Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Air Guns air gun for ground hogs

I have a ground hog that took up residence under my walk down stairs to basement. And I think one under my deck. I live in suburban so I cannot use anything rimfire and above. Do you think an Air gun will kill a ground hog if shot from 15 yards? If not air gun then I guess bow and strings is another option. I've never owned an air gun which is why I am asking. Thanks in advance for any information. BTW none of my rimfires will take the shorts except I think my Marlin 39a might but will have to check.

Airguns will kill ground hogs easily, but if it's just to rid yourself of a couple varmints, just buy either CCI Quiets or CB Shorts. Either will work out of your Marlin & will be about as quiet as an airgun.
If you want an airgun anyway, a pneumatic (pump up) Benjaman or Sheridan in .22 or 5mm will do it for less than 2 bills new. There are several springers that will work and the precharged pneumatics, but those generally will put you into a higher price range.

22 long rifle will shoot shorts as the rimfire headspaces off the rim of the cartridge but may not function through the magazine, clip or tube.

I've killed groundhogs out to 25 yards with both a 177 and 22 airgun. You need a good shot to the head, but they'll kill them. The 22 does a better job than than the 177 though.

Killed a number of them in similar situation with 177 cal. Shot to the head will end it quick. To the lungs will send it to the hole to die.

tmitch is right about the shorts feeding through your 39. I used to load up a bunch and crank away.

I'd suggest the segmented Quiet .22s for your task. Not as accurate as the solids, but should be better killers. At the range you describe, no matter. I'd still aim for the head. Make sure you check the sighting.

None of this is meant to discourage you from getting an airgun, if that's what you really want, but $8.00 for a box of ammo beats a C-note or two for getting rid of one critter. Another option is a Havahart live-trap. Some animal control offices will loan them out. Just be sure you take them twice as far as you think you should before letting them go!

How about a crossbow https://goo.gl/QDaqhM for sure, that should do it and probably doesn't need to be an expensive sophisticated one, just to be accurate enough

My FX Verminator airgun shoots arrows too. Not cheap though.

I give 100 or so of these the old dirt nap with my Beeman R9 each year.

I got a fifty dollar pawn shop Crosman Nitro Piston .22 that will shread a steel can at 60 yards, so I'd guess a groundhog at 15 yards would be dead meat.

It's much quieter than CB Shorts.

Head shots the best and as stated the 22s are more than 2x the 177s. Dont forget that when these residents are gone the vacuum created will attract new colonists. Some time filling the burrows with broken glass and finishing the job with a nice packed plug of the vacant burrow with at least 12" of dirt/topsoil. Be on the look out for newbees, as soon as the crop of young is weaned theyll be out looking for new "digs"

Single-feed 22CB caps into any 22 LR-capable rifle. Done.

CB caps are quieter than a pellet rifle. They do a far more thorough job.

Otherwise, buy a Havahart. Take the captures to your Mother-in-law's.

In many locals air guns are treated as firearms so it's illegal to discharge them in town.

CB longs are better.

i got both a 22 & 25 caliber Marauder, both with kill groundhogs, 25 cal does it better and farther

Hi Centershot - what caliber is that R9? they are very nice rifles!

If it's just one I'd just get a trap of your choice for a few bucks and either shoot it or drown it after trapping. generally where there's one there is more tho. I've had luck on a couple Ghogs with a RWS34 in 22 cal. shots limited to about 25 yds

.22 cal. I have owned several .177's and 22's - the .22 is a superior hunting caliber. Quicker cleaner kills with the .22.

I've used .177 RWS Model 45 and also a .22 RWS Model 48. Head shots kill them where I can collect them.

A body shot will kill them but then they'll run under my shed and I'll "smell victory" a couple of days later.

Dan

Glad I don'thave to worry about such things. Shot one in my wifes flower bed just this afternoon out my living room window with my .22 mag... There are certain advantages to living in the country.