NGC-Air Rifle

[redrider]

Looking at a break barrel air piston powered-not spring piston- type for pest control. Squirrels are invading my property and gnawing on structural wood. I need to thin the herd. I have a Crossman multi pump springer and am tired of the pump pump pump to recharge. Any one else use air rifles? In the 'burbs.

[Wayne Orwig]

I have an old Crossman that I bought decades ago as a kid. But you can't hit anything with it, because it doesn't have a rifled barrel. You see the pellet or BB taking a curving coming out of the barrel.
Years ago I got a Crossman 1677 pistol. I had heard good things about it. It is very good, and accurate, but I can't shot a pistol worth crap. And it is all manual, so by the time you load it and pump it, it is often too late.
So. last year, fed up with the squirrel invasion, I got a Daisy 880. Very cheap. It has a rifled barrel, and is accurate. It is a multi-pump style too, which is what I wanted. I'll give the rodents a chance or two with a sting before sending them off.  I'm glad I got it, but I don't expect it to be working years from now. It just isn't a quality piece.

[ohiorider]

I purchased a Gamo .177cal break-barrel, piston powered by a spring for the same purpose.  I didn't consider that a 1000 foot per second air rifle might be too powerful in the event I hit my house with it.  I initially sighted it in indoors (my basement) using an Akron phone directory as a backstop.  After shooting two or three rounds from approx. 20' from the target, to my surprise, I found the pellets had not only gone thru the phone book (1 inch thick approx.) but had also gone thru the 4 x 8 plywood wall paneling.

It was also much more noisy than I expected .... it really barks!  And it is a quality rifle.  It just didn't suit my purposes.

I would probably have been better with a multi-pump rifle vs the break barrel, and perhaps a 22 cal version for a slightly slower round.

[donn]

I have a couple for the same purpose - both .22 caliber.  The Crosman is actually a pistol, and a Daisy rifle.  Both have pump levers in front of the trigger guard.  The pistol is a bit more awkward to pump, but it's nicer to shoot, with a smooth trigger and reasonably accurate.

I normally give them 3 pumps.  If I have a long shot in mind maybe 5.  Loading a new pellet is more time and attention consuming than pumping.  With a .22 pellet, I can kill them as far away as I can hit them - that's in my limited experience, limited mainly because I have a real hard time hitting them.

The main problem is that the squirrels almost never put themselves in a position where I can safely shoot at them.  When one of them took up residence in the roof and became a real present nuisance, I had to set a Havahart trap for him, and kill him in it - I might have eventually got him "on the wing", but it could have taken a long time.  Depends on whether your interest is serious or basically recreational, traps can work.  Don't leave a trapped squirrel overnight where the raccoons can get to it, that can be really ugly.  I haven't seen it, but I'm told that it made the pest control guy cry.

[elvisboy77]

It's not air and it's not a rifle but I have a .177 cal CO2 pistol that is a S&W M&P 40 replica my daughter gave me for Xmas and it is great- holds a lot of BBs and is pretty accurate, too.

[charlie b]

I have used a cheap Gamo for years for squirrels, packrats and gophers.  Yep, it has a bit too much power, but, that was nice when I had to take out a coyote that was staying too close to the house.  I am also in a more sparsely populated area so the noise and ricochets don't bother anyone else.  I put a red dot sight on mine.

[Sheepdog]

The Diana RWS Model 34 is a great air rifle. It is a little pricey, but is easily rebuildable and quite accurate. These have been around a good long while...

http://www.pyramydair.com/s/m/Diana_RWS_34_Breakbarrel_Rifle_T06_Trigger/402

[Madtownguzzi]

I have Sheridan Blue Streak Air Rifle 5mm/.20 caliber. It feels like a real rifle and gets the job done.

https://www.amazon.com/Sheridan-Blue-Streak-Air-Rifle/dp/B001U9NIH2/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_pdt_img_top?ie=UTF8

[Aaron D.]

I have a Gamo spring-piston, .22, one of the "whisper" types with a 4X scope. Decent for head shots on squirrels if you hold it the same way every time.

I also have used Super Colibri .22LR in a .22 rifle, actually quieter than the Gamo, I suspect it will be more accurate. I will be taking a few squirrels soon as we have a lot and have a good recipe or two. I'll let you know, I know the .22 rifle is accurate but te trajectory on the Colibris is a bit loopy.

[yogidozer]

I have 3 dogs, but no squirrels

[fotoguzzi]

2 dogs keep squirrels away but woodpeckers are always knocking on my cedar siding. Have pulverized a few w my Crossman BB gun.

[StuCorpe]

I have a Crossman .22 break barrel that works quite well on squirrels and chipmunks. After about 5,000 rounds the spring broke, a replacement from Crossman with new seals for the plunger was under $10 and took about an hour to replace. Works as good as new again as 50+ squirrels could testify to if they were able to vote from the grave.

[Dilliw]

I have Sheridan Blue Streak Air Rifle 5mm/.20 caliber. It feels like a real rifle and gets the job done.

https://www.amazon.com/Sheridan-Blue-Streak-Air-Rifle/dp/B001U9NIH2/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_pdt_img_top?ie=UTF8

Unfortunately the Blue Streak production ended in 2013.  I have one and it's a killer mainly due to the .20 cal which is in the sweet spot for stopping power.  With it off your list since it's a multi pump I'd look for a .22 cal over the .177  Ruger Air Magnum or Crosman Nitro Venom are both around $150.

[atavar]

just as an alternative, a bolt action .22 rifle with CB caps is quieter and more accurate than the air rifle.  You can get 700 fps out of a rifle with a 29 grain bullet.  Just sayin.  In most communities there is no difference between shooting these than an air rifle legally.  Both can cost you your CWP.

[flip]

I have a Remington break barrel air rifle. I was shocked at how loud it is. A 22 rifle with CB caps or Calibri rounds is much, much quieter.

[AJ Huff]

I have 2 Gamos. Huge power. very loud. I have about 30 air pistols, some more powerful than rifles, some less so. Some as loud as a powder burner, some a whisper. I'd recommend a Crosman 2240 CO2 pistol for your needs. You can get a shoulder stock for it if you need.

-AJ

[Gliderjohn]

The Sheridan pumps are well made and extremely accurate out to 50' or so. Three pumps would kill a squirrel, two pumps annihilates rats and mice. I think the mass of the .20 or .22 is a big advantage over the .177.
GliderJohn

[derek533]

Go to any pawn shop and get a Marlin 60 .22.  Will cost you about $75 and is deadly accurate.  Use Super Colibri quiet ammo and it's quieter than any air rifle and still deadly (to a squirrel).  Just make sure you know what's behind what you're shooting at!  :D

Also, when one of them runs in front of your car, speed up!  (j/k  sort of)

[Perazzimx14]

I have a Gamo shadow .177 and its a hoot. Shoot all day accurately for a couple of dollars. Enough power to dispatch of pests but it as loud or more loud than a .22 short. Like some others I was surprised at the penetrating power. Right after I go it it I was sighting it in using a box full of cardboard as a back stop. It was routinely penetrating 20+ laters of cardboard. Shooting at a pellet trap in the basement, the pellets imbed onto the metal flip targets and in the back of the trap is a lot of pellet dust.

Squirrels have a very tough hide that will easily shed off shotshell pellets. A pointed fast moving .177 pellet seems to not take issue with the the hide but a head shot is always the most humane.

If you get a pellet rifle and want to put a scope on it (75+ yard shots are certainly not out of the question) you need to get a scope for air rifles. If you get a scope for a rim fire rifle and put it on the air rifle the power pulse of the air rifle will ruin it in short order.

[Sasquatch Jim]

I have Sheridan Blue Streak Air Rifle 5mm/.20 caliber. It feels like a real rifle and gets the job done.

https://www.amazon.com/Sheridan-Blue-Streak-Air-Rifle/dp/B001U9NIH2/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_pdt_img_top?ie=UTF8

 I have owned a couple of Sheridan .20s.  They are the best of the pump up rifles.  The Sheridan pellet is heavier than most .22 pellets and penetrates deeper.  At close range,(15 feet or less), i would load the Sheridan pellet backwards and it had the effect of a hollow point bullet.  It would mushroom uniformly out to .30 diameter in flesh.  I used it a lot on invading packrats when I lived in the mountains.  My sheridan probably accounted for more than 50 of them.  My pump up Sheridan pistol in .20 cal accounted for quite a few also.  I used it indoors, often with the reversed pellet. and 14 pumps.

[AJ Huff]

You can buy jumbo .22 pellets. 25-40 grain. They'll hurt a squirrel. Help keep the noise level down too being that heavy.

-AJ

[rboe]

I'll second the scope problem. If you want to scope it, make sure the scope will handle use on an air gun. Air gun have a second major reverse impulse that your typical scope is not built to handle and it will render them useless in no time. Now on the up side there ARE a lot of scopes that you can use (alas, a bigger pool of scopes you should not use) and some quick looks on hunter air rifle forums will give you some choices.

In general, many air gun scopes that you see at the store are miserable small POS. I think iron sights are better choice in that case.

For older eyes your red dot sights have been very popular. Most don't offer much magnification though. This probably won't be an issue for your task. I toss it out there for you consideration.

I have a Feinwerkbau 124  that shoots at around 800fps and more accurate than I can shoot. It's on fairly permanent loan to a friend back in Minnesota for varmint control in her orchard. It's loud. Not as loud as some, but not quiet by any means. They are fairly old now, but a dang good rifle. If it has the original plastic trigger don't let any one work on it - they'll break it. 

[Tom]

Feinwerkbau RWS.  Pneumatic/spring combo rifle.  1100+ fps.  Side crank pump.  Puts some nice holes in 1/2 plywood.  Should kill varmits.  Dry firing it sounds like a .22 going off.  It'll ring your ears. 

All the rifles that the kids use are restricted by the Civilian Marksmanship Program rules shoot at 500fps.  All they would do is get the varmint's attention.  Really makes cat or dog not want to go back into your yard. 

[n3303j]

Happy with the Gamo .177 "BONE COLLECTOR" Bull Whisper. Chipmunks were chewing up everything under the car hoods and dash boards.
The gun comes with a light pellet to reach the 1,300 fps published muzzle velocity.  It breaks the sound barrier as it leaves the muzzle and has a noticeable report. Switching to a standard lead slug results in a muzzle velocity below sound barrier and a much quieter shot. The lead shot knocks a reasonable chunk out of 3/4" vinyl trimboard at 30 feet. Cheap (Walmart) and accurate with a usable scope.

[rodekyll]

Redryder?  You'll put an eye out with that.




Sorry, it had to be said.   

[redrider]

Wow, what a knowledge base! Thanks for the info. I currently have a 20 year old Crosman 760 that will drop a squirrel using pointed pellets. Open sights do not present a problem-head shots at 20-30 feet. I am leaning towards the Crosman Fire with heavier pellets. Cock and load in one motion and the heavy pellet stays sub-sonic for less noise. The hood is deserted M-F. I have trapped several but I think it may be stew time.

[Aaron D.]

Worth it just for the meat, there's a buttermilk recipe I intend to try.

[Tom]

If you stew it and use green papaya instead of squash it'll tenderize the meat.  It'll do the same for rabbit,  Jack or Cottontail.  Garlic, onion, stewed tomatoes and potatoes.  Fresh baked bread on the side with a tossed green salad. 

[Tom]

Check these air rifles out.  Thank you to Sasquatch Jim for the website.  You'll love these air rifles.

http://quackenbushairguns.com/index.html  3000psi .50 caliber slug. 

[Tom]

Found this and throwing it into the mix.  Lewis & Clark Girandoni replicas.  Pump 1500 times for 800 psi but still silent and deadly.

http://www.topairgun.com/girandoni