"put it out of its misery" gun....

smokelaw1

smokelaw1

INFI member
Joined
Jan 6, 2007
Messages
264
So, my smaller dog (28 pound Aussie Sheppard/Beagle mix) has taken a liking to bringing me small animals. Squirrels, rabits (oh, she loves getting rabbits) and leaving them by the back door of the house. Now, problem is, very often, these animals are not dead, just gravely injured. I'm trying to find the most humane possible way to dispatch them. Now, I could put a .45 or 12 gauge to use pretty easily, but I am on the edge of suburbia. The blast from either of those would probably get the cops to my house.
So, I am basically thinking either a little .22 revolver (not crazy about this idea due to how close I would be firing from, and potential danger from hitting a rock, etc, in the ground below the animal.
The other thought is a little .410 shell, probably in 6 or 9 shot, out of a Snakecharmer shotgun (One just came for sale in my area, lightly used, near perfect condition, for under a hundred bucks). More definite one shot kill, but, having never been a .410 guy, I don't know what the sound would be like from a .410 vs a hot .22 coming form a small pistol.

THoughts? Other suggestions? Oh, and before you say, use a shovel, or a plastic bag, or a knife, I have been given the 100% guilt and hassle-free go-ahead to get another gun for this purpose...so I will. Even if I do wind up using a shovel.

Thanks All!
 
An axe or machete would probably be just as quick as a firearm and no more painful.
 
.410's are still pretty loud, your best bet might be the .22 revolver loaded with .22 short rounds.
 
Personally, I would use the pass from the wife to buy another gun, say, a nice 1911 or a revolver, and end up using the shovel. You can always say "I changed my mind, I don't want the neighbors to hear" to your wife. No sense using a gun if you don't have to, no sense attracting undue attention to yourself. A hammer to the skull works pretty well on rabbits- it'll kills 'em just as quickly and humanely as a gun does. And there's less mess to deal with.
 
I like the way you think. Get a new gun of my choice, but "choose" another tool for the job. Nice.
Thanks!
 
Use a leash on the dog or keep it in a fenced yard except when you take it for a walk.
 
A .410 isn't much quieter than a 12 guage, and a 22 has a very distinct report, loud with a high pitch. High volume .22 firing can do as much ear damage as large caliber rifles. Something that most people don't realize. Most experts recommend ear protection even for .22s. Fireing either would probably put the police on your door if firing anything larger would. I'd go for one of the new high powered air rifles. 1000fps at close range is sufficient to get the job done on small game like rabbits and squirrels. Even these can't be regarded as stealthy. If you are on the edge of suburbia, and not in suburbia, then you would probably be okay with an air gun. Of course I had a police officer come to my door when I was a kid because the neighbors had called them about me and a friend shooting our air guns in our back yard, and we weren't within the city limits. I'd probably use the shovel myself, even though I have a safe full of guns.
 
Yup, .22 shorties are the ticket. They are not too noisy, and will get the job done.
 
how about a ruger 10/22 with integral barrel silencer? they're expensive, and no doubt overkill, but it sure would be some fun!
 
fortney said:
Use a leash on the dog or keep it in a fenced yard except when you take it for a walk.
Click to expand...

This IS in her fenced yard. When I am walking with her, she is under voice command for the msot part, and will nto chase things if I don't want her too. Usually.
This is when she is let out to do her business in HER yard. Thanks for the pointers on gun choice though. Very helpful.
 
smokelaw1 said:
I like the way you think. Get a new gun of my choice, but "choose" another tool for the job. Nice.
Thanks!
Click to expand...

I've been married for a while. Never let a free pass go by without taking full advantage of it, I always say. I'm trying to finesse my way into a new M-4 right now. I wish I were in your situation! My dog never gets to kill anything, we live in the city.
 
I used to work at a gun shop and we carried a .22 round that would only work in revolvers that I kid you not was absolutely silent.It had some kind of charge in it that was absolutely silent. We took it outside, within city limits, and fired off a couple of rounds when I first started so i could see it and the only reason that i knew that it had gone off was because of the target. I honestly can't remember what it was called. You couldn't use it in semi autos or rifles because it really had no blowback. It would be perfect for what you are wanting. Our biggest customers for that ammo- local PD at night would sit on the riverfront and plink pigeons. I will see if I can find out what it was. It was a little creepy though. if I had some and had children around it would stay locked up safe for sure. Bullets with no bang are a little unsettling personally.
 
I use a .410 with 3" 6 shot loads for squirrel hunting. I've always figured that if I ever needed to shoot a Coyote or Fox with it, it would probably take multiple shots to put one down, and it would definetely be cruel (for the animal). A .410 slug or buckshot would definetely be better for this size animal but then, you might as well use something you already have.

The snake charmer you saw, does it handle .45LC and .410 or is it .410 only. I'm in CT too. Email me the info on it, I may be interested.

A .22 to the head would probably be a option than a .410 shotshell. As an FYI, a .22 LR fired outdoors (from a rifle) is way quieter than a .410. Not sure how rural you are, but a .410 will probably bring the cops too. For the record, I've fired both without ear protection.
 
looks like there are several types of "powderless" rounds for .22. Here is an article I found while looking for it.
LINK
 
.22 CB caps or .22 shotshells would work just fine.

Get a gun with the free pass though. They don't come along that often. I'd say an M-6 scout in .22lr/.410. That way you'd have your bases covered and still opt for the shovel if necessary. Mac
 
Seriously, though. I think the the powderless rounds y'all are thinking of are Aguila Colibri. Through a rifle, they sound like a mouse pissing on a cottonball.
 
Well, I am absolutely going to look into some of those powderless 22s.
As for the snakecharmer, I've already put down a deposit on that one! FOr the price, I'm not even going to admit having purchased it! It is .410 only, but will handle magnums. It weighs just over 3 pounds.
 
The powderless 22s are called Colibris and Super Colibris and are made by a mexican company named Aguila, and are next to worthless, very inacurate and less powerful than a C02 pellet pistol. Which BTW would be an excellant choice, a crosman 2240, 1322 or 1377 as well as some more expensive air pistols would be perfect as well as some inexpensive plinking and target practice.

If it was me I would buy something I wanted and use an axe handle for a coup de grace device. Chris
 
smokelaw1 said:
I like the way you think. Get a new gun of my choice, but "choose" another tool for the job. Nice.
Thanks!
Click to expand...

But what are you going to tell your wife when she asks you is the new gun working good? Lie to her? And then loose her trust? Women are funny about stuff like that. Check your local gun laws and if it is cool to use a .22 cal. buy the coolest one you can find and use it for what you told her you was going to use it for. Then you can tell your wife later that you had your eye on the coolest gun you ever seen and was tempted to buy it knowing you wouldn't use it to dispatch those little critters but did not want to lie or deceive her. Then she will most likely jump in your arms and tell you how proud she is of you and that she loves you so much and if you really like this other gun go ahead and get it. :D And my choice of guns would be a Ruger 10/22. Good luck.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top