Air Rifles

[Chunky Stool]

I am going to be more aggressive defending my vegetable garden this year and an air rifle would be perfect for dispatching rodents, rabbits, and squirrels.
Things sure have changed since I was a kid!

The best value seems to be in the 'gas piston' category. Most of them come with stiff triggers and crappy scopes, both of which can be fixed. (I'm OK with open sights if they're adjustable.)
I'm leaning toward .22 although .177 with heavy pellets can be very effective.

Here's what I'm looking at in the budget category:
Amazon product

Umarex SurgeMax Elite Combo | Gas-piston Air Rifle | Airgun Depot

Heavy .177 pellets

JSB Diabolo Exact Heavy .177 Cal, 10.34 gr - 500 ct | Airgun Depot

Check out this great deal on the JSB Diabolo Exact Heavy .177 Cal, 10.34 gr - 500 ct. Need advice? Let our airgun specialists help you today!

www.airgundepot.com

What do you think?

 

[Frimpong]

I am going to be more aggressive defending my vegetable garden this year and an air rifle would be perfect for dispatching rodents, rabbits, and squirrels.
Things sure have changed since I was a kid!

The best value seems to be in the 'gas piston' category. Most of them come with stiff triggers and crappy scopes, both of which can be fixed. (I'm OK with open sights if they're adjustable.)
I'm leaning toward .22 although .177 with heavy pellets can be very effective.

Here's what I'm looking at in the budget category:
Amazon product

Umarex SurgeMax Elite Combo | Gas-piston Air Rifle | Airgun Depot

Heavy .177 pellets

JSB Diabolo Exact Heavy .177 Cal, 10.34 gr - 500 ct | Airgun Depot

Check out this great deal on the JSB Diabolo Exact Heavy .177 Cal, 10.34 gr - 500 ct. Need advice? Let our airgun specialists help you today!

www.airgundepot.com

What do you think?

Doooooiiiiit ? I'd like to defend my crop next year as well.

 

[Mim Towls]

I am going to be more aggressive defending my vegetable garden this year and an air rifle would be perfect for dispatching rodents, rabbits, and squirrels.
Things sure have changed since I was a kid!

The best value seems to be in the 'gas piston' category. Most of them come with stiff triggers and crappy scopes, both of which can be fixed. (I'm OK with open sights if they're adjustable.)
I'm leaning toward .22 although .177 with heavy pellets can be very effective.

Here's what I'm looking at in the budget category:
Amazon product

Umarex SurgeMax Elite Combo | Gas-piston Air Rifle | Airgun Depot

Heavy .177 pellets

JSB Diabolo Exact Heavy .177 Cal, 10.34 gr - 500 ct | Airgun Depot

Check out this great deal on the JSB Diabolo Exact Heavy .177 Cal, 10.34 gr - 500 ct. Need advice? Let our airgun specialists help you today!

www.airgundepot.com

What do you think?

Heck yeah. I got a Gamo Varmint 1250 with .177 pellets for that reason, and I gotta say, that thing ain't the Daisy's I grew up shooting.

 

[Gentlemancorpse]

I know nothing about pellet guns but have been thinking along the same lines. I cant handle the kind of losses I had last year again. Id rather go to a farmstand at that point.

 

[Willie]

I am going to be more aggressive defending my vegetable garden this year and an air rifle would be perfect for dispatching rodents, rabbits, and squirrels.
Things sure have changed since I was a kid!

The best value seems to be in the 'gas piston' category. Most of them come with stiff triggers and crappy scopes, both of which can be fixed. (I'm OK with open sights if they're adjustable.)
I'm leaning toward .22 although .177 with heavy pellets can be very effective.

Here's what I'm looking at in the budget category:
Amazon product

Umarex SurgeMax Elite Combo | Gas-piston Air Rifle | Airgun Depot

Heavy .177 pellets

JSB Diabolo Exact Heavy .177 Cal, 10.34 gr - 500 ct | Airgun Depot

Check out this great deal on the JSB Diabolo Exact Heavy .177 Cal, 10.34 gr - 500 ct. Need advice? Let our airgun specialists help you today!

www.airgundepot.com

What do you think .177

I am going to be more aggressive defending my vegetable garden this year and an air rifle would be perfect for dispatching rodents, rabbits, and squirrels.
Things sure have changed since I was a kid!

The best value seems to be in the 'gas piston' category. Most of them come with stiff triggers and crappy scopes, both of which can be fixed. (I'm OK with open sights if they're adjustable.)
I'm leaning toward .22 although .177 with heavy pellets can be very effective.

Here's what I'm looking at in the budget category:
Amazon product

Umarex SurgeMax Elite Combo | Gas-piston Air Rifle | Airgun Depot

Heavy .177 pellets

JSB Diabolo Exact Heavy .177 Cal, 10.34 gr - 500 ct | Airgun Depot

Check out this great deal on the JSB Diabolo Exact Heavy .177 Cal, 10.34 gr - 500 ct. Need advice? Let our airgun specialists help you today!

www.airgundepot.com

What do you think?

I would stay with .177 cal. I'd also look for something around 1100-1200 fps. Plenty of Gamo's out there. I have an older '80's RWS and a Gamo Hornet.....deadly.
I'll point out that last year I lost 200 corn plants to squirrels.........those squirrels won't be back this year

 

[Amarok]

I have an 1100fps break action single shot 177 air rifle. Up here, an air rifle with a velocity over 1000fps is considered a firearm, so using it is the same as using a .22, legally speaking.

I don't recall the brand, but it is powerful and accurate and weighs more than most if not all of my .22's.

Are sub-sonic .22 rounds a possibility? Since they don't break the speed of sound you don't get that distinct rifle "crack" so they are fairly low-key. They have a lot more mass and therefore pack a heavier wallop than a .177 pellet.

 

[Psychobilly]

I have an 1100fps break action single shot 177 air rifle. Up here, an air rifle with a velocity over 1000fps is considered a firearm, so using it is the same as using a .22, legally speaking.

I don't recall the brand, but it is powerful and accurate and weighs more than most if not all of my .22's.

Are sub-sonic .22 rounds a possibility? Since they don't break the speed of sound you don't get that distinct rifle "crack" so they are fairly low-key. They have a lot more mass and therefore pack a heavier wallop than a .177 pellet.

Personally I'm not a huge fan of .22 but, the fact that they can go through armor is kind of nice. (They don't have enough velocity to "trigger" it so to speak). However if you're trying to aim at small animals near a home, it's very much understandable.

 

[Amarok]

Personally I'm not a huge fan of .22 but, the fact that they can go through armor is kind of nice. (They don't have enough velocity to "trigger" it so to speak).

Firearms serve many other purposes than shooting humans. I love my rimfires, and their capacity to go through armour never enters the equation.

 

[Psychobilly]

Firearms serve many other purposes than shooting humans. I love my rimfires, and their capacity to go through armour never enters the equation.

I uh, don't fire at humans either bro. LOL.

 

[Gentlemancorpse]

Yeah, @Psychobilly was just talking about it for these guys

 

[Amarok]

I uh, don't fire at humans either bro. LOL.

Then why bring armor-piercing capability into a thread about garden pests? ?‍♂️

 

[Psychobilly]

Yeah, @Psychobilly was just talking about it for these guys View attachment 154430

I am thoroughly impressed with that LOL!

Then why bring armor-piercing capability into a thread about garden pests? ?‍♂️

Well maybe up there those Canadian Squirrels aren't used to living in the hood, but around here.... LOL JK. Mainly I was mentioning the only thing I find interesting about .22 rounds. For "pests" sure, but I can handle a Squirrel with a Slingshot and re-use the ammo for that.

 

[Chunky Stool]

I have an 1100fps break action single shot 177 air rifle. Up here, an air rifle with a velocity over 1000fps is considered a firearm, so using it is the same as using a .22, legally speaking.

I don't recall the brand, but it is powerful and accurate and weighs more than most if not all of my .22's.

Are sub-sonic .22 rounds a possibility? Since they don't break the speed of sound you don't get that distinct rifle "crack" so they are fairly low-key. They have a lot more mass and therefore pack a heavier wallop than a .177 pellet.

Yes, I've been looking at subsonic rounds for my Marlin Lever action 22. The nice thing about that gun is that it will shoot any type of ammo.

I'm leaning more towards a pellet gun because they are safer when it comes to errant shots and ricochets. Pellets don't retain squat for energy compared to any type of 22 firearm projectile.

Pellets and slugs are VERY different. I've been geeking out on stuff like this:

 

[OldG]

I am going to be more aggressive defending my vegetable garden this year and an air rifle would be perfect for dispatching rodents, rabbits, and squirrels.
Things sure have changed since I was a kid!

The best value seems to be in the 'gas piston' category. Most of them come with stiff triggers and crappy scopes, both of which can be fixed. (I'm OK with open sights if they're adjustable.)
I'm leaning toward .22 although .177 with heavy pellets can be very effective.

Here's what I'm looking at in the budget category:
Amazon product

Umarex SurgeMax Elite Combo | Gas-piston Air Rifle | Airgun Depot

Heavy .177 pellets

JSB Diabolo Exact Heavy .177 Cal, 10.34 gr - 500 ct | Airgun Depot

Check out this great deal on the JSB Diabolo Exact Heavy .177 Cal, 10.34 gr - 500 ct. Need advice? Let our airgun specialists help you today!

www.airgundepot.com

What do you think?

it will be a lot of fun is what i think.
super cheap to shoot. Piston design is the best it is repeat for free over and over.
In the USA man they have some BEAUTIES...but you won't need a .65 caliber air tank gun. A 177 is good for squirrels and rabbits. .22 has a bit more ko power but less speed. Both are fun.

 

[Frimpong]

I bought a cheap Daisy off of Amazon. Once I got that scope figured out they were easy Pickins. Unfortunately a few of them over time died in neighbors yards and this one lady went off on me. Haven't shot one since lol. Now I'm trying to figure out how to deal with them another way and it's becoming impossible. I have a pig nut tree and it provides for them so they just keep coming

 

[Meatman]

This is the one that I use and I can take out a rabbit or squirrel from 30 yards no problem, it sits by my back garage door my first year here I got 12 rabbits the past like 3 years I’ve gotten 2 or so each year

 

[Meatman]

I bought a cheap Daisy off of Amazon. Once I got that scope figured out they were easy Pickins. Unfortunately a few of them over time died in neighbors yards and this one lady went off on me. Haven't shot one since lol. Now I'm trying to figure out how to deal with them another way and it's becoming impossible. I have a pig nut tree and it provides for them so they just keep coming

I shot a squirrel and it made some ferocious scream and started rolling around than got up and ran to my neighbors patio and sprayed blood all over there porch while they where in the backyard lol I just walked over there picked it up and was like sorry about that and walked back to my house lol

 

[Frimpong]

This is the one that I use and I can take out a rabbit or squirrel from 30 yards no problem, it sits by my back garage door my first year here I got 12 rabbits the past like 3 years I’ve gotten 2 or so each year
View attachment 154449

Is that the single pump one? Lmao and bro that happened a few times with them screaming. They're loud as fuck

 

[GthaEnigma]

With all the quail and squirrel in my area I could eat for damn near free for ever.

 

[GthaEnigma]

I shot a squirrel and it made some ferocious scream and started rolling around than got up and ran to my neighbors patio and sprayed blood all over there porch while they where in the backyard lol I just walked over there picked it up and was like sorry about that and walked back to my house lol

They are definitely "drama queens" about getting shot lol. My mom quit hunting in the late seventies because of one.