Air Gun Reccomendations

Jump to latest Follow Reply
E

elock49

Member
Mar 30, 2020
9
0
CA
I am looking for a .22 airgun specifically for squirrels. I am new to air rifles, have been doing a little research, but would appreciate some recommendations. I am leaning toward a gas piston airgun, but would consider a co2 air rifle, but don't know if they would be powerful enough to reach out to 40 yards. My price range would be in the 250 dollars or less range. Just looking for a solid rifle that will last.
 
Right at your 250.00 budget perhaps a hair over that including pellets and all well worth it here goes...Easy to pump 164.99 22 Benjamin Maximus PCP with AGN 25% off discount code direct from Crosman with free shipping on Friday's along with a 40.00 Chinese but decently good easy to pump to 2000psi hand pump from eBay or amazon and a 40.00 TKO to quiet it down if you need it really quiet. Then a 27.00 Tasco 2.5-10x42AO mildot target varmint scope free shipping from ebay. 8.00 scope rings from anywhere. You're not going to get any more accurate for squirrel hunting than this combo using a gas ram or Springer at 40 yards on the budget you mentioned to shoot live game with. More than likely the cheap Crosman and or Benjamin brand pellets would also do well in the Maximus based on my experience especially with the improved Crosman barrels in 22. I get consistent nickle sized groups at 55 yards shooting 22 Benjamin Discovery Hollowpoints and Crosman 14.3 grain pointeds in the 175 count tins and half dollar sized using 5.99 per 500 count tin of Crosman Premier Hollow points from Wal-Mart. My 22 Benjamin Discovery is slightly more expensive gun with a different heavier wood stock exhibits similar accuracy with said pellets but prefers the cheap Wal-Mart Crosman Premier Hollow Points over the Benjamin Discovery brand hollow points but shoots the 14.3 grain Crosman pointeds very accurately too. Trigger screw and spring modification only few bucks from hardware store instructions online.

Oops forgot to mention pellet pen pellet pen pellet pen a necessity for ease of shooting and quick loading the single shot Maximus. Roughly between 8 to 20 bucks if you shop around... YO!
 
Upvote 0
I would have mentioned the 22 Umarex Gauntlet that's really cheap nowadays if you shop smart which I also have but it's way too heavy for hunting and requires 3000psi to pump which is a real chore compared to the easy 2000psi for the Maximus not to mention it's light weight to carry around all day long with ease. YO!
 
Upvote 0
The only Springer I would trust to reliably and humanely take out live squirrels consistently at 40 to 60 yards would be an RWS Diana 54 or 56 in either 177 or 22 caliber but they are above the budget Even for a used one and they both are super heavy and really loud. I tried just about every Springer and gas ram gun out there from Crosman and Benjamin and el-cheapies to high end Theobens and my mentioned RWS Dianas gave more guaranteed hits on target at longer distances past 35yards.

The only co2 gun I would maybe boarder line use is the RWS 850 magnum or Hammerli 850 magnum...naw... plenty accurate but probably not enough juice at 40 yards to humanely hunt squirrels with...not in their original co2 form at least...I think... YO!
 
Upvote 0
This was pointed out in another thread.

https://www.airgunsofarizona.com/gas-ram-rifles/rws-diana-350-classic-n-tec-magnum-.22/
Click to expand...


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

What he said. You are not going to beat that deal soon, if ever.

Meanwhile it always seems impolite to jump into the middle of the springer forum and recommend a PCP when the OP is asking about spring rifles. Nothing wrong with the advice given but it seems like some of the PCP guys just have issues with inadequacy 😉 and they need to proselytize so they come to the springer group and try to make converts. 

If you wanted a PCP you would have asked there, right?
 
  • Like
Reactions: billketsugo
Upvote 0
I picked this R9 .177 up for 249.00 used. One tiny nick on it. I touched it up. Keep your eyes open and ask around. I added the muzzle brake, rings, and scope. Bought them used too. All in excellent shape. I have the same gun in .22. An HW95L . Bought used. Looks about new.. That was 325.00 shipped. I prefer the .177 for hunting squirrels. Shoots so much flatter. Used gun prices will likely go down this year.

1586587550_4421342765e91679e267d13.33591310.jpg

 
Upvote 0
I’ve been shooting airguns for about 20 years now and owned a ton. For what you’re looking for all I can say is stay away from Anything Benjamin. Their np2 is wildly inaccurate and could only kill a squirrel point blank. Break barrels in general are not accurate when compared to a good fixed barrel. Pyramid air used to have the Gamo accu for cheap. Under 150. That will be the most accurate springer on the market in anywhere close to that price range. I could easily hit a squirrel with a head shot out to 30 yards with total confidence. I once had a reasonable group over 100 yards when plinking with my 177 accu. With the 177 you can take head shots with an accurate gun and not have to rely on the 22s larger wound channels. I’d suggest you not so much think of power as you do accuracy for spring piston airgun hunting. After all field target guns are used for hunting and their pretty tight fpe limits. If you buy online, all the advice so far is daily sound. European guns are great. CO2 can absolutely be used for hunting but the member who said stay away is probably right if we assume you’re not sure what you’re looking for. My modded 2240 can do about anything shooting heavies with my long ass barrel. However if you’re the type that’s going to be buying from Walmart, just pick up a Gamo and call it a day. You’re accuracy won’t be great but people across the country have been using the swarm maxim for squirrel hunting since it came out, I think they’ve even sponsored some competitions with dogs down south. 
 
Upvote 0
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back
Home
Forums
Resources
Menu