Vermin control has been a continuous problem, whether this is due to pests pilfering your crops or disturbing animals.
Knowing the appropriate way to proceed can be difficult. Both shotguns and rifles can be used to manage vermin. The two have their advantages and disadvantages, deciding between the two iis not always simple.
Shotgun Vs. Rifle
The benefits of a shotgun for pest control are that they are very powerful, and you do not need to have a precise aim. Which is favourable if you are shooting small, fast-moving targets. However, shotguns are only effective up to a range of 30-40 yards, so if the pests are beyond this distance you may need to reposition.
When it comes to a rifle, smaller calibre models have a range up to about 150 yards. But they lack the stopping power and ferocity of a shotgun. We advise that rifles are more suitable for invasive vermin.
.22 RF Vs. .17 HMR
When it comes to selecting the correct rifle for your requirements, the most popular choices are the .22 RF and .17 HMR. The .22 RF is well-known, and has been used for over a century. The .17 HMR, on the other hand, is a more modern rifle. Both having qualities ideal for pest control.
The .22 RF has a range of around 70-80 yards, and the 40-grain ammunition is not expensive. Many .22 RF rifles are also available in semi-automatic iterations.
The .17 HMR, a benefit of this rifle is that it uses larger ammunition. Resulting in an increased range of 100 – 150 yards and improved accuracy. A consequence of this, however, is that the ammunition is more expensive compared to the .22 RF.
Scopes
If you have decided to use a rifle to manage vermin, scopes are another thing you will need to consider.
There are numerous brands, styles and prices of scopes across the market. Which can make it difficult to choose which may be the most suitable for you. We advise that you use the scope designed for your chosen rifle. This will ensure that it will mount in the correct places and improve accuracy and calibration.