Best rimfire for small people?

[Mastrogiacomo]

I'm only about 5' 2" and looking for a good rimfire. To be blunt, there's a cat in my yard that is threatening the baby woodchucks we have under our shed. I'm looking for something cheap but still very good. My preference is the Remington. Any suggestions?

Laura

 

[Jim Watson]

I don't know of a low price Remington .22 in their current lineup. Ruger 10/22 in the basic style with carbine butt (and barrel band) is about the smallest and most reasonably priced decent quality .22 on the market.

Other factors to consider:
Feral cats are a major threat to wildlife.
Woodchucks are a major crop pest in farming areas.
Firing a gun in about any city limit is illegal and probably so in any residential area even outside the city limits.
I know people who would kill you for shooting their dog for attacking livestock, much less varmints. I don't know about cat owners, if, indeed this is not a totally wild feral cat.

 

[Nick1911]

I'm partial to the Ruger 10\22, the stock's of those aren’t too terribly large. Might be something to try handling in a gun shop sometime. As far as price, I’m pretty sure that the baseline one is pretty cheap.

Nick

 

[Mastrogiacomo]

You know, if I had to guess, I'd say someone owns this cat but as it's obviously let outside, it's anyone's guess who the family is. And, maybe you're right about firing it in my backyard. I just don't know. I have neighbors on both sides. I've thought about a b.b. gun but I really don't want the animal to suffer. I just want to keep it out of the yard. BTW, I understand about the woodchucks but this is a really adorable little family and we're not a farming community.

 

[Mastrogiacomo]

Just checking -- all the ruger 10/22s allow for scopes....correct? I'm assuming for the .22, it shouldn't be that expensive. What's a good scope for this gun?

 

[pauli]

what is your prefered action? some nice lever and pump action carbines out there, for pretty darn cheap.

also, talk to your local pd before shooting the cat...

 

[Mastrogiacomo]

I've looked at some level actions. What are some good choices if I go that route? I'd like to get something that I can install a scope on. Yes, I wouldn't shoot this animal until I know it's legal.

 

[WVleo]

anti-cat mixture

Hi, Antifreeze mixed in tuna fish ! I know it's cruel, but not after picking up there crap, cleaning up the garden they tore up, cleaning up the bird remains left on the porch as a present for my indoor cats ,over and over and over . Responsible owners don't let there animals tear up the neighborhood, A$$holes do ! Sorry but what can i say..............WVleo

 

[BryanP]

Hi, Antifreeze mixed in tuna fish !

Poison is far too indiscriminate, not to mention downright cruel. You'll get a lot more than just the one you're after. I wouldn't wish death by liver failure on someone I hated - it's a horribly painful death.

A low-powered BB gun will not damage the cat unless you are extremely unlucky and hit him in the eye. It will sting but that's it and the pain will act as a reminder to him to stay away. Give it a try.

Alternately you could put out a box trap. No need to kill or maim when it's not necessary.

 

[RGO]

CZ-452 Scout is excellent if you want a bolt action. They are available for well under $200.

 

[TallPine]

Youth model single shot, maybe ....?

But I really think you're going overboard about the cat. That's what cats do, is eat vermin. That's why we have several.

 

[Mastrogiacomo]

Thanks for the input. I agree poison isn't the way to go. 1) too risky that another animal would eat/drink it by mistake. 2) too damn cruel. I don't want anything to suffer. Frankly to be really honest, I don't even want to really hurt the cats because I know they belong to someone and they're beautiful animals. I object to them targeting the woodchucks because they will not eat them -- it's just a prize. I may look into a low powered BB gun or I might just opt for spraying them with the hose when I find them. At the very least, I'll likely get the Ruger 10/22 because I've been looking for a long gun I can play with at the range. Thanks again.

 

[BryanP]

Depending on the laws where you are you could also throw a pack of firecrackers in the general vicinity of the cat in question. It would scare him off. Do it enough times and he'll get the message.

 

[FRIENDLY]

Pest cats

Simple answer if you have one of those super powered water rifles fill it with weak solution of Ammonia cleaner and water and let fly - quite effective and good target practice- otherwise get one of those Henry single shot youth rifles.

 

[stevelyn]

Marlin Model 60 stoked with Aguilla Super Colibris. Super quiet especially when shot from indoor where what little noise it makes is captured. Slip one between the ribs let em croak elsewhere.

I'll second what WVleo states about RESPONSIBLE pet owners.

 

[scubasteve]

Since others are mentioning non-lethal methods, I will too. A buddy of mine has successfully used a bullwhip. Don't even have to make contact, the noise is enough. He said he got one and after about 2 weeks, all the cats in the neighborhood (there were several he said) knew to stay out of his yard.


Other than that, the ammonia water should work (worked on dogs for me) and capturing it and taking it to the pound is what I would do most likely.

 

[Master Blaster]

Just like you adore the wood chuck family some little girl or boy may adore the cat as their beloved pet who sleeps in their room every night.

A very large super soaker or the garden hose with plain water will deter the cat after a good soaking or two.

IMHO cats are not meant too be confined to the indoors only, and they do actually control some harmful pests like mice rats and moles.

 

[Mastrogiacomo]

I'm very aware that the cats belong to someone and I wouldn't go out of my way to hurt them, which is why I'm not looking to kill. However, as I've had three cats before and now two new cats -- all have been indoor pets. IMHO and that of our Vets who've cared for all our pets -- cats DO NOT BELONG OUTSIDE. They get killed by other animals, run over by cars, and are at risk for diseases they would not face if left indoors. We don't need them to kill the chipmunks, woodchucks and birds and since they do so for fun and not for food -- and thereby upset the balance of nature. If the owners of these animals really loved them -- they'd spare yet another cat in our area from being hit by a car. I believe the last excuse the owner used was "Oh she knew to stay away from the street..." I felt like saying, she talks to you, does she b*&%? Stupid people shouldn't own pets -- the animals end up dead -- like the last cat that got nailed by a SUV...

That said, thank you for the recommendation of the high powered water pistol. It sounds more like what I'm looking for, much appreciated....

 

[larryw]

And I'll bet that evil SUV went out of its way to hit the cat (and probably backed up and make sure the job was done?)

Strongly recommend against a 22RF, as mentioned already, that's a firearm and discharging one in Boston may bring in SWAT. However, an inexpensive pump pellet gun isn't a firearm and may be equally effective (as the crows who used to gather in my backyard will attest).

Echoing Friendly's comments on ammonia squirt gun. It gets to the territorial nature of the cat and makes it think there's something a whole lot bigger and meaner around and vacates the area (watch the wind direction and wear eye protection, trust me there ). Jars filled with ammonia water around the perimiter also work well. Start with a single hole in the top and add more holes in until the desired effect is achieved.

 

[jrhead75]

A pump up bb gun works, a smack on the butt with a bb after 2 or 3 pumps would likely sting and get the message across without penetrating. Also a good high powered water spray. Orange extract also repels cats, as do a number of commercial products available in any pet store.

I'll keep my opinion of lowlife pet poisoners to myself.

 

[pauli]

it dawned on me today that one could simply call animal control... granted, this involves inviting the gubmint onto your property, but it should get the message across to the owner, if there is one.

 

[Cosmoline]

Yeah, poison's a no-no. You're on the hook no matter who or what ends up eating it--your neighbor's cat or your neighbor's KID.

 

[WVleo]

Poison a no-no

Hi, Tell that to the 12 y/o girl and her parents that just contracted rabies in Jefferson County ,Wv from a feral cat . About 13 miles from here !Same as the ones in my neigborhood ! The way the bait is placed insures children don't get into it ! pet cats around here are kept inside because of rabies and cars .I'll keep my opinion of fools to myself also ! .........WVleo

 

[JohnBT]

Anybody who'd keep a cat indoors its whole life ought to just go ahead and get a rug instead and put a collar on it.

Fools indeed.

John

 

[Dionysusigma]

Gosh... another thread title I misinterpreted.

Note to self: My interpretation /= writer's intent (if I have to say to myself "***?!?" more than once).

I was thinking that somebody wanted to know how to keep small people at bay, rather than a rimfire that fits small people's statures.