Pellet Guns. Do you own one? Use it often?

[NotSoFast]

I just bought a Crosman pellet gun at Big 5 for $55 plus tax and a box of pellets. While there's not much need to use it for pest control here, I was wondering if you have one and do you use it much?

Also, they would be much cheaper to practice with than even a .22.

What are your thoughts on pellet guns, either pistols or rifles? And I'm not talking one of those kid's Daisy BB guns.

[cinok]

My boys each have a CO2 pellet rifle that is semi automatic. It has a clip that holds 12 pellets. They use it for target practice and have got a couple of rabbits from moms garden LOL

[NCLee]

I keep one of those "kids" Daisy BB guns in the closet by the front door. :)

Good way to send dogs from a nearby subdivision back home. Don't want to kill them, just sting them enough to send them packing. It will be a different story when we get chickens again. (Soon, I hope!)

Anyway, I'd like to learn more about pellet guns, too. Looked at them a WalMart the other day. Wondered just how useful they'd be around the homestead. ??

Lee

[neparose]

I would also like to learn more about co2 pellet guns. I was under the impression that the charge peters out after only a few shots and so loses accuracy. Does anyone know if they have improved over the last 5 years or so? Or perhaps theres a brand that preforms better?
rose

[cinok]

This is the one my boys have. It seems to hold the same charge at 10 yards when they are shooting.
http://www.crosman.com/airguns/rifles/co2/1077

[DM]

I have 5 or 6 of them around, but the best two that i have are RWS 45's. I've chronographed them with heavy pellets at nearly 900fps and over 1,000fps with the lighter pellets.

It's very accurate and will take small game if needed.

DM

[NotSoFast]

I would also like to learn more about co2 pellet guns. I was under the impression that the charge peters out after only a few shots and so loses accuracy. Does anyone know if they have improved over the last 5 years or so? Or perhaps theres a brand that preforms better?
rose

Yes, they have improved. And so have the costs for those improved guns. You can now pay up to $600 or more for a break action pellet rifle. :confused:

The one I bought is a single shot, one pump, bolt action pistol. I have to pump it rather than rely on a CO2 bottle that will run out. I save on costs that way. By the way, CO2 pellet guns seem to cost more than the one I bought.

[NotSoFast]

This is the one my boys have. It seems to hold the same charge at 10 yards when they are shooting.
http://www.crosman.com/airguns/rifles/co2/1077

Here is the pistol I bought.
http://www.crosman.com/airguns/pistols/1377C

one thing I like about it is that there is a cutout that is a natural resting place for my trigger finger on the stock just in front of the trigger housing.

[rice paddy daddy]

I had been using a Ruger Single Six with CCI shotshells for rat control in the stalls and feed shed, but the wife wanted something quieter for herself, so we got a Crosman break barrel .177. She didn't have the strength to cock it, so we got her a Crosman CO2 BB pistol, looks like a 45 Auto. It will do a number on a rat! The pellet rifle would have been overkill, I'm sure it would have gone right thru the rat and thru the 1/2" CDX plywood walls as well. I'm in the process of scoping it to use as a plinker.

[NotSoFast]

It would definitely be quieter than a Single Six. lol

So how long does a CO2 cartridge last?

[fancifowl]

I have a .177 Gamo single shot w. heavy bbl & 3-9 scope, about $350 new. its plenty accurate, 3 in one hole @ 20 yds. I use it where I cant shoot the .22LR like towards the house and road an so on. Its a lot more lethal than snake shot in a .22 Lr. got to hit a rabbit in the head to kill it. I like it .

[nhlivefreeordie]

I agree with DM, I also have an Model 34 Premium RWS Diana pellet rifle. I have killed coons with it, and it has been a great gun. The action is easy enough that my kids could use it, the pointed pellets are the way to go. Mine is .177 and can push a pellet 1000fps.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v86/dj88ryr/34Prem_mitt.jpg

[NotSoFast]

Nice looking rifle. I might just be looking to add one to my collection of arms.

[NotSoFast]

I have a .177 Gamo single shot w. heavy bbl & 3-9 scope, about $350 new. its plenty accurate, 3 in one hole @ 20 yds. I use it where I cant shoot the .22LR like towards the house and road an so on. Its a lot more lethal than snake shot in a .22 Lr. got to hit a rabbit in the head to kill it. I like it .I would imagine it is more lethal than snake shot.

[Rimfire_Red]

In the 1970's we had a pump pellet gun. It would shut the neighor's Airedale up for 3 days. Mom would get him right in the rear. (They would let him out and he would bark under my folk's bedroom window when he was out......all night.) She was wicked with it when it came to chipmunks too.....killed 78 that were undermining the foundation of their last new home in Minnesota the fall they moved in!!

[nhlivefreeordie]

Nice looking rifle. I might just be looking to add one to my collection of arms.

It is great for eliminating nuisance varmints...:wink:...but you wouldn't want to point it at something you didn't want to injure or kill, as in, not for scaring off the neighbors dog, a wrist rocket and ball bearing work for that.:yes4:

[backlash]

I bought one to chase the dogs away.
Animal control guy told me I would be liable for injuries if I used a non lethal gun to shoot nusisance animals since I was not trying to kill them.
His advice was to shoot to kill and use a gun that was big enough to do the job.
The neighbor took care of the problem before I could when they went after his new colt.
My pellet gun just sits in the corner collecting dust.

[nhlivefreeordie]

I would have told the animal control guy, that since I only shoot my pellet gun on my property, there should be no problem with the neighbors animals...as long as the neighbors kept their pets under their control. I couldn't be held responsible for neighbors animals that trespassed.:D
In most instances, I would not shoot a neighbors dog unless it was threatening, which I did do up in NH after my youngest was bitten in my own yard. After, I called the police and told them they could send their animal control officer out for the carcass or they could notify the owner that the dog needed to be removed.

[backlash]

I agree.
He told me if they were threatening or attacking my domestic animals people or livestock I am allowed to shoot to kill but not shoot to injure.
Doesn't even have to be my animals.
Go figure.

[nhlivefreeordie]

I agree.
He told me if they were threatening or attacking my domestic animals people or livestock I am allowed to shoot to kill but not shoot to injure.
Doesn't even have to be my animals.
Go figure.

Sometimes I think laws are written to frustrate most peoples common sense.

[NHForester]

I have a Crossman Quest, break barrel that does 1000 fps with lead pellets. It is murder on all these red squirrels around here. Word is getting out. :D

[nhlivefreeordie]

I have a Crossman Quest, break barrel that does 1000 fps with lead pellets. It is murder on all these red squirrels around here. Word is getting out. :D

My kid got 225 gray squirrels in a little over a year from his bedroom window up in NH with my RWS.:D

[randallhilton]

I've a Gamo something or other break barrel. Mostly to help me and my son keep our target acquisition skills etc. We have big rats here in our burb and our Jack Russel has turned out to be quite the rat hunter so we've diminished that population quite a bit as well.

I've heard they're good on cats and squirrels too but we don't seem to have as many around here as we once did so I can't really point to any recent experience in that arena.

[MEBrian]

Many years ago I had a Sheridan .20cal pump gun. It was powerful enough to kill larger animals. I traded it for a pump shotgun.

Later got a FW 600 sidelever target air rifle for inexpensive practice. It'll kill squirrels, but if I use it today I just use it for practice. It's in the back of the safe, and I'm just too lazy to unload what I need to to get to it.

For silently dispatching vermin my hand falls on the .223 Contender first. With the suppressor attached (just takes 2 seconds) and using subsonic loads it's even quieter than the air rifle, and more potent (33gr V-max @ 1000 fps). It does the job out to 35 or so yards. But no one in the rural neighborhood thinks anything of shots, so it's no big deal to use something more potent that goes supersonic.

The air rifle is mostly unused today, but it doesn't eat anything, so I just keep it oiled and it's good.

We regularly hear our neighbor with his air rifle popping off bushy tailed rats (red squirrels), and his dog alerts him to them. He has a POJ chinese air rifle (break barrel spring/piston) his brother got for $10 or $15 by buying a mess of 'em. It's extremely crude, but it works. :D He showed me the cut off piece of scope rail he tack welded to it. I thought it was factory, but no, he fessed up to his involvement. It works and it's inexpensive enough for folks to have a few to put small animals in the pot.

[doxie3]

I own four pellet rifles. Beeman R7 & R9 double gold along with a RWS and another. 3 are .177 and one is a .22. I would say that the R7 may be shooting velocities of about 800 and the others 1,000. (More or Less.) Anyway they are break barrels or side lever on the RWS. These are definitely powerful and IMHO useful weapons. I live in a small community and if things get bad I can shoot squirels ect. without the neighbors hearing me. Noise is about like opening a can of coke.

I have taken squirels and they are dead all but instantly. Rifles are extremely accurate and at say 35-50 yards very leathal. In MHO I would put them in the class of a .22 rimfire at close range. All but the R7 are heavy. Single shot and cheap to shoot. I shoot mine in the garage at 25 feet in the winter.

This website has all kinds of info if interested.

www.straightshooters.com (http://www.straightshooters.com)

Bob

[Prairie]

Hey all. I'm thinking about getting an air rifle for my kids, ages 8 & 10. For legal reasons (that I'd rather not get into) I'm limited to under 500fps. At the local WalMart and Canadian Tire stores, they have both the .177 and the .22 models, both rated at 495fps. Safety is the utmost priority, and I will teach them that even though they are pellet guns, they have the potential to kill. That said, could I be assured that either would definitly kill a rabbit, pheasant, or even a coyote? And what about a 1200fps .177 or .22 (if I get the legal stuff out of the way)? The way I figure, if a 1200fps air .22 has the same power as a .22LR, why waste the money on .22 shells?

[DM]

Hey all. I'm thinking about getting an air rifle for my kids, ages 8 & 10. For legal reasons (that I'd rather not get into) I'm limited to under 500fps. At the local WalMart and Canadian Tire stores, they have both the .177 and the .22 models, both rated at 495fps. Safety is the utmost priority, and I will teach them that even though they are pellet guns, they have the potential to kill. That said, could I be assured that either would definitly kill a rabbit, pheasant, or even a coyote? And what about a 1200fps .177 or .22 (if I get the legal stuff out of the way)? The way I figure, if a 1200fps air .22 has the same power as a .22LR, why waste the money on .22 shells?

A pellet rifle at 495fps will kill a squirell or rabbit, when you are close! I don't consider them humane at longer ranges...

As for 1200fps being the same as a 22, you forgot that you are trying to compare a 8 or 9 grain pellet at 1200fps to a 38 grain at 1200fps... NOT even in the same ball park!

Yes the pellet at 1200 will kill small game, but it still is limited to MUCH closer shots than a 22.

BTW, even a 22lr is on the light side for coyotes, and i prefer AT LEAST a 22WMR for that job.

DM

[doxie3]

I personally think that 500 FPS is not good for taking animals like rabits etc. It would be okay for small birds and rodents. If you can get the FPS up to about 750 then rabits and the like are dead on impact. I might add that close range is IMHO about 7-10 yards for the .177 at 750 FPS. If you get up to the 1200 range then the distance will be out there maybe 50 yards (IMHO). The advantage of the pellet rifle is it's acuracy. The disadvantage is the weight of the pellet compared to a 22 rimfire. Wind or a breeze can make a big difference in accuracy. If you don't hit in a kill zone forget it. It may die but somewhere else and later. With the .22 rimfire you have some room for the hit being off. I am no expert and would recommend if you are serious about a pellet rifle and what it will or will not do that you got to: (I am not pushing them but they have so much info on their website.

www.straightshooters.com (http://www.straightshooters.com)

They have studies on different rifles and effective range. There is a lot of info.

Yes they do shoot coyotte. I believe that they may use the pellet rifle that is gas/air charged and the caliber may be .22 or .25. They are doing a lot with the pellet rifle and there are many different ones to chose from.

Bob

[traper]

i have a beeman pellet rifle and a crossman both go 1000fps i think there pretty good the neighbors dont like the loud bang of a 22 early in the mornin or late at night wen im keepin squirlls an coons out of the feed so i use them i have droped several coons at 30 yards or so an i have droped squirls at up to 60 yards with them usein hollw points or these pellets i found online that are like a hollow point but they have a ballistic tip in them

[Mad_Professor]

You all need to get a BIGGER pellet:

http://www.quackenbushairguns.com/bandit_1.html

[gunsmoke]

When it comes to air rifles degree of penetration is equal to relative effectiveness.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yS_CNIMA_GI

[CapeCMom]

I have a gamo too. I love it.

[TEX]

My kid got 225 gray squirrels in a little over a year from his bedroom window up in NH with my RWS.:D

Please send him to see me. The squirrels get into ever potted plant, take perverse joy in throwing half eaten green pecans at us and are driving my dogs crazy.

And yea I have a pellet gun but it must not be good enough because it doesn't kill them. If I manage to hit one they think and act like they are dying and then realize that they aren't at deaths door and go back to their shenanigans.

Mulligan stew with squirrel is great stuff and so is chicken fried squirrel.

[Teg]

You should look into one of the Gamo "adult" air rifles, I've heard good things on those.

[NotSoFast]

The thing about pellet guns, if the ballistics are the same, is that pellets are a whole lot cheaper than .22 ammo.

[randallhilton]

And yea I have a pellet gun but it must not be good enough because it doesn't kill them. If I manage to hit one they think and act like they are dying and then realize that they aren't at deaths door and go back to their shenanigans..

I shoot a .177 Gamo that's supposed to shoot at about 1,000 fps. I picked this rifle because I had Cabela's points and it was on sale but I've been real pleased. I grew up with a Benjamin and a Sheridan (it was strange when they became the same company). I really like being able to cock it once to get full and consistent power.

I've taken quite a few squirrels with it and assure you that they're not getting up from a clean hit in the vitals or head. I prefer the speed of the .177 but I'd like to try a .22cal just to see what the extra mass can do.

[DM]

The thing about pellet guns, if the ballistics are the same, is that pellets are a whole lot cheaper than .22 ammo.

I've been shooting high powered pellet rifles since the 70's, and you just can't compare the actual "killing power" of a .177 or 22 pellet to a 22 rimfire. The 22 rimfire easily out performs the pellet gun!

Yes, the pellets are fairly cheap, and they certainly work for some things, but i wouldn't want to be without a good 22 rimfire, and if i could only have one, it would without question, be the 22 rimfire.

DM

[Jezcruzen]

I live where the report of a .22 is no big deal, and I own a number of good .22s. But, I've been considering getting a pellet rifle just the same. A pellet rifle would allow me some privacy and enable me to pot small game silently should I not want to attract attention for any reason.

What I have gleaned from various articles surrounding pellet size is that .22 pellets are better for small game even though its FPS velocity is less - about 700 to 800fps compared to 1,000 or more for a .177. Its the greater mass of the .22 thats worth the tradeoff in velocity.

Shopping for a suitable pellet rifle has really surprised me regarding price. I've been searching for a simple but accurate break-barrel only to find most of them selling for hundreds of dollars! I have found two or three in the $85 to $120 range that might suit my wants and needs, however. One is the Quest someone else mentioned.

[DM]

I live where the report of a .22 is no big deal, and I own a number of good .22s. But, I've been considering getting a pellet rifle just the same. A pellet rifle would allow me some privacy and enable me to pot small game silently should I not want to attract attention for any reason.

What I have gleaned from various articles surrounding pellet size is that .22 pellets are better for small game even though its FPS velocity is less - about 700 to 800fps compared to 1,000 or more for a .177. Its the greater mass of the .22 thats worth the tradeoff in velocity.

Shopping for a suitable pellet rifle has really surprised me regarding price. I've been searching for a simple but accurate break-barrel only to find most of them selling for hundreds of dollars! I have found two or three in the $85 to $120 range that might suit my wants and needs, however. One is the Quest someone else mentioned.

You also should have learned that the 22's loose velocity faster, and drop a lot more. I still like the 177 better.

Have you tried some CCI CB's in your 22 yet? They are as quiet or quieter than a pellet rifle, and have more power than a pellet.

DM

[Mr.B]

I have an old Sheridan pellet gun my uncle gave me, Co2 powered I didnt really use it to much until I got chickens, there was some feral cats coming around the coop messing with the chickens and trying to get them.

-B