Humane dispatch pistol for cattle

[wiltshirekeeper]

Hi guys and girls

 

Im looking at getting either a 32 or 357 pistol for humane dispatch of cattle as the vet is charging £70 to put a cow out now.

 

I have a open ticket fac with a 22-250,17hmr and 22lr and a sgc with 5x 12bore

 

reading up on the law it looks like they dont like people using rifles or shotguns it has to be a pistol or shotgun pistol with relevent conditions on fac.

 

Do they require you to attend a course ?

 

can I use one of my 12 bores or 22lr ?

 

 

 

[geordieh]

12 bore will do the job

[bluesj]

A .32 isn't really big enough!

You will have to have good reason to get one, shooting one or two cows a year won't do it.

Once you have your cow dead what do you do with it? if it goes to the knacker man why not get him to shoot it?

You can use a shoot gun, makes a good job of it

[geordieh]

A .32 isn't really big enough!

You will have to have good reason to get one, shooting one or two cows a year won't do it.

Once you have your cow dead what do you do with it? if it goes to the knacker man why not get him to shoot it?

You can use a shoot gun, makes a good job of it

As above .32 may not be man enough. shooting 1 or 2 cattle a year is good reason.If you can get one for humane despatch of deer why not cattle there is no set number of animals you have to kill per year so ask for a 357/38

Geordie

Edited February 15, 2014 by geordieh

[carpentermark]

I have no idea here and am guessing so probably totally wrong but wouldn't 12b slug work best?

[geordieh]

I have no idea here and am guessing so probably totally wrong but wouldn't 12b slug work best?

Hi Mark

At 6" to a foot 30gms of 6 shot is just like a slug

[bluesj]

As above .32 may not be man enough. shooting 1 or 2 cattle a year is good reason.If you can get one for humane despatch of deer why not cattle there is no set number of animals you have to kill per year

Geordie

There is no set number but with cattle or any other domestic animals there is alternatives the vet, knacker man or local hunt but not so much when deer stalking.

[HDAV]

Best person to speak to is smig he's a pro knackerman and has every tool for the job. Worth reading the humane slaughter association guides and I think they do offer courses/training

http://www.hsa.org.uk/emergency-slaughter-introduction/introduction-5

At point blank range a 12 bore will come out like a slug massive kinect energy! And very little chance of a ricochet

Edited February 15, 2014 by HDAV

[bluesj]

Hi Mark

At 6" to a foot 30gms of 6 shot is just like a slug

at 20ft BB will do it SSG would be better

[Old farrier]

Hi

Don't know about cows but minimum caliber for horses is 32 and a lot say 38 is better captive bolt can only be used if you pith them afterwards and you have to go on course (for horses)

Would recommend you ask defra

As for .22 or fac if its not on your ticket or states humane dispatch you can't use it solid slug I believe is fac ?

What does your vet use ?

Does the price include the paperwork ? I assume that some records have to be amended

Hope this helps

Of

[geordieh]

at 20ft BB will do it SSG would be better

I don't think you should be shooting a large animal at 20 feet with a shotgun mate with BB or SSG you would just **** it off

[wiltshirekeeper]

Thanks for your replys guys. we shoot about 10 calves and 5 or 6 cows a year. the knacker man takes all our fallen stock but only when he is out this way every other day or so. is it legal to shoot them with a shotgun then ?

[Alycidon]

Talk to your FEO, in skilled hands a 22LR works well, placement needs to be spot on and from above and behind. 32/357/38 is far better but he may prefer to give you slug/lethal ball ammo for the 12 instead of a pistol. One friend of mine had his Colt Python 357 removed under the pistol ban and replaced with 12 bore lethal ball ammo.

 

Lot of knackers wagon weapons are 32s.

 

A

[Old farrier]

Is this for humane dispatch ie sick or injured or

For economic reasons ie bull calf worth nothing ?

All the best

Of

[wiltshirekeeper]

sick or injured. Been through defra guidelines and home office guidelines. Seems as long as its a emergency and you can take action which is what i really wanting it for. shotgun is the pref methord as it spreads inside of the head and rarely ricohets. It states you must hold the shotgun at least 5 inches away.

 

Thanks again

[wiltshirekeeper]

p.s It also mentions to 'draw' a imaginary x between the eye socket and opposite ear. Thats where you place the shot

[bluesj]

I don't think you should be shooting a large animal at 20 feet with a shotgun mate with BB or SSG you would just **** it off

And if at all possible you shouldn't but there can be times its the only way

[kent]

12 bore will do the job

It will kill an elephant let alone a cow if the user put the thing on the right spot, my choice to kill anything at extreme short range and it don't need a heavy load. .410 will kill a red stag under same circumstances

[Fuddster]

p.s It also mentions to 'draw' a imaginary x between the eye socket and opposite ear. Thats where you place the shot

That's the perfect spot for bovine destruction and all frontal shots for anything four legged. I use a .308 as you sometime can't get close.

 

Not a fan of shotguns other than a close range despatch when the beast is all ready on the floor.

 

Regards

 

Fudds

[kent]

I am glad the OP appears not to be one of those who just wants a pistol

Edited February 16, 2014 by kent

[washwildfowler]

I shoot around 200 calves and cows a year plus horses. sheep..all with a 32 nothing wrong with it at all ..

 

It's all about the animals welfare .. I would recommend you go on a animal welfare course .. I'm not saying you don't know what your doing . But it needs to be done right .. or go to a abbitour they sometimes hold courses .. but your best bet would be get in touch with DEFRA.it all will help with acquiring a hand gun for dispatch ..

[Catweazle]

12g Hushpower works fine for me, I can put the barrel right on the head without blowing the gun up. I wouldn't use a slug or large sized shot, too much danger of something coming back at you, just No6 shot and good quality safety glasses. No need to pith afterwards, brain is wrecked. Shoot from the front, in the spot already mentioned, and in line with the neck. I am very keen on "humane", and the 12g is.

[HW682]

That's the perfect spot for bovine destruction and all frontal shots for anything four legged. I use a .308 as you sometime can't get close.

 

Not a fan of shotguns other than a close range despatch when the beast is all ready on the floor.

 

Regards

 

Fudds

 

There is some info here... http://www.fao.org/docrep/004/y0660e/y0660e01.htm

Care is needed with horned sheep and goats as the brain is higher up (scroll 3/4 way down the page to chapter 4)

Edited February 16, 2014 by HW682

[CharlieT]

I have always used a .410 and at a few inches it always works a treat.

As with any firearm/caliber it all hinges on shooting in the right place.

 

Any shot size will do the job.

[Scully]

I have always used a .410 and at a few inches it always works a treat.

As with any firearm/caliber it all hinges on shooting in the right place.