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Login to post Forums » Off-topic discussion » I need a varmint plinker - learn me air rifles

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June 28, 2010 10:09 a.m. alex Dork

Well, the garden's getting swinging after a slow start. (We transplanted literally the day before a little heat wave, and the plants were not happy for a while.) And who do you guess started coming around after a long absence? Yep, our friendly neighborhood rabbit. Between it/them and the squirrels, I think I have a turf war brewing. I intend to leap into the arms race headlong, strike first and strike swiftly. And, this way I can get some protein from the garden, too. (I fully intend to eat what I kill. Well, the dog might get fed the squirrel meat - not sure I want to eat city squirrels.)

In the interest of discretion, I think I'd like a decent air rifle with optics. I really want this to be a one-shot-one-kill rig, because the idea of cute widdle wabbits squirming paralyzed after a slight miss does not make me hungry. It makes me sad.

My bedroom porch would be my first choice of sniper's perch for tactical garden defense; good sight lines into the garden, and what I assume is a workable distance - about 50'-75'.

I haven't even shot a pellet/bb gun since my old spring-action Daisy, so I need some direction here, in terms of the rifle and (especially) the optics.
June 28, 2010 10:23 a.m. Grtechguy SuperDork

I have this... Sheridan .20 cal. quiet, fast, deadly.

and yes, I have a scope on mine.
June 28, 2010 10:45 a.m. Jay_W HalfDork

Even the cheap ones these days will send a 1000fps pellet into a halfinch circle at that range all day long. I liked my Sheridan, you can't go wrong with Gamo or Beeman or pretty much anything else in the ol' Cabela's catalog...
June 28, 2010 10:46 a.m. Brotus7 Reader

I have a Gamo shadow (I think that's the model, 1000fps, .177cal). It's fairly accurate, but I wouldn't get it again. Instead Gamo has a model, CFX, with a cocking lever, not the usual break barrel. That means it should be more repeatable. The other one I've been drooling at is the Benjamin Discovery. Wicked accurate at a decent range (>1in groupings, 50 yds) , pretty quiet, bolt action, several shots between pumping. It's a bit on the pricey side though.
June 28, 2010 11:00 a.m. Dr. Hess SuperDork

A long barrel 22 rifle with CB Long ammo is quieter than an air rifle and packs a lot more punch. Them pesky squirrels won't know what hit them. However, if you want an air rifle, I bought one recently from Sportsman's Guide for a bill. It is branded as a "Ruger" but the only thing Ruger on it I can see is the label. Says 1000 FPS, but I doubt it. Air rifle manufacturers get real creative with their velocity ratings and most speed you see will have been only achieved with trick pellets and some Dieseling action. This one came with a nice 4X scope too at that price. I mean, you'd spend $30 on just that scope any time else. The rifle itself is a Chinese made copy of a German RWS break barrel rifle. I did a trigger job on it and used the drawings/directions for the German trigger, as it was identical. I also replaced the scope with a cheap old K-Mart scope I had laying around because I use the rifle on my indoor rifle range (AKA: The Kitchen) and at 22 ft, the paralax was excessive. Anyway, for a hundred bucks, it is hard to go wrong on that one.
June 28, 2010 11:14 a.m. alex Dork

Paging through the Cabela's catalog now, in fact. Is it me, or is the concept of a tactical air rifle kind of hilarious? I like the laser, scope, flashlight and bipod for keeping wabbits out of the 'maters.
June 28, 2010 11:35 a.m. Woody SuperDork

Like the Techguy, I have a Benjamin Sheridan as well, though mine is a .177.

It's one of the most accurate short range plinkers I own. Very effective on pests and very nicely made.

http://www.pyramydair.com/p/benjamin-sheridan-397.shtml

But I'd love to find an old wood stocked Crossman 760, just for fun.
June 28, 2010 12:11 p.m. Dr. Hess SuperDork

I have an old wood stocked Crosman 760. I got it for my birthday 42 years ago. I need to rebuild the air stuff, but I musta put a million BB's through it, easy.
June 28, 2010 12:23 p.m. carguy123 SuperDork

Dr. Hess wrote:

A long barrel 22 rifle with CB Long ammo is quieter than an air rifle and packs a lot more punch.

There is no way the 22 is quieter than the air rifle! I have both and I tend to open the windows and shoot from inside the house at the turtles so I don't scare the neighbors. It does tend to startle our dogs tho.
June 28, 2010 12:34 p.m. Dr. Hess SuperDork

Come over to the house and I'll demonstrate. Notice I said long barrel and CB Long ammo. It is certainly quieter than my new Chinese 1000 (right) FPS 177 brake barrel.
June 28, 2010 12:40 p.m. carguy123 SuperDork

I haven't a clue what CB long ammo is but I use Long rifle and shorts in my long barreled 22 with a sight and it's a hell of a lot louder than my air rifle.
June 28, 2010 12:43 p.m. Dr. Hess SuperDork

carguy123 wrote:

I haven't a clue what CB long ammo is ...

Found your problem.
June 28, 2010 12:44 p.m. carguy123 SuperDork

so what is it?
June 28, 2010 12:55 p.m. Dr. Hess SuperDork

Perhaps I wasn't clear enough. You problem is that you do not have a clue what CB Long ammo is. Go to wally world or a gun store if WW is out of stock and buy a box for a whopping five bucks and try it out in your rifle with the longest barrel you have, then tell me, as at that time you will have a clue.
June 28, 2010 1:11 p.m. Jay_W HalfDork

CB= very low noise subsonic heavy bullet, ideal for urban tactical varminting. Indeed quieter than most air guns.
June 28, 2010 2:07 p.m. Dr. Hess SuperDork

That "Ruger" is now $90: http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/ruger-blackhawk-177-cal-air-rifle-with-4x32-...

or $81 if you're in "the club." I think that's a good deal.
June 28, 2010 2:15 p.m. Woody SuperDork

Dr. Hess wrote:

That "Ruger" is now $90: http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/ruger-blackhawk-177-cal-air-rifle-with-4x32-...

or $81 if you're in "the club." I think that's a good deal.

That's a smokin' deal...

... as long as you don't live in CA; CT; DE; IL; MI; New York City; NJ; D.C.; MA; Canada or Puerto Rico.

Damn.
June 28, 2010 2:21 p.m. Dr. Hess SuperDork

Maybe you didn't hear about the Supreme Court ruling today, Woody.
June 28, 2010 2:24 p.m. Woody SuperDork

Dr. Hess wrote:

Maybe you didn't hear about the Supreme Court ruling today, Woody.

I must have missed it when I was down in the bunker loading ammo.
June 28, 2010 4:57 p.m. carguy123 SuperDork

Jay_W wrote:

CB= very low noise subsonic heavy bullet, ideal for urban tactical varminting. Indeed quieter than most air guns.

Thank you Jay since Dr. Hess was refusing to answer. I'll go try a box.
June 28, 2010 5:58 p.m. ignorant SuperDork

Jay_W wrote:

CB= very low noise subsonic heavy bullet, ideal for urban tactical varminting. Indeed quieter than most air guns.

what the hell is tactical varminting?

The word tactical is getting damn played out..

I think my dad would call "urban tactical varminting".. "shooting them berkeleyers in garden"....

sorry.. Rant over.
June 28, 2010 6:00 p.m. ignorant SuperDork

Dr. Hess wrote:

Maybe you didn't hear about the Supreme Court ruling today, Woody.

I'm going to doubt that ruling will have much effect..

They'll just require a liscense that costs $60,000 per year and tax bullets/ammo etc.. into the stone ages..
June 28, 2010 6:01 p.m. Dr. Hess SuperDork

Waddayamean "refusing to answer"? I did answer. I told you to go buy a box. You just pullin' my chain or am I not communicating here?
June 28, 2010 6:13 p.m. ignorant SuperDork

Woody wrote:

Dr. Hess wrote:

That "Ruger" is now $90: http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/ruger-blackhawk-177-cal-air-rifle-with-4x32-...

or $81 if you're in "the club." I think that's a good deal.

That's a smokin' deal...

... as long as you don't live in CA; CT; DE; IL; MI; New York City; NJ; D.C.; MA; Canada or Puerto Rico.

Damn.

umm thats a shipping thing. You can own them. Go to Cabelas in East Hartford, they are everywhere..
June 28, 2010 6:17 p.m. DrBoost Dork

The problem Dr. Hess is that, as far as I know, you cannot discharge a firearm in most city limits. That's why I'm looking for an air rifle. Even IF it is quieter the pigs won't care.

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