At camp we have some squirrel problems and I would like to know if I need a high vel air gun to get rid of them. Shots are about 15 metres. Will a 177 do it or is a 22 more in line with dispatching? Also, I've read many times that the high vel pieces are not very accurate and I'd really like to have all the accuracy I can get. I don't want to injure the critters. Will a heavy 22 pellet at sub 500 do the job or do I need the extra velocity. I've also read that the "rats with bushy tails" have a thick skin so any thoughts? Thanks for all your advice.
squirrels
- Thread starter big boar
- Start date
I smoked a good many small red squirrels at my cabin with a lever action BB gun. First shot knocks them down, second one finishes. I didn't try any long shots. Next I used a CO2 pistol with sharp pellets. That worked like a charm.
I had the squirrel problem at home in the attic this summer. bought some bird feeders and sure enough they set up camp and started having young ones (close to steady food supply). I used an old cross man .22 cal pistol and flashlight for the attic shots and out door shots. Not sure if they make them anymore but accurate and enough oomfff to take them to squirrel heaven.
I have a Diana M34 .177 air rifle. It delivers the punch. [c.1000 fps] Squirrels do not stand a chance if hit with this properly.
Very accurate as well. will stay under a dime at 30 Meters with hunting pellets. Target ones are even better.
Regards, Dave.
Very accurate as well. will stay under a dime at 30 Meters with hunting pellets. Target ones are even better.
Regards, Dave.
- Location
- West Quebec
Sent many of the pesky critters to the happy hunting grounds with the 177 pellets
- Location
- South Ontario
Pesky squirrels? Eating your crops????
Actually, what you really need is a hunting licence, everything else just kinda falls in place after that.
Not all of those "495 feet per second" rifles are going that speed. A friend bought a quality Diana 24 recently. Shot it over a chrony. 330 fps. He opened her up, took out the "canadianizing" washers and replaced the shortened main spring. That one wouldn't be a squirrel rifle even at 15 yards.
If you were going to spend around $300.00 the a Diana280 .177 wouldn't have those under powered problems, I have one and was quite happy with its velocity as well its very accurate. http://www.airgunforum.ca/store/product_info.php?cPath=22_31&products_id=134
1965 Benjamin Sheridan .22cal pump up air rifle does the trick out to approx 50yds or my back yard to the telephone wires in the back lane. 10 pumps and a hollow point slug will go through a 1by 6 fence board like it was nothing. Shoot every squirrel that you see they chew on the telephone cables, they seem to like the hum that is on the copper cables but they do not touch the fiber optic cables.
