1000 FPS Air Guns (Gamo Hunter)

[PBinWA]

Do any of you have any experience with one of the Gamo (or other) 1000 feet per second air rifles? Gamo web page

I'm thinking of getting one to use as a deterrent for the large antlered rats that graze my property.

I'm wondering what the effective range would be on one of these for delivering a good sting to the backside (or anyside) of one these pests.

I know this may not be the most effective deterrent but it would be fun. I also don't want to damage them too much just deliver a sting. I'll have to wait until the fall to use something a little more lethal.

 

[Spiffy]

The spring operated [or "single pump"] air guns are really cool, but I don't know that you'll find a happy medium for your task:

The higher velocities will really help give you a flater curve, so you'll be acurate over a broader range, but you don't want penetration. I think you'd want to stay under 600ft/s and stay in .22 caliber [with a flat nosed pellet this should give more energy to the sting yet be less likely to penetrate than .177 in the same velocity].

I have 1000ft/s [rated] in 22cal and it had no trouble putting a squirrel in the frying pan [never did find the pellet either]. After putting several pellets in the same general area of a phone book, one found it's way clear through; no "bang"...but these things still have plenty of power.

Side note: except some match grade ones with "reverse springs" or other fancy features, the recoil of springers is a different feel, and will beat the heck out of a scope as well.

BTW: I can't remember where he found them, but a guy around here swears by some low velocity .22 rimfire rounds he found; he uses them on stray dogs.

 

[Jagmandave]

I had one, used it to kill the squirrels that were tearing up my house, and it worked well. Mine came with a big ol scope (which I needed with my eyesight!) and once I got it sighted in, I could hit the buggers in the eye about 30 -40 ft up in my trees. (at least if they weren't hiding behind the branch or trunk.)

Only thing I didin't like about this (and it's the same for all air rifles I think) is that it was single shot. When you broke it open to reload you also primed the pump, so it's fairly quick, but with a large target that shouldn't be a problem.

Squirrels are supposed to have a tough hide, but this thing had no problem penetrating it.

 

[Jagmandave]

Well, putting a pellet in their rump won't cause any permanent damage, will it?

 

[Spiffy]

Another note on this:

If you get enough of a sting for the desired effect, the bruise may last right into hunting season. When I was just old enough to own a Daisy single pump [like the Red Ryder, minus the fancy styling], my older cousins decided to use the chickens as target practice; a month latter when it was butchering time I got my butt bruised, just for loaning them the gun!! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Spiffy]

Lead in deer; I really don't know.

I can imagine all sorts of ugliness, like gangrene, or other sores, but I really don't know. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[PBinWA]

I had one of these break action/single pump rifles as a kid and can't even remember what happened to it. I suspect my Dad gave it to one of his friends kids when I was at college (a lot of stuff disappeared during that time). It was pretty powerful but I doubt it was 1000fps. That was 20+ years ago.

I was hoping to be kind of lazy and just ping them from 50-100 yards. I would think the energy would be pretty low by the time it got that far. Right now I can walk up to them within about 10-20 yards. Kind of wish it was hunting season as I could just pop them off with my 44 Mag and be done with the problem for a year or two.

 

[HomeBrew2]

My Crosman 1077 with 12 shot rotary clip (.177) has worked well for stinging, for me ... usually under $100.
For sub-sonic .22 rimfires, I like CCI CB shorts. As quiet as an air gun but more than just a sting.

 

[Spiffy]

<font color="blue"> As quiet as an air gun but more than just a sting. </font>

Cool! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif That's about what I heard, except slightly lower velocity yet, so supposedly it was just a good sting.

I think the CCI CBs are over 700ft/s; it seems these were like 500 or 600ft/s.

.22 low velocity

Actually if you're good at judging distance, keeping some of each on hand could really keep your aim and sting potential even, between say 10 and 100 yards [would still need to burn a few of each to get a feel for "where they land"]. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[DaNag]

What kind of range do you need?

If you can keep it under 100', a paintball gun would probably do the trick. Much less zing than a pellet gun, but they do smart, and you could probably tag a deer 5-6 times with a semi if you've got a quick trigger finger.

My guess is, this would also satisfy your "fun" requirement... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif