.22" is likely better in terms of dumping energy into the critter without over-penetration and pass-through. That is if you're talking about sub-500fps air rifles. A .22" at 490fps with an RWS Hobby 11.9gr pellet is sub-PAL, and delivers approximately 5fpe at 60 feet. A .177" pellet weighing 7gr and travelling 490fps delivers only about 3fpe at the target range you specify. I'm going by about a 1/4 loss of energy from the muzzle energies of 6.35fpe and 3.73fpe for the above pellets respectively. With a well placed hit, 5fpe should be enough. 3fpe is unlikely to do the job humanely. If you're going to PAL-rated velocities then it comes down more to blast noise in your circumstances. Still, a .22" is more efficient and likely quieter at any given power level. A 20fpe .22" is likely quieter than a 20fpe .177" with similar power plants, as the 177" has to push a lot faster to achieve the same energy level. If I were picking a sub-500fps rifle for this Jo I'd go with a nitro piston .22" and use JSB Exact Express 13.43gr pellets. Closest I have to that is a QB57 in .22". It's quiet and quite accurate.
Squirrel rifle
- Thread starter linderhof
- Start date
First priority is accuracy and 177 will fly flatter and be more forgiving but at low power levels, I would agree with Gerard because 22 will deliver more energy. Just be sure to learn your ranges if you are not always shooting your zeroed distance and get as close as possible.
Why are you killing red squirrels? Native red squirrels may not yet have 'threatened' status but it's just a matter of time owing to the rapid expansion of the larger, disease-bearing, predatory Eastern Greys. I've yet to hear any justification for the hunting of red squirrels or chipmunks beyond 'they're squirrels so I shoot 'em.' The grey squirrels are the ones damaging house wiring and insulation, bringing urine and feces into house walls and ceilings, and of course destroying gardens. Is red squirrel hunting/trapping a recreational thing?
I've never had a problem with red squirrels but, they were thick at my in-laws camp. This is how he dealt with them. I just secured the items of interest to the squirrels, at my place.. The dog pretty much kept them at bay without getting into trouble.
Well I can see how a decent rat trap would probably work just as it does on smaller rats, red squirrels being small, usually under 1 pound. On greys you'd be torturing them. My average grey is over 2 pounds, some reaching 3 pounds. It'd be a lot like using steel jawed traps on wolves; a damaged or missing foot seems the most likely outcome. So far the best trap I've seen for grey squirrels is peanut butter in a plastic bowl - but of course everyone's seen that Youtube video by now. Hilarious.
But seriously, on larger squirrels you need at LEAST 5fpe at point of impact. As much as I understand the flatter trajectory with a SAME POWER LEVEL .177", that's not what I was saying regarding sub-500fps airguns. At the same velocity a .177" has EXACTLY the same trajectory as a .22" or a .30" for that matter, you know, the whole Newtonian physics thing applying to pellet lead and all. But at, for example, 10fpe, the .22" is going to be going a lot slower than the .177" to achieve that muzzle energy, so of course the .177" is going to be more of a 'laser' at closer ranges. Hence it's use by preference among field target competitors. I use a .22" just under 20fpe for HFT, as I'm not a serious competitor just shooting for fun, and typically score in the 90% to 95% range of possible results. I use a card with the trajectory mapped out by Chairgun and just do my best to estimate distance (no rangefinders allowed in HFT) and use the appropriate holdover. Same on grey squirrels. Between 11 and 29 metres I don't worry about holdover or holdunder. Closer and further away I have to consult my card. Chairgun's numbers, calculated using accurate input data on my part, always delivers accurately inside 50 metres. I've heard some complaining that it's less useful at longer ranges but I haven't done a lot of shooting further out to confirm. At 75 yards (another forum had an informal competition running at that distance) it seemed spot on for my QB78D.
But seriously, on larger squirrels you need at LEAST 5fpe at point of impact. As much as I understand the flatter trajectory with a SAME POWER LEVEL .177", that's not what I was saying regarding sub-500fps airguns. At the same velocity a .177" has EXACTLY the same trajectory as a .22" or a .30" for that matter, you know, the whole Newtonian physics thing applying to pellet lead and all. But at, for example, 10fpe, the .22" is going to be going a lot slower than the .177" to achieve that muzzle energy, so of course the .177" is going to be more of a 'laser' at closer ranges. Hence it's use by preference among field target competitors. I use a .22" just under 20fpe for HFT, as I'm not a serious competitor just shooting for fun, and typically score in the 90% to 95% range of possible results. I use a card with the trajectory mapped out by Chairgun and just do my best to estimate distance (no rangefinders allowed in HFT) and use the appropriate holdover. Same on grey squirrels. Between 11 and 29 metres I don't worry about holdover or holdunder. Closer and further away I have to consult my card. Chairgun's numbers, calculated using accurate input data on my part, always delivers accurately inside 50 metres. I've heard some complaining that it's less useful at longer ranges but I haven't done a lot of shooting further out to confirm. At 75 yards (another forum had an informal competition running at that distance) it seemed spot on for my QB78D.
squirrelshooter
CGN Regular
- Location
- Near Sudbury, Ont.
I've only used .22 pellets for squirrels. Now I live in the boonies, I pick 'em off with my Savage MK 2. The .177 doesn't seem to drop them as well unless you get a head shot, even then, with a sub 500 fps gun it might just screw them up, instead of killing them right away. I used a Phantom .22 that I modified or a QB78 knockoff in .22
canadaman30
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Far from the City
Shoot a pal rated gun in a Ontario subdivision..? Good luck when they come in swat gear...lmao
I had a pellet pistol. Does not kill them but they will slowly disappear and will not come back for years to come. Learned that 40 years ago as a kid when my parents wondered where all the squirrels went even with my dad feeding them everyday. Dad bought me the pistol. LOL
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- Location
- Chateauguay
I have a $50 crossman 2240 Co2 pistol, I changed the breach for a metal one added a stock and a 18 inch barrel, I "had" problems with rabbits eating my shrubs awesome and very precise up to 50- 60 feet. I hit dime size targets 4 out of 5 in my basement (40 feet) with a cheap UTG bug buster scope. (not the one on the pic, that's an even cheaper center point from wallmart lol)
Sound wise in daylight with normal street noise it blends
Pic
EDIT: They also hit hard enough to kill or to make nice flowers when they hit steel loll (used them as decoration on my computer case)
Sound wise in daylight with normal street noise it blends
Pic
EDIT: They also hit hard enough to kill or to make nice flowers when they hit steel loll (used them as decoration on my computer case)
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When shooting them have the radio on to cover the air gun sound.
Another way is peanut butter, bread, yeast and bowls of water. Go to Costco and get a big can of yeast, big jar
of peanut butter and loaf of bread. Put the bread up high where the squirrels can get it.
The yeast will make them want a drink of water.....yeast expands and kills them. Works on rats also
Another way is peanut butter, bread, yeast and bowls of water. Go to Costco and get a big can of yeast, big jar
of peanut butter and loaf of bread. Put the bread up high where the squirrels can get it.
The yeast will make them want a drink of water.....yeast expands and kills them. Works on rats also
There are squirrels infesting my dad's tool shed, so I told him I'd try to deal with them with a .22 pellet gun. I came by and ended up taking 3 squirrels in 3 shots; and brained them all cleanly. He says they're still all over the place and we might have to move on to poison or something...
Wow. I had no idea what deadly dangerous critters squirrels were.
In areas where they are introduced pests, like the Greys apparently are in BC and the UK, then by all means I would shoot every one possible, but it would be because of their negative effects on the local ecology. I have always lived with lots of squirrels around, and aside from the occasionally chewed-up bird feeder I have never had any damage as a result. Greys and Reds are both native here and if I had them "infesting" my attic or outbuildings, I would probably respond by excluding them from the structures, i.e. plug up the holes...but since I don't have holes in my house to begin with, it's a non-issue. As soon as they start tearing apart buildings and chewing holes through solid steel and concrete, I'll start worrying about what to do. This thread sure has me on high alert!
In areas where they are introduced pests, like the Greys apparently are in BC and the UK, then by all means I would shoot every one possible, but it would be because of their negative effects on the local ecology. I have always lived with lots of squirrels around, and aside from the occasionally chewed-up bird feeder I have never had any damage as a result. Greys and Reds are both native here and if I had them "infesting" my attic or outbuildings, I would probably respond by excluding them from the structures, i.e. plug up the holes...but since I don't have holes in my house to begin with, it's a non-issue. As soon as they start tearing apart buildings and chewing holes through solid steel and concrete, I'll start worrying about what to do. This thread sure has me on high alert!
monster hunter
CGN Regular
- Location
- nova scotia
make a box with a small door(keeps out other animals like cats) and use a rat trap and peanut butter. using a pellet gun could get you in trouble with the law.
Most urban areas have prohibitions against air rifle usage. Some provinces like NB consider squirrels to be commercial furbearing animals and prohibit hunting with a firearm without a trappers license. All provinces allow removal of nuisance animals but some require it done by licensed professionals. Check your by-laws and province Fish and Game Act first.
I recently purchased a crosman phantom .22 nitro to deal with a severe squirrel infestation on our farm. We use a lot of grain to feed livestock so we end up attracting a lot of critters. I've never been an air rifle fan but this one has definitely made me a convert.
One shot and the little bastard is done, no noise to bother the neighbours and very accurate for the short distance. Don't no how many I've dispatched but enough that there has been a dramatic decrease in the population.
One shot and the little bastard is done, no noise to bother the neighbours and very accurate for the short distance. Don't no how many I've dispatched but enough that there has been a dramatic decrease in the population.
Do you have a fence - a wooden fence in your backyard ?? if so just below the edge make a little house for them with a little ramp to get inside of it . and place a rat trap with some peanut butter on it . make it so you can remove the house to look inside it . I know a guy at work who had the same problem and he made this house with windows etc and a hinged lid . the windows made it inviteing. not dark.
I told him to try this and he killed all kinds of the little buggers. as for a pellet rifle I have shot some with a 177 Slavia 620 around 500fps or so and it did a lousy job . I would perfur a 22 caliber pellet rifle or a 22 with CBs. the problem with the CBs is if you miss you could mess up the next door neighbour.good luck .
I told him to try this and he killed all kinds of the little buggers. as for a pellet rifle I have shot some with a 177 Slavia 620 around 500fps or so and it did a lousy job . I would perfur a 22 caliber pellet rifle or a 22 with CBs. the problem with the CBs is if you miss you could mess up the next door neighbour.good luck .
LMAO! Be afraid, very afraid!
Well that sounds like a problem. If you're taking shots with ANYTHING where there isn't a safe backstop it's a safety concern, not just with low-powered .22lr ammunition. A pellet can hurt and in rare cases even kill. Look at the fiasco with airgun registration in Scotland right now. The national police were against it, but parliament brought in a new sweeping law which automatically turned hundreds of thousands of airgunners into criminals, mostly because one disturbed teenager shot and killed a toddler across his street with an airgun. Your intentions aren't what matters where safety is concerned. What matters is that we never take unsafe shots, regardless of the weapon type or power level.
Hey thanks for the info Gerard and thats the reason why I said be careful . I have been shooting since I was 12 years old or younger. they used to kill people dueing WW2 with highpowered air guns . so your not telling me anything new.
