Air Rifle Help

[nitehawg]

Help !

Does anybody have any experience with air rifles? I am looking for one for pest/varmint control. .17, 5mm, .22, or .25 cal.? Pump action or break open?
How many fps is needed to be effective? Single shot or semi-auto?

I've seen prices anywhere from $49.00 up to several thousand. I'm not trying out for the Olympics or anything, just looking for something to have fun with, dispatch some critters, and in the extreme put some meat on the table.

I know you folks will be helpful and thank you in advance for your assistance.

[Rustyshakelford]

Stay with .177. Cheap to shoot. I also recommend one with a decent scope. I think sportsmans guide .com has a combo pack pretty reasonable. The .22 and .25 are more difficult to find pellets for, but I have heard of folks who cast their own for them. I do not like melting lead, too toxic and dangerous. Gamo makes a decent pump.

[Rustyshakelford]

How about this one?

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=354264

1200 FPS!! Thats pretty fast for a pellet gun. May be able to use that for big game bunny hunting at short distances. $140.00, free scope and free pellets. Sounds reasonable to me.

They even named it after my favorite target animal. The Big "cat". !!

[nitehawg]

Thanks Rusty,

So I'm guessing 1000 or so fps is necessary to be effective? Gotta talk to the wife, she's a member of their club. Maybe find one under the ol' Christmas tree this year.

[Rustyshakelford]

How about a used .22 shooting Aguilla ammo? Silent, and will knock down squirells. Not that I would know.

[PalmettoNative]

if you have a .22LR rifle then buy some super colibris. they are quiet, cheap and are way heavier than any pellet round. I say "rifle" because firing out of a pistol is way louder.

[denvernative321]

i have been in the market for a pellet gun as well. Gamo has a new hunter rifle that will fire a .177 at 1600 fps. if you are looking to kill small animals with it make sure it will do at least 1000 fps. also a .22 pellet is pretty good for varmints but more expensive. there are hundreds of forums that argue pellet size and velocity.

[hubste5]

Don't get too caught up in the advertised fps... this is generally calculated with light ammo that does not shoot very accurately... when lead pellets, especially lighter .177 varieties, reach the speed of sound (900 fps or so), the accuracy becomes compromised, energy is a better measure of knockdown/kill power . I suggest you visit airgunone.com and ask your specific questions. I am an airgun novice, but there are some great guys over there that can really answer your questions with no hidden agendas...