Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Wildlife Management weapon of choice for pond critter removal

Around here, it's anything that you don't know the name of, and it's being a PITA. Usually a mammal, but it could be a reptile. Not usually a bird.

There's been cases of it being an insect too, but then you'e better have that .410 pistol with ya!

Regarding "birdshot" in pistol cases or .410 shells. The usual shot size in brass cased ammo is #12 shot, which is VERY fine. I doubt that it'd kill a sparrow at 15 feet. You can get all sizes of shot in a .410 shell, even buckshot. The larger the pellet size, the further away it will keep it's energy. Sort of like standing 20' away from someone and them throwing a handful of sand at you vs. a handful of 1/2" dia gravel.

Oh, and the pattern from the birdshot when shot from a pistol will disperse quicker (larger pattern) than from a shotgun because of the rifling in the barrel. It gets the wad/shot rotating and it spreads out due to that rotation.

I have a spreader choke tube for my shotgun for VERY close clay targets when shooting sporting clays. I wouldn't try to use it past 10 Yds. The choke tube is cylinder bore and rifled.........