Cartridges for squirrels

[Reloader708]

An increasing amount of my work time is being redirected towards squirrel control these days now its becoming apparent just how damaging they are to forestry based company.
Trapping, .22 and shotgun are the tools. Often when I approach a trap I can knock a couple out of the same tree with the shotgun.
Anyway in the face of lead not being an option ive been told not to buy anymore cartridges, ive also been told steel is 100% no go (we sell timber commercially)
Anyway i got a price for a couple of slabs of bismuth....£1200
Lots of spluttering in the office.
I guess the available options for squirrel management have diminished.

 

[Bo Diddley]

a couple of slabs of bismuth....£1200

^^ That should buy you a few more traps... get a big trapline going

 

[GWP]

why can you not use lead it is still legal plenty of cheap clay rounds out there

 

[Reloader708]

why can you not use lead it is still legal plenty of cheap clay rounds out there

Part of our fsc certification, we're being proactive in the fazing out of all that nasty lead.
Interestingly the fsc guidelines and the law don't align; example: .22 hornet is exempt from the coming lead ban and an ideal calibre to shoot hares in young trees. Fsc states all lead regardless of calibre is not to be used.
So itll be a 7mm rem mag loaded with copper to keep on top of the rabbits , ill have to throw my .22 in the sea.
Ive brought this up a few times in management meetings mostly to blank faces. We have keepers who might use a .223 with lead for foxing but will come unstuck when said rifle on certified forestry ground.
Its just a big mess.

 

[Smellydog]

Pathetic **** show Britain.

 

[enfieldspares]

An increasing amount of my work time is being redirected towards squirrel control these days now its becoming apparent just how damaging they are to forestry based company.
Trapping, .22 and shotgun are the tools. Often when I approach a trap I can knock a couple out of the same tree with the shotgun.
Anyway in the face of lead not being an option ive been told not to buy anymore cartridges, ive also been told steel is 100% no go (we sell timber commercially)
Anyway i got a price for a couple of slabs of bismuth....£1200
Lots of spluttering in the office.
I guess the available options for squirrel management have diminished.

There was, I have a slab of it, once upon a time tin shot. Hull Cartridge loaded it as "Gameflight".

 

[Smallholder]

A cheaper option would be bioammo, lead free and about £600 / 1000. I've not found lead free .22LR ammo to be accurate but some people seem to find it ok after a thorough barrel clean, expensive and more noisy though.

I also have the added problem of the possibility of pine martins in a year or two so even trapping might not be an option for me for grey squirrel control.

I might try talking to them sternly.

 

[Smellydog]

There was, I have a slab of it, once upon a time tin shot. Hull Cartridge loaded it as "Gameflight".

I remember them, they were certainly better than steel.

 

[Klenchblaize]

Air rifle pellets are cheap and non-toxic to trees unless you miss:

K

 

[enfieldspares]

Air rifle pellets are cheap and non-toxic to trees unless you miss:
View attachment 479775
K

Wow! That's a good session. Thank you for sharing it.