Pellet Rifle for Small Game

[WeinerDog]

I was thinking about eating after an EMP attack or monetary collapse and thought I’d get a .22 rifle to kill the many squirrel and rabbits behind my house. I was concerned about the noise as neighbors are close and authorities could be looking to confiscate weapons.
So, can someone offer expert advice about pellet shooting rifles that are sufficient for the task ? Preferably under $200 but if it takes more to get quality that’s not a problem. Also what scope would be a good fit. Thanks !!!

[M-Quigley]

I was thinking about eating after an EMP attack or monetary collapse and thought I’d get a .22 rifle to kill the many squirrel and rabbits behind my house. I was concerned about the noise as neighbors are close and authorities could be looking to confiscate weapons.
So, can someone offer expert advice about pellet shooting rifles that are sufficient for the task ? Preferably under $200 but if it takes more to get quality that’s not a problem. Also what scope would be a good fit. Thanks !!!

I don't have an answer, but I was thinking of getting a pellet rifle for small game also. Not because of any TEOTWAWKI situation, but simply because there is a lot of small game on my property that might be unsafe to shoot at with a .22, depending on where they are standing. The wife would like some wild rabbit. None of the critters want to make it convenient and stand in front of my private range.

[Face]

Isn't Pyramid air local to you? number 1 online air rifle store - no idea if they havd an actual store.

[ruger]

I bought a Crosman Redtail .22 caliber pellet rifle just before Christmas. Haven’t shot it yet but its muzzle velocity is rated at 900 ft per second. Synthetic stock and came with a 4x32 fixed scope.

Fin Feather had them on special for $99.

[Bruenor]

Lots of them avail these days with "suppressors" on them some even come in multi caliber .177 and .22 barrels that you can swap included.
Gamo, Beeman, Ruger and Remington are carried at Walmart in that price range. You will probably want something that is break action, not multi-pump or Co2, as those will probably not meet your requirements.

In the higher price range (some from Pyramyd) there are the high pressure rifles, that you can charge from a scuba tank or 2 stage air pump..

Aside from that, pyramyd air is your best bet for anything air gun related.

[Newcomer]

You missed a great sale at Kame’s before Christmas. They had a Beeman quiet-tek in .177 for $69

[Cruiser]

As I understand it a true suppressor is legal on a air rifle!

[scottb]

I have taken some rabbits with my Crosman (.177). It’s very quiet.
https://www.crosman.com/nitro-venom-dusk-177
You can pick these up under $150

[Bruenor]

the search filter on Pyramyd Airs site is pretty nice.. Price range, caliber, noise level

https://www.pyramydair.com/s/m/Stoeger_ ... /2406/4822
https://www.pyramydair.com/s/m/Benjamin ... /3367/6473
https://www.pyramydair.com/s/m/Benjamin ... /4319/8341
https://www.pyramydair.com/s/m/Benjamin ... /3580/6909
https://www.pyramydair.com/s/m/Benjamin ... /3733/7177

if you select anything 1100 fps or under that should be subsonic, so it will make less noise.
https://www.pyramydair.com/s/m/Benjamin ... /3367/6472 .22 cal 900 fps

[techmike]

I have one of the early .22 Gamo's, that came with the integrated "suppressor". I was not impressed with the suppressor, but it does make a nice hand grip when cocking the rifle. It is a springer, so there was a certain amount of twang when shooting, and the trigger sucked. I put an after market trigger in, and did the pneumatic upgrade - replaced the coil spring with a pneumatic tube. Got rid of the twang, but it increased the velocity so much that even the heavy .22 pellets have a distinctive crack when fired. It is no longer my "backyard critter gitter" because of the noise. But would certainly suffice for small game hunting, in the event.
As for quiet hunting at short range, my .22 Marlin bolt rifle and Colibri ammo is the best. Colibri has no powder, just a light projectile and the primer. When target shooting I can hear the firing pin strike, and hear the bullet hit a can. Nothing else. I know for a fact that the Colibri bounces off a racoon, but squirrels & rabbits are not so immune.

[AlanM]

I carried on a war with ground squirrels (mistakenly called chipmunks by many) with a Crossman 760 air rifle. They were causing my poured slab patio to sink.
For the first three summers after we moved into our house in the Fairlawn area of Akron I would sit in the dining room window on weekends and pick off the little bastards while I had my morning coffee.
I usually used my firewood pile as a backstop.
I have an inexpensive 4x scope on it and got pretty darned good at sniping without disturbing my neighbors.

What I find nice about this particular air rifle is the pellet "magazines" that are available for it.

[WeinerDog]

Question guys: I have bad arthritis in my hands; are most pellet rifles that you could hunt
with difficult to cock ?

[WeinerDog]

Tech mike, I assume the Colibri ammo won’t work with magazine fed guns. Not enough power correct ? Will it work with ANY bolt action?

[techmike]

Tech mike, I assume the Colibri ammo won’t work with magazine fed guns. Not enough power correct ? Will it work with ANY bolt action?

It won't work with a semi-auto, not enough oomph to cycle the action. It works fine in my mag-fed bolt action. It will also work in revolvers, but is not nearly as quiet. I know of no reason why it would not work in any bolt action. YMMV

[techmike]

Question guys: I have bad arthritis in my hands; are most pellet rifles that you could hunt
with difficult to cock ?

Hey WD, my Gamo is a bit stiff to cock. It wasn't too bad out-of-the-box, but I had to upgrade it to the pneumatic tube, and now it is a handful. I would suggest dropping a line to Pyramyd Air and ask them their recommendation. Link below.
https://www.pyramydair.com/contact-us