Me and my hunting buddies have been tossing around the idea of carrying a pellet pistol for harvesting grouse and squirrels while big game hunting. The idea being that it would be a fairly silent way to dispatch small game without alerting the large game too much. Obviously these would be sub 500fps. Anyone use something like this or have suggestions for CO2 pistols that are fairly accurate?
Pellet Pistol Hunting
- Thread starter Cletus26
- Start date
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
I wish, not legal in bc unfortunately. Had a crossman pump single shot pellet pistol as a kid, have no doubt it would kill a grouse. It was deadly accurate out to 15-25 yrd’s, pump the crap out of it and it would shoot further.
I used to carry a slingshot for the same reason as BC is a no go for pistols when I was at work and hunting. No idea how many grouse I killed with ball bearings over a couple decades, but it was a lot.
Any C02 pistol accurate enough to make headshots will work inside 15 yards, past that you will want one of the pump action Crossman jobbies.
Any C02 pistol accurate enough to make headshots will work inside 15 yards, past that you will want one of the pump action Crossman jobbies.
- Location
- West Central Alberta
I carried a Crossman in a holster for a few years and I shot several chickens with it but they had to be close (15-20 feet) in order for me to get a head shot. But it was getting cumbersome so I no longer pack it with me in the bush. But to answer your question yes they work just fine. *thumbs up*
We have used pellet pistols on grouse and hares for 40+ years and have shot literally thousands. We have used many, many different types of pellet guns, both rifles and pistols. Some of our favorites are Benjamin EB20/EB22 CO2 pistols and HB20/HB22 pneumatic pistols and Sheridan C9 rifles in .20 cal and .22 cal... but the rifles are 500+ fps.
Here is a picture of my son taken more than 20 years ago.
Here is a picture of my son taken more than 20 years ago.
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Hopefully not in BC
I tried this out when I lived in a province that allowed it. I found it was a novelty, but very limited practical utility.
It's all relative, but I think quality pellet pistols are really not all that much quieter, smaller, or lighter than a Chiappa Little Badger with 22CB ammunition. Not to mention the cold weather problems with air guns...
reddog9x19
CGN frequent flyer
Interesting idea. Anyone know if this is legal in Bantario?
sure is do it all the time
reddog9x19
CGN frequent flyer
Thanks!
Forget semi auto and forget quick follow-up shots... generally not necessary for grouse or hares. My all time favorite is the HB20 with Beeman Kodiak 14.3 grain pellets, which require pumping it eight times before each shot and we still manage to kill limits of birds while moose hunting.
Probably best off with a springer or a pump as co2 losses much velocity when it gets cold out and pick your place to shoot . I still use my old Webly Tempest . A rabbits skull is like an egg shell and they are easy to kill . For a grouse the best shot is square in the back as the feathers are the thinnest with little meat to get through and your pellet will penetrate to the vitals and maybe shoot through . The head and neck are smaller targets making them harder to hit but do it if you can . A co2 pistol that shoots 450 fps at 70 degrees may only be shooting 310 fps at 10 degrees . I've choreographed many of them and co2 is very temperature sensitive .
