.22 birdshot?

[Thegeek]

My dad has a problem with some small squirrels. He asked me about some .22 "birdshot" that he could use. I remember my Ruger 10/22 manual saying not to use this type of ammo. I'm guessing it has something to do with damage to the rifling.

So here's the objective. Dad lives in an area that discharge of a firearm isn't illegal. He does have neighbors on three sides. The fourth side has a farm about a half a mile away. It is on this fourth side where the targets will be. He wants to be as quiet as possible out of courtesy only. He wants a very short effective range for piece of mind and will be taking the critters out at distances no more than 30 yards. I had mentioned the note about the ammo in my 10/22 and he said he didn't care if it ruined the gun because that's all it will be ever used for. I guess not giving a **** comes with retirement!

So is there a rifle out there or small shotgun that can get this done? I told him to just get a 20 gauge and he said that was too much power. I said "what about a high end pellet gun and a scope"? His reply was priceless: "that level of aiming is too much work".

I did a little research and I couldn't turn up anything. What say you INGO?

 

[bcsd372]

Look for some .22 Super Colibri ammo made by Aguila. The cartridge has a 20 grain lead bullet in a long rifle case powered by only the priming compound. It won't cycle the action in a 10-22 so it's necessary to manually cycle the bolt after each shot. The report is about the same as a pellet gun when fired from a rifle.

 

[bstewrat3]

The 22 birdshot would only be effective at very close distances, meaning the squirrel better be less than 2-3 yards away. The shot in most of them is #12 and has very limited penetrating ability. The other issue is the rifling puts a spin on the whole shot charge making it spread immeadiately after leaving the muzzle. I tested the CCI and Federal brands and at 5 yards the shot pattern was wider than an IPSC full torso target. His best option may be the pellet gun or just get some subsonic 22 ammo and be very sure of his background.

 

[451_Detonics]

you could go with a smoothbore 22 like my Remington 572 but effective range is still very short, I would say a decent pellet gun is the best choice. Btw, shotshell will not hurt the rifling, just won't function the action in a semi-auto and the CCI may be too long to even hand cycle.

 

[doddsracing]

Have you considered an air rifle with a suppressor , like a whisper ? Almost as stout as a 22 .

 

[cosermann]

... I told him to just get a 20 gauge and he said that was too much power...

How about a .410 then?

 

[BigMatt]

CeeBees

 

[calcot7]

In my experience that stuff really isn't even effective on birds at close range.

The 22 birdshot would only be effective at very close distances, meaning the squirrel better be less than 2-3 yards away. The shot in most of them is #12 and has very limited penetrating ability. The other issue is the rifling puts a spin on the whole shot charge making it spread immeadiately after leaving the muzzle. I tested the CCI and Federal brands and at 5 yards the shot pattern was wider than an IPSC full torso target. His best option may be the pellet gun or just get some subsonic 22 ammo and be very sure of his background.

 

[Hookeye]

Not all that long ago I saw a Marlin bolt .22 mag smoothbore...........IIRC they called it a "Garden gun" or something like that.

 

[hooky]

Smile and get him the loads he wants. After he realizes that it won't work, he'll likely come around to putting a little more power behind the projectiles or a little more effort into the aiming process.

 

[Slawburger]

Bird shot from a .22 might or might not have been used by someone at some point in the distant past to clear out birds from a large detached garage belonging to a relative.

I don't think it would be effective on squirrels at 20-30 yards. However, I concur with Hooky. If it can be safely and legally used, buy him a box of 50 and let him engage the enemy. You will be the good son and it will at least keep him occupied and out of your Mom's hair for a day or two. Just work up a new plan to suggest when the bird shot proves ineffective.

 

[craigkim]

Bird shot from a .22 might or might not have been used by someone at some point in the distant past to clear out birds from a large detached garage belonging to a relative.

I don't think it would be effective on squirrels at 20-30 yards. However, I concur with Hooky. If it can be safely and legally used, buy him a box of 50 and let him engage the enemy. You will be the good son and it will at least keep him occupied and out of your Mom's hair for a day or two. Just work up a new plan to suggest when the bird shot proves ineffective.

Since he doesn't really want to aim I would suggest a box trap.

 

[Sniper 79]

Look for some .22 Super Colibri ammo made by Aguila. The cartridge has a 20 grain lead bullet in a long rifle case powered by only the priming compound. It won't cycle the action in a 10-22 so it's necessary to manually cycle the bolt after each shot. The report is about the same as a pellet gun when fired from a rifle.

Plus one on this. Same gun same problem . Ended up shooting 13 of them. Rest got demon and mouse traps. No more problems.

Bird shot is useless. Like throwing pepper flakes.

 

[Thegeek]

Think the .410 or a 28 gauge might be the ticket. If not, I'll just take my .22 over and have a little fun. I'd like to try that Super Calibri too.

 

[Richwon4]

Poison them...tac strip fly bait. Any hardware store in small dish with cola. Must keep out of reach of pets and kids. Kills dead, fast, quick.

 

[dprimm]

Where is he? I know someone that would be willing to help solve that type of rodent problem when the 22 shot does not work.

 

[spaniel]

Trap them. .22 birdshot out of a rifled barrel is next to useless. I have a pump action smoothbore .22 Remington that is choked, and it is the absolute perfect rat run for inside-the-barn ranges (10 yards or less). Kills rats DRT but does not damage the barn. Good for sparrows shooting up into a tree. But a squirrel is tougher and I do not believe it would do the trick, even with this most-optimal firearm for the round in question.

Another option is a pellet gun. They don't always do the trick, but they work alright.

 

[sonovasailor]

How about CB caps. CCI makes them in .22 shot and long. They are quiet as a hand clap and deadly enougth to kill a raccoon.

 

[DeadeyeChrista'sdad]

CBs, low velocity or low report long rifles, shorts, or a pellet rifle. I'd get him his bird shot, as Hooky has suggested, but it just won't work. Let him discover that for himself.

 

[wolfman6]

A 410 would be a good choice. Not to loud and would help with shot placement.