Air Rifle? (Gamo Pro Fusion)

[Popeye]

We been having a raccoon coming around the neighborhood lately. Now trying to shoot it with one of my 22's is totally out of the question. That will more than likely get me jail time the minute someone hears a 22 going off. However I have been thinking of buying one of these to take care of the critter because the SOB has no fear, and I'm afraid it and my dog are going to go at it one morning as the dog won't back off either. As typical that little 15 lb Cairn Terrier knows no fear of other animals. That and I don't know if the raccoon is healthy. Thought a air rifle might be fun to own anyway with ammo being so limited at the time. What's your thoughts.??

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2013/04/01/gamo-whisper-fusion-pro-airgun-review/

[chrish]

Definitely more of an option w/ regard to the noise.

But be sure that even a pellet gun is legal at your place. Many places have regulations on those as well, particularly if they are powerful enough to rival a .22 rifle. Most of the higher end air rifles pump a 22 or 177 round downrange at similar velocities to slow 22lr rounds. A nosy or pissy neighbor could cause you as much trouble w/ one of those as a regular firearm if they were next door and happened to hear it.

I'd been thinking about a good air rifle for the range due to ammo prices, but after looking at how much a 'good' air rifle costs...nope. Too expensive.

[jocko]

think about it, most air rifles have higher velocities that allor any of bawanna's 45's,probably truth be known they will penetrate further even. Just sayin

[TucsonMTB]

You might be happier with the http://www.umarexusa.com/CatalogImages/47-13-ProductLogo.jpg German made RWS Model 34 "Diana" (http://www.airgunwarehouseinc.com/py-1690-3367.html).

http://www.umarexusa.com/CatalogImages/43-34-ZoomImage_LeftSide_large.jpg

I know I am very pleased with my .22 caliber version. The heavier pellet from this very accurate, robust rifle is deadly with rabbit sized pests, which means it should be more effective than what you are considering for use on a raccoon.

Mine is more than 30 years old and has been trouble free. The relatively inexpensive, 4x32 scope that came on mine is intended for spring air rifles with their weird recoil forces and does not drift from year to year. If you can find a package with the scope, go for it. You will be very happy.

Oh, and maybe it's the spring technology, but this thing is very quiet too.

The link at the top of this message is to an online supplier offering this rifle and scope for $320 with free shipping. Not sure how that compares to the Gamo but RWS provides a lifetime warranty, that I have never needed. :D

Best of luck!

[deadeye]

I have a Daisey 1000fps air rifle that will definitely take out a raccoon or any other small game and a Gamo pistol that will too at a close range with a hunting pellet. With the trouble finding ammo anymore I do a lot of my practicing with them. My area doesn't consider an air rifle a "firearm" so I shoot in my back yard all the time. Chrish is right about checking with "the Man" first though.

[Ikeo74]

Here is the best solution. For $29 you can buy a live trap at the hardware store. Bait it up at night and leave it where the raccoon normally shows up.

When you catch him, which won't take more than a couple nights, go out as soon as he is in the trap. Shoot him in the head from about 2" while he is in the trap with a low vel 22, or a pellet gun. Aim straight down from above. The ground will act like a noise surpressor and the noise will be muted. 1 shot will do it. Let him stay in the trap for at least 1 hour to make sure he is dead. Dispose of him somewhere in the woods by 12 hours. Bait the trap the next night because where there is 1 there is probably 6 more.
Note, it you leave a live one in a live trap past daylight he will destroy the trap and climb out. They are very strong. As an alternate plan you cam take him live in the trap at least 10 miles and release him. Stand clear of the trap when you let him out and face the trap away from your body.
Some States don't allow release of a live raccoon for worry of rabies.
You also can transport the raccoon in the live trap to a place where you can shoot your 22 and shoot it there and dispose of it there.

[Captain Crunch]

Raccoons have very thick foreheads/skulls. I shot one at about 5 yards with a very powerful 22 air rifle, twice in the forehead. It recovered from the stun and climbed out of the tree and waddled away.
I hear that there is a very small spot behind the ear that is vulnerable bit you need a side shot and very good placement.
I now shot a Beeman r9, very accurate, 10 yard groups under 3/16" easy. My one experience with gamo, 10 years ago produced 10 yard groups of 1" or more, very bad.

Unless you really want to do the air gun thing (they are fun, get a quality one, check out straightshooters) I second the live trap idea. I have never had one tear up my trap.

[Dino]

Peanut butter and Decon... problem solved. Had one that got into my garbage cans every night. Scattered trash all over the yard. Melted some peanut butter, poured it over some Decon, set it next to the trash can. No more trash all over my yard. Problem solved.

[MW surveyor]

Peanut butter and Decon... problem solved. Had one that got into my garbage cans every night. Scattered trash all over the yard. Melted some peanut butter, poured it over some Decon, set it next to the trash can. No more trash all over my yard. Problem solved.

Gee thanks. So you're the one that poisoned that raccoon that died under my shed. Couldn't get the dam thing out and had to live with the smell for almost two months!

Shoot, Shovel, Shhhhhhhhh!

[Ikeo74]

You want real smell? I know a guy that had a skunk under his front porch. He hooked a tube to the exhuast of his car and gassed it. But not before the skunk released his load 6 foot down under next to the foundation. The smell traveled through the concrete into the family room in the basement forever. (almost)

[chrish]

Shoot, Shovel, Shhhhhhhhh!

Hands down, this wins for my laugh of the day on the internet. Hysterical sequence of words.

[Popeye]

Thanks for the input. The Gamo rifle I was talking about I can get for $229 at the local GS. Speaking of the raccoon. Funny thing happened, the wife was coming home from the store and saw a dead raccoon on the side of the road down at the corner that had been apparently run over. Maybe my raccoon problems are over with.:D I still might buy the rifle anyway though.
The noise is what I was concerned about more than anything. That's why I was considering the whisper pro, there supposed to be quite a bit quieter than the average pellet rifle, and I already have a shovel. ;)

[Captain Crunch]

My Beeman makes no noise to speak of. If you can , check out the accuracy of the gamo before you buy to make sure it what you ate expecting.

[eireguy]

Great website with tons of info http://www.pyramydair.com/

[OldLincoln]

Heck, if you're gonna get a killer air riffle you gotta love the Quackenbush .50 big game air rifle (http://www.quackenbushairguns.com/bandit_1.html).

http://www.quackenbushairguns.com/photos/bandit_profile.jpg


http://www.quackenbushairguns.com/steph_bison.jpg

Now that's one big racoon!!!

[JimBianchi]

http://www.airgunsdaily.com/

Todays (4/26/13) deal is a .22 breakbarrel.

Uses the newest nitro piston and comes with a decent scope. It will put a raccoon down with a headshot out to 30 or so yards. And the nitro piston is very quiet as compared to a spring powered gun of the same power level.

$119 is a good deal.

[mr surveyor]

some day, in the not too distant future, y'all will find that grilled **** is on of the delicacies of nature :)

edit to add: I can't believe that I have to type out raccoon ... un frickinn believable

[Popeye]

With all these links. I think I need to research this a little more before I buy and air rifle. Thanks guys.

[K9_Two_Tone]

If you are interested in air rifles, check out the Yellow Forum. A number of members have hunted raccoons. Some are more accurate than 22 LR's, and can easily place 5 shots into a single hole. The key to airguns is energy, not necessarily velocity.

Airgun makers often target people with firearm backgrounds, thus manufacturers advertise velocity (feet per second). This is only partially correct. If a company advertises an airgun that shoots at 1200 fps, run away - fast. One, the claim is probably not true, and if it is true that velocity was only achieved with very light useless pellets. The design and shape of pellets is like a badmitton shuttlecock. As pellets near the sound barrier, they become very inaccurate. If they break the sound barrier (both on the way through and on the way back down), the pellets tumble and spray all over the place. The sweet spot is usually up to about 90% of the sound barrier. How does one get there? If one has a very powerful airgun, you shoot heavier pellets to reduce the velocity into the sweet spot. Airguns are even more fussy than firearms about ammunition, so experiment with different brands and weights of pellets.

If you are concerned about noise, some airguns have built in shrouds that muffle an air rifle's report to what some Yellow Forum members describe as "mouse fart quiet". Think of a suppressor that's built into and surrounding the barrel.

From the front, raccoons have a hard slope-shaped skull, so the successful airgun hunters will trace an imaginary line from the ear to the eye and aim for that.

Finally airguns are really fun because they are so accurate, and there is NO artificial shortage of ammunition!!!

Good luck.

[mr surveyor]

what would be a good air gun to shoot both pellets and plain BB's? I usually have 3-4 cans of BB's on hand.

[K9_Two_Tone]

Mr. Surveyor - A precision airgun should never have steel bb's shot through them. Compared to firearm rifling, airgun rifling is much more delicate. Steel bb's would damage the rifling beyond repair.

If you have an opportunity to try an upper level rifle, you will find that with practice, 5 shot, 50 yard groups smaller than .25 ctc are not difficult. (Also assuming no wind!!!) Great fun and no cleaning required when you are finished for the day.

[mr surveyor]

I can appreciate the "precision" factor .... if target/competition is your forte'

I want full fledged utility/versatility.

I understand the issue with "steel" BB's, but what about the copper plated BB's?

Just something that can pop a pigeon off a power line is all I'm looking for ;)

[K9_Two_Tone]

Mr. Surveyor - I don't think I can help. I suspect today's airgun rifles are much different than when you and I were kids. Steel and copper bb's use smooth bore barrels and most adult airguns use rifled barrels. For such air rifles, the even the bb's are lead and are sometimes called "Rounds".

I have never competed, but there is something appealing about accurate air rifles and firearms that make them irresistible. It's fun to challenge one's self to see how small your groups can be. My smallest have been 5-shot 25 yard groups that are not much bigger than a single pellet hole. Those have been rare, but sure are fun when it happens.

FYI - I use either Leupold 6.5-20X40 or Bushnell Elite 4200 6-24X40 scopes so I can see the holes appearing on 50 yard targets. I think other air rifle enthusiasts may use similar setups. If we were hunting squirrels, rats, pigeons, starlings or raccoons, the pests would be in serious trouble!!!

[Da Burger]

Finally a topic I have some experience in. I own 6 different air guns all long guns and have shot tree rats at 100 yrds and armadillos at 50. co2 is about useless for anything but paper, springers are good but take practise because of the recoil being forward and reverse, gas pistons are better than springers but more expensive, by far pcp ( precharged pneumatic ) is the better gun , and comes in semi auto, but more expensive and more accesories needed ( pump or tank and hose ). IMO a .22 or .25 pcp would be best for any varmit and will take any scope available. My advise is not to get into the hype with alloy pellets but stay with lead and heavy ( subsonic). Good luck on your choice and here is a link to an airgun forum.
http://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php

[Robert777]

I have a RWS model 48 and it is awesome. Incredible accuracy and power, my only worry is when I'm shooting it in my small subdivision someone may not know what it is, since it looks like a high-powered rifle with the 3-9x40 hawke airmax scope on it.:Amflag2:

[wyntrout]

An 800 fps .22 pellet gun would be better that a "hyper" .177 with the plastic pellets. All of those hyper-inflated velocities are only attainable with the PBA plastic pellets and highly suspect for small animal kills... especially something like a raccoon. Shot placement is critical for a quick kill on something bigger than a rat. Some wounded animals are VERY LOUD and sound like wounded children screaming... not for the squeamish!

Wynn:)

[chrish]

Da Burger,

So what's a good reasonably priced PCP semi auto gun?

I've run across a few in my research, but dude, I'm not paying 1500 or more for an air gun. If one were into it, its probably worth it, but I wouldn't mind having something that I could go to the range with to target shoot, out to 75-100 yards. Given the shortage of 22lr, what I've currently got stocked I'm gonna probably sit on until this frenzy is over. So a decent air rifle has become an interesting idea.

[JimBianchi]

IMO the best repeater for the money the Benjamin Marauder. It is a bolt action, semi-auto are out there and either grossly under powered or grossly over priced.

It is VERY quiet, very powerful, and less than $500.

Add a hand pump for $200 or so and your are golden.

I personally can't operate a hand pump for long, bad shoulder, so it would have to be a SCUBA tank for me.

[mr surveyor]

Mr. Surveyor - I don't think I can help. I suspect today's airgun rifles are much different than when you and I were kids. Steel and copper bb's use smooth bore barrels and most adult airguns use rifled barrels. For such air rifles, the even the bb's are lead and are sometimes called "Rounds".

I have never competed, but there is something appealing about accurate air rifles and firearms that make them irresistible. It's fun to challenge one's self to see how small your groups can be. My smallest have been 5-shot 25 yard groups that are not much bigger than a single pellet hole. Those have been rare, but sure are fun when it happens.

FYI - I use either Leupold 6.5-20X40 or Bushnell Elite 4200 6-24X40 scopes so I can see the holes appearing on 50 yard targets. I think other air rifle enthusiasts may use similar setups. If we were hunting squirrels, rats, pigeons, starlings or raccoons, the pests would be in serious trouble!!!

Thanks. That's the information I was looking for.

Now, how about cost and availability of pellets (per thousand costs)? I figure if I'm going strictly pellets, it's going to be .22 pellets.

I have seriously been considering an airgun for certain "needs" (should they arise).

surv

[mr surveyor]

no offense intended towards our normal chatter here at KT, but this has been the most interesting subject I've followed here in a long time.

I hope you guys in the know will keep talking :)

[chrish]

no offense intended towards our normal chatter here at KT, but this has been the most interesting subject I've followed here in a long time.

I hope you guys in the know will keep talking :)

I agree! I'm following this one as well. I've looked at the higher end PCP rifles that Da Burger mentioned, but boy are they pricey. Have not found a single one under $1500. So that'll end that discussion pretty fast for me. I'll be back looking at CO2, spring, pump, etc.

I'm gonna check out the Benjamin Marauder that JimBianchi mentioned. I've run across that one before, i.e. seen it in the searches lately. But I've never looked for reviews/vids. That's still a bit more than I thought this little venture would cost, but $500 is way better than $1500.

Really out of my element here, so the more info the better.

[Popeye]

no offense intended towards our normal chatter here at KT, but this has been the most interesting subject I've followed here in a long time.

I hope you guys in the know will keep talking :)

Have to agree mr Surveyor. I never in my wildest imagination would have dreamed this post would have gone as far as it has, and stayed on topic. I had no idea all these things existed in the world of air guns. I was just looking for a air rifle that cost a couple hundred bucks tops. However I have learned that there are some very serious air rifles and air rifle enthusiast.

I went to the GS early yesterday as I heard they were getting some 22lr ammo in. I did manage to score a couple hundred rounds. While I was there I checked out there Air rifles again, but did not buy one at the time. Later on in the day I hit a Walley World to see what they had. I walked out with a Gamo Bone Collector as that seemed to fit in my $200 price range after the tax. Seems like a pretty good entry level air rifle that seems to be pretty well made, and should fit my needs quite well. I did get a chance to sight it in some at about 40' and can pretty much put the PBA platinum pellets that came with the rifle in and area the size of a shirt button from a bench rest,but still need to do some tweeking to the scope and trigger for longer distances. If regular ammo stays scarce or becomes way to expensive to shoot on a regular basis I might look into a more expensive air rifle at a later date.
This is the rifle I bought
http://www.pyramydair.com/s/m/Gamo_Bone_Collector_Bull_Whisper_IGT_Air_Rifle/2706;jsessionid=29FCAAFB567473EAF8C19ACD276664DE.a pp03

[MW surveyor]

Bought a 1377 about a week ago to get some pistol practice in the back yard as I've been working out the house on a steady basis. Already had an older pump Crosman .177 pellet rifle that I mounted a 4 power scope on it.

The pistol and the pellet trap set me back a whole $50.00 (pistol was on clearance at Academy) and that's with 1,500 pellets! With a total of 4 to 5 pumps in the pistol and shooting at 10 yards, those pellets seriously deform to nearly twice their diameter when they hit the steel of the trap.

The rifle is way more accurate and has taken a number of squirrels that had the misfortune of trying to live in my attic! One shot, one kill!

[Popeye]

Might have to check out the 1377 for some back yard plinking.

[Ikeo74]

Might have to check out the 1377 for some back yard plinking.
Popeye, you got a great deal on that Gameo. There are some great features on that one and the price was right. Have fun now.

[wyntrout]

There are some awesome air rifles out there! This isn't a new video... 2-years old, but it was very impressive watching the 430 grain hollow point go clean through a 275-lb hog! There's slow motion video, too, but you can see the round zipping through the pig.

4000 PSI, 860 FPS, and 706 ft-lbs energy! And the other pigs did NOT get disturbed by the shot or their buddy dying!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eUx_oEpyTw

There are probably lots of other videos like that out there. You can search and see what the guns cost... heart stoppers!

One thing I didn't understand was the cammy finish on the metal, but the stock was blindingly shiny!

Wynn:D

[Ikeo74]

There are some awesome air rifles out there! This isn't a new video... 2-years old, but it was very impressive watching the 430 grain hollow point go clean through a 275-lb hog! There's slow motion video, too, but you can see the round zipping through the pig.

4000 PSI, 860 FPS, and 706 ft-lbs energy! And the other pigs did get disturbed by the shot or their buddy dying!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eUx_oEpyTw

There are probably lots of other videos like that out there. You can search and see what the guns cost... heart stoppers!

One thing I didn't understand was the cammy finish on the metal, but the stock was blindingly shiny!

Wynn:D
It looks like that air rifle would take down an elephant! WOW

[K9_Two_Tone]

Here is a bit more information on air rifles:

Some of the finest come from Europe. In Germany, for example, has a long hunting tradition, but after WWII it was difficult for average citizens to own firearms. As a result, firearm manufacturers developed some of the finest and innovative airguns of their day. Think Anschutz, Feinwerkbau, Walther, Weirauch and Steyr (Austrian). England has joined the fray with Air Arms, Theoben, Daystate, etc., and Sweden with FX and other airguns. We cannot forget the US with Benjamin/Sheridan, Air Force, etc.

The most common type are spring pistons. These range from cheap to very exotic both in price and in quality. Most require practice to shoot well because the pellet is still traveling down the barrel as the piston goes forward and immediately snaps rearward. This double snap will quicly destroy the best firearm scope if its internals are not properly braced. Some manufacturers have either used double opposing pistons or allow the barrel to recoil in order to reduce vibration. Designed right, spring pistons are a joy to use and will last forever. Only occasional tune-ups are needed after shooting tens of thousands of rounds.

Gas rams are similar to spring pistons except the compressed spring has been replaced with a gas spring similar to the ones used to hold the rear hatch or trunk lid on your car. When fired, they have a very sharp snap and feel firearm like when using. Since there is no spring compressing and then uncoiling, they are vibration less. But the feeling is deceiving. They are even harder on scopes then spring pistons. Some don't like gas ram firing behavior and that gas rams are much harder to cock (perhaps 30-40 percent?) than an equivalently powered spring piston.

CO2 are not much good for anything except close range target shooting and playing around in the backyard. Compressed CO2 is a liquid that turns to gas. The more you compress CO2 in an attempt to get more power, it turns into liquid negating your efforts.

At one time most of us have either owned a Sheridan or Benjamin pump pellet rifle. These are inexpensive and require a lot of muscle effort for the level of muzzle energy. As you pump one of these up, the effort increases as the number of pumps increase. You are compressing air which generates heat and wastes your pumping efforts. It's a good way to work on your chest and shoulder muscles. Since these release unmuffled compressed air when you pull the trigger, they are quite loud and would have your neighbors calling the police.

This brings us to precharged pneumatics (PCP). They range from reasonable to cardiac-attack expensive. The differences between the bottom and top are similar to owning a ruger 1022 versus an Anschutz Meister Grade 22lr with an Model 54 action. Both will get the job done, but their is a certain pride of ownership that comes with shooting a Feinwerkbau, Steyr or a Whiscombe spring piston (if you can find one).

PCP's use compressed air, often at 3000 psi. Some use higher pressures, some use less. This is normally furnished via a SCUBA tank. Hand pumps exist, but that takes a lot of effort to reach operating pressures. Also, some manufacturers recommend to not using hand pumps. SCUBA air is especially dried. Using hand pumps introduce moisture into rifles and may void any manufacturer's warranties.

PCPs are extremely accurate and shoot well with even poor technique. For that reason, PCP has it's own category and normally is not allowed to compete against spring pistons. There is no vibration because the firing mechanism is simple a valve that allows an air release. There is no heavy piston movement. Many PCPs have built in shrouds that muffle the sound to unbelievably low levels.

That's enough typing for this evening. I hope you get into the world of airguns. I prefer shooting them to firearms. No cleaning, no noise and no need to travel to the range.

[TucsonMTB]

Awesome post, sir! Thank you. :)

[JimBianchi]

CO2 are not much good for anything except close range target shooting and playing around in the backyard. Compressed CO2 is a liquid that turns to gas. The more you compress CO2 in an attempt to get more power, it turns into liquid negating your efforts.

I would disagree with this comment about CO2.

I have half a dozen semi custom and stock CO2 airguns, and for me, 10 months out of the year I can shoot them without issue.

One of my 2250's (most common CO2 ever produced, more mods available than any airgun ever made) produces 18 foot pounds. That's 22cal pellet going 800FPS. I have hit pigeons at 40yrds and go clean through them, if I avoid the wings, those are like armor! But you get the picture, CO2 can work wonders as a small varmint killer.

Only in extreme heat (above 90 or so) and below 40 will CO2 begin to really be affected by temps. I've used them longer than any other airgun and know how they hit and can cold-bore hit a pigeon at 50 yrds most days. (all my airguns are scoped.)

I find now that I have a lower powered springer airgun, an R7, I am enjoying the self contained spring guns again. The big power house springers can be a pain to plink with. Lots of power to cock, hard to shoot really well.

I shoot an airgun of some kind, three times a week, at least. Looking forward to tomorrow. I saw the pigeons getting brave again!

[aray]

I have a very similar problem and deal with it annually. Background:

My wife is a tomato fanatic, so each year we grow several plants in our Earth Boxes on our elevated deck which is a story high in the back of the house off a slider door to our kitchen. Being on an elevated deck keeps the rabbits & deer away, but the racoons simply climb the deck stairs and get into the tomatoes. And even that wouldn't be a problem, but: a) we have a big rabies problem in racoons in our county, and b) when my wife goes out to water the tomatoes in the evenings, the slider door is in-between where the Earth Boxes are and the stairs, i.e. the escape path for the racoons. So if they surprise each other - bad things happen. Consequently I have no choice but to take out the local raccoon family unit each year.

So far, each year the family units have consisted of four raccoons, though I've heard from others that they can range up to about six that travel together. They're territorial animals so once you've eliminated the ones that "own" that area, you'll be good to go for some time, until of course eventually others move in. In my case, I've only had to go through one round of trappings each season.

Our state prohibits live relocation, due to the rabies threat. Plus, studies have shown that relocated animals have a very high mortality rate anyway. (The new ones are dumped into someone else's territory, they have no family structure to draw from, etc.) So we have no choice but to put them down.

I use a high powered Crossman .177 pellet rifle. I got some hunting pellets that have a point to the nose of the pellets. My rifle is pump air, and I fully charge the chamber with the maximum of 10 pumps.

I hate for the animals to suffer so I put them down with one shot. My first year while experimenting I hit them in the heart area, or on the side of the head, etc. That didn't get the job done with one shot, at least not with the tool I had available. Like others, I live in proximity to some other houses so discharging a 22 would be illegal.

But after a bit of experimentation in past years, I now know that if I hit them square on between the eyes, just slightly elevated (no more than one inch) on their forehead from the line that connects their pupils, at a perpendicular angle to the shape of their skull (i.e. straight down into their head not at a glancing angle) that I get one shot, one kill - every time. They go down fast.

I do stand back about 6' because I don't want blood splatter to come back at me (again due to the rabies threat in our area). Some disposable rubber gloves get put on, cage gets taken back into the woods to dump the body, cage gets reset with new bait, wash up time, and I'm set for the next customer. The hotel is open for business again.

I've never caught two raccoons on two consecutive nights. I don't know if that's because their friends are skittish after seeing what happened to the first guy (until their hunger overcomes their fear) or alternately I know some pack animals forage in slightly rotating different areas each night, allowing their food sources to replenish in their absence. Dunno, but the raccoons don't seem to care if the bait is old or stinky, so I just leave it out for days and only clean it out and put fresh bait in if if goes over a week old. Usually within 2-3 weeks I've snagged all four animals anyway and the problem is solved for that year.

[johnh]

Santa brought my son a Gamo Hornet this year. It has proven quite accurate, and has plenty of power for small game. I have a yearly issue with birds nesting over my hot tub. I have a cover, but they make a royal mess of it and anything else under the nest. I tried all the non-lethal fixes I could find, including rubber snakes and blocking them out with fishing line. They actually built a nest on a rubber snake, and then sat in it with their wings resting on the fishing line. So the Gamo has been pressed into action. I typically scare them off so they fly into trees beyond my fence, and drill them at about 50m. Generally one shot center mass with a pellet hits them every time, and they drop like a rock. No mess, no fuss, and the critters in the woods get fed.

[K9_Two_Tone]

FYI. Here is a link to a recent Yellow Forum (an airgun website) on raccoon hunting with airguns. One of the bloggers showed that he used a Beeman R9 spring piston air rifle and .177 pellets. Lots of previous yellow forum posters have successfully used similar setups.


http://www.network54.com/Forum/79537/thread/1367260079/Raccoon+Question

[Popeye]

Pic's or it didn't happen.
I picked these two up the other day.:D
8360

8361

[MW surveyor]

Bottom one looks just like mine! :)

[Popeye]

Bottom one looks just like mine! :)
After reading your post on the 1377 I decided to do a little more research and decided, what the hell it's only money and I haven't been able to buy a lot of ammo lately so why not. I've even set up a little makeshift range inside the house, where I can shoot the pistol from one room into a box in the garage (38ft) that is filled with old denims. All told about 16 layers the way there folded. Of course the wife isn't home when I do this.:D It is fun though and it's cheap, and keeps me in practice for when I shoot the real stuff.

[MW surveyor]

After reading your post on the 1377 I decided to do a little more research and decided, what the hell it's only money and I haven't been able to buy a lot of ammo lately so why not. I've even set up a little makeshift range inside the house, where I can shoot the pistol from one room into a box in the garage (38ft) that is filled with old denims. All told about 16 layers the way there folded. Of course the wife isn't home when I do this.:D It is fun though and it's cheap, and keeps me in practice for when I shoot the real stuff.

I'm not that brave. :eek:
Make sure that you hit the target, cause you'll be explaining how the hole got in the wall.

Wife is home all day except when she goes to the grocery store. I usually do a bit of practice in the morning before 0900 or when I'm getting a bit stressed with the people that don't listen. I have my trap set up on the fence and shoot at a distance of 10 meters (32.8 feet)

I might make a set of wood grips for the 1377 and the fore stock. Either that or add a bit of weight in the grips.

[Popeye]

No problem the box is in the garage backed up by a cinderblock wall. There's a good clear shot all the way from point "A" to point "B". I thought about making a set of grips and a fore stock myself. Pinched the hell out of my finger pumping it up the other day.:eek: I think I could design something a little better than what they have on it now to help prevent that from happening again. Maybe something tapered so it finishes off flush with the trigger guard when it's closed and gives you a little more to grab onto when pumping.:rolleyes: (thinking out loud)

[eireguy]

Grips http://www.rbgrips.net/CROSMAN1377.html
Stock http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001BR1NE8/ref=redir_mdp_mobile
Steel breech http://www.crosman.com/gear/custom/1377SBPK I know the pump forearm from a 760 pumpmaster will fit on the 1377

[Popeye]

Grips http://www.rbgrips.net/CROSMAN1377.html
Stock http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001BR1NE8/ref=redir_mdp_mobile
Steel breech http://www.crosman.com/gear/custom/1377SBPK I know the pump forearm from a 760 pumpmaster will fit on the 1377

WOW Muchograssyass eireguy, That super pumper grip set is exactly what I was thinking about.:D

[aray]

Pic's or it didn't happen.

I don't have a great photo of my Crossman .177 but here is a photo of one of the critters I trapped last year.

Don't be deceived by their cute appearance. They're nasty creatures with sharp fangs and long claws. They'll try and snag you through the cage if you get too close, or in my case rip into my wife if she were to surprise one on our deck with her standing between the raccoon and its escape path.

(Edited to show where I aim to bring them down with one shot. I fire perpendicular to their skull.)

[aray]

And not to be too graphic but here's a good illustration of why that is a good aim point. I just found this pic on the web but it's useful because as you can see there are some natural seams in the bones at that point and the .177 pellet just punctures right on through. In other places the brain is more fully armored and without a higher energy projectile it is more difficult to bring him down. If you have to put the animal down anyway it might as well be fast.

[eireguy]

No problem Popeye.glad I could help you. if you do buy any of those and put them on I would love to see pictures

[espresso]

Boy you never know how something you post can have a domino effect on others.

I read this thread when it was first started and have been researching air rifles for weeks. I never knew there was a whole other world out there of quality air rifles and the more I checked into it I just had to have one.

Thanks Popeye! because I stumbled across this thread I just received a nice little springer to get started on and to shoot in my back yard. Been wanting to get my daughter into shooting more and this little gun is perfect for that.

It's a Xisco XS12 (http://flyingdragonairrifles.org/XISICO_XS12.html) fully tuned by Mike Melick. I've been having more fun shooting this thing in my back yard!

It's easy to cock/shoot and very accurate.

I'll play with the sights for while but I already have a scope on the way.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5333/8755466106_ccd4d52519_c.jpg

[Popeye]

You my friend are quite welcome. I've been doing some backyard plinking myself.:D

[ltxi]

Definitely more of an option w/ regard to the noise.

But be sure that even a pellet gun is legal at your place. Many places have regulations on those as well, particularly if they are powerful enough to rival a .22 rifle. Most of the higher end air rifles pump a 22 or 177 round downrange at similar velocities to slow 22lr rounds. A nosy or pissy neighbor could cause you as much trouble w/ one of those as a regular firearm if they were next door and happened to hear it.

I'd been thinking about a good air rifle for the range due to ammo prices, but after looking at how much a 'good' air rifle costs...nope. Too expensive.


You're kidding, right? A quality, suppressed air gun is not only fun and totally cheap to buy and shoot, but it's ideal close in where discharge of firearms is suburban illegal. Easier to get away with and most usually easier to weasel out of the first time getting caught.

[Popeye]

That Gamo Bone collector and a 1,000+ of assorted pellets was only $200. I'm sure it will take care of any of my needs. At 80Ft it will shot 1" groups with no problem. I'm sure others are quite capable of shooting it much better than I can. At 80 ft the .177 pellet going approx.1,300 through a rifled barrel has no problem going straight on threw a 1/4 "piece of oak plywood like it wasn't even there ,and do it quite accurately.
On a different note I stopped at Wal Mart yesterday and was able to pick up some 22shorts. This is a good thing because I plink them off with my Henry lever action and my old bolt action Marlin, and save the LR's for the 10/22 and 22/45. The guy at the counter said ammo is starting to come in, in varied calibers, but they never know what there going to get in.

[K9_Two_Tone]

I hope your pellet rifle was not actually shooting at 1,300 fps. If so, it would be extremely loud like a 22lr rifle and terribly inaccurate as the pellet would be breaking the sound barrier twice (first as it passes through it and again as the pellet slows). This would cause the pellets to tumble. Because of air turbulence, the goal of hunting air rifles is to not exceed about 90-95% of the sound barrier. Most hunters use heavier pellets rather than the ultra-light ones used for advertising copy. Aerodynamically, air gun pellets have lousy shapes and are generally not designed to shoot well past the sound barrier (about 1,050 fps) at sea level.

Good luck, I hope this information helps - Air rifles are great fun.

[Popeye]

1300 FPS is what Gamo claims using the top quality Platinum pellets . The Lead pellets I'm using in my backyard most of the time I'm sure are much slower but will go through the plywood like it wasn't there. The Bone collector has a sound dampener so to speak on the end of the barrel and is not even as load as the old 10 pump Crossman I have, that I believe shoots about 700fps and is know where near as accurate. The Crossman 1377 pistol is much louder than the Gamo and it's pellets top out at 600fps.
You are correct the 1300 FPS platinum pellets are much louder. I'd say similar to a 22 short. The Gamo Hunter pellets seem to shoot very well out of the Bone collector. The flat nosed rounds are all over the place at that speed, but seem to shoot fairly well out of the lower speed pump pistol and rifle.
Either way even though with all the trees and shrubs to dampen the sound, and my one neighbor being a cool guy and the other being close to deaf, I usually wait till one of the neighbors start up a lawn mower, weed whacker, or leaf blower, etc. before I pop a few rounds off.. :D

[mr surveyor]

I think the Bone Collector is the one on my "must get" list. I'm not into competition target stuff, I just want something that is minute of bird/stray cat accurate and reliable. I can shoot dang near any gun I want behind my house, but I normally "warn" the neighbors on one side, out of courtesy (I can be courteous on occasion). I just want a serviceable pellet gun for those future, unforeseen needs.