No more foolin' around

[Stuart C.]

The other night I was turning the lights off to head upstairs to bed.
Out the window I heard the quail rustling around flapping wings in the johnny house out by the shed.  Got the flashlight and there's mr. fox trying to get into the coop, stressing the birds out.

So on a completely different note in no way related to this event  just curious, 1.) what's the best dang air rifle for varmint control, and 2.) do I need a special reverse recoil resistant scope, or 3.) are there any package deals from the big retailers that are good.  I'd like to keep it to $300 or less.

Thanks!

[no guns here]

Personally, I wouldn't try for a fox with an air rifle.  If I had to I'd shoot to sting and run him off not to hurt or kill.  That being said, .22 shorts aren't too much louder than a strong air rifle but hit harder...  If you ain't in town just go with .22lr and aim for the head...  12 ga with #4's works wonders...


ngh

[Stuart C.]

I thought that too.  The air gun might be pushing it.

[BUTCHER45]

     I think a Sumatra 2500 Carbine in .25caliber is what you are looking for.  It would not need a recoil resistant scope (as in an "airgun" scope designed for springers).

     Along with a bunch of power, you would have the benefit of the lever action and 6 shot magazine for fast follow-up shots without having to take your eye off the scope.

     I'd want more gun for a coyote, but for fox I think it would work very well.  Shoot the heavier EJ pellets, like the 42grainers at around 950fps, and that should work great.  The lighter 25grain Logun Penetrators are worth looking into as well if you can find them.

http://www.pyramydair.com/cgi-bin/model.pl?model_id=463

[woodchukhntr]

I'd go for a .22 cal. magnum air rifle such as a RWS 36 and an airgun scope.  The Sumatra would have a lot more power, but is gas operated and would be relatively loud.  You might be able to do it for $300, but I am not sure.  I have one and it will dispatch woodchucks with a head shot, so I would expect it to do the same with a fox.

Aguila makes a 60 gr. Sub Sonic Sniper .22 load that is supposed to be quiet, I tried it and it is still too loud for shooting in a suburban neighborhood.

[BUTCHER45]

     The Sumatra does not use gas.  It uses compressed air just like any other PCP airgun.  They are definitely loud, though.  If you have a tax stamp to legally install a silencer, the Sumatra comes with a threaded barrel.

[jgalar]

It would be cheaper (but not as fun) to get a trap:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=90218
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=9646

[trotterlg]

The Sumatra does not use gas.  It uses compressed air just like any other PCP airgun.  They are definitely loud, though.  If you have a tax stamp to legally install a silencer, the Sumatra comes with a threaded barrel.
 

Guess I just don't understand things.  If an air rifle is not a firearm why do you need a tax stamp for a silencer?  Somehow I don't think this is based in fact.  Larry

[BUTCHER45]

The Sumatra does not use gas.  It uses compressed air just like any other PCP airgun.  They are definitely loud, though.  If you have a tax stamp to legally install a silencer, the Sumatra comes with a threaded barrel.
 

Guess I just don't understand things.  If an air rifle is not a firearm why do you need a tax stamp for a silencer?  Somehow I don't think this is based in fact.  Larry

Larry this is indeed based on fact.  Silencers themselves are technically "firearms" under the law. 

If the "silencer" can be de-tached from the air rifle, fitted to a .22 or other firearm, and lessen the report by even a few decibels for just one shot, it is considered a firearms silencer, even if it destroys the "silencer" in the process, which it probably would.

Now a shroud, permanently attached to the airgun's barrel, is legal as it cannot be removed and fitted to a firearm.

Check out this link discussing the matter. 

http://talonairgun.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3269&highlight=atf

[UpTheHill]

The Sumatra does not use gas.  It uses compressed air just like any other PCP airgun.  They are definitely loud, though.  If you have a tax stamp to legally install a silencer, the Sumatra comes with a threaded barrel.
 

Guess I just don't understand things.  If an air rifle is not a firearm why do you need a tax stamp for a silencer?  Somehow I don't think this is based in fact.  Larry

the ATF has decreed if a suppressor can be removed from an airgun and put on a firearms, even if it with duct tape, and only good for one shot, then it has to be taxed, and registered.  there are airguns that have full shrouds/suppressors that are part of the gun, and cannot be removed that are legal without registration.  so guns like the sumatra and career that have threaded barrels would need to have a registered suppressor put on them

[A177]

For fox, then one of the larger caliber air rifles would be in order, such as the recommended Sumatra.

That said, the suggestion of using a .22LR or .22Magnum, or the shotgun w #4s would be more practical if you already have said firearm.

[BUTCHER45]

     I just wanted to add some more info about the .25 Sumatra that should open some eyes as to it's ability to take fox.  I don't beleive in any rifle that requires a headshot to be effective, to be considered for any task. 

     Headshots will not be necessary on a fox.

     There are now some super-heavy .25 slugs (not "pellets" but wadcutter slugs) available that weigh between 50 and 80 grains.  The 70grain slugs out of a .25 Sumatra retain more energy at 100 yards than a hot .22lr putting out a 40grain bullet@1400fps.

     That .25 slug should smash through a fox's shoulders.

[subdjoe]

Where are you?  Why an air rifle for varments?  What kind of varments?  A .22 CB cap from a bolt or lever action (or single shot) rifle is almost silent.  .22 shorts are pretty close to silent. 

[BUTCHER45]

Where are you?  Why an air rifle for varments?  What kind of varments?  A .22 CB cap from a bolt or lever action (or single shot) rifle is almost silent.  .22 shorts are pretty close to silent. 

Well first off, why not? 

They are a lot of fun, even more fun than firearms in my opinion, and very efficient. 
Then there's the $$ factor.  I get 250 slugs of .454 for about $35 that rival the accuracy of any centerfire at shorter ranges, and are far more powerful than a .22lr
When I begin casting my own slugs, the projectiles will be almost as free as the air propelling them.

[subdjoe]

Where are you?  Why an air rifle for varments?  What kind of varments?  A .22 CB cap from a bolt or lever action (or single shot) rifle is almost silent.  .22 shorts are pretty close to silent. 

Well first off, why not? 

They are a lot of fun, even more fun than firearms in my opinion, and very efficient. 
Then there's the $$ factor.  I get 250 slugs of .454 for about $35 that rival the accuracy of any centerfire at shorter ranges, and are far more powerful than a .22lr
When I begin casting my own slugs, the projectiles will be almost as free as the air propelling them.

Well, I was asking so I could get more information and make a reasoned response.  If his 'varments' are mice and rats, it is a bit different than if they are coyotes, ya know? 

If he already has a .22, and is far enough from the dwellings of other to safely use it, and the critters are small enough to take humanely with a .22 that may be the way to go.  I think the it would take a while to spend the 300 bucks he says is his top end for an air rifle on .22 ammo. 

All your points are valid.  And I can agree with them if you already have the gear.  And I know that air guns are a lot of fun, I have several.  Great close in accuracy.  And, as you say, really inexpensive to shoot.

What is the weight of the .454 that you use?  What shape? 

[BUTCHER45]

     I think he indicated in the original post up top, that his problem was predators (namely fox).  I think the .25 Sumatra plus pump is a little out of his price range, but for what he is asking the air rifle to do, he will need to spend the extra money to be happy.


     What slugs I like to shoot, my favorite target, and small game slug is the 155grain EPP/UG SWC.  I'd use that up to fox.  For coyote (haven't hunted them yet), I am thinking I would like to use the 175grain .45Slim SWC due to it's larger meplat.  I used an obsolete 226grain Lyman #45266 SWC to shoot an 80lb hog in the brain, and the 255grain PRS 250 (BigLube design) RFN to kill a corsican ram, shooting it thru the heart/lungs.

     I like to increase meplat size along with the size of the quarry hunted.  Not a big fan of roundnoses, or hollowpoints for hunting.

     Oh, and just for fun I let my friend kill this book with a Lee 452252 weighing 260grains.  It's .36 meplat demonstrates why I am a fan of the big meplat.