Air Rifles any suggestions

[campmaster-k]

If you are going to get an air rifle as the original thread suggests there are one two considerations. 1. Spend as much as you can afford on the rifle. 2. Spend more than you can afford on the scope.

[Pete S]

If you are going to get an air rifle as the original thread suggests there are one two considerations. 1. Spend as much as you can afford on the rifle. 2. Spend more than you can afford on the scope.

Sage advice!

[Woodstramp]

I'm pondering the subsonic 22. shorts

Just offering some advice (raised various critters on our place for a while).

If you do go the "subsonic .22" route, make sure that you use a locked breach type firearm, like a bolt action. Subsonics, generally, are under powered and don't allow most semi-auto actions to cycle properly. Been there, done that.

I have tried just about all that is available in subsonics over the years and i've settled on two.

For bigger critters.....Aguilla SSS. Actually had to use this to get a pair of dogs off my dairy goats. (Note that I tried yelling....didn't work....threw rocks....didn't work, so..) I got my .22. Put one into a dirt bank to see if the report would get their attention. They backed off.....for about 5 seconds, then started back in on the goats. The next round went through the leaders ribcage. Soon as the other heard the leader yelp, he scrambled. The one I shot dropped within 20 yards. The SSS is a huge projectile jammed into a short casing and is the only .22 that actually will give a .22 rifle some recoil. I think it's 60 grains.

The other is the CCI CB. Very quiet but only good on small stuff like squirrels at real close range. Also works on rabbits.

Now, if you eventually find that firearms, airguns, traps, etc don't work you might consider building a chicken tractor. Google it. It is basically a rolling chicken fort.

This was the perfect solution for a buddy of mine (in city limits). Discharging firearms wasn't an option. Seeing how you only keep a small batch of hens, this may work for you. The tractor gives the chickens protection, but allows them access to good fresh ground. They really do better with fresh ground access. Free ranging ones have tastier eggs and it cuts down on feed bills. Cooped ones cost more and the egg suffer, IMO. The only drawback with my buddy's tractor was that the hens took a while to get used to it. They didn't lay for a while. Make sure the "coop" box portion can ventilate well in Summer and the "Cage" portion offers some sun and rain shade.

[Engineer Guy]

Now, THERE'S some seriously-knowledgeable advice! I can go to Bed now; I learned something today.

IF necessary, due to Suburban encroachment, a very old trick used with Coyotes could be considered. It provides 'control' of the scenario to avoid 'chancy' Shots. A 2 'Box' Cage is rigged up. A Bunny, or Chicken, is put in one side [and safe]. The Coyote [or Fox or problem Dog] goes in the other side and trips the Trap. Not every time, as in the Movies, but it does work. The Coyote is dealt then with 'however'. The 'Bait' Chicken might suffer PTSD for a while, but no Chicken [or Bunny] is harmed in this scenario. Or, drop the occupied Cage into a Trash Can of Water. That's how it's done 'Country'. Or, take a long drive, and Catch/Release, if you like, and don't fear Rabies.

Raccoon Cages used on our Roof one time to clear our invaded Attic were manageable size, and can be borrowed. At least at our City House...

As with so many things effective, I understand this Trap scheme is now illegal when used with Coyotes. Placed out-of-Neighborly-sight, this scheme allows for a single, downward, lethal Shot angled into Dirt. As mentioned above, a single Gunshot in this scenario wouldn't cause much of a stir. Pop a Firecracker afterwards as a deceptive, similar noise. ;-o

Our Buffalo/Elk-raising Neighbors did the Porta-Coop wisely suggested above for their Ducks, and really like it. However, it's within their extremely-stout, ~8' high Buffalo and Vermin-proof Fence.

[boomboomtulum]

If your lookin to take a fured animal you will not be able to do it with a .177. Ok if you were 2-5 ft. and well placed in the kill zone maybe. A .177 does not have the grams of lead with to make the kill. A .22 yes but it would be a squirl or rabbit but only to about 30-40 ft.ou need to kill a fox you will be able to do it with these guns. Yes you will hurt it but a clean kill no way. Sam Yang make a 40 and 45 cal air gun, I do not own one but have one they are PCP precharged pnuemactic, and very noisy. These will run about 500 -700 bucks. If you can use .22 rimfire you will be able to kill it but as was said to loud for in town use. Can you trap this fox? Use animal control to catch it. Even some local trappers will do this for no charge through your local ag. dept. Just a thought.

[Pete S]

It's funny how well .177 works for me...

[StPatron]

It's funny how well .177 works for me...

Same here. And if they didn't perform as advertised... one would expect to see a rash of lawsuits against the manfacturer's for making exaggerated and unsubstantiated claims. That's not happenin'.

Any naysayers want to volunteer for skull penetration testing?

[crumbruiser]

I just gave this to my husband for Christmas (for his amusement and to protect the chickens)

http://www.amazon.com/Crosman-Remington ... B002G3UMU2

the scope is hard to dial in, but otherwise it is powerful! 1200fps

It should kill a fox, or at the very least give it enough of a butt-ache to keep it away.

I've owned this air rifle for about 3 years and it is very nice. It came with the scope and is hard to dial in as well. Air rifles are better than the used to be I think.
Frank

[Pete S]

I just gave this to my husband for Christmas (for his amusement and to protect the chickens)

http://www.amazon.com/Crosman-Remington ... B002G3UMU2

the scope is hard to dial in, but otherwise it is powerful! 1200fps

It should kill a fox, or at the very least give it enough of a butt-ache to keep it away.

I've owned this air rifle for about 3 years and it is very nice. It came with the scope and is hard to dial in as well. Air rifles are better than the used to be I think.
Frank

Try a heavier pellet. The lightweight pellets that manufacturers use to get exaggerated FPS numbers don't fly very straight. Something in the 8 to 9 grain range. Crossman Premiers are extraordinarily accurate. I prefer Beeman Crow Magnums for pest control.

Try it, you'll like it...

[boomboomtulum]

It's funny how well .177 works for me...

Same here. And if they didn't perform as advertised... one would expect to see a rash of lawsuits against the manfacturer's for making exaggerated and unsubstantiated claims. That's not happenin'.


Sure they work and generally perform as advertised, many even say "small game hunting" my experience with factory airguns is they need some mods before they will shoot good. I build and modify airgun rifles and pistols to get a factory gun to perform takes some work, OK it may kill a possum or shoot cans and pump it or charge it and they will work but to kill a fox of 15 -30 lbs with a .177? Sorry aint happnin. They will throw a pellet at 700 - 1100 fps depending on the make of gun, pellet weight, number of pumps etc. but they do not have the impact power.
Possums now are not what are killing the chickens was it? To kill a possum hit it in the head with shovel. Try to get a clean skull shot on a running fox. If you want to injure the animal a .177 stock Gamo or crossman is a great gun, if you want to kill a fox, dog, deer or a boar a Sam Yang or Sumatra will get it done. I have a .22 Airgun that shoots 16g pellets at slighly less than a rimfire, a rimfire 22 will shoot a 36 -42g bullet creating high velocity, meaning greater kill power.

[Jim Edgerly]

"It's a Big fox looks more like a coyote in size" A red fox is about the same weight as a house cat, where as a coyote ranges in size from 25-40 pounds, with the larger coyotes being in the northeast and the smaller ones elsewhere. BIG difference in size here. What ever you decide to do, please keep it lawful, and above all else PLEASE keep it humane! A BB into a cat sized animal will kill the animal, provided you are willing to wait a week or two, maybe longer, for infection to take it's course and the animal to die a horrible ugly death. A BB into a coyote sized animal will just cause an ugly infection that may weaken the animal until it is too weak to fend off other predators.

By "humane" I mean ONE shot, IMMEDIATE kill. To kill a wild animal by any other means is just horribly wrong.

[boomboomtulum]

"It's a Big fox looks more like a coyote in size" A red fox is about the same weight as a house cat, where as a coyote ranges in size from 25-40 pounds, with the larger coyotes being in the northeast and the smaller ones elsewhere. BIG difference in size here. What ever you decide to do, please keep it lawful, and above all else PLEASE keep it humane! A BB into a cat sized animal will kill the animal, provided you are willing to wait a week or two, maybe longer, for infection to take it's course and the animal to die a horrible ugly death. A BB into a coyote sized animal will just cause an ugly infection that will weaken the animal until it is too weak to fend off other predators.

By "humane" I mean ONE shot, IMMEDIATE kill. To kill a wild animal by any other means is just horribly wrong.

Yes exactly. A small caliber airgun (.177 or .22) is not the way to kill an animal. I enjoy shooting as much as the next redneck, but will not shoot an animal with these small guns. A slow death could happen.

[john warren]

you can get air rifles all the way up to .50 cal now days , and they will take a deer. talk to your local gun dealer or do a search for air guns on the web. other then that its about how much you want to spend.

though this might be a time to convince someone you need a custom built AR-15

[Jim Edgerly]

I just read about the Quackenbush .458 cal. air rifle that can take down a 2000 pound bison. Amazed me that these exists, yet it shouldn't really surprise me because if there is profit to be made some one will build anything! It operates at something like 3000 psi air pressure, and needs to be "charged" with either an air compressor or something like a scuba tank. The cost starts at $600 and up for just the rifle...pressure system is additional of course. Now although this is technically an "air rifle" I would want to be really sure how local law enforcement is going to view this weapon, because it is not your "typical air gun" and I know how much noise a small air gun makes, and this thing is going to draw attention when used. Make sure you accurately determine where the limits of an "air gun" are drawn in your location before going with a larger than "standard" air gun because breaking "gun" laws can have very serious consequences (larger consequences than a dumb fox stealing a few chickens).

As a general rule of thumb, if I have to question if my actions are going to be "legal" I should probably question if there is a better way of accomplishing my end goal.

[Mikka]

Can't believe this post! 5 pages long and the fox is still running! Still have to decide on the best murder weapon! Up here North of the border we tend to do things a little faster and quieter...

In case you did not think of it, if you worry about noise and you don't have to worry about dogs, cats, small fresh hamburger meatballs or fresh chicken thighs filled with poison pellets for rats would do a quiet job.

Put out a certain number out in the evening and verify in the morning how many are gone... If danger exists for cats or dogs, you can remove during day time and return at night.