Author Topic: Which Handi would you use on a Hornets Nest?? (Read 3042 times)

petemi · « **on:** August 25, 2009, 08:46:41 AM »

I've got a hornets nest about the size of a basketball on my chimney outside. It's right next to my fire wood, and I've got to get it split long before deer season. I know they'll be gone with the first hard frost, but I can't wait that long. I've got spray for it that I'm going to use (well suited up with goggles etc.) tomorrow before dawn. We've got a cold front coming thru tonight and they should be all in and fairly dormant at that time. HOWEVER, Butt Cheeks here, thought it might be a blast to put a bullet or two through it first. Take a look at my signature line below and you'll see what Handis I have. The shotguns are out, might be collateral damage. I was thinking the .17HMR might do the most damage on a soft target. Of course, the .45-70 would get their full attention.

Any dangerous game hunters out there, give me your opinion. Yeah, I know, wait for dark and cold in the morning and spray them......no fun.

Pete

canon6 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 25, 2009, 08:58:05 AM »

pete, 45-70 hard cast ,mach I, from at least a mile away.

Doug

Doublebass73 · « **Reply #2 on:** August 25, 2009, 09:02:01 AM »

I vote 22-250

Sharps-Nut · « **Reply #3 on:** August 25, 2009, 09:02:31 AM »

The black powder muzzleloading guys used to load a large charge of bp with wad and no bullet and stick the barrel up to the nest. The blast would do a good job. But all jokes aside a small pan of gasoline tossed directly on the nest will kill everyone of them like instant. Best done at dark when all soldiers are home. If the gas is getting on something you dont want it on, then buy one of the commercial foaming sprays and do it at dark as well. Shooting it will be a waste unless you can scatter gun it.

Nova · « **Reply #4 on:** August 25, 2009, 09:07:23 AM »

Got a similar problem...my plan of action was going to be a flaming arrow from about 40 yards away. Unfortunately I've developed a pretty bad allergic reaction to any bee sting, so the common sense kicked in and I decided that I don't want to blow up like a balloon after getting swarmed. We actually have someone coming tonite who is going to take the whole nest to do some kind of testing with people who are allergic....I say more power to him...

hunt-m-up · « **Reply #5 on:** August 25, 2009, 09:07:33 AM »

Second the 22-250 with a cheap hp bullet that will go all to pieces

burntmuch · « **Reply #6 on:** August 25, 2009, 09:13:25 AM »

I like the black pwder thing. Then run

But Im allergic, last time I got stung I ended up in the Emergency room

petemi · « **Reply #7 on:** August 25, 2009, 09:17:21 AM »

Doug, I don't need a mile, if and when I pull the trigger, I'll have one foot in the door.

doublebass. I thought about the -250. but I thought it would pass right through it without much damage.

Sharps-nut, The Chimney is for the antique wood stove and is right on the house. Gasoline is out of the question. I've got the spray, was just looking for some fun out of it. I was just wondering how effective a bullet could be on 600 or so hornets. I doubt if anything would get most of them, but I can still spray in the morning. I do like the idea of a wadded 150 gr. load of Goex stuffed in their hole. I think I'd be wearing hornet innards

Pete

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #8 on:** August 25, 2009, 09:17:49 AM »

Do as you wish any of them should stir um up well enough . Take it from someone who has shot several DON"T unless you don't need to get near it for days . And can get away , no easy task . example i shot one 25 yards away . I was standing next to the truck , it was a cold afternoon and we had had a couple light frost . I shot and jumped in the truck suprised they came out ( i had also heard they leave at first frost ) anyway as the door shut they bounced off the glass . Better to wait until dark and plug the hole with a rag and pour gas on until it is soaked thru . if in a place you can light do so if not give it an hour or so then wash away with a hose .

skifastchad · « **Reply #9 on:** August 25, 2009, 09:21:39 AM »

your 20ga. 1.5oz of #8 at about 15 yards. That should put a piece of lead thru just about every hornet in the nest and reduce the hive to dust.

edit: oops I forgot to read the part that it is attached to a chimney. Maybe not a good idea. You don't want 100 holes in that.

myarmor · « **Reply #10 on:** August 25, 2009, 09:23:12 AM »

Quote from: skifastchad on August 25, 2009, 09:21:39 AM

your 20ga. 1.5oz of #8 at about 15 yards. That should put a piece of lead thru just about every hornet in the nest and reduce the hive to dust.

Diddo!
...then again where is the 22hornet when you need one

sorry I had to no one else did

-Aaron

petemi · « **Reply #11 on:** August 25, 2009, 09:25:57 AM »

Chad and Aaron, I thought about that and decided against it. Now, since I've got you two guy to come over and fix the siding, we can do it

Man, what a great idea Use a Hornet for a Hornet.

Pete

Blackhawker · « **Reply #12 on:** August 25, 2009, 09:31:02 AM »

I don't know what kind of an area you live in but that nest is like paper and a 22-250 round will go on for a mile or more when considering the angle you'll be shooting from. All that and you'll see minimal, if any, damage/destruction to the nest. In fact, all bullets should be ruled out for that matter..especially the 45-70. If any gun is to be used, I'd say maybe the .410...provided you have a brick chimney.
Maybe to be (bee) on the safe side, use a bow with a (I don't know what you call them) point used for hunting pheasants. That'll knock the whole dang thing down.

If you don't want any collateral damage from a shotgun, I sure don't recommend gas or any flames either. A little shot in the chimney is nothing compared to a burned down house.

wreckhog · « **Reply #13 on:** August 25, 2009, 09:36:21 AM »

Buy 600 rounds of 22lr bird shot and go 1 on 1.

petemi · « **Reply #14 on:** August 25, 2009, 09:39:15 AM »

Blackhawker, I can shoot five miles in that direction, nothing in the way. The angle would put it on the ground within 200 yards. Flu-Flu is the arrow?? And amen to the burned down house. Gasoling, chimneys, and stoves don't mix well.

Pete

myarmor · « **Reply #15 on:** August 25, 2009, 09:40:40 AM »

Quote from: petemi on August 25, 2009, 09:25:57 AM

Chad and Aaron, I thought about that and decided against it. Now, since I've got you two guy to come over and fix the siding, we can do it

Man, what a great idea Use a Hornet for a Hornet.

Pete

Irony of your sentence is both names are my first and second

weird....
Yeap, if siding is in the mix bad idea.
Well at least it looks like I found your next excuse for the next Handi in your future though

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #16 on:** August 25, 2009, 09:45:17 AM »

OK for fun i would get the Wasp spray or other flying bug spray. Lay down a fog between you and the nest and then take a few shots with the 17.
The spray will keep them from getting through to you while you put holes in thier house.
I like the 22 shot shell Idea.
Got a 22 revolver?

Blackhawker · « **Reply #17 on:** August 25, 2009, 09:46:07 AM »

Quote from: petemi on August 25, 2009, 09:39:15 AM

Blackhawker, I can shoot five miles in that direction, nothing in the way. The angle would put it on the ground within 200 yards. Flu-Flu is the arrow?? And amen to the burned down house. Gasoling, chimneys, and stoves don't mix well.

Pete

AHHHH, that's it!! FLU FLU's!! (Thanks!)

petemi · « **Reply #18 on:** August 25, 2009, 09:49:12 AM »

.22 shot would be fun....we could have half of us shooting and the other half reloading

I actually did that one time. We were wiring a new monopod billboard for lighting on I-75 in Florida. Mud dabber wasps had built nests at the top of the ladder. If we used spray, they'd fall on us while clinging to the ladder. We used about 200 rounds of .22 shot from the ground and wiped them out. It was sort of like trap shooting.

Pete

.375 Hawk · « **Reply #19 on:** August 25, 2009, 09:58:22 AM »

Pete,

Flip the Hornets Nest into a Trash Can with a lid and then take it out to your shooting range. I suggest 200 yds away. Tip the can over with a long rope then hit with every Handi you have.

Eddie

quickdtoo · « **Reply #20 on:** August 25, 2009, 10:24:01 AM »

Use the spray Pete, it's effective and the safest, not as much fun, but works well.

Tim

mitch132 · « **Reply #21 on:** August 25, 2009, 10:26:15 AM »

I would say a 12 gauge with rock salt or maybe a shell loaded with airsoft pellets or some other non lethal round. I have seen rubber slugs for sale here that would put a nice sized hole through it. Shouldn't cause much collateral damage to brick, but hell on paper or in this case, hornet's nests. I used to have bunches of little yellow rubber balls about the size of an air gun pellet for a little spring operated toy pistol when I was younger. I haven't tried any of this, but I bet it would work. Wear safety glasses as I bet they would bounce with authority off of a hard surface.

Ten Ring · « **Reply #22 on:** August 25, 2009, 10:33:54 AM »

If it's hanging, go at night and do not use a light. If you can take a large gearbage bag and encase the nest in it. Then insert spray nozzle through the bag and spray.
Jim

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #23 on:** August 25, 2009, 10:44:20 AM »

i don't know about your 20 ga but a 12 ga loaded with 1.25 oz of #8's didn't get them all .

Blackhawker · « **Reply #24 on:** August 25, 2009, 10:54:54 AM »

Well, you could always try this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvFxN2eQj6M&feature=related

Considering that one sting from one angry hornet could leave a pheromone on you that will trigger the rest of the nest to attack you, I'd say these guys were idiots. Unbelievably not stung, they were also very lucky.

Why not try the ol' "hit it with a stick" Pete? (kidding of course!)

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #25 on:** August 25, 2009, 10:56:36 AM »

Better have the eppi pen on hand !

Graybeard · « **Reply #26 on:** August 25, 2009, 11:00:22 AM »

Take it from someone with first hand knowledge on the subject. Shooting a hornet nest with any type firearm is JUST PLAIN STUPID. Don't do it, don't even think about it any longer. The ONLY gun option that is remotely viable is a 12 gauge loaded with as much #9 or #10 shot as you can safely cram in and then ONLY if the pattern size and nest size are a near perfect match. Even that is NOT gonna get them all and if you are close enough to shoot it with a shotgun you are close enough for them to see and attack. BAD PLAN.

I was at least smart enough to do it out in the woods from far enough away I was sure they'd not figure out where the gunfire came from. One shot they didn't. After multiple shots they did. Do NOT shoot a hornet nest.

Blackhawker · « **Reply #27 on:** August 25, 2009, 11:03:00 AM »

Now that's the best advice given yet!
Couldn't agree more Greybeard!

I had a football sized nest in my front yard. Since I live in one of these home complexes with a grounds crew, I called the association and told them to deal with it while I was away. A guy went out in one of those bee suits and sprayed it and I think he burned it too. Best part was, it was gone and I didn't have to worry about my family walking by it every day.

teddy12b · « **Reply #28 on:** August 25, 2009, 11:08:12 AM »

Sounds like another good idea, bad idea.

I don't think any of this sounds good. When I was younger I found a big nest in the winter time and shot it with an arrow and ran. Nothing came out and nothing happened so I picked up my arrow and figured I'd pushed my luck as far as I could and that I was quitting while I'm ahead.

If you go against the advice given here at least do us a favor and have someone video tape it. It could likely win you $10,000 on America's Funniest Home Videos.

Ten Ring · « **Reply #29 on:** August 25, 2009, 11:16:01 AM »

True story, A guy at our deer camp brought a hornet nest to his camp stating he wanted to varnish it and hang on his porch. He said he had been watching it all season and there were no hornet sign. This was in late Dec. and when he took this in in his camp and it warmed up all hell broke out.
Jim