air rfle

ok so i got a bird pest problem (starlings mainly they are nesting in the chimney under the eaves and getting into the roof cavity ) im thinking of getting an air rifle to manage this and not having laid hands on one for around 40 years wanting to know what will be my minimum/maximum requirements before i go buy one i have a bit of space (3/4 acre) enough for an air rifle but probably couldnt get away with a rimfire.
will probably set up an indoor range (30m) and outdoor (50-80m) too just for fun (as mentioned too close to the road and neighbours to have a rimfire range safely).
might also want to target the odd magpie , mynahs and rat although the rats have been scarce because of the cats and dog.

Even 30 metres is a long range for most air rifles unless you’re getting a reputable (expensive) brand.

should have said the birds i will be targetting will mostly be within 30m .....
im a firm believer in if cheap will do the same job as expensive then i will buy cheap but if its a case of you get what you pay for then i will pay more....

I bought a stoeger on special, secret to accuracy are the quality of the pellets, mines a .22, cleaned out a few punks they were invading his property and giving his ducks hell

I went to Gun City and got an Air Chief Rapid Repeater .22 $399 (Also known as the CR600W) Very quiet and accurate from my initial tests (only had it a week) Takes C02 cylinders though.

ruger airhawk (metal version) not the 2nd gen plastic pos.
i have one for sale as i got it for the mrs and she preferred the 22

What is your budget?

I do know that .22 pellets invariably bounce off magpies @ 550fps ( BSA Meteor) from 25 metres.

ive got a pcp just as good as a 22lr at your kind of ranges

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Originally Posted by outlander

I do know that .22 pellets invariably bounce off magpies @ 550fps ( BSA Meteor) from 25 metres.

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Sighted in my 22 BSA Meteor at 25 metres - and then a chicken-chasing magpie flew down and landed on the target frame.

The slug didn’t bounce off HIM!

If your using a springer on birds aim a little above them. I bought a Crossman phantom? for the same reason a few years back. Had enough grunt but I swear the mynah's could hear the spring release. Started aiming 2-3 inches above them and was getting results.

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Originally Posted by Finnwolf

Sighted in my 22 BSA Meteor at 25 metres - and then a chicken-chasing magpie flew down and landed on the target frame.

The slug didn’t bounce off HIM!

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Good. I'm a shit shot and always seem to hit them sideon, ie. the wings.

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Originally Posted by mimms2

Really? 550fps might be on the low side. And if that's "as advertised" and you're not using hyperlight pellets, (They use light pellets to get big numbers for marketing hype) you're probably not getting near that velo anyway.

Headshots mate...

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15gr pellet = 480fps; 13.5gr = 534fps; 14grgr = 513fps. All seem to be par for the course from a MK1 Meteor.

I resighted the gamo in yesterday...blackbird and thrush wont be digging up our garden anymore...cheap slugs are/seem to be better than expensive lighter ones..at 15-20 yards I dont need velocity...and from experience years back shooting literally hundreds of rats at local tip...flat or rounded pellets hit harder,I believe the pointy ones hit in same place but whizz through,whereas the flat ones have a bit more shock/disruption on way through...they certainly kill more cleanly.make sure what you get can be let down/uncocked.....mate bought one 2 weeks ago and you have to fire it once cocked...

cheers guys so i was thinking along the lines of a stoeger rx20 https://intl.stoegerairguns.com/en/p...uppressor.html or comparable other ....
.177 be ample or .22?

I have a Crossman 1000 good accurate rifle in 177. Have shot all sorts of birds and animals. Rabbits at 25-30 m also a few wallabies ( smaller NI version) at about 15 m.
Within your range of 30 m a good 177 will work fine as will a 22.
I chrono mine with various pellets a while back and with 8.95 gr White Point I got around 710 fps , with the lightest I had at 4.9 gr it averaged 870 fps, this is a 1000 fps model so the advertised speeds aren't always achievable.
We used to use air rifles in town when I worked for the RC when we had agro magpies attacking people, I used my 177, my mate used the work 22 Gamo, both flattened the magpies easy as.

smaller birds, then 17 is the way to go, 700-900 fps,
I have nailed rabbits with my 22 at 25 mtr doing about 650 fps.
spend some time on this blog and research the models you are looking at.
possums in trees at 5 mtrs at say 500 fps.

also note the the spring piston ones can be very hold sensitive. (gas piston less so but still sensitive)

https://www.pyramydair.com/blog/

z

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Originally Posted by Mooseman

I have a Crossman 1000 good accurate rifle in 177. Have shot all sorts of birds and animals. Rabbits at 25-30 m also a few wallabies ( smaller NI version) at about 15 m.
Within your range of 30 m a good 177 will work fine as will a 22.
I chrono mine with various pellets a while back and with 8.95 gr White Point I got around 710 fps , with the lightest I had at 4.9 gr it averaged 870 fps, this is a 1000 fps model so the advertised speeds aren't always achievable.
We used to use air rifles in town when I worked for the RC when we had agro magpies attacking people, I used my 177, my mate used the work 22 Gamo, both flattened the magpies easy as.

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I bought a similar Crossman in .177. No problem on rabbits out to 50m and a cat at 20m. Recently got given a Nitro piston Gamo in .22 which is nice and quiet to shoot. My favourite is a Cannon 737, licensed copy of the Sharp Innova, multi pump.

When I was a bit younger, a Crossman in .177 (1000fps) dealt to all the possums around the house for a couple of years.
It was interesting to time how long after the established bunch where wiped out that a new lot would move into the territory.

I will reiterate what the others have said - round head pellets definitely have more punch.
I could put those through old floor boards, but the pointed ones would simply crumple and be embeded in the board.

Also - pretty accurate too! I could saw my way through taro stems with it at 25-30m with a string of shots.

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Originally Posted by gonetropo

ruger airhawk (metal version) not the 2nd gen plastic pos.
i have one for sale as i got it for the mrs and she preferred the 22

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How does it shoot gonetropo? I have a few new residents that need to move on