[Savage Hunter]

Hi there,

I'm just wondering if it's ok to shoot .22LR #12 ratshot out of a .22LR bolt-action rifle? It's not a .22LR smoothbore shotgun, it's a .22LR rifle.

Thanks.

 

[unclenick]

It's not uncommon to do. If it is the old crimped brass type case, you'll likely have some lead cleaning to do later.

 

[broom_jm]

Well, I've been wrong before, but I don't think there is such a thing as a "22LR smoothbore shotgun". My grandpa kept a 22 single-shot rifle loaded with birdshot by his front door at all times.

 

[William Iorg]

Remington, Winchester and I brelieve Mossberg made a few.
We have a Marlin Garden gun in 22 Magnum.

Depending on when your cartridges were made and if you have the box they may have collector value.

After you have checked the pattern on your rifle you may want to consider only using your shot cartridges for your “immediate needs.“ 22lr shot cartridges are in SHORT supply right now. For those of us who use quite a few of them through the year this has posed a problem.

 

[Cheezywan]

I've de-iced some antennae with it before. Never found much use for it beyond that.

I'm not sure I could make a clean kill on a rat with it beyond point blank range?

Bore cleaning will involve some work on your part in a rifled tube.

Past that, it's good ammo!

Cheezywan

 

[ribbonstone2]

Just some general observations. Spelled out in Louisiana hunting regs. is that during BP or archery season, the only cartridge gun allowed is a .22 loaded with rat shot. We have a lot of snakes., and not being allowed a centerfire, .22 rat shot is "it".

It works better from a pistol than a rifle (but best from a smoothbore rifle...that's just not allowed during those seasons).

Pattern runs out of snake killing at about 10 feet. More power wouldn't help, it's the pattern that suxs from a rifled barrel. this works out OK, as if the snake isn't closer than 10 feet, i'm not going to shoot it anyway. If it's slithering over my boot, will wait for it to get 5-10 feet away before shooting it (becasue i don't like to limp).

A really big snake is going to be PO'ed, but generally balls up and forgets about you. Plan of a revolver and shooting 3 or 4 times.

The old crimped brass loads work better in a revolver for me than the CCI plastic capsule type. CCi's uses larger shot, but power isn't the issue, pattern is. BUT the crimped brass cases tend to stick in some rifle's chambers (the unfolded brass case is long enough to have it's end be ahead of a typical chamber).

 

[tacklebury]

I used CCI shot shell loads often with my H&R .22 revolver and my bolt gun. No issues with leading. Range is pretty limited though I'd say about 10 yards max. Works good for flashlight hunting rats though. 8)

 

[Savage Hunter]

Yes, as William Iorg mentioned above, some manufacturers did make some smoothbore .22's specifically for shooting rat shot, but they're apparently very rare.

My .22 is a rifle, not a pistol. I don't have any rat shot shells, but I noticed 4 boxes of Federal shells at my local gun shop. It seems only CCI makes the plastic tipped shells. Federal and Winchester make the crimped metal type.

Was basically just curious how effective they were on garden snakes and squirels. Was also curious to know if they would be hard on my barrel. Might pick up a used $100 .22LR rifle from the local shop and keep my better rifle for regular ammo.

Thanks a lot for the helpful info.

 

[unclenick]

I have one of these in nearly mint condition. It's a pump action Remington Fieldmaster model 121. The serial number is 77 thousand and change, so they can't be entirely rare. The barrel says it is a Routledge bore for .22 rimfire shot. Looking down the 24" tube, it is about a .40 caliber smooth bore from the muzzle half way back. There it changes to .22 caliber smooth bore for the rest of the run to the breech.

It has a single take-down screw on the left side of the frame and a cross-bolt safety. The trigger is a color case-hardened solid piece. The magazine is a tube with an internal brass tube that has the spring loaded follower in it. You depress a release to slide the follow tube up, then dröp the cartridges in through a cartridge profile cut into the magazine tube, the push the follow tube back in, compressing the spring.

My grandfather bought this gun new. I remember shooting it a little back in the late 50's or early 60's. It was intended as a "moskeet" gun. Moskeet, which I presume is a truncation of "mosquito skeet", was a game played with little clay pigeons. I think the idea was to be able to take your scout troop out on the highschool football field for shotgun practice without worrying the shot would carry far enough to rain down on nearby mom's hanging out the laundry. Nor would the sound be worse than when the track coach had his starter pistol out. Nowadays you could probably get arrested for even suggesting the idea.

 

[varminter]

I know the Remington model 511 and 512 were also made in a "SB" smooth bore. I use the cci plastic tip shotshells every once in a while when woodpeckers get into my shop. They really work great. my shop roof is thin metal, tin or stainless or something, and they don't penetrate it. the bird dies and the roof don't leak. as far as barrel damage or wear I'm not sure but it seems to me that the plastic tip keeps all of the lead off of the rifleing.

 

[bitsman]

I know this is an OLD thread.. But I love this stuff for those big Yellow Bubble Bees...

 

[William Iorg]

I am pleased the 22 lr shot shells are in good supply today.

We used to whack the "bummblers" with badmitton rackets. Funny how many of them appear when a fight starts.

 

[swampdoc]

Blissfull memories of childhood and killing bumblebee's with anything handy and sometimes getting stung too! But a muzzleloader with nothing more than loose powder works wonders. And at one time I was given 14,000 22 caliber Stud Blanks and me and the younguns declared war on bumblebees killing over 200 in a couple of days.

 

[Sparky45]

Never used them on birds before, but I've wacked numerous snakes. Usually one shot takes them out. The largest was a 6' Blacksnake in my attic.

 

[Larry in Bend]

Back in the old days, when people thought that 22 bird shot might hurt your barrel; we bought an old Harrington & Richardson single shot to shoot bird shot. It would kill a Starling or a Sparrow @ maybe 20 feet in the barn.

I've killed dozens of Prairie Rattlers with 22 bird shot in a revolver. 6 feet is about max, but it works quite well @ that distance. Rem used to make 22 bird shot with #11 shot instead of the #12 that everyone else uses. I thought it performed a little better but I can't find it for sale anymore.

I always keep some bird shot on hand, in 4 different calibers.

 

[TX Hunter]

The .22 Rat Shot will not hurt the Rifeling on Your .22. The pressure is low and the tiny lead shot is much softer than the Steel Your Barrel is made of. I have used Rat Shot for Snakes and Mice at with good results at very close range usually within 5 feet or so. I have one old worn out Heritage Revolver that I keep loaded with Rat Shot that I take with Me when I am under a House Plumbing. I have come face to face with a Snake under a House and the Revolver makes Me feel better. LOL

 

[Larry in Bend]

. I have one old worn out Heritage Revolver that I keep loaded with Rat Shot that I take with Me when I am under a House Plumbing. I have come face to face with a Snake under a House and the Revolver makes Me feel better. LOL

Not a bad idea anywhere --- But especially in E Texas!