A few years ago we had a rat-run across our garden from one neighbour to another. Wasn't unknown to see air rifles poking out of upstairs windows hoping for a shot

One or two got lucky, but one weekend we had the monster rat from hell doing the run. Nothing else for it, so I put some bait on the lawn, took the silenced 410 out of the gun cabinet up to the back bedroom window (so if I missed I'd only be shooting the lawn) and waited....

The lawn was safe- the Rat got it - Big bugger ! The wife jumped out of her skin ( I had to shoot over the conservatory...) but the neighbours were delighted.