Author Topic: .22 LR shotshell, are they any good? (Read 244 times)

Meatwad · « **on:** February 05, 2006, 02:39:17 PM »

I seen some that I was going to buy, but I seen how small the pellets are and decided against it for now. Are they any good?

rpm · « **Reply #1 on:** February 05, 2006, 02:52:57 PM »

I've always heard them called "rat shot". They are great for small close range varmit hunting.

Yeager · « **Reply #2 on:** February 05, 2006, 02:56:11 PM »

yeah....snakeshot, ratshot......althought a big rat might attack after being hit by those tiny pellets. Dont shoot at anything bigger than a rat or more than 4 feet away.

eskimo2 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 05, 2006, 03:02:19 PM »

There a bit more leathal than that!
You can shoot little dritters up to FIVE feet away and you still might kill them. Of course they may suffer for 20 minutes first...

eskimo

Dago · « **Reply #4 on:** February 05, 2006, 03:17:39 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Yeager
yeah....snakeshot, ratshot......althought a big rat might attack after being hit by those tiny pellets. Dont shoot at anything bigger than a rat or more than 4 feet away.

Yup, when I was a kid I used to shoot rats with them at a horse ranch, kind of a favor to the owner plus it was fun for me. But, beyond about 4 or 5 feet it would spank them but not hurt them. Had to shoot fast and close.

Meatwad · « **Reply #5 on:** February 05, 2006, 03:23:19 PM »

Thats what I kinda figured, the range would suck. Box says good up to 250 yards, but I had my doubts on that. They look like fun for shooting birds and other stuff that make a good target, but little pricy

lasersailor184 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 05, 2006, 04:28:02 PM »

You're actually better off upgrading to a .38 Special Shot Shell.

Leslie · « **Reply #7 on:** February 05, 2006, 05:40:04 PM »

The pellets in those shells are so tiny they don't carry effectively for more than 10 feet or so I'm told. Bounce off cardboard at 12 feet. Not very powerful but you don't wanna get hit in the eye with 'em.

For field birds start with a 12 guage and no. 8 shot. For squirrels use no. 6 shot. .410 is a good squirrel gun.

Les

Ghosth · « **Reply #8 on:** February 05, 2006, 08:26:16 PM »

Tough to shoot birds with them as their pattern tends to suck after being shot out a rifled barrel.

Good to 20 feet for most varmints, squirrels, rats, snakes etc.

I did know one guy who reamed an old single shot bolt .22 out into a smoothbore just for those. Shot pretty fair patterns out to 40 feet or so, but the small pellets lose velocity fast.

They don't cycle real well through autoloaders, but work pretty slick in a revolver or bolt.

capt. apathy · « **Reply #9 on:** February 05, 2006, 09:32:45 PM »

we actually had a kid shot with one when I was in highschool. the shooter says he was "cleaning his gun" (code for screwing around with a loaded gun, treating it like a toy) in his bedroom when it went off and hit a kid about 15 feet away through the screen on an open window.

some of hte shot actually made it into his lungs after passing between the ribs.

suprised the hell outta me. I wouldn't have expected more than 1/8" to 1/4" of penetration at <10'.

we only used them in a small revolver to shoot snakes when fishing.