christy Posted February 8, 2010 Report Share Posted February 8, 2010 Hi folks, need a little help here. By a complete fluke I have permission to shoot rats at nearby stables. Not a huge yard 10 horses. A very remote area high in the Cotswolds. I have a .22 Airwolf with a 1.5-5x20 wtc on top. Or could use HW95 .22 V-Mach internals. I will be allowed to go when I wish. I have not shot rats for years. What is the best approach? Night I guess with a light on top. Which light :unsure: Filter or not? dimmer thing? Bait? Give me your thoughts please. Cheers Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazza Posted February 8, 2010 Report Share Posted February 8, 2010 Peanut butter is a good bait. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
albob Posted February 8, 2010 Report Share Posted February 8, 2010 (edited) red filter,dullish lamp...liquidisted cat food..basically food they have to stay and eat and not carry off to a safer place to eat.night vison if budget allows,,night or quiet times are best. al Edited February 8, 2010 by albob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted February 8, 2010 Report Share Posted February 8, 2010 IMHO you're going to need a bigger scope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christy Posted February 8, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2010 Ok what would you suggest? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rad334 Posted February 8, 2010 Report Share Posted February 8, 2010 We go rat shooting around a pig farm and what I find is you don't have long to shoot once you spot one in the lamp, they soon vanish. We scan around quickly normally with a red lens only having the light on for a couple of seconds. When we see one the shooter points the gun somewhere near where it was, then the lamper flicks the light back on and crack, dead rat (sometimes) We use chocolate spread if we use bait they love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stubby Posted February 9, 2010 Report Share Posted February 9, 2010 make sure you have a good backstop, hollow headed pellet stops ricochets, dont shoot any horses ££££££'s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hezbear Posted February 9, 2010 Report Share Posted February 9, 2010 (edited) Ok what would you suggest? a 3-9 x 40 minimum for lamping, as already has been said bait will have to be a liquid, a small lamp with red filter on, good luck shooting them mate Edited February 9, 2010 by Hezbear Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchieboy Posted February 9, 2010 Report Share Posted February 9, 2010 IMHO you're going to need a bigger scope. I've got a set of 3-9X50 scopes and mounts for sale that are the bees knees for lamping mate! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cleaner4hire Posted February 9, 2010 Report Share Posted February 9, 2010 i used to shoot rats at a stables - I found that they were very used to lights and people so had no need for a lamp or high mag scope. Have a walk around without your rifle to get an idea of how they behave - day and night as mine were nearly as busy during the day as they were at night!! In the end I baited lit areas of the stables and picked them off or shot them as they moved along their runs. In the end I had 6 or 7 different hiding places and just rotated around them over an outing. choc spread or blended cat food works brill. ratting was what I loved most with my air rifle fast action and challenging Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polester Posted February 9, 2010 Report Share Posted February 9, 2010 The wtc scope is perfect for ratting as it focus's close up. I.ve found turning the lamp down till you can just see their eyes reflecting then turn up till you can just see the head works. The white light seams to scare them but you can still get them if you'r quick. I've never baited for them as where we shoot we just walk round in a circuit quietly there's that many of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rigwallet Posted February 9, 2010 Report Share Posted February 9, 2010 you better learn to shoot fast as they never hand around far long me and my mate have perm on rats on chicken farm and they soon get use to the sound of the gun my best head counts was with open sights as i could zero in much quicker with them than using teles. good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christy Posted February 9, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2010 Thanks for the help guys. What lamp would you recommed? It does not need great power because I guess I will be within 20-25 yds. Can you recommend one with easily availabe filters and preferably small and neat? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hezbear Posted February 9, 2010 Report Share Posted February 9, 2010 Tracer stinger will do you or get a tesco torch, there is a post about them on here mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawkeye Posted February 9, 2010 Report Share Posted February 9, 2010 Ok what would you suggest? Stick with the one you have i use the same one you are only shooting a few yards and the lower the mag the better the light it draws.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tango Posted February 11, 2010 Report Share Posted February 11, 2010 clulite do a good gun light for about £30, comes with the mount and batteries and is good to about 25yds, its detatchable too. cant remember the model but will be on their site Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MM Posted February 11, 2010 Report Share Posted February 11, 2010 (edited) been out ratting tonight with Brian28 (he looks older than 28 ) not much luck, but they are big, i know that. Tried an open tin of tuna, but no joy even though its worked before. Edited February 11, 2010 by MM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christy Posted February 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2010 Thanks for all the advice chaps, plenty for me to think about. Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted February 14, 2010 Report Share Posted February 14, 2010 (edited) I don't see any issue with the likes of a 1.5-5 scope for ratting, problem is the tube size, but with a half decent lamp and 20-25 yard shooting I still don't see much of an issue, except I would be guessing the scope is "cheap" and hardly the best glass. So, as said, perhaps consider something like a 3-9x50. Bait can certainly help, frankly almost anything smelly for the rat, the cheapest cat/dog food you can find, they also love chocolate! Check out their runs and bait regularly, at the same time, small amounts, in the same place, they learn and will be around when you want them eventually that way! Rats gorge and will stop and eat the lot, so sit and wait, and watch the wind, they are not stupid, they have been around a long time! Another problem is they are neophobic (Fear of anything new) so it can take time for them to accept new things, even food sometimes, so baiting can be a long process!! Is this "fun" or are you working pest control, because you will have about as much chance shooting them all as I would winning the Euro lottery! Consider getting in some Rodent monitors and baiting with Difenacoun or Bromadiolone, you will likely be wasting your time with Warfarin! ATB!! And..if you do get any, make sure you have disposable gloves and a good plastic bag you can seal them in, Leptospirosis is no fun!!! Edited February 14, 2010 by Dekers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christy Posted February 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2010 (edited) Thanks for your reply Dekers. There were several things you mentioned I had not considered. It would be 'fun' for me not professional. The scope is far from cheap and the quality is well known-take a look through one and you will see. Edited February 14, 2010 by christy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted February 14, 2010 Report Share Posted February 14, 2010 Thanks for your reply Dekers. There were several things you mentioned I had not considered. It would be 'fun' for me not professional. The scope is far from cheap and the quality is well known-take a look through one and you will see. Fair comment...I missed the WTC bit, I wouldn't be in any rush to replace it then, take a look round the shooting area with a lamp and see how it performs!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maddog546 Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 Better still go on flea bay and look for superfire torches,they are from japan and he supplies then with a laser and mounts to fit both to your scope. As mentioned by the time you lift the gun they are of,with the laser attached and lamp on it enables you to shoot from the hip once the laser has been zeroed for your given range. My best head count being 45 rats in 35 minutes using this set up on my Harrier (single shot),the rats soon learn mind that the red dot means death and if you shoot 4 or 5 in the same area the next one you put the laser on starts screaming and freezes. The main thing to remember is that you need to well aware of your zeroed range as the laser is true and as such very accurate at the zeroed range but easily misjudged. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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