BB gun for pest control

[paulsharvey]

There are rodent selective poisons, or the old Portland cement and grits method, next to a bowl of water (heard about it from old timers, and tried it, but I personally didn't have success with thus method). Not 100% what the rodent only poisons do to scavengers, but it prevents the rodent from absorbing water, I think. Still, probably not the best for around cats. Also, rats have a way of finding a 'great' place to die and rot, in walls, engine compartments, gutters, ect.

 

[paulsharvey]

So, back to the air guns; there are hand pumps for PCPs, but I think almost everyone ends up getting sick of them, and either buying a $600 high pressure pump, or switching back to scuba tanks. No personal experience with them.

 

[5030]

A good 5000 psi PCP pump will set you back a bit more than 500 clams, not including the cost of the rifle.

 

[rocco611]

A good 5000 psi PCP pump will set you back a bit more than 500 clams, not including the cost of the rifle.

lol, hadn't heard the clam idiom for money in a while. thought that was a west coast thing. Miwok tribe traded in clams also it was common during the depression to use clam shells as cash around the Pismo Beach area. I use a hand pump for my PCP air rifle, its a pain , but I only have to fill the gun once a month. one charge lasts about 30 shots.

 

[Torvy]

Absolutely. My wife is a feline lover so antifreeze or poison blocks don't work. Me, I cannot stand cats but they came with the matrimonial bliss long ago.

Besides, I like drilling them. Way more fun and gives me 'trigger time'.

Me too, brother. My wife's cats disappeared on July 6. Hard to be as sympathetic as I should be, but I did help her put up signs. I'm 90% sure some busy body saw our sold sign and 'rescued' them from our yard. They are both gone. They don't like each other. Highly unlikely both ran away or became prey on the same day.

 

[5030]

I use a hand pump for my PCP air rifle, its a pain ,

At my age, I prefer a mechanized one. Not that I use mine often, I much prefer something that goes bang.

 

[2515R Dude]

When I bought my current place the barns were overrun with rodents. Whater i tried was not enough till I find out abouts soda-flour method. In 3 days there was not a single rat nor mice. Now, 2 years later I get one in a week even if. Before it was 10 each night on 10 traps.
1part soda, one part flour and a little sugar to make their death sweater

 

[shooterdon]

If you are killing rats and not doing a lot of plinking, a PCP with a hand pump will get the job done.

I shoot a lot and use an air tank. Plus, I am old and not in great shape. You should get about 20-40 shots with one fill on a .22 cal PCP rifle. My PCP's will hold air for a long time so no issues there.

Do not select a .177 cal rifle. You will get better performance with a .22. Pellets for .25 and .30 cal rifles get expensive but deliver more energy if you need to address animals larger than rats.

 

[arto98607]

I've had RWS 54 Air King for a long time, mainly for pest control and like it a lot.

It's fixed barrel side lever cocking with adjustable trigger and has a smooth recoilless sliding mechanism.

Very accurate air rifle.


Photo of identical, except mine has a scope.




RWS Model 54 Air King Sidelever Air Rifle

 

[Renze]

There are rodent selective poisons,

Yup, but they are all banned. Only certified pest controllers can buy it since January 1st, which means that nobody baits rats anymore, they all wait for the neighbour who has most trouble from them, to call pest control. Which means that there are a lot more rats around.