More advice sought on a good groundhog rifle choice

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pcpwannabe

Member
Nov 15, 2018
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PENNSYLVANIA, United States
Hi Friends,

Again I am asking about a powerful mid-caliber (.22 to .25) rifle for hunting for something like a groundhog, with the possibility of a not-quite-so-long shot at something like a fox or coyote (mostly focused on groundhogs out to 100 yards, or a bit more. Forgetting the double the price difference in the cost of the two rifles, I was thinking of an Air Venturi Avenger. with its easy adjustability, and the even more powerful Seneca Eagle Claw, each rifle considered in whichever caliber you would recommend in either rifle. I recently bought a .22 caliber Taipan Veteran Standard (what a trigger!) and have an assortment of pellets and a couple of slugs to try, with still more to purchase, if I can find them. To move to .25 caliber in another rifle will add considerably to the expense in testing for an accurate, powerful projectile, of course. But, if it would make a significant difference in hunting success, it would be just more proof of the old adage "in for a dime, in for a dollar"!

I thank you for either your experience with either, or both, of these rifles. or your gleaned opinions from the many hours you have perused the forums/Youtube venues to learn yourselves and be able to help others.

Your friend,



pcpwannbe
 
Sorry, but having a lot of experience shooting groundhogs with centerfire rifles, I would never consider hunting them with an air rifle. If it's a situation where an air rifle is needed because of noise, such as an in-town garden, get close and make a good head shot. If the thing crawls under something and dies, you have a bad stink for a while.
 
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I've used a benjamin marauder, kalibrgun cricket, and taipan veteran all in .25 caliber to take woodchuck out to a little over 100 yrds. I would recommend finding a used kalibrgun cricket in .25. There have been quite a few in the classifieds for well under $1000 and to me that is just a deal you can't beat from my experience. There have been such good deals on them I have tried to think of a way to justify buying a duplicate to the one I have. They are just that good for the money. For projectiles you can't beat the 34gr pellets whether they be jsb, fx, or whatever brand name on the tin. They are all basically the same pellet possibly from different dies. I tend to try and keep my shots to 85 yards and under but have taken a couple out to ~140 yrds when neccessary. 
 
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I’ve killed groundhogs with .25 marauders on the East Coast before, but even that at about 50 yds and a headshot still doesn’t guarantee they are down for good. Groundhogs are incredibly tough. I would be hesitant to try to take one at 100 yards or farther for sure, just out of having basic respect for the critter.
I do not feel that using my Texan for a groundhog at that distance would be overkill at all. As a matter of fact that’s what I would grab to do the job. 
 
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100 yards on small game isnt easy with a quality firearm, you need something zippy and flat shooting and maybe cost effective to .. if i just had to do it with an airgun, cant imagine why i would, but if i had to, yeah i'd probably look into an airforce soemthinother .. maybe 35 or 45 and probably something on the light side i could really get cookin out to 100+ ...
 
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I have a Avenger .25 and it is very accurate, ten shots dime size at 50 yards i have taken chucks out at 50 plus yards. Reg set at 2300-2400 around 47ish foot pounds with JSB 25.39s At that distance you want your shot placement to the side of the head just behind the ear, the front of the scull is at the strongest point. Avenger 25-$350, Eagle Claw $ 700 . i cant talk about the eagle claw, don't have one,, yet lol. I have a Athlon Talos BTR 4-14x44, APLR2 FFP IR MIL. scope. also have taken coyote at 50 yards out when tuned for slugs,, shot placement is everything!!!
 
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I can only speak from my experience. Last year I killed over 70 (confirmed kills) groundhogs with a .22 caliber Zbroia Kozak. Most were within the 35 - 65 yard range all were killed with pellets. A few were farther but I had a good rest (bipod or shooting sticks) each time.

Last fall a member here helped me with tuning instructions for slugs and the results are great.

This groundhog season I have killed 14 with the same gun with slugs (I have only been out a few times). Slugs are fantastic on groundhogs. Seems to do much better than a powder burner because I get no pass thru. You still need good shot placement, but a good shot will kill a groundhog where he stands.

My suggestion is spend a few bucks on a variety of slugs. Use a chronograph and do some testing and tuning. I would believe the current gun you have would be capable of the results I am getting with mine.

MAKE GOOD NOTES AND KEEP THEM!

Thru testing and tuning, I now have a pellet tune for pest birds/targets/plinking/squirrels. I also have a slug tune for long range target/groundhogs/squirrel in the late season where shots are longer due to no tree foliage. 

The more time you spend with one gun, the more skill you develop with that gun.

Best of luck with whatever you decide!
 
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I do a lot of groundhog hunting and I personally feel the air rifle should not be used beyond 50 yards . No question that a properly placed shot will kill a groundhog well beyond 50 . The limit is not the gun so much but the shooter. Groundhogs are living targets that often move so the perfect shot is often not just as perfect that fraction of a second that is involved when you are making that shot. I know you can hit a quarter at 100 but the quarter isn’t moving when it’s paper. I hunt with a 17 HMR and a 223 . My interest is long range and I limit the 17 to 100 . Mostly because it’s not as pin point accurate beyond 100 as the 223. Pretty much the same reasoning. There are physical limitations which a good shooter can over come with skill but I feel that for most of us ethical humane hunting should dictate the choices we make. I know some of you guys never miss and never have one get back in to the hole . I do and I try not to let that happen. It’s shot placement and terminal ballistics. Both equally important. Plus being honest about your own abilities. I can hit a groundhog in the head at 400 yards if he’s a paper target. Hunting live animals totally different situation. .
 
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Problem with consistent sighting and adjustment for distance and any wind at distance greater than 50 yards that may preclude getting 100% first shot kills. If I belive the distance is 60 yards and it is actuall 66 yards then the shot will be low and miss the head shot needed for a clean kill.

No idea why so few people make use of a blind/hide in the USA, even if it is a piece of camo netting drapped over the shooter and the rifle. The camo netting can be bought for under $40 and a good blind for less than $100.

https://www.amazon.com/Ameristep-Taker-Ground-Blind-Country/dp/B081SFHRGM/ref=sr_1_7?dchild=1&keywords=hunting+blind&qid=1626035004&sr=8-7


 
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The vast majority of the locals “walk” hunt groundhog s in my neck of the woods. I have absolutely no interest in that type of hunting. I would assume some type of camouflage would be a big help because I do know that if they see you first it’s typically all over. Doing the type of long range stuff that I do I’m back at least 200 yards and I’ve found that until you shoot the GH’s don’t seem to be aware . You other guys find the same? What would be most helpful would be SHADE. I try to find a spot that’s shady if it’s possible. In my pigeon hunting the blind would be a big help I just never looked into it. It would have to go up and down easily . 
 
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I've been shooting woodchucks at a local farm from 30-60 yards - Taipan .22 long, 23g NSA slugs in the low 920's. Every single one of them has dropped *right there* where I hit 'em. Some I hit at or near their hole and indeed they did fall either partially or, in a few cases, fully back into it but (so far) I've been able to recover all of them. I try to place the shot between ear and eye - it's like an 'off' switch. I've learned in talking with the workers on the property where they've seen chuckie activity so what I've been doing is just sitting on my field target bucket and using sticks and just 'camping' (lol - aka - sitting there and visually scanning the area ) in various spots for 30-40 minutes. If no activity - I just move onto another area. I've spotted a couple on these moves in between spots. ( walking with bucket and sticks in one hand, gun in the other, rangefinder hanging on neck: " . . . whoop . . . did I just see something in that field over there? <STOP> Look . . . . look . . . . *there he is . . . . * range him . . . set bucket down, cop a squat, park gun onto sticks . . . dial range on turret . . . pew! " :)
 
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The Taipan Veteran standard you have is a 35 FPE rifle. The long version in the .22 is 45 FPE and the .25 long is 65 FPE. You could consider selling or trading your standard and get the .25 long. You would still have a Taipan with the great trigger and would then only need to buy one caliber of pellets and slugs for testing. If your set on keeping your current Taipan, I would look at something in the Air Force line up like already mentioned. A used Condor can be bought for not much more than a new Avenger and put out double the energy that the Avenger is capable of. 
 
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 I purchased an Airforce Escape UL ONLY to get rid of many yellow bellied marmot's at distance. Tried one around 2000 (12 fpe gunpower) did not care for anything about it. Got the UL earlier this year and now have zero marmot's. 4.3lb w/out scope, short, MORE than enough power, what most would consider an excellent trigger -not really the type of rig you want a 6oz trigger on anyway- cant shoot as well as once upon a time but with bi-pod 1-1/4" groups at 100 and I really suspect I have friend's who could do better with it. Shooting 10 yards in front of the Wife sitting on the porch She only hears the 100 yard target. Only complaint is w/out marmot's I've no use for it much preferring the .177's.

Depending on your definition of "newbie" 50 yard shots for airguns, know your rig & take only good shots the UL will work at 100yards.

John
 
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Problem with blanket statements like the one about the Texan is that no one has actually done a test at 100 yards with these rifles and others by way of an accurate comparison of performance. It also ignores the availability of hunting pellets.

This from the Pyramid website by a customer regarding the Seneca .257 pellets "They fit the Texan but are to long for the twist rate to stabilize. Do not buy for a texan with a stock barrel They fit the Texan but are to long for the twist rate to stabilize. Do not buy for a texan with a stock barrel"

Owners of the Texan brag about 2" groups at 100 yards which is fine if one is shooting wild turkeys but not accurate enough for smaller critters and making head shots for clean kills.

I prefer to buy things that I can get spare parts and servicing and tuning parts easily and there are decided advantages to owning a mainstream air rifle in .25 or .30 caliber.
 
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