What's the best caliber for bumblebees and flies?

[44minimum]

I notice that over at the frugal outdoorsman, Jr. likes to shoot bumblebees with the 44 MAG shot shell. When I was a youngster one of my neighbors had a field of sunflowers about head high just chock full of bumblebees and we used to have loads of fun picking them off with BB guns. Same thing with flies, toss out a small piece of ham onto the driveway and a few minutes later there will be flies all over it. Sat there about five or 10 feet away with a BB gun and just blast one after another after another. Lots of good practice, lots of misses and lots of fun and it's good for the environment. Has anyone noticed a lack of dragon flies in their area? When I was little we had lots of them around our pond, providing targets, this summer we were down there looking for some and they were not to be found. Global warming, perhaps?

[OBXPilgrim]

45 Auto Rim (45 ACP revolver), that is, if you're out to kill the little jokers. Anything else that goes bang if you're just having fun.

http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=30536

[The Double D]

http://www.fototime.com/5D44B2EB68B0D4F/standard.jpg

17 HM2 at 25 yards, head shot-Hornet.

Don't believe it, look real close and you will see the imprint of the body to the left of the hole

[Razor]

.44

Cap and ball that is..
Mebbe 10 gr 3f, full chamber of Grape nuts and a beeswax plug...
GREAT fun...[smilie=w:

Razor
:castmine:

[Kraschenbirn]

My .177 RWS Diana works good enough for me. With the Mendoza aperature rear and RWS globe front sights, bumblebees just go poof at 10M; flies are a little tougher, though. :roll:

Bill

[mwohlenhaus]

used to use 7 1/2 shot 20 ga. on grasshoppers. seemed a little overkill, but I never missed

[Slowpoke]

In S AZ we were blessed with large Black, RED, and Brown Ants, they can travel pretty fast when they want to, blew a many one to smithereens with the old air rifle over the years.

Plenty of dragon flies here in E .Va, several different varieties.

Have fun

[carpetman]

Dragon flies eat mosquito larvae and shouldn't be a target. In fact some say that purple martins eating dragon flies more than negates the benefit they provide eating mosquitoes??????? The question was what to use on bumblebees? .218 bee? Don't know if .218 bees are related to bumblebees---think they came later.

[jonk]

I'm pretty sure that for game that dangerous the 700 Nitro Express is the bare minimum.

45/110 for fans of tradition who can get a spine shot.

;)

[halfslow]

Gamo makes a .22 caliber airgun shotgun called the Viper.
It works on carpenter bees which look like bumblebees, out to about 10 yards.
The shots cost $8.00 per 25, but they are reloadable.

[HABCAN]

Here's something for our 'Gluelet' members, surely?

[oneokie]

I'm pretty sure that for game that dangerous the 700 Nitro Express is the bare minimum.

45/110 for fans of tradition who can get a spine shot.

;)


Bumblebees??? A 105mm Beehive projo would be more appropriate. [smilie=1:

[SharpsShooter]

I think it really depends on whether they are stationary or charging at the time of the shot. As always shot placement is critical to ensure a humane kill.

SS

[Old Ironsights]

.410...

Empty the shot & fill with dirt. Recrimp with your thumb. ;)

[Scrounger]

.410...

Empty the shot & fill with dirt. Recrimp with your thumb. ;)

Interesting thought! Should work in pistol cases too. I tried to think of something to substitute for dirt; sand came to mind but I don't think I want to run that down my bore. Same with salt. Cream of wheat ought to do it, rice kernals are too big. There are probably better choices...

[montana_charlie]

My vote is for the .17 caliber BB...but with a paper patch.
CM

[hyoder]

I'd be hesitant to use "Gluelet"'s - seems if you hit them you'd be stuck with 'em.

[Maximilian225]

carb cleaner and a lighter.
:twisted:

[DanWalker]

http://www.bugblaster.net
Bought one last summer. They're AWESOME!

[azrednek]

In S AZ we were blessed with large Black, RED, and Brown Ants, they can travel pretty fast when they want to, blew a many one to smithereens with the old air rifle over the years.

Plenty of dragon flies here in E .Va, several different varieties.

Have fun

When I was about 11 or 12 my younger brother and I used Mexican M-80's on red ant nests.

[Southern Son]

I remember when I was about 10 a mate and me would lay on our backs under an Indain Rubber tree. When the sun was over head you could see the shadow of flys walking on the top of the leaves up above us. We used his Russian air rifle until I got a Norica M80. Every now and then a slug would fall back down and wee could hear it hitting the leaves on the tree. We lived in Sydney. If you did it now there would probably be a major Police Operation put into play, with negotiators, police cordons, road blocks and a bunch of blokes in black with SMGs. I am so glad that I grew up when I did and not now.

[Mohillbilly]

I would think c.o.w. grits,or cornmeal would get the job done.Just don't shoot no nest of hornets,r if'n you do tell me first,I wanna be far far away......

[lunicy]

Barrett 50 bmg