Pellet gun for backyard farting around

Frack N Cylons

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I've been contemplating picking up a pellet gun to shoot in the backyard. This seemed like the right forum....

I don't really want anything terribly expensive or powerful, just something that can hit a soda can at maybe 30 yards. Not super loud is a plus. Does anyone have a suggestion?

Note that I know next to nothing about pellet guns. One of those break barrel jobs seems better so i don't have to buy CO2.
 
I've got a Gamo Silent Cat I think. Pretty accurate, fairly quiet with heavy pellets, super Sonic's are noisy. Terrible ergos, and light enough it's hard to hold steady. Kills cans, squirrels, and paper just fine. Will find something heavier some day.
 
I had the same itch a while back with an added want to dispatching squirrels. After much research from top end to junk, I settled on the Gamo Hornet Maxim that’s available off the shelf at Academy for $150. The built-in “suppressor” doesn’t make a huge difference to me. Not like a firearm suppressor. The factory scope is good enough for backyard plinking.
https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/gamo-hornet-maxxim-22-caliber-air-gun#repChildCatid=3659570

Then I picked up a Ruger AirHawk Elite II from a forum member for $50. After replacing the scalpel with a cheap-o from Amazon, the thing is a tick driver with the right pellets. This rifle is heavier than the Gamo. Good for bench shooting but bad for carrying around.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ruger-Ai...Air-Rifle-Black-Stock-UMAREX-AIRGUNS/54601648

If you’re in a suburban neighborhood, both of these rifles will draw attention from the shot noise. If you’re in a slightly rural neighborhood (1-acre lots) you can probably hoot with little to no attention.
 
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We have a couple of Red Ryder BB guns that I got for my kids last Christmas. I set up shingle step flashing oriented as a diamond and nailed to a 1x1 (it’s hammered flat so it’s a diamond) I shoot at the 20-30 yards all the time and have a blast. Kinda lob them but it’s predictable. Kids shoot from about 15 and love it. The step flashing is nailed loose and makes a good sound and swings a bit but no holes.

I’ve got something that is 1000 FPS and is pellets only. I stretch it out to 40-50 yards and it will puncture the aluminum step flashing. I’m going to set up something thicker further into the brush line for it. But since I primarily shoot with the kids (and the 1000fps jumps and bit, we stick to the Red Ryder 90% of the time.
 
I have a $30 crossman from walmart and a $6 tasco scope on top. Nice little pest gun and yeah it would hit a can at 30 yards with crossman pellets.

Zerod it on a little steel pig I bought at a gunshow.
 
I picked up a used Daisy 853 from the CMP for under $100 a number of years ago. A good plinker and paper puncher for the money. I wouldn't use it to dispatch any game though.

DaisyUsed_w.jpg


Current price is $105 + shipping.
http://thecmp.org/cmp_sales/rifle_sales/air-rifles/sporter-air-rifles/
 
I got a benjamin EB20 .20 CO2 pistol that is the most accurate airgun I've ever shot one handed. My Crosman 2240 is a close second mainly because it has a 14" barrel. It plinks the 25yd steel pretty damn nicely with Crosman Premium .22 pellets
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I have the Gamo Bull Whisperer. Marketed as the 'quiet gun'. BS. The .177 pellets tear out of the break-barrel at over 1300 fps, making it even louder than .22LR. A .22 pellet rifle normally is under 1000 fps, making it fairly quiet. I shoot from part way up my staircase out the front door to nail squirrels; most of the sound stays inside and the neighbors don't see it. A Benjamin is a good choice.
 
For a good time add a small drop of oil into the chamber of your break barrel. Adds 20db and 200fps...
 
I bought a gamo break barrel 8-10 years ago but really didn't use it much because of how loud it was. Ended up buying a Benjamin Discovery with a moderator and hand pump. That thing was a blast. From there, added a couple of the Benjamin Marauder rifles and last year added a Marauder Pistol. I have a little range setup at home. I can be out shooting and my neighbors won't even notice.
 
I've been contemplating picking up a pellet gun to shoot in the backyard. This seemed like the right forum....

I don't really want anything terribly expensive or powerful, just something that can hit a soda can at maybe 30 yards. Not super loud is a plus. Does anyone have a suggestion?

Note that I know next to nothing about pellet guns. One of those break barrel jobs seems better so i don't have to buy CO2.
There is a decent one in the bst here

I go to winston on occasion and I could bring it back
 
Our local ordinances prohibit just about anything that can send something downrange including archery equipment and slingshots.
That's thr case for many "inside city/ town limits. "
In Kernersville we were in the county. So I made a small archery range in thre backyard.

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk
 
That looked like a nice one, just sold it today. Thanks for the offer!
Did you decide on a pellet gun yet?

I’ve had a Gamo 880 hunter for almost 2 decades, actually wore out the fist one and sent it in to Gamo and they sent me a brand new one.
Whacked more squirrels than I care to think about with them.

RWS has been in the game a long time, and that one you are looking at had iron sights.... definitely a nice thing to have
 
RWS is one of the better I've ever used. Powerful too!

I have a Ruger (Gamo) thats a great little gun. Came with a scope and is very powerful for the #125 or so I paid for it. Easily dispatches the feral cats in the area!
 
Did you decide on a pellet gun yet?

I’ve had a Gamo 880 hunter for almost 2 decades, actually wore out the fist one and sent it in to Gamo and they sent me a brand new one.
Whacked more squirrels than I care to think about with them.

RWS has been in the game a long time, and that one you are looking at had iron sights.... definitely a nice thing to have

I'm still a bit conflicted. One side of my mental argument says get something cheap. After all, all I'll be doing is hitting a 4" plate or soda can in my backyard. The other side says buy once cry once and get a quality rifle. This side of the argument is probably the RWS34 which gets nothing but rave reviews. Of course, the RWS34 hovers just under $300.

Maybe a pistol would be better to up the challenge.

Im going to ponder it for a bit more. I do appreciate all the input everyone.
 
I've found that many (most?) .177 pellet rifles don't have the oomph to take out a gray squirrel without perfect shot placement in the ear. I later upgraded to a Benjamin Marauder .22 PCP rifle. The Marauder is probably more than you want, but it's a fantastic air rifle.
 
I've decided that, when I have funds available, I'm going to go with a .22 Diana RWS 34. No scope, just trying to keep it as simple as possible.

They're a little spendy, but I'd rather just get something I like right out of the gate. They seem to get nothing but fantastic reviews.

I picked .22 not really to up my hunting game but just to simplify cleaning. I won't need a new rod or brushes or anything. Pellets are a little more but not much.

I shall report back.
 
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I've decided that, when I have funds available, I'm going to go with a .22 Diana RWS 34. No scope, just trying to keep it as simple as possible.

They're a little spendy, but I'd rather just get something I like right out of the gate. They seem to get nothing but fantastic reviews.

I picked .22 not really to up my hunting game but just to simplify cleaning. I won't need a new rod or brushes or anything. Pellets are a little more but not much.

I shall report back.

Don't be afraid to try many different brands and weights of pellets. My Benjamin Marauder loves Gamo Masterpoint 15.4 grain pellets, but doesn't do as well with JSB or H&N pellets of the same weight. Anything 14 grains or less is really erratic through my air rifle. Enjoy the testing!
 
Don't be afraid to try many different brands and weights of pellets. My Benjamin Marauder loves Gamo Masterpoint 15.4 grain pellets, but doesn't do as well with JSB or H&N pellets of the same weight. Anything 14 grains or less is really erratic through my air rifle. Enjoy the testing!
My 22 Marauder does well with Crosman premiers which is nice because they are cheap. My 177 marauder does not do well with them. It likes the JSB 10.34. Definitely need to get a variety of pellets to try with a new gun. My dad has a RWS 34 and he hated it to start. Not accurate at all with the pellets he started with. Settled on some now and he is completely happy.
 
I thought the talk about different pellets was just people being picky—I’ve never seen a crazy spread when it comes to “real” bullets. But pellets are a whole ‘nother ball game. There are multi packs on Amazon for cheap.
 
This is the way I practice for long range matches.I shoot .177 through a ruger it likes Winchester round nose. I have small plate steel setup in the woods across from my front porch it’s a dove killing machine.
 
Diana 34 .177 with several pellet types in bound.

Not sure what exactly changed my mind from .22.

Should be poppin soda cans by the weekend.
 
Let me save you much frustration in switching from firearms to air/spring-powered:


If you haven't noticed yet from your research, the Brits are forerunners in the world of air rifles. I guess it's from not being allowed to play with real guns.
 
If you haven't noticed yet from your research, the Brits are forerunners in the world of air rifles. I guess it's from not being allowed to play with real guns.

Sadly - the Brits are restricted to low energy air rifles. Anything higher than 12 ft/lbs of energy is classified as a FIREARM over there, and is still highly restricted.
 
I've seen some videos of Australians and I think some South Africans hunting invasive birds. They have got those things figured out for sure. Landing headshots on pigeon sized birds in wind at pretty good distances.
 
I've a RWS 48 in 22 caliber, it was a bear to learn how to shoot a group. The recoil has destroyed two scopes designed for springer rifles.
 
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Get a magnum powered air rifle (rated >1000 fps in .177) but either in 22 or shoot heavy 177 pellets, this will keep your velocities subsonic and much quieter. Actually an unsupressed 22 rifle shooting Colibri or CB caps is even quieter, but probably not legal.

Break barrel springers are inexpensive but can vibrate excessively, to me that impacts the enjoyment of shooting them. PCP is the way to go if you can afford it.

Don't put oil in the bore, it causes dieseling and yes will boost the velocity but also produce erratic velocities affecting accuracy and eventually damage the rifle. Once you do it it will diesel for a long time, takes a while to remove itself unless you manually clean the bore.

Don't put a scope on an airgun unless it is airgun rated. Even high dollar firearm scopes will succumb to the bi-directional vibration of an airgun, especially the springers.

I've always wanted an Air Force SS, but have never justified the $. https://www.airforceairguns.com/
 
Get a magnum powered air rifle (rated >1000 fps in .177) but either in 22 or shoot heavy 177 pellets, this will keep your velocities subsonic and much quieter. Actually an unsupressed 22 rifle shooting Colibri or CB caps is even quieter, but probably not legal.

Break barrel springers are inexpensive but can vibrate excessively, to me that impacts the enjoyment of shooting them. PCP is the way to go if you can afford it.

Don't put oil in the bore, it causes dieseling and yes will boost the velocity but also produce erratic velocities affecting accuracy and eventually damage the rifle. Once you do it it will diesel for a long time, takes a while to remove itself unless you manually clean the bore.

Don't put a scope on an airgun unless it is airgun rated. Even high dollar firearm scopes will succumb to the bi-directional vibration of an airgun, especially the springers.

I've always wanted an Air Force SS, but have never justified the $. https://www.airforceairguns.com/

This ^^^. These are all excellent points. I own a couple of springers and a PCP (Benjamin Marauder), and the initial cost of the PCP is pretty stout but you can buy a high-pressure hand pump for around $125 to charge it manually and get a lifetime of quiet enjoyment + a little exercise.
 
Don't put oil in the bore, it causes dieseling and yes will boost the velocity but also produce erratic velocities affecting accuracy and eventually damage the rifle. Once you do it it will diesel for a long time, takes a while to remove itself unless you manually clean the bore.
^^^^^^^
I unknowingly oiled my RWS 48 with a couple drops of CLP, the next shot sounded like a 22 rifle. The dieseling broke the compression spring into three pieces. Thankfully they have a lifetime warranty, they repaired, tested and sent it back I only used the correct oil after that.
 
^^^^^^^
I unknowingly oiled my RWS 48 with a couple drops of CLP, the next shot sounded like a 22 rifle. The dieseling broke the compression spring into three pieces. Thankfully they have a lifetime warranty, they repaired, tested and sent it back I only used the correct oil after that.
Wow, that's awesome customer service to cover that.
 
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