Airguns for varmints?

D

don carter

Guest
I met some guys that use their airguns for varmint shooting, how common is that, are they effective? I am getting intersted in airguns. Don
 
Hey Don, Do you consider Pigeons varmints? I have made a pretty good dent in population control with my Feinwerkbau. Those pellets are very wind sensitive. And as you know we have pleny of wind around here!
 
Nothing wrong with airguns for varmint control. Available calibers from .177 to 50. Might have to get a tad closer in some cases. They have been used for this purpose for years over seas. They are slowly becoming accepted here stateside for deer and other assorted hunting purposes. Check out the various postings on the Yellow forum, there is a section strictly about hunting. Don't forget Lewis & Clark used an air rifle for camp meat on their epic mapping trip across the U.S.
 
Hi Blades What is the Yellow Forum? I am rather new at this. Don
 
Don I stumbled into the airgun forum once. I was totally blown away.
Heck they have airguns to shoot deer and bigger with now days....
Do a little research here and like I saw one of the posters say,,,, it aint you daddy's red ryder anymore.
 
You'd be amazed, I recently veiwed a video of a guy that shot a goat @ around 200+ yards with a 30 caliber airgun. I've shot Quackenbush flint replica airguns shooting 50 cal balls @ around 1900fps.
 
don carter said:
I met some guys that use their airguns for varmint shooting, how common is that, are they effective? I am getting intersted in airguns. Don
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You can probably find the sites of some of the European Air Gun Magazines. The ones I looked at some time ago, like in years, had articles and pictures of guys hunting varmints. Supressors seem to be widely used over there.
 
Pete,

You recall the names of some of those magazines? From what I have seen, there are almost NO European countries that allow any hunting with airguns.
 
therealld said:
Pete,

You recall the names of some of those magazines? From what I have seen, there are almost NO European countries that allow any hunting with airguns.
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It was years ago but I am thinking British magazines. I clearly remember seeing color pictures. This was mebby 20 years ago. A lad in the town I use to live in sold Air Guns and he had Air Gun Magazines there.
 
There a 2-3 good mags, all from UK, however all the stuff is small bore within normal power ranges because of strict rules governing max power. Most hunting related stuff tends to be about rats, rabbits, and pidgeons.
 
Depending on the country, air guns are classified same as fire arms. There are restrictions on output power in some cases or require special permits ect. Suppressors are legal in most areas over seas. Due to the NFA act they are not stateside with out special registration. Same act regulates fully automatic units. A license can be procured, lot of hoops to jump through, and a $250 tax per item.
 
Thanks for the replies. I went to Airguns of Arizona store in Gilbert, Az. and visited, nice friendly people, bought some books. Airgun Odyssey by Steve Hanson has lots of good info for a beginner like me about hunting and competition. I think there is a match at Ben Avery this next Sat. I plan to go and observe, learn, gather more info before I buy a gun. Don
 
What would be my best option for shooting PraireDogs from 50-150yds with an airgun? Thanks Don
 
I think 150 yards would be a bit long for airguns, but talk to the guys at AOA, they shoot bench AND hunt in the desert. For me, if I had a good supported position and a 30fpe .22 cal air rifle, such as my FX Cyclone, I would feel comfortable shooting prairedogs to around 80yds or so, maybe a bit more if there no wind to speak of. My gun would typically shoot into 1.5" or less with the 18.1gr at 100yds, so its marginal on them little rascals.
 
Speeking of shooting varmints - - -

I have tried on three occasions to kill Gray Squirrels without success. The first rife I tried was a Gamo Whisper .177. This one brought blood but did not kill them. I trird some with my CZ 200 a few days ago and same thing. I wondered if it requires a Head Shot to kill them and if the pellets were piercing the skin and body of the animals? There are so many squirrels around where I was shooting at them it would be tough to know if my efforts were doing anything.

Thanks,

Pete
 
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