Anti-wasp revolver shotshell idea

[Buck13]

Just sitting out on my deck and there are a lot of wasps roaming around. Not really a problem, although I think one nipped (not stung) me on the hand a few days ago when I let it land there.

Fantasizing about shooting them at 2 to 5 feet with super-light shotshells from a revolver. Of course, I can't get away with this in the city, but I might try it when camping, and some day I hope to retire where I can pull this stunt at home (say, 30 or so miles south of Missoula).

So, I'm thinking just a primed .38 case, one or two .40 caliber discs cut from corrugated cardboard as a base wad, fill case with "shot," and top with another crimped-in cardboard disc (maybe sealed with a drop of paraffin if they tend to fall out). For shot, my first thought was little candy beads used for cookie decoration (about 1 mm diameter), second thought was that millet would be cheaper and less sticky.

Anyone tried something like this? Will a small pistol primer alone (standard or magnum) give enough poop? I'm guessing the total weight of the load with cardboard and millet would be about 10 grains, but I just had hip surgery and don't feel having a more accurate number right now is worth a trip to the basement!

 

[wbrco]

Corn meal or walnut tumbling media maybe?

 

[jaguarxk120]

I have read that Fredrick Robinson, 2nd Marquess of Ripon would load "dust"
shells so he could shoot dragon fly's in his gardens.

 

[lauderdale]

rice.

 

[Buck13]

rice.

That occurred to me, but millet is smaller and rounder. Better pattern if it doesn't crumble on firing! Whether it will hit hard enough to kill a wasp, I have no idea...

 

[bfalcon00]

Don't know about making a shot shell like that, but this is a lot of fun.

http://www.amazon.com/BUG-A-SALT-2-...ds=salt gun&qid=1459728426&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1

 

[ReloaderFred]

Take a gallon plastic milk jug and cut windows in each of the four sides about 2" high and 3" wide. Make the bottom of the windows about 2.5" from the bottom of the jug. Put water in the bottom of the jug to just below the "windows, and add about a capful of dish soap to the water and stir it up. Then tie a small piece of bacon or some other aromatic meat to a string and suspend it over the water about an inch above it. Attach the string by putting it through the top of the jug and then screw the cap back on. Place the baited jug out where the wasps can easily find it and sit back and watch the fun.

If you have lots of wasps, you may have to scoop the dead ones off the top of the water daily. I timed how long it took them to die when they landed on the bacon and fell into the water, and the average time was about 8 seconds.

Not as much fun as shooting them, but much more productive.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[MikeInOr]

I had a woodpecker tearing apart my cedar roof. .22 shot out of a revolver dispatched the woodpecker with 1 shot. I think .38 shot is way over kill for a wasp. The organic shot choices suggested above sound much more reasonable.

 

[il.bill]

I do not know, but using a drill bit to enlarge the primer hole may be helpful in such a homemade 'shot' shell. Otherwise the primers may well back out when fired, binding up the cylinder rotation. I know that is required for primer-only powered wax homemade bullets.

 

[jmorris]

I don't really like being 2 ft away from red wasps and they will be able to miss getting hit by a piece of shot at 5 ft, with the load your thinking about. Pattern them on a paper plate or just a sheet of paper and you will see what I am talking about.

 

[Buck13]

I do not know, but using a drill bit to enlarge the primer hole may be helpful in such a homemade 'shot' shell. Otherwise the primers may well back out when fired, binding up the cylinder rotation. I know that is required for primer-only powered wax homemade bullets.

Thanks for the tip! Maybe I'll start by making up just 3-5 rounds with each brand of primer I have (CCI, Winchester and S&B, maybe a few Federal in the dusty corner of the supply cubby) and see if any are better or worse in this regard. If it's a problem and the shot patterns look promising, I have enough .38 brass to not mind sacrificing a few dozen case to drilling.

 

[Buck13]

Still wondering if a standard primer alone is the right amount of propellant for this game?

 

[jmorris]

I have shot the Speer plactic bullets with cases quite a bit, all they use are primers but its been a few decades. They would go through old blue jeans stuffed inside a cardboard box for a "bullet trap". Certainly would kill a bug but that is a lot less mass than lead shot. All of the shot loads I have ever made contain powder.

IMO at 2-5 feet you would be a lot better off with a good nozzle on the end of a water hose and you could control your pattern...

 

[Buck13]

I was planning to use "shot" I found in my kitchen, not lead.

 

[splattergun]

salt

 

[MikeInOr]

This is purpose made and city safe!
http://bugasalt.com/pages/how-gun-works

http://www.amazon.com/BUG-A-SALT-2-0-FLY-GUN-MANUFACTURER/dp/B00STSZ77G

A coworker got one for his father for Christmas... the only problem he said he had with it is they ran out of flies before they ran out of beer.

 

[joel6180]

I have been using a small charge of bullseye, a toilet paper wad, uncooked grits to near the top, then sealing with wax. 38 S&W. Been using it to kill carpenter bees. I thought about salt, but worried about the corrosive properties.

 

[Buck13]

I thought about salt, but worried about the corrosive properties.

No kidding.

The grits/cornmeal idea sounds promising. Or I can call it "polenta" and charge myself a premium!

 

[joel6180]

I'm having some trouble with some primers backing out because of the light load. The CCI mag primers seem to stay in better than the Tula small pistol primers. When I have a good shot, the wax destroys the bee. At 6 feet they just seem to get "winged", and I have to stomp them with my foot.

 

[TTv2]

pepper.

u can call it the sneeze gun and give it a motto like "You can turn your nose up, but if you do, it'll make you sneeze!"

but in all honesty, you'd be better off using an aerosol spray and a camp lighter.

 

[il.bill]

I'm having some trouble with some primers backing out because of the light load. The CCI mag primers seem to stay in better than the Tula small pistol primers. When I have a good shot, the wax destroys the bee. At 6 feet they just seem to get "winged", and I have to stomp them with my foot.

As I said ...

http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=10228750&postcount=9

 

[greyling22]

My uncle and I found a nest just outside the reloading room. Loaded up some 38's with a 357mag load and f powder and no bullet, then tamped a bit of Kleenex in to hold the powder in. Blew the nest to pieces from about 5 feet away.

 

[Buck13]

As I said ...

http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=10228750&postcount=9

I think he was trying to shed light on my question of which brand of primer might back out least.

 

[243winxb]

Buy a BB gun/rifle. Put out some bait. I used to shoot yellow jackets under the apple tree. They like the rotting apples on the ground.

 

[Buck13]

I have a couple of air pistols and a springer rifle. My reading of the law is that firing them in my yard would be illegal or at least questionable. Not a question I want to have to debate with the local police.

Of course, the only real crime is getting caught! The target pistol, an FAS6004, is quiet enough that if I was in the best-concealed parts of the yard, it probably would not attract any notice at all. Unfortunately, the hidden firing positions are the least attractive spots for lounging, but I might set out some bacon and try it once.