Rattin

[sedwise]

Thinkin of goin out tonight tryin to get a few rats .The weather is sh*t has anyone had good results with rats in bad weather .It aint cold just real windy and on and off showers. I dont want to waste a 60 mile trip on gettin wet through with nothin to show for it.

[bullcelt]

it could work to your advantage if you have access to shooting inside buildings.

[ian b]

couple of years back i did 35 in two n half hours on a rainy nite
just go and try its better than watching square box any time :p:p:p
atb ian b

[jongry]

im new to this lads so can anyone tell me what setup you would need for rattin thanks gary

[sedwise]

im new to this lads so can anyone tell me what setup you would need for rattin thanks gary

Any decent legal limit air rifle 177 or 22 will do i use a low mag scope as most of the rats i shoot are within 10 to 20 yards unless set up with bait. always go for head shots there tough little bleeders and shootin at night time with a smallish lamp works well for me .There not the spookyest of animals so you can scare em come back ten minutes later and there out again. Cat food and penut butter and chocolate are good baits Hope that helps you fella.

[dpile1]

A garden gun is perfect. :) :cool:

[jongry]

thats great lads will try a bit of this i have a Logun Axsor 22cal that i have just got is there any type of pellet to use i have hn field - rws-super-h-point and hn hollow point or do i need another type thanks gary

[ateallthepies]

Where you shoot is there lots of feed for the rats?

At this time of year there is plenty of 'natural' food in the fields after harvest so rats may be in the field. Once the natural food has gone, the rats should start coming in to 'roost' near warm buildings where there is stored food for winter.


Steve.

[ateallthepies]

im new to this lads so can anyone tell me what setup you would need for rattin thanks gary

Any air-rifle and head shots all the way. Though the larger the cali the better IMO.
Open sights or tele are o.k.
Bait an area with smelly offerings and either have a low power lamp on the gun or light the baited area with a low power light. Night vision is an expensive but good aid to rat killin!
Have fun but remember even though it's rats were killing, they deserve a quick head-shot death!


Steve.

[Monster]

I popped one in the head with an H & N Hollow Point a few days ago and it went down like a sack of sh *ugar. However, this pellet does seem to suit my BSA Lightning.

Out like a light. I must admit I don't like to see them run off.

[jongry]

thanks m8 for the info will have a go at this whats is the cheapest night vision out there as i dont know what to look for and would this fit on the scope like i said i dont know much all the best gary

[ateallthepies]

Your cheapest route into NV is a Yukon NVRS scope with DSA(day scope adaptor)

This bolts on to the back of your day scope and used it's magnification to work.

It will come to under £300 all in new. For close in rat shooting the supplied illuminator should be fine. Further out shooting will require an extra IR illuminator.

Before buying an expensive NV unit, try a cheap gun mounted lamp/torch. It may work fine. Coloured filters can be bought like red or yellow that can work when the animals wise up to white light.

If you really want to delv into NV, go to the NV section for some pointers.

Steve

[warbucks]

I wouldnt advise a 60mile journey if it was raining to start with ,if you get your gun soaked youll have to take it out of the stock to dry it and oil it, it will then need the zero re checking and maybe adjusting, i have found the rats out in larger numbers after its been raining, and the rain has stopped.
Baiting rats out with food, they will eat lots of things crisps, cat food chocalate but the best is peanut butter, if you use bait that they can carry away they will ,and they do it fast. any rifle caliber will do, try to use a low mag wide angle scope so you can find them in the scope quickly, try to shoot them under 20 yds, generally speaking rats only come out at night so unless there is lighting on where your shoot, is youll need a gun lamp, i use a Deben mini pro (variable power ) with hinge down red filter, and just use enough power to see, so that i dont spook them, ( cheap lamps are too bright when rat is close) and finally get yourself a three legged stool ,that is about 10" tall, or a milk crate to sit on and face in the direction of where the rat hot spots are, this will allow you to rest your elbows on your knees for a FAST ACCURATE AIM, you must be quick when shooting rats. ( hollowpoint pellets)
Dave (warbucks)

[jongry]

thanks lads for all your advice and help all the best gary

[warbucks]

Ive just seen some of the recomendations/suggestunes night vison for rats,
I M O dont waste you money, if there is any lighting about IE security/street light most n/v wont work, it must be total darkness, and every time that you are spotting for the rats, you have to mount the gun to your eye, this will get tireing, you cannot spot for rats with a seperate monical then swop over to gun, the rats dont stay still long enough. What you need is a variable powered red filtered gun lamp about £110, the cheaper gun lamps are a compromise, too powerful at short range and not powerful enough a long range with the red filter on. Im doing 2500+ rats a year and have been for the last three years, you could say ive learnt a bit about it.

Dave (warbucks)

[ateallthepies]

Don't want to contradict a 2500 a year man, but NV can be used with additional lighting.
It will wear the NV tube more than total darkness but you will still get over 500 hours of life from a single tube, less if the light source is really bright.

The upside is you get a brighter image if ambient light is avalible.

Like I said in my last post, a lamp with optional filter is the place to start. If the rats wise up then NV may be a good route to go.

My rat tally from last year is in the single digits as I don't have much permission. All rats seen were killed instantly using a Cobra Merlin and Dipol laser.


Steve.