An air rifle for ground squirrels on my property?

[Skedaddle Shooter]

Hey fellas,

My wife has adopted a couple stray kittens. One from the wood pile and another from the pound to keep him company. So, I’m not allowed poison the ground squirrels that destroy my yard and pasture. I want to get an air rifle that I could shoot them out to about 35 to 50 yards if that realistic?I’ve looked on line and I can spend between $100 and $1,000 on an air rifle. What’s best for my use?
Thanks,
Joe

 

[snert]

@MikeT49

 

[snert]

See the Main Page, under the thread "Precision Air Rifles" page 12....

 

[tmwinds]

You don’t need an air rifle. Get more cats. My wife adopts every stray cat that comes around. I don’t have anything left except cats.

 

[Skedaddle Shooter]

You don’t need an air rifle. Get more cats. My wife adopts every stray cat that comes around. I don’t have anything left except cats.

I think I’m on that same path. Unfortunately my wife doesn’t let them outside once she gets them. The one she got from the wood pile had three siblings and a mom and dad, but the hawks and coyotes got them, so she keeps hers inside. If the squirrels get any thicker they’ll be inside before long and the boys can get after them

 

[Adam in WI]

50 yards is a chip shot for a good .22 air rifle. I've killed pigeons out to 70 with mine. Head shots on rabbits out to 40 yards I find myself having to slow down and actually aim because I sometimes take those "automatic" shots for granted. Mine is a Turkish built bullpup by Hatsan. It was ~$550 iirc. My rimfires really don't get used anymore.

 

[tmwinds]

I think I’m on that same path. Unfortunately my wife doesn’t let them outside once she gets them. The one she got from the wood pile had three siblings and a mom and dad, but the hawks and coyotes got them, so she keeps hers inside. If the squirrels get any thicker they’ll be inside before long and the boys can get after them

Sounds like we’re married to the same wife..

 

[Webster]

Hey fellas,

My wife has adopted a couple stray kittens. One from the wood pile and another from the pound to keep him company. So, I’m not allowed poison the ground squirrels that destroy my yard and pasture. I want to get an air rifle that I could shoot them out to about 35 to 50 yards if that realistic?I’ve looked on line and I can spend between $100 and $1,000 on an air rifle. What’s best for my use?
Thanks,
Joe

I have shot CB caps in my 22 cal. They are around 800 fps. Don't know about accuracy. Never shot at a target. I would try them to see if they could replace an air gun. It’s been a while I don't remember them as real quiet.

 

[JMayo]

I got a 100.00 one. Break barrel. It's not accurate enough for me. I can't guarantee a head shot & i don't want to just wound them. Shooting a nose off bothers me. So go better than that . Also a scope that doesn't break is a pain for it

 

[7315br]

I have two...an FX .25 caliber Wildcat and a Notos .22 caliber. Both are excellent for what I do with them. I've literally killed thousands of Ground Squirrels (Sage Rats) with the FX Wildcat to over a 100 yds for years. It is deadly out to 65 yds! I have over 7,000 pellets through the FX and never had a problem with it. The Notos...not so much lol! Just got it fixed with a set of new o-rings. The Notos for me is a 25-35 yd air rifle. Both are PCP's and require a supply of air, but once you work through that, they are cheap to shoot.

Both are extremely accurate.

2nd picture is a Ground Squirrel (head shot) at 107 yds with the FX Wildcat.

My suggestion would be to start with the Notos .22. They are a bargin price and are really accurate.

Best of luck on your decision.

 

[drags]

What about a box trap?
Drags

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

If I could afford it (500$) the Barra 250z 25cal for the longer shots(50 yds+). 200$ for a electric pump.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

I love PCP air rifles. So quiet and accurate with excellent lightweight triggers and super easy cocking mechanism. Charging them is the only issue, but its not bad if you invest in an electric HP air pump. I run sub-sonic speeds so I can get a lot of shots on a full tank of air. I will NEVER go back to a pump or springer air rifle

100 yards is also easily doable with a good 22 cal or bigger air rifle. Its not even really a challenge to shoot good groups at 50 yards. Heres some targets of 5 round groups i shot with my Air Venturi at 53 yards.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND the H&N Barracuda Match pellets! So accurate and consistent

 

[Iowa Fox]

My grandson fiddled with air rifles and we were never happy with any of them way to much noise from most. Good ones are expensive. Pests are a problem no matter where you live these days so I use CCI Quiets and a Dead Air Mask. I bait them to a safe backstop and take them out of the house window 20-25 yards.

 

[Evlshnngns]

I'm looking at the Crosman 362, multi pump 22cal. Biggest downfall is you have to buy a 43$ chingus to get a scope on it.

Wish they still made quality wood stocked Benjamin multi pumps.

 

[snert]

I just shot this series just for giggles, not real careful effort at 25 yards, just to test air "drop off" on a series. At 20 younds I saw a slight change so I refilled.

This is a MikeT49 build disco 22.
"Shoots inside a dime all day long"!!!

The "misses" are all me

 

[243Lapua]

I use my Feinwerkbau 300 for flying rats. Silent and deadly with a scope.

 

[snert]

SELLING Thread 'Air Arms EV-2 .177 Position rifle & Feinwerkbau 300S'

Sep 4, 2025

Selling my Air Arms EV-2 .177 PNC Position rifle. The rifle is in pristine condition and complete with manual, etc. I used it some for indoor BR matches a few years ago. shoots great. $995. plus shipping of your choice about half what I paid for it.

Feinwerkbau is in great condition works rebuilt before I bought it. Front sight only. $550.

• Pete Wass
• Replies: 0
• Forum: Guns, Actions, Stocks, & Barrels

300S for sale...$550

 

[Fyrchief]

Take a look at the AirArms TX200. Mine in .22 caliber is extremely accurate out to 75 yds for small targets and is plenty accurate for ground squirrels out to 100 yds.

 

[beak]

I have a German 17.cal. with scope that iwould sell RSVP if u are interested. sldimon@roadrunner.com. thank Steve