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Joined: Nov 2003
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Campfire Ranger
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OP
Campfire Ranger
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I have an R9 in 177 that I shoot generic RWS super dome pellets from as they are available from Bass pro shop and accurate in the gun. I am getting a bit frustrated with it shooting squirrels off my bird feeder at 25 yards, unless I make a head shot it does not kill them fast enough and they run back into the woods. This bothers me as it is tough to get a follow up shot and then the animal dies a slow death, unsporting even on tree rats.
I am thinking of selling my .177 and buying a 20 cal R9.
Is this worth the effort in terms of better lethality?
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,978
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2004
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No...
As much as I love Beemans AND spring guns..
They are not really serious hunting rifles compared to PCPs.
Get a .22 Crosman Disco /hand pump combo for $369 from Pryamid and drop the hammer on those squirrels.
A 16g JSB at over 800 FPS knocks the schit out of any Squirrel inside 50 yards even with a chest hit.
Kills them quicker than most 22LRs
Keep your .17 R-9 as an "Homage" to fine German craftsmanship and the past..
But KILL the squirrels with the Disco.
To all gunmaker critics- "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena.."- Teddy Roosevelt
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 298
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 298 |
Keep the R9 and buy a .20 barrel for it. Or, take a look on the airgun forums classifieds and swap you're gun for it. What's happening is that you're shooting the squirrels at a close range and getting pass through. With a larger caliber you'll do more damage and have less of a chance of those tree rats from getting away.
PM me and I'll send you a link to a airgun classifieds where you can either sell the gun, or, buy another one. Great deals and a lot of the guns are tuned. These guys are hardcore airgunners.
S.W.A.G. it
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 24,311
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 24,311 |
jimmyp ,
I bought several brands and types of pellets to see what my .177- 1,000fps rifle liked. Turns out that the expierenced people who shoot pellet rifles a lot were right -the flat tip match pellets are "usually" very accurate and kill very well also. I shot all types of pellets at ground squirrels here in idaho so i am basing this expierence on having shot a full tin of different types of pellets from pointed to round nose to flat tip. I knew the flat tip shot great and killed great but i needed to use up the remaining pellets ,after shooting hundreds of ground squirrels there is no denying the flat point pellet is a killer.
I just recently handled and shot a PCP gun -a .22 maruader -i can't say enough good about what i've seen this thing do. Shot a couple of pidgeons with it today -PING -THUMP down goes a pidgeon.
Last edited by ol_mike; 03/17/10.
PRESIDENT TRUMP 2024/2028 !!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Bristoe The people wringing their hands over Trump's rhetoric don't know what time it is in America.
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Joined: Nov 2003
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Campfire Ranger
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OP
Campfire Ranger
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you make a good point. I think I will find and buy some flat tipped match pellets first! two types of Beeman pellets and these RWS pellets while accurate don't have the "stopping power" that is required for the monster squirrels here in GA!
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 16,512
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 16,512 |
I think there is a 9.5 or 10.5gr flat/wadcutter, RWS makes some IIRC, considered 'heavies' and the weight, lower speed, and frontal area causing greater shock will show you a different pic.
OTOH, I do have a .20 R9, and 14.5 premiers hammer squirrels. I have done in my share as well w/177s, from light sporter to mag class, i.e. 675-900 fps. All kill, faster ones at longer distances. Domes are my 'go to' but slower airguns can benefit from the Superpoint, whereas high powered AGs do better w/heavier flat/domes.
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 18,304
Campfire Ranger
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OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2003
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Joined: Nov 2003
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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thanks for all the replies. I am going to try a flat match pellet first to see if the results vary. If not then its a 20 or 22 I suspect in my future.
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 24,311
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 24,311 |
Get what you want of coarse but i'd go .22 .
PRESIDENT TRUMP 2024/2028 !!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Bristoe The people wringing their hands over Trump's rhetoric don't know what time it is in America.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,096
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,096 |
I have the rifle oldman 1942 suggested and it will take care of your squirrel problem. It is very accurate. Add a barrel shroud and you have very quiet. It will shoot a 26 grain pellet at 850fps or faster.
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 18,304
Campfire Ranger
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OP
Campfire Ranger
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thanks shot two today at about 25 or so, one dead with a head shot on the spot the other runs into the neighbors yard to die...great..
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 24,311
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Oct 2006
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PRESIDENT TRUMP 2024/2028 !!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Bristoe The people wringing their hands over Trump's rhetoric don't know what time it is in America.
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 18,304
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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same ones I need to get to Bass Pro today. I have actually had them fall over from shoulder shots get up and run into the neighbors yard or run back into the woods. I am going to find some flat pellets today.
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 14,370
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 14,370 |
thanks for all the replies. I am going to try a flat match pellet first to see if the results vary. If not then its a 20 or 22 I suspect in my future. Jimmyp...I'm gonna be dropping the hammer on one of these pretty soon... http://www.pyramydair.com/p/Benjamin-Marauder-air-rifle.shtml read the reviews if you get a chance. They also have a couple of videos worth watching. While springers are good guns, I'd wager that if you had a good PCP sitting next to it, you'd opt for the PCP every time.
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,168
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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thanks for all the replies. I am going to try a flat match pellet first to see if the results vary. If not then its a 20 or 22 I suspect in my future. Jimmyp...I'm gonna be dropping the hammer on one of these pretty soon... http://www.pyramydair.com/p/Benjamin-Marauder-air-rifle.shtml read the reviews if you get a chance. They also have a couple of videos worth watching. While springers are good guns, I'd wager that if you had a good PCP sitting next to it, you'd opt for the PCP every time. Man what an accurate rifle, a bit big, but I have found that accuracy trumps ugly. Killed about four big squirrels with my open sighted Diana 34 .177 using the Beeman Silver Sting pointed pellets recently. I can get within 30 feet for most shots, but unless I hit them in the head another one or two shots is needed. The last squirrel was cork screwing up a cedar elm after a good hit, as i was stalking it, sucker plopped dead on my head. Bought my son the Diana 240 .177 youth gun, around 500 fps, it kills just a bit better than the 34 using Gamo flat match pellets, may be due to the tru-glo sights which are easier to hit with. That Benjamin is a bit pricey, but as it is getting too scary to use my Sako .22lr Quad out here anymore, that Benjamin looks like a must have tool.
"Knowledge is good" � Emil Faber
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Joined: Nov 2003
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Campfire Ranger
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OP
Campfire Ranger
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I watched both video's, very impressive. How will you charge your rifle?
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 14,370
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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I'll be getting the hand pump with it. I don't know if I mentioned it but I owned a FX Black Widow (PCP) in .22 cal. for a while. I have the scuba tanks already because I dive on occasion. The scuba tanks are great IF you just want to sit in one spot & plink away a tin or three of pellets, but the hand pumps are not all that difficult to use. I'll probably buy a few bulk co2 bottles in case something happens to the pump though. The only reason I sold the FX was because it was too loud & the neighbors I had at the time, weren't too keen on my thinning out the squirrels.
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Joined: Nov 2003
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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my problem exactly regards the neighbors. I used to use a 22 with CB caps in a 1950's edition Marlin 39, I killed the livin pxss out of them for years with that old rifle. Love that gun...
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Joined: Nov 2006
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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I
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