Best .22 air gun for hunting small/medium game?
Given that you have raccoons on the list of animals you're planning on hunting and given your price-range, I think you're probably on the right track with something like the .22 Walther Falcon Hunter since it puts out about 26 ft-lbs of muzzle energy and should deliver ample impact energy for raccoons provided you limit yourself to head-shots at close range. Another good option would be a .22 Benjamin Trail NP XL since it puts out about 24 ft-lbs of muzzle energy. Both guns are a bit hold sensitive, but proper use of the artillery hold will still allow good accuracy. And since your price range excludes a PCP airgun, they are the most powerful airguns in your price range. For the smaller animals like rabbit and squirrel, either of the guns mentioned would have plenty of power. A few words of caution, before you shoot you need to check the hunting regulations to make sure you can legally take rabbit, squirrel, raccoon, etc... with an air-rifle now. Generally these are considered game animals and have seasons in the Autumn and Winter. However if you contact your state's game management agency you may be able to get depredation permits if the animals are causing damage to your gardens. Additionally some states (like Pennsylvania) prohibit the use of air-rifles for hunting animals. Finally before you shoot, you need to make sure you can legally shoot where your garden is. Many cities/towns/villages have ordinances which make it illegal to shoot a gun (including airguns) inside their boundaries. So before you shoot you should check with your local police department and make sure you can legally shoot an airgun where your garden is.
What is best for pellet gun small game hunting, 22. or 177.? (at 495 fps)?
Partridge are Game birds it's illegal to hunt them with an air weapon. You really need a 20 Guage shotgun. It will deal with the squirrels as well. EDIT. I'm in the UK. Here partridges (and pheasant) are deliberatly bred by rich landowners for the amusement of their rich friends at shooting parties. Unless you have an invite you can't shoot them. Even with an invite it's shotguns only. Ian M
For hunting medium-sized game (100 to 200 lbs) would you prefer a Nitro piston Air rifle or a PNP air rifle, .177, .22, or .25 caliber, and why?
The MOD 125 Combo Vortexin .25/.22 caliber will take up to hundred pound hogs with head shots. Any more than that you need pcp and a pump.For a cheap air pump you can find this one on Amazon for about $380 delivered.Check your state laws on airgun caliber sizes. Most “caliber” laws won’t allow you to use even .25 caliber for deer.
Guns and Firearms: How dangerous are modern air rifles?
It depends on the projectile and pressure. Most modern airguns are small-caliber and moderate velocity, similar in performance to a .22 Long Rifle in power- a 5.5mm, 3gr conical lead bullet travelling approximately 400m/sec. Lethal, potentially, but not tremendously damaging without hitting something vital.However, there are larger caliber airguns that fire heavier projectiles. The famous Austrian Windbusche repeater was 13mm, or .51 caliber. Modern hunting-type airguns are available in a plethora of calibers, and while not as popular as cartridge firearms, still quite viable as hunting rifles under appropriate circumstances- they were extremely popular at the turn of the century for poachers due to a relatively quiet discharge, and are frequently used for pest and small game hunting worldwide, and models in larger calibers can be used to take deer and boar quite effectively.However, mechanically, the pneumatic rifle holds two distinct disadvantages to a cartridge firearm- they're relatively limited in terms of power due to the speed and pressure at which compressed gas can be discharged, and they're mechanically complex compared to a cartridge firearm, with more wear-prone components such as seals and valves.Basically, the advent of cartridge firearms using smokeless powder simply evolved the platform to be more robust and powerful than the airgun by a wide enough margin there's been little interest in them since.
Can you hunt with the Air-Ordinance SMG 22 automatic air rifle? If so, whats the best pellet...?
>Can you hunt with the Air-Ordinance SMG 22 automatic air rifle To hunt with an airgun you will need a California Hunting License and you will have to hunt during the open season. You will also need an upland game bird stamp to take any legal upland game bird quarry that the regulations show you can hunt with an air gun. Here are the game animals and upland game birds that you can legally take with an air gun during their respective seasons per CCR, Title 14, section 257:Wild TurkeyDoves (Eurasian Collared, Chinese Spotted and Ringed Turtle)Quail (California, Desert and Mountain)Grouse (Sooty, Ruffed and Sage)Ptarmigan (White-Tailed)ChukarPheasantsTree Squirrels Jack RabbitsRabbits (Cottontails, Brush and Pigmy). NOTE if the animal isn't listed as a game animal it is illegal to kill this means no shooting just any birds you see some states allow certain invasive species to be culled but the rules vary with state. In addition you need the written permission of the land owner to hunt on their property this is important discharging a gun (even an airgun) without express written permission is a felony in many states. There may be local public lands that are open to hunting but make sure don't assume it is legal some public lands require their own permits.
Hunting license to hunt rabbits and squirrels with air rifle?
ok so here's the deal, i just bought an air rifle, mainly for the summer to shoot at beavers when they start splashing and crap when im fishing along the river to hopefully chase them away while im there. but im wondering if i would need a license to hunt rabbits or squirrels. i live in iowa just so everyone knows
Can a felon own an air rifle strong enough to kill a deer?
First and foremost there has been some inaccurate information. I know a lot of airgun hunters. They do not use co2 or nitrogen like a paintball gun. They are pcp (pre-charged pneumatic) airguns. You also do not need a big caliber. For example the Benjamin bulldog is in 357. A guy I know convicted of a felony 40 years ago hunts with one and frequently drops 300 pound deer at 70 yards with the bulldog. You'll be looking at about 900 fps and almost 200fpe average so shot placement is critical. He dropped 1000 dollars. Some states have requirements on feet per second though.Now as for legality the only state that bans airgun hunting in ANY form is new Hampshire. I know California, Maryland, Michigan, Tennessee, and Virginia allow airgun hunting for Turkey. Where as Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Washington State allow big game hunting to some degree or another. Any where else I have no information on laws so you'll have to contact your state's department of wildlife conservation and ask.Do not take my answer as gospel. Always consult your local conservation agency. If they dont know they will find out and make a determination.
Can a pellet gun kill a human?
Yes.Addict who killed boy, 2, with air gun jailed for lifeUPDATED: Teen Dead After Air Rifle IncidentBoy, 10, killed with father's air gun while playing Cowboys and Indians with his friendsBoy, 14, dies after air rifle shootingCoroner: Edmonds man killed by air rifle shot to the chestSchoolboy, 13, accidentally killed when homemade air rifle fired into his neckSheffield air rifle shooting victim dies - BBC NewsGirl, 10, kills mom with air rifle | IOL NewsMan killed with air rifleTeenager killed in air rifle accident - BelfastTelegraph.co.ukI think you should read Air Rifle Safety in England and Wales too.
.22LR pellet rifle for $250 or less for squirrel hunting?
.22 cal Benjamin Sheridan 392 Bolt Action Pump Air Rifle, I have it and love it. very accurate, pretty good power and will stop a squirrel or rabbit dead in it's fuzzy little tracks. It only costs about $130 too, helluva deal in my opinion. by the way .22LR is a rifle cartridge, and the bullets for a .22LR round have a slightly bigger diameter and will not fit in a .22 cal pellet gun.