Air Gun Hunting

[Matthew Temkin]

What rifle would you all recommend--am leaning to a R.W.S. 34 in .22.
What distance could this be used to hunt squirrels???
Also--I have heard that air rifles are tough on scopes--what would you recommend and what type of mount???

 

[g.willikers]

Spring powered air guns are tough on scopes.
PCP and CO2 powered ones are not.
It's the double recoil that destroys scopes.
So make sure any scope used with a springer is rated for it.
Mounts are not an issue, unless it's used with a springer.
Then, preferably, it should have a pin to prevent movement.
Here's some examples:
http://www.airgun-supply.com/scope_mounts.html
For hunting small game, the experts say the weight of the pellet is more important than velocity.
So, the larger the caliber the better.
But others say the flatter trajectory of the smaller calibers is more helpful for the accuracy required.
It's your call.

 

[Bushpilot]

There are a lot of really good quality air rifles out there. I know the RWS 34 is quite popular. I had one in .177 a while back that I picked up used and eventually traded it off. It seemed to have a lot of spring buzz to it. But, as I said I picked it up used so who knows what the whole story is on that particular rifle. I sold it to a friend of mine and he is quite happy with it and seems less bothered by it's buzz.

As far as caliber is concerned though, I've had a good number of various rifles in .177, .20 and .22. The game that I've hunted most with air rifles has been squirrels followed by rabbits and various pest birds. I've found squirrels to be noticeably tougher than rabbits and birds. Everything within reason has been effective on the rabbits and of course, the birds but I've found the .177 to be the all-around best on squirrels from both a quick kill and a flat trajectory standpoint. I agree with g.willikers that the consensus among "experts" is the larger/heavier pellets are better for hunting. However, I will say that .177 has been the best for me on Squirrels. At least this has been the case among typical air rifles in the commonly available power levels of around 900-950 in .177 springers, 700-750 .20 cal Sheridan, 750-825 in .20 and .22 springers. For game larger than squirrels and rabbits I have usually moved up to a 22 rimfire rifle so I can't offer much advice there.

If you're not already aware, I would caution against paying too much attention to advertised velocity claims in general and especially those that utilize aluminum, zinc alloy, type pellets. I use lead pellets and have choreographed every air rifle that I have owned in the last 25 years. Chronographs can be real eye openers and have shown that 90% of the "high performance," "adult" air rifles in the $150 - $250 price bracket fall into the above power levels regardless of advertised claims. I have had limited experience with the newer nitro piston rifles so I can't comment much there other than to say that they are very smooth.

As far as scopes are concerned, by one intended for air rifles and use some type of recoil stop and you won't have problems.

As to range, you hear a lot on the internet of extreme range, one shot kills. I suggest that you employ a pretty fine filter here and take them for what most are, flukes and/or fish stories. Most air rifles don't have a lot of excess power to work with and with respect towards the animals I hunt I try and keep the distance to around 30 yards or less.

 

[fpgt72]

RWS 34 is a very good rifle, but it is another shooting discipline that you are going to have to learn. That "double recoil" the other poster talked about can make them very hard to shoot well. I would say that a "magnum" springer is the hardest gun you will ever own to shoot well. Some people never get it and tend to brand guns as junk....when it is just the lack of skill on the shooters part that is the issue.

Practice is going to be the most important thing. Putting the pellet in the right spot is key to getting a kill, and an animal running away with a pellet in him. There is no shock to a pellet it has to hit an area in the target animal that will kill him.

As to distance I would start out at 10 yards and work back from there.....once you can no longer put shots into a quarter that is your max distance.

 

[rogn]

I prefer a 22 for small game and Have a RWS 48 for that purpose. The extra power really is an asset when shooting squirrels. That being said Im now using an RWS 350P which is a "magnum" airgun. The later trajectory is a real advantage, especialy when pulling them out of tall pecans. The 2 mentioned rifles are difficult to shoot well and require a goodly amount of practice. Springers have very slow"lock time" and relatively slow velocity so any inappropriate actions on your part are magnified into wide shots. They shoot the most precise with the least amount of holding, sort of like holding a cat-hold them loosely and they'll usually hold still. However my favorite of all times is an old Beeman R10 in 5mm. Use a heavy pellet and the hollow points probably help, they don't expand, but the sharp edge of the hollow point cuts as it passes thru. Head shots are far and away the best shot.

 

[cslinger]

Heed what was said about spring airguns, especially powerful ones, requiring a whole new skill set and discipline. You might be Carlos Hathcock with a powder burner but find out shooting a spring airgun you throw shots all over. Chances are it's not the gun. Don't get discouraged.

 

[Bushpilot]

Matthew, I thought you might find this of some interest....

http://kirschy.tripod.com/177vs22.html

 

[Matthew Temkin]

Thanks for all of the reply's.
What is your opinions on this scope???
http://www.archerairguns.com/Hammers-3-9-x-32AO-Scope-and-Mount-p/hammerssa3932scope.htm

 

[Bushpilot]

I've used a few of these scopes. It has a good, solid mount and has held up under the reverse recoil of springers. Their most obvious short coming has been optics that are slightly dark, especially at the higher power settings. But all in all, they have been perfectly serviceable and a good value for the money, as has most everything that I've ever bought from Archer Airguns.

FYI, if you ever want an inexpensive C02 rifle to punch holes in paper or roll tin cans with try one of their (Archer's) QB78 rifles. They are easy to shoot very well and loads of fun for the money. I've had the original Crosman 160 that they are based on as well as the QB78 and found it to be a very good quality, old school style steel and wood reproduction.

 

[fpgt72]

As you brought up Archers, I will also point you to Flying Dragon. They sell another Chinese clone of RWS, but it is a DARN FINE RIFLE. Mike will tune it for you as well. You would be hard pressed to find a better rifle....not for the money, but just flat better. They really are that good.

As to the QB78, I actually have 3 of them, one in parts, one that has had the 9's done to it and it shoots VERY hard and is still amazing accurate, then an old Tech Force TF79. Another great shooting rifle.

While I would not suggest a CO2 gun for this users task, they are great fun, and on a warm summer day I would not be worried about a inhumane kill on a starling with that souped up rifle.

I really need to get my chrono back and see how it shoots.....but I go under the knife tomorrow so no shooting for me for a while.

 

[Bushpilot]

I've had several Chinese RWS clones as well and have no complaints. They were all good guns, especially considering how reasonably priced they were.