ROSSI 62SA vs Brass & CCI Birdshot

[FourBee]

I wish this gun's mechanics would feed birdshot cartridges.   Its long barrel and quick pump action is deadly on Barn Rats, Sparrows and predators like this one when they become a nuisance to your poultry.  

When using Brass birdshot with a clean rifle, the 1st few shots work okay, but then they begin to hang up in the chamber after firing.   After research I find that the crimp on the Brass rounds make the casing extra long after firing.  This long case is pressed againts the wall of the barrel and the ejector simply cannot extract it unless the barrel is extra clean.

So, I changed to the CCI Brand bullets which has the see-thru plastic cap.   The 62SA will most often feed the 1st round and maybe 2 if lucky, then 'NADDA'.     No matter how much cleaning I do, this round refuses to feed from the tubular magazine.  I'm not sure just what all applies here, but all other ammo feeds well.  

I got pretty well frustrated the other afternoon when one of these large critters was coiled up on the front porch below a hummingbird feeder trying to catch one of those little darters.   I got the 1st shot off which blinded the snake, and then came the snake dance which seemed to have lasted an eternity.  Gotta find a better alternative.

[Lurker]

What kind of a snake is that sucker?

Bill

[Oldtimer]

The CCI capsules, being a soft, brittle plastic, could be hanging on a small burr or edge.  I have not shot the rose crimp shells in many years, but, as you noted, they actually become longer after firing, and I suspect that they are at the outer limits of the capability of that action to eject shells.  Since there will be a small variation in length, the longer ones then will hang up.  Another factor may be the contour of the extractor hook.  It may be too rounded to pull out the shell or it may be too shallow and riding up over the rim.  Have a gunsmith check it unless you don't mind having to order another extractor if you file the old one too much.  I once had the same sort of problem with a Mossberg 500 and reworking the extractor helped, but putting in a new one and a new spring finally cured the problem.

[FourBee]

What kind of a snake is that sucker?

Bill

This is a Rat Snake.  
Old Timers call'em Chicken Snakes because they like chicken eggs.   See the weird kink about 18" behind this one's head?   I believe he's got a couple of chicken eggs inside.   This sucker had been killing my chickens every few nights.   My son finally spotted him 14 feet up in the rafters all coiled up.   When I got there with the gun, he knew he'd been spotted and he was swaying his head side to side.   One shot of .22 birdshot and he uncoiled like a big slinky.  Hit the ground dead., sort of.

Hey Oldtimer:  I think you're right about the ejector.   A swipe or two with a small file may be all it needs.  I'm sure a stronger spring would help too.    Only one minor probem.   The Brass Birdshot has become so rare these days.

[S.S.]

Had one of those snakes eat one of our young chickens several years back.
He got stuck in the hole he had came in when he tried to leave. The chicken had the last laugh i guess.
I hate killing them though cause they eat all kinds of other pests. Some give you no choice though.

[Uncle Howie]

Gotta find a better alternative.

How about a nice revolver? That'd be my first choice. A long-barreled Single-Six or K-22 would give you plenty of sighting radius, if desired.

In a rifle, perhaps a bolt-action would work better. In the old days, many makers sold "garden guns," which were smooth-bore .22 rifles meant for shot cartridges. I think Savage was one of the last companies to make one.

Lots of the older bolt actions had two extractors, which might at least get your extraction issues solved. I would think a bolt action rifle would make it easier to monitor your progress as you're feeding the next cartridge into the chamber.