Other Airgun for Squirrel?

[Fiammata]

Hello, what small airgun would you recommend for front yard squirrel hunting? I have nuisance squirrels that have refused to get in the traps since last September, and now the nerve of them, they are courting to reproduce in my front yard! No, thank you! I need something that can finally end the squirrels, but won't ricochet into the neighbors' yards across the street if I miss.

My trap has been a Squirrelinator, with peanut butter, sunflower seeds, various fruits sometimes, etc. why won't they GET IN...

Also, I don't have very strong wrists, so I might avoid the pump action ones. But it's not like I'll be using a whole canister at a time, and those can get pretty expensive if just firing a few shots and then the rest of it leaks out from non-use. I don't know much about these things... and could use some advice.

 

[beerthief]

Hello, what small airgun would you recommend for front yard squirrel hunting? I have nuisance squirrels that have refused to get in the traps since last September, and now the nerve of them, they are courting to reproduce in my front yard! No, thank you! I need something that can finally end the squirrels, but won't ricochet into the neighbors' yards across the street if I miss.

My trap has been a Squirrelinator, with peanut butter, sunflower seeds, various fruits sometimes, etc. why won't they GET IN...

Also, I don't have very strong wrists, so I might avoid the pump action ones. But it's not like I'll be using a whole canister at a time, and those can get pretty expensive if just firing a few shots and then the rest of it leaks out from non-use. I don't know much about these things... and could use some advice.

a pistol like PP750 with a hand pump and a stock (making it into a short rifle ) would do the trick and not be much money. The big question is neighbors ? how large is your front lawn ? Sound will be a problem .
The biggest thing might be the law (where are you ?) most towns / city have laws prohibiting shooting .

 

[nervoustrig]

Welcome to AGN!

This is a tough one because the strength limitation also probably rules out a breakbarrel. If you can ask around and find someone that owns one you can try, that would be good. I don’t know if a big box store (Walmart, Bass Pro, etc) would go for it but you could ask.

A PCP would be best but the cost and learning curve may be more than you are interested in investing.

I’m not much of a fan of CO2 for squirrels, but if you can keep the shots inside of 20 yards or so and practice enough to hit the brain or heart/lung area, it will get the job done.

Lastly, regarding the safety aspect, plan to set up a simple backstop of some kind. Plywood, cinder blocks, firewood, or similar. Because if the pellet is moving fast enough to kill a squirrel, it’s moving fast enough to deflect into a neighbor’s yard and do damage.

 

[markhooper]

yes I was thinking of a 177 break barrel, wouldn't have to be a magnum.. you can just use the iron sights.. my concern is neighbors.. their concern, what is beyond your target if you missed.. like shooting at the squirrel and instead hitting the neighbors across the street front window,car etc..
because if it's enough to kill a squirrel it can definitely damage something.. just sounds like you are in the city and well doesn't seem very appropriate or safe in small front yards..
just be safe and careful.. you don't need more trouble than the squirrel are giving you now.
welcome to the forum
Mark

 

[WorriedMan]

Warm greetings, glad to have you here. Please consider professional pest control services if matters are out of control. More common to have neighbors who despise guns and adore furry, little creatures, than not. Imagine how they'll react seeing you kill, or severely injure one, while pointing the gun in their general direction? Worse yet, a ricochet dents their siding or cracks a window. Think introducing an airgun into this scenario is asking for trouble. WM

 

[Fiammata]

a pistol like PP750 with a hand pump and a stock (making it into a short rifle ) would do the trick and not be much money. The big question is neighbors ? how large is your front lawn ? Sound will be a problem .
The biggest thing might be the law (where are you ?) most towns / city have laws prohibiting shooting .

I live in Texas, in a military-esque neighborhood. So long as it doesn't pose a danger to the neighbors (i.e. ricochet into their yards), nobody will give a hoot.

Also, my dogs keep alerting me to the squirrels when they are in trees in the backyard. If there is lack of ricochet, I can shoot the danged things when my good girls are alerting on them, too, but without the risk to my dogs. If this thing can hurt my girls from anything other than a missed shot, then I will not be using it in the backyard.

I do have good aim but I need an 'air' gun to be legal in the residential areas, and I have no experience in these. That's why I tried the traps. Useless, useless things.

 

[Fiammata]

Welcome to AGN!

This is a tough one because the strength limitation also probably rules out a breakbarrel. If you can ask around and find someone that owns one you can try, that would be good. I don’t know if a big box store (Walmart, Bass Pro, etc) would go for it but you could ask.

A PCP would be best but the cost and learning curve may be more than you are interested in investing.

I’m not much of a fan of CO2 for squirrels, but if you can keep the shots inside of 20 yards or so and practice enough to hit the brain or heart/lung area, it will get the job done.

Lastly, regarding the safety aspect, plan to set up a simple backstop of some kind. Plywood, cinder blocks, firewood, or similar. Because if the pellet is moving fast enough to kill a squirrel, it’s moving fast enough to deflect into a neighbor’s yard and do damage.

I have a Walmart and everything and such, but... nobody really does air gun around here. People hunt big but not at home. Thing is, these rodents are here at home and... I'm want to remove them, and they won't get their azz in their traps.

Funny thing is, the birds will. But hey this is a gun forum.

I have good aim but have never operated an air gun before, so there is always that risk? If it pings off the road and onto a neighbor's window, will it just drop back off? Or will it go through the window?

 

[coastal drifter]

Crossman 1322, practice on a few cans till you feel good enough for a kill shot, pumps for power needed probably 5-6 pumps should do the job 20 yards and under Can buy it at Pyramyd air and other places. The 1322 is a .22 caliber the 1377 is smaller pellets, could still do the job but I say bigger is better.

 

[Fiammata]

Crossman 1322, practice on a few cans till you feel good enough for a kill shot, pumps for power needed probably 5-6 pumps should do the job 20 yards and under Can buy it at Pyramyd air and other places.

How hard is it to pump? I have wrist injuries--tendonitis in one, carpal tunnel in the other.

 

[coastal drifter]

How hard is it to pump? I have wrist injuries--tendonitis in one, carpal tunnel in the other.

might be an issue

 

[Fiammata]

might be an issue

How do you pump it? I don't see... based on the image... an up/down motion. Is it forward/backward? Can I use the floor as leverage to push it into place?

If not... then pump action ones are no.

 

[coastal drifter]

maybe a co2 would be better, I'm not experienced with them so maybe someone else will chime in

 

[coastal drifter]

that lower stock section in front of the trigger pops out and forward open annd close to pump. the more pumps mthe harded it gets
drops down and swings forward and back

 

[beerthief]

I live in Texas, in a military-esque neighborhood. So long as it doesn't pose a danger to the neighbors (i.e. ricochet into their yards), nobody will give a hoot.

Also, my dogs keep alerting me to the squirrels when they are in trees in the backyard. If there is lack of ricochet, I can shoot the danged things when my good girls are alerting on them, too, but without the risk to my dogs. If this thing can hurt my girls from anything other than a missed shot, then I will not be using it in the backyard.

I do have good aim but I need an 'air' gun to be legal in the residential areas, and I have no experience in these. That's why I tried the traps. Useless, useless things.

View attachment 557507

Welcome to the best AGN
"Lastly, regarding the safety aspect, plan to set up a simple backstop of some kind. Plywood, cinder blocks, firewood, or similar. Because if the pellet is moving fast enough to kill a squirrel, it’s moving fast enough to deflect into a neighbor’s yard and do damage."
For now this seems to be the limiting factor . Maybe change brand of peanut butter ? apply some to the outside as an attractor anywhere top side . This will get the Squirrel interested and after a taste maybe go for the reward inside ? although the dogs might find it too .

 

[jkingrph]

How hard is it to pump? I have wrist injuries--tendonitis in one, carpal tunnel in the other.

I have a HW 30, probably ok for squirrels in front yard, close range. easy to cock, one long easy stroke. I have arthritis in my left (cocking) hand and even more powerful guns requiring more force are not difficult to cock. I would stay away from the pump up types and co2, co2 seems much louder to me.

 

[jkingrph]

I have a Walmart and everything and such, but... nobody really does air gun around here. People hunt big but not at home. Thing is, these rodents are here at home and... I'm want to remove them, and they won't get their azz in their trap

I have good aim but have never operated an air gun before, so there is always that risk? If it pings off the road and onto a neighbor's window, will it just drop back off? Or will it go through the window?

No telling whata richocet will do, it would at least probably chip a window, or car paint, possibly more like breaking window, or denting a vehicle.

Honestly I would stay away from Walmart, and some of the big box farm and ranch stores like Atwoods, the guns they have are not of good quality. Look at a couple of on line vendors like Airguns of Arizona or Pyramid Air. Most of their sales staff are very knowledgeable and can give good advice.

As mentioned elsewhere, know where that pellet will be going if you miss your actual target.

I just realized you created this thread in the pistol forum, you would be much better served with a rifle, far more accurate and usually more powerful. An example, I killed a crow in a tree over my father in law's garden at about 60 yards with a break barrel air gun about 50 years ago, with one shot.

 

[Berserkeley Mike]

Maybe you don't have to actually kill the squirrels. I have fruit trees in my back yard and over the years have learned that a squirrel whose territory includes your house, who understands not to go near your house, will help you keep neighboring squirrels away. Shooting them just brings more newcomers a couple weeks later. Currently I harass the resident squirrels, with my dog's help, but let them live to squabble over territory with neighboring squirrels. An airgun can help with that as you can reach out and touch the squirrel even if it is far away, and if it is up in a tree where the dog gets frustrated. In my backyard, with the longest distance of ~45 yards, a multipump gun that shoots BBs works best. More distance = more pumps, closer range is safer with less pumps. BBs are relatively safe because they shed power and speed very quickly, and if your yard is small then airsoft BBs might be even better than metal BBs.
That Crosman 1322 has a sister 1377 that will shoot regular BBs, and isn't hard to pump a few times, which is all you'll need to harrass but not kill. Glass windows should be safe at 1 pump beyond 10 yards, 2 pumps 15 yards, 3 pumps 25, 4/35, 5/40, 6/45, 7/50, 8/55, which is about the distances you'd harrass. At those distances with that many pumps the BB won't break the skin. The pumping action of those is an accordion motion, just look for a Youtube video for whatever airgun.
Plus if you just only shoot to harrass then you'll have more squirrels to practice on tomorrow! If you kill them then you and your dog have to wait a couple weeks for more to show up.

 

[MJS]

Maybe you don't have to actually kill the squirrels. I have fruit trees in my back yard and over the years have learned that a squirrel whose territory includes your house, who understands not to go near your house, will help you keep neighboring squirrels away. Shooting them just brings more newcomers a couple weeks later. Currently I harass the resident squirrels, with my dog's help, but let them live to squabble over territory with neighboring squirrels. An airgun can help with that as you can reach out and touch the squirrel even if it is far away, and if it is up in a tree where the dog gets frustrated. In my backyard, with the longest distance of ~45 yards, a multipump gun that shoots BBs works best. More distance = more pumps, closer range is safer with less pumps. BBs are relatively safe because they shed power and speed very quickly, and if your yard is small then airsoft BBs might be even better than metal BBs.
That Crosman 1322 has a sister 1377 that will shoot regular BBs, and isn't hard to pump a few times, which is all you'll need to harrass but not kill. Glass windows should be safe at 1 pump beyond 10 yards, 2 pumps 15 yards, 3 pumps 25, 4/35, 5/40, 6/45, 7/50, 8/55, which is about the distances you'd harrass. At those distances with that many pumps the BB won't break the skin. The pumping action of those is an accordion motion, just look for a Youtube video for whatever airgun.
Plus if you just only shoot to harrass then you'll have more squirrels to practice on tomorrow! If you kill them then you and your dog have to wait a couple weeks for more to show up.

Good thought and worth a try. A Red Rider would do the job to harass them and it's very quiet. One lever stroke spits the bb's out at about 350 fps. Could be the solution.