Walker570 Posted June 12, 2016 Report Share Posted June 12, 2016 Recently joined a new shoot and told that the farm where we meet has a serious rat problem. The likely places you could shoot with a four ten would cause problems with lead shot possibly getting into cattle food and my mind went back to the late 40s and 50s when I was 'torch boy' whilst my grandfather shot the rats running along the beams in our cow sheds. These sheds had tiled roofs and lead shot at short range blew them to pieces, so grandfather used to lever out the over shot cards from standard 12 gauge shells and replace the lead shot with rice. Most of the shots where at close range 5 to 10yrds and I don't ever remember a rat not being dead as a result of a load of rice from the choke barrel of grandfathers 12 gauge BSA (which I still have). Got me to thinking about loading a few for my Mossy pumper for a 'rat a twoee'. Anybody tried it ? Certainly a non toxic load and the residue would in no way pollute the cows rations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted June 13, 2016 Report Share Posted June 13, 2016 Give it a go, try other pulses and the new fangled health foods. Let us know how it goes. Dried peas should be a good load. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stonepark Posted June 13, 2016 Report Share Posted June 13, 2016 other option is rock salt, though more modern replacement would be steel 9. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Continental Shooter Posted June 13, 2016 Report Share Posted June 13, 2016 I'm afraid at short distance steel will still bounce about if hit a hard surface. Salt (and pepper corns) I tried for different 'pests' but they won't kill any big fella... in some occasion the wad didn't make it out the barrel due to the little pressure generated as a result of the light materials used. This in itself is very is dangerous if you shoot with an auto or forget to check the barrel every shot.... the next shot might just go BOOM and you'll end up with a banana shaped barrel Air rifle i think it'll be fun or just be careful, make sure your wad is fairly pressed and check your barrels at every shot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rovercoupe Posted June 13, 2016 Report Share Posted June 13, 2016 Give it a go, try other pulses and the new fangled health foods. Let us know how it goes. Dried peas should be a good load. Can these be classed as vegan cartridges? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted June 13, 2016 Report Share Posted June 13, 2016 hello, while on a visit to china a few years back my friend said in her small village north of nanning the elders used rice filled cartridges for bird shot as a substitute for lead, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panoma1 Posted June 13, 2016 Report Share Posted June 13, 2016 If you have access to one? what about using a .22 LR rimfire shot cartridge? Very effective at close range....if a little noisy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted June 13, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 13, 2016 Have not seen those rim fire shot cartridges for years, can you still get them ? The problem was toxic shot getting in cattle feed so they would not be any good in this case anyway. Air rifle a good idea but I would need to go buy one. I have four 410s :-) Don't ask why :-( Suppose I could sell one and buy an air rifle mmmmmm??? Good point on the pressure. Had not thought of that, still loading my own I suppose I could experiment with loads to see what would shove everything clear. 00 Buck peas sounds interesting :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted June 13, 2016 Report Share Posted June 13, 2016 Is lead shot dangerous to cattle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dicehorn Posted June 13, 2016 Report Share Posted June 13, 2016 Is lead shot dangerous to cattle? Swallow the lead in 6 shotgun cartridges and report back to us in 3 months Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted June 13, 2016 Report Share Posted June 13, 2016 I don't think I am a cow. Swallow the lead in 6 shotgun cartridges and report back to us in 3 months Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted June 14, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2016 Lead is a known toxic material and harmful to any animal. The main concern from me, apart from not wanting to risk having cattle digest the lead shot, but is also the come back from the farmer should it prove to be toxic to his valuable resource. By using a non toxic, non harmful load and making this known to the farmer can only boost his confidence in you and ensure your sporting future is safe on that property. Just common courtesy really, like picking up your empty shells, closing a gate, not leaving litter around and tiding up after you have removed your pigeon hide etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted June 14, 2016 Report Share Posted June 14, 2016 (edited) Is lead shot dangerous to cattle? Years ago a lot of us used to shoot clays at Cupid Green near Hemel Hempstead. The farmer had a good clay layout which was rented out to different clubs and was in use daily. The farm was a dairy farm and the herd grazed on the fields where the shot fell even as we shot. There must have been tons of lead on those fields. The farmer said the Milk Marketing Board were always on his case about the lead issue and used to test his milk yield all the time because they were convinced he would have contaminated the milk but they never found a trace. In the end the scientist that did the testing conceded that because a cow eats so much grass its digestive system moves everything through much faster than it would in a bird or a carnivore, Effectively, the lead travels through the cow too quickly for any significant amount to be absorbed and that would be what he would be reporting back to the MMB Edited June 14, 2016 by Vince Green Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon controller Posted June 14, 2016 Report Share Posted June 14, 2016 I used to own a Webley 9mm Garden gun with steel cartridges of 9 shot that seemed very effective in the barns when I shot rats. Can you borrow one to sort out your concern. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted June 14, 2016 Report Share Posted June 14, 2016 Well, I would wonder how harmful it could be, as I asked a cattle farmer if I could shoot pigeons on his grazing fields. He had no issue with it. Lead is a known toxic material and harmful to any animal. The main concern from me, apart from not wanting to risk having cattle digest the leadshot, but is also the come back from the farmer should it prove to be toxic to his valuable resource. By using a non toxic, non harmful load andmaking this known to the farmer can only boost his confidence in you and ensure your sporting future is safe on that property.Just common courtesy really, like picking up your empty shells, closing a gate, not leaving litter around and tiding up after you have removedyour pigeon hide etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coldweld Posted June 14, 2016 Report Share Posted June 14, 2016 More fun with half a dozen dogs, and no damage to feed or buildings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted June 14, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2016 (edited) Yes, shot settling into the sward is very unlikely to be picked up by cattle. However in this case the rats are around feed barns where various feeds are stored including silage. personally I think the likelihood of a cow ingesting sufficient to cause a problem is remote BUT as I say above, good common sense to show the farmer you are aware and taking steps to prevent a problem before it arises, as your query to the farmer about fall of shot is concerned all goes to secure arrangements for the future and maybe other opportunities arise Terriers ...agree. If I am bored I just pull up Severn Valley Ratters on you tube, brilliant. Edited June 14, 2016 by Walker570 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjh Posted June 14, 2016 Report Share Posted June 14, 2016 More fun with half a dozen dogs, and no damage to feed or buildings +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old farrier Posted June 14, 2016 Report Share Posted June 14, 2016 You could try dry sharp sand Just a thought All the best Of Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted June 14, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2016 Busy busy at the moment but as soon as time allows I will load a selection and do some tests and come back on them. Interesting to see penetration results say at 15yrds. Memory of those rats scuttling along the beams in the cow sheds back in the early 50s has not dimmed and the distance there was five yards at most and those grains of rice would be tightly packed out of a full choke barrel at that range. My wife will think I've turned veggie if I come back from Morrisons with a bag full of pulses :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver pigeon69 Posted June 14, 2016 Report Share Posted June 14, 2016 How about some gravel or very small pebbles? But would this damage the barrel? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cookoff013 Posted June 15, 2016 Report Share Posted June 15, 2016 How about some gravel or very small pebbles? But would this damage the barrel? not this again. i got sick and tired of pointing out that shooting stones out of a shotgun is very bad. i have zero experience of shooting stones out of a shotgun, but i have lots of experience shooting heavy dense metal. shooting stones will wreck the barrel, chamber and forcing cone. my basis for this is the wads just are not good enough. please. no. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted June 15, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 15, 2016 I could 'pepper' them I suppose, but black or white peppers ? choices choices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old farrier Posted June 15, 2016 Report Share Posted June 15, 2016 I could 'pepper' them I suppose, but black or white peppers ? choices choices. Mixed obviously and a little spice 😂 How do you like your ratatouille 😂😂 Seriously had you considered the plastic shot for a BB gun All the best Of Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coldweld Posted June 15, 2016 Report Share Posted June 15, 2016 Sand and stones ? Are they real post's, I hope they are joking ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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