Target and Hunting Pistol in one?

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JP23

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Hi, I'm new to air guns and was wondering what you guys recommend for any .17 or .22 pistols (PCP, spring loaded, etc.) that are extremely accurate for target shooting and suitable for hunting small game (<500 fps).

Would be interested in being able to use one pistol for both target shooting and small game hunting.

Thanks, looking forward to the recommendations.
 
Typically any pistol would not be strong enough to use for anything larger than rats or pigeons at relatively short range. The larger the calibre, the more power you'll get out of it at sub-500 FPS, so you'll want a .22.

A very decent shooter is the simple Crosman 2240. They can be found for $80 at a few online retailers. They can be modified to suit just about any needs, and operate on CO2.
 
A crosman 2240 for the warmer months, unless you convert to HPA.
Or a Webley Alecto .22 cal.
Ruffed grouse, sparrows, starlings, nothing more.
 
2240 I added a 10" barrel steel breach and some valve work,set it at 495fps.4X Banner on it /detachable stock carbine...........headshot chickens to 50ft no problem.Alectos when power pimped up end up breaking parts and good luck finding them for here today gone tomorrow Turkish guns.....PS I may have a 10" altered 2240 pistol to sell? I best chrony it first...Harold
 
I use/used a Ruger Air Hawk .177 rifle. Never owned an air pistol. If hunting anything I don't see any reason to use a pistol. Get a rifle with a break action so you never need compressed air cylinders and the only wearing part are O-rings. I have never repairs anything on my airhawk, owned it for 12yrs and it still work's as good as new. This rifle is tough also, left in the barn in the feed room and never yet cleaned. It shot 2 or 3 boxes of pellets and dropped several hundred pigeons, some chipmunk, mice and even a rat. I can't speak for other air rifles but my airhawk is a forever gun.

If hunting for anything larger other than pest control you need a larger more powerful rifle and round.
 
Chinese copy of the RWS/Diana 34........my HW80K/.22 will kill any game up to about 20lbs also have a 34 in .22
 
I find that most people with Webley Alectos don't have issues as long as they don't overpump them. There are many quality Turkish made airguns out there, I own a few. The Hammerli Pneuma (Hatsan AT-44) and my Webley Alecto have been shot thousands of times with no issues. They're also really accurate.

Now that I have an FX, my Hammerli has become my backup gun. I'll never sell it, it's just too good value-wise.

As far as the Alecto goes, the problem is finding one that someone's willing to sell. They've been off the market for a while now, and typically sell for even more than they used to from distributors.
 
I'm hunting with a scoped 22LR but would like to use a pistol with iron sights for close up shots. I've had multiple instances of squirrels being too close for scope acquisition.

What about the Crosman 1322?
 
None of the .22 pistols in sub-PAL would be a good idea on a squirrel, their heads are too tough. Your only choice would be going for a modified 2240 in .25 or higher caliber, IMO. Those will produce the 10 FPE+ required. A .22 at 495 that is sub-PAL (ie. lightweight pellets at under 500) wouldn't even give you 6 FPE at the muzzle.
 
JP23 said:
Hi, I'm new to air guns and was wondering what you guys recommend for any .17 or .22 pistols (PCP, spring loaded, etc.) that are extremely accurate for target shooting and suitable for hunting small game (<500 fps).

Would be interested in being able to use one pistol for both target shooting and small game hunting.

Thanks, looking forward to the recommendations.
Click to expand...

Anything over 500fps would be considered a firearm... being a handgun, would make it restricted...
- You don't want to go there
 
I have cleaning killed eastern grey squirrels at close (10 to 15 yards) range with a .22 Crosman 1322 and a .177 BSA Scorpion; however, neither of these are target pistols.
 
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