Hunting with spring and pump up air guns for small game for beginnersOne of the things I’ve truly enjoyed is hunting for small game with air rifles. There are several advantages to using air rifles over rimfire rifles and shotguns. Since so much of this I’ve learned by trial and error and from the GTA Air Guns forum, I just wanted to compile all of this for the folks that have never hunted with air rifles before.
Why air guns?The nice thing about air guns is you can shoot them almost anywhere. I live in the county and though fire arms are legal, it is hard to find a place to shoot them. An air gun can be shot in the basement with a pellet trap.
Another reason for air guns is that the ammo is a fraction of the cost of powder burners. That allows you to shoot two or three hundred rounds for pennies. Even if you own powder guns, you’ll find that shooting an air gun will hone your shooting skills.
Air guns are fully capable of killing most small game out to shotgun range. The power, combined with how quiet air guns are in comparison, allows you to hunt in closer to populated areas. A good estimate on the maximum range of an air gun is 500 yards. That is nothing compared to even a .22 rimfire.
Type of Game you can hunt:In my home state of Tennessee you can hunt pretty much anything that is considered small game with air rifles. You’ll have to check your own particular state’s regulations so you don’t get in trouble. The typical rabbits and squirrels can be hunted with almost any decent quality air rifle. Larger game such as raccoons, groundhogs, and possums take more precise shooting and it is important that you have knowledge of these animals, their habits, and anatomy, before blazing away with just anything.
Pump up versus Springers:If you’ve never hunted with air guns before and you need to buy a gun, this is almost the first quandary you hit. Your typical Walmart, Dick’s, Gander Mountain, etc will usually have a selection of each (not a wide selection I might add, but a selection).
The advantage of a pump gun is that it has no recoil. To the novice, you think “air guns with recoil-yeah right”, but they do in fact have recoil and it makes them harder to learn how to shoot. You can also mount just about any scope on them if you have the right size of mounts (they usually have 11 mm rails). Yet another advantage is you usually leave them pumped for a long time without damaging the rifle.
There are a couple of disadvantages to pump guns. The first is of course: the pump. Most guns you have to pump 8 or more times to get it up to hunting-level pressure. That means that you generally only get one shot at game. To be honest that is pretty typical of springers (spring air guns) as well as it is hard to break it open, place the pellet, and re-acquire the target. However you can do it a lot faster with a spring gun over a pump gun.
Another disadvantage is that some of them are loud. If you hunt as I do in a suburban environment, the noise generated by a pump gun can be problematic. The Sheridan rifle I have has a very audible “crack” when it is shot, especially at hunting pressure.
There are all sorts of pump up guns, but to hunt I’d move more towards the Benjamin and Sheridan guns. They are of high quality and can hit plenty hard to get small game. The Daisy guns are okay for shooting things like starlings or sparrows and tend to be quieter than the others.
A pump gun can run with a scope and mount can run from $50 at the low end, up to almost $300 for a high quality Sheridan rifle. When it comes to pump up guns the more you pay in most cases the better rifle you get. The Benjamin/Sheridan guns are expensive when compared to others, but they are accurate and powerful and are perfectly capable of taking small game up to raccoon and possum sizes.
Spring Air Guns:Before you buy any spring air gun, go to the GTA Air Guns forum:
http://www.gatewaytoairguns.com/airguns/forums/forum-view.asp?fid=1These folks have forgotten more about Air Guns than I will ever know! The purpose is for you to be educated about the rifle you are going to purchase, its advantage and disadvantages, and how it shoots (recoil, accuracy, trigger pull, etc).
Spring air guns are ideal for small game of all sizes. Most modern spring guns will shoot 1000 feet per second, some of the magnum models even higher . This makes them perfectly capable of taking a squirrel or rabbit out to 30 yards.
What you need to know about spring air guns:The first thing is that spring air guns have a unique recoil. My first magnum air gun actually bruised my shoulder after a day of shooting, so it is appreciable depending on the model . This recoil can be tamed by a process called “tuning”. Professional air gunsmiths, work on the guns to get them smoother, easier to cock, and reduce the twang and recoil of the gun. Some guns over time will eventually smooth out, but the less expensive guns really benefit from a tuning.
So with that said it you get an inexpensive gun in the $100 price range, you may end up spending $150 to get it tuned by a professional! I know that sounds insane, but a professional will make your $100 gun shoot like a $500 model for half the price.
Don’t let the price confuse you either. Even the $500 guns benefit from a professional tune! So your $500 gun, may need tuning for it to reach its full potential.
Tuning is not required. The two guns that I’ve spent the most money on have naturally smoothed out over time. My less expensive guns feel like garbage next to these unless they have been at least lubricated to make them better.
The reason for this warning is that I don’t want you to find out the hard way. You get a Crossman Quest from Walmart for a $100, you find out the trigger is hard, the recoil harsh, and you can’t hit anything with it. You come running to the GTA forums and they start talking about “Charlie Triggers’ and tuning to make it better. You then realize that you need to spend another $180 to make that gun shoot the way you thought it would shoot out of the box.
After a time you may even learn how to take them apart and “tune” them yourself. It is a very rewarding part of the hobby to tinker with air guns. Some vendors like Adventures in Airguns, and Flying Dragon Airguns can actually sell you “tuned” rifles. In my opinion, it wouldn’t be a bad way to start.
The next thing you need to know about spring air guns is that they can eat your prized rifle scope. Because of the unique recoil of the air gun, non-air rifle rated scopes will only last for a short amount of time before breaking. Now you can put your prized scope on a pumper, but I would NEVER put it on a spring air gun unless you know it is rated for air guns.
Also because of the recoil it may be hard to keep the scope tight to the rails. Sometimes you will need to buy different mounts and scope rings depending on the rifle. Magnum springers like the B-28, TF-89, and the RWS 350 series are particularly bad about busting scopes.
As you can see, recoil is a huge issue for spring air guns. You’ll also have to worry about your hold. Spring air guns can be “hold sensitive”. That means if you grip it like you grip your 12 gauge you will likely miss your target. My advice is to look online for stuff about the “artillery hold”. This will teach you the best way to shoot a springer. Magnum guns all tend to be hold sensitive, particularly if they haven’t been tuned. While you can start out with a magnum air gun, I would advise getting a lower rated model first until you learn.
Did you know that there are different types of spring air guns? Some are break barrels, which are the most common. Another type is the side lever guns. They have a cocking arm on the outside of the stock. The under lever guns have a cocking arm that is underneath the barrel.
Side lever and under lever guns tend to be more accurate due to the fact the barrel is stationary. However they seem to be heavier and may be too much to tote around in the woods while hunting. Most folks start out with break barrel guns.
Once you’ve done your homework and address all the issues above, you’ll find out something about these guns-they can be deadly accurate. I mean a single ragged hole sometimes out to 30 yards and beyond depending on the shooter and model of gun. Personally I’ve taken squirrels with headshots out to 35 yards and once took a prairie dog at 70 yards with my magnum springer.
Just a final word about springers. Don’t let what I’ve written scare you off. Just educate yourself before making a purchase and understand that you may need to spend more money to get the rifle the way you like it. I’ve made all of the mistakes above and want to educate and inform folks so they can make an educated decision.
Warning about all Air Guns:Why do I tell you all of this? Understand that air guns are also a hobby. There is reward in just hunting with them, but there are also other rewards for owning an air gun. They are also addicting! I started out with just two and now own NINE! I’ve also started to learn about taking them apart and doing some work on them on my own. Once you own one and join the GTA Air Gun forum, you’ll understand.
What caliber for hunting?For small game hunting you can use almost any caliber of air gun. The normal calibers are .177 and .22, but some folks like the .20 (5 mm) caliber. I’ll endeavor to make a case for each one and let you decide on your own.
.177
Probably the most common air gun caliber is .177. They are the same size as the BB gun you got as a kid. The ammo is less expensive than the other calibers due to its smaller size. It is easier to find .177 ammo than any other caliber. Places like Walmart carry .177 pellets for very little money.
What makes them great for hunting is their almost flat trajectory. Most of the time you can just aim where you want and it will hit. Sight your gun in at 15 to 20 yard and you can just aim and shoot. On top of this, many manufacturers make high quality pellets in different shapes and sizes that help with the accuracy. Since .177 is the most common there is a higher variety available.
The disadvantages of .177 pellets for hunting need to be addressed. Firstly they are more sensitive to the wind. If you live in windy Kansas you will have to learn to compensate for the wind. Secondly, a .177 gun won’t generate as much foot pounds of energy as the larger calibers. That means you will need to take advantage of the accuracy for precise shot placement.
.20
The .20 is a nice size pellet for hunting. However ammo is hard to find! The most common .20 caliber gun is the Sheridan Streak series of pump guns. Think of the .20 as a compromise pellet between the .177 and the .22. It has the advantages and disadvantages of both to some degree. For a first timer, unless you are getting a Sheridan pump gun, I’d pass on .20 guns. Mostly because if you run out of pellets you are probably going to have to mail order them.
.22
A .22 gun is very nice for hunting. The higher energy of the heavier pellet gives it more knock down power than the smaller calibers. You can also find pellets for it locally, not as easily as the .177, but most sporting goods stores carry .22 pellets.
The .22 also is less moved around by the wind. This allows you to take longer shots than normal. It comes at a price though and that is the trajectory of the .22 guns isn’t as flat. Most of the time you have to hold over a target out at the end of your range band. You gain some in that the wind doesn’t move it as much, but then you lose some because of the greater drop of the pellet at longer ranges.
Summary of Pellet size:For hunting squirrels and rabbits, a .177 gun is perfect. They are easy to shoot have a flat trajectory and ammo is easy to find. As a first gun, I’d always pick a .177. Get one, learn to shoot it, before moving on to the others.
The .22 guns to me are better for hunting, especially if you are shooting groundhogs, raccoons, and possums. However, a good .177 gun can take these down as well with good shot placement , so don’t let me leave you with the impression you need a .22 gun for hunting-you don’t. What I like about the larger caliber is that because of the higher foot pounds of energy it is a little more forgiving to shot placement. As I tend to get excited when I hunt, I need all of the advantages I can get!
What kind of gun would you buy? Pump Guns:To me it is easy for the pump guns and it is Benjamin/Sheridan. I have a Sheridan 5mm air gun I’ve had for FORTY YEARS! It still shoots pellets in a single hole out to 25 yards. My hope is to pass this gun on to one of my children and they can use it for another lifetime.
Spring Air Guns: The Walmart ConundrumMost folks buy their first air guns locally at the big box stores like Dicks, Walmart, or Gander Mountain. I bought my Gamo Whisper from Dick’s in Louisville, KY. My dad bought me my Sheridan 5 mm pump gun at Kmart in 1971. This goes to show you can get some decent guns at these places. However, you won’t usually find the higher end guns from RWS, Beeman, etc at these places.
What you might find locally?At my local stores you can usually find the following guns:
Gamo Whisper
Gamo Varmint Hunter
Crossman Quest
Ruger Air Hawk
Remington Vantage
Crossman Phantom
Gamo Shadow
Benjamin Super Streak
Various Daisy and Crossman pump guns
Commentary:
Some folks swear by these guns, but usually after they have been tuned or tweaked. Most of them are sub-$200 and come with inexpensive scopes. The Super Streak is a magnum air gun, and I wouldn’t suggest it for a first time buyer. Honestly though I love my Whisper, I wouldn’t suggest the Gamo guns for a first purchase until you’ve been educated a bit about the trigger problems with them.
If I had to buy something locally, I think I’d grab an Air Hawk or one of the Crossman guns. The Crossman guns have great access to parts and customer service. The Air Hawk is a clone of the Diana Model 34 and has a pretty decent trigger right out of the box.
Where else to buy?If you have the Sportsmans Channel you should know about Pyramid Air Guns. They are a huge seller of air guns! However, they aren’t the only place to look. There are many good dealers all across this great country. Get on the GTA forum and ask around. You may also want to check out the “Bargain Gate” to see who is selling what. You’ll quickly learn which guns are clones of other guns and where to pay the least for what you want.
What would you buy if you could buy anything? That really depends on your price range-great answer huh? If I had to pick a gun in the medium price range that has a reputation for accuracy and reliability I’d pick a RWS 34. It is one of the most common air guns in the world and most folks after a time can work on them by themselves. You’ll spend from about $180 all the way up to $300 for a combo. It is simply a gun that you will be able to hand down after you are done with it.
For a less expensive gun in the $100 range, perhaps a Ruger Air Hawk since it is the clone of the 34 and uses the same spare parts.
WARNING: Every air gunner has an opinion and most of them own several rifles! Don’t take what I’m saying as gospel get out there and find out yourself! I’ve said if I could only own three guns that I like, I’d own a RWS 350, a 34, and a Beeman R-9. I say that and then I want a Cometa Fusion or something else strikes my eye.
Medium to Higher End Air Guns:There are LOTS of guns in this category that work great for hunting. Most of these start at around $300 and go up to $500, more if you need a scope. The Beeman R-9 is in this category and the Cometa Fusion.
Magnum Air Rifles:If you are an air gun newbie-stay away from the magnums! They have a high appeal because of their raw power. Mostly stay away because they are hard to shoot, heavy, hard to cock, and hard on scopes. They also have tendencies that will annoy you as well such as the stock screws always coming loose.
To educate you further, I’ll name a few of the magnum guns:
RWS 350 and 48 (also the clones of these rifles)
Sheridan Super Streak
Walther Talon Magnum
TF 89
These guns all hit a ton, but all have their problems being magnum guns. My personal preference is the 350, but it is an expensive air gun going for around $400 to nearly $500 with a scope. The Superstreak has gotten mixed reviews from the community. Folks that can tinker with them find them to be okay, but a novice will have his hands full with one.
The wide range of comments about the Walther made me stay away from them. It is a love/hate thing with some folks. My choice for a first magnum is the TF-89 Contender from Compasseco. It hits hard and you can get it without as scope for under $140. It has a decent trigger that can be adjusted to make it better.
Clones? What are they?Most of the expensive air guns come from Europe. They just have a long tradition of air gun excellence. These guns are so good that folks have “cloned” them. That means that you can buy a replica of the expensive guns, usually made in China.
While the quality isn’t horrible, for the most part it isn’t as good as the original. That is where “tuning” comes into play. You can buy and inexpensive Chinese clone gun, send it to a master tuner, and it will usually shoot as good as the original costing two to three times as much.
For a first hunting gun, I’d for certain consider buying a tuned clone. They are virtually identical to the original and have the advantage of being tuned. If you want a tuned Beeman R-9, it could run you $600 without a scope or anything else. A tuned BAM clone of the Beeman will run you around $215.
The disadvantage of clones is they have very little re-sale value unless tuned by a master. However since you don’t have too much in them, you don’t mind taking them in the woods either. I cringe every time I take my RWS 350 into thick brush from my fear of scratching it.
Pellets?There are SO many kinds of pellets! That is the one thing that I have a hard time deciding when I order new pellets is which type, weight and brands. The one thing you must be certain of is that certain guns shoot certain pellets better than others. It could even be the same make and model and they will like certain pellets better! When you get your gun you may want to order a pellet variety pack from a dealer. That way you can figure out what works for you.
The rule of thumb for hunting pellet is to use a quality domed pellet or pellets specifically designed for hunting. You don’t necessarily want the heaviest pellet either though it seems you would. What you need is a good compromise pellet that allows you to shoot accurately at almost any range. A heavy pellet will usually shoot fine up close, but at longer ranges they have a trajectory like a basketball.
My personal hunting pellets for all my guns are Crossman Premier Hollow Points and the Predator Hunting pellets. The Crossman pellets are easily found locally which makes them probably the most common hunting pellet used today. My Whisper likes the pointed Crossman hunting pellets as it shoots them with deadly accuracy. My point? Accuracy is probably more important than anything else. You need to make precise shots with air guns and no matter the pellet if it doesn’t hit the animal in a lethal zone you aren’t going to bring it down.
For larger game such as raccoons and possums, the harder pellets seem to work best. In this case don’t worry about damage, worry about getting a pellet into the brain. The softer pellets might deform or even skip off the thick skull of a possum. A harder alloy makes the Crossman Premier Hollow Points my first choice for the bigger animals. The other thing that makes them ideal is my air gun can shoot them into a single hole at 20 yards-that is the best reason to select them.
Summary:Hunting with air guns is a lot of fun and challenging. Most of the time you’ll need to hit the animal in the head for a humane kill. Air guns simply lack the knock down power of powder burning guns. On the other hand any good quality air gun can hit the eye of a squirrel at 20 yards with deadly precision and results.
Also check your regulations about shooting air guns. Only a mile away in the city limits, I would get a ticket for discharging an air gun if I got caught. They also look a LOT like a “real” gun so be careful if you see the cops. Don’t explain to them, just drop it! Once they realize it is an air gun it will be okay.
What do you do when you have a critter lined up? Take my advice-
ONLY SHOOT THEM IN THE HEAD! Learn where the “fuse box” is on each of the animals you hunt and where to aim at on their head. Body shots are not acceptable with pump guns or springers. All you will get is a wounded animal. These guns don’t have the power to knock things down and depending on the pellet you’ll have minimal pellet expansion and therefore damage.
Also don’t be tempted to shoot larger game like Coyotes or Foxes. While I have no doubt my 350 magnum could put one down if shot properly, I’d never attempt it. For the big stuff- get out your powder burners. (Note: There are pre-charged pneumatic air guns that approach the knock down power of powder guns, but that is for another article or for you to research).
Lastly, I can’t say enough about joining the GTA Air Gun forum. There are just so many great , friendly, helpful folks on there! Some of these guys I now consider friends though I’ve never met them! We correspond almost daily-I don’t correspond with my family that much. LOL! :-P
I hope you enjoyed the article and I hope it helps you. If you are considering hunting with a pump or spring air gun, take the time to learn about them first. Contact someone locally (like me) that has a bunch of them. Air gunners are proud of their guns and usually don’t mind folks shooting them and trying them out.
Atchman
