OMG First Post Evar!! (Airguns)

thebaron

thebaron

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Can anyone suggest a real good airgun for squirrels and other small pests around the yard?

I'm kind of ashamed to admit it but I've never owned an airgun... What would be best .22 or .177 for squirrels?
Break barrel, CO2 or pump?
 
I would go with .177 break barrel. More power and no pumping or co2 slowly dieing on you and .177 goes a little quicker for the most part an have lots of power for squirrels. I've had a awesome kill rate with my break barrel .177.
 
As others mentioned I would go with the .177. I was in a similar situation a couple years ago - looking for airgun just for casual target practice, plinking, etc and finally landed on the Slavia 631. These are made by CZ. Overall I really like mine. Quite accurate (dime size groups or less at 10m), reliable, etc. It is a break barrel. I modified the trigger and it is quite nice - around 8oz.
 
Airgun forum?!?!:eek:;)

Kinda cool. As long as there's no airsoft forum I condone this:D

x3 on the .177 . Especially if you like customising, you can't go wrong with a cheap .177 in wood and plastic. I had a czech airgun that one of my dads friends gave me when I was 10 or so... still can't believe how much fun I had with it!

It was also quite effective in dispatching any particular critters that tried to cohabit our cabin with us.
 
Your question has been exhaustively expounded upon in the airgun forums. I suggest you look at the "canadian airgun forum." For hunting it is .22 that is best. You have to do the math. Its just like shootin powderburners. It depends what you are shootin at and how powerful the cartridge is. A .177 has less mass than a .22 . Velocity x mass = killing power. (Of course shot placemant is paramount) A .177 pellet will slow down ,due to air resistance, much quicker than a .22 . Remember pellets are very UN airodynamic compared to a rifle slug. So what are you shootin, how far away is the target , and how powerful is the gun? Hunting with a non PAL rated gun can get dodgy depending on the situation and of course shot placement!

And for the naysayers ... us city folk can shoot at home, make a pellet trap and you can shoot down the hallway in your apartment or in your basement!!! Olympic shooting is only 10M.
 
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Diana Model 24 (no pal) or 34 (pal and registered) - Best airgun ever.

Diana%2024.jpg


I have one, it is superb to lay prone in the yard and plink leaves out of the tree all day.

LH
 
Get a .22 cal if you are going to use it for hunting. Crosman makes the perfect backyard hunting gun in the 2289G, multi-pump pneumatic. No CO2 to buy, no spring action to eat your scope and no recoil. They are quiet enough to take the mighty Eastern Grey and its locally abundant melanistic subgroup black cousin. Another plus on the side of the 2289G is it customizability. Google around and you will be amazed at what is possible. Here's my backyard, squirrel death, laser beam. It has been modded to include a wide trigger with pull adjusted to a few ounces, longer barrel, steel breech, extended bolt, rear cocking, valve pulse and volume tweaked to match barrel length, etc...and all (minus scope and bipod) for about $100 plus taxes.

backyardairgun.jpg
 
You could also try the RWS 350 its known for its accuracy & high velocity, 1250 fps in .177 caliber and 1050 fps in .22 caliber both are well made and will last a lifetime given a little care
 
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if youre looking for a non-pal .177 the daisy 953 target pro is a great single-pump pneumatic, that feeds either single-shot or off of a 5-shot 'clip' (the single-pump is the reason why i prefer it over the 2289 which needs 10) if youve shot the air rifles in cadets, this is the same action with a similar barrel and a tactical (cheaper) stock. great for picking birds or squirrels out of trees. this pic has the muzzle break removed, and has a 4x32 ao scope sitting on it. also comes with cheap bare sights and a terible 3x20 daisy scope (does NOT hold a zero for anything.) with this scope it will shoot minute of squirrel head out to 15-20yards, though id stay within 15
 
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I had a CZ slavia 630. It was a great little gun. shot tons of squirrels with it (headshots only). Much more accurate/well built than the crossman/daisy crap. I've never used one but the dianas always looked nice (more $$$ though).
 
diemaco said:
I had a CZ slavia 630. It was a great little gun. shot tons of squirrels with it (headshots only). Much more accurate/well built than the crossman/daisy crap. I've never used one but the dianas always looked nice (more $$$ though).
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Yes, the Slavia 630's are very accurate and well made.
They aren't too easy to find now, if you can pick one up, you won't be disappointed with it. KD
 
Well I picked up a .22 caliber break barrel from Wally World. I had it out this Fall looking for grouse, but the fellow shooting it broke the sights and never hit anything. But prior to that it was accurate and had alot of poop behind it. I need to pick up a scope for it to try it again, but for $100 you might look at those. I see their selling a Savage take-down pellet rifle now too.
 
Depending on what you want to spend, you might want to check out some of the PCP rifles. I have a Condor which will shoot between 600 and 1200FPS in .22cal with a match barrel. It's a lot of fun.

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CZ makes this one.
200S.jpg

CZ200S, 177 pre-charged pneumatic compressed air, no sights (3/8 dovetail),
adj trigger, fill adapter, removable air cylinder c/w fill gauge, 16 Joule (PAL required)
Click to expand...

WEIHRAUCH makes a nice one.
HW100T%20Kat.jpg

HW100

New to the line up, this 14 shot pre-charged hunter/ entry level FT gun is going to win your heart!

Fast and easy repeating 14-shot rotary magazine, capacity for approx. 120 shots filled to 200 bar, integral pressure gauge, excellent balance, two stage adjustable match trigger, elegant walnut ambidextrous thumbhole stock.
Available in 5.5mm (.22) and 4.5mm (.177).
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Steyer makes a really nice one too.
steyrlg110bb.jpg

Barrel length......................430mm.
Velocity adjustable up to...320m/s, 24 joule.
Expect at least 70 shots form a single 200bar. filling at 24
joule model using heavy pellets.
Adjustable palmrest included [without vertical extension].
Recoil stabilizing system in the bolt controls muzzle-jump.
The fully adjustable trigger can be adjusted for first and second stage weight and travel independently of each.
The trigger shoe is completely adjustable in all directions.
Cylinder capacity can be read directly on the built-in manometer.
Click to expand...

Which ever rifle you choose, I would recommend that you shoot JSB pellets. There really is a difference in pellets and they are probably the best that you can buy. Not really expensive either.
 
Don't be seduced by velocity claims as most are exagerated or done with lightweight pellets that will dammage the seals in your gun.When pellets go sub-sonic they become unstable hence grossly inaccurate.I had a 350 mag in .177 and got rid of it.You had to use the heaviest pellets available and it was extremely hold sensitive.Don't bother with the Spanish and Chinese crap from Wally World/Ukranian Tire.You do get what you pay forunless you want a kid's toy.The CZ630's can be brought up to 600fps+ with a replacement spring and a good internal polishing........Harold**The Webley formerly high quality [UK]pieces are now 2nd rate made in Turkey
 
The only fully functioning pellet gun I own is a Slavia 630 that was my originally my brother's around ~20years ago.

All the other ones I got broke after a year or two.
 
If you want cheap then grab a Crosman Phantom from Walmart for 97.79 - .22 and 495 fps. I recently bought one and using 14.2 grain pellets my chrony confirmed it really does do the rated fps. If you're going for something unregistered you may as well get a .22 instead of .177 as they are both bound by the same 500 fps or less rule.
The sights are plastic but do the job - or you could throw a cheap scope on it.
You can also get parts for it quite easily from several airgun dealers.
 
If you want a non-registered airgun for rodents, get a 22. For a registered airgun, a high velocity 177.

I have used a RWS Diana Model 52 in 177 and it is deadly on rodents. I cronoed it at around 1200 fps with standard lead pellets. Penetration is easily through 1" and 5/4 spruce boards, but not quite through a 2x4.
 
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