.177 for squirrels??

[thegazell]

What are those??

Matt

Those are subsonic rounds that are for your .22LR. The ones I have are the Remington CBs. I believe the velocity is something like 740FPS or something like that, but the big selling point is noise reduction - you don't hear the crack like a regular rimfire round (1000FPS and over). It's more like a muffled pop.

For the squirrel in question - I had no idea at the time that the Recon was such a weak gun - obviously the marketing specs are just a little wee off. That's where a chrony always helps.

I'd say that probably the most powerful gun you can get under 500FPS for shooting squirrels is the Crosman Phantom .22 CAL version. That lists as 495FPS and when I chronied mine, it was around 465-470FPS. Still, at .22 CAL, it hits harder and has better energy transfer than a .177. I still can't say that I would have humanely dispatched that squirrel, but it probably would have been a better choice at the time (though I didn't own the Phantom then).

Some of the airgun hunting forums in the U.S. have minimum recommendations for FPS for things like squirrels and rabbits. I have heard minimums anywhere between 600 - 850FPS. But as several have intimated, shot placement is more paramount than anything else - you can have a 1200FPS air rifle and can't shoot beans with it (figuratively speaking).

Anyhow, it's getting late and my kids are having a hard time sleeping, so I should run...but I should leave you with something you may or may not have seen...this is a new offering from Gamo which looks promising - a 10-shot 88g CO2 powered pump-action (I mean pump like shotgun pump, not pump full of air) repeating air rifle. The video clip is a bit on the cheesy side, but you get the idea of how airguns have developed over time... My local gunshop will get these in May.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MTO1PbTSQE

 

[B]

Sounds promising, but so did Gamo's "shotgun".

 

[kjohn]

I have shot a pile of red squirrels with an ugly old air rifle (don't remember the make). Most of my shots are close range, 10-15 feet. Ffffppunggg! Squirrel falls out of tree. Maybe an extra one to the noggin for good measure. At my cabin I have a big, fat weasel that looks after them from there on.

 

[jethunter]

I've shot hundreds of squirrels with 495 ft/sec pellet guns, no prob. Dead before they hit the ground. Make sure you have a quality gun (ie-not 420 or whatever) and you should be good to.....30-40 yards.

Edit-Using break action single pump pellet guns, not CO2. They're lower vel. I think.

Maybe you meant 30-40 ft? At 30-40 yards that pellet has lost 150 fps or more. If 420 fps muzzle won't kill 'em (from your post) then they won't be dead at 350 either.

The 495 fps pellet guns are 10 yard weapons for squirrels. These air guns are actually on the low end of marginal for gophers and squirrels but it can be done.

 

[awesomeame]

Those are subsonic rounds that are for your .22LR. The ones I have are the Remington CBs. I believe the velocity is something like 740FPS or something like that, but the big selling point is noise reduction - you don't hear the crack like a regular rimfire round (1000FPS and over). It's more like a muffled pop.

These are different then a .22 SR?

Matt

 

[Camj]

Do your self and the squirrles a favour and but a QUALITY .22 air rifle.............

 

[SandRoad]

I also agree with many of the above posts. For sub 500 fps rifles, chipmunks OK, but going after squirrels is marginal. Now a high velocity 177 is a completely different story.

 

[lister]

Maybe you meant 30-40 ft? At 30-40 yards that pellet has lost 150 fps or more. If 420 fps muzzle won't kill 'em (from your post) then they won't be dead at 350 either.

The 495 fps pellet guns are 10 yard weapons for squirrels. These air guns are actually on the low end of marginal for gophers and squirrels but it can be done.

Yeah, sorry, got confused with my Ruko Jet, which will do the 40 yards. But yeah, 40 feet or so for the 495 'ers.

 

[lone-wolf]

The squirrels I shot were chipmunk sized. We don't have the big black cat looking squirrels you guys in Ont have.

 

[Woodsman]

Empty cans, yes? If it goes through three full cans I'm getting one!

Hahaha! Yes, empty ones! The full ones we use for ourselves!

 

[tonyg]

I've bagged about 80 pigeons , and 30 tree rats with an old slavia .177

shot placement is everything , heart , lungs best , skulls can be hard on squirrel.
sometimes a second pellet is needed.
Taking pigeon out to 30 yards was easy , squirrel maybe 18 yds max.

As for using a CB cap , good idea in rural area. If someone sees you shooting in a built up area , I'd much rather explain an air rifle than a .22 to a neighbour.
mentality being what it is , air rifle, " appears" less evil.

pointy pellets for game , wadcutter for paper.have fun.....

 

[RobSmith]

Check the hunting regs in your province, as it'll illegal to "hunt" anything with an airgun, regarless of it's rated velocity, in Quebec.

 

[yyyyy]

Put down the gun and fight like a man...

 

[scradster]

yeah throwing knives are much more effective

 

[stugatz]

Just bought a ruger airhawk 1000fps rifle, dunno about squirrels but its sure putting a dent in the crow populaton around here.. up to 75yrds no problem score:ruger-18 crows-0

 

[thegazell]

Just bought a ruger airhawk 1000fps rifle, dunno about squirrels but its sure putting a dent in the crow populaton around here.. up to 75yrds no problem score:ruger-18 crows-0

Congrats on your purchase. With a 1000 FPS rifle, not a whole lot of squirrels of any variety will be able to continue on their merry way after getting hit anywhere.

 

[stugatz]

congrats on your purchase. With a 1000 fps rifle, not a whole lot of squirrels of any variety will be able to continue on their merry way after getting hit anywhere.

yeah!! Must admit its the best $220 i have spent in a while ....loads of fun!!!!!!!!.....stu

 

[mikepos]

Those are subsonic rounds that are for your .22LR. The ones I have are the Remington CBs. I believe the velocity is something like 740FPS or something like that, but the big selling point is noise reduction - you don't hear the crack like a regular rimfire round (1000FPS and over). It's more like a muffled pop.

For the squirrel in question - I had no idea at the time that the Recon was such a weak gun - obviously the marketing specs are just a little wee off. That's where a chrony always helps.

I'd say that probably the most powerful gun you can get under 500FPS for shooting squirrels is the Crosman Phantom .22 CAL version. That lists as 495FPS and when I chronied mine, it was around 465-470FPS. Still, at .22 CAL, it hits harder and has better energy transfer than a .177. I still can't say that I would have humanely dispatched that squirrel, but it probably would have been a better choice at the time (though I didn't own the Phantom then).

Some of the airgun hunting forums in the U.S. have minimum recommendations for FPS for things like squirrels and rabbits. I have heard minimums anywhere between 600 - 850FPS. But as several have intimated, shot placement is more paramount than anything else - you can have a 1200FPS air rifle and can't shoot beans with it (figuratively speaking).

Anyhow, it's getting late and my kids are having a hard time sleeping, so I should run...but I should leave you with something you may or may not have seen...this is a new offering from Gamo which looks promising - a 10-shot 88g CO2 powered pump-action (I mean pump like shotgun pump, not pump full of air) repeating air rifle. The video clip is a bit on the cheesy side, but you get the idea of how airguns have developed over time... My local gunshop will get these in May.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MTO1PbTSQE

I bought one of those with the black plastic stock at walmart for $99 and I love it, full sized, amazingly accurate ans seems to smack the trees hard at 30 yards or so. Havent got a squirrel yet even though thats why i got it...

 

[Camj]

ONCE again .22 at 850 fps = dead squirrle.

 

[Bull's-Eye]

I am in the midst of an Air Rifle purchase and don't know 100% between .177 or .22.

Thinking RWS 350 but can't decide on the caliber.....like to plink and target shoot however I do like to shoot tree rats and gophers.

But.......the 350 may be to long/big for plinking purposes........but I really like the power potential.

Also been looking at the HW's........I hear they are even sweeter then the RWS's and rarely need a tune to shoot well.

Decisions, decisions........