I'm looking at getting a pellet pistol for grouse when I go moose hunting. I'm in Ontario so as it states in the regs, "Air and pellet pistols with a muzzle velocity less than 152 metres (500 feet) per second may be used for hunting in Ontario." so I'm looking at getting an accurate pistol to take a few grouse and hoping to won't be too expensive, I don't care too much about what type of action but accuracy is very important. Thanks
Pellet Pistol for grouse
- Thread starter colin456
- Start date
idontknowjack
CGN Regular
- Location
- SW Ontario
Get a Webley Alecto. Multi-stroke pneumatic. Can get them in .177 or .22 and very accurate. Plenty strong enough to take grouse.
Either the Cr1322 or the Benji HB22 would be good if you want new.
An older .22 cal Crosman 1322 can be found, if all wood and steel is what you are after, and can afford the search time. There were a couple different versions, I rather liked the ones with the cocking knob on the back of the action.
If you are willing to put a little work and some aftermarket parts into it, you can replace a bunch of the plastic stuff with wood, as well as adjust them to give you a bit closer to the speed limit. Mass x velocity equals energy at target, so, since velocity is fixed (max 499 fps) the bigger pellet is the better choice. The .22 pellets are easier to handle with cold hands, too, and the pump pneumatic air arms are not sensitive to the cold like a CO2 gun is.
Cheers
Trev
An older .22 cal Crosman 1322 can be found, if all wood and steel is what you are after, and can afford the search time. There were a couple different versions, I rather liked the ones with the cocking knob on the back of the action.
If you are willing to put a little work and some aftermarket parts into it, you can replace a bunch of the plastic stuff with wood, as well as adjust them to give you a bit closer to the speed limit. Mass x velocity equals energy at target, so, since velocity is fixed (max 499 fps) the bigger pellet is the better choice. The .22 pellets are easier to handle with cold hands, too, and the pump pneumatic air arms are not sensitive to the cold like a CO2 gun is.
Cheers
Trev
- Location
- Niagara Region, Ontario. For now
I gotta question the lethality of such a pellet gun on a grouse.
Hell I have hit em with .22 HP's and they have flown into the thick stuff with a golf ball sized hole in their backs. Took some time to find them after that.
They seem to be tuff little birds around here......
Hell I have hit em with .22 HP's and they have flown into the thick stuff with a golf ball sized hole in their backs. Took some time to find them after that.
They seem to be tuff little birds around here......
I used a webley tempest in .22 on a deer hunt once, just to say I did. It's faster for follow up shots when you miss. Headshots only though. I think I shot 4 times before I connected. It's nice since it's a single pump for full power.
I've killed a few with pellet pistols.
Headshots are a must for a quick kill. The same as hunting them with a .22
OccasionallyOnTarget
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Burnaby, BC
Just go with the SKS ...
- Location
- Just West of the GTA
I carried a crosman 2240 (.22 Co2) for the last couple of deer hunts. The pistol is very accurate - I can do dime size groups at 10 yards with it. It does have a good punch to it considering it's modest velocity.
The drawback to it is its effect on game varies a lot. It's funny that mine will go through two soup cans (maybe it was 1.5 soup cans) but doesn't always work that well on game. There was the rabbit that took far to many shots, the first 2 shots were within 5 yards and I could see the fur move - solid hits. The rabbit didn't move! It was a mess. I was with someone else and we were able to find the rabbit in the bush, but it took a long long time to catch up with it. I have found that shots on game with one of these pistols needs to be perfect with a .22 air pistol. I wouldn't bother with a .177. A buddy of mine has taken many cottontails with his sub 500 FPS .177, but we have found the snowshoes to be tougher. And as someone else has mentioned even a .22 fire arm doesn't alwasy anchor a grouse when hit.
The above experiences have led me to abandon the pellet pistol in favour of small game loads for my 30.06.
The drawback to it is its effect on game varies a lot. It's funny that mine will go through two soup cans (maybe it was 1.5 soup cans) but doesn't always work that well on game. There was the rabbit that took far to many shots, the first 2 shots were within 5 yards and I could see the fur move - solid hits. The rabbit didn't move! It was a mess. I was with someone else and we were able to find the rabbit in the bush, but it took a long long time to catch up with it. I have found that shots on game with one of these pistols needs to be perfect with a .22 air pistol. I wouldn't bother with a .177. A buddy of mine has taken many cottontails with his sub 500 FPS .177, but we have found the snowshoes to be tougher. And as someone else has mentioned even a .22 fire arm doesn't alwasy anchor a grouse when hit.
The above experiences have led me to abandon the pellet pistol in favour of small game loads for my 30.06.
I killed a bunch of grouse with my Crosman 1322. Be patient, get close, and it works. I used Crosman flat wadcutter pellets and aimed for the base of the neck. A hit would result in a loud "WHAP!" and a grouse convulsing on the ground. Missing is no fun as it gets old really fast pumping up. My wife laughed her a$$ off watching me chase a flock through the trees but we did eat grouse that night.
I have an old (got it as a birthday present almost 25 years ago) 1377. I can hit pop cans with it out past 40 yards. I wouldn't hesitate to use it on small game at (much) closer ranges with the proper pellets. If you could get one with the stock it would handle much nicer.
Ontario Hillbilly
Regular
- Location
- Parry Sound
Like hunting with firearms, ammo selection is important. Look at pellets like the polymag which are a polymer tipped hollow point, they yaw violently and create a devastating wound channel in small game. The heavy eunjin 28gr pellets hit hard as well. Forget the basic pellet designs for hunting.
Pumping 8-10 times for maximum power will really add to the challenge. If its possible to carry a CO2 pistol inside your jacket so it stays warm then thats what I would choose, a 2240 and it can be modded to just under 500fps. I find almost all small game require headshots even at higher power levels to be sure of a clean kill, so practice a lot first.
ipscgraz
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I wonder if a single shot 22 LR slung over your back wouldn't be a better idea. CCI makes some "quiet" 22 ammo that is not really any louder than a pellet gun but hits at 700 + FPS and is far more accurate than the Crosman 1322 I had years ago...
I believe they are okay in some areas for class C (pests). Don't have the regs handy. Even so, I suggest >> 500 fps or .22lr. My experience was that even a .22 at just under 500 fps was iffy on big squirrels. Before sub-500 airguns were banned (by-law) within city limits here in lotus land, I had a squirrel problem and used the 2240 to good effect for a while. Then I had a close-range centre-chest hit on a robust squirrel that just turned around and yelled at me, ran off, and came back a few days later and took revenge. He even sprung the rat traps and dragged the traps off and hid them. It was an unusual experience...maybe he was wearing armor.
Maybe I shouldn't have sold the SKS?
