Shotshells in a 22 semi auto pistol?

nickelanddime · May 16, 2011, 07:33 PM

I have a colt woodsman 22 and I was wondering if I can safely (for me and the gun) use .22 shotshells in it. This may sound ridiculous, but my house is being attacked by big wood boring bees, and they're resistant to sprays and rakes and so forth. Yah. Huntin bees. That's right.

While I'm on here, I'd like to give props to federal's automatch ammo. I had constant jamming problems with my old colt and tried many makes of .22lr. I got the automatch and now, 1500 rounds later, its not jammed once.

Opinated · May 16, 2011, 07:41 PM

Never tried it myself. I do not know how it could damage your pistol. Probably the action would not operate automatically, but that is not a concern in this instance. If you try it, please let us know all the results. I use my firearms for pest control frequently. Hopefully the moderators will not come down on me too heavily for telling you more about the boring bees. The ones that zoom around threateningly are the males- looking for action. They cannot sting. Females can sting, but do not waste time threatening. They work. They reliably return to the hole just about Sunset. Quick shots will be necessary.

cornbush · May 16, 2011, 08:20 PM

You can shoot 'em just fine, but you will probably have to cycle the action manually for each shot. Most guns wont function properly with the shotshells, but if you manually rack the slide you're in business.

highvel · May 16, 2011, 08:32 PM

None of my .22 pistols will cycle the shot shells reliably, but the shoot and will take care of the killer bee's real close.
I personally use my RWS pellet rifle on the borers.

dajowi · May 17, 2011, 09:28 AM

I would suggest if you want a "bee" pistol which will shoot the .22 shot shells without the feeding issue - get a revolver. "Get ready to "RUN!"

lcpiper · May 17, 2011, 09:44 AM

Would a tennis racket do a number on them if they arn't too grouped together like a swarm?

The strings on a racket like that will cut most insects to peices.

I used to use a badmitten racket on paper wasps as a tag team with a buddy and a BB gun. Wasp lands on barn rafters, buddy takes a shot with the BB gun, a hit is great, a miss and the wasp drops about 3 feet straight down before really moving out. It's too easy, just don't miss.

Andrewsmith1 · May 17, 2011, 09:49 AM

I killed hundreds of those things with a cheap tennis racket. I got the racket for $5 at a garage sale just for that purpose. It worked great and was a lot cheaper than buying a bunch of shot shells.

NJgunowner · May 17, 2011, 09:50 AM

Hmmm, reminds of when my cousin shot a hornets nest with a .410.

lcpiper · May 17, 2011, 09:57 AM

Yes, not so wise. But a 12GA is fine for paper wasps in trees if you can get the muzzle within about 6 feet. The nest is pretty much disintegrated. Doesn't mean you won't have to run though

jmortimer · May 17, 2011, 11:07 AM

"Would a tennis racket do a number on them if they arn't too grouped together like a swarm?"
I keep two old tennis "racquets" around for yellow jackets and wasps but you better be good if you are dealing with a swarm. The tennis racket works well on individual bugs or a few bugs as they can't make it through without at least getting clipped and then I give them the boot if necessary.

aarondhgraham · May 17, 2011, 11:37 AM

But my Pop sits out on his back porch and shoots wasps,,,
He has an old pellet pistol in which he pours salt into the barrel.

At 10 feet he rarely ever misses.

I laughed out loud when he told me what he was doing,,,
But he pops the wasps out of the air like a hunter after ducks.

He said he read it somewhere on the web.

Aarond

Rifleman1776 · May 17, 2011, 11:43 AM

Yer asking for trouble. Use Raid.

Misssissippi Dave · May 17, 2011, 11:57 AM

I hit all the holes they start to make with Wasp and Hornet spray. I use a badmitton racket on them then stomp them to be sure they are dead. Here they are called carpenter bees. They boar into mostly untreated wood. Painted wood they don't like. They will go after stained wood without any problems.

The shot shell probably will have to be slowly cycled by hand if you use the ones with the blue plastic caps. The crimped ones probably will be better. I prefer to use either in a revolver.

Old Grump · May 17, 2011, 11:59 AM

Wasp spray after sunset when it has cooled down and they are in the nest. Otherwise you are just whacking the workers but the queen is turning out more of them.

About 40 years ago I did the bug spray and match trick at work because the nest was over my shop door but I had the extinguisher handy and I needed it. Wood building and rafters with cedar shakes and a paper nest that burnt real good. In retrospect I should have just used the extinguisher, it was CO2 and after spraying they are pretty easy to knock the nest down and squash the nest.

It was exciting for a minute but I do not recommend the fire and bug spray treatment. Boss almost had a heart attack.

stoney64 · May 17, 2011, 12:04 PM

shootin' bugs with firearms......awesome. Using shot shells won't hurt but won't cycle either, gotta rack each shot manually (probably pretty hairy if you're getting dive-bombed by some angry bees)

I tried once because....actually I don't remember why but they left the gun pretty dirty.

A 9 shot D/S revolver would work well. Hmmmm, that sounds like my next purchase and a hiking trip to try it, just kidding. What kind of permit do you need for flying bugs? How do you attach the tags?

Sulaco2 · May 17, 2011, 01:27 PM

Seems to me some airguns/rifles now have a reloadable shotshell that is just like a .22 shotshell without the noise and neighbor veto you might get. Cheeper than dirt I think carries one or two that you can buy with the airgun shotshell. Might be a better solution than a firearm for insects....

Opinated · May 17, 2011, 05:37 PM

Carpenter bees do not have the traditional queen. Each female- who is also a worker- has offspring. Each female has her own bore hole in some wood.

nickelanddime · May 17, 2011, 08:18 PM

Thanks...I'm gonna try it. Tennis racket wont work, they are too high up, around the 2nd floor eaves.
aarondhgraham, that salt in a pellet gun is a great idea, and I've got a pellet pistol. If that works it would be a lot cheaper.
stoney64, Hah! tags...I'll have to ask the game commission. Maybe I'll even get one mounted.

oneounceload · May 17, 2011, 09:05 PM

Quote:

You can shoot 'em just fine, but you will probably have to cycle the action manually for each shot. Most guns wont function properly with the shotshells, but if you manually rack the slide you're in business.

That's the way my MKII has to be operated

If it is bad, you really might want to call your pest control guy - they have stuff not available to the public

publius · May 17, 2011, 09:22 PM

as oneounce said, It'll work and won't harm your gun, you will have to cycle it manually though. It's fun shooting the little suckers with rat shot. Never tried it with a pistol though.

bedbugbilly · May 17, 2011, 09:30 PM

I think I'd give "Billy the Exterminator" a call . . . . some jobs are just meant to be done by professionals.

kozak6 · May 17, 2011, 11:08 PM

In recent history, Marlin made a .22 magnum shotgun. That might be some fun for you, if you can find one.

There's also other .22 lr shotguns out there, but they might be hard to find.

Quote:

Seems to me some airguns/rifles now have a reloadable shotshell that is just like a .22 shotshell without the noise and neighbor veto you might get. Cheeper than dirt I think carries one or two that you can buy with the airgun shotshell. Might be a better solution than a firearm for insects....

The Gamo Viper Express. I don't know if it has enough pop to do what you want, but it's been discontinued so maybe it could be found cheaply.

Coach Z · May 18, 2011, 12:33 AM

Not sure I really have anything to add to this one but I am sitting here with a goofy smile pondering what shooting bees with a .22 shot shell would look like.

youtube

littlmak · May 18, 2011, 12:45 AM

If they are that far out of reach you may find the shot shell ineffective with a rifled barrel. Not a whole lot of shot in them shells.

m_liebst · May 18, 2011, 01:53 PM

NJGUNNER-

Hmmm, reminds of when my cousin shot a hornets nest with a .410.
__________________
"As for the "God would choose Glock" crap, I think if god decided to put down the lightning bolts and pick up a handgun, it would probably be a stainless Dan Wesson valor 1911. And since he's god, he'd get a new one with 10mm... cause he's god and if god wants a 10mm he gets one, even if they aren't making them in 10mm!."

VERY Funney

May 16, 2011, 07:33 PM	#1
nickelanddime Junior Member Join Date: August 31, 2010 Posts: 8	Shotshells in a 22 semi auto pistol? I have a colt woodsman 22 and I was wondering if I can safely (for me and the gun) use .22 shotshells in it. This may sound ridiculous, but my house is being attacked by big wood boring bees, and they're resistant to sprays and rakes and so forth. Yah. Huntin bees. That's right. While I'm on here, I'd like to give props to federal's automatch ammo. I had constant jamming problems with my old colt and tried many makes of .22lr. I got the automatch and now, 1500 rounds later, its not jammed once.

May 16, 2011, 08:20 PM	#3
cornbush Senior Member Join Date: September 29, 2008 Location: The retarded place below Idaho Posts: 1,356	You can shoot 'em just fine, but you will probably have to cycle the action manually for each shot. Most guns wont function properly with the shotshells, but if you manually rack the slide you're in business. __________________ The best shot I ever made was an accident

May 16, 2011, 08:32 PM	#4
highvel Senior Member Join Date: January 21, 2010 Location: Powhatan VA Posts: 633	None of my .22 pistols will cycle the shot shells reliably, but the shoot and will take care of the killer bee's real close. I personally use my RWS pellet rifle on the borers. __________________ Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.--Mark Twain "I have opinions of my own 'strong opinions' but I don't always agree with them."--George Bush

May 17, 2011, 09:28 AM	#5
dajowi Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2005 Posts: 788	I would suggest if you want a "bee" pistol which will shoot the .22 shot shells without the feeding issue - get a revolver. "Get ready to *"RUN!"* Last edited by dajowi; May 17, 2011 at 09:34 AM.

May 17, 2011, 09:50 AM	#8
NJgunowner Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2009 Location: NJ Posts: 969	Hmmm, reminds of when my cousin shot a hornets nest with a .410. __________________ Being a man I had to buy a Colt. But being a super awesome manly man it couldn't be any Colt, it had to be a 10mm Colt Delta Elite. I now feel ready for the zombie invasion 9mm, .40, .45, Indian chief, doesn't really matter, cause 10mm kicks all of their butts! "

May 16, 2011, 07:41 PM	#2
Opinated Senior Member Join Date: August 12, 2006 Posts: 251	Never tried it myself. I do not know how it could damage your pistol. Probably the action would not operate automatically, but that is not a concern in this instance. If you try it, please let us know all the results. I use my firearms for pest control frequently. Hopefully the moderators will not come down on me too heavily for telling you more about the boring bees. The ones that zoom around threateningly are the males- looking for action. They cannot sting. Females can sting, but do not waste time threatening. They work. They reliably return to the hole just about Sunset. Quick shots will be necessary.

May 17, 2011, 09:44 AM	#6
lcpiper Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2011 Posts: 1,056	Would a tennis racket do a number on them if they arn't too grouped together like a swarm? The strings on a racket like that will cut most insects to peices. I used to use a badmitten racket on paper wasps as a tag team with a buddy and a BB gun. Wasp lands on barn rafters, buddy takes a shot with the BB gun, a hit is great, a miss and the wasp drops about 3 feet straight down before really moving out. It's too easy, just don't miss.

May 17, 2011, 09:49 AM	#7
Andrewsmith1 Member Join Date: January 23, 2011 Posts: 26	I killed hundreds of those things with a cheap tennis racket. I got the racket for $5 at a garage sale just for that purpose. It worked great and was a lot cheaper than buying a bunch of shot shells.

May 17, 2011, 09:57 AM	#9
lcpiper Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2011 Posts: 1,056	Yes, not so wise. But a 12GA is fine for paper wasps in trees if you can get the muzzle within about 6 feet. The nest is pretty much disintegrated. Doesn't mean you won't have to run though

May 17, 2011, 11:07 AM	#10
jmortimer Junior member Join Date: January 24, 2010 Location: South West Riverside County California Posts: 2,765	"Would a tennis racket do a number on them if they arn't too grouped together like a swarm?" I keep two old tennis "racquets" around for yellow jackets and wasps but you better be good if you are dealing with a swarm. The tennis racket works well on individual bugs or a few bugs as they can't make it through without at least getting clipped and then I give them the boot if necessary.

May 17, 2011, 11:37 AM	#11
aarondhgraham Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2009 Location: Stillwater, OKlahoma Posts: 6,358	You are gonna laugh,,, But my Pop sits out on his back porch and shoots wasps,,, He has an old pellet pistol in which he pours salt into the barrel. At 10 feet he rarely ever misses. I laughed out loud when he told me what he was doing,,, But he pops the wasps out of the air like a hunter after ducks. He said he read it somewhere on the web. Aarond __________________ Caje: The coward dies a thousand times, the brave only once. Kirby: That's about all it takes, ain't it? Combat: "A Silent Cry" Aarond is good,,, Aarond is wise,,, Always trust Aarond! (most of the time)

May 17, 2011, 11:43 AM	#12
Rifleman1776 Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 2,841	Yer asking for trouble. Use Raid.

May 17, 2011, 11:57 AM	#13
Misssissippi Dave Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2009 Posts: 1,102	I hit all the holes they start to make with Wasp and Hornet spray. I use a badmitton racket on them then stomp them to be sure they are dead. Here they are called carpenter bees. They boar into mostly untreated wood. Painted wood they don't like. They will go after stained wood without any problems. The shot shell probably will have to be slowly cycled by hand if you use the ones with the blue plastic caps. The crimped ones probably will be better. I prefer to use either in a revolver.

May 17, 2011, 11:59 AM	#14
Old Grump Senior Member Join Date: April 9, 2009 Location: Blue River Wisconsin, in a little hut in the woods Posts: 3,127	Wasp spray after sunset when it has cooled down and they are in the nest. Otherwise you are just whacking the workers but the queen is turning out more of them. About 40 years ago I did the bug spray and match trick at work because the nest was over my shop door but I had the extinguisher handy and I needed it. Wood building and rafters with cedar shakes and a paper nest that burnt real good. In retrospect I should have just used the extinguisher, it was CO2 and after spraying they are pretty easy to knock the nest down and squash the nest. It was exciting for a minute but I do not recommend the fire and bug spray treatment. Boss almost had a heart attack. __________________ Good intentions will always be pleaded for any assumption of power. The Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intentions. There are men in all ages who mean to govern will, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters. --Daniel Webster--

May 17, 2011, 12:04 PM	#15
stoney64 Member Join Date: August 14, 2010 Posts: 94	shootin' bugs with firearms......awesome. Using shot shells won't hurt but won't cycle either, gotta rack each shot manually (probably pretty hairy if you're getting dive-bombed by some angry bees) I tried once because....actually I don't remember why but they left the gun pretty dirty. A 9 shot D/S revolver would work well. Hmmmm, that sounds like my next purchase and a hiking trip to try it, just kidding. What kind of permit do you need for flying bugs? How do you attach the tags?

May 17, 2011, 01:27 PM	#16
Sulaco2 Senior Member Join Date: June 5, 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 1,239	Air gun shotshells Seems to me some airguns/rifles now have a reloadable shotshell that is just like a .22 shotshell without the noise and neighbor veto you might get. Cheeper than dirt I think carries one or two that you can buy with the airgun shotshell. Might be a better solution than a firearm for insects....

May 17, 2011, 05:37 PM	#17
Opinated Senior Member Join Date: August 12, 2006 Posts: 251	Carpenter bees do not have the traditional queen. Each female- who is also a worker- has offspring. Each female has her own bore hole in some wood.

May 17, 2011, 08:18 PM	#18
nickelanddime Junior Member Join Date: August 31, 2010 Posts: 8	Thanks...I'm gonna try it. Tennis racket wont work, they are too high up, around the 2nd floor eaves. aarondhgraham, that salt in a pellet gun is a great idea, and I've got a pellet pistol. If that works it would be a lot cheaper. stoney64, Hah! tags...I'll have to ask the game commission. Maybe I'll even get one mounted.

May 17, 2011, 09:22 PM	#20
publius Senior Member Join Date: January 25, 2005 Location: Mississippi/Texas Posts: 2,349	as oneounce said, It'll work and won't harm your gun, you will have to cycle it manually though. It's fun shooting the little suckers with rat shot. Never tried it with a pistol though. __________________ "Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress, but I repeat myself." Mark Twain

May 17, 2011, 09:30 PM	#21
bedbugbilly Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2009 Posts: 1,320	I think I'd give "Billy the Exterminator" a call . . . . some jobs are just meant to be done by professionals. __________________ If a pair of '51 Navies were good enough for Billy Hickok, then a single Navy on my right hip is good enough for me . . . besides . . . I'm probably only half as good as he was anyways. Hiram's Rangers Badge #63

May 18, 2011, 12:33 AM	#23
Coach Z Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2011 Location: CT / RI Posts: 447	Good luck Not sure I really have anything to add to this one but I am sitting here with a goofy smile pondering what shooting bees with a .22 shot shell would look like. youtube __________________ Love my guns

May 18, 2011, 12:45 AM	#24
littlmak Senior Member Join Date: December 25, 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 308	If they are that far out of reach you may find the shot shell ineffective with a rifled barrel. Not a whole lot of shot in them shells. __________________ I'm looking for a gun for a fella that can't shoot. (John Wayne, Eldorado)

May 18, 2011, 01:53 PM	#25
m_liebst Senior Member Join Date: February 2, 2011 Location: San Francisco Posts: 274	Haaaaa!!! NJGUNNER- Hmmm, reminds of when my cousin shot a hornets nest with a .410. __________________ "As for the "God would choose Glock" crap, I think if god decided to put down the lightning bolts and pick up a handgun, it would probably be a stainless Dan Wesson valor 1911. And since he's god, he'd get a new one with 10mm... cause he's god and if god wants a 10mm he gets one, even if they aren't making them in 10mm!." VERY Funney