Youtube Video of Ratting

[Bill Douglas]

When I was a kid (about 15) we lined up cars with their headlights illuminating the dump. After a few hours of drinking alcohol we got the half a dozen .22s out and took turns shooting rats. No idea about firearms control or safety but we sure had a good time. Guessing we would shoot 100 or 200 rats in the evening.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by jyl

Interesting. Thanks. I’ve only shot one animal, a skunk that I thought was rabid, anyway it was coming at my dogs and me and wouldn’t be deterred. Head shot with a Ruger Single-Six 22LR. It simply slumped to the ground and didn’t move again. So I was curious why the rats were less cooperative.

My guess is that the rats have tiny skulls, and it's easy to not hit the skull or make a glancing blow. Your 22 probably pierced the skull and did major damage.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by jyl

I don’t know that I knew such nice air rifles existed. Brands I’ve never heard of.

In many countries wherein firearms ownership is severely restricted, high end "adult" air rifles have been developed to the extreme. They are every bit the quality of high end firearms. Germany and England have been at the forefront of this for decades. Here, with unrestricted availability of firearms, they are but a curiosity. Pretty strong hobby level interest, but nowhere near that seen elsewhere. It's pretty much all they've got, so they've run with it.

[DonDavis]

Originally Posted by jyl

...snip...I somehow stumbled on a Youtube channel where a guy shoots rats and squirrels with air rifles, often using bait and night vision scopes....

What? No linky? You gonna make us go rooting around YT on our own? oof...

[rusnak]

My mom had me dispatch a poor rabid cat that wandered onto their property. She was concerned for her dogs and cats, and the little guy was suffering terribly. I decided on the .22 LR with solid point in order to have the least amount of blood spatter, and I found him in a carport with gypsum walls, so there would be no ricochet. One round through the base of the skull from around 40 feet and he was instantly dead with no brain spatter. The round was buried in the wall so I left it. I wanted him to not suffer and obviously a clean area with minimal bleed out, etc. I still cleaned the area with chlorine bleach because Mom had no organic solvent. Buried the poor critter and had a little funeral service for him to wish him a better life in the next go round.

Not just the lead can be poisonous, but the animal's blood and remains can be really unsafe.

[jyl]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

In many countries wherein firearms ownership is severely restricted, high end "adult" air rifles have been developed to the extreme. They are every bit the quality of high end firearms. Germany and England have been at the forefront of this for decades. Here, with unrestricted availability of firearms, they are but a curiosity. Pretty strong hobby level interest, but nowhere near that seen elsewhere. It's pretty much all they've got, so they've run with it.

Europeans must be able to do own and shoot Olympic type target pistols and rifles, I suppose? When I watch those matches, I see plenty of French, German, other European competitors and the guns are all of European make. Come to think of it, events like biathlon are heavily European too.

Thinking of living in France at least part time, will be interesting to find out if there are target shooting clubs one can join.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by jyl

Europeans must be able to do own and shoot Olympic type target pistols and rifles, I suppose? When I watch those matches, I see plenty of French, German, other European competitors and the guns are all of European make. Come to think of it, events like biathlon are heavily European too.

Thinking of living in France at least part time, will be interesting to find out if there are target shooting clubs one can join.

Stijn would be the guy to talk to about European gun clubs and shooting opportunities. I know it is still possible in pretty much most European countries, albeit pretty expensive. Guns must be left at the club and other such restrictions apply, but it can be done. Stijn would know.

[aigel]

That' right. France is one of the lesser restricted countries, with many hunters actually, so should be doable to have some fun with guns. Not the level of the US but definitely better than the UK. In the UK hunting was an aristocrat snob sport mostly, with fox hunting and such, so it was easy to get people behind the anti hunting movement. We have a big fight ahead in the US but luckily most people are still indifferent to hunting and it is definitely not something elitist.

Back to the original question, if the brain stem isn't turned into mush, the animal is practically dead but still can run a bit, thrash and flop around just from neurons firing randomly like a seizure. Example would be decapitating a chicken. You let go of it, it will fly / and even run a bit. I would not immediately assume that the rats suffer if they are hit in the head and stop thrashing within 30 s, they certainly will be unconscious and most likely not feel pain.

One thing to remember is that no animal in the wild dies of old age in bed. They all usually meet their maker in the form of a predator at the latest when they get weak. Not a fun way to go!

[RM512]

This guy uses minks, and a pack of dogs

[rusnak]

Originally Posted by jyl

Europeans must be able to do own and shoot Olympic type target pistols and rifles, I suppose? When I watch those matches, I see plenty of French, German, other European competitors and the guns are all of European make. Come to think of it, events like biathlon are heavily European too.

Thinking of living in France at least part time, will be interesting to find out if there are target shooting clubs one can join.

Europeans breed Rat Terriers and send the dogs in to kill the rats. It must be a European thing.