Air Gun?

[BlueDuck]

Guys,
I've got a hankering for a decent air gun. I've got the standard Red Ryder that I keep by the door to maintain order in the neighborhood, but I've incurred a feral cat problem that Red Ryder can't handle. I've looked at the Gamo product line and that seems like a good option that can launch a .177 pelet at a claimed velocity of 1000 FPS. That should handle a cat camped out in my garage. Anyone else using a Gamo or something different? I've got a suppressed .22LR, but I'm not comfortable launching rim fire rounds out into the neighborhood or risking a pass through on a cat. Thanks for your thoughts.
BlueDuck

PS...hope the cat lovers don't get mad

[tracyballard]

a Daisy 880 costs about $40 and will take care of any cat you may run across. Or you might look for an old BSF Model 55 if you want a spring air gun.

[olgier]

a 1000fps air rifle is almost as loud as a .22.......... especially if you shoot with no pellet by mistake. i use a henry lever with CB's.

[tracyballard]

also, those cheap 1000 fps guns are very harsh to shoot, not a fun experience unless you want the loudest, kickin-est, most powerful air gun you can get for the money. If you want a smooth fun shooting spring air gun, you need to spend several hundred bucks. All in all, go for a cheap pump up gun for the best value...

[davedude]

Dude!

I don't know anything about the Gamo airguns....but I've got two webley vulcans. I wouldn't shoot a cat with one just to chase it away, does too much damage. I've a cheep little red ryder that I keep to chase pests with, does not leave a cruel wound.

The vulcans will drop a squirrel easy with a correct shot and are merciless on birds. Never have used them on anything bigger.

I've a small Beeman spring piston rifle also, forget the model but it is a cheapo. But even that will drop squirrels so it is not used to chase pests either.

have a look at this site, they got some good stuff there:

http://www.umarexusa.com/Airguns.aspx

Dave Dude

[tracyballard]

looks like walmart also carries a Benjamin 397, nice gun with wood stock and slightly more powerful than the Daisy 880. Either one will penetrate several inches of flesh (ask my foot).

[Tsm002]

I have a Diana/RWS model 52 that is absolutely incredible.

Side cocking action, scope mount, excellent sights, powerful as all get out, amazing stock contour...

It was a gift to me a long time ago. I have no idea what they cost right now but it can't be cheap, but you might want to look at the RWS series of guns. The warranty department is VERY nice if you ever need anything, and they make some rathe rinteresting models.

[W.E.G.]

A trap is a better idea.

If you shoot the cat, it will almost surely do one of two things.

1. Run into some hidey-hole you never imagined, and die there. You will find the hidey-hole when the smell starts.

2. Haul ass, and go die loudly on the carport of your neighbor's house, right next to the 3-year-old's tricycle.

Once trapped, you can take appropriate measures.

Cats really like tuna fish.

[ggiilliiee]

this reminds me of the orygun ranchers ....shoot all the yotes and cant figure out why all their 30 k ponies are breakin legs in wabbit holes ..............my suggestion when ya but the rifle pick up some gopher ,rat mouse vole traps also ......and all the other cats may come home when the boss isnt around ....ya may go from one to ten ....all fighting under your porch at 3;00 a jockeying for alpha position .......hehehe ..just a thought ...not to mention the animal cruelty charges .....they can get pretty ugly if the judge likes cats ......
i cant remember the name of the toy but neighbor had one high pressure cyl like a paint ball but it went to 1500 psi !!!!! had to fill the bottle at the industrial welding shop ....even have a model that shoots 45 bullets at 6-7 hun per sec ...iirc ...ths one made all of the air rifles look like a popcorn fart .....

[panzer]

Originally posted by Tsm002
I have a Diana/RWS model 52 that is absolutely incredible.

Side cocking action, scope mount, excellent sights, powerful as all get out, amazing stock contour...

It was a gift to me a long time ago. I have no idea what they cost right now but it can't be cheap, but you might want to look at the RWS series of guns. The warranty department is VERY nice if you ever need anything, and they make some rathe rinteresting models.

I have the Model 48. I have had it since I was 13. Over 20 years and I sent it back after 5 years because I wore out the seals. DEAD accurate and will kill squirrels at 70 yds. They run about $350 or so now. I saved all year for it back then.

[powermad]

I picked up this one at wallyworld for $99
http://www.crosman.com/site/listing/1342

Pretty accurate and not real noisy. It will go clean through a rabbit at 25 feet.

[ggiilliiee]

Sheridan makes one of the best in my book .(blue or silver streak ......go 22 cal if possible ..much more lethal conical pellets .....130 -150 bones ...

[phillip]

I wish I had a feral cat problem

[tracyballard]

Originally posted by ggiilliiee
Sheridan makes one of the best in my book .(blue or silver streak ......go 22 cal if possible ..much more lethal conical pellets .....130 -150 bones ...

c'mon ggiilliiee, that makes too much sense. how about releasing some cat eating baboons to take care of this feline freeloader...

[RRotz]

Originally posted by ggiilliiee
Sheridan makes one of the best in my book .(blue or silver streak ......go 22 cal if possible ..much more lethal conical pellets .....130 -150 bones ...

+1 for sheridan blue or silver streak...20 cal pump. hits hard and lethal for small game, not iffy.

[Rik]

Quackenbush Outlaw

http://www.quackenbushairguns.com/outlaw_pistol.htm



He also makes a 500fpe .458 air rifle....

[ggiilliiee]

rrotz ...i stand corrected ...those are 20 mm ......not 22 .....ya those cats .....since i got adopted by 2 of them ....(buddys will tell ya im a magnet for stray dogs and stray women ...)..hehe ...dang kittys have a fairly complx social order .....bonus is there isnt a vole rat mouse for 1/4 mile .....ebola cometh from rat crap ....i say kill zem ...kill zem all .....the rodentia that is ............i kinda like watchng them on the hunt or slinkin ....verry cool critters .....but then again ...if its a mean mutha and a danger to the kids ..ect ........drop the frikin thing and dont let anyone see ya do it .....

[hockeysew]

How about a Wrist Rocket and crabapples (or other "natural" projectile)?
Very effective on rogue cats and silent to boot. It won't kill them but it sure puts a hurt to them!
Used it in my neighborhood and seeing how the ammo is indigneous to the area virtually trace free!

[ggiilliiee]

hehe ..dam wrist rockets ....ya ever had a tube come off and hit ya in the face .....sum o beeotch .....hehe ..OH GOD I CANT FIND MY EYE!!!!!!!!!!!!


hey hockeysew...needin road trip roll in the dirt .....hows the weather over there ?????...need mushroom swiss burger/s (DQ)

[ftierson]

Originally posted by W.E.G.
A trap is a better idea.

If you shoot the cat, it will almost surely do one of two things.

1. Run into some hidey-hole you never imagined, and die there. You will find the hidey-hole when the smell starts.

2. Haul ass, and go die loudly on the carport of your neighbor's house, right next to the 3-year-old's tricycle.

Once trapped, you can take appropriate measures.

Cats really like tuna fish.

What Gary says...

In addition, although magnum air rifles are not quiet, they are appreciably quieter than a .22LR rifle...

You might try a Gamo 440 or 220...

The Sheridan 5mm Blue Streak, while a nice gun, is not as powerful as many of the magnum spring piston air rifles and, on top of that, is much louder...

I use a Gamo 440 and a Gamo Shadow 1000 (which is a synthetic stocked Gamo 220), a RWS 38 and 52 and, when appropriate, a Sheridan Blue Streak...

All work well for what I use them for...

I also use a Daisy Red Ryder BB gun for encouraging critters to leave the yard without really hurting them...

But, having said all this...

What Gary says...

Forrest

[Azrial]

I had an El Gamo Air Rifle. Sure it was powerful at 1000 FPS. But it would not hold a group worth a damn. I would guest that it would do not better then 4" at 25 yards. I would love to hear what others are getting with these rifles.

Anyway, I took mine back.

I vote a Wrist Rocket and marbles to run them off.

Ball bearing or lead balls for the end game.

[hagar]

Can of sardines, make small hole in it, sit in sun for 3 days. Open it up wearing biohazard gear, because you now have botulism, one of the most potent posions known to man. Leave where cat, and only cat, can find it. Dispose properly...

[hockeysew]

Originally posted by ggiilliiee
hehe ..dam wrist rockets ....ya ever had a tube come off and hit ya in the face .....sum o beeotch .....hehe ..OH GOD I CANT FIND MY EYE!!!!!!!!!!!!


hey hockeysew...needin road trip roll in the dirt .....hows the weather over there ?????...need mushroom swiss burger/s (DQ)

They do have their hazards to be sure! Never lost an eye but sure welted the forearm a couple times!

Hot- 18 days of 90+. Set to be a new record. DQ= Hot Fudge Brownie Delight!!

[hockeysew]

Originally posted by hagar
Can of sardines, make small hole in it, sit in sun for 3 days. Open it up wearing biohazard gear, because you now have botulism, one of the most potent posions known to man. Leave where cat, and only cat, can find it. Dispose properly...

Or you end up with a cat with a helluva case of Botox!
Big Pu$$y Lips!

[renaissance_warrior]

What if a Shar Pei dog ate it? Would the wrinkles go away and make it look like Rosie O' Donnell?

[tracyballard]

yes

[RRotz]

Originally posted by ggiilliiee
rrotz ...i stand corrected ...those are 20 mm ......not 22 .....ya those cats .....since i got adopted by 2 of them ....(buddys will tell ya im a magnet for stray dogs and stray women ...)..hehe ...dang kittys have a fairly complx social order .....bonus is there isnt a vole rat mouse for 1/4 mile .....ebola cometh from rat crap ....i say kill zem ...kill zem all .....the rodentia that is ............i kinda like watchng them on the hunt or slinkin ....verry cool critters .....but then again ...if its a mean mutha and a danger to the kids ..ect ........drop the frikin thing and dont let anyone see ya do it .....

they do come in .22 also, harder hitting. put a can on it and an aimpoint and it'd be the ultimate rodent hunter.

[tracyballard]

Originally posted by ggiilliiee
i stand corrected ...those are 20 mm ......not 22

hmmm, where can I get me one of these 20mm air guns? how do the ballistics compare to a vulcan 20mm?

[BlueDuck]

Thanks for all the replies. I had not given much thought to trapping the critters. I'll keep my eyes peeled for a large have a harp trap. I use to trap gophers when I was growing up with a small have a hart trap. I did not know there was such a large air gun market....there are more air guns that regular guns it seems. Thanks again for the feed back.
BlueDuck

[ftierson]

Originally posted by RRotz
they do come in .22 also, harder hitting. put a can on it and an aimpoint and it'd be the ultimate rodent hunter.

'Harder hitting' and 'more powerful' are very relative terms when it comes to most small caliber air rifles...

The difference between almost no 'power' and slightly less than almost no 'power' becomes somewhat irrelevant...

Often, the difference between a killing shot and a wounding shot revolves around penetration and little else.

In terms of penetration, the 4.5mm (.177) pellet gun has it all over most of the 5mm (.20) and 5.5mm (.22) guns. The greater velocity and smaller frontal area both contribute to better kills on small game animals.

Also, in terms of accuracy, air guns can be very temperamental about what kinds of pellets they shoot most accurately. The RWS Model 38 (and the Gamo Hunter 440) that I have will throw the RWS Super Point (pointed) pellets into a ragged pattern of inches at 50 feet. However, the same rifle will cut a ragged hole with RWS Meisterkugeln (diablo type target) or inexpensive Geco economy diablo pellets.

Generally speaking, most air rifles will shoot diablo target pellets better than most other types.

All of my pellet rifles and pistols, except for the Sheridan Blue Streak in 5mm, are 4.5mm guns...

If you have accuracy problems with any pellet rifle, try some good pellets before you give up on the rifle. That includes especially RWS, H&N and Beeman pellets...

Forrest

[ftierson]

Originally posted by tracyballard
hmmm, where can I get me one of these 20mm air guns? how do the ballistics compare to a vulcan 20mm?

I'm not sure that I want to even think about shooting a 20mm air gun. Can you imagine what the piston spring would look like...?

Forrest

[Sig220]

Hmm, for problem pests I use a Marlin 39A with CB caps. Don't over penetrate, but you have to watch the drop at any real distance. Took out 2 armadillos last weekend.....one in the front yard and one in the back yard.

Back in my younger years, shot the furry things as well when they raised hell around the house....one to the head is sufficient and there is no exit wound.....really no nothing....no running......no squalling.......just a drop to the ground. YMMV. As the double letter man said, be wary of the cruelty to animal people........they seem to pop up more and more each year.

[StarPD]

Sheridan.

[tracyballard]

sheridan's about the finest american made air rifle there is, but it's still only as powerful as a Daisy 880, maybe a little less. Sure, it has a nice wood stock, and it's a lot more accurate if you want that...

[RT]

just get a paintball gun, and mark the cats. see how many you can mark, then when when you see a cat with orange marks walking around you will laff your butt off. the cat will still be alive but pissed off that his fur is orange. and just think of the other people who will get a kick out of the painted cat's. and for the have a hart trap i think that the animal control will loan you a few for a day or to. you have to pick it up and return it. JM2c~Richard -Good luck. keep 1 or 2 ferral cats to keep down the rat pop.

[GOVT1911]

Harbor freight had some live traps for around $20 a couple weeks ago