Squirrels are at it again.

[LennyLames]

They're very destructive in my area. Why can't they just eat the delicious, nutritious invasive plant species? I saw one dig up and take bites out of a cactus (with lots of thorns) that I had planted.

They're also quite wary. Can't get within 30 yards of them before they run off. As soon as they see a door open, they take off. I managed to sneak up on one that was up in a tree around a corner from my patio. It was a 15 yard air rifle shot with my 550 fps Walther LG400.

A squirrel once jumped into one of my rain catchment barrels. I didn't want to shoot it because it wouldn't be challenging, like "shooting fish in a barrel." I also didn't want to contaminate the rain water with its blood. Then I recalled horror/suspense movies where a victim gets electrocuted with an electric appliance falling into the bathtub. Besides, that's the same method that's used in electric chair executions, so it has to be humane. I just happened to have wires with AC plugs, but apparently those methods for murder only happen in films, or in really old houses. As soon as the wire touched the water, the squirrel would jerk, and the circuit breaker would activate. I don't think the lights even dimmed like they do in the movies (okay, it was daytime).

 

[Onomea]

Just looked up your Walther LG400, Lenny. That's one helluva air gun!

 

[Ruger Nut]

I hope y'all are eating them after killing them. Or, cleaning them then putting them in the freezer for future meals.
Most people in my neck of the woods in Louisiana cook them in gumbo or jambalaya. It's a shame to kill a good squirrel then throw it away.

 

[jimbo728]

I hope y'all are eating them after killing them. Or, cleaning them then putting them in the freezer for future meals.
Most people in my neck of the woods in Louisiana cook them in gumbo or jambalaya. It's a shame to kill a good squirrel then throw it away.

There are some great recipes in Walter Brennans Varmint Vittle Cook Book.
Jim

 

[WR Moore]

CCI makes something they call the Quiet 22. Looks kinda like a .22 long but supposed to be about 700 f/s. They clock 780 or so out of a 19 inch barrel and really are quite quiet. Out of a pistol, wear ear protection.

The bullet drop is pretty dramatic but once you get sighted in, you should be good to go out to about 25 yards.

 

[zonker5]

I solved a similar problem with a "super soaker" water gun filled with a 50/50 vinegar and water mix. They really don't like it but it does not harm them.

 

[Aggie1906]

I'm pretty rural, so squirrels are safe unless they chew on house and home.
Woodchucks abound, and they are fair game. CCI's LR make a nice snap, but shorts in my old Remington 241 are quiet. Really quiet is my .22 Turkish break barrel springer. Hits hard on little varmints and center of mass sends Mr Chuck to self bury in his hole. Coons die hard, I don't care what you shoot them with.

 

[Onomea]

Another couple showed up this evening as we wuz sittin' on the patio enjoying our wine and cashews.

First one, maybe that big fat sassy one again, eyeballed us from a tree trunk outside the patio walls. Woulda been an easy shot, but my rule is gotta be inside my patio. (And I got to have a shot from inside the house.) He tried to sneak in between the brick wall and the house, but I chased him off.

Can't sit outside with the pellet gun with all my, um, nervous neighbors.

Retreated into the house, left the patio door open, retrieved the Crosman 1377 at 3 pumps, and waited.

Skinny, shabby looking one, came on in, sat in the middle of the patio. I was gettin' another drink, so didn't notice, but the wife called me. There he wuz: Bold as brass. Shot 'em right at the base of the tail. He jumped, and took off at high speed, shaking his butt with vigor.

It was fun... Beats shooting a pellet trap as a form of entertainment.

Three shots, three hits.

 

[Dougaz]

"You might as well run up the white flag. You are in a war you can't possibly win as you are surrounded, outnumbered and your enemy has endless replacements on standby."

"Over? Nothings over until we decide it's over! Did we quit when the German's bombed Pearl Harbor .... Hell no!"

 

[robrossk]

Unless I missed it in thread somewhere I would like a recommendation for a pellet pistol that will kill the little stinkers. Daughter has at least 3 in the eaves and I can only get at them from front if house. I am sure people could call the police if they saw me with pellet rifle, but I could conceal (somewhat) a pistol.

 

[Onomea]

Well, having delved into it briefly, there are a whole bunch of pellet guns, at all sorts of power levels, and all sorts of prices. Take a look. It's fun.

Some are amazingly powerful, amazingly accurate, works of art. Expensive, too! (Thousands of dollars.)

Airguns are a different world, and one I've just dipped a toe in trying to figger out how to chase my squirrels off.

But a short answer for you is get a Crosman 1377 or 1322. How many times you pump it determines the power.



It is very accurate out of the box at short ranges. Say, ten yards. Stock, it's $60 or so. There are a zillion upgrades.

Pellets are like choosing bullets. Depends on what you are trying to do. I want to sting 'em, hard, so use three pumps in the butt and a wadcutter pellet. Go ten pumps and a hollow point to the head, and, lights out, Mr. Squirrel.

If you were to mount a red dot sight on a 1377 or 1322, you could go to town surreptitiously on those squirrels, if you are close enough. (Would need an upgrade to a ~$35 steel breech to mount a red dot tho. Do a little internet research. It's fun.)

Above is my advice from a two week dabble.

Did I say it's fun?

 

[Ruger Nut]

This is my weapon of choice for snakes and stuff down here on the bayous when I want to sneak up on them.

 

[Jessie]

I agree with Onomea. The Crossman is a very accurate, inexpensive choice with different power levels available.
I find that it's pretty quiet also.

 

[bigwheelzip]

When we took a contract in WA state, the place we rented was infested with squirrels and pigeons. Asked the guy in the local hardware store for advice, and he set us up with a Crossman 2100 pump rifle with a Tasco scope. The ammo were pellets with pointed tips. That combination never failed to make a quick one-shot kill in the 30 yard radius of our suburban yard.
The animal infestation ceased in a couple of months.

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

 

[Onomea]

Zip's solution, Crosman 2100 with scope, is going for about $80 on Amazon. (It's a rifle though.) I am amazed at how inexpensive some of these tried and true models are.