Airguns... squirrels...

[hubcapsc]

I'd guess some of you know about shooting squirrels with airguns.

If I was to take on some of the destructive squirrel brigades around
here with an airgun, I'd want the only obstacle to clean kills to be
my skill level.

In looking around, I see that a Benjamin Marauder is probably
a really good one - $500 or so without any kind of scope.
On the other hand, there's brands like Gamo that make
air rifles with similar specs and that come with scopes
for around $150...

There's different ways to get air into an airgun and probably
other details to take into account. As far as controlling downrange
on something that will be shot up into the air, I guess .177's are
plenty good enough when both  me and the squirrel will
be right here next to my house... Here's my house to give
an idea of what "downrange" might mean... the closest
other house by a wide margin is on the "west" side of
the picture... an arc to the east and south of the house
includes fields (you can only see one in the picture) where
our horses might be.



Anybody got any good advice to share?

-Mike

[The emperor has no clothes]

I’ve killed tons of the little bastards with a cheap Crosman pump and scope. But I hear Alaska squirrels are smaller than Eastern squirrels.

[six2go #152]

This should keep ya occupied for awhile. 

www.pyramydair.com/article/Velocity_and_Pellets_April_2003/2

[97BLKVALK]

Great article on pellet velocity.

https://www.airgundepot.com/stoeger-a30-s2.htm

I use this this Stoeger and have great success.  

Heavy pellets still shooting at 1000 fps!   I have yet a shot at over 110 ft. So just over 1/10th of a second.

Have a great weekend and happy hunting

Michael

[northernvalk]

you dont need to spend big bucks but I like to use a .22 round 900-1000 fps, specially if you have grey squirrels. the crossman optimus is a nice option with a scope for less than $200

[solo1]

I've used the ole Sheridan .20 cal and also a Beeman .17.  I even used a RWS 6m .177 target pistol with a chronographed speed of only 450 fps. They all will do the job at the standard distance of 10 meters.

Accuracy is more important than speed.  The Beeman R1 was very sensitive to stock screws tightness.

[Alpha Dog]

I’ve killed tons of the little bastards with a cheap Crosman pump and scope. But I hear Alaska squirrels are smaller than Eastern squirrels.

Oh they work well on eastern squirrels as well.  I  bought one as as kid and practiced shooting the heads off matches and took down some squirrels, only as diner though, well sorta kinda.    About 10 years ago I bought another to use on the hundreds if not thousands of black birds that come in this time of year and crap all over the place.

There are many options out there right now and one can spend big bucks.  However for 150 dollars one can buy a quite powerful ( 1000 fps and up )  pump 177 or 22 pellet buggers that are accurate.  I bought my son a crosman fury with scope ( 1000 fps 5 years ago and he is deadly with it.  Although I think he may like the  Smith and Wesson MP 15-22  AR style 25 clip 22 I bought him this past Christmas a bit more.

[NewValker]

Last weekend I bought a Gamo .177 break barrel pump at Wally World for $79. (1250 FPS) With a scope.
Took a bit to zero in the scope, but 1 kill yesterday & 1 so far this morning.  
BTW the wife thinks there’s something wrong with us???
Craig

[hubcapsc]

BTW the wife thinks there’s something wrong with us???

Just tell her we don't like killing stuff, but some stuff just needs
to go... 

-Mike

[Jess from VA]

I've used (and have) .177 (pump it up ten times Benjamin-Sheridan) and .22 pellet (RWS Diana spring piston) guns, and I think the .22, even at a bit slower speed (800fps, instead of 1000fps), is a better (thus more humane) killer.  The single barrel-c o c k ing (single shot) spring piston rifles (European style) are generally much better quality (with better hydraulic seals, and better iron sights, if you don't get a scope) than pump-it-up-ten times rifles (and faster than pumping) (but maybe three times the cost), and as heavy as most 22s, which is a good thing.

Regardless of what you buy or use, while your likelihood of hitting a neighbor or his house or car window is small (and pellet speed will be greatly reduced at that distance) you must still keep in mind which direction those structures and parking areas are (even if you can't see them) and exercise care whenever shooting at any high angle in that general direction (with no good near-miss backstop in your line of sight).  

While you can always miss, missing when a squirrel is dead center on a tree (chattering at you) almost certainly means hitting the tree left or right of him, so those are safe shots.  It's the shot when he is out on top a limb where if you miss, the pellet goes right on through its trajectory you have to be more careful of (and don't take those shots in the direction of the neighbors).  And all down shots toward the ground should be fine; even if it skips up, it's not going all the way over to that neighbor after being slowed down hitting the ground.

I've been doing this for 25 years in a regular neighborhood with people all around, and picking shot placement every time is essential, and I've never once hit a neighbor's property.  Many shots (high angle, no backstop) you just can't take. Nearly all of my shots are from a 2d story window down toward the ground (enclosed by solid pressure treat fence, or with a solid tree as backstop at higher angles).

I don't know if you have a .22 rifle, but because any shooting (even pellets or BBs) is illegal for me, I discovered that Aguilla Super Colibri ammo (only a primer, no gunpowder) was actually much quieter than either of my pellet guns (which don't go bang, they go snap, really loudly) (the Agulla through a rifle bbl goes tthhup, the bullet strike makes more noise than the bullet shot).  And much more deadly than the pellet rifles, even though they only use 20gr bullets instead of the usual 36-40gr long rifle bullets.  Without gunpowder, the speed is greatly reduced, and it is only accurate at back yard ranges (like pellet guns), but it will still break windows and penetrate 3/8 plywood at short range.  And it's a great improvement over pellet guns in dispatching squirrels quietly, but the rules about backstops and safe directions is just as relevant.  

Now it will not cycle a semiauto, and I have to single load my Ruger 10/22 with small needlenose pliers, every shot.  But most of the time, I only need one shot.  It may be legal to shoot where you live, but you probably would just as soon those neighbors don't hear you shooting anything, so the Aguilla Super Colibri in a .22 is a good squrrel killing choice (best, and easier to reload would be a bolt action .22 rifle).

The only disclaimer here is that the Agulla super colibri says it is only for handgun length barrels, because it may hang up in longer rifle barrels (and boy if it does, you never want to shoot another shot into the back of a slug caught in your barrel)(it probably would not blow the barrel up, but it might bulge and ruin it), but I have thousands and thousands of them through my 18" bbl Ruger 10-22 (a sporter model, the usual carbine model is a shorter 16" bbl).  I do run an oil patch through the bbl occasionally, but even if I don't, not one slug has ever hung up in my bbl.

And you can certainly buy a decent .22 bolt rifle for less than a high end spring piston air rifle, and I recommend a straight 4X (four power, not variable power) scope for one, and be able to use full power .22 bullets in it when you want. And no need to spend big for this scope, a Swift Optics American made scope has been great on my Ruger for over 30 years.   I have the Reliant 4 X 32. (it was only like $75 when I got it) (cheaper variable power scopes can require you to zero in at different powers, screw that)
http://www.swift-sportoptics.com/rscopes_reliant.html

Also, keep in mind, scopes for pellet rifles are made differently for reverse-recoiling pellet guns, and  regular rifle scopes can be damaged in short order if used on pellet guns.  

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/2506295321/aguila-super-colibri-ammunition-22-long-rifle-20-grain-lead-solid-point

https://www.aguilaammo.com/rimfire/

Now Carolyn would really probably hate this idea (maybe you too), but for a number of years, I ran two have-a-heart squirrel size live traps, baited with a single shell-on peanut, and took out more squirrels than I ever did with my rifles (because they keep working when you are not hunting).  Once caught, you have to stick a small (needlenose) vice grip on each door (both sides), then carry the trap to a std tupper-ware garbage can full of water and drown them; they are gone in 20 seconds or less, and more humane than a wounded squirrel that runs off before you can finish him off (it happens) (even kill shots can regularly take longer than 20 seconds till death, they are tough little dudes).  The vice grips are because when these traps are turned sideways to dump in the can, the door opens with gravity, and the squirrel shoots out and climbs up your face (you only do that once).  I could bait and clear squirrels from both cages multiple times daily, all week long, which gives you an idea just how completely over run we were. I would rarely catch birds in them (Jays love peanuts), and you just let them go unharmed (but irritated).  I was never going to relocate 10,000 squirrels.  And you don't leave them baited overnight, you never want to figure out what to do with a skunk in one.

They are not as fun as shooting, but they are way more effective in the long run, and cheaper than shooting too.

Very effective, no noise or shooting at all.
https://www.amazon.com/Havahart-1025-2-Door-Animal-Small/dp/B000BQQMJQ/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1519579068&sr=8-4&keywords=have+a+heart+squirrel+trap

Now in winter they go in the trash, but in the summer, I double bagged them (walmart bags) and put them in the freezer, and made squirrelcicles out of them until the night before garbage day, so I didn't have maggots in the cans.  I do the same thing with shot squirrels in summer too.  I do not eat squirrels (they generally all have fleas).

Here's a link to SC .22 bolt rifles (new and used).  You can narrow the search to your region.
http://www.armslist.com/classifieds/search?location=south-carolina&category=rifles&tag=22-long-rifle&tag=bolt-action

If you go to a local gun show, you can very likely find a nice (and maybe old, but still good) .22 bolt rifle with low power scope already on it for reasonable.

Sorry for the book.

[The emperor has no clothes]

And there is always the Evan Rogers extermination method. 

[hubcapsc]

missing when a squirrel is dead center on a tree (chattering
at you) almost certainly means hitting the tree left or right
of him, so those are safe shots

Even safe from a ricochet when my house is 10 feet away?

Aguila Super Colibri ammo ... was actually much quieter than
either of my pellet guns ... And much more deadly than the pellet rifles

See - I never would have guessed something like that... quieter and
more likely a good kill... both good things... too bad about
them only being rated for a pistol, I'm not good enough to make
reliable kill shots with that... so, maybe some 16" or 18" bolt
action 22 rifle?

but you probably would just as soon those neighbors don't hear you
shooting anything

I live in the woods in South Carolina. The folks in the other house
in my picture spend hours some Saturdays shooting clay targets. I
shoot my pistol in a deep ravine near the treeline down near
their house, its got a six foot high vertical wall in it to
line targets up in front of. Still... quiet is good for me, I've
got tinnitus from standing too close to a loud drummer... I have
to use earplugs on my bike now (now it is Valkyrie related <g>).

Now your wife would really probably hate this idea (maybe you too)

Me more than her probably... I've gotten her to leave the hose drooped
into the horse trough as an escape route to keep from drowning squirrels
up there. It's not good for the horses for there to be a dead animal in
there, and it's not good for me to find a pathetic almost-drowned one
treading water in there when I'm the one feeding (and checking the water)...

Sorry for the book.

My co-worker always suggests something I haven't thought
of when I talk about the code I'm writing... same thing here... thanks!

-Mike

[Jess from VA]

And there is always the Evan Rogers extermination method.  Wink

Chasing squirrels around on your motorcycle is great fun for the squirrel.

And you can only ever get them by accident, never on purpose.  

[cookiedough]

pretty much any break barrel .177 or .22 caliber air gun will do.  My 99 dollar Gamo .177 works fine with scope normal price 150 or so (they always go on sale especially black friday deals in November), but is VERY, VERY LOUD shooting makes TONS of noise and is VERY heavy much more so than most .22 semi-automatic rifles are.  The barrel is BIG as well as the entire gun looks almost as big and heavy as my Ruger .30-06 rifle.    Not that it kicks/recoils much, but it does have more kick than a .22 rimfire rifle as well.

If strictly going to use it to just kill squirrels and other rodents like rabbits and racoons, skunks, etc.,  I would go .22 caliber more knockdown kill power and pick the right bullets to match velocity which am sure will be around/over 1000 fps.  Most .177 pellet guns are 1250 fps but if using .22 caliber pellets am sure will be reduced to 1000 fps and from that article,  900-1000 fps will be more accurate than 1200-1250 fps anyways.

I debated on going .22 vs. .177 pellet gun since same price, but since I have tons of .177 pellets around already and just plink with it,  I went .177.  Am sure .177 will kill nearly as well if need be.

If you have neighbors around you which does not sound like you do, but if you do,  try to find the ones with quietest noise level on reviews of them.

[The emperor has no clothes]

And there is always the Evan Rogers extermination method.  Wink

Chasing squirrels around on your motorcycle is great fun for the squirrel.

And you can only ever get them by accident, never on purpose.  

He has developed a much improved tactic. You’ll have to ask him in Roanoke. It’s probably not politically correct enough to be discussed on here. 

[Jess from VA]

missing when a squirrel is dead center on a tree (chattering
at you) almost certainly means hitting the tree left or right
of him, so those are safe shots

Even safe from a ricochet when my house is 10 feet away?

MIKE, YOU CAN GET A DEFLECTION RICOCHET FROM THE SIDE/EDGE OF A TREE, BUT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GET A BOUNCE BACK RECOCHET FROM A STRAIGHT ON SHOT (OR PRETTY STRAIGHT ON), UNLESS MAYBE THERE'S A METAL PLATE OR SOMETHING TO HIT. EITHER A PELLET OR .22 WILL EMBED IN THE TREE (BUT IT'S NOT CRUEL TO THE TREE, UNTIL YOU HIT THE 10,00O MARK MAYBE)

Aguila Super Colibri ammo ... was actually much quieter than
either of my pellet guns ... And much more deadly than the pellet rifles

See - I never would have guessed something like that... quieter and
more likely a good kill... both good things... too bad about
them only being rated for a pistol, I'm not good enough to make
reliable kill shots with that... so, maybe some 16" or 18" bolt
action 22 rifle?

YES I THINK THAT IS THE BEST IDEA FOR THE AGUILLA AMMO.  I THINK THE AGUILLA WARNING FOR RIFLES IS MOSTLY LAWYER STUFF AND NOT REALITY STUFF. WHEN I STARTED OUT, I WAS REAL CAREFUL TO HAVE AN OILY BARREL, BUT STOPPED PAYING ATTENTION AFTER IT NEVER WAS A PROBLEM.  BUT IF YOU ARE THINKING AGUILLA AMMO, I WOULD STICK WITH A 16 OR 18" BBL, AND ABSOLUTELY STEER CLEAR OF A LONGER TARGET BBL LIKE 20" OR LONGER, JUST TO BE SAFE. THESE NO GUNPOWDER ROUNDS CAN REALLY START SLOWING DOWN QUICKLY IN RIFLED BARRELS.  I BET IF I SET UP A CHRONOGRAPH, AND MEASURED MUZZLE VELOCITY, I'D GET A PRETTY BIG DIFFERENCE IN VELOITY FROM A 5' PISTOL THAN MY 18" RIFLE (AND A LOT MORE NOISE TOO).  STILL, WITH A NEW RIFLE (NEW OR USED, STILL NEW TO YOU), I'D RUN AN OIL PATCH DOWN IT AND LEAVE IT OILY THE FIRST 50 SHOTS, AND PAY ATTENTION YOU DON'T GET A HANGUP, THEN STOP WORRYING ABOUT IT. I ALSO JUST TAKE MY CAN OF BRAKE-FREE-CLP GUN CLEANER/LUBE, AND SHOOT A SHOT DOWN THE BBL WITH THE LONG SKINNY NOZZLE ON IT FROM TIME TO TIME.  I'M NOT A STICKLER FOR CLEANING THAT RIFLE, AND IT'S ALWAYS SUPER ACCURATE ANYWAY (EVEN THOUGH ALL 22 AMMO IS DIRTY BY DEFINITION)

btw, BUY THIS STUFF BY THE BRICK, YOU USE IT UP FAST, AND IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY TO FIND IN STORES OR EVEN GUN SHOWS.  I'VE ORDERED A BRICK FROM MIDWAY FROM TIME TO TIME.

ALSO, BTW, WAY BACK WHEN I BOUGHT MY RUGER, I GOT IT IN A STORE, AND THE OWNER SHOWED ME THE REASONABLE SWIFT OPTICS 4X SCOPE WHEN I ASKED ABOUT ONE.  AND THEY PUT IT ON FOR ME IN THE STORE FOR NO CHARGE OTHER THAN THE RIFLE AND SCOPE AND SCOPE RINGS.  YEAH, 40 YEARS AGO.

I THINK AN ECONOMY .22 BOLT RIFLE FROM RUGER, SAVAGE, MARLIN, WOULD SERVE YOU WELL.  I REALLY LIKE CZ (Czech RIFLES) ARE NICE, BUT COST MORE, AND YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WITH THEM, MANY HAVE A STOCK DESIGNED ONLY FOR IRON SIGHTS, AND IF SCOPED, YOU DON'T LINE UP RIGHT.  THERE AMERICAN BRAND RIFLES ARE SPECIFICALLY MADE FOR SCOPES.... BUT MAY HAVE LONGER BBLS TOO, AND YOU DON'T WANT THAT.

but you probably would just as soon those neighbors don't hear you
shooting anything

I live in the woods in South Carolina. The folks in the other house
in my picture spend hours some Saturdays shooting clay targets. I
shoot my pistol in a deep ravine near the treeline down near
their house, its got a six foot high vertical wall in it to
line targets up in front of. Still... quiet is good for me, I've
got tinnitus from standing too close to a loud drummer... I have
to use earplugs on my bike now (now it is Valkyrie related <g>).

ALSO BTW, YOU NEVER NEED EAR PLUGS OR MUFFS WITH THE SUPER COLIBRI (NOT EVEN CLOSE TO LOUD), AND THAT'S A BONUS OUT IN THE WOODS, IN CASE SOMEONE WAS ACTUALLY WALKING AROUND OUT THERE YOU'D HEAR THEM. IT WILL BE LOUDER IN A PISTOL, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH LOUDER, I'VE NEVER SHOT IT IN A PISTOL.

Now your wife would really probably hate this idea (maybe you too)

Me more than her probably... I've gotten her to leave the hose drooped
into the horse trough as an escape route to keep from drowning squirrels
up there. It's not good for the horses for there to be a dead animal in
there, and it's not good for me to find a pathetic almost-drowned one
treading water in there when I'm the one feeding (and checking the water)...

WHATEVER, IF ERADICATION IS THE GOAL, TRAPPING (AND DROWNING) IS THE SOLUTION.  IT'S NOT AS FUN AS SHOOTING, BUT WAY MORE EFFECTIVE.  HOWEVER, ONE OTHER POINT MUST BE MADE ABOUT TRAPPING.  YOU NEED TO CHECK YOUR SC DNR RULES ON TRAPPING.  EVEN FOR SQUIRRELS, THERE COULD BE SEASONS AND LICENSES, AND BIG FINES AND COURT DATES IF IN VIOLATION.  UP WHERE I AM, SQUIRRELS ARE PESTS, AND WERE EXCLUDED FROM THESE RULES, LAST TIME I CHECKED. OF COURSE YOU MIGHT NEVER BE CAUGHT, BUT THOSE MAINE GAME WARDENS ON TV ARE REAL FANATICS ON THEIR MILLION REGULATIONS, AND SNEAKING AROUND EVERYWHERE.

Sorry for the book.

My co-worker always suggests something I haven't thought
of when I talk about the code I'm writing... same thing here... thanks!

IT'S PROBABLY (VERY) APPARENT TO EVERYONE HERE THAT I'M RETIRED WITH TIME ON MY HANDS, AND THIS IS THE ONLY TALKING I CAN DO, LIVING ALONE.  

-Mike

[Gavin_Sons]

Air guns are most accurate at a velocity up to 1000 fps. Anything above that the pellets become unstable and your groups will get much larger. I habe researched pellet rifles until my eyes are ready to bleed. Airgundepot.com seems to be one of the better sites to purchase from. I like the ones that you fill from a larger tank or run a air hose to them either in a backpac or stationary from a bench. They even make them surpressed so tjere is virtually no noise. The pellet hitting the target makes more noise. I have had the cheap gamo guns and could never keep them accurate enough to suit me. The neighbor has a Benjamin and really likes it. Seems to be pretty accurate for a pump.

[Jess from VA]

OK, so Mike if you want a .22 bolt rifle for primarily use with the Aguilla ammo (but any 22 ammo) there's just a few more things to look at.

You want a 16 or 18 inch bbl.

You can choose from a tube or mag feed (or even a single shot).  Now right off, I do not know if this shorter Aguilla Super Colibri ammo cycles (by using the bolt) properly/reliably through a tube or mag feed setup, or if one is better than the other.  Obviously, if you want a mag to work with this ammo, there's some study to do.  As i said, it does not have the power to cycle any semiauto, and I have to load them singly. (I've never actually tried loading the standard rotary Ruger 10-22 semiauto magazine with the Aguilla ammo and manually cycling by pulling the bolt back for each shot... one is usually enough)

Even though most or all .22 bolt mags (like 7 shots) hold less than tubes (maybe 14-17), I tend to like mags better because I can have multiple loaded mags in my pocket, while loading a tube feed is a little tedious and slow (and if it gets jammed up in there, it's not as easy to fix as yanking one mag out and sticking another in).  Not that this is a defensive firearm (but it can be).  Reliability isn't just for defensive firearms.  If you get a mag rifle, get at least 2-3 spares right away (I don't know how many they may come with).  And use them all at least once to make sure they work.  The easiest and most common damage to mags comes from dropping them and bending the feed lips, maybe just a little tiny bit. They may be fixable, or not.  

Any of them can be loaded singly just fine however. But just because you primarily want to use the Agulla ammo (which may or may not work with mags/tubes), remember all 22 ammo will work in these rifles, so a tube or mag feed is always preferable to single shot from a multi purpose, multiammo point of view.

If you want a scope (I would), do the reading on the various rifle choices and see if some come set up easier to add a scope than others.  Some have a scope-ready rail on top, and others may just have fine threaded holes predrilled on top which take more detailed work (and I think more parts) to add a scope.  For precision, I would choose a 4X scope (not a variable) over some of the holographic and led red dot sights (which I think are better for minute of bad guy humans, than tiny guy squirrels).

There's always an argument a stainless rifle is more weatherproof than blue, so wipe it off once in awhile with a little oil and it doesn't matter.  Your choice.  Stainless may be $30 more than blue.

Same deal with wood vs synthetic stocks.  Synthetic holds up better and doesn't get scratched and dented up like wood.  And a lot of cheaper rifle wood is really bland and uninteresting and even ugly brown/tan.  Laminated wood is good, and often beautiful.

A sling is unnecessary, unless you will lug it round a lot, but if you want one, you are looking to see if it has sling mount points underneath, front and back. Often called sling swivels, but they don't all swivel.

It's nice to have a soft case to zip in, but it doesn't need to be spendy or fancy, just a little padding and protection.  Scoped rifles always require a bit bigger/fatter case, than non scoped rifles.

And I think that covers it.

 

[3fan4life]

Jess,

We used to use .22 caliber subsonic rounds because they were extremely quiet.

Is this the same thing that you're talking about:

[hubcapsc]

Is this the same thing that you're talking about:

Google makes me think:

   Remington 22 Subsonic: Muzzle Velocity    1050 Feet Per Second

   Aguila Super Colibri:        Muzzle Velocity    590 Feet Per Second

I guess the Remington ones have some kind of powder load, and the
Aguila ones travel on primer only...

-Mike

[Jess from VA]

Jess, We used to use .22 caliber subsonic rounds because they were extremely quiet.

Is this the same thing that you're talking about:


Mark, I don't know for sure cause I never used those.  But if they have any gunpowder at all in them, then they must be louder (and more powerful) than the Aguilla Colibri.  

The only propellant at all in the Colibri is the one or two drops of dried liquid fulminated mercury used to ignite the powder in all rimfire cartridges.  And the Colibri is also subsonic.

I suspect those are quieter than standard, but louder and with a longer effective range than the Aguilla.

Subsonic obviously stops the snapping sonic boom downrange (at sea level 1100fps), but not the ignition boom at the muzzle (which also is variable based on propellant quantity).  

I have shot a few .22 shorts and a CB caps, and they are also reduced power and noise from standard, but they are both louder than the Colibri.

To give you an idea, when firing from my window, you still get a low pop, and it can be heard, but you don't need any hearing protection at all, and best of all the noise it makes does not really sound like a gunshot. (The thuuut it makes is closer to a suppressed 22, but I bet a suppressed full power .22 long rifle is still a hair louder than an unsuppressed Colibri, though that may be pretty close, dunno for sure).

Remington 22 Subsonic: Muzzle Velocity    1050 Feet Per Second

Mike, same answer.  But here's the deal, since shooting where you live is legal, you can shoot anything you want.  It may be that you can go to a lower power subsonic (with some gunpowder) round that will function in magazine rifles better than the short cartridge Colibri, but only you can tell if it's quiet enough for you (or if you'll need hearing protection).  You will still have to exercise the same care in elevation and backstop safety shots as with any ammo, but more power always means more distance.  

The Colibri kills everything I can shoot at on my 1/3 acre, and accurately (inducing a big pest raccoon once).  I think it will work well for you on your property too.... after you get your scope dialed in for the nominal 40-50 yards most people use for .22 scopes.  But if you want to become a hunter and take longer and higher shots, the Colibri may not cut it (at a certain distance, it just runs out of power and starts to drop)  (unless, you take the time to work with the scope to change settings to longer range). But before I did that, I'd just go to a more powerful round (maybe still subsonic, but with gunpowder in it).  In fact, you can experiment with ammo and your scope all you want, but at some point, I'd end up zeroing it for the one .22 round you will use all the time, and then just stick with it.

Truth be told, beyond trying to make 100 yard and longer shots, a scope zeroed at 40-50 yards should shoot pretty well at short range with any .22 ammo type.  It's when you start reaching out to distance, you have to start messing with your scope again. (or start holding the cross hairs over a bit)

Just a few more words on scopes.  Aging eyes like scopes.  Hitting small things is easier with scopes.  Scopes bring more confidence in harder shots, and help you to more clearly see the safe backstops to shots, like trees behind your target.  Scopes will increase your chances at clean humane kills.  Scopes can act like low power binoculars, scanning for... anything (finger off the trigger if not shooting). About the only thing a scope sucks at is a 5-10 foot shot.  It's all blurry.  Rifles should never be dropped, esp with scopes.  

BTW, if anyone is interested, there are over 160 reviews of this ammo on this Midway Super Colibri link.  Nearly all positive.  https://www.midwayusa.com/product/2506295321/aguila-super-colibri-ammunition-22-long-rifle-20-grain-lead-solid-point

 

[Jess Tolbirt]

i bought a break over 177 at wally world,, it has a silencer on it and with the scope that came with it 100 feet is match striking distance.

[da prez]

My all time favorite is a Sheridan silver streak , 5mm with a varmit pellet. It is similar to a hollow point.
  Single shot pump up. I have dropped many limb rats with it. Around the home front I use a Crossman 177 with a scope. I have executed many a chipmunk. They undermine my stone patio. I have made several shots 125 feet away. (measured ) I also have found a varmit pellet for it.

                                         da prez

[phideux]

Whatever you use squirrel gravy over biscuits is killer.  Also, squirrel season ends in 2 days.

[da prez]

Can squirrels read. Just shoot and eat. 

                                                    da prez

[Wizzard]

Take a look at the Hatsan bullmaster. Hi velocity and very accurate at 50 yards

[Jess from VA]

Here's a .46 cal air rifle of historical significance.  Used by Lewis & Clark on their expedition.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pqFyKh-rUI

They make better ones now.

They have their place, but if I lived out in the woods where shooting was legal, I think my money would be better spent on a .22 rifle.   YMMV

(Once in a while, we get reports of rabid raccoons, skunks and even a dog or two in the huge woodlands/wetlands/park I live next to.  Now which one do you wish you had with you?)

[MarkT]

For discrete with accuracy I have a very old Remington bolt single shot .22.  By "very old" I mean older than me. My Dad's rifle as a kid.  It has a simple 4X scope on it.  Will light a kitchen match out to 30yds or so.  Have a Winchester break-barrel heavier than most deer rifles with 1250fps .177cal but it has a heavy trigger - was a disappointment. Have the usual Ruger 10-22 for walking the woods.  Certain hits are best left to the Remington.

[hubcapsc]

I'm leaning towards a 22 rifle.

Our woods are full of skunks and racoons and possums and a whole bunch of coyotes.

The folks in the other house in my picture got a few ducks a year or so ago, some of
you may remember me taking pictures of them...

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,92058.0.html

I thought the ducks had just shown up, but it turns out the neighbors brought
them in, and they multiplied into a herd(?) of about 20.

The coyotes noticed. We've always had coyotes, but lately they're down there
screaming all the time. Bentley (the dog) doesn't find ducks any more, just
duck parts. The DNR web page says killing all the coyotes is like trying to make
water flow uphill, so I won't be trying to shoot them, but I hope they go back to
being occasional visitors after their food is gone. They show up much earlier now
than they used to - Bentley stays in at night, but she was still out about 7:00pm the
other night and started down the hill barking at them before I called her back   ...

Critters are good things to have in your woods mostly, unless they're rabid or
coyotes.

-Mike

[The emperor has no clothes]

I'm leaning towards a 22 rifle.

Our woods are full of skunks and racoons and possums and a whole bunch of coyotes.

The folks in the other house in my picture got a few ducks a year or so ago, some of
you may remember me taking pictures of them...

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,92058.0.html

I thought the ducks had just shown up, but it turns out the neighbors brought
them in, and they multiplied into a herd(?) of about 20.

The coyotes noticed. We've always had coyotes, but lately they're down there
screaming all the time. Bentley (the dog) doesn't find ducks any more, just
duck parts. The DNR web page says killing all the coyotes is like trying to make
water flow uphill, so I won't be trying to shoot them, but I hope they go back to
being occasional visitors after their food is gone. They show up much earlier now
than they used to - Bentley stays in at night, but she was still out about 7:00pm the
other night and started down the hill barking at them before I called her back   ...

Critters are good things to have in your woods mostly, unless they're rabid or
coyotes.

-Mike

Be careful with Bentley. I’ve had dogs my entire life, minus 4 years in the Navy. 2 coyotes did a sneak attack on the best dog I ever had. I was in a coyote killing frame of mind for a year afterwards. My wife has even tried to run them down with the truck.

[old2soon]

My all time favorite is a Sheridan silver streak , 5mm with a varmit pellet. It is similar to a hollow point.
  Single shot pump up. I have dropped many limb rats with it. Around the home front I use a Crossman 177 with a scope. I have executed many a chipmunk. They undermine my stone patio. I have made several shots 125 feet away. (measured ) I also have found a varmit pellet for it.

                                         da prez

                    THAT is the same one we used to knock the bottoms outa beer bottles-thru the neck. You knicked the neck it didn't count. Open sights and we started at about 25' for the newbies. RIDE SAFE.

[Jess from VA]

I'm leaning towards a 22 rifle.

Our woods are full of skunks and racoons and possums and a whole bunch of coyotes.

The folks in the other house in my picture got a few ducks a year or so ago, some of
you may remember me taking pictures of them...

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,92058.0.html

I thought the ducks had just shown up, but it turns out the neighbors brought
them in, and they multiplied into a herd(?) of about 20.

The coyotes noticed. We've always had coyotes, but lately they're down there
screaming all the time. Bentley (the dog) doesn't find ducks any more, just
duck parts. The DNR web page says killing all the coyotes is like trying to make
water flow uphill, so I won't be trying to shoot them, but I hope they go back to
being occasional visitors after their food is gone. They show up much earlier now
than they used to - Bentley stays in at night, but she was still out about 7:00pm the
other night and started down the hill barking at them before I called her back   ...

Critters are good things to have in your woods mostly, unless they're rabid or
coyotes.

-Mike

Since I'm enjoying this conversation, let me point out another .22 round you might consider for that rifle.

The 22 shotshell. (and they make them in .38/.357 too), but you can get a little distance out of a rifle barrel, and less immediate spread like from a short barrel handgun.  





At any distance (or maybe even close), this would not likely be lethal on a coyote.  But a couple of pellets of zinging owie, would probably make him decide to stay off your (immediate) property.  Coyotes are pretty smart, they tell each other...... man it stings like hell over there...let's stay over here (with the ducks).

As far as I know, they don't make shot-shell air rifle ammo.

I'd stick to the Aguilla Colibri or other subsonic for squirrels... and become a marksman (unless you're pretty close).  

But the shotshell would be good for coyotes (nonlethal, put painful if you can get a partial hit).  And you still have to be a marksman.  I shot these out of rifles in Boy Scouts, at hand thrown clay pigeons, and with the small spread and load, and moving targets, I think I took a chunk out of only one (out of like 25).

And I think these will cycle through a bolt rifle magazine just fine (though maybe not a semiauto).  And also safer for the neighbors or an errant shot.

And for coyote lethal (and all other larger varmints), you go to the CCI minmag hollow points.


Federal makes good ammo, but many have complained for years that Federal 22 is especially dirty.  I like CCI for all my 22 ammo (except only Aguilla makes the primer-only loads).

My main point here is that a .22 rifle gives you a lot of options on what can be fired from it.  

  

[Wizzard]

I have used those 22 shotshells years ago,, but do not use them in an expensive 22. They will eventually ruin your rifling. I used them in an old rifle.
They also make them for my 44 mag and my 357 mag.

[Jess from VA]

Maybe, but the few boxes you might use on the occasional varmint would probably not effect a rifle barrel at all.

It's just soft lead in a steel barrel.  You clean it out (carefully, as always).

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=292381

[Wizzard]

my 44 with one of those is basically a sawed off shotgun 

[Jess from VA]

my 44 with one of those is basically a sawed off shotgun  

A USAF buddy hand-loaded me a bunch of #12 .44 mag shotshell (and I still have some).  Shooting it out of this 3" bbl, it will hit a man from head to knees at 20 feet.  And no kick at all.  Non lethal, but absolutely irritating.       (CCI .44 shotshell is #9)



It's a really a poor carry gun, except maybe in your bathing suit (or shorts).  It shoots alternating barrels, so the few times I carried it, I'd load it to shoot the shotshell first (warning), and a 240gr JHP second (more than a warning) (and those are downright painful to shoot).    

[Wizzard]

That would be really really irritating as I have seen what my 44 does with those at 20 yards.

[hal47]

Mike 22 cci shorts in a bolt action rifle, the only thing you here is click, and the bullet doesn't travel far.

[gregk]

We have really tough squirrels with big nuts here in WI.  I once used some target 22's for squirrel hunting and hit one in the head 5 times before I killed him,  course I suppose shooting a 700fps bullet out of a S&W m41 pistol don't help

[Savage]

I've found a Ruger air rifle with pellets works just fine on squirrels.
You can buy them most any place that sells sporting equipment.

Personally, I'd say .22 rifle is the way to go. Look at the new Ruger 10/22 Takedown models.
Subsonic .22LR or breech-load .22 Shorts for the close shots. Makes very little noise and won't piss off the neighbors or have a game warden coming to your place.

YMMV.