school me on air rifles

[Naches Sportsman]

I have been getting interested in buying an air rifle to hunt eurasian collard doves and other small animals with. I've seen a couple in the .177 that are powerful. I have also heard of a german brand with a good one. What do you all have? I probably have a $250 budget on one and don't want to buy a bad one. Advice will be great thanks.

[buglebuster]

Anything gamo 1000fps and up will be a great choice. I have a gamo silver shadow i think its called,its 11 years old and still an awesome shooter. Killed a few raccoons and such with it, does a number on birds clear to 80yds.

[turkeyfeather]

Benjamin air rifles. My kids had one given to them by a local guy who has a couple nationally televised hunting shows. That thing is awesome. Shoots a. 22 pellet at 1000fps and is accurate enough to take a squirrel off a branch at 50 yards. (so I'm told) 

[dmv9]

Ruger Blackhawk, got it on Amazon. It's really good quality. $100!!!

[earlmarne]

get a sheridan/benjamin  blue streak.super nice rifle

[Wanttohuntmore]

Rws in 22 cal.   I have a Spanish made beeman that isn't too bad for the money.

[Sliverslinger]

Tag- Also thinking about getting one.

[Bullkllr]

I bought a cheaper Beman- think it was around 100$. Has the worst trigger I've ever felt on a gun.

[wt]

I would recommend a .22 cal over the .177. You need to really get an excellent shot to stop the critters I've found. I have a ruger black hawk with a leapers scope that shoots way flat. But its in .177. Some times I'm amazed at he lights out and pass through, other times I can't believe they scamper off   springers shoot a little different also and can make you a little crazy until you adjust your shooting style. Hold the gun loose and let it mozw freely as it recoils. Google artillery hold if you get a springer.

[farmin4u_98948]

I have the Diana 177 and now wish I had purchased the 22. The pellet on the 177 will not do as much damage for the kill but it sure has some zipppp.

[Fl0und3rz]

I second (or third?) the Benjamin/Sheridan bluestreak series.  Unfortunately, Crosman seems to be discontinuing the .20 cal version, which appears to be a good compromise between pellet weight/velocity/penetration for small rodentia.  Every year, 20 or so small rodentia (up to rabbitt) fall to the bluestreak in my area, and most of them are one shot kills.  Add a Williams peep sight and they are good out to 30-40 yards with the JSB predator polymer tipped pellets. 

The 392 and 397 are the .22 and .177 equivalent and will take the Williams peep sight.  (I wouldn't recommend the .177 for small rodentia in these, as it may not have the punch as the heavier calibers.) The only downside to these is that they require the funky intermount to scope them.  I am not a fan.

Otherwise, it would be an air rifle that would last a lifetime for under about $200.

[boneaddict]

I bought a gamo with a scope mounted on it, but it was way over $250.   It has more velocity than a .22 though, and is dead on at 50 yards still with little drop.  Thats probably a bit of overkill.

[boneaddict]

here is another old thread with some discussion.....
http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,122810.msg1623725.html#msg1623725

[wadu1]

I shoot a Hammerli Titan good old German name but made in China. For the most part I use my .22 bolt gun with Aguila Super Colibri's it's like a BB Cap but in long rifle. And it makes a lot less report than the .177 air gun.   

[HighlandLofts]

I have a Gamo that came with a scope, it was just over $100 and killed everything that got hit buy the 177 pellet. I use the pointed lead pellets, they come in several designs. A friend has the same pellet gun and his choice of pellet is the one topped with a BB.
 There is a large choice in manufacturers of good quality pellet rifles out there, A friend gave me one of them CHEAP chinese made pellet rifles you see for $20 at the CHEAP chinese made tool sales. The quality really sucks and loading it is a pain in the a$$, open sights, but it has taken care of a lot of unwanted vermin. It will shoot through a piece of OSB. I much prefer the Gamo pellet rifle for both target shooting and taking care of unwanted vermin that shows up occasionally.

[MadHatter]

I actually have a Benjamin Trail NirtoPiston .22 that I got from walmart, came with a centerpoint 4-12 AO scope as well that has been a great scope.  I think I paid $149 for it. The thing is awesome for pests.  I use it all the time on Starlings, rabbits (domestic ones gone wild) and everything inbetween.  Took me a bit to find pellets it likes and will shoot accurately, but once I did the thing is absolutely deadly out to about 30yds.  Shot a rabbit two night ago in the dark that was digging up my lawn.  Put it down on the spot.  I like the .22 for the extra energy it hits with. It is very rare for me to have something survive being hit once. Its also "slow" enough that you can hear your hits.  So when I hit, it is loud enough and delayed enough to make a "clop" sound, and I know that it was a solid hit.