How about sitting by the stock tank waiting for the doves and popping Dragon flies with an Anchutz model 54 and CB caps?

We have a problem with carpenter bees here at my local range. People are surprised when I tell 'em not all the holes in the roof supports are from guns. We'll sometimes be shooting, and notice fine wood dust trickling on us. My buddies and I have fun early, using .22 revolvers and shotshells - carpenter bee skeet! It's a challenge, as they can dodge pretty well. The bigger and slower horseflys are easy targets.
We don't bother the dragonflys, as they eat other bugs.

I wish you hadn't told me that Seadog. Now I can't shoot Dragon flies as I'll feel guilty. You're right of course. Thanks

Flies with a pellet rifle! Outside of course!
The best part; shooting over bait is legal.

[ 08-13-2002, 19:31: Message edited by: Bear Claw ]

I used to try that with a .410 single shot when I was bored when no doves were flying over. But I don't remember ever hitting one dragon fly. Of course I had a hard enough time hitting the doves.

Gentlemen,

We have a house on the beach, which sits on top of a small sand dune.

A few years back, I had a T/C contender in 44 magnum, and I had some rounds loaded with shot, and some loaded with cast bullets.

We had quite a lot of those dragonflies around, and I was busy shooting them. They were only a few feet away, so I was getting with every shot.

My younger brother came along, and asked if he could have a go.

I gladly gave him the pistol, but instead of giving him shot loads, I gave him normal bullets.

He fired a few times, and never hit any. I tried a few, and again, I was knocking them down without any hassle.

He said: "You are cheating! I don't know what you are up to, but I am sure you are up to your usual tricks!"

I had to tell him my secret, and then he was quite happy shooting dragonflies with that 44 magnum.

My favorite prey are wasp nests with a pellet rifle. It can get real dangerous fast!

So Pecos45,
What is the trophy score for a gold medal wasp

now if all of you big game fans want to have some fun, take your 22 cal pellet gun, load a wet q-tip end, and start shooting at the red wasps.
but beware, for the really dangerous crowd, keep a can of raid nearby for the charging jet fighters
also works good inside the barn for horseflys!
halfbreed

halfbreed,
Please explain the wet q-tip... do I load it into the chamber like a pellet or just tick it into the end of the barrel?

Greg

amosgreg, first try using generic q-tips, they are a little smaller. break them off just behind the cotton head, dunk in water, load them just like a pellet.
when they hit, it is like a big juicy paper wad.
SPLAT.
halfbreed

Thanks!
Got to try it!
Greg

I've been using Q-tips to clean my pellet guns since I was a wee lad. I usually use the whole Q-tip, the first end in soaked in cleaning oil followed by a pellet. My guns will diesel if I shoot the Q-tip w/o the weight of a pellet in there too. I've also tightly rammed in larger cleaning wads, like for a .357 and followed with a pellet. That actually works better.
But bugs n stuff get full power lead.

Most people know how weak those .22 CCI shotshells are right? For some reason I have great success with little bats. Hard to see at night and dartin around like super ball, but I get better than 50% of 'em.
And of course Tarantula Hawks with a 12ga.

Pecos45:
A real man gets a wasp nest with a stick!

Chevota,

I hope that you were kidding about your 50% kill rate on bats!

I just double checked with CA DFG as I was not 100% certain that bats are a protected species here in CA. THEY ARE!!!

As you probably already know, they are voracious insect eaters and thus are very beneficial. They are highly valued in many parts of the world. For example, in my small town city fathers spent $20,000. to relocate a small colony of bats that inhabited City Hall.

It is sad to see that they are persecuted by people who don't know what a service these little critters perform for us.

Don't misunderstand me, I'm not trying to be "holier than thou" (in my youth, Ive have done similiar dumb things ) but I hope you will reconsider this practice.

Herb - You are exactly right. Bats are our friends for sure and we make a major mistake to kill them. I like the little guys and think they are neat.

Chevota - I'll pass on the wasps with a stick. A few years ago I was washing windows outside and accidentally yanked a screen off where there was a wasp nest near. One of the little darlings flew UP MY NOSE .

Let me tell you something, you ain't been stung till you get a wasp up your nose! I did a double back flip with a 2 1/2 twist off the ladder and it's a wonder I didn't kill myself with that alone. Much less what the wasp was doing to me.

Frankly, I'd rather have a wasp up my ass than up my nose.

Why, yes, I am MORE CAREFUL when I do windows now. How did you guess?

Pecos, you crack me up!!! I visualized the pirouet off the ladder with a wasp up your nose, and I'm still laughing while I type this. Sounds like if it wasn't for bad luck you'd have no luck at all.