pistol

[Jim n Iowa]

Need advice on a pistol, would prefer a co2, but a spring gun would work. Need to take out rabbits (front yard) in daylight with min attention to me. Have a rifle that whacks at 1200 fps but its very noticeable in the front of the house. Accurate to 25' would be great, 4- 6 inch barrel with adj sights or red dot. What say this board?
Jim

[Questor]

Deluxe is the Beeman P1 magnum, a spring gun that is very good.  The trouble with CO2 is that you usually can't leave them sitting around for long before they lose their charge, and temperature changes affect point of impact and velocity considerably.  For a lower budget gun, consider the Crosman 1377 pump pneumatic.

[Lawdog]

Jim n Iowa,

I have a Beeman P-1 in .20(springer), a couple of Crosman .357 look a likes in .22(CO2) and a couple of Crosman 1377’s in .17(pumps).  Questor is right about the CO2’s not holding pressure.  Just when you need one the CO2 cartridge is empty.  I hunt with my P-1 but for pest control around my barns and tool sheds I use the Crosman 1377s.  Accuracy is very good and you can mount a scope on them which helps.  You can even get a short butt stock to put on them to help hold them steady.  I mounted scopes on both of mine and also have one of the butt stocks but rarely attach it.  If I were you I would go with the Crosman 1377 and mount a scope on it at the very least.  Ten pumps will get you near 550 fps. with a good hunting pellet.  I prefer the Beeman Crow Magnum as they seem to shoot very well in the 1377.  Small groups and tight lines to you.  Lawdog
 

[Jim n Iowa]

Thanks for your input. I really had no idea these air guns command so much money, when you compare them to the Winchester you put me on to Lawdog.
Jim

[big6x6]

Yeah, the 1377 would be a good choice.  The Benjamin/Sheridan HB17/HB22 would be a couple of other good choices.  The pump pneumatics offer great power and are very accurate/easy to shoot.

[Charles/NM]

I have shot the P-1 and found it to be a very powerful and accurate pistol once you get used to shooting it.  Takes a little practice.
I have a tricked out 1377 and it's a very accurate pistol and is easier for me to shoot than the P-1.  The only problem with the 1377 is their very poor quality barrels.  It's the luck of the draw as to what you get.  If you buy one from a store take a bore light and inspect the bore very carefully looking for poor rifling and whether or not the rifling is actually cut in a spiral - yes some have been found with straight rifling.  The other problem with the 1377 and the much higher quality HB-17 is noise.  Pneumatics are loud at 8 to 10 pumps.