Pest Control - Rats!
An airgun is useful on many levels, but never more than when removing pests. And just about anyone you ask considers the rat as a major pest that is totally unwanted.
In this brief blog entry, I want to direct you to a night-time rat shoot in the UK. Using night vision scope setups, the owner of the video goes through about 10 minutes of rat removal in an extremely target-rich environment. It is the use of the pellet gun that makes this such a great video. Just enough power for the pest in question, without destroying property or endangering lives. This is putting an airgun to very good use.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deMYhq3YvEE
Take note of the dead-on accuracy required for head shooting a rat. This airgunner knows what he is doing, has the correct equipment for the job, and has obviously done this a time or two. There are 3 videos, each lasting 3-5 minutes.
This video was shot in the UK where night-time lamping and shooting of rabbits and rats, as well as other pests, is legal and regulated. Depending on your location, similar opportunities for airgunning may present themselves, and it is up to you to determine the legality of such activities in your location. If you get the chance to engage in such a shoot, be sure to remove the carcasses of the dead pests and thank the owner of the property for the opportunity to provide such a service to them.
Comments
I too shoot rats as a part time job , I just shot 81 rats in two hours, I am going to purchase either the Crosman Nightstalker or the Barreta CX-4. What do you use to shoot rats?
Posted by: Roberto R Lujan | January 17, 2008 07:09 PM
Roberto,
I use either an R-7 from Beeman, or a QB-78 gun. I've considered getting another RWS 850 for that kind of shooting since it provides a fast follow-up shot.
Posted by: Randy | January 18, 2008 01:40 PM
hey i have a beeman 1000fps air rifle but it jumps 2 mouch u b a good gun and its slow 2 shoot so i was thenking about geting a Crosman NIghtstalker. Me and my frends like 2 shoot birds and outher varmits. should i get it? or learn 2 shoot getter
thanks 4 your help sry about the spelling
Posted by: big G | January 19, 2008 08:18 PM
big G,
I would always encourage you to learn to shoot better. Springers take some getting use to, and you need to hold them exactly opposite the way you hold a firearm. Hold it very lightly, don't rest the barrel on any solid object...use your hand. Try holding the forearm in different places. Springers can be very touchy about the requirements they demand to get accuracy from them. Once you find the right spot and hold technique, you'll appreciate the accuracy they can give you.
Posted by: Randy | January 20, 2008 12:34 PM
thatnks 4 the help
but what do u thenk about the Nghtstalker
thanks big G
Posted by: big G | January 20, 2008 04:40 PM
Big G,
I've not evaluated the Nightstalker myself....I've held them and looked at them, but haven't put them through a firing session or over the chrony for myself. I'm sure at close range it would do the job on rats....but remember how small the killzone is. I've not shot the Nightstalker for accuracy yet, so I just don't honestly know.
Posted by: Randy Mitchell | January 21, 2008 11:28 AM
hey u whouldent happen 2 now were that guy got that scope do u it is cool
thanks big G
Posted by: big G | January 30, 2008 06:44 PM
I think I saw the name of it in the comments section underneath the video. Read through the comments section and you might find it there.
Posted by: Randy | January 30, 2008 07:09 PM