Armed Polite Society
Main Forums => The Roundtable => Topic started by: Ben on October 18, 2021, 12:59:36 PM
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Any of you guys have pellet guns? I'm wanting to get one to stop a gopher invasion in the backyard*. I would use my .22, but the direction is too iffy for potential ricochets.
I haven't had one since I was a kid and don't know what to look for in modern air guns. I want something better than my old Crossman 760, but I'm seeing some of these dang things go for as much as $600! For this under 25 yards plinking from the porch rocking chair, I was thinking no more than $100. Is that possible for something that will kill gopher sized varmints? I think I've got an old .22 scope sitting around to use for my old eyes, though I don't know mounting options on modern air rifles. I see some of them come with scope included. Maybe that's easier?
*Obviously I'm using traps as my main plan of attack. This is just something fun to keep next to me if I'm hanging out on the porch and happen to see one pushing dirt up.
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I'll be following this topic too. From what I've heard, cheap pellet guns were just a mess - all over the place accuracy wise. I'm not sure how true that is.
When I was a kid, we settled on super colibri 22 rounds for that purpose.
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I saw this one at Sportsmans Warehouse:
https://www.sportsmans.com/shooting-gear-gun-supplies/air-guns-blowguns/air-guns/crosman-benjamin-prowler-22-caliber-black-air-rifle/p/1693797
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I've been thinking about one as well. I'm interested to see what you figure out.
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I just went over and checked the pellet gun I use for pigeon control at the shop. It's a Gamo Big Cat 1200. https://www.sportsmansguide.com/product/index/gamo-big-cat-1200-air-rifle-break-barrel-177-caliber-4x32mm-scope-1-round-refurbished?a=2099038
It works well enough on pigeon, even the big dock fed ones we get here. I can make 25-30 yd shots with it, but you'll need to learn holds for that far. (or zero there). Mine will drop 2 in or so in 25 yds. It also rarely gives a clean one shot kill, even though I have enough power for to go through a some of the birds. I think, unless you hit the brain, a DRT shot is asking a lot for a .177 pellet.
I found while on pigeon duty that it was vitally important to get the expensive, pointed "hunting" pellets. The regular flat nosed ones won't penetrate feathers. (dunno about gopher fur.) If your gophers are bigger than a big pigeon, or medium seagull, I don't think an airgun is what you are looking for.
It looks like Gamo renamed it in the decade or so I've had it. This seems to be the current version: https://www.gamousa.com/product/varmint-177-cablier-break-barrel-air-rifle/
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Here is my question of the day and then I will quit.
Why a pellet gun? You still have to worry about ricochets don't you?
When I did collared dove control at a friend's wheat farm in WA I would use a bolt action 22 and either shorts or CCI Quiet from about 35yds away to pop their little heads off. The CCI Quiet are only moving around 700fps, slower than most pellet guns.
I used a Marlin bolt with a Cabelas rimfire scope on it. It was one of the most fun and useful guns I have. When doing gopher control for a friend near Calgary or in MT and WA I would use a 17HMR, Although fast with only a 17gr bullet moving as fast as it does I think the potential for ricochet may be lessened by the bullet fragmenting if it hits something. That is just a guess as I can't recall ever getting a ricochet wit the 17HMR.
bob
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Buy a cheap pellet gun and you'll probably be looking for something better in a year or so.
I have an RWS M48 .177 pellet gun that's going on 30 years old now. Works well, breaks 1100 fps with light pellets, and gives me dime sized groups at 40 yards with RWS "Superdome" pellets. Enough power to kill rabbits and armadillos, so its overkill for gophers. It's a side lever gun with a fixed barrel rather than a "break barrel" gun so that helps accuracy. However, its more expensive than what you're looking for - and that's without the 'scope.
Depending on where you live and local laws, .22 Colibri or Super Colibri ammo (if you can find it) might be worth trying out of a .22 rifle.
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Single shot .410
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Here is my question of the day and then I will quit.
Why a pellet gun? You still have to worry about ricochets don't you?
Yeah but, and I may be way off, not nearly what you have to worry about vs a .22, or no? I have a neighbor's house directly in the line of fire 1/4 mile away. I know a .22 can make that distance, but didn't think even a 1000fps pellet would be an issue at that distance. Obviously there could be close range ricochets, but if I break a window on my house, that's all on me. =)
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I have a Beeman R-9 in .20 cal. With a Hawke 4 power airgun scope. Very accurate, and powerful- even after I bent the barrel and straightened it on the press. At 35 yards, it will easily hit a tin can and punch through both sides.
Note- a barrel break spring piston airgun is cocked by pulling down on the barrel- if it slips from your hand while doing so, it will snap back and bend the barrel and likely crack the stock at the wrist. I ended up wrapping the muzzle with skateboard tape.
There is a tendency to regard airguns as a toy, but some of them are very fine indeed, and sometimes they get used a lot more than firearms. A good one is it's own reward.
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Buy a cheap pellet gun and you'll probably be looking for something better in a year or so.
I have an RWS M48 .177 pellet gun that's going on 30 years old now.
Those are nice. I think that's the same one a friend has and I have handled it (I know it's an RWS, unsure of model). Real firearm quality. But a quick gazoogle indicates ~$450, which is way out of my price range for my uses.
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Yeah but, and I may be way off, not nearly what you have to worry about vs a .22, or no? I have a neighbor's house directly in the line of fire 1/4 mile away. I know a .22 can make that distance, but didn't think even a 1000fps pellet would be an issue at that distance. Obviously there could be close range ricochets, but if I break a window on my house, that's all on me. =)
I know pellets are very soft (or I think so) so that may help keep the ricochets down. But then again what do I know? It sounds like you need a shooting tower so you can take your shots into the ground to minimize the risk of ricochet. I have seen people with them when they are out predator hunting but mainly to get better visibility. An elevated shooting position would help you spot the little bastiges and then you could use whatever gun you wanted it seems.
bob
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Hatsan blitz
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Any of you guys have pellet guns? I'm wanting to get one to stop a gopher invasion in the backyard*. I would use my .22, but the direction is too iffy for potential ricochets.
I haven't had one since I was a kid and don't know what to look for in modern air guns. I want something better than my old Crossman 760, but I'm seeing some of these dang things go for as much as $600! For this under 25 yards plinking from the porch rocking chair, I was thinking no more than $100. Is that possible for something that will kill gopher sized varmints? I think I've got an old .22 scope sitting around to use for my old eyes, though I don't know mounting options on modern air rifles. I see some of them come with scope included. Maybe that's easier?
*Obviously I'm using traps as my main plan of attack. This is just something fun to keep next to me if I'm hanging out on the porch and happen to see one pushing dirt up.
$600? Oh, my man, it's possible to spend way more on an air rifle.
For cheap, maybe Gamo. Or maybe tart up a Crosman CO2 pistol (https://www.crosman.com/product/crosman-2240-co2-bolt-action-air-pistol-22-caliber). "Da Man" donesn't care one whit if you put a shoulder stock on one of them.
if you were close by, I'd let you use my RWS 34. I'm unlikely to get much use out of it. Or the Daisy Avanti I picked up for cheap at a gun show.
--edit to add--
Just looked up the RWS 34 aka Diana 34 (https://www.airgundepot.com/diana-model-34-ems-wood-air-rifle.html) on airgundepot. Amazing how high that is now.
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Well, as I research more websites, all I can say is that it has been very eye opening regarding cost. I really had no idea on the prices.
https://www.airgundepot.com/
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You might find a .410 shotgun but hood luck finding a box of birdshot for it.
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I picked up one of these back in the late Spring to assist with lagomorph control in the garden. I zeroed it at 35 yards and it did well enough.
https://gamousa.com/product/wildcat-whisper-22-caliber-break-barrel-air-rifle/
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Here is my question of the day and then I will quit.
Why a pellet gun? You still have to worry about ricochets don't you?
When I did collared dove control at a friend's wheat farm in WA I would use a bolt action 22 and either shorts or CCI Quiet from about 35yds away to pop their little heads off. The CCI Quiet are only moving around 700fps, slower than most pellet guns.
I used a Marlin bolt with a Cabelas rimfire scope on it. It was one of the most fun and useful guns I have. When doing gopher control for a friend near Calgary or in MT and WA I would use a 17HMR, Although fast with only a 17gr bullet moving as fast as it does I think the potential for ricochet may be lessened by the bullet fragmenting if it hits something. That is just a guess as I can't recall ever getting a ricochet wit the 17HMR.
bob
IMO, a lot of people live in neighborhoods where a 22 rifle would be frowned on while an air rifle would not get that reaction no matter how powerful it was.
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Pellet gun? Piker.
Go big or go home.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cv9yKxIEYI
(ETA: very disappointed no one recommended detcord)
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IMO, a lot of people live in neighborhoods where a 22 rifle would be frowned on while an air rifle would not get that reaction no matter how powerful it was.
In suburbia absolutely. But Ben is removed from that particular malady. As long as the axe throwing hipsters don't take his land to grow hops he should be OK.
I shoot pigeons in the back yard from inside the house with a Red Ryder BB rifle, it probably makes as much noise as my .22 with CCI Quiet ammo. I would use the .22 but the wife just wants them gone, not dead. =|
bob
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I have this, although when I bought it, it came with a wood stock: https://www.crosman.com/product/benjamin-392s-22
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A pellet gun is not a humane kill. I gave up on super colibris as contact range dispatch too. If a gun will stabilize them the 60gr aguila 22 hits like a hammer, is quiet and slow. Any shotgun with light shot would be a preference if I was worried about stuff leaving the yard. My groundhog gun was a 22 pistol, 9mm pistol or a dog. Yeah Steve, a dog. I mostly killed groundhogs to keep my dog from hurting himself. He killed them instantly, broke their necks but he tore himself up pretty good diving under my truck to get one.
The 60gr 22,usually needs a fast twist barrel but I found that marlin microgroove does good with it. Or modern problems require modern solutions there can’t be a ricochet if there isn’t a bullet. 220 swift of a 40gr 223.
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$600? Oh, my man, it's possible to spend way more on an air rifle.
For cheap, maybe Gamo. Or maybe tart up a Crosman CO2 pistol (https://www.crosman.com/product/crosman-2240-co2-bolt-action-air-pistol-22-caliber). "Da Man" donesn't care one whit if you put a shoulder stock on one of them.
if you were close by, I'd let you use my RWS 34. I'm unlikely to get much use out of it. Or the Daisy Avanti I picked up for cheap at a gun show.
--edit to add--
Just looked up the RWS 34 aka Diana 34 (https://www.airgundepot.com/diana-model-34-ems-wood-air-rifle.html) on airgundepot. Amazing how high that is now.
:O I think I paid $189 for my RWS 34, but that was probably 15 years ago. It will easily kill rabbits and gophers, but it's usually not a fast kill like the same gun should be with .20 or .22 pellets. Pellet selection is key to hunting with .177's, the wrong ones tend to punch straight through and not do enough damage.
Even tho' it's an air gun, it's pretty loud. You won't need hearing protection, but the neighbors are going to hear it. OTOH, they won't recognize the sound.
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A pellet gun is not a humane kill. I gave up on super colibris as contact range dispatch too. If a gun will stabilize them the 60gr aguila 22 hits like a hammer, is quiet and slow. Any shotgun with light shot would be a preference if I was worried about stuff leaving the yard. My groundhog gun was a 22 pistol, 9mm pistol or a dog. Yeah Steve, a dog. I mostly killed groundhogs to keep my dog from hurting himself. He killed them instantly, broke their necks but he tore himself up pretty good diving under my truck to get one.
The 60gr 22,usually needs a fast twist barrel but I found that marlin microgroove does good with it. Or modern problems require modern solutions there can’t be a ricochet if there isn’t a bullet. 220 swift of a 40gr 223.
As Bob said, as far as general shooting, no worries out here (I hate the damn hop growers!). If this were killing them in the pastures I'd just use the .22 or the shotgun. As I said, my big worry is what's behind my target in this location. And I guess I can consider the shotgun for the backyard. The areas they are digging up are thankfully away from the lawn, in a 1/4 acre or so that I'm looking to turn into native grasses and plants. Right now it's mostly still weeds and dirt.
Steve kills rockchucks, no problem, but I am trying hard to give him an aversion to gophers, because my one neighbor up at my top pasture uses a combination of traps and poison, and he piles the dead gophers for the coyotes. I don't want Steve ingesting poison. I have a gopher lady for that top pasture, and she piles them up too (no poison) and Steve has gotten into those piles. I don't want him mixing up poison and non-poison piles. Really, I don't want himn eating gophers at all since he just barfs them up an hour later. Barney the barn cat usually helps a lot, bringing several per week to the door in Spring and Summer. Right now she doesn't seem to be catching as many and it shows from all the new mounds.
I'd still like to get a pellet gun anyway just because I don't have one, but I will give the shotgun serious consideration for the current issue.
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I'll look and see what I have. It is a .17/.22. I have never used the .17. It hits hard and is very quiet.
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I know pellets are very soft (or I think so) so that may help keep the ricochets down. But then again what do I know? It sounds like you need a shooting tower so you can take your shots into the ground to minimize the risk of ricochet. I have seen people with them when they are out predator hunting but mainly to get better visibility. An elevated shooting position would help you spot the little bastiges and then you could use whatever gun you wanted it seems.
.22 bullets are pretty soft, too.
Ben 1,000 fps is just about sonic velocity. IMHO you'd be far better off buying some standard velocity or subsonic .22 hollow points and using your .22 rifle.
You definitely can't find a pellet rifle that will reliably and humanely dispatch the little rascals for anywhere near the $100 price point.
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Gophers?
Do you have a gas lawn mower? Run a hose from the exhaust into a hole, and let it idle.
Do NOT do this close to an occupied dwelling.
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Ok I have a Beeman QT-GP that came with both barrels. Works good.
Or you could just watch Caddy Shack and do it like he did. But if I kill all the golfers they'll put me in jail.
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Off topic, but I really enjoy watching this Brit do pest control with high end air rifles and his old black lab. Cathartic to watch this guy annihilate pigeons like he's running an aim bot.
https://youtu.be/c5f4TlVOEW4
I've got a couple old Sheridans for my (very) limited pellet gun work. One .22 and a 5mm. They work great, and I like the stock trigger.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/185105100051?hash=item2b191fad13:g:ShoAAOSw3VRhZw33
https://www.ebay.com/itm/194442028911?hash=item2d45a5e76f:g:LS8AAOSww9ZhaiQr
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Ben - I have two and both are .177 caliber. The older one is a Chinese made side-cock (not a "break barrel) at ~800fps. But there is no possibility of putting a scope on it. Last year, I bought another, a break barrel, with a scope already mounted but I haven't been able to sight it in as of yet.
The first isn't real accurate and I have used it on some "tree-rats" but at 50', it is only marginally effective. Even with a head shot, I wouldn't expect it to be effective on a gopher. And by "gopher", are you referring to a "groundhog/woodchuck" ?
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Ben - I have two and both are .177 caliber. The older one is a Chinese made side-cock (not a "break barrel) at ~800fps. But there is no possibility of putting a scope on it. Last year, I bought another, a break barrel, with a scope already mounted but I haven't been able to sight it in as of yet.
The first isn't real accurate and I have used it on some "tree-rats" but at 50', it is only marginally effective. Even with a head shot, I wouldn't expect it to be effective on a gopher. And by "gopher", are you referring to a "groundhog/woodchuck" ?
Seeing he is in Southern Idaho I would bet money he means ground squirrel. Most likely the Piute ground squirrel, a burrowing ground squirrel.
bob
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I'm talking gophers and voles in the yard. I have rockchucks in the lower pastures, but gophers in the upper one where I hire the gopher lady.
Looking it up at Idaho DFG, what we call gophers locally are apparently Piute ground squirrels, as Bob said. I'll take a picture the next time I catch one. There is also the Southern Idaho ground squirrel, which is protected for some reason.
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I got a Feinwerkbau .177 from a friend and I thought "Oh boy, silent shooting."
Well, the noise of the piston itself was too loud for my application. Sounded somewhat like someone slamming a door. Amazingly accurate with the Beeman scope on it and the right pellets, though.
Was going to send it back to Beeman for refurbishing, but one of my sons got into it and rebuilt it himself, with excellent results.
And I hate to say this, but it's a bit too noisy with close neighbors. One shot a day, OK, "screen door closing," but more than that gets a bit suspicious.
Terry, 230RN
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There are air rifle designs that are quieter, but I have trouble keeping up with which ones are quiet. I think it is the ones that either pump up or have an air tank.
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I'm talking gophers and voles in the yard. I have rockchucks in the lower pastures, but gophers in the upper one where I hire the gopher lady.
Looking it up at Idaho DFG, what we call gophers locally are apparently Piute ground squirrels, as Bob said. I'll take a picture the next time I catch one. There is also the Southern Idaho ground squirrel, which is protected for some reason.
I am intrigued by this "gopher lady". What is it she does? When I went to Calgary to visit a friend I would spend a day or two clearing her pastures of ground squirrels. She also had a 80+ year old guy that would come out and shoot them, he could stack the little bastiges up. I guess that would make ne a "gopher guy".
bob
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If I had a specific pest elimination need, I'd probably just figure out a quiet subsonic .22LR solution for my SBR'd Ruger Charger pocket rifle and Gemtech suppressor combo.
Sounds like a pneumatic roofing nailgun when fired.
Ooohh... Both are 1/2x28 threaded. I should try my 9mm can on it sometime and see if the larger volume quiets it more than the larger hole lets noise escape!
Anyway, if I was going to buy an airgun, it would be a PCP from AirForce. One of their SS models. I got to take several shots with one and it was boringly accurate and indoor quiet.
https://www.pyramydair.com/product/airforce-talon-ss-pcp-air-rifle-spin-loc-blue?m=2243
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I am intrigued by this "gopher lady". What is it she does?
Funny story. She's a local gal who just started trapping gophers for the local farmers and ranchers. Idaho has a bounty on them, and you can actually get in hot water if you have a bunch of them you don't control (not to mention getting neighbors mad at you). So she drives all around the area on her ATV with a golf bag full of old busted golf clubs and her box of traps. She uses the golf clubs to stake the traps, so everybody around here knows what fields she works because of the golf clubs. She gets $3/gopher and I usually end up paying her $500-$600 by the time the season is over.
I figured she was just from a poorer local household (her husband custom farms around here) and needing the money, but then later came to learn she is actually a somewhat famous author of some kind of self-help books. Now that gopher season is over for her, she'll be traveling the country doing speaking tours. I guess trapping the gophers is just something she likes to do to get outdoors with her grandkids.
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^^^This is exactly the sort of retirement gig that I need!
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Funny story. She's a local gal who just started trapping gophers for the local farmers and ranchers. Idaho has a bounty on them, and you can actually get in hot water if you have a bunch of them you don't control (not to mention getting neighbors mad at you). So she drives all around the area on her ATV with a golf bag full of old busted golf clubs and her box of traps. She uses the golf clubs to stake the traps, so everybody around here knows what fields she works because of the golf clubs. She gets $3/gopher and I usually end up paying her $500-$600 by the time the season is over.
I figured she was just from a poorer local household (her husband custom farms around here) and needing the money, but then later came to learn she is actually a somewhat famous author of some kind of self-help books. Now that gopher season is over for her, she'll be traveling the country doing speaking tours. I guess trapping the gophers is just something she likes to do to get outdoors with her grandkids.
I'm going to trap weasels in January with boxes, I think I'd like this lady.
You could do some weasel boxes but bait for gophers.
Video on Weasel boxes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epykoVZ_ufU
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On spring piston air guns, you must use a scope rated for air guns, they will destroy firearm scopes.
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On spring piston air guns, you must use a scope rated for air guns, they will destroy firearm scopes.
x2
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^^^This is exactly the sort of retirement gig that I need!
What kind of self-help books will you be writing? =D
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There's a guy on YouTube, channel is called Ted's Holdover. He's a pest control guy who shoots video through his scope of his shots. I get a kick out of watching slow motion hits with pellets. Sue me. Anyways, he uses high-end air rifles, ones that have air tanks filled from compressors or scuba tanks. Guns are by no means inexpensive, and the glass he is using is as expensive as the guns.
Reason I bring this up is that in his videos, he is taking shots at 100 yards. So Ben, the neighbor's home is in range of high power pellet guns.
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Remember some Tasco "Custom Shop" scopes from the late 1990s?
I think they had an 8-40x56 30mm ring side focus?
Get one. From what I understand, and I had one, the things rock for airguns.
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I'm talking gophers and voles in the yard. I have rockchucks in the lower pastures, but gophers in the upper one where I hire the gopher lady.
Looking it up at Idaho DFG, what we call gophers locally are apparently Piute ground squirrels, as Bob said. I'll take a picture the next time I catch one. There is also the Southern Idaho ground squirrel, which is protected for some reason.
Okay, then I expect that they are smaller than the gray squirrels we have around here. That is going to make for an interestingly small target.
IIRC, voles aren't much larger than a field mouse. If so, what about a re-usable "rat" trap? Or, if you are having drought issues where you live, there was a YouTube video I saw some time ago where this person used a 5 gallon plastic bucket and a trick floor that dumped the mouse into the water and automatically reset itself. The bucket was only 1/4 to 1/3 full of water so they couldn't climb or jump out and drowned. With a little bait (peanut butter?) over the water, the mice would climb the ramp to the bait, trip the floor, and drown - multiple times.
If these Paiute ground squirrels are the size of a rat (or larger), a 5 gal. bucket probably isn't big enough.
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^^^This is exactly the sort of retirement gig that I need!
That does sound interesting, doesn't it? :rofl:
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Just for clarity, shooting them is not my main control method. I have traps. The shooting is just for more "interactive" control if I happen to be in the backyard and see one.
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Just for clarity, shooting them is not my main control method. I have traps. The shooting is just for more "interactive" control if I happen to be in the backyard and see one.
Daisy 880 for a cheap control - reliably kills ground squirrels
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They do make a fragmenting .22LR ammo.
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Are there breeds of dogs that are better at hunting stuff like gophers?
All I know for sure is don't hire a groundskeeper.
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Are there breeds of dogs that are better at hunting stuff like gophers?
All I know for sure is don't hire a groundskeeper.
Dachshund? Or maybe a Jack Russell terrier.
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(https://c.tenor.com/9OsNVPGk7XwAAAAM/caddyshack-bill-murray.gif)
(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/7d/72/f7/7d72f716b24f52203b2031bcf7b4f4ea.gif)
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Here is my question of the day and then I will quit.
Why a pellet gun? You still have to worry about ricochets don't you?
When I did collared dove control at a friend's wheat farm in WA I would use a bolt action 22 and either shorts or CCI Quiet from about 35yds away to pop their little heads off. The CCI Quiet are only moving around 700fps, slower than most pellet guns.
I used a Marlin bolt with a Cabelas rimfire scope on it. It was one of the most fun and useful guns I have. When doing gopher control for a friend near Calgary or in MT and WA I would use a 17HMR, Although fast with only a 17gr bullet moving as fast as it does I think the potential for ricochet may be lessened by the bullet fragmenting if it hits something. That is just a guess as I can't recall ever getting a ricochet wit the 17HMR.
bob
Piggybacking on that, I found that bullets like the 60 gr Nosler partition bullet could not be shot at the low angles of prairie dog shooting without a ricochet. The bullets held together too well and it was darned annoying.
Bang. Whop. Kapweeeeeeng.
On the other hand, 53 grain SX bullets from Hornady never ricocheted. It would seem they would disintegrate on hitting a blade of grass. Well that's an exaggeration for the sake of illustration, but the fact remains that I never ever heard a ricochet from those bullets in .223 Remington.
A little overkill for Ben's usage, but this confirms BobR's observation.
Terry, 230RN
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(https://c.tenor.com/9OsNVPGk7XwAAAAM/caddyshack-bill-murray.gif)
(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/7d/72/f7/7d72f716b24f52203b2031bcf7b4f4ea.gif)
Ben will need a little Kenny Loggins music playing in the background when he goes after the gophers.
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Ben will need a little Kenny Loggins music playing in the background when he goes after the gophers.
... and change his name to Carl.
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Daisy 880 for a cheap control - reliably kills ground squirrels
I have one of the 880's and wouldn't recommend it for shooting any kind of squirrel. Not enough punch, even with max pumps in it. Not very accurate - OK enough for punching holes in paper but trying for a head shot on a squirrel at any distance? - not so much.
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Regarding the .410, I saw this:
https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/savage-301-turkey-single-shot-shotgun
Which could be an interesting alternative, and cheap enough as well. It even takes a red dot.
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Ben will need a little Kenny Loggins music playing in the background when he goes after the gophers.
My wife went to a Kenny Loggins concert a couple of months ago. I did not know that Kenny Loggins was originally from this area. She said that 'I'm Alright' got the second-biggest applause of the evening. 'Danger Zone' was first.
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With everything going on I'm back at looking at pellet guns
And wouldn't you know it the one I want has gone way up Grrrrrr..
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08B3PT2QP/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_5?smid=A18CQ5FFITKTLU&psc=1
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I have no experience with them, but BattleHawkArmory has it for $500 plus $20 shipping.
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I need to check with my gun dealer. He got one for someone that worked pretty good and was fairly quiet. Just .177 pellets, but that is mostly all I want. It was a single shot break open design with a suppressor permanently mounted.
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Well, 2.5 years later... :rofl:
A Diana Model 48 showed up at the door last night. After seeing that my idea of what an air rifle should cost was way off, I decided to go classic with the Model 48 springer in .22
It's a really nice rifle. Quality build. Heavy as all get out. The trigger is REALLY nice. I haven't tested it yet, but maybe just over 2lbs. As I was looking more into which air rifles do what, I almost went with a PCP because some reviews said the 48 would be marginal for stuff like rockchucks, but then I saw videos of guys using it for just that. I think it's key not to go much past 40 yards for something that big, plus use the premium hunting pellets. I was watching videos of guys killing squirrels dead at 75 yards with it. The below image is the first shots at 35 yards, iron sights, from a rest. There's actually 15 shots there. Really accurate once I dialed in windage and elevation. I bought a scope for it as well, which I'm putting on tonight and I'll sight that in tomorrow.
Also, it's unexpectedly loud. Almost .22 loud. I might actually wear my electronic earplugs when I shoot it.
As I did research, I was fascinated to learn that some of the PCP guns will take deer size game. I was really close to getting a .25 caliber Umarex Gauntlet 2, which would have been around the same price. People apparently take pigs with that one. However as I researched, I learned that you pretty much have to have a special air gun compressor to fill the tank to the 4500PSI holding pressure, and those compressors start at $500. Maybe someday.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53652211320_d129c7bbae_c.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53651983428_bc40186e61_w.jpg)
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Gamo Swarm Magnum 10X GEN3i
https://www.pyramydair.com/product/gamo-swarm-magnum-10x-gen-2-multi-shot-air-rifle?m=5272#10614
I got this a few weeks ago. Took it to the range the 2nd time today. Shooting around 2" groups at 50 years with 20 grain lead pellets. 22 caliber. It is very quiet. Comes with a scope and a 10 round magazine. You can single load into the magazine, but it loads itself when you cock it.
Negatives:
1. If you have shoulder issues, cocking it is going to suck. It isn't too bad, but I can see someone without much strength having problems. I don't know if the 17 caliber is easier. My Dad's Umarex might be a little easier.
2. I bought pellets with 14, 15, 20, and 35 grains just to see what was accurate. The Gamo 15 grain pellets shoot 12" or bigger groups at 50 yards. Would not recommend. The 35 grain pellets drop 2 feet at 50 yards compared to the 20 grain. I figure they are too heavy for this rifle. The 14 grain pellets are accurate, but shoot lower than the 20 grain. I guess they don't seal against the barrel as well. I don't know. I am just going to buy more of the 20 grain since they work. Since pellets are relatively cheap, I might try more types/brands.
3. The scope gets the job done, but I might try to get a better one at some point.
Overall, I like it, but you could spend some money on aftermarket 10/22 parts and put together a 22 that is more accurate than this. It's value is that it is an air rifle, not a firearm.
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Well, 2.5 years later... :rofl:
A Diana Model 48 showed up at the door last night. After seeing that my idea of what an air rifle should cost was way off, I decided to go classic with the Model 48 springer in .22
It's a really nice rifle. Quality build. Heavy as all get out. The trigger is REALLY nice. I haven't tested it yet, but maybe just over 2lbs. As I was looking more into which air rifles do what, I almost went with a PCP because some reviews said the 48 would be marginal for stuff like rockchucks, but then I saw videos of guys using it for just that. I think it's key not to go much past 40 yards for something that big, plus use the premium hunting pellets. I was watching videos of guys killing squirrels dead at 75 yards with it. The below image is the first shots at 35 yards, iron sights, from a rest. There's actually 15 shots there. Really accurate once I dialed in windage and elevation. I bought a scope for it as well, which I'm putting on tonight and I'll sight that in tomorrow.
Also, it's unexpectedly loud. Almost .22 loud. I might actually wear my electronic earplugs when I shoot it.
As I did research, I was fascinated to learn that some of the PCP guns will take deer size game. I was really close to getting a .25 caliber Umarex Gauntlet 2, which would have been around the same price. People apparently take pigs with that one. However as I researched, I learned that you pretty much have to have a special air gun compressor to fill the tank to the 4500PSI holding pressure, and those compressors start at $500. Maybe someday.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53652211320_d129c7bbae_c.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53651983428_bc40186e61_w.jpg)
Nice. That's a springer, ain't it? Make sure your scope is rated for airgun use. The recoil is different and will wreck most normal rifle scopes. Leupolds are supposed to be immune to this but I don't know.
I have a Model 34 in .177. I should have bought the same gun in .22, but the .177 is adequate for rabbits and squirrels if I use good hunting pellets. Target pellets will kill them but not humanely; in .20 or .22 cheap target pellets (is there such a thing in .22?) would probably work just fine.
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Nice. That's a springer, ain't it? Make sure your scope is rated for airgun use.
Yup, sidecocking springer. I bought the scope (Leapers UTG True Hunter) at Airgun Depot, same place as the rifle, and it's an air rifle rated scope. I also got the RWS (Diana) mount designed for the Diana springer rifles.
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2. I bought pellets with 14, 15, 20, and 35 grains just to see what was accurate. The Gamo 15 grain pellets shoot 12" or bigger groups at 50 yards. Would not recommend. The 35 grain pellets drop 2 feet at 50 yards compared to the 20 grain. I figure they are too heavy for this rifle. The 14 grain pellets are accurate, but shoot lower than the 20 grain. I guess they don't seal against the barrel as well. I don't know. I am just going to buy more of the 20 grain since they work. Since pellets are relatively cheap, I might try more types/brands.
I too, bought a sampling of pellets. The ones I shot today were Crossman 14.3s, which seemed to get good reviews as plinking rounds. I also bought:
H&N Spitzkugel 16.05 grain
Hades Diablo 15.89 grain
Predator Polymag 16 grain
Those three were all highly rated for small game, especially the Polymags. Once I see what performs best, I'm just gonna order a boatload of that. Even the "high end" pellets are cheap, relatively speaking, so I don't see a need to keep both plinking and hunting rounds and then worrying about keeping track of downrange performance for multiple pellet types.
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I have been toying with the idea of a pellet gun for use against the flying rats in the neighborhood. Presently I use a pump BB gun. Inaccurate and the BBs will sometimes bounce off of the targets. I have also been toying with threading the barrel on my Marlin 81TS, with a muffler and 22 shorts it will probably be more quiet than a pellet gun. I used to use the Marlin to snipe Collared Dove in WA at a wheat field so I know it shoots well. I will have to ponder this a bit.
bob
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It's already been noted, but worth mentioning again. Springer air rifles will knock loose the reticle on most (yes, most) scopes. Big RWS rifles are notoriously hard shooters. My personal experience had lower end Hawke glass on a .22 Diana 34 wrecked in less than one tin of pellets.
The scope was airgun rated, and I was baffled by the sudden loss of precision. The rattling scope was boxed up and hawke sent me a new one, within a week, mid 2020.
One of the causes, I learned, is adjusting the reticle to its limits to account for close range POI. The springs that support the crosshairs in the tube are over tensioned. And the forward recoil on a big springer smacks em loose. There are scopes (I believe Ben's choice is one) and even more mount options that are designed for close range, and are airgun rated.
There is a whole 'nother world of airgun tuning which includes spring tuning, tube smoothing, exotic lubrication and aftermarket seals. I indulged, and my 34 is much smoother and consistent, and wears a Williams Peep sight.
The Hawke is on a Benjamin Marauder PCP. Even now it's POI is 50yds and most shooting is done at less than 20yds with a holdover. The RWS gathers dust.
The PCP is just plain boring to shoot. It stacks pellets end to end. The 34 and my other springer, a smooth shooting little .177 wierauch, are true for 8 or 9 shots out of 10. The velocity of the 1 or 2 odd shots might be up to 20% either side of the s.d. and it shows at the target. They're fun to shoot, trying to account for a springer's inherent inconsistencies, but for varmint control I demand the PCPs predictably, because even at 875 fps the .22 pellet weighs less than 20 grains, and a 1 shot in the tracks kill requires 3/16" accuracy.
My aunt had an old Benjamin 314 pump. That was a great gun, but they've been out of production for some time. The pneumatic pump design offers the same predictably as a PCP, but follow up shots are slow.
edited for added content and grammar