, better yet. Mike

 

[swiftfoot]

use the .17 i have one and it works wonders
i agree if your gonna shoot at something put it down for good

 

[panner123]

Quote:
In my experience of being born and raised in the country in Montana ....I have shot at many a dog with bird shot and 95% have not come back . I will take every measure to protect my animals......but I won't go so far as a slow and painfull death . I think that is just sick . When you shoot something to injure it or kill it , you better make dam sure it is a killing shot . I am a little confused about your post however . You say shoot to kill towards the end and before that you say a slow death from lead poisoning .....which is it ? A dog is still just an animal with animal instincts . Why would you let it suffer for something that it has no idea is wrong ?

As for the slow death statement, I was referring to those that want to use pellet, BB guns or some low load to shoot an animal. I myself would rather go for the over kill to be sure the job is done right. I live in an area that bears are my main predator, no pellet gun there. I perfer to use a bow on them, if needed I will use a 12 ga OOO buckshot with a magnum powder load. There are only two critters that I have killed that I have not eaten, skunk and cat. But the cats go to a friend. The skunks get buried.

 

[gila_dog]

2 cents worth coming right up...

My personal feeling is that if you recognize the dog as a neighor's you should bust its butt with a marble from a slingshot or with a paintball gun. No real damage done, but some serious pain and fear inflicted. After that the dog probably won't be back. And you won't have started a feud with your neighbor.

If you have to shoot an animal do it humanely. If you just try to "wing" it, you may kill the animal anyway, but in a way that causes it to suffer. That's just wrong, and should be avoided.

I know you are safety conscious, but others who read this may not be. Remember safety! If there are houses, barns, vehicles, animals, people, etc. beyond your target, then don't shoot. A .22 will kill somebody several hundred yards away. A shotgun could still blind somebody's horse or their kid, 300 yards away if you are shooting buck shot, and maybe 100 yards away with birdshot.

A shotgun within 30-40 yards is very deadly and humane. Beyond that you need a rifle, at least a .22. And a shotgun makes a lot of noise. You fire that baby out your back door and everybody in the neighborhood is going to hear it.

A handgun isn't much good for this kind of work. It doesn't have much range, and it's poor accuracy makes it harder to kill things humanely, than would be possible with a rifle or shotgun. I have killed snakes with .357/38 bird shot, and it works great. But I wouldn't expect a dog to feel it beyond 20 feet or so. Besides being tiny, the shot is being swirled out into a broad pattern by the rifling in the barrel of your rifle or handgun.

The one gun that every homestead should have is a .22 rifle. It is cheap and fun to shoot and very useful for home and livestock defence. Where the .22 rifle comes into its element is for fairly close shots (within 50 yards) at small things like rabbits, skunks, dogs, coyotes, raccoons, foxes, etc. where it's best to keep it quiet. But I have seen 1000 lb steers drop, dead before they hit the ground, when hit in the forehead with a .22 rifle. Tho deadly up close, it doesn't have the range or killing power of a high powered rifle like a .223, 30-30, 30-06 etc, so it is much safer to shoot around civilization. But you still have to be careful what's beyond your target.

The 20 ga Remington 870 sounds like a must see. You can't beat an 870 for ruggedness and reliability. And they feel and point great too. Being chambered for 3" magnums would be ideal. The maximum length of shell will be stamped on the barrel. The recoil of 20 gauge 2 3/4" shells is a lot less than a 12 ga, and if you put 3" mag shells in it you're close to to a 12 ga in performance (and recoil). With the proper ammo you can kill anything from mice to bears with it.