Air rifle recommendation

[Nutterbuster]

Do you all just keep the back legs for meat, or all four. And do you use it like stew meat?

You can keep all 4 quarters, the back, the heart, and the liver. If prions don't scare you you can eat brain. A lot of times I just grab the back legs and back. You can fry them, or pressure cook them and use the meat as a substitute for canned/shredded chicken. Dumplings, stews, tacos, whatever.

 

[kyler1945]

Do you all just keep the back legs for meat, or all four. And do you use it like stew meat?

I seem to remember a certain member with a high post count getting burned at the stake around here for not taking deer shoulders...

what makes you think we won’t tar and feather you for wasting squirrel shoulders!

hahaha he’s a witch! Burn him!

 

[boyne bowhunter]

How do you know he's a witch?

 

[mtsrunner]

Gotcha. Thanks. No yotes on my hit list. I'll go with the 22 then. Thinking same thing on the price differential. I want to harvest some squirrels but only while archery hunting, so weight and packability matter (and sound).

It's some crazy money to spend, but I'm of an age and situation with adultish kids that I can try to justify it. I worked an extra job this year and this might be my "reward" for such. Plus I have a sense I'm going to like it! I see a ton of nice looking squirrels. As long as the edibility works out I should be set. As a comparison, I love hard water "harvesting" yellow perch to eat, and I probably have that kinda money tied up in that protein source procurement operation.

Go for it. .22 pellets are easier to find and a little cheaper, too. (Not that any pellets are very expensive). The .22 with JSB King Heavy pellets will be accurate, dead quiet and will thump a squirrel out to 50ish yards if you are a good shot. I’m an average shot and try to keep my shots under 35 yards.

 

[tmattson]

Do you guy's use the hand pump or have a tank to refill?

 

[kyler1945]

I use a hand pump. I don’t want to think about filling otherwise I’ll get lazy. I have access to the fire crew here, but it takes five minutes to get from 180bar to 250bar - my typical spot to fill and stop filling.

the best pellet for my gun so far has been the jsb hades .22. Nasty little thing.

 

[mtsrunner]

I also use a hand pump. It takes me less time than [mention]kyler1945 [/mention](obviously).

I also fill to around 240-260 bar depending on how long I plan on being out there. I think my regulator is set a little high so I refill at around 140 bar. That gets me around 15 shots.

I tried 4 different pellets when I got the gun and I also settled on the JSB Hades in .25 version.

 

[Adamcincy]

$410 for an air gun ain't even in the realm of possible bro

I prefer pcp air rifles similar to the marauder (FX makes some excellent but expensive rifles). I charge them off a scuba tank. It may seem like a lot of $ but a good air rifle is a pretty amazing weapon and if you buy one that isn’t accurate or is loud it will just sit in your closet. Buy once cry once. A couple of mine easily shoot 1/2 inch groups at 50 yards. Same hole at 30 yards. You can get them low powered enough they are safe in an urban/suburban environment or really powerful. They can be whisper quiet yet shoot a rabbit at 100 yards. I have a .25 cal air rifle that easily puts down sheep/lambs when they are ready to butcher. Not the toy I had as a kid.

 

[TNSTAAFL]

They can be whisper quiet yet shoot a rabbit at 100 yards.

Now there's another interesting idea. I have lots of cottontail in my back yard stealing clover from my little suburban food plot. They taunt me also when I sit in my blind waiting for the Great Pumpkin. 22 able to take them down?

I shot one with my bow once and was 50/50 on the eating part. I'd try it again maybe with a better recipe.

 

[Adamcincy]

Now there's another interesting idea. I have lots of cottontail in my back yard stealing clover from my little suburban food plot. They taunt me also when I sit in my blind waiting for the Great Pumpkin. 22 able to take them down?

I shot one with my bow once and was 50/50 on the eating part. I'd try it again maybe with a better recipe.

.22 is plenty for rabbits. .177 is enough for rabbits as they die really easily compared to squirrels. Some of the air rifles easily hit a dime at 50 yards so head shots are simple with them.

 

[kenn1320]

.22 is plenty for rabbits. .177 is enough for rabbits as they die really easily compared to squirrels. Some of the air rifles easily hit a dime at 50 yards so head shots are simple with them.

Agree. We drilled holes in nickles as kids and put them behind field points like a redneck judo. You thump a rabbit with one and dead. Same with my buddys rws 177, rabbits are no problem.

 

[Wyatt_burp]

Scope reccomendation? I bought the dang hatsan 95, open sight is great, but scope didn't seem to adjust at all.

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[Chimney7]

If you air gun guys want a rabbit hole to go down that will make you shake your head, check out ‘dieseling an air rifle’

 

[mtsrunner]

If you air gun guys want a rabbit hole to go down that will make you shake your head, check out ‘dieseling an air rifle’

I got the air rifle because the 10/22 was too loud (even with subsonic ammo), so that’s not something I would ever try.


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[Chimney7]

I got the air rifle because the 10/22 was too loud (even with subsonic ammo), so that’s not something I would ever try.


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That’s what I mean by the head shaking part. I would never in a million years try that!

 

[mtsrunner]

Scope reccomendation? I bought the dang hatsan 95, open sight is great, but scope didn't seem to adjust at all.

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I’m about to try my third scope:

Started with a big 3-12 Centerpoint. I liked the side focus a lot, but it was just Too big(28 oz with mounts).

Currently using the Primary Arms classic ACSS 22LR version

Primary Arms Classic Series 6x32mm Rifle Scope - ACSS-22LR https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00WMYD4R8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_i_8dHZFbXMSXJYM?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

I like this one for its small size, fixed 6x power and the reticle is awesome. The inner part of the ‘horseshoe’ is 2” at 25 yards, so if I can see a lot of air between it and the squirrel’s head, it’s probably too far to shoot.
The downside to the scope is even though the parallax is set for 50 yards, I’m missing the ability to focus at closer ranges. My eyes are old and tired, so this might not be an issue for others. It’s still not too bad, and I might end up sticking with this scope anyway.

However, I’m waiting on another to try. It’s the UTG Bug Buster 3-12 x 32 with side focus.
It’s still a small, light scope, but not as small as the PA 6X.
I will sight it in this week and take it hunting to see if the side focus is worth the trade off for not having the ACSS reticle.

Leapers Inc., UTG BugBuster Riuflescope, 3-12x32mm, 1" Tube, Side AO, Mil-Dot Reticle, DT Rings, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HRM5T1G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_i_TmHZFb49SJ7DQ

 

[Longbowwally]

I have a ruger Air hawk in .177 that is a serious tac driver. So much so I never put a scope on it....I'm at 31 for chipmunks this year.

Love the wood stock and classic feel of it as well as the sinlge shot break action barrel. It was very reasonably priced as well. I've taken munks, squirrels, and rabbits with it no problem.

I have one of these and it was a shooter! Its a heavy rifle but I have killed over 30 squirrels with mine - and in my experience the .177 puts a hurting on a squirrel. I saw a crow one time sitting near the top of a tree - I was a crow hater at the time lol - it was a long ways off but I at least wanted to scare it so I held a ways over its head and fired - he dropped dead as a rock. I couldn't believe it - it was so far I got my range finder and ranged it at 80 yards - prolly just lucky but it happened. The gun stopped working so I got a Gamo with the synthetic stock thinking I would like it as it was lighter than my Ruger but I just can't shoot as good with it....

 

[Red Beard]

Found out you can get a PCP for less than $200. The Beeman QB Chief has pretty good reviews and is $179.

Now for suggestions on a decent scope that doesn't break the bank?

 

[Red Beard]

Found out you can get a PCP for less than $200. The Beeman QB Chief has pretty good reviews and is $179.

Nevermind. Didn't realize you have to buy a $129 hand pump for it.

Back to the drawing board.

 

[bj139]

Nevermind. Didn't realize you have to buy a $129 hand pump for it.

Back to the drawing board.

I just bought a Benjamin Maximus for $135. I should get it Thursday. I couldn't resist the markdown. The code WAYPOINT gets free shipping. It is my first PCP. It gets good reviews and there are a lot of ways to modify it later. I am looking at a $45 pump for it from Walmart.com.

Benjamin Maximus PCP 22 Cal Pellet Air Rifle

Maximus puts a proven hunting platform within reach while delivering impressive performance. With an ergonomic synthetic stock, smooth bolt action and...

www.midwayusa.com