I have a new use for an air gun. Rifle, capable of killing something opossum/skunk sized. I would like to stay under $200. I can add a nice scope, as I have them already.

I was thinking a .22cal? But, I haven't much knowledge in these new fangled air rifles, the only ones I've used were the old crossmans that you pump up in 177cal.

I dont want something I need an air tank to use.

DR

I've got a Gamo .177 at the house I use for rats. It supposedly fires at 1000 fps. I don't know if I'd try a skunk with it though......potentially a really bad outcome.

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Even older, even crankier....

You definitely want the .22 cal Pellet rifle. That's PELLET as opposed to BBs. They make a .22 cal pellet that is designed to "mushroom" on impact and it great for small game. That poor critter you are after would not nave a chance against it.

I'm not sure the brand name is important but I suggest you avoid the spring loaded ones. Get a pump for the most sustainable FPS. And what ever you get I'd not even consider anything less than 1000 FPS. The faster the better.

Happy Hunting!

PS some pics of the kill would be cool.

I have .177 Crosman that shoots those pellets in that caliber and it takes a rat down with NO problem. Still I'm thinking it might be a little lite for your need. The .22 would be ideal.

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Real men love cats!

This dude visits my back yard 3-4 times a week, digs holes everywhere (small food hunting holes) and stinks up the place like CRAZY. Seen him for the 1st time yesterday right at dusk, you could barely see him moving and digging around.

If I dont get a airgun, I'm gonna be spitting a .22LR mini mag his way soon! LOL

If I can stand the smell, I'll get a pic

I'm thinkin' the Mini-Mag would be my first choice.....

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Even older, even crankier....

Yep....but being city bound, the mini mag is a toughie, doable, but with risk....

DR

The spring piston pellet guns that go around 1000fps in .22 should work well for you, but you need a scope that is designed for the "backwards" recoil the spring provides, doubt you have one of those.
If it is legal, think about using CB longs or shorts, as these are quieter than a long rifle and still have more punch than a .22 pellet gun.

Live capture trap is the way to go. You can cover and transport, or move in close with a .22 to make a quiet up close shot to put the critter down quickly.

SKUNK?

Reminds me of the time my bil blasted one in the culvert under the drive with a 410.Sis complained about the stench for days :-)

I've killed skunks and racoons with my .177 Gamo barrel-break single cock rifle, and it is quite effective with hunting pellets. That said, if I had to start over I would get the .22 cal. As stated, the spring piston guns will eat a "regular" (even high quality) scope for breakfast if it is not specifically made for an airgun. Mine can shoot great groups, but you have to be meticulous in technique(how you rest it, tightness to the shoulder, etc) and be able to master a loooooong, stacking trigger pull. Quality of pellets is important - flaws in the pellet will create fliers at 1200 fps.
p.s.: No matter the shot location or caliber/power of the weapon, it is luck of the draw whether or not Mr. Skunk will fire the last shot...

For what you will pay for a 22 caliber pellet rifle, you might consider a new or slightly used long barrel bolt action 22 rifle and use the CCI Quiets in that instead. Longer the barrel, the quieter they shoot, they are substantially quieter in my Marlin XT with a 22 inch barrel than they are in my Henry with the 18 inch barrel. Out of the XT the Quiets aren't much louder than my pellet rifle, if at all.

A decent 22 pellet rifle is gonna cost you 200 and up and you could probably pick up a decent 22LR for the same price that weighs half as much.

FWIW, I've got an old RWS 52 that shoots 900fps, using 22grain Gamo pellets it hits pretty hard and does a good job, but it weighs 9lbs! I've used it on groundhogs, rabbits and turtles in a farm pond but I get tired of luggin it around.
I've seen a Ruger pellet rifle that is advertised to shoot 1200fps for around 180 bucks but it weighs 8lbs.

Tarp it and move is the way the pros do it. Unless the skunk is rabid it will not be aggressive if you are calm. My preferred route is to get the barrel of a .22 up close and pop them in the head. A long range shot risks a less than instant kill and a directed musk release. Only done it a couple of times and those were in the country, so I'm not an expert.

4' length of 8" PVC pipe capped at one end and threaded on the other. Throw in a sardine or two. Skunk goes in, cannot turn around, will not back out (don't ask me why), and cannot lift his tail, so he can't fire. Screw cap on pipe....done deal.

My son has a Gamo .177 with which one of his boys recently killed a groundhog. Shoots at something like 1200 fps.

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Oh well, what the hell.

I've been an airgun nut for decades. Based on my experience and your description of need and price range I'd (hands down) recommend a Benjamin NP trail in .22 ( or it's crossman counterpart.)

These guns have very consistent velocities, honest power and vg accuracy. They even ship with a decent scope. Best of all, they are suppressed and the (legal) device really quiets the rifle down. Triggers aren't bad but you can get a drop in replacement that makes it 2# and SWEET! Lastly it's a gas piston vs spring which is SOOO much smoother and consistent.
Personally I would stay away from Gamo, Winchesters and other off brands. Quality on these is inconsistent, velocities way(!) over stated and the triggers usually suck. For every decent Gamo I've handled, I've seen three that were near unusable.

Do yourself a favor and shop at pyramidair. Great reviews and advice there.

http://www.pyramydair.com/s/m/Benjam...air_rifle/2050




BTW, airguns of this power can tear up even a center fire scope as their recoil is reversed. Best to get a real airgun scope that will focus close, have no paralax and hold up.
hth

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Dave

Here is the store bought version if you have an extra $60.00 plus freight laying around.

JT Animal Control Spray Proof Skunk Trap — 24in.L x 6in.dia., Model# adc6 | Animal Control| Northern Tool + Equipment

Steve W

One thing to keep in mind about air rifles and diabolo pellets--velocity. Any wasp-waisted pellet passing through the speed of sound becomes aerodynamically unstable and your accuracy will suffer badly. Get a piston gun, .22 caliber, 950 fps, and you will find that's all you need and if you do your part, it will be as accurate as you need.

BFG 9000, even cauterises the smell. Doomers will know what I'm on about.

Don't forget for accuracy use the artillery grip.

(Refurbished) Benjamin Trail NP Nitro Piston® .22 Caliber All Weather Air Rifle With Scope $149.99 from Airgun Depot.


And there was never a shortage of ammo.

For dispatching yard varmints on a budget it's hard to beat a .20 or .22 caliber Benjamin pneumatic. They are powerful high quality American made pump rifles that are accurate enough and powerful enough to rid your yard and garden of all but the biggest vermin. You do not need a learn a special hold or mount a specific scope to handle the reverse recoil of a Spring Piston gun, nor do you need the extras of a Co2 or PCP gun.

Sheridan Blue Streak CB9. Air rifles - PyramydAir.com

Benjamin 392 pump air rifle. Air rifles - PyramydAir.com

My 5mm/.20 caliber Sheridan has dispatched many yard varmints over the last 20 years with great effect. From chipmunks undermining the workshop out back, to a few large skunks, and everything in-between.

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Regards,
Guy-Harold Smith II

Personally, I would try a paint ball first. You can stand far enough away and fire several rapid shots. It will sting the skunk but shouldn't really harm it. A couple of incidents and it should avoid the place.

The Sheridan is a great rifle. Way back when, my friends Sheridan had way more power per pump then my Crossman. Larry

Never dreamed an air gun needed a special scope. Thanks!! Ill look for a combo deal....

Won't back up you say,....maybe he doesn't like the smell back there either !

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wanna do right-- not right now

Not only do spring piston guns need a scope that can tolerate reverse recoil, it's advisable to get a scope with an adjustable objective that can be set for the very close ranges needed. Even though all Leupold scopes are airgun rated they are not all adjustable down to the ten to twenty yard ranges where most airgun hunting takes place.

Break-barrel rifles can have accuracy issues when used with a scope. Using the barrel as a lever can sometimes cause barrel droop, even more of an issue with the cheaper guns at the price point you are looking at, and wear can cause the barrel not to return to the exact same spot for every shot. It can be microscopic, but it may make a difference at longer ranges.

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Regards,
Guy-Harold Smith II

Howdy,
I have to second Smith357's opinion. The pump up Benjamin or Sheridan will suit you well.
I have a couple of the scope wrecking springers. I like them and have a good scope on one and a red dot sight on another that has held up for years. Great for yard work. Thought I'd throw in the red dot tip in the event you go the springer route.
Great recreation too, whichever one you pick.
I was shooting .22 silhouettes with the .177 last night. We also shoot plastic toys of all kinds and it won't be long grasshoppers will be large enough for safaris.
Both rifles will take grasshoppers out to 20-25 yards but it is easier with the scoped rifle.
Whatever you get I bet you will enjoy it.
Good luck.
Mike

Great info thanks everyone!

DR

I own 3 RWS's. Fine, fine weapons. My first is 20 years old and can charged and fired w/no worries and is extremely accurate.

I know that in my state a rifled barrel on any sort of weapon constitutes a 'firearm' so anywhere a real firearm can't be discharged holds true for pellet guns also.

Only legal way of dispatching varmints where I live (houses less than 300 ft) is by trapping, poisoning, or shooting with a smooth bore BB gun.

I have a couple of cheap air guns and would really like a good one, but haven't found what I really want. I heard that Anschutz made a fabulous air gun and Savage imported them to the US years ago under the Savage name.

Until I find my dream air gun, I use subsonic .22 rounds. Specifically the CCI CB Long. At 710FPS it comes out of the barrel with a soft PFFFT and has much more power than an air gun.

Give them a try and I think you'll like them.

.

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Kirk / Spock 2020

They now allow small game hunting here with an air rifle with a 600fps and a pellet of .177 to 22. Been looking at some on line and I still like the old school pump-up Benjamin ones. Maybe it's just something I'm used to but I can't see spending a bundle of cash for an air rifle to mostly just have fun with and kill a few squirrels with. It's kind of like being a kid again, in the woods with your trusty pellet gun.

I have a Gamo Whisper in .177 and a Stoeger X-20S in .22.
Both have been highly effective on reducing the tree rat population, have had no need to try them on anything larger. Both are pretty quiet being supressed. A CB cap or Super Colibri might be as quiet, but with the air rifle I don't have to worry about a "discharging a firearm within town limits" charge.

Light and laser on the Gamo. Yes, I've had to take out a few varmints inside the attic.

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Certified AR-15 / SIG Armorer.

Of the ones in stock in my area, I bought the Stoger X in .22cal. Really liked it as it was prerigged with scope and ready to go. Price was good too at $149.00 and i had a coupon off that gave me $53.00 which put me under $100 bucks!!!



The scope was loose everywhere, the barrel was FILTHY inside with some kind of black gook. Took the scope off, properly mounted it, cleaned the barrel out and oiled it inside with one coat and a dry wipe after.

Hit the yard and was blowing holes through tough soup cans straight away. Not finished sighting it yet as darkness ran my son and i back in the house.

Cant wait to get it sighted in. Seems like a great little gun at a more than fair price.

Where did you get that light at zoom6zoom? That I have got to add for my late evening critter.

DR

Added a tactical laser and light to my FINE SHOOTING Stoger, got the scope, and laser, sighted in with 200 plus rounds shot plinking and playing.

Sat out this evening with a fine cigar, glass of iced tea, and waited. Just before dark here he came through my fence and into the yard. I popped him once, he spun and was confused what was happening, I popped him again, he acted like I missed (I may have), he headed back out the way he came kinda disoriented, and I popped him again with the tale tale "thawack"! sound and he left in a hurry. I was lung shooting as I decided I did not want a carcus to clean up. I'm sure he will expire, already has I'd bet money. Skunks are pretty tough. I was suprised he didnt instantly drop.