We have an infestation of English Sparrows that swarm our suburban yard. I’ve got little use for invasive exotic species and figure they make decent targets. We’re outside the city limits so I’ll get that bit out of the way. If we were out in the country a 20 gauge with a light load of #9 would fix it in short order, but I’m pretty sure that wouldn’t win over the neighbors.
I’m looking for recommendations for an inexpensive (under $75) pellet rifle or pistol. It should be sufficiently accurate at 20 yards or less to hit a small and not particularly tough target. I have a Benjamin 392 that has been the end of many garden raiding squirrels but it is 1) too powerful for little birds and 2) not pumping correctly (a story for another post). Plus it’s an excuse to get a .177 rifle, right?
Most of my experience is with pumps, but I’m open to other options if quieter or of better quality. I grew up with the Crosman 760 to harass squirrels but generally think a rifled barrel would be better. The Daisy 880 sounds decent on paper but I’ve read they’re fairly fragile. The Crosman 1377 sounds interesting too. Probably others I’ve not thought of too. Any experience would be helpful here.
Well, if you're a new air gunner, you shouldn't hunt!
Practicing on live targets is a whipping offence in my book, certainly it was in my dad's
Yes, a springer can have a steeper learning curve than a PCP but no matter what gun you get you have to practice first and the SAG I recommended will make that KZ after a tin of pellets has settled it down.
(It's also known branded as the Beeman RS at twice the price)
If you want something powerful and accurate enough to hunt sparrows on the cheap, then I have a hard time thinking of something other than a break barrel springer.
I'd use my scoped FWB 300 but that's not in the OP's budget even if he'd probably love it.
The FX Cutlass is excellent for stalking rabbits and loads of fun going through the mags putting pellets downrange at the fall down targets untill you have to get out the pump, but for sparrows, a chair and table on the porch and a bipod on the FWB is ideal.
It's quite facinating that it could be such a pest as an introduced species.
In Europe it went in steep decline after WWII due to the mechanization of farming, a main staple of their diet was seeds and cereal from horse droppings.
They're quite harmless (here at least) but in cities they're called flying rats as they scavenge in bins around restuarants.
They make huge mixed flocks with Tree Sparrows and syndry sparrows
In SD Squirrels are known as tree rats and English Sparrows as tree mice. It's about impossible to keep them out of out buildings and they will take over any kind of bird house that's put up. Native birds don't hardly stand a chance at the bird feeders in the winter. The thing they don't seem to like is sunflower seeds. They will land in the yard in groups of 20 or more at a time.
Have I mentioned I don't like them?????
I'll bet it does.makes for some good dinner talk.
Thanks for the advice. I’ve decided that for now repairing the 392 and adding an old 4x scope I have lying around is the right step.
I recommend the Crosman 2100B multi-pump rifle. They go for $70 at Pyramyd Air. Caliber is .177, barrel is rifled, and they are accurate to 20 yds.
Top it with a Crosman 410 4X15 Targetfinder scope for another $12.
I've got 2 of them, both are so accurate they're boring, but the triggers aren't great and there's a lot of plastic. You can order direct from Crosman in Bloomfield, NY. Crosman usually has refurb 2100s on hand. One of mine is a refurb and cost just $39. You can get the scope there too, though their website is hard to use/order from until you get used to it.
Another negative, Crosman ships FedEX and require a signature for an air gun. Pyramid ships UPS, no signature required.
Actually, I think your 392, once repaired, will be right for the job; but I understand the lust for a new gun.
Takes very little work to install a 2260 barrel on these and then you have a real tack driver..I love my old 2200's
Are you eating them? Why does it matter how powerful the rifle is?1) too powerful for little birds
Are you eating them? Why does it matter how powerful the rifle is?