So now I have rats... Need some insight please!

[moeb74]

Hey guys,
 So long story short, I though I had a mole issue with borrow holes in the back yard. In the end its rats. Yeah. I dont know where they came from as I dont live near any big cities, no livestock etc. So my need to get rid of them as landed me here….

I think I want a gas spring/nitro gun, most deff. not a PCP. Im not against springers, but the quieter the gun the better. I live in a neighborhood so I would be picking them off at night. I do want a .22 caliber for its knock down power, and less likely to break the sound barrier. Whatever you guys recommend, then I can always dog deeper into that specific forum. I'd even buy an old air gun used that's worth it too. I'm opened for suggestions...

Now for nightvision, could I get something like this from Firefield 16001?

Or maybe I should just get a red LED flashlight?

What about scope recommendations?

Any and all help here would be greatly appreciated.

Budget on a pellet rifle would be around 250$.

[Frank in Fairfield]

Rats?
In Maryland?
Go figure?

For two legged rats (I was born in Baltimore) you are on your own.

For the four-legged variety, I use a mixture of Kibbles and Bits along with a slice of American (no foreign cheese) rolled up into little balls.
I place them on a 2x4, backed up by another 2x4 for safety.
I then shine a light on the cheese, step back about 15 yards to my shooting bench, load the scoped, 1720t and wait. It doesn't take long. A repeater is not required in my experience.

Here is one from last year:

That is a 12" stepping stone..

Good luck.

[Deckard1973]

A few years ago I had a problem with rats too.  I was using a .22 PCP to dispatch them.  But I did find the Crow magnum pellets worked very well.
If you do a search in the Hunting gate under my username you will find some pics of the results. 

I also found the rats would gather around the bird feeders looking for spilled bird seed either early in the morning, or just as dusk was settling in.  You could put out one of those walkway solar powered LEDs, put some bird seed around it.  Let them get used to coming out to the walkway light.  Then start picking them off. 

As for scopes, low light shooting, I think the larger the objective the better.  I could be wrong though!  I was using a IOR 4x24 and I did ok. 

[A.K.A. Tommy Boy]

Get on the Hunting gate and Read Posts from BenjiHunter !        That Guy has Solutions !        Best Regards. -  Tom

[Roadworthy]

You may wish to check ordinances where you live.  Some cities permit air guns, others do not.

Do you plan to practice with your new acquisition?  Spring piston airguns take a certain knack to shoot accurately.  Some are easier to shoot accurately than others.

Do you really want a spring piston airgun?  You may be happier with a multi pump gun.  The shot cycle on them is more like a regular firearm.  The learning curve is much shorter.

If the range if fairly short a CO2 powered gun may even be preferable. 

[moeb74]

Thanks so far guys.

And yeah the 4 legged onea gotta go! The others stay self contained for the most part..  lol

[moeb74]

You may wish to check ordinances where you live.  Some cities permit air guns, others do not.

Do you plan to practice with your new acquisition?  Spring piston airguns take a certain knack to shoot accurately.  Some are easier to shoot accurately than others.

Do you really want a spring piston airgun?  You may be happier with a multi pump gun.  The shot cycle on them is more like a regular firearm.  The learning curve is much shorter.

If the range if fairly short a CO2 powered gun may even be preferable.

What makes them hard to shoot? Also I'd prefer not co2 as it's just one more expense of have to acquire to shoot, ya know what I mean?

[JimL911]

You don't need lots of power, rams would be overkill. Something in the HW30, Diana 240 or XS12 in .177 would do the trick.

[Radrob]

I recently shot a Stoeger X20S and was impressed at how quiet and easy it was to cock. A .22 will drop squirrels with no problem too.

[moeb74]

Thanks guys I'd like to get something that would be multipurpose versus good enough for just for rats, ya know what I mean?

[BenjiHunter]

Rats? Lovely!
Since they are burrowing, they are probably Brown Rats.
These guys you can find anywhere on the planet except the polar regions.
As for the gun, I would get a Diana 34 .22.
Not expensive and very accurate.
If you make a bait station, you can use a stationary light.
Good hunt.

[Ozarkairgunner]

Man I just delt with this myself, I put  a slice of apple out with a bit of peanut butter and shot them as they come out with my .177 2400kt

[Plekto]

The perfect low cost rat gun is a 1322.  You only need 3-5 pumps and the noise is fairly low. 

[floydlong]

How about putting $150 back in your pocket. A Daisy 880 and a $45 Centerpoint scope along with the bait and solar light and you are set to go. Prolly shoot real well with CPUMs. Do I hear a SPLAT!?

[Geoff]

How about putting $150 back in your pocket. A Daisy 880 and a $45 Centerpoint scope along with the bait and solar light and you are set to go. Prolly shoot real well with CPUMs. Do I hear a SPLAT!?

unless you have a desire to spend the $$ on a higher end rifle, or money to burn .. I would agree with Floyd.  that will take care of rats for you well enough and you get out fairly inexpensively.  if you suddenly enjoy airguns, you will have time to look over the various types and make a slightly more informed decision.

just my 2 cents friend

[wjjones]

Why do you think you need .22?  At what distance will you be shooting?  Rats are not that big and "knock down" power is not necessary.  It doesn't sound like you're an airgun enthusiast and you probably wont be shooting thousands of rounds per year like us.  You can find an accurate enough and powerful enough Daisy 880 or Crosman 2100 to meet your needs.  Heck, a pistol could do the job at 10-15 yards.

[RedFeather]

Regardless of which you choose to dispatch them, I think you should try to find out what drew them to your yard.  Someone leavingtrash, dog food, etc out?  Besides being targets, they pose a health hazard.

[Dave19113]

I just picked up the Gamo swarm....

 199.99 in 22 or 177...

I have the .22.... pretty accurate...

More than enough power and reasonably quiet, plus its a 10 shot mag....

I was just shooting rats this weekend, I was using my TX200 MKIII  in 22 and crushing them but you would be spending a little more

[moeb74]

As always thanks.

I'm a buy once cry once kinda guy. I don't mind spending the money on a good gun that will work for multiple things, if that makes sense .

[Dave19113]

As always thanks.

I'm a buy once cry once kinda guy. I don't mind spending the money on a good gun that will work for multiple things, if that makes sense .

Definetly give a look at the Air Arms TX200 MKIII then if you dont mind the extra $$$.... great gun and if your RH then Sportsmans guide has them for 566.00 (if your a member)

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/product/index/air-arms-tx200-mk-iii-air-rifle-underlever-action177-22-caliber-1-round?a=2070955[/b][/color]