N/A Cheapest accurate, reliable, cocking, .22 pistol with red dot or other optic?

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aston4

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Feb 19, 2025
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Looking for the cheapest, yet accurate/precise and reliable, cocking pistol with red dot or scope. Maximum distance would be 10 meters. Preferable precision would be 1 inch or better at that distance. I have a scoped springer Hatsan .22 rifle that I'm pleased with, the pistol version of that is what I sort of have in mind, if such exists. The Hatsan Mod 25 Supercharger .22, maybe with a Hatsan red dot looks like it might be what I'm looking for. Don't want to deal with charging or CO2, just cock and pop. Prefer to stick with .22 cal.

Before I pull the trigger on that, I thought I'd ask the collective wisdom if there's anything better for that sort of $$$. Even cheaper would be better. This would be a beater working air pistol, not for show, not for the Olympics.

Sadly, this is for rats, so sufficient power is also a requirement, as is reliability, but this thing probably wouldn't see more than 30 shots a year, so super amazing durabiity isn't necessary. I live out in the middle of nowhere and rats are a real issue. I was never a hunter and have tried many, many, many other non-lethal methods with limited degrees of success, but I need additional options.
 
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It's a tree rat, but still a rat! I added a Crosman stock to my .22 cal Mod 25 Supercharger and it was an effective small game getter at short range.

20191204_081324.jpg
 
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aston4 said:
Looking for the cheapest, yet accurate/precise and reliable, cocking pistol with red dot or scope. Maximum distance would be 10 meters. Preferable precision would be 1 inch or better at that distance. I have a scoped springer Hatsan .22 rifle that I'm pleased with, the pistol version of that is what I sort of have in mind, if such exists. The Hatsan Mod 25 Supercharger .22, maybe with a Hatsan red dot looks like it might be what I'm looking for. Don't want to deal with charging or CO2, just cock and pop. Prefer to stick with .22 cal.

Before I pull the trigger on that, I thought I'd ask the collective wisdom if there's anything better for that sort of $$$. Even cheaper would be better. This would be a beater working air pistol, not for show, not for the Olympics.

Sadly, this is for rats, so sufficient power is also a requirement, as is reliability, but this thing probably wouldn't see more than 30 shots a year, so super amazing durabiity isn't necessary. I live out in the middle of nowhere and rats are a real issue. I was never a hunter and have tried many, many, many other non-lethal methods with limited degrees of success, but I need additional options.
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I have one, tin can at 15-20. Need to get out and see what it is really capable of. Been vert cold.
 
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Pneumattic said:
The only one I can think of is a Beeman P17, but it’s .177 although it should easily kill a rat. I have one with a red dot mounted on it and it’s incredibly accurate at 10 meters. They are around $70. A single stroke pneumatic.
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Ah! Thank you. Good info. I will look into this. Wish it was .22 (wish to have ammo compatibility).

Edit: I have looked into it. Certainly inexpensive enough, but seems quite underpowered. If it cannot punch through a soda can, I doubt its effectiveness on rats. The Hatsan seems more suited to the task, if the optic can hold zero.
 
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aston4 said:
Looking for the cheapest, yet accurate/precise and reliable, cocking pistol with red dot or scope. Maximum distance would be 10 meters. Preferable precision would be 1 inch or better at that distance. I have a scoped springer Hatsan .22 rifle that I'm pleased with, the pistol version of that is what I sort of have in mind, if such exists. The Hatsan Mod 25 Supercharger .22, maybe with a Hatsan red dot looks like it might be what I'm looking for. Don't want to deal with charging or CO2, just cock and pop. Prefer to stick with .22 cal.

Before I pull the trigger on that, I thought I'd ask the collective wisdom if there's anything better for that sort of $$$. Even cheaper would be better. This would be a beater working air pistol, not for show, not for the Olympics.

Sadly, this is for rats, so sufficient power is also a requirement, as is reliability, but this thing probably wouldn't see more than 30 shots a year, so super amazing durabiity isn't necessary. I live out in the middle of nowhere and rats are a real issue. I was never a hunter and have tried many, many, many other non-lethal methods with limited degrees of success, but I need additional options.
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There is only one gun that fits your requirement. That is the PP700SA. in .22 I have two of them. They are about $250 new. They shoot the 15 gr JSB domed pellet around 600 fps right out of the box. They have a 11mm rail on the shroud and dovetail slots on the side of the shroud, which I use for a modified laser for short range pesting. It is a single shot pistol with superb balance. I get 40 shots per 210 bar air charge. It is regulated for consistent velocity at about 100 bar. I use a pellet pen for rapid reloads. I hold a better than 1" group at 25 meters. I have taken out pigeons at 100 meters using an inexpensive red dot reflex sight .and Kentucky windage.. It is Chinese and may have an O ring leak, but at the asking price, there is no better deal anywhere.
 
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steve-l said:
There is only one gun that fits your requirement. That is the PP700SA. in .22 I have two of them. They are about $250 new. They shoot the 15 gr JSB domed pellet around 600 fps right out of the box. They have a 11mm rail on the shroud and dovetail slots on the side of the shroud, which I use for a modified laser for short range pesting. It is a single shot pistol with superb balance. I get 40 shots per 210 bar air charge. It is regulated for consistent velocity at about 100 bar. I use a pellet pen for rapid reloads. I hold a better than 1" group at 25 meters. I have taken out pigeons at 100 meters using an inexpensive red dot reflex sight .and Kentucky windage.. It is Chinese and may have an O ring leak, but at the asking price, there is no better deal anywhere.
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$250 o_O

I could stomach that, but having to fill it up just makes it even more expensive for all the other stuff I would need. The problem with having to fill, is that I'm not wanting to have to worry about it being charged all the time. I need something that can hang on the wall for weeks or months at a time, completely forgotten about, but then occasionally being instantly ready to go. My Hatsan springer rifle fulfills this duty now, but at something like 8 lbs, and very long and not so well balanced, it is awkward compared to a pistol.
 
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jarmstrong said:
would a multi pump pnuematic pistol work?

Crosman 1322 Air Pistol,,,,?​

N/A - Has there ever been a multi pump air pistol that can achieve 700+ fps in .22 caliber ?

out of the box ? If not, I wonder why no company has entered into that type of market ? Id love to purchase a air pistol that can do 700+ fps, in .22 with 8 -10 pumps and also has a a 8-10 shot magazine, that self loads with a bolt action lever/system.
www.airgunnation.com www.airgunnation.com
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That could definitely work, except there's no way to mount an optic?
 
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I think you might have to up your $$ a bit , that is asking an awful lot , to hold air for a long time between shots . And if you have rats that is also giving the rats time to make more rats . what exactly is your rat problem ? describe it please . Then we can prescribe a better gun to meet your needs . Shooting the occasional rat is not going to solve anything . Make you feel better yes .
 
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aston4 said:
That could definitely work, except there's no way to mount an optic?
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You have two options to mount optics on the 1322-either get a steel breech for it around $40, or get an intermount for less than $15 https://www.crosman.com/product/crosman-scope-mounts/ that clamps to the barrel and the scope rings mount on it. A red dot sight is so much fun you may find yourself shooting more than you planned, lol! The 1322 is around $70 new if I recall correctly. I really like mine!
 
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Hatsan 25 new or old model BIG-HEAVY-HARD TO COCK AT AROUND 59 LBS OF EFFORT
some P17's as in mine is a huge PITA to cock and i would say the Hatsan is easier
the 1322 even at 10 pumps could be good if the sights were not so crude
i would buy the 25 find an older model like the one shown above 30 shot in a year even i can handle 30 shots in an afternoon not so much
 
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aston4 said:
Looking for the cheapest, yet accurate/precise and reliable, cocking pistol with red dot or scope. Maximum distance would be 10 meters. Preferable precision would be 1 inch or better at that distance. I have a scoped springer Hatsan .22 rifle that I'm pleased with, the pistol version of that is what I sort of have in mind, if such exists. The Hatsan Mod 25 Supercharger .22, maybe with a Hatsan red dot looks like it might be what I'm looking for. Don't want to deal with charging or CO2, just cock and pop. Prefer to stick with .22 cal.

Before I pull the trigger on that, I thought I'd ask the collective wisdom if there's anything better for that sort of $$$. Even cheaper would be better. This would be a beater working air pistol, not for show, not for the Olympics.

Sadly, this is for rats, so sufficient power is also a requirement, as is reliability, but this thing probably wouldn't see more than 30 shots a year, so super amazing durabiity isn't necessary. I live out in the middle of nowhere and rats are a real issue. I was never a hunter and have tried many, many, many other non-lethal methods with limited degrees of success, but I need additional options.
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I hate to bust your bubble, but you will not solve your rat problem with a gun. They are far to numerous and quick. Even with the best gun and greatest expertise, you won't even make a dent. in their population.

In some ways you are correct about the hidden costs of PCP guns, but my PP700SA will hold a 200 bar charge for more than a year without leaking and it's ready to fire by just cocking the external hammer.
 
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Daisy 722 with this rail: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1491840-REG/sun_optics_sm7900_izh_46_barrel_mount.html

The issue would be finding a 722, then you would likely have to reseal it, but that is not an overly taxing job. Because it is an antique many think the 722 is worth quite a bit so luck would have to be on your side as far as price.

The solution has already been offered earlier, the inexpensive P17 is the solution even if only in .177 because as few shots you take a year ammo compatibility is not an issue. One tin of pellets of each in .22 and .177 seem likely would last you a lifetime.

However, having dealt with rats on a farm I would simply get some Tomcat poison along with the bait box. As few shots as you would take with a pellet gun I doubt your percentage of shots/kill, also as earlier suggested, would be high enough to properly address your rat problem.

However, the best rat killers over the long haul I have seen are small terriers, short of poison. Like the person below mentioned, a JackRat might be an effective choice. Even more so, two of them. Once they get the hang of it those little dogs are really something.

https://www.reddit.com/r/ratterriers/comments/19ejf1w
 
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