Buying a air rifle?
Discussion
I have a rat problem. Seem to be smart buggers, able to spot and avoid rat poison and traps no trouble. They sit on my lawn and smirk at me. I plan to shoot them.
So, what are the rules regarding and owning an air rifle? I really don’t want to end up surrounded by armed police….
The rats come from a ‘nature reserve’ that abuts my garden.
So, what are the rules regarding and owning an air rifle? I really don’t want to end up surrounded by armed police….
The rats come from a ‘nature reserve’ that abuts my garden.
https://basc.org.uk/airgunning/
a lot of useful information. You can control vermin on your property with an airgun - biggest pitfalls are noise if you have close neighbours and risk of ricochet / what happens if you miss / unsafe shooting.
a lot of useful information. You can control vermin on your property with an airgun - biggest pitfalls are noise if you have close neighbours and risk of ricochet / what happens if you miss / unsafe shooting.
eldar said:
I have a rat problem. Seem to be smart buggers, able to spot and avoid rat poison and traps no trouble. They sit on my lawn and smirk at me. I plan to shoot them.
So, what are the rules regarding and owning an air rifle? I really don’t want to end up surrounded by armed police….
The rats come from a ‘nature reserve’ that abuts my garden.
Welcome to my world. We have them around our ducks & chickens and don't seem to have any fear of me whatsover. They actually eat their way into the coups / duckhouse and attack the birds inside..killed / maimed quite a few of the chicks and even have a go at the adults.So, what are the rules regarding and owning an air rifle? I really don’t want to end up surrounded by armed police….
The rats come from a ‘nature reserve’ that abuts my garden.
That was until I borrowed a .22 a couple of weeks ago (bought a scope as well) 3 shot 1st night - they don't like it up em and seem to have gone but I have no doubt they will be back.
To answer your question: to my knowledge no rules as such (license) but just use common sense i.e. don't use in public or near anyone and think about the potential for ricochets
RFD here, been selling air rifles since the early 1970's dealing with all the well known brands.
All the information you require is freely available online
Laws were tightened in 2007..
You can legally shoot within the boundary of your own property, providing you are not causing any issues or problems with your neighbours, BUT the pellets must stay within your boundary, if one accidently flies over your fence it would be a very serious offence, you wouldn't like anyone shooting into your garden, would you?
Laws could be different if you are in rented property.
Also, your rifle should be rated under 12ft lbs, unless you have a firearms licence.
Probably best not to waste your time at long range with an air pistol, they have to be sub 6 ft lbs, but would be OK to dispatch vermin at close range,
HTH.
If in doubt, always err on the side of caution, penalties can be harsh.
All the information you require is freely available online
Laws were tightened in 2007..
You can legally shoot within the boundary of your own property, providing you are not causing any issues or problems with your neighbours, BUT the pellets must stay within your boundary, if one accidently flies over your fence it would be a very serious offence, you wouldn't like anyone shooting into your garden, would you?
Laws could be different if you are in rented property.
Also, your rifle should be rated under 12ft lbs, unless you have a firearms licence.
Probably best not to waste your time at long range with an air pistol, they have to be sub 6 ft lbs, but would be OK to dispatch vermin at close range,
HTH.
If in doubt, always err on the side of caution, penalties can be harsh.
Had similar problem with magpies and rats with my chickens, they were eating the feed and eggs as soon as they were laid, with the magpies attacking the chickens if they defended the eggs.
Got rid of the rats pretty quickly as they just kept munching even as their mates were falling dead beside them. The magpies were harder to discourage, they just changed tactics -walking on the ground rather than flying in, had a lookout etc. In the end I pinned a dead magpie to the fence and they stopped coming after that.
Make 100% sure there is nothing behind your target if it passes through or you miss, a .22 pellet with 17joules of energy will def go through a fence panel with enough energy left to lodge in a child/pet with serious consequences.
I reccomend the smk x19 as a budget AR, mine was about £130 with bipod, good scope and bag.
Got rid of the rats pretty quickly as they just kept munching even as their mates were falling dead beside them. The magpies were harder to discourage, they just changed tactics -walking on the ground rather than flying in, had a lookout etc. In the end I pinned a dead magpie to the fence and they stopped coming after that.
Make 100% sure there is nothing behind your target if it passes through or you miss, a .22 pellet with 17joules of energy will def go through a fence panel with enough energy left to lodge in a child/pet with serious consequences.
I reccomend the smk x19 as a budget AR, mine was about £130 with bipod, good scope and bag.
Edited by Decky_Q on Monday 26th June 20:16
Edited by Decky_Q on Monday 26th June 20:17
Grumps. said:
You absolutely won't get rid of them all, even with a gun.
The only was to discourage them is to remove any sources of food (cat food, bird feeders etc) and if its not you, tell your neighbours.
Tried thatThe only was to discourage them is to remove any sources of food (cat food, bird feeders etc) and if its not you, tell your neighbours.
Edited by Grumps. on Monday 26th June 20:04
worked to a degree, but there is a nature reserve next to us, then allotments. These seem to be the source of the rats, trail cameras have caught their comings and goings.Wacky Racer said:
RFD here, been selling air rifles since the early 1970's dealing with all the well known brands.
All the information you require is freely available online
Laws were tightened in 2007..
You can legally shoot within the boundary of your own property, providing you are not causing any issues or problems with your neighbours, BUT the pellets must stay within your boundary, if one accidently flies over your fence it would be a very serious offence, you wouldn't like anyone shooting into your garden, would you?
Laws could be different if you are in rented property.
Also, your rifle should be rated under 12ft lbs, unless you have a firearms licence.
Probably best not to waste your time at long range with an air pistol, they have to be sub 6 ft lbs, but would be OK to dispatch vermin at close range,
HTH.
If in doubt, always err on the side of caution, penalties can be harsh.
Thanks. Not rented, would 12lbs(not metric?) be enough for ratty from 10 metres? .22 or .177? £250 a reasonable budget, rats are costing me a fortune in replacing cables and tubing….All the information you require is freely available online
Laws were tightened in 2007..
You can legally shoot within the boundary of your own property, providing you are not causing any issues or problems with your neighbours, BUT the pellets must stay within your boundary, if one accidently flies over your fence it would be a very serious offence, you wouldn't like anyone shooting into your garden, would you?
Laws could be different if you are in rented property.
Also, your rifle should be rated under 12ft lbs, unless you have a firearms licence.
Probably best not to waste your time at long range with an air pistol, they have to be sub 6 ft lbs, but would be OK to dispatch vermin at close range,
HTH.
If in doubt, always err on the side of caution, penalties can be harsh.
RFD registered firearms dealer?
If anyone is in the south Yorkshire area and wants rats sorting or amy other legal vermin let me know! We rather successfully manage rats for a few farmers using night vision kit on air rifles which is ultra effective:-)
I shoot fac and shotgun but to be fair one of the most satisfying jobs is rats for people!
I shoot fac and shotgun but to be fair one of the most satisfying jobs is rats for people!
We had a similar problem due to wife feeding birds. We are on an estate with concrete walls all round the garden, max range about 10 Mt's, usual range 5 to 7 meters.
I use a Milbro G80 (bought with teenage savings in 76) and a Cometa 300,the latter is a modernish "full strength" 0.22 and the Milbro is a slightly tired vintage 0.22. They are both very effective in the garden for rats, overkill almost.
Would advise a good telescopic sight, mines 4x32 which I find enough for the garden & rats. Although I'll probably be decried for it but I've also attached Chinese 'fuel filter' type moderators to both.
Would also advise normal diablo round head pellets of a reputable brand not point head. Find a brand you like and practice with it.
Good luck, they're relentless
I use a Milbro G80 (bought with teenage savings in 76) and a Cometa 300,the latter is a modernish "full strength" 0.22 and the Milbro is a slightly tired vintage 0.22. They are both very effective in the garden for rats, overkill almost.
Would advise a good telescopic sight, mines 4x32 which I find enough for the garden & rats. Although I'll probably be decried for it but I've also attached Chinese 'fuel filter' type moderators to both.
Would also advise normal diablo round head pellets of a reputable brand not point head. Find a brand you like and practice with it.
Good luck, they're relentless
eldar said:
Thanks. Not rented, would 12lbs(not metric?) be enough for ratty from 10 metres? .22 or .177? £250 a reasonable budget, rats are costing me a fortune in replacing cables and tubing….
RFD registered firearms dealer?
A 12ft lb rifle is way more than enough for rats at close ranges, I have been controlling rabbits on a couple of local farms for years with a pre charged 12ft lb airarms at ranges out to 40 yards, 12ft lbs is still plenty of energy, at longer ranges it's all about shot placement, rule of thumb is don't shoot at live quarry beyond a range where you can put all your shots within a 1 inch group maximum, if that's 20 yards due to a mixture of ability and the kit you are using then that's what you should stick toRFD registered firearms dealer?
Edited by martinbiz on Monday 26th June 22:17
We've shot perhaps a thousand rats on one infested farm and there's never any carcasses around a week after any visit, rats love nothing better than getting through dead comrades! Takes a long time to get on top of it when they are like that. One farmer had already poisoned his own dog through secondary poisoning by doing his own "control".
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