.22 Caliber Air Rifle And Scope For Small Game Hunting?

[ibgp3]

Looking for a subsistence hunter myself.
I settled on PCP, because with repair kits for the pump and the rifle I should be able to keep them working for a good while.
Many of the airguns are made to satisfy the desire for a "real" rifle in places where civilians can't own "real"rifles.  I don't need a wood stock or any more shroud or weight than is necessary.


I have a Marauder that is wearing a plastic stock.
   The Marauder is the best that I own. I paid $250 for the rifle and $40 for the stock.(Not drop-in)
   The Marauder is also the heaviest. It has a large air tube rated @ 3,000psi working pressure.


I have the Disco that is pictured on page 2 of this thread.
   I bought the tube, breech and shroud for $250 and spent another $50 on trigger group and stock
   The Disco has an after market breech that takes Marauder magazines. (10 round bolt-action)
   The Disco has a stainless steel tube that has a higher pressure rating than the MRod


I have a 2400KT that I got from Crossman Custom.
    About $130 with shipping. Includes steel breech, Prod trigger group, and stock.
    $75 plus shipping for a Hi-Pac tube makes this a PCP.


I have a 2540 because I ordered a .25 barrel to put on the Disco.
    The  .25 barrel didn't fit the BNM breech, but it did fit the Crosman steel breech.
    A basic 2240 plus a stock, a TKO shroud, and a Hi-Pac tube make it a PCP for $245


I got a $30 CO2 can and a Disco charger from Sports Authority where they charge the can for $3
    I have charged all of the rifles twice and the can is not empty.


I just bought a Benjamin PCP pump from Amazon for $150.


Scopes and sights are a mix. I put old scopes on the Marauder and the Disco.
    I ordered iron sights for about $10 each for the 2400KT and the 2540.


So, $215 up for the rifle, $60 up to charge it. PCP is definitely in the $500 range.

[ibgp3]

Pic of 4



Tank or pump?
 for plinking & pesting, a tank, much less work.
...but, if you ever need a subsistence hunter who fills the tank?

[Graybeard]

Let's bring this one back up and see if folks might want to talk more about it.

[ironglow]

.
  When my grandson was in the Marines, he chose a home in the NCO's village, that was backed by woods.

  There was an automatic light which illuminated the back yard..toward the woods.

     He would break out a can of sardines, place it at the edge of the illumination, and have plenty of possums and coon as visitors.

  He got the Beeman switch barrel, and popped them with headshots.  He found the .22 to be much more effective than the .17, at that task.


  I noticed a similar situation when hunting woodchucks with my .22 Mag and my .17 HMR..  The .17 was much faster, flatter and more accurate, but didn't seem to have the same "punch" as the .22 Mag.

[Graybeard]

My .22 Gamo Whisper drops squirrels and crows with ease. My .17 Gamo Whisper needs head shots on them to be effective. With the .22 chest shots drop them. Big time difference.

I keep thinking I'd like a .25 caliber airgun but haven't done anything about getting one.

[BUGEYE]

I follow a couple of guys on youtube who shoot some very expensive rifles.
One is in Australia and shoots etc.
The other I think is in England or Scotland, they talk funny, but he kills rats and pigeons.
And another named Simon6ppc who hunts with different airguns and a .223.  He makes hits on magpies out at 400 yds with the .223.
I'm pretty sure he's in Scotland.  He said he's licensed to shoot pests with his .223.

[ironglow]

.
  Perhaps some are not aware, but Lewis & Clark took an air rifle with them on their expedition.  I don't know if they ever used it against hostiles, but I have read that they upon occasion, took an elk for food.

   Here it is:  https://truewestmagazine.com/the-amazing-air-rifle-of-meriwether-lewis/

[BUGEYE]

Yep I have the book and have read it twice at least.
The indians were amazed by the airgun.  They understood the explosion inside a flintlock shooting out a lead ball. (or a rock)
They just couldn't wrap their minds around an airgun.