Rats...

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I have successfully used a cheap Daisy 880 multi-pumper for night ratting. Wal-Mart sometimes has them without scope (and, you don't want that cheapo 4x15 scope, trust me) for $35. Maybe a Winchester 4x32 AO scope, a clamp on flashlight mount, and a small, red, led flashlight with beam focus, and the war is on. Eight pumps with either a Crossman Premier Super Match, or an RWS Basic pellet out to 10-15 yards does it.
That same combination with a head shot to 15 yards will also take wild chickens. It's also quiet compared to the break barrels.
 
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.20 is a nice compromise. I knew a a guy with a Benjamin Sheridan Silver Streak pump pneumatic in that caliber. It put a hurtin' on squirrels and rabbit.

I agree! My Benjamin Blue Streak has killed more squirrels than I can count. The first gun I ever hunted with 55 years ago.
 
I have been using my Daisy Red Ryder BB gun to kill field mice that get in the house for the last couple of years. Only works when I can get real close and get a clean headshot through the eye or ear. If I were to resort to shooting rats out of trees I would go for my 22LR, as I don't have neighbors on any of my tree sides.

Since this is an air gun forum 22 pellet would work just as fine if you don't want to anger any neighbors and decrease collateral damage as much as possible. You do sacrifice a little bit of velocity with 22 compared to a 177 pellet. But you get better ammo choices for killing rodents in 22 so I call it an even trade off. Walmarts around me sell cheap pellet guns for 100 ish as well as the ammo. Just like with real firearms, air guns can be quite picky with their ammo. Grab a few different kinds and do pellet testing for accuracy. I like shooting those half size soda cans when I find them as they are about the vital area of most small rodents like squirrels and such.
 
For vermin control .177 is all I think I need power wise the biggest problem seems to be with break barrel is that they jump a lot you need a very firm rest to get any accuracy.
 
I got a Diana 34 break barrel in .22 for pest control. Just yesterday, we pulled the cover off some patio furniture in the yard and some rats had decided to make a nest. Moved a cushion aside and got a glimpse of a rat body. Shot it with JSB Hades, (body shot as it's head was hidden from view). It's tail twirled once and that was it. I wanted to try the .177 I got for my son, Daisy 853, but the FPS is somewhere around 500. Didn't want that critter running off, so I used my Diana (I think with .22 it is rated at 800fps). I am sure the .177 would have done it at close range. As a kid, I got lots of rats with my Crosman .177. But this Diana .22 packs a whollop.

Mike
 
One other factor I have noted, which points to more velocity is better. When I ho after the rats st night, it's in our chicken coop, shooting is at about 7 yards. The little buggers often hear s noise, from the gun, which are them jump in random direction. The more velocity, the better the chance of nailing the rat before he jumps and makes me miss the shot
It could be that, bearing this in mind, my slowpokey 500 fps Hatsan Alpha .177 break barrel Springer is too slow and too loud for the job. My Daisy 880 is a bit faster with 8 pumps, and fairly quiet too.
 
I sure am enjoying my Benjamin Predator .22caliber, since I placed that cheap red dot scope on it. I only paid $134.00 from Midway for the rifle and the shipping was really fast for a change, two days. I've got two different types of pellets, I've got some really old Crossman 14.2grain round nose, and some Vortex Strike 17.8grains also round nose. At 25 yards from a portable bench the Vortex print about 2" below the older Crossman pellets but directly in line. According to my chronograph the Crossman come out of the barrel at 975-990fps, and the Vortex, at 900-950fps. BTW the box that it came in stated the velocity of the standard pellet was right at 950fps, my shot strings were 10 pellets each. Shouldn't have any problem taking out the numerous cackles that are polluting our porch with bird crap.
 
Been trying out my older model Crossman F4 break barrel nitro piston in .177. It is decently quiet for this type of gun. It also has a lot more power and Velocity than my 880. I have taken four shots (all after dark), with four kills. And, I mean with authority! Don't let anyone tell in you a .177 won't humanely take out big fat rats. And, with the added velocity, they are not jumping away.
 
Got another whopper today. Turns out there was a small space in the mini door to get under the house. I could see chew marks in the wood and some body oil and grime where it/they have been entering. One big one got in the wall by the bathroom sink and found it's way into the cabinet there. Set a trap in the cabinet and one outside under the house and one by the entry way. Next thing I hear is flopping an banging all around in the cabinet. Trap got him but it was still alive. Shot one from the .22 Diana - JSB Hades. Quite a little pool of blood. Hoping that is the end of them for good.
 
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