Cranfield Posted May 17, 2005 Report Share Posted May 17, 2005 I have a Webley Excel .22 air rifle, which I rarely use, except for magpies in the garden. It has a telscopic sight which I have spent ages zeroing in perfectly for about 20 yards. I have a problem with two rats visiting my bird table at night. I can easily shoot them from the kitchen window, as the outside of my cottage has low external lighting. The two attempts so far, have resulted in me firing below the rat, despite aiming above it to compensate for the short range, which is approx 12 feet. My question is; Do I leave the scope on and aim even higher, if so, how high ? Or; Do I take the scope off and use the open sight (raises another question) and will this mean I have to re zero it all over again ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry c Posted May 17, 2005 Report Share Posted May 17, 2005 i think your best off shooting some targets at this range in the day, then you can see where its going without re-zeroing, also i have shot many rabbits, under 5 yrds simply by looking down the side of the barrel to aim, with my s300. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axe Posted May 17, 2005 Report Share Posted May 17, 2005 Sound advice HC, setting up targets at the known distance and using them to adjust your hold over is definitely the way forward. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roblade Posted May 17, 2005 Report Share Posted May 17, 2005 i think your best off shooting some targets at this range in the day, then you can see where its going without re-zeroing, what more can i add LOL just pop a target at the base of the bird feder and blat away at it to find out where your point of aim should bel, then when Mr. Scaly tail pops up your ready band waiting for him all the best ROB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted May 17, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2005 Having conducted the test, it seems that a 4.5" oversight is required. I have always found it very difficult, when shooting live quarry, not to fire at the target. There will be a "live test" tonight, but one more miss and the scope comes off. Thanks for the comments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teal Posted May 17, 2005 Report Share Posted May 17, 2005 Set up a stick by the bird feeder with white lines at a height of 2 inches gap between each. To help as a gauge. Good luck getting ratty, let us know how you get on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted May 17, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2005 Good thinking Teal, I will see what can be done, but I want to try to avoid the killing zone, looking too much like the range at Bisley. Romney Marsh rats ain't daft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old rooster Posted May 17, 2005 Report Share Posted May 17, 2005 Good thinking Teal, I will see what can be done, but I want to try to avoid the killing zone, looking too much like the range at Bisley.Romney Marsh rats ain't daft. Cheeky little blighters !!!, report them to the police and get them fitted up with a couple of ASBO's Used to shoot rats for a mate of mine who kept chickens; set up the telescopic sight at exactly the range of the food bowl they were raiding and popped them off a treat with my Original 35 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teal Posted May 18, 2005 Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 Can you just "lamp" them with a red filter on? If so I intend to bait a lot over the summer and nail their population. What bait would be best? Can you bait them into a different area Cranfield if you are having such difficulty at 10metres? Hopefully by now you will have knocked them both off on their night raid! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M ROBSON Posted May 18, 2005 Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 A 2-stroke motor mixed heavy, an hose pipe and a couple of Terriers works a lot better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted May 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 Teal, the range was 10 feet, not 10 metres, that was the problem. Mark, my Wife reminded me that I wouldn't have had this problem, if I still had ferrets, food for thought there. Update; I spent a lot of time yesterday afternoon zeroing the scope into the required range, as I was unhappy with the amount of oversight required. At 11.00pm activity was noted and I took up position at the kitchen window, with my left elbow resting on four telephone directories, to give some stability for the long wait. Chummy appeared to be very nervous and would not stay still very long, this drew the matter out, as a grey rat against a grey concrete background is almost invisible. However, he committed one error and it was his last. At about 11.47 pm, he stopped to pick up a sunflower seed that had fallen from the bird table and I went for the killing shot, just behind the front legs where the vital organs are. When I went to pick him up it was difficult to see where I had hit him, but he was stone dead. Mission accomplished. I went back into the cottage , removed the cammo face cream, my night cammo outfit, black gloves and went to bed a contented Hunter. I will keep vigil tonight , incase any of his mates want some of the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry c Posted May 18, 2005 Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 'What bait would be best?' i hear that baits wich smell strong are best, chocolate is exelent and corn works well as when scattered it occupies them for ages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old rooster Posted May 18, 2005 Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 I went back into the cottage , removed the cammo face cream, my night cammo outfit, black gloves and went to bed a contented Hunter. Pictures, where are the pictures !!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old rooster Posted May 18, 2005 Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 'What bait would be best?' i hear that baits wich smell strong are best, chocolate is exelent and corn works well as when scattered it occupies them for ages. You don't want anything too bulky or they will nip out, catch hold of it and run off for a leisurely scoff in their hiding place. Leaves you with a long wait for a second chance. Try coarsely ground grain so that they are forced to stay out to eat it. Just a suggestion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted May 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 old rooster, this is one my Wife took the other day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red_stag88 Posted May 18, 2005 Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 You had plastic sugery lately? I swear your eyelids drooped more. Try stamping god food into the ground so they have to wrestle it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted May 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 A good tip Red, but regrettably unusable in these circumstances. as a grey rat against a grey concrete background, is almost invisible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teal Posted May 18, 2005 Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 Hypothetically can you put a green or other coloured screen up on the concrete wall temporarily for operation scalytail? Romney rats may be smart, but they're also very greedy. Good luck once again and congrats on getting one... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted May 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 Teal, obviously you are a single, unattached Gentleman. I, on the other hand, have a significant other, that I have been married to for 33 years. The garden is her pride and joy, blood stains are just about acceptable in the circumstances, even a small amount of gore, but various coloured screens, no matter how temporary, would be greeted with an "adverse reaction" (which is like describing a hurricane as a gentle breeze). :( Last recce was at 22.00 hrs and the coast was clear. But us rat Hunters never sleep. :thumbs: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teal Posted May 19, 2005 Report Share Posted May 19, 2005 Obviously you are a better man than me Cranfield, , I could never live with someone who is so fussy and pedantic!! (For clarification by coloured screen I meant a piece or two of A4 paper cellotaped to the wall.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highlander Posted May 19, 2005 Report Share Posted May 19, 2005 old rooster, this is one my Wife took the other day. :thumbs: Cranfield...I take it all back that's no civil servant and certainly no MP! :( But why take it all off when you go to bed doesn't the wife like a bit of rough? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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