I was wondering if those with self-loading and shotgun experience have thoughts on this ?
Watching these dang cicadas flying about I wondered if you could load a shotgun shell with about a tablespoon of rice, sand or salt crystals. Or even a teaspoon full in a 9mm or .45 brass? What could the safe range be ? You don’t want to shred leaves off the trees 20 ft beyond the bug or remove paint off your barn. Of course all targeted bugs should be down range.
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The problem with light loads is getting a bullet stuck in the barrel and then shooting another round and blowing the barrel off. You wouldn’t have to worry about that if you are using rice. I wouldn’t think you would have a problem.
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Actually if your projectiles are soft they will compress and become a plug. Salt and rice are also prone to attract moisture that again creates a whole lot of issues of its own. Sand? Hummm, maybe, can’t say it ever occurred to me. But sand is abrasive so unless you put it in a shot cup it’ll be like running sandpaper down your shinny shotgun bore so, not on any of my shotguns.
Maybe load up some shells with air-soft ammo? Those little plastic balls would have zero negative effects that I can think off.
I think an old .22 bolt action rifle from the local Pawn Store rack loaded with .22 shot shell should be enough entertainment although the shells are not cheap.
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22 with snake/pest shot. I believe Federal has a lower cost load to fit your needs.
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This is my new favorite thread! 
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This worked with devistating effectiveness back in '43…
The germans got so good they could shoot Mosquitos out of the sky.
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Even if you could come up with a viable load the end effect would likely be equivalent to trying to use a bucket to empty the Pacific Ocean.
The whole biological point of these huge swarms is to completely overwhelm their predators through shear massive numbers. It is a very effective strategy that even millions of people with shotguns likely couldn’t put much of a dent into. When it comes to nature it is often best to go with the flow instead of waisting time and effort trying to stand against it.
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And there, Ladies and Gentlemen, is what should be the rational response to natural climate change.
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Mostly agree, though with the emphasis that going with the flow means having to adapt to nature as it changes. When nature changes, our behaviors have to change as well or we will find that what once kept us in the flow now has us trying to work against nature’s new direction.
Not to mention that humans have a long history of standing against nature instead of working with it. Especially in the more agricultural and industrialized societies. A lot of the current problems we are facing with agriculture and forest management, etc. can be traced to our attempts to impose our will against nature instead of finding ways to cooperate with it.
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The eternal dichotomy of short term gains -vs- long term damage.
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I just catch them and use them for fishing bait
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George245 might want to clarify but I take the post as being about recreation rather than pest control as it’s quite evident you can’t get em all.
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Some people just have to suck the fun out of life. 
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I would suggest…
Comparison
The advantage to the 2.0 is having a smaller focus area, and if accurately aimed, can eliminate even the worst of pesky insects. The BUG-A-SALT Lawn & Garden Edition has a wider spread, allowing much larger area coverage. The 2.0 allows for a much more concentrated shot with less salt, thereby maximizing both damage and efficiency. The 2.0 is also much more accurate with less spread and salt. This is to help benefit from the much less amount of salt used in each shot. In short, the BUG-A-SALT 2.0 is more beneficial in indoor use while the BUG-A-SALT Lawn & Garden Edition is for outdoor use.
Although there are some users that would recommend getting the BUG-A-SALT Lawn & Garden Edition since it is more powerful, the 2.0 version still has its advantages over the more powerful model on indoor usage. The 2.0 model creates less mess and is more affordable than the Lawn & Garden Edition. There is no need to get the BUG-A-SALT Lawn & Garden Edition if you are leaving in an apartment or condominium. If you are still unsure on which one to buy, you should try out the BUG-A-SALT 2.0 first since it is the more affordable option. Besides, you will always need a bug killer inside your home. If the time will come that you will already need a more powerful device, then that is the time you will go for the BUG-A-SALT Lawn & Garden Edition.
In Conclusion
Overall, it comes down to your personal preference of whether or not you want more salt to clean up. In conclusion, if you don’t mind the extra salt, buy the BUG-A-SALT Lawn & Garden Edition. If you’d rather have less mess, just go with the 2.0. Both are the best in their respective areas and offer a much-needed boost to the fly-killing department.
Both products come at affordable prices so it should not be a worry if you end up buying the less suitable one. You can pick the better one depending on your situation.
As safe advice, start with the 2.0 model instead. Many users are already satisfied with the efficiency of this model but there are just some who need the stronger model. Most pest control experts use the BUG-A-SALT Lawn & Garden Edition for their professional services. Only that device is powerful enough to destroy the breeding areas of unwanted insects in your property.
Both of these guns are extremely well balanced and offer a multitude of extremes both fitted for their indicated fields. The Lawn & Garden Edition adds quite the punch if one is to go wasp hunting (although this is not recommended). The 2.0 adds a powerful and more concentrated blast to smaller flies. They’re very much specialized for dealing with pests in their designated areas.
I have reviewed both the BUG-A-SALT 2.0 and BUG-A-SALT Lawn & Garden Edition here on my website.
These products were mentioned in my Best Fly Killers Guide.
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#8 shot from a Remy Tac 14 or Mossy Shockwave. That should work.
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I’m hoping they show up around here. I eat a lot of crickets and agave worms when I’m in Mexico because I can’t get them here. If these suckers taste like big crickets I’m setting up huge nets and I’ll be set for years 
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Yes, I was thinking about outdoor safer holster draw or modified skeet or clay puck practice not war of the worlds. Think Annie Oakley shooting glass balls. I’m also becoming fascinated with the crazy amounts of calibers, bullet design, barrel length, MOA at a distance, etc. that I’m reading about. As a decades long vegetarian I might not attack a critter that’s done nothing to me, yet.
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Roasted or fried cicadas 
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Don’t forget to savor the reproductive organ near the rectum.
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