what is the highest power pellet gun?

[CatatonicBug]

A call to the local animal control may get someone out with a trap to relocate the problem out of the city.

Not in my area. Animal control won't even come out unless there is a wild animal trapped INSIDE your house. They won't even come for a 'coon in the chimney, 'cause that's not technically INSIDE the house. We have so many squirrels, I can't plant anything in pots or flowerboxes, because they dig 'em up the very next day. Last spring, there were hundreds of tiny oak trees sprouting from my lawn, because they decided to tear up my grass all summer and fall, and plant the acorns in the lawn. Trouble is, you take one squirrel out, and there are 3 more to take it's place. It's a loosing battle...

[Pat Kelly]

I have a Benjamin .20 cal that has passed through 1/4" plywood and corrigated steel siding of the garage.
It does require being pumped, from 3 to 8 pumps. Very accurate and powerful.

[latexeses]

The bottom line is this..
If you live inside the city limits and you use something to kill or poison a game animal, (raccoon, squirrel) you are committing a crime.
In California you are committing several crimes, at least.
Be aware and have a good attorney.

[DJinNH]

Here ya go. I saw this in the "Cheaper Than Dirt" Magazine.

A golfball launcher for use with a .223 blank from an AR-15 or something similiar. That ought to teach them critters a lesson.

I think you may be required to yell "FOUR" before squeezing off a round.



Don

[mason79]

Here ya go. I saw this in the "Cheaper Than Dirt" Magazine.

A golfball launcher for use with a .223 blank from an AR-15 or something similiar. That ought to teach them critters a lesson.

I think you may be required to yell "FOUR" before squeezing off a round.



Don

yeah the round going off in city limits won't scare the bejesus outa sleeping neighbors....

[Pat Kelly]

A gunshot in LA..... That's never happened

[mason79]

A gunshot in LA..... That's never happened

LA is sprawling, not in my neighborhood

[wa407mpp]

you didn't hear this from me

To effectively reduce the sound of a shot, You must first understand that a gun shot is actually two separate sounds, the first sound is the muzzle blast which can be muffled by a silencer of some sort, the second sound is the crack of the bullet breaking the sound barrier, which means you need to use a slow moving round, lead unjacketed bullets ,750fps.or less, such as a 22 short or a down loaded pistol round, the most popular is the 9mm Parabellum, although there are some new reduced velocity 22 long rifle loads now being sold that have a sound signature of a cap gun, but I haven't seen any reports of anyone trying them for this purpose. You also need a closed breach, no revolvers, You don't have to completely eliminate these two sounds just reduce one or both of them so they will not be recognizes as what they are, or their source determined, That is why it is so important for a sniper to fire only one shot. It is very difficult to tell where a single shot came from and almost impossible if you eliminate one of the sounds, especially the sonic crack. Don't worry these are not state secrets only simple ballistics.

[mason79]

so are sniper shots subsonic?

[wa407mpp]

No, snipers use full power match target type rounds, they don't use silencers, after the shot everyone involved knows they are in the area, If possible snipers use their surrounding terrain to misdirect the sound of their shot, so it seems to come from a different direction, or all directions, then they leave the area as soon as possible before anyone can launch a search. If you want to explore the world of sniping, read the Ultimate Sniper, By Major John Plaster, Published by Paladin Press. It is a good place to start. In my spare time I'm a long distance plate buster, specializing is 600yd. and 1000yd. open terrain shooting, using a rifle in 6.5mm Swede, so I read the book to improve my shooting skills.

[Erik the Red]

They my only be varmits, but if you are going to kill them it should be a clean kill.

I agree with Tim. I'm not trying to sound like a PETA boob, but if you're going to end an animal's life, have the mercy to do so quickly.

A head shot if you're a good enough shot, or in the vitals. Don't use antifreeze. I believe it causes the kidneys to crystallize and it's reported to be very painful. Also as has been stated, you can't choose your target. It's like burying a land mine.

If you need a more personally relevant reason for an immediate kill, here you go: A wounded animal will go to where it feels safest. You do NOT want it to decide that under your porch, or house, behind the woodpile, etc... is the safest place. If you don't realize he went there to die, you sure will after a week or two of warm weather.

As for airguns, I have a Crossman. It's a pump, and I think 10 pumps will send a BB (.177) 1150 fps (if I remember correctly), and you can choose pellets or BB's. Good luck with your critter issue.

[Toolmaker Tim]

BB's or pellets

Don't use BB's, not enough penetration due to the lightness of steel. There are many pellets out there that are made for hunting or pest control, almost all are lead.

As far as an animal finding a "safe" place to hide, a clasmate of mine in high school had a raccoon crawl into his Dad's fireplace and die. You couldn't get the flue open to have it drop out, and it was a little too "degraded" retrieve out the top They went and stayed with the grandparents until they could get the lingering aura to fade. They seriously considered bricking up the fireplace and filling it with dirt.

[cywelchjr]

Don't use BB's, not enough penetration due to the lightness of steel. There are many pellets out there that are made for hunting or pest control, almost all are lead.

As far as an animal finding a "safe" place to hide, a clasmate of mine in high school had a raccoon crawl into his Dad's fireplace and die. You couldn't get the flue open to have it drop out, and it was a little too "degraded" retrieve out the top They went and stayed with the grandparents until they could get the lingering aura to fade. They seriously considered bricking up the fireplace and filling it with dirt.

I actually have never had trouble with "penetration" with bb's, but pellets do provide better killing power due to the softness of the lead and it's tendency to mushroom/deform on impact. My air rifle is pellets only, so I can't compare it with bb's, but my (former) air pistol used both and I got much better penetration with bb's, but transferred more energy to the target with pellets. (bb's would often go all the way through the rat/bird where the pellets would tend to knock them over and stay in them.)

[cywelchjr]

The bottom line is this..
If you live inside the city limits and you use something to kill or poison a game animal, (raccoon, squirrel) you are committing a crime.
In California you are committing several crimes, at least.
Be aware and have a good attorney.

In most cities firing an air gun is considered the same and firing a firearm. In most cases it's at least a misdemenor and in some cases a felony.

[cywelchjr]

Not in my area. Animal control won't even come out unless there is a wild animal trapped INSIDE your house. They won't even come for a 'coon in the chimney, 'cause that's not technically INSIDE the house. We have so many squirrels, I can't plant anything in pots or flowerboxes, because they dig 'em up the very next day. Last spring, there were hundreds of tiny oak trees sprouting from my lawn, because they decided to tear up my grass all summer and fall, and plant the acorns in the lawn. Trouble is, you take one squirrel out, and there are 3 more to take it's place. It's a loosing battle...

Squirrels are just evil incarnate.