lethal pellets for air rifle

[Steve Bakken]

OK, I've decided to declare war on the rabbits and squirrels that destroy everything that grows in my backyard every year. While I'd love to slide my 12 gauge out the window and take care of business, not only is it illegal in a residential area, but also dangerous. So, I'm afraid I'll have to resort to the old air rifle. My question is, does anyone have any suggestions on what type of pellet to use. I don't want a bunch of injured bunnys hopping around the neighborhood. It's a mid-level rifle that shoots about 750 fps. With so many different pellet options like gold vs lead and hollow point vs pointed vs ballistic tip, I want to get one that will work with my barrel speed and give a clean kill at about 30 yards. Anyone have any experience or suggestions?

[irvingdog]

I live trap them, then shoot them in the noggin with any type of pellet that goes down the barrel of my gun. Live traps work when you can't.

Just an oxymoron is all......

[huntmup]

I use the Predator Polymag .177 cal. it is a polymer tip pellet. They are the ticket. When I plant them in the noggin of a raccoon at 50 yards I have to get the shovel out .

Go to predatorpellets or you can get them at Gander.

Dan

[Eric Wettschreck]

I use the same ones huntmup uses. Yup, pretty effective on stray cats, raccoons, bunnies, and a variety of other critters.

[jigging-matt]

I found that the basic pellet works well with a well placed shot. I have an air rifle that fires about 800fps, the pellets that came with it work great. Never had any luck with live traps. Just a little side thought. Most cities it is illegal to shoot air rifles in city limits also.

[Scott K]

SHHHH! If you dont tell anyone, no one will know !

[irvingdog]

To get live traps to work, you've got to think like a rabbit

Seriously, you've got to get them out today. Right now. In fact, yesterday was better. The less prevalent the food sources, the better your odds. For bait, I've found peaches dynomite! I put mine into and around cover. I make them feel safe and comfortable for the bunnies.....

Then I kill them.

Happy easter!

<Think I'm cruel? You should see what they did to my wifes crabapple tree. Stripped off 2 ft of bark, all the way around the tree>

[BLACKJACK]

For cats and coons, bait your live trap with anything fishy - fish carcasses, tuna, etc. Fish carcasses work better later in the summer, everytime it rains it freshens them up, and the gophers swipe the tuna, but for right now, smelly tuna is king.

This reminds me, I need to set my trap, the coons will be hungry!!! I'd like to feed them some lead!

[huntingmaxima]

Attach part of a corn cob to the triger on 110 conibear. It is deadly on the sqirrels. First you might have to chum them.

[icehousebob]

One of my sons has an RWS .177 and another one has an RWS .22 cal. target air guns. They experimented with different pellets to check accuracy and for one, the utility pellets were the most accurate. For the other, the target ones were better. Both make clean kills on varmints. For squirrels, one of them set a backstop on a tree stump and had food in front of it. It was a 10 yard shot from his bedroom window, and he rid the neighborhood of an amazing number of squirrels.

Just find which pellet gives the best accuracy.

[N7709K]

Out of my Gamo it really doesn't matter what i feed it. Right now I have some crosman hunting ones. I bought a cheap red dot; i got 8 squirrels and 1 rabbit with it this past season.

[huntmup]

I have the Beeman S1 1000 fps with a 3-9x32 Simmons. Very acurate with all .177 cal. pellets. I have found the Predator Polymag have the best penetration on raccoons at 50 yards. Got #3 last night .

[Dave S]

My kids have a Gamo that shoots 600 fps and my dad has a Beeman that shoots 1000fps. Booth are .177 cal., are equipped with BSA red dot scopes, and shoot the RWS Superpoint Extra pellets very well.

These pellets are in the Blue/Black/Silver tin. I've found mine at Cabelas, but the last time I was there, all of the tins were smashed or damaged somehow.

[huntmup]

Well I just took out #4 on the raccoon count with a nice 50 yard shot . Now a hope the yotes come through tonight and clean up my mess or the place will be loaded with crows tomorrow .

[huntmup]

#5 down.

[MOBY RICHARD*]

Bringing this one forward for another thread...

[MNmikew]

I have found in my Crossman 1000 fps that sometimes the pointed pellets zip right through sometimes. The flatnose pellets seem to have more knock down power in higher fps rifles.

Anyone use the PBA ammo for varmits?

[Neighbor_guy]

May sound bad, but I too have a live trap option for you that has no bang involed. I learned it from a traper who traps "nusince" animals. 35 gallon garbage can about 3/4 full of water. Just dump the trap and the critter in the barrel and wait 5 - 10 min. No blood, no bang, no one the wisser.

Works good for skungs too, just toss a blanket or a towel over the trap and in the bucket it goes, no spray.

[sparcebag]

Only difference I found in pellets 177s is accuracy,for my bunnies,coons & pests I just get a heaviest weight pellet,for accuracy the dome head and it also puts down coons if hit in vitales