[Pheonix]

So what has better small critter take down (rats cats groundhogs etc), a .177 at 1000fps (Gamo silver shadow) or a .22 at 850fps (Crosman RM622, Gamo hunter 220, or CrosmanRM522). Any comments on these rifles will also be appreciated

[Heavy Barrel]

They are both OK on rats but that is as far as I would go with your question. Cats and groundhogs can both take a pretty good hit and still keep going unless your real close and a damn good shot.

[P95Carry]

If the ft lbs are much same .... with either cal (and this usually applies) then not really a lot to choose. Some people favor heavier pellet going slower .. I tend now to .177 with a reasonable weight pellet. Better trajectory.... and not a lot of use out beyond 20 -25 yds anyways IMO.

I use the Beaman ''Silver Jet'' pellets to good effect, thru my ''Eurolux'' .... .177.

I'd add tho .... rats? - fine.

Cats, Groundhogs?? .. forget it! Unless you were about close enough to club em to death or get a perfect head shot ... you'll find you're needing another few shots to try and ''finish the job''. Really.:)

[Pheonix]

Anybody know where I can find a .25 BB gun? How about one for less than $150....$200???

[lee n. field]

So what has better small critter take down (rats cats groundhogs etc), a .177 at 1000fps (Gamo silver shadow) or a .22 at 850fps (Crosman RM622, Gamo hunter 220, or CrosmanRM522).

Be aware that manufacturer advertised muzzle velocities for air guns are often, ahhhh, "optimistic".

[DougCxx]

Airguns don't have a lot of power, and so head shots are normal--even for quarry like small birds at 40-50 yds, and especially for "larger" live targets like groundhogs. And the animals are not always "immobilized" instantly--sometimes they are just wounded enough for you to walk up and put another finishing shot or two in them.
-------
-I don't know of any $200 .25 air rifles. The whole "Career" family was priced up around $350-$400 last time I browsed. There's at least three companies making very similar CO2 (-and often lever-action) guns--"Career", "Eun Jin" and "Sumatra", and there are US companies selling them. I don't got none; they look ugly but seem to work well. They range 30-80 ft-lbs of power, most have an exposed knob for some limited power adjustability.
~

[TimRB]

Why do you want to kill cats with an air rifle?

Tim

[Pheonix]

I am not looking to kill anything at this point. I am looking for caliber vs speed and using different animal sizes to see what the lower limits are for those animals. I did use a .177 rated at 550fps to kill a skunk (not the California kind:D ) It did take two head shots one in the ear which made him spray and one in the back of the skull. I believe that cats are harder to kill so if it will get a cat then it will get a skunk.

This is very un-PC.

[TimRB]

Why did you kill a skunk with an air rifle?

Tim

[lee n. field]

Why do you want to kill cats with an air rifle?

One of the ads for the original Crosman pheumatic rifle, way back in the 1920s or thereabouts, pushed it for dealing with noisy neighborhood cats. This guy http://members.aol.com/vintairgun/home.htm probably has a copy.

[Pheonix]

Well, Tim, I was catching stray critters and releasing them to my inlaws farm. On night at work my wife calls and says I cought a striped cat.:uhoh: I get home about 2am to execute my plan. I filled a large trash can full of water and drop the caged rodent in. Walla!! wait for him to drown....... WIFF..WIFFF Pant He sticks his nose through the bars and clears the water which is over flowing the can. "What can I do" I ask myself tiredly. I could push him down with a broom:scrutiny: no-that will not work it would prolly p-him off. Get my .22?? No, I live in town and am concerned about overpenetration and noise. What else... Oh ya the old BB gun.

Trash can still stinks, 6 months later!!

Wife will not let me use the trap anymore.

The house started smelling better about a month later.

I dont think my neighbors like me anymore:uhoh: