Air Rifle vs 22 Rim Fire Rifle?

[JRobyn]

+3 (or 4 or 5) on RWS. I've had a "plain" model 34 for about 30 years. Deadly on squirrels. Headshots up to about 25-30 yds every time. Very, very good adjustable peep sights with changeable inserts, and mine came with an RWS-branded airgun-specific scope; just a little 20mm objective, but very good German optics. Nice, real walnut stock that is well-fitted. Adjustable trigger. NOT lightweight!! Also not silent, but quiet enough and clearly NOT the sound of a firearm, so that neighbors don't even know it's being used. Only someone immediately next door or outside within 100yds or less could hear ANYTHING. A neighbor who shall forever remain unnamed, once borrowed it after the hotly-contested and opposed shopping center was built adjacent to the back of our neighborhood. He took out the new "security light" that shined directly into his bedroom window with one shot at just under 100 yds at dusk. Disclaimer: he could also take out a deer at 50 yds with a homemade longbow.

RWS is not cheap, but they are made with a quality such that I consider it an "heirloom" rifle, surely worthy of passing down. It is a joy to own and use and I am quite proud of it. And THAT makes it a must-own and a keeper to me. Regardless of a decision to maybe also have a quality .22.

- Jay

 

[ultrarunner]

Appreciate all the info... once again TBN posters are a wealth of information.

It's definitely on my wish list... too bad I don't know anyone close with one.

I have long arms so should be looking at a full size version.

 

[94BULLITT]

I have a couple of air rifles, both .177. The one is a pump and is broken. I have a break barrel air rifle that shoots 1400fps. I used to use it to shoot chipmunks and black birds but a stray cat came along and had 3 kittens so they take care of pests for me now. The air rifle with hollow point pellets would shoot through a chipmunk at 50-75.' I think the FPS on some maybe all rifles is rated for alloy pellets. I read that with a break barrel air rifle you need to be careful with pellets that are too light because it is almost like dry firing it, pellets that are too heavy are also hard on the spring. I also learned that cheaper pellets different sizes. Some may fit the barrel tight and others will fall through, that makes them hard to sight in.

 

[SPIKER]

looked for a while for a good pellet gun, in the 70's as kids we had .177 pump up action "Airguns" while they were expensive at the time to us kids they were also VERY accurate and good action. I bought a couple of them a few years ago and none of them are near what the old ones were.

SO I started looking and only came up with break barrel guns all with average to good reviews. On sale came a Rugar Blackhawk .177 with scope for 99bucks and I picked it up. It is rather erratic as others mentioned the break barrel simply does NOT let the gun remain accurate. I have tried several types of ammo all same results. I'm sure it is NOT the Barrel or the Scope so it leaves the break barrel mechanism which is not a "Secure" latching design (held in with a spring & ball.) Any pressure (hold against a tree or branch etc) and the shot is WAY out of align vs free handing the gun or mounting it. I would be the FIRST to say stay away from ANY break barrel gun that does not have a physical lock to hold the barrel in alignment. I also HATE the spring action of the gun it is like a for-aft kick which trows off my shooting ability from free hand shooting. (it also is real heavy to try and compensate for this "Spring Action" issue when fired.

CO2 guns also get real expensive if you do much shooting & most of the time they leak off so if ya set the gun down for a week or so a NEW CO2 cartridge is needed. That has been MY experience with them & after a dozen or so shots accuracy and FPS drops off quickly.


Mark

 

[thatguy]

go big or go home..

Crosman | Airguns | Rifles | PCP | Rogue® .357

.357 caliber, up to 800 fps, bolt action, air powered

Choose from two power settings, High Power for large game like hogs and coyotes or Medium Power for raccoons, bobcats and fox, then select your bullet grain weight, Heavy or Light. The Rogue will then release only the precise amount of air you need to make the shot.

 

[Buggs67]

I have a Gamo Whisper, I think this one.
Whisper - Silent Cat Air Rifle | Gamo USA
I paid about $170 on sale. It's accurate enough. It's fun for plinking and quiet - no ear protection necessary. And pellets are cheep. As some one else mentioned some pellets work better than others in different guns. Experiment

Also as others have mentioned the break-barrel design has a built in accuracy problem. The barrel moves every time you cock it. On my brother's rifle it moves enough that the scope (which is receiver mounted) isn't accurate, but the iron sights which are barrel mounted remain consistent. They are nice light gathering fiber/HiViz style sights.

My Gamo doesn't seem to have the problem with the scope. It also has very nice iron sights.

 

[bumperm]

Seems that some manufacturers, especially those making cheaper break barrel guns, engage in a "fps" (feet per second) velocity race. Some pellet mfgs do the same with their lead-free pellets - hawking the fact that their pellets are faster. No surprise as quite naturally lighter alloy pellets go faster, but that's not necessarily better if accuracy and performance take primacy.

Besides not carrying as much energy downrange, lighter pellets that break the sound barrier (approx. 1,125 fps @ 68F and sea level) are often less accurate due to the instability imparted to the pellet due to the trans-sonic and supersonic shock waves. The pellet will also be nosier as it produces a ballistic crack until it drops below the speed of sound. Oft times a heavier slower pellet (in the range of 900 - 1000 fps or so) will impart more energy to the target and with more accuracy. Common advice is to experiment with different pellets to find one your gun "likes". Unfortunately, as CA and probably more states ban lead, obtaining accurate and efficient pellet and rim fire ammo will likely be more difficult.

bumper

 

[MH8675309]

We have used a .22 for stunning hogs and big beef for slaughter. Modern pellet guns are impressive but if I had a choice I'd never consider using one for this. A good used Marlin model 60 (preferably an older one) would cost you about $125 and last for many years. What do these high powered pellet guns cost? If I had to run for my life I'd want a model 60 and some ammo with me. Happy hunting.

 

[ultrarunner]

I think the range is from very little to thousands as best I can tell.

Was on the property yesterday and in one minute had about a dozen ground squirrels standing keeping an eye on me...

For such little guys they sure can dig... right under large trees and move enough dirt to nearly stall the craftsman mower in high grass.

About a 100 years ago the county AG extension had a program to eliminate them and this property was one that was mentioned.

On a Saturday in the summer they covered thousands of holes... the following Saturday all the ones that had been opened had a liquid like dry cleaning fluid poured in and covered... the next week about 10% have again been opened and they repeated...

Said it cost a couple of dollars an acre to eradicate with free labor.

Turn up all kinds of things on the Internet...

Unless a natural predator comes into the picture it seams plinking would be a good solution...

Wonder if they carry things like rabies?

 

[k0ua]

Per the CDC:

Small mammals such as squirrels, rats, mice, hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils, chipmunks, rabbits, and hares are almost never found to be infected with rabies
and have not been known to cause rabies among humans in the United States. Bites by these animals are usually not considered a risk of rabies unless
the animal was sick or behaving in any unusual manner and rabies is widespread in your area.

However, from 1985 through 1994, woodchucks accounted for 86% of the 368 cases of rabies among rodents reported to CDC. Woodchucks or groundhogs
(Marmota monax) are the only rodents that may be frequently submitted to state health department because of a suspicion of rabies.
In all cases involving rodents, the state or local health department should be consulted before a decision is made to
initiate postexposure prophylaxis (PEP).