Air Rifle for squirrels

[Arod0525]

Wanting to get an air rifle to control the amount of squirrels and varmints on my property. Starting to get into the attic and wires, chewing stuff up. Any recommendations on a good air rifle for this?

 

[skfullgun]

I've used a Benjamin 5mm, pump up for that before. It worked fine.
Look at the Gamo line. They are reasonably priced and are the break-barrel design. I've heard good things about them.
Of course there are some VERY powerful, but pricey, options out there if you want to go whole-hog!

 

[skfullgun]

I've also used a single shot .22 rifle with the Aguila Super Colibri. It is actually quieter than many air rifles and very effective out to 20 yards.

 

[Sam7sf]

 

[LeadChucker]

They now make ultra quiet air rifles. I have this one.

Its an air rifle with a built in 'silencer' of sorts. Because it uses air and not a powder charge silencer regulations don't apply. Its sells for between 125-150, includes the 4x scope and is available at amazon, bass pro and walmart. Its only 90DB. IF you want extra quiet you can go with the Maurauder air rifle, only 72 DB but nearly five hundred bucks.

 

[dsgrey]

I've used a Benjamin 5mm, pump up for that before. It worked fine.
Look at the Gamo line. They are reasonably priced and are the break-barrel design. I've heard good things about them.
Of course there are some VERY powerful, but pricey, options out there if you want to go whole-hog!

Funny since my Sheridan (Benjamin) 5mm pump I got around 50 years ago was used on many a squirrel.

 

[skfullgun]

Come to think of it, mine may have been a Sheridan!

 

[DyeF9]

Some kind of budget would help with recommending something.

No matter what rifle you decide on, I would not recommend anything that advertises higher than speed of sound performance. Pellets are not designed for supersonic flight and it will throw them off on accuracy. If you do get a "supersonic" capable rifle, then buy the heaviest pellets you can find for it to keep them just under.

 

[oldag]

Air rifle for squirrels?

Gonna need to be fairly small. And those darn squirrels will probably try to take revenge on the mockingbirds and blue jays.

I'm not sure I would give a squirrel an air gun.

 

[BRD@66]

I kill squirrels routinely w a Gamo Shadow Sport, 1-pump, 1000fps, .177. I use Crosman pointed 7.4 grain lead ammo. Wasn't too expensive, but needs an O-ring seal at the chamber.
It's got a BSA brand 3x9 scope. Air rifle recoil is tough on scope settings.

 

[Dougw1515]

Air rifle for squirrels?

Gonna need to be fairly small. And those darn squirrels will probably try to take revenge on the mockingbirds and blue jays.

I'm not sure I would give a squirrel an air gun.

My kinna post!! Well done!!!

 

[orbitup]

I got this (with a polymer stock) from the bargain bin for $75 I think. Works fine for me.

I did put a red dot on it. It's suppressed too.

 

[prisondoc]

I've killed many cotton tail rabbits with one of these . 1st shot to the base of the skull to shred their spine, paralyzing the rear legs. 2nd shot to the head. Mind you it was close range 15 - 20 feet. But the old (low budget) Daisy got the job done.

Sent from my MI MAX 2 using Tapatalk

 

[LeadChucker]

I've killed many cotton tail rabbits with one of these . 1st shot to the base of the skull to shred their spine, paralyzing the rear legs. 2nd shot to the head. Mind you it was close range 15 - 20 feet. But the old (low budget) Daisy got the job done. View attachment 222100

Sent from my MI MAX 2 using Tapatalk

I had that same Daisy rifle as a kid. It shot BBs, darts and .177 pellets. You could also load 5 or 6 BBs at a time and shoot it like a little shotgun. Good times

 

[DyeF9]

I kill squirrels routinely w a Gamo Shadow Sport, 1-pump, 1000fps, .177. I use Crosman pointed 7.4 grain lead ammo. Wasn't too expensive, but needs an O-ring seal at the chamber.
It's got a BSA brand 3x9 scope. Air rifle recoil is tough on scope settings.

There's quite a few air gun rated scopes, Hawke makes some good ones.

 

[sidebite252]

I haven’t shot any squirrels (yet) but I’ve got plenty to shoot at if I get the notion. I have head shots a bunch of turtles with my Gammo Mach 1 (1420 FPS) & another one that’s 1200 FPS with the high velocity pellets. I bought these for when my nephews come down and the wife and I enjoy plinking with them since we can’t legally fire anything else around here. Using a normal led pellet you don’t hear much noise at all. Use one of the high velocity pellets and you get that “snap” from the pellet breaking the sound barrier ( or at least that’s what I think is happening?). Any good varmint pellet seems to be quiet and for the most part effective.

 

[jordanmills]

They now make ultra quiet air rifles. I have this one.

View attachment 222055

Its an air rifle with a built in 'silencer' of sorts. Because it uses air and not a powder charge silencer regulations don't apply. Its sells for between 125-150, includes the 4x scope and is available at amazon, bass pro and walmart. Its only 90DB. IF you want extra quiet you can go with the Maurauder air rifle, only 72 DB but nearly five hundred bucks.

I have a gamo "silent cat" (similar design) and it's far from ultra quiet. I also have a lever action 22 that I load with subsonic ammo, and it is much quieter than the air rifle.

 

[jordanmills]

I had that same Daisy rifle as a kid. It shot BBs, darts and .177 pellets. You could also load 5 or 6 BBs at a time and shoot it like a little shotgun. Good times

Me too. Good old daisy powerline 880.

 

[jordanmills]

I haven’t shot any squirrels (yet) but I’ve got plenty to shoot at if I get the notion. I have head shots a bunch of turtles with my Gammo Mach 1 (1420 FPS) & another one that’s 1200 FPS with the high velocity pellets. I bought these for when my nephews come down and the wife and I enjoy plinking with them since we can’t legally fire anything else around here. Using a normal led pellet you don’t hear much noise at all. Use one of the high velocity pellets and you get that “snap” from the pellet breaking the sound barrier ( or at least that’s what I think is happening?). Any good varmint pellet seems to be quiet and for the most part effective.

That is what's happening. Those pellets are much lighter than lead pellets, so they tend to be less stable, especially as they go transonic. IMO you're best off staying at 800-1000 fps.

 

[oldag]