Recommended Pellet Rifle For Varmint Control
I am in the market for a quality, accurate, scoped pellet rifle for varmint control and general plinking that's in the $300-or-less price range. I live on 3 acres and am well separated from neighbors, so noise is not a big issue. Targets will mostly be squirrels and gophers, but also the occasional magpie, crow, or raccoon. Quality, consistent accuracy, and killing power are my most important qualifiers. I also want an adult-sized rifle, not a kid's toy. Problem is, I haven't owned a pellet rifle in years and my recent experience has been limited to shooting a friend's Gamo rifle off his back deck. On-line reviews of all brands seem to be inconsistent and all over the place, so it's hard to know who to believe. One guy will highly rate the top end Gamo rifles while an equal number will denigrate them for having composite barrels that bend over time. So, rather than continue to wade through the plethora of widely divergent on-line critiques, I thought I'd ask you, the guys who actually shoot, which rifle you'd recommend and why. I'd also appreciate your thoughts on caliber and charging mechanisms, i.e. spring, nitro, or CO2, etc. I look forward to your replies. Thank you.
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quote:Originally posted by Fairlane66
I am in the market for a quality, accurate, scoped pellet rifle for varmint control and general plinking that's in the $300-or-less price range. I live on 3 acres and am well separated from neighbors, so noise is not a big issue. Targets will mostly be squirrels and gophers, but also the occasional magpie, crow, or raccoon. Quality, consistent accuracy, and killing power are my most important qualifiers. I also want an adult-sized rifle, not a kid's toy. Problem is, I haven't owned a pellet rifle in years and my recent experience has been limited to shooting a friend's Gamo rifle off his back deck. On-line reviews of all brands seem to be inconsistent and all over the place, so it's hard to know who to believe. One guy will highly rate the top end Gamo rifles while an equal number will denigrate them for having composite barrels that bend over time. So, rather than continue to wade through the plethora of widely divergent on-line critiques, I thought I'd ask you, the guys who actually shoot, which rifle you'd recommend and why. I'd also appreciate your thoughts on caliber and charging mechanisms, i.e. spring, nitro, or CO2, etc. I look forward to your replies. Thank you.
Addressing these backwards, for your purposes, one shot at a time is fine, and I think you'll get highest bang/buck in terms of power and accuracy from the spring/piston type guns. That's what I'd recommend.
Don't think there are any nitrogen-tank powered guns in your $300 price range, and even if there were, I'm not sure for your purpose of killing tiny pests, the extra power is worth the extra cost and hassle of these. IMO those kinds of guns are really more for people who "should" be using real firearms, but for whatever reason, can't or don't want to.
C02 cartridge guns are convenient, but these limit you to about 700 fps, and you can get much more power with springs.
If you're talking about the Benjamin/Crosman "Nitro piston" guns, I've never tried one and have no comment. They're probably OK.
In terms of brands, you can't go wrong with the RWS Diana 34. Its tried and true (same model has been around for decades, relatively powerful (about 900 fps in .177"), has relatively low cocking effort, accurate, good trigger, and fits exactly into your price range at about $300.0 -
I got a friend who's got ground squirrels on her property. I was thinking one of those Game-o break tops. I figure 50 yards tops on a calm windless day. My budget was less than $150 with a scope. I ain't gonna spend real money on only or a good day plinker.
Big 5 for a couple of weeks had one in that price range. But I didn't have the cash for it.
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While at Wallyworld yesterday I saw me a Ruger air gun ther. Will this be the only thing they'll be shipping to California? Anyways I sw me a Beeman with .22 and 177 switch barrel set up. Kind a neat. Run out of one projectile swap out the barrel an go. Or swap out a barrel for a extremely fat ground squirrel [:D].0 -
I use a Crossman Quest, I had to tear it down,stone and file the trigger group and use locktite on the scope rings.
It does the job, head shots on coons and chucks at close range (15-20 yd) chipmunks and squirrels it does okay at your range.0 -
I, too, would say that in your price range, that the big Piston guns are what you are looking for. For better accuracy, I like the fixed barrel models, like the RWS 48, and Gamo makes one with an under lever.
One more thing to remember, with a big piston gun, in gas or spring, there is bi-directional recoil. You have to use a scope that is made for it, if you use a scope. I have seen guys put regular rifle scopes on, and these will shred a $500.00 Leupold rifle scope in less than 20 shots...just a reminder.0 -
I hand built a old Crossman 140. It would shoot threw one side of a heavy galvanized steel trash can with 50 pumps, most blow the seals around 25 pumps. I rebuilt lots of Crossman's, Benjamin's and Sheridan's back in 70-90'. Daisy weren't worth the effort.
I would use my 722 Remington in 222 with cast bullets. I can load it down to just stick the bullets in a board or all the way up to 22 rim fire magnum levels. Second choice would be my Remington barreled 1906 Winchester shooting CCI 22 CB longs - so quite I can hear the hammer drop, hits hard enough for cat sized small game to perhaps 50 yards.0 -
Cant say whats good but as for bad....bought a Winchester(I think) branded, made in turkey brake open airgun in 177 claimed 1200fpm maybe so but it wont hit the side of a barn at 20 yrds 0 -
I have several, but I like RWS the best. 0 -
I like the spring powered pellet guns and RWS Model 34 is all you should need. I've found that high velocity and accuracy don't go together, heavier pellets result in better accuracy, and shooting a spring gun is like shooting a bow or muzzle loader because you have to hold on target before/after you squeeze the trigger. 0 -
I shoot a lot of pellet rifles and I've found that the best bang for your buck are Hatsan rifles made in Turkey using German steel and Turkish Walnut stocks that are beautiful.
Just so you know, the rifle weighs about 9 lbs. and requires considerable upper body strength if you shoot it a lot in one session.
My latest is the Hatsan 135 in .22 cal.with JSB match Diabolo pellets and is a deadly combination.
You can buy pellets in all different weights but I've found most rifles shoot better with heavier pellets.Buy several different gr. pellets and see what works for you.
The Hatsan 135 is an air piston(Vortex) design as opposed to a springer powered rifle and has what they call a Quantro trigger that is fully adjustable.
Shooting a quality pellet rifle requires that you forget just about everything you know about shooting a rifle as far as how you hold it due to all the different things that go on when you shoot a pellet rifle.
The recommended hold for a pellet rifle is the "Artillery Hold" ,Google it.. Long story short, you hold the rifle so that it can move when you shoot it. There are harmonics in pellet rifles that are not found in rim fire or center fire rifles that will greatly effect accuracy
It's a must to get a good scope that is designed for a pellet rifle or your wasting time and money.
There are tons videos on pellet rifles if you look for them. Google is your friend.[:)]
Just for the record, I have more conventional hand guns and rifles than you can shake a stick at but mastering a powerful pellet rifle is a challenge not to be taken lightly.0
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