Yeah, as noted in the other thread, I have had mine for a couple of years. They do a pretty good job, but it's a lot like having a shotgun with no bead, the sights are there but pretty much useless and the effective range is just a couple of feet. They work pretty good on flies, but grain moths (the bane of bird owners) usually take a couple of shots, and mosquitoes only hold still when they are mounted on skin so . . . at short range the salt hurts.
Re: Bug a Salt - new kind of shotgun
Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2014 2:46 pm
by MeMelYup
Guy tried to sell me one at the monthly local firearms show. He had a complete story laid out as to the benefits and everything. I think a 6mm airsoft is better. A person must practice all the safety and techniques of a regular firearm. They are quite accurate 10+ feet and you don't get stung while shooting yellow jackets. The juicy buggers splatter nicely. I've even shot down nests with one. Great fun on the porch with flies also.
Re: Bug a Salt - new kind of shotgun
Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2014 3:35 pm
by TomsTXCHL
I like it, but wonder about cleaning. Can't imagine that table salt doesn't absorb moisture and stick together such that the works get gunked-up after a while.
I guess diatomaceous earth, which btw kills bugs unfortunate enough just to WALK ON it, would likely be too fine and leak into the innards or some such.
Owners, what alt ammo have you tried!? How to clean the thing when the salt makes like a dessicant?
Re: Bug a Salt - new kind of shotgun
Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2014 4:35 pm
by jimlongley
I haven't had any problems with cleaning, nor have I had any clumping problems, even with the one that I keep loaded next to my chair.
I would characterize accuracy and effectiveness at ten feet as being totally non-existent. I have patterned mine against newspaper and find them to be effective out to about three feet.
Re: Bug a Salt - new kind of shotgun
Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2014 2:49 pm
by TomsTXCHL
jimlongley wrote:I haven't had any problems with cleaning, nor have I had any clumping problems, even with the one that I keep loaded next to my chair.
I would characterize accuracy and effectiveness at ten feet as being totally non-existent. I have patterned mine against newspaper and find them to be effective out to about three feet.
I wonder if you have large clumps of Daddy Long Legs spiders in Allen, and how the Bug-A-Salt might do from a foot or so again some of these balls we get around our house...?
Re: Bug a Salt - new kind of shotgun
Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2014 8:39 pm
by Right2Carry
Cabelas sells them for anyone who is interested.
Re: Bug a Salt - new kind of shotgun
Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2014 9:35 pm
by Rugrash
Ambushed a fly in the living room tonight with mine. First shot incapacitated him and the second it was lights out. My daughter loves it.
Re: Bug a Salt - new kind of shotgun
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2014 12:42 pm
by Napier
I find that it is a great aid for learning to shoot off-hand, like getoffame style. I shoot mine gangsta now all the time. But be very careful shooting around others. The ricochet off of a flat surface is wicked.
Re: Bug a Salt - new kind of shotgun
Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2014 1:03 am
by Dadtodabone
England's George V had a bespoke bug assaulter.
at 3:10 you'll see one of three 1/6 scale hammer guns made for him. Two were presented and the third kept at the shop as a loaner should one need repair.
[youtube][/youtube]
George was a keen sportsman and reportedly shot 2 dozen tigers over a 10 day period in Nepal. Another report has him downing 1000 pheasants(driven birds on a private estate) in 6 hours.
The guns were a gift to commemorate the silver jubilee of his reign and were something of a comfort as his health was in decline and he was unable to visit the shooting grounds. He was heard to complain about the price for the Kynoch shells, the equivalent of $5.00 each in 1935. That's $87.00 in 2014.
Re: Bug a Salt - new kind of shotgun
Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2014 12:10 pm
by MeMelYup
Very interesting vidio.
Re: Bug a Salt - new kind of shotgun
Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2014 12:39 pm
by cb1000rider
I got to play with one last weekend. It's good sport at the lake.
I found it to be effective within less than 12" on big flies... More distance than that and it just pushes them around.
Re: Bug a Salt - new kind of shotgun
Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2014 1:06 pm
by The Annoyed Man
I donated to the indiegogo campaign, and got two of them at a discounted price way back when.....probably a year ago or longer. Fun, but I rarely use mine now that the novelty has worn off. I gave the other one to my son. I doubt he even knows where he left it last.