I didn't have any sort of rifle. I thought about it, but I kept imagining Wile E Coyote scenarios involving blowing a big hole in the roof, hitting a wire, starting a fire, then trying to explain what happened to the cops & fire department guys. Fixing the roof and painting chewy bits with hot oil worked, and didn't involve any sirens.

I DID catch one inside the house once, but that involved an empty 50 lb shortening can and me going berserker with the lid. Got him though, and drove him to a wildlife preserve over 2 bridges and 20 miles away.

These days, I just get occasional mice.