Airgun pest control

oopswasthatyourdog?

oopswasthatyourdog?

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
4   0   0
Location
Sitting on my lilypad in southern Quebec
I'm looking to purchase an air rifle to use as pest control around my yard. Targeted pests will be, groundhogs (up to about 10lbs), muskrats, squirrels, the occasional bunny. Shots will be from point blank out to about 40 yards. It will also serve for target practice:)

I've been looking at the Ruger Air Hawk. 1000 fps in .177 with a 4x32 scope. Any good?
 
I'd get a .22 not a .177 for groundhog sized game.It'll have to be headshots.The Airhawk is Chinese made and RWS 34 internal spring will interchange for full FAC power.I'd go with a HW80,RWS 48 or RWS 350 mag in .22 You end up getting what you pay for.................................Harold
 
Going to provide a contrary opinion here. I find that my .177's penetrate a lot better than my .22 pellets. I've actually seen .22 pellets bounce back when shooting at plywood, where as the .177's blast a hole in the back of the board.

Maybe not an issue when you get into the 1000 fps+ airguns, but IMHO when hunting with a pellet gun it's all about shot placement and penetration, not "stopping power".
 
The .22 +.25 will make a larger wound channel resulting in slightly marginal of dead center vital hits to be fatal.Anything over the speed of sound unless heavy weight pellets used go subsonic and accuracy goes to hell in a hand basket.Beeman website had an article on this.A .22 at 800 fps goes right on through grouse ,pigeons and crows clean out to 35 yards .Penetrated a skunk's head side to side at 20 yards.The.177 requires pinpoint accuracy best with headshots on medium game........JMO.....Harold... I use the HW80K/.22
 
I've heard it time and time again to get a .22 instead of a .177 for small game. I've had some very impresive kills with my .177 and can't complain.
 
Not sure if its an issue for you, but an airgun that powerful (over 500 ft/sec) may fall under an anti-discharge bylaw in your area.
 
Onagoth said:
Not sure if its an issue for you, but an airgun that powerful (over 500 ft/sec) may fall under an anti-discharge bylaw in your area.
Click to expand...

It's not an issue. I live in a rural area where discharging a firearm is legal. I live on a dead end street surrounded by farms. We are about 15 on the street many of us are hunters. What we do fear is complaints from the non-hunters that may push the city to expand the no shooting zone. In the past it's been .22s and 410s for pests but most of us have decided to go the air gun route. Many of us hunt the farms around here and we definitely do not want to lose that privilege.
 
I LOVE MY RUGER AIR HAWK!!!

at 50 yards it shoots good pellets through the same hole and will take half the head off a gopher. bunnies are no problem either. it's about the same as a 22 but quiet and cheaper

all for $150
 
ruger air hawk kill number one thousand...

note the blood splatter on the metal container from the head shot. it's more than enough pellet gun for clean kills at 50 yards on gophers

50ydgopher.jpg



(it may not be kill number 1000 but it's probably close to 45... i did only get it in march and i have so many toys to play with it's hard to give them all shoulder time...)
 
Get the .22 in a quality air rifle that shoots in the 700fps range and you will be a happy camper.
 
Another vote for CB longs, about the same report as a high-power springer, less than high-power CO2, and much less than high-power HPA.

Cheap to buy a used bolt-action too, and a fraction of the maintenance.

My own CO2 rifle is a tuned QB79 still running on CO2. Very capable shooter, incredibly accurate, and inexpensive too. I would never attempt to take a groundhog with it though. In fact, it's pretty much a long-range pop-can buster. :)

QB79.jpg
 
I recommend spending the money on a good quality rifle like Diana, Weirauch or even one of the newer Gas-Ram powerplants(Benjamin, Crosman).
A .22 cal moving a 14-18 grain pellet at 700-850 fps should be enough energy to drop a grounhog within 5o yds.
 
Can-down said:
CB longs.
Click to expand...

9x19p said:
CB longs x 2, will sound much the same as a 1000 fps air gun.
Click to expand...

x3 on the CBs. 28gr .22 bullet @710 ft/s. Most airgun pellets range from 7gr to 15gr. If you already have a .22 rifle all you have to do is change your ammo & sight in. I would opine that it's quieter than a 1000 ft/s airgun, particulary if your barrel is 21+ inches long. I've taken many squirrels, some crows, and pigeons with this combo.
 
FWIW, I just use a cheapo Crossman .177, 800FPS to kill rats at ~15 yards. The rats are up to 12" long nose to tail. The type of ammo is important as well. I've found the pointed pellets are much better penetration power than flat or round pellets.

BTW: rats sometimes make a loud squeal and do a 180 degree back flip when you hit them in the side.
 
While I agree that airgun can be quite lethal on small game I agree with the guys recommending .22 CB shorts/longs. No .177, .20, .22 or .25 cal airgun comes close to the power and they are no louder than most 500fps+ airguns.
 
At 800fps my HW80K/.22 don't bounce off plywood.Through and throughs on crows and grouse to 30 yards.A Talon or Condor is louder than a .22 RF unless using CB longs.Harold
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom