Air rifle

[fermerboy]

All I use mine for now is humane destruction. Even then I wonder every time I use it in close confinement within a shed if I'll hear the round that kills me. For me a .22 needs amazing backstops and plenty of private space around for me to be comfortable using it. But...I don't have large populations of bunnies to clear out and 22rf is truly the tool for that. I see their place in the armoury but hate the casual attitude to them that some folk display.

I used to use the .22RF for humane destruction but after reading on here I use my 12g shotgun.
Theres no way I'd go back to the .22 now, never had a problem but it used to scare the crap out of me shooting some poor animal inside a building with it.
If you have a shotgun use it, its a far safer and satisfactory job if you have to do it.

 

[Longlowdog]

I have a shotgun but only h.d sheep with the .22. Brain shots from a couple of inches away whilst they have their heads at a trough and my flock are not afraid of people. The idea of blasting a 12 g shotgun through a head gives me the heebiejeebies. I pick my angles and take my time. I don't like it but it is very quiet and clean. A dirt floor helps my confidence. If I had concrete shed floors I'd probably do it in a field corner.

 

[fermerboy]

I have a shotgun but only h.d sheep with the .22. Brain shots from a couple of inches away whilst they have their heads at a trough and my flock are not afraid of people. The idea of blasting a 12 g shotgun through a head gives me the heebiejeebies. I pick my angles and take my time. I don't like it but it is very quiet and clean. A dirt floor helps my confidence. If I had concrete shed floors I'd probably do it in a field corner.

I was the same about using the 12g it was only after reading comments on here that I tried it.
No mess or fuss, same rules apply, pick the angle carefully and don't rush it.
I know somebody who had to have a cow shot in a field years ago, his neighbour dropped it with a 22-250 at about +300yds as that was as near as they could get. Very very impressive apparently!!
Hopefully wont have to shoot anything, bloody hate that job.

 

[Longlowdog]

I'd have no qualms about using a decent centrefire on cattle in a field setting. Having shot a fair number of boar in France and moose in Newfoundland I'm pretty certain a170gn lead injection would put down most things I'm likely to encounter.
Regrettably the shooting thing has come round to haunt me today. Checking the tup lambs I found one with a smashed eye orbit and ruptured eye this morning. My wife always gives me a bit of space after I have to do this kind of thing. I can't just casually move on from it.