What airgun for squirrel and rabbit?

[White Horseradish]

I live within the city limits, and therefore am prohibited from discharging firearms. However, we have a bit of a problem with rabbits and squirrels. Squirrel population seems to have exploded and they are eating up our tomatoes. Rabbits are partial to my mother's zucchinis, and she's asking for my assistance.

So, what kind of an airgun should I get for pest control? I am limited on funds, so cheaper is better.

 

[P95loser]

are you wanting co2 or a pump up air gun?

 

[gm]

theres many airguns available,some that will produce a 1000fps 22 caliber pellet which is powerful enough to get those critters easily...scaled down to a 220 fps dart/bb/pellet pistol as a deterrant.

incidently, my nephew hunts squirrels with his pelletgun,a beeman,and would rather use that than a 22. he put a airgun scope on it and for what her has in it $$ wise,he could almost afford a cheap 22.

 

[stevelyn]

d-Con.

 

[Oldnamvet]

Most city ordinances regard airguns as firearms. So check before you even touch off a BB gun in your yard. Then there are the ordinances about harrassing wildlife. A bunny hugger could have you fined if you are not careful. I would consider a live trap. What you do with them after you have them is up to you. Personally, I have always been partial to rabbit sandwiches. Very low fat for those on a diet.

 

[White Horseradish]

Hm. Good point. I'll have to look up what the Minneapolis definition of a firearm is.

As far as bunny huggers, they can go pound sand. Minnesota has a law that allows a property owner to hunt pests year round on his own property. Half-eaten vegetables are proof enough.

I'm not really that knowledgeable on airguns, so I dont know what I want.

 

[slopemeno]

Look at the Webley Longbow. The 'Vulcan' action its based off of has been around since the early '80s. I have a C-1 (same Vulcan action) that has been amazingly accurate, totally trouble free, and has plenty of power at around 830 fps. By the way, dont get hung up on velocity; chances are the figure youre being quoted is higher than the gun will ever shoot. I use the 'Cuda/Kodiak pellets, which are heavier/slower than stock, but much smoother to shoot, and seriously accurate.
If money is an issue, you can pick up a Sheridan pump, but the second shot is slow and noisey due to the pumping required. Ive done minor ammounts of small game hunting with one, and the 5mm pellet they make will penetrate *deep*.

 

[ecos]

if you cant use a airgun for legal reasons maybe try a slingshot or a blowgun. need a closer range and are a bit harder to aim but either can take down small varment. i had both when growing up and they can work pretty good. with practice a blowgun will put a dart all the way through a squirrel

 

[Davo]

Check the daisy 22x. About 50 bucks from walmart, .22 cal, and can use standard rifle scopes, which are cheaper than air rifle scopes. You can also vary the number of pumps you use to lower the report and power level. Meisterkrugen pellets and this rifle will not disappoint. Had mine for 3 years with no problems.

 

[Oldnamvet]

If you do get an airgun be aware that the spring type (barrel cocking) are quite powerful and will bring down squirrels and rabbits easily. But if you put a standard scope on it, you will ruin the scope. The double shake type recoil of a spring gun shakes a standard scope apart with time. The CO2 and pump up type guns won't do this. This effect is why specially designed airgun scopes cost quite a bit in comparison to .22 scopes.

 

[newfalguy101]

I use a Crossman pump gun

10 pumps and I can nuke a bunny at half a block.

I have had much more success with bb's that with pellets.

Even though I have never personally shot a squirell with my airgun, my ex-mother-in-laws boyfriend used to kill them quite frequently with his.

 

[Seven High]

Take a look at the Gamo Shadow 1000 at Walmart. About $125.00. Very accurate. 1000 fps. I have one and like it very much.

 

[shrpshn]

"Take a look at the Gamo Shadow 1000 at Walmart. About $125.00. Very accurate. 1000 fps. I have one and like it very much."

Agreed ~ I have customers using that model on all types of squirrel size game up to ground hogs, (head shots), and like sized varmints.

Just put a good quality airgun scope on it; break it in with a hundred or so shots, and don't hesitate to try different pellets until you find one that works in your gun - then stick with it.

Hope this helps.

John

 

[Coltdriver]

Benjamin Sheridan makes a real nice pump pellet rifle. I have zapped more rabbits than I can remember with it. It would easily dispatch squirrels too.

You can pump it between one and ten times. Seven is plenty for a shot out to 50 feet.

They cost about $100 new.

 

[redneck]

Best bang for the buck is probably going to be between a Gamo (spring piston/break barrel guns) or a benjamin sheridan (pump up). For the price difference between these and your run of the mill daisy and crosman guns, you get a much nicer peice.
I have a gamo 220, pretty much the same gun as the shadow 1000 already mentioned, but in a wood stock. Its accurate, and powerful. Has reliably taken small varmints out to 15 yards or so, smacks sparrows quite a ways farther out than that, but I don't like to stretch things on bigger critters.

The sheridan is a nice little gun too. Pump up, so you can vary your power for the situation. Pump it 4 or 5 time sfor plinking in the yard, all 8 times to smack that varmint in the garden. Probably not quite as loud as spring piston guns, and a little bit cheaper. Slower to load though, and not quite as powerful. I'd probably get the .20 model over the .177 for one of these.

 

[Baba Louie]

Hunting License? Make sure you have one.
Is there some form of license for pest removal within your city/county? If so, get one of those too.

http://www.airguns.net/reviews.html

Since these came out I've lusted for one... cheaper is not always better... but I know whatchamean.

http://www.airforceairguns.com/

Finally, if the same pests are bothering your neighbors, ask them if they mind you helping even the score. Discuss safety measures, etc. Heck you could wind up with a group of airgun shooters on your block and teach the kids safety, marksmanship, etc.

 

[GunGoBoom]

go read up here:

www.straightshooters.com
and here
http://www.airgunbbs.com/forums/index.php?
and here
http://www.network54.com/Forum/79537

and shop here:

www.pyramidair.com
and here
http://www.compasseco.com/

and search for threads with "air*" in the title on here. Lotsa info out there. Lotsa good choices. This is the golden age of airguns it seems. They are nutso about airguns in the UK since most guns are banned or have onerous requirements to own, so you can get a lot of detailed info from that UK forum, if you can figure out their lingo/dialect of English enough to communicate (no problem really). For a cheapie (under $75), I highly recommend what I use as my workhouse gun around the house - Crosman RM377 (Mendoza factory-made), with Bushnell Banner 4-12x40mm AO, and Lynx brand rimfire rings. It's a springer, but only an 800 fps one, and with the heavy stock, the scope stands up to the light recoil. For rabbits, you may want a 900-1100 fps gun, with heavy pellets. For both squirrels and rabbits, I'd recommend head shots only.

And yes, most cities define "firearms" in such a way as to include airguns, so be careful. If they do, then an airgun would still be more politically-correct, if caught, than another effective alternative, which is a .22 with super colibris.

 

[PaladinX13]

Fun and cheap tune-up gun quite capable of taking out the game you mention with good shot placement:
http://www.funsupply.com/airguns/qb78.html

Cheap chinese springers will get the job done too if you're looking purely for a tool.

Benjamin Sheridan 392 is great if you're confident in your marksmanship.