I guess it is just the ethical hunter in me, I detest letting any animal crawl off and die a slow death. I wish I thought I could get away with using a 22 LR my neighbors are the rules are for thee not for me types and would likely call the authorities fast. Hunting Rats on your own property with a pellet pistol or rifle is legal here if the rifle doesn't make more than 7.5 joules of energy. I was hoping to find a pellet that would scramble a Rats insides, meat damage isn't an issue Rats are tough, a neck shot didn't do the job, a few body shots either, solid hits but no immediate dying going on.