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Anybody huntin with an air rifle?
#6882171
09/08/17 08:50 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,267
Sirrah243
OP
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OP
Veteran Tracker
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,267 |
Curious to know if anyone here hunts varmits with an air rifle. My home place has plenty of coons and a few fox that Id like to get rid of before I move my chickens from the brooder to the pen.
�A hunt based only on the trophies taken falls far short of what the ultimate goal should be.� -Fred Bear
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Re: Anybody huntin with an air rifle?
[Re: Sirrah243]
#6882525
09/09/17 01:20 PM
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 7,047
mikei
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 7,047 |
I use a Crosman F4 in 17 caliber, and a Crosman 22 caliber air pistol for vermin control on skunks, possums and raccoons. Never have had an opportunity to try them on a fox. Definitely a "head shot only" solution for a humane kill. A body shot will deliver a mortal wound if it hits a vital organ, but death will come agonizingly slow to the target species, and you'll never know if you've taken them out or not, since they'll run or crawl off and die deep in the bush.
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Re: Anybody huntin with an air rifle?
[Re: Sirrah243]
#6882695
09/09/17 05:52 PM
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 11,657
colt45-90
Texas colt45
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Texas colt45
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 11,657 |
have thought about it, might get one for the back yard tree rats
hold on Newt, we got a runaway
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Re: Anybody huntin with an air rifle?
[Re: Sirrah243]
#6884030
09/11/17 03:28 PM
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Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 34
Volfy
Light Foot
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Light Foot
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 34 |
I love hunting with my PCP air rifles. Unlike springers, which I still like to shoot from time to time, PCP's have next to no recoil so I can actually watch the pellet strike through the scope. .25 will reach out to 80yds and still packs a wallop to take out coon size game. .22 is perfect for for smaller game at closer range.
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Re: Anybody huntin with an air rifle?
[Re: Sirrah243]
#6884225
09/11/17 06:21 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,267
Sirrah243
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OP
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,267 |
This weekend I happened upon a Gamo Maxxum in 177 at Walmart. It was on cleareance from $188 down to $89. It came with a 4x32 scope.
I really wanted a 22 but I couldn't pass on this deal. Shoots great is accurate with a solid rest. I sighted it in at 25 yards.
I'm impressed by with this rifle.
�A hunt based only on the trophies taken falls far short of what the ultimate goal should be.� -Fred Bear
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Re: Anybody huntin with an air rifle?
[Re: Volfy]
#6885125
09/12/17 04:55 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,506
syncerus
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,506 |
I love hunting with my PCP air rifles. Unlike springers, which I still like to shoot from time to time, PCP's have next to no recoil so I can actually watch the pellet strike through the scope. .25 will reach out to 80yds and still packs a wallop to take out coon size game. .22 is perfect for for smaller game at closer range. How much gear other than the rifle itself did you need to buy? Was it hard to figure out the various fittings, etc?
NRA Patriot Benefactor & DSC Lifer
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Re: Anybody huntin with an air rifle?
[Re: Sirrah243]
#6886569
09/13/17 10:29 PM
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Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 34
Volfy
Light Foot
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Light Foot
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 34 |
You can start out with just the rifle and a hand pump. I started out with a Benjamin Discovery + pump combo, so there wasn't much to figure out. There are two popular fill probe connections: foster quick connector and (for lack of better name) Air Arm type connector.
These days, you can pick up an entry level PCP rifle for less than $200. Hand pump starts at $150 new, but you can probably buy a used one or ebay Chinese knock-off for a lot less.
Once you've shot PCP, you'd amazed at just consistently accurate it can be compared to springers.
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Re: Anybody huntin with an air rifle?
[Re: Sirrah243]
#6890230
09/18/17 12:03 AM
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Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 197
Hunter307
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 197 |
I would love a daystate or fx pcp gun. Just never seem to save for one.
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Re: Anybody huntin with an air rifle?
[Re: Sirrah243]
#6890451
09/18/17 03:29 AM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,005
HornSlayer
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,005 |
Man I love mine. I have two PCP's. One is a Modified Discovery .25 ACP and the other is a modified Air Force Condor .257. Support equipment is significant but I think if you break it down to the shot it is less than most 30+ cal powder burners over the long term. I rented a 6000 psi Nitrogen tank that I refill a 4500 psi carbon fiber tank regulated to 3500psi.
They make ammo specifically for hunting for a reason!
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Re: Anybody huntin with an air rifle?
[Re: Sirrah243]
#6896188
09/23/17 08:59 AM
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 84
Dupi
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 84 |
I have a few air arms spring and pcp. Much more rewarding killing small games with my air rifle.
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Re: Anybody huntin with an air rifle?
[Re: Dupi]
#6897760
09/25/17 01:38 AM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 154
240z
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 154 |
I have a Hatsan 125 in .22 that is a squirrel killing machine. It will shoot 1/2" groups at 50 yds. Off of a rest. Much more fun than than hunting them with a powder burner.
Harley Davidson Motorcycles.....the most efficent way to convert gasoline into noise, without the side effects of Horsepower.
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Re: Anybody huntin with an air rifle?
[Re: Sirrah243]
#6898203
09/25/17 03:41 PM
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Joined: May 2016
Posts: 2,420
yotehater
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 2,420 |
My dogs go nuts when I grab the pellet rifle. They love tree rat.
One shot is all it should take.
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Re: Anybody huntin with an air rifle?
[Re: Sirrah243]
#6899206
09/26/17 12:53 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,005
HornSlayer
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,005 |
As energy levels increase into 100's of FPE, I get excited about the possibilities. I have a couple pcp's that produce 150+ fpe I use to hunt with. One is a .25 ACP and the other is a .257.
They make ammo specifically for hunting for a reason!
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Re: Anybody huntin with an air rifle?
[Re: Sirrah243]
#6901148
09/27/17 08:44 PM
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Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 176
RockDocJoe
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 176 |
What do you all think of Gamo in .177 - 1100 FPS with pellets?
I got one from a friend of a friend who was moving back home (China). Is it reasonable to have a Gamo .177 as a primary small game rifle?
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Re: Anybody huntin with an air rifle?
[Re: RockDocJoe]
#6901164
09/27/17 08:52 PM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 29,609
SapperTitan
Taking Requests
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Taking Requests
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 29,609 |
What do you all think of Gamo in .177 - 1100 FPS with pellets?
I got one from a friend of a friend who was moving back home (China). Is it reasonable to have a Gamo .177 as a primary small game rifle? Ive killed rats, mice, rabbits, raccoons, and a few skunks with mine. IT WILL KEEL
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Re: Anybody huntin with an air rifle?
[Re: Sirrah243]
#6901864
09/28/17 12:25 PM
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 7,047
mikei
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 7,047 |
The Gamo in .177 will work just fine within short ranges on small game. Head shots are required for humane kills. Make sure you spend a lot of quality time behind the trigger and spend the money to buy at least 3 or 4 different kinds of pellets to find out which one gives you the best accuracy.
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