Catweazle Posted February 16, 2014 Report Share Posted February 16, 2014 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. You might have no problem, but trading standards say you can use 20g, 16g or 12g with shot no smaller than No6, and that's just for sheep. For adult sheep, a 12, 16 or 20 bore shotgun may be used, with shot not smaller than no. 6. http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/cgi-bin/manchester/bus1item.cgi?file=*BADV654-1001.txt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted February 16, 2014 Report Share Posted February 16, 2014 Trading standards have a standard for destruction of sheep? I wonder what they based there standard on? As they don't state a load size just a shot size so it can't be kinetic energy..... You could load 5g of no 4 into a 12 bore case according to that....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisheruk Posted February 16, 2014 Report Share Posted February 16, 2014 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 I have humane dispatch on my ticket. I agree shot placement is crucial. Between the eyes and aim down to the top vertebrae. Instant. If you're using a shotgun 12g 2-3 yrds aim back of the head top of the neck, side on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted February 16, 2014 Report Share Posted February 16, 2014 You might have no problem, but trading standards say you can use 20g, 16g or 12g with shot no smaller than No6, and that's just for sheep. http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/cgi-bin/manchester/bus1item.cgi?file=*BADV654-1001.txt And pray tell me, what the hell has humane despatch got to do with trading standards. Save you enquiring I'll tell you the answer, nothing at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted February 17, 2014 Report Share Posted February 17, 2014 And pray tell me, what the hell has humane despatch got to do with trading standards. Save you enquiring I'll tell you the answer, nothing at all. It sound strange but actually they have a fair bit to do with these things. Seems farming is actually a business not a hobby (this might shock many). OFT are the people who the courts / government use to raid businesses and are responsible for enforcing that businesses comply with the law. I suppose there are rules about who, how and why stock is shot? They raided a neighbour who was previously banned by the court from keeping stock (yet was still doing so) and found inside it the biggest cannabis plant yet found in Lancashire (must have been a shock to them when they looked in the barn to see if any more animals were hidden away) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted February 17, 2014 Report Share Posted February 17, 2014 Kent One must not confuse humane dispatch of farm animals with humane slaughter. Humane dispatch, the killing of an animal for reasons of ill health, injury and so forth is not within the remit of Trading Standards. Humane Slaughter, the killing (slaughtering) of an animal for food is a completely different ball game and different rules apply, hence slaughtering comes under Trading Standards as the product is intended for human consumption. There is no law (or any rules) restricting who or what firearm may be used for humane dispatch, other than those of cruelty, which is why many vets and stockmen chose to use a .410 for the job. As you will know a .410 discharged from a couple of feet is equivalent to a very, very large handgun and is more than adequate everything up to cow size stock. When choosing which tool to use one must also take into account the safety aspect and the site one is shooting in and again here a .410 wins hands down. I have all my firearms from the .22rf up conditioned for humane killing of animals and my first choice, always, is the .410. Except for horses or where room is extremely tight I never use my.38. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted February 17, 2014 Report Share Posted February 17, 2014 I totally agree about the .410 though never done a cow with one I shouldn't hesitate if I needed to though. In a true emergency you might non the less use whatever might do the job closest to hand as long as you know how Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the enigma Posted February 18, 2014 Report Share Posted February 18, 2014 I've used both rimfire and 12g to dispatch adult cattle, and to be honest, the shotgun would be my first choice. But as said, in an emergency both are capable of doing the job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bornfree Posted February 19, 2014 Report Share Posted February 19, 2014 A friend of mine who used to work as a slaughterman in an abattoir said if they had nasty sow or boar or bull which they could stun/kill normally they would use a 20 bore which would drop them ok Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NIGHT SEARCHER Posted February 19, 2014 Report Share Posted February 19, 2014 Captive bolt pistol. Two types Blanks or Compressed Air. Used on Cattle. Goats. Sheep. Horses. Classed has a section one firearm. Destroys the cerebrum but leaves the Brain Stem intact. Same tool has used in the film. No Country for old Men. With the Air Cylinder. And the big Aluminium Silencer on a 12g pump. Top Film. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CWD Posted February 19, 2014 Report Share Posted February 19, 2014 i have worked in slaughter houses for many years and still do occasionally and now as one of the services we provide we get called upon to destroy many different types of animals for many different reasons , if you just have an occasional fallen , sick cow to put down then just get a standard humane killer [bolt gun ] failing that as others have said a .410 is more than capable at close range , a free flying bullet from a pistol is not the easiest of things to use and for the amount of hassle it takes to get one its not really worth it , we have a .38 pistol but in all honesty its very rarely used regards cwd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catweazle Posted February 19, 2014 Report Share Posted February 19, 2014 Captive bolt pistols are now off ticket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkj7176 Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 apparently clay loads work ok, they come out of the barrel like a slug but less chance of richocet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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