captive bolt purchase advice please

[Kiss]

Why do you have so many casualties that you need to own a captive bolt gun?

Perhaps you need to look at the root cause rather than the solution?

Every farmer should have one IMO no point waiting for the vet or Knacker man, some things need dealing with asap,

 

[Bald Rick]

Every farmer should have one IMO no point waiting for the vet or Knacker man, some things need dealing with asap,

Agree with that
Accidents happen that need an immediate response.

Personally I would use a 12 bore. Pithing is not overly pleasant

 

[davidroberts30]

Every farmer should have one IMO no point waiting for the vet or Knacker man, some things need dealing with asap,

every farmer should have at least access to someone with a 12bore if they dont have their own

 

[Fat Lamb]

Would a 20 bore do the job?

 

[Boydvalley]

For the badger cull they supplied different cartridges for shotguns that were supposed to be safer for close range work so I was told. Any one know what they were and whether they would be suitable for livestock.

 

[Ffermer Bach]

For the badger cull they supplied different cartridges for shotguns that were supposed to be safer for close range work so I was told. Any one know what they were and whether they would be suitable for livestock.

I think normal game cartridges are fine, you hold the barrel 6" away from the animals head, and at that range the pellets come out like a single solid lump. Important to have the gap, otherwise the barrel will burst. That is why the pistols used for the job had ventilated barrels. I know you can buy cartridges with a single pellet, but I think they are used by american police to stop cars! And I am guessing you better make sure your shotgun doesn't have any choke!

 

[Stewartry hill]

Would a 20 bore do the job?

yes .410 works well

 

[mtx135]

Why do you have so many casualties that you need to own a captive bolt gun?

Perhaps you need to look at the root cause rather than the solution?

Last year I luckily didn’t lose any, the year before I lost 3. I honestly believe that everyone should be prepared to do the deed if needed, not waiting for a neighbour or knackerman to turn up. Sometimes things need dealing with immediately.

 

[newholland]

A captive bolt is the answer for a dairy farm when a cow is in a difficult enclosed situation.

 

[bar718]

I think normal game cartridges are fine, you hold the barrel 6" away from the animals head, and at that range the pellets come out like a single solid lump. Important to have the gap, otherwise the barrel will burst. That is why the pistols used for the job had ventilated barrels. I know you can buy cartridges with a single pellet, but I think they are used by american police to stop cars! And I am guessing you better make sure your shotgun doesn't have any choke!

I have been to jobs where the police used those types of cartridges. One beast they shot in the head and then they had to let us finish it off with a pistol before we bled it. They wouldn’t use a rifle due to being in a residential area and risk of ricocheting into someone’s living room. Big hole it left mind. This was way back when everything went into the food chain with no vet’s certificate.

 

[Fellstoflats]

For the badger cull they supplied different cartridges for shotguns that were supposed to be safer for close range work so I was told. Any one know what they were and whether they would be suitable for livestock.

They're a type of frangible cartridge I believe. Think the guidance was they're ineffective if the range is >1m

 

[davidroberts30]

They're a type of frangible cartridge I believe. Think the guidance was they're ineffective if the range is >1m

At sub 1 meter pretty much any load coming out of a 12bore is going to sting a bit!!

 

[Hard Graft]

if you only want it for a couple a year get a shotgun as its far easier and the chance off a mistake is far far lower if you don’t do it all the time as with a stunner or pistol you have to be very. Accurate and that includes the angle as well

ps a shotgun will be cheaper

 

[box]

I use a Blitz-Kerner, it works well and the job gets done. I'd highly recommend you hold a "training session" for you and your staff and have the vet around the first time you need to use it so everyone knows the correct placement and angle, also the correct way to stick and/or pith.

Definitely use the red activators. My local supplier insisted the blue ones would be fine.....they're not. Not for cows anyway.

Bloody horrible job though, I absolutely hate it If licensing wasn't such a ball ache, I'd much rather use a real gun.

 

[Yonlass]

Why do you have so many casualties that you need to own a captive bolt gun?

Perhaps you need to look at the root cause rather than the solution?

I think that's a bit harsh. The number of times a cow does something stupid at night, or at weekend, where if you didn't have a captive bolt/shotgun you'd be looking at it for a day or two

Humane Slaughter – Raytrade UK

raytradeuk.co.uk

Ditto at lambing time

 

[box]

Down here we're not compliant unless we've got a captive bolt/gun on hand to humanely slaughter animals. I imagine you lot would have similar rules? Especially the dairy guys.

 

[sheepdogtrail]

https://www.accles-shelvoke.com/tools/cash-special/cash-special.

Made in the UK.

I use the orange pistol grip 25 cal one.

 

[Estate fencing.]

hi.....Sheepy type...I'm bit confused about captive bolts...are they OK for dispatching stock cos I read somewhere the animal still needs to be 'bled out'

reason I ask is I'd like one but not if the latter is true?

You have to pith them, not as bad as it sounds, for sheep i use a welding rod. I think every stock farm should have some way handy for putting stock down themselves.

 

[davidroberts30]

CASH® Special

www.accles-shelvoke.com

Made in the UK.

I use the orange pistol grip 25 cal one.

Fixed your link

 

[Scholsey]

For the badger cull they supplied different cartridges for shotguns that were supposed to be safer for close range work so I was told. Any one know what they were and whether they would be suitable for livestock.

No, terrible things, were filled with lead/steel dust. Had instances of the load jamming in the barrel as were so dirty and the paper casing made them susceptible to damp……so I’ve been told.

@newholland it would be far easier to train someone to cleanly and safely dispatch with a shotgun even in confined spaces than a bolt gun and pith.