Pellot pistol for grouse.

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Amelio

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New the the site. This topic has probably been covered in the past but I will.ask anyway.

I do some big game Hunting in northern ontario and usually carry a larger caliber rifle with me and run into ruffled grouse . I thought about buying a small pellet pistol under 500 feet per second to carry with me but think it would be underpowered for the bird.

The only hunting I did with a pellet gun was when I was a kid a break open crossman under 500fps it was okay for birds but not.great for squirrels.

Has anyone had any success with air pistols and grouse.
 
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I have done this myself over the past few years. First it started as a novelty to take my pistol out with my usual bird guns to change it up a bit and make it a little more challenging. Then I started bringing it along on big game hunts to quietly get birds while still carrying my rifle as you are referring to. I have an earlier version of the crosman vigilante revolver, and I have been very successful with it. I got this one because it was inexpensive, had a longer barrel and sight radius (as it is a revolver model), no blowback action, had a larger magazine capacity, single action capable and is very easy to use. However everyone has different tastes. I suggest to go with a well known maker and non blowback action. Its up to you if you want a single shot or magazine fed after that to guide your search.
 
I've tried a variety of "big box" pellet pistols over the years. I found those compact enough to easily carry along with you, to be inaccurate and underpowered. (Powerful enough to kill grouse with a head shot, but not accurate enough to hit a bobbing bird brain)

Those that are powerful enough tend to be either bulky, or loud.

I had a cross man .22 backpacker that fit the bill well, but it required 10 pumps (each quite loud in itself)


Sling shot works well enough, but it takes some seriou s practice. I found the biggest ball bearings I could find were the easiest to shoot consistently (pulled some 1 inch bearings out of a scrapped prop)


And then there's always options like "mouse fart" loads if you hand load, or the Hammond game getter if your a factory ammo guy. These are your best options for size/weight and convenience. Still a little loud though.

You could always get a Rossi ranch hand or mares leg in .22 and get some CCI quiets or CBs.

Last November, when I new I was going to be more or less stationary the one day, I just took compound bow with me and some magnus bull heads.



So yeah. Lots of options. All of them fun :)
 
I've shot lots with a single shot 22 cal pump air pistol , it was a crossman . Shoot for the head and if you miss they let you have 2nd and 3rd shots a big percentage of the time . Big fun and better eating than deer big time IMO
 
i tried this with single shot Crossman 22 ....... follow up shots where painfully slow .... and unfortunately almost always needed .

a ruger 10/22 or even better a dlask version of the 10/22 with a 12 inch barrel is a much better choice .

what i use right now is a lever action rifle in 45 colt , with loads moving below the speed of sound ( so they are fairly quiet) and just shoot their heads off ...... or i just let my dog catch them and crush their head .
 
That's what I thought grouse are well.built.birds. head shots would work but a very small target. Maybe a slingshot would be my best option read with some practice they can be quite accurate. Powerful as well.
 
With practice the head shots are easy at 10-20 yds . If they bob you miss with whatever . I head shoot with a 22 lr as well you ruin all the meat otherwise . And if they drop dead the other birds don't spook UNTILL one starts flopping around . Can't see a sling shot being easier IMO
 
Has anyone tried something like a crosman. 22 6 shot pellet revolver, tucked in to keep CO2 warm? That should work really well up to 10 yards in single action.
 
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Keithjohn said:
With practice the head shots are easy at 10-20 yds . If they bob you miss with whatever . I head shoot with a 22 lr as well you ruin all the meat otherwise . And if they drop dead the other birds don't spook UNTILL one starts flopping around . Can't see a sling shot being easier IMO
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With the big 1 inch ball bearings, I'd just take body shots. Slow enough to not ruin the meat, but enough energy to end their day I always follow up with a quick beheading anyway.
 
Keithjohn said:
With practice the head shots are easy at 10-20 yds . If they bob you miss with whatever . I head shoot with a 22 lr as well you ruin all the meat otherwise . And if they drop dead the other birds don't spook UNTILL one starts flopping around . Can't see a sling shot being easier IMO
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When i shoot.them with a 22 lr I usually aim along the upper profile of the bird it's spine. Pretty big target area and I damage no meet except maybe a wing.
 
Amelio said:
When i shoot.them with a 22 lr I usually aim along the upper profile of the bird it's spine. Pretty big target area and I damage no meet except maybe a wing.
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Ya,that's perfect . With the 22 on a cool morning and a tree full of grouse I always try for 6/6 I've managed to get 4/6 before one starts doing the funky chicken . Got to say it's more of a challenge than deer at 200 yds and just as hard to get as that 6/6 buck
Ah to get both one day
 
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LarryG said:
Has anyone tried something like a crosman. 22 6 shot pellet revolver, tucked in to keep CO2 warm? That should work really well up to 10 yards in single action.
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I was thinking that might work well too ...... except most provinces have regulations something along the lines that handgun hunting isn't allowed ..... do they consider a co2 powered revolver as a handgun ?
 
How reliable is the c02 in cooler temp. Thinking about -5 c. Was looking at a few but on the fence weather to try one or to keep taking the head off with the 410.
 
burnt_servo said:
I was thinking that might work well too ...... except most provinces have regulations something along the lines that handgun hunting isn't allowed ..... do they consider a co2 powered revolver as a handgun ?
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In ontario you are allowed to hunt with a pellet pistol under 500fps.

Anyone ever tried that crossman pump single shot 22. I think it's 495 fps ten pumps long barrel. I forget the model number
 
Amelio said:
In ontario you are allowed to hunt with a pellet pistol under 500fps.

Anyone ever tried that crossman pump single shot 22. I think it's 495 fps ten pumps long barrel. I forget the model number
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That's the one I had , there great , I gave mine to a kid that doesn't use it , oops , hope he will some day I guess I never really appreciated it UNTILL I was an adult either
 
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