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[edwardware]

The carpenter bees are back. . . and today was opening day.


My recipe is:
-45 Colt brass, flash holes drilled out to 5/32
-whichever LPPs you have on hand
-4.2gr HS-6 powder (the 0.3cc Lee scoop is just right), any fast pistol powder will work, charges will vary
-a cardboard wad, tamped down on the powder
-a case full of white rice, struck level with the mouth
-a second cardboard wad over the rice, tamped down to get it into the case
-crimp over the wad, and add wax to help the wad stay in place

A 45 ACP case, oversize flared and inside-chamfered until sharp, makes a dandy punch to produce the cardboard wads.

If you don't drill the flash holes, you will re-discover that primers partially unseat against the recoil shield upon detonation and reseat during pressure rise; in this case there's no real pressure so they stay unseated, tight against the recoil shield, locking the gun up.

The report is roughly equivalent to a loud paintball gun, so it's hearing safe. This recipe will penetrate a paper poster at 4', but not at 8'; my wife can attest that it will not harm a rose bush from 6' away.

Edit: I guess I should point out: don't use the drilled brass for full-power loads. . . pressure could be higher with the gaping big flash hole.

 

[captain awesome]

that reminds me of my "bug a-Salt" gun my daughter gave me for christmas. pump action toy gun that shoots a charge of salt out the barrel. works on flies and other bugs about 8 inches away or less. pretty fun for a toy, and a lot more entertaining than a fly swatter.

 

[Walkalong]

-4.2gr HS-6 powder (the 0.3cc Lee scoop is just right), any fast pistol powder will work, charges will vary

HS-6 isn't fast, and while it is working for you, I would suggest you try something like WST, Clays, or Bullseye. They'll burn better at that low pressure.

 

[edwardware]

HS-6 isn't fast. . . I would suggest you try something like WST, Clays, or Bullseye.

You're right; at the time I had HS-6 and H110. I'll have to do another load workup with something faster.

 

[WestKentucky]

I just use airsoft guns for this. Less work, but not biodegradable.

 

[brewer12345]

Eh, leave the poor carpenter bees alone. Native pollinators are having a tough time of it these days.

 

[Walkalong]

They cause a lot of damage to buildings. I have some honey bees in a corner of a building on the property, and I leave them alone. Although they ate me up not long ago trying to finish a winter time is best cinder block wall next to them. The last row didn't get finished. o well, next winter.

The "footer". It lacks one block on the fifth row and the cap blocks.

 

[edwardware]

Eh, leave the poor carpenter bees alone.

I don't begrudge them my firewood, but I draw the line at my shed and deck.

 

[cfullgraf]

Yes, the carpenter bees are out in my area as well. I have a load that uses walnut shells (expended tumbling media) that I need to dig out again. I might look into the rice as well.

I got a 6" barrel for my Bond Arms derringer recently so it should make for a fun combo.

I have some carpenter bee traps set up and they are fairly effective as well.

I don't begrudge them my firewood, but I draw the line at my shed and deck.

As long as the carpenter bees leave my log home alone, I leave them alone. They can have free reign on the rest of the farm.

 

[RecoilRob]

I just use airsoft guns for this. Less work, but not biodegradable.

I too use airsoft to deal with the pesky buggers...and enjoy that chore a lot when it presents itself. Have an ICS MP-5SD hotted up with tightbore barrel that shoots .25's over 400fps (closer to 450 most of the time) and full auto bursts take them out of the air pretty spectacularly. While I believe in live and let live.. when they start boring into the front porch....we've got to draw the line. Same goes for the groundhogs....they have free reign over the fields and woods...but dig under my shed and it's curtains for you.

 

[gwpercle]

Kill all the Bees...we do not need pollinator's , everything will grow just fine without them.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Kill all the Bees...we do not need pollinator's , everything will grow just fine without them.

You are kidding, right?

 

[gwpercle]

You are kidding, right?

Yes , as Sheldon would say .... That's sarcasm !
I got honey bees and carpenter bees living in my back yard... with three types of citrus trees, a vegetable garden and blueberry bushes .....we all get along just fine ! I would never kill my bee buddies.
Gary

 

[Dudedog]

They are vicious,12 guage with #9 at about 1250 fps should do the trick.
Use longshot and it should be loud enough to kill any others around you miss.
Actually they are mellow bees, don't mind them in my wood pile but sure wouldn't want them making their 1/2" dia holes an anything important.

 

[Steve S.]

Non-gun related but solution related - one squirt of Gumout in any/ all holes or begining of holes did the trick for me when they started on my deck one year - they never returned.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I'm a big fan of Gum out, it works well on tent caterpillars to. It kills them instantly.