Airguns as preps

I have 7 air rifles and 3 air pistols all but one air pistol is capable of taking small game.

 

I was thinking about getting an air rifle for small game.

 

Do it ,,, you will not be sorry you did ,, as long as you get a fairly decent one.

 

My bro was lights out with his Sheridan growing up. Squirrels had no chance.

 

I just bought a third air rifle recently. Crossman Vantage .22 caliber. It could feed us with small game and pellets are still relatively cheap. But climbing fast. And check availability. They get scarce once in a while nowadays. If you find them, don't hesitate to buy.

 

My latest springer launching a .177 7.9 grain pellet at 1073 fps average 20.2 ft lbs of energy

 

It's hard for me to go with the manufacturers specs. But I do know my .22 is plenty accurate and punchy.

 

Careful, it can become an addiction that there is no cure for.
I have 27 different air/Co2 guns and there are a few more Id like to have.
Seriously thinking about the Benjamine Marauder in .45 cal

 

I use green gas blowback pistols to practice for USPSA matches. I have one in 1911 and one in 2011 with a c-more sight to match my open gun. Thinking about getting a revolver.

 

Most manufactures give specs speeds are based on alloy pellets that can actually damage spring powered guns. The above mentioned gun gives 1300 fps my feet per second numbers. My numbers are 7.9 grain lead pellets
1073 for 7.9 grains pellets
967 for 10.5 grain pellets
669 for 16.1 grain pellets

 

Have an air rifle for squirrels works great.

 

I've shot everything from ground squirrels up to and including Jackrabbits with air rifles.
I've had an RWS Diana .22 cal with a low powered scope for about 20 years and it still works well.
Impressive, they're not toy BB guns.

 

Wife and I use .177 cal. 10 shot repeating rifles rated at 1300 fps for ground squirrels around the out buildings. Use those instead of 22's because they are safer in case of a ricochet.

 

Better than nothing

 

This is about 13500 pellets I have another 2000 around . The middle gun I have had the longest . RWS 34 in 177 it shoots an honest 910 feet per second and I have taken several raccoon and groundhog with it. The top 4 guns are capable of taking game up to raccoon size animals

 

Wife and I shoot the Gamo Swarm Maxxim with 3x9 scopes. Only thing I don't like is the safety in the trigger guard.

 

I have the usually boring 177s. Air guns don't start to get interesting until you get to 25 cal and bigger.
The 25 cal spring air one I have can easily duplicate the muzzel energy of a 22cb.
I have seen 30 cal one that can exceed 22lr power, but those ones use an air tank.

 

You can get into big game power with PCP air guns but you also get into bigger money . In. True SHTF situation big game will be hunted out quickly. Small game and small fish will be what feeds you . .177 pellets are the most common followed by 22 pellets both are enough for small game. I try to stay with stuff that I can buy locally . Crosman premier pellets shoot decent in all my guns are $6-$8 for 500 locally. Where 20 caliber pellets have to be ordered and are running $17 for 500 the gun below is 177 it shoots 7.9 standard lead pellets at 1073 feet per second average generating 20.2 foot lbs of energy it may pick up a few feet per second when fully broken in

 

More than any other my air rifle has been used to defend the homestead from pack rat, ground squirrel even skunk. I for sure think they have a place in the preps quiet, effective and inexpensive to use and that is without getting into some of the super high performance models which I would love to try out.

 

The gun above is a Walther Parrus in .177 right now it can be found for $149.95 + tax at pyramid air order a tin of pellets and it ships for free German made decent trigger right out of the box. Be warned magnum airgun aren't light it weighs 9lbs
Numrich gun parts has RMS model 34 for $199 or the model 350 for $249 that is dirt cheap for those guns although about the only thing you gain on the walther buying the #350 is a wooden stock