Best air rifle for target practice and varmint control

[smokey30725]

Hey guys. I apologize in advance if this is in the wrong forum. My father in law is looking for the best bb / pellet gun he can have for varmint control (his neighborhood has been over run with chickens and roosters. He thought it was pretty funny till they started tearing up my mother in laws flower beds). He lives in the city so a firearm is out of the question. I know most of the break barrel piston guns are pellet only but do you guys know of any makes or models that accept both bbs and pellets and still has the velocity of the single shot piston guns? Thanks in advance.

 

[floorit76]

What is his price range? I am quite fond of my Crosman NPSS break barrel. Very accurate, very quiet, good fps. But it is a middle of the road rifle. Far from the bottom, and also the top. I belive I paid $275ish, I believe it was a refurb.

 

[Fremmer]

Ya know, the standard daisy pump gun was one of the most accurate I've shot. Less noise than the piston gun. Less power than the piston, but good enough to take care of varmints.

 

[kayak-man]

First, find out if he can legally shoot the chickens. IF they are running wild its probably OK, but if they are the neighbors, that could pose some legal problems.

I think the solution here might be to get 2 guns. I have one of the break barrel .22 pellet guns, mostly for rats, and I think you'd want something with that kind of power if your shooting chickens. Mines a Beeman (I believe, its been a long time since I've used it.)

I used to have one of the Crossman pump BB repeaters, that took pellets as well. Not sure if you'll be able to get the penetration to humanely kill a chicken with it.

Nice thing with airguns is, compared to firearms, they are very inexpensive. (Yes, I know, there are some high end pellet guns out there that cost a small fortune, but generally, they aren't too pricey).

If it was me, I'd get one of each - pump gun for plinking, break barrel for serious work.

Hope this helps,

Chris "the Kayak-Man" Johnson

 

[floorit76]

"Ya know, the standard daisy pump gun was one of the most accurate I've shot. Less noise than the piston gun. Less power than the piston, but good enough to take care of varmints. "

You will find that the new shrouded barrel guns are much quieter than non-shrouded. And I'd like to add, I had an 880 Daisy when young that was quite accurate and powerful. I bought myself a new one a few years ago. And it is the single biggest disapointment of all my shooting purchases. I doubt very much you could hit a chicken sized object reliably at 10 yards with it. In fact, I'm certain that I would have a better chance if I were to throw the rifle at it at that range.

 

[smokey30725]

The owners of the chickens aren't too concerned about the birds and the city won't trap them so he says he will take care of them himself. He is mostly concerned with making a humane kill. He would like to stay below 200 dollars.

 

[smokey30725]

He currently has an older lever action daisy that does nothing but mildly irritate the birds.

 

[Loosenock]

Crosman 2100 about $65 or if you want the exact same AG in black with Remingtons brand on it for $10 more at the Walmart stores. Shoots both bb and pellets. I have both the Daisy 880 and Crosman 2100. Both shoot about the same but the Crosman feels more like a full sized firearm in my hands than the Daisy. The Daisy 880 is a varible pump and not the same as the Daisy Red Ryder lever AG/s

'loose

 

[rcmodel]

From my farm boy days killing moms butcher chickens with a .22 rifle, I'm here to tell you this is a bad idea.

First, a chickens heavy wing feathers will stop an air rifle pellet on a body shot, with a broken wing probably the worst damage.

Second, a chicken has a brain about the size of the period on the end of this sentence.

As such, if you hit it anywhere else, or don't break it's neck, it will run off where it came from to fight another day.

Having wounded bleeding chickens running around the neighborhood dragging broken wings will get your father some legal attention he will not want from the SPCA people and local do-gooders.

rc

 

[DammitBoy]

Ruger Airhawk, 1000 fps with .177 pellets - $99 at Walmart, comes with a 4x32 scope

 

[Certaindeaf]

I've killed about 500 squirrels with 8-900fps .177 piston guns. They are pretty tough. It'll kill a chicken and stuff too. Get a new $100 one and you'll be good. Add a good peep sight and you'll be really good.
What RC said is true too.. I don't shoot crows etc where I live.

 

[sliverflinger]

air rifle varmit control

The FIRST thing I'd do is check the local regs. I live in a rural town in Wy. that considers anything that shoots a projectile to be a firearm(slingshot on up), and illegal to use inside the town. Just a C.Y.A. thought.

 

[fallout mike]

I have a gamo hornet. It fairly quite and pretty accurate. The scope it comes with is garbage though.

 

[gatorjames85]

For the chickens: a machete will be much more effective and humane.

For general varmint control/target shooting, the Gamo break actions are nice for the $.

 

[Fremmer]

You could pepper spray 'em.

 

[Squeaky Wheel]

A snare trap might work better for this situation. He can then wring the neck and have fricasse for dinner. Yum! (peering out my windows to see if I might have some chickens).

 

[smokey30725]

My father in law is not physically able to set traps or run after them with a machete. If he was, I have no doubt they would be gone already. I set him up a live trap and only succeeded in catching some squirrels. City regs allow airguns so he is ok in that regard. I will pass on the suggestions to him. Thanks guys!

 

[Dudemeister]

Years ago we used to hunt squirrels and ground hogs with a break barrel .22 pellet gun.

We used to stuff a .177 BB in the back end of the .22 pellet (inside the rear cone), and shoot that combo. For lack of a better description, the effect on a squirrel is that of a hollow point. On impact the BB pushes further into the pellet and mushrooms out the cone skirt. The damage is pretty nasty.

 

[zxcvbob]

RWS model 34 should do it. Pellets only, don't be shooting BB's in it.

 

[chicharrones]

My only problem with a new break barrel air gun, is it seems they need a lot of pellets fired before they "break in" for repeatable accuracy. Plus, learning to shoot a break barrel with its hold sensitivity can be tricky for regular firearm shooters that aren't used to break barrel. Shooting from different firing positions with a break barrel can lead to unpredictable accuracy as well.

All that said, if the range is close (for an airgun) and the chickens give plenty of follow up shots, what I wrote above probably doesn't matter much.

Still, a nice pump action like a .22 caliber Benjamin 392 would be less sensitive to how you hold it and affecting accuracy in my own experience.

Just my opinion, since I have to work really hard to make break barrel airguns shoot well.

 

[Fremmer]

Thinking about it, and living next to chickens, he should get a super Soaker. Seriously.the chickens Will hate the water and he will have fun!

 

[303tom]

For the money, Daisy................

 

[NeuseRvrRat]

probably be cheaper to just pay the neighborhood kids $5/ea for every chicken they can bring him. wring the necks and be done with it.

 

[smokey30725]

He not only wants it for varmint control, he wants something to shoot with my son when he stays over there.

 

[Certaindeaf]

How old/strong is your son? Many of the piston guns recommended here pretty much take a strong adult to stroke.
If he's small, and you don't want your FIL to have to do all the loading, perhaps consider a Sheridan or Benjamin .20cal pneumatic. A couple pumps will hole paper very well and a few more will kill some stuff that might need killing.