Airgun Recommendation (Pest Control)

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Rohann

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Hi all,

Looking for an airgun recommendation for pest control. I'd like something as ".22-like" as possible and to be accurate (and lethal enough for small game) out to about 25m, if possible. Any recommendations? Nothing bank-breaking hopefully. I live in an area where firearm discharge is legal, but want to keep any sort of more "regular" shooting (like shotgun) quiet for neighbors. Not sure how loud a supersonic airgun is, or if they're even common, but I assume sub 1100fps would be best.

As an aside, are there any regulations I need to be aware of regarding discharge? Or is it more the less the same as a .22 when one crosses 500fps? I'm in BC by the way.
 
500fps and up is PAL country so the same as any other non restricted firearms.

Basic "air gun" catagories are;
- spring action (break barrels and under levers mostly)
- co2
- PCP (basically co2 but compressed air at very high pressure)

My favourite are the precharged pneumatic (PCP) with magazines though they can be more complicated to get into and maintain. Spring are the simplest (steel spring or gas piston) but have other issues such as large size, being rough on optics, and being less forgiving of your shooting forum. CO2 can be a good option but tend to be lower powered compared to the other two types.

For further information I recommend the Canadian Airgun Forum, great Airgun nuts there.
https://www.airgunforum.ca/forums/
 
This is one of my Stormriders/CR600 rifles. Rifles like this one can be adjusted to be PAL or sub PAL rated and come in .177, .22, and .25 cal and are single shot or mag feed.
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Depending on the pests you are mentioning, you may also be bumping up against the WL Act, Migratory Birds Convention Act, SARA, and what have you.
Rats and Pigeons are one thing, crows, Ravens, and Magpies another.
Careful there.
 
For 25 yards a .177 at about 1000 feet per second is ideal... flat shooting and sufficient power. Keeping it sub sonic (less than about 1050 f/s) improves accuracy.

I have one of the finest pcp's (Air Arms S510xs using 10 shot magazines) and really love it. With a 10.34 grain pellet at 1025 f/s at 20 yards it shoots one hole groups barely larger than one pellet.

AirArms.jpg
 
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A long barreled bolt action 22 and subsonic rounds. Pretty darn quiet. 22 shorts are just about silent outdoors. $20 gets you 100 rounds.
 
Grizzlypeg said:
A long barreled bolt action 22 and subsonic rounds. Pretty darn quiet. 22 shorts are just about silent outdoors. $20 gets you 100 rounds.
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On this subject I have a long barrelled mini Martini that is so quiet with 22 subsonic loads that the firing pin dropping is the loudest sound it makes. It is much quieter than my higher powered airguns.
 
Grizzlypeg said:
A long barreled bolt action 22 and subsonic rounds. Pretty darn quiet. 22 shorts are just about silent outdoors. $20 gets you 100 rounds.
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This is by far the simplest option. I didn't realize .22 shorts are so quiet, I thought they'd still crack.
It's been a while -- you can shoot .22 shorts in a regular .22 right? I'm 99% confident you can, but again, it's been a while.
 
guntech said:
For 25 yards a .177 at about 1000 feet per second is ideal... flat shooting and sufficient power. Keeping it sub sonic (less than about 1050 f/s) improves accuracy.

I have one of the finest pcp's (Air Arms S510xs using 10 shot magazines) and really love it. With a 10.34 grain pellet at 1025 f/s at 20 yards it shoots one hole groups barely larger than one pellet.

View attachment 931349
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Excellent. Stupid question but how do you charge it? Compressed air?
 
Beeron said:
Depending on the pests you are mentioning, you may also be bumping up against the WL Act, Migratory Birds Convention Act, SARA, and what have you.
Rats and Pigeons are one thing, crows, Ravens, and Magpies another.
Careful there.
Click to expand...
Ah yes, good point.

Pests in question would be chickens-related, so I imagine primarily rats, possibly raccoons.
 
Rohann said:
This is by far the simplest option. I didn't realize .22 shorts are so quiet, I thought they'd still crack.
It's been a while -- you can shoot .22 shorts in a regular .22 right? I'm 99% confident you can, but again, it's been a while.
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Yes you can. We used a box of 22 shorts my dad had, out in the field to shoot at some cans, and all you heard was the firing pin slam, and the can go plunk. You could carry on a conversation over the little sound it made. I believe most shorts shoot at under 1000 fps. I have set up my air rifle to shoot at around 800fps and at 50 yards it is still deadly on small targets.
 
The segmented is good for pest but use RNL if you might be going after squirrels or bunnies for dinner -Same Quiet @ 710 fps.
 
Something to think about power wise is subsonics might not have the oomph necesary to penetrate a skull if shot head on.

Case in point I shot a skunk at my dads last week. About 32-35 yards from the garage to the chicken coop. It was facing me and wasn't turning so I couldn't try and pop him in the spine or lungs. Hit it head on right in the forehead a bit above the eyes. It fell sideways and went stiff legged. Looked like it was still moving, maybe, so I gave it another one for good measure.

Now when I walked up to the thing it hadn't sprayed which was odd. Upon closer inspection it appears the 2 rounds of 40 grain CCI subsonics just bounced off the skull due to the angle of the bone. Turns out I'd just knocked it out because it was still breathing but out cold.

Things got stinky after the third shot from up close. (Wasn't my idea, I wanted to move the sleepy skunk away from the chicken coop, the old man said just shoot it, so I obliged)

Now that I'm thinking of it though this might be a effective way of getting rid of skunks without them spraying where they're shot. Knock it out then move it and finish the job further out away from the house ...
 
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Smokinyotes said:
So are you planning on picking up a “sleeping skunk” under your arm or what is your proposal. I prefer just to whack them with the 12 ga.
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Of course not. I might be stupid, but I'm not brave.

Grabbing it with a garbage bag same as you would a dog turd and bring it far from the house would be the plan. Then drop it out of the bag and finish the job... and if it wakes up on the way well, drop the bag and run away I suppose. Stop at a safe distance, take aim and wait for mr.confused skunk to find/tear his way out the garbage bag.
 
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