Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Air Guns How is a Beeman R1 for squirrel duty?

I have to eliminate some squirrels from around the house, and live too close to neighbors for even a .410. Have used CB caps, and they're OK, but still a bit noisy.

I need accuracy, reasonable power, and reasonable price - I'm not looking for an Olympic competition level rifle.

What say ye? If the R1 is a good pick, do we go with the .20 as Mr. Bird did in his foray against the pigeons?

Thanks,
Mainframe

The Beeman R1 is a fine airrifle and will do well for squirrels,small birds etc.I personally like the .22.But the .20 is also said to be very good.The .22 ammo is more easily available and in greater variety.The european version is the Weihrauch 85,if I remember correctly.
The airarms TX 200 or the prosport are also excellent (spring) air guns.

My .177 is a little small but works at close range, 20 yards or so,,,at 10 yards it works verrry well. I would go with the .20,,,,and order a pile of pellets

One thing to remember is that beeman dosn't make any air guns,,,,they have them made, sometimes you can find the exact same gun cheaper from another company under a different name.

My .22 RWS makes more noise than my .22 cartridge rifle when I load it with the Anguila Super Colabri rounds. A 20 gr. bullet driven by the primer only. Virtually no noise. Something to try while waiting to buy the air rifle.

Which is why I don't own an air rifle.

My Win. M60A single shot .22 does the same thing with the Rem., Win., and CCI .22 Short CB loads.

DEADLY out to 40-50 yards (4 groundhogs last summer alone at between 35 and 50 yards).

I started out 40+ years ago with a JC Higgins single-shot and a box of .22 shorts. Now I love to roam the woods with a Marlin 39a and a half-box of CBs in the tube. I guess you can take the boy out of the country . . .

The 39A stoked with CB's is the Crow Killingest sumbitch ever invented.

I have 3 of 'em,set up expressly for the purpose....................

My hw-97 is very quiet and works well on squirrels.

I used an R1 for just that purpose, I would stress the use of match or HP pellets as pointed ones over-penetrate in a sub urban enviornment. An unusual note, a chest shot R1 squirrel is often dropped dead on impact. You will use the airgun much more than you may think! Buy it.

When driven fast those HP's sure smack 'em hard. My RWS 48 in .22 works well with them.

I have a R1 in 177, and wish I can gone bigger

When you say bigger do you mean overall, or bigger bore on the R1 platform? I think the R1 comes into balance nicely as a .20 caliber. The bigger spring piston powerplants like my 48 get more wallop out of the .22 bore than they do from the .177. I bought it as a killing rifle for small vermin. For plinking I have an old Gamo .177 that's lighter, easier to cock and cheaper to shoot.

One thing to think of and this obviously only applies to city dwellers, is that even a CB cap is considered "discharging a firearm" - definitely a big legal no-no. Where I used to live (emphasis on used to) there was an ordinance against discharging firearms anywhere in the entire county even if you weren't in any city limits.

Now those same cities probably frown on pellet rifles too but the cops and prosecutors would be a lot less likely to get their panties in a wad about someone "discharging a BB gun" - even if that "BB gun" has a higher MV and more energy than a .22 cap.

I liked my R1 a lot. Mine was a .177 it did have a jolt that you will get used to,it is a high quality weapon that you will be proud to own. It will kill squirrels very easily. I shot mostly crows with mine. I sold mine for some dumb reason many years ago. I still have my Sheridan 5mm if I get another air rifle I would'nt hesitate to buy another R1, .20 cal this time.
Sure are a lot of neat pellets now a days.
TTFN
Matt

If I may add a comment to the R-1 question. Most any quality air rifle is easily capable of squirrel elimination and the R-1 is an excellent choice. The rifle is a bit overpowered for .177 cal but perfect for .20 and .22. If you are choosing a .177 do try the heavy 10 plus grain pellets. The heavier pellets lessen the piston slamming home thus reducing recoil slightly, also the reason why the R-1 is better in .20 or .22. My own custom tuned R-1 does 825 fps with 15 grain pellet and has shot 5 shot 3/4" groups at 50 yds. To date I have taken two crows at 75 yds with head shots, (have witnesses) This is an excellent choice as a hunting rifle.

KenR
Airshot

The R-1 would be an excellent choice, caliber is a personal choice. The R-1 (HW-80) is designed for .22 cal, the recoil can be a bit harsh in the .177 unless heavy pellets are used. This helps slow down the hammer of the piston bottoming out on discharge, for this reason the .20 and .22 can be a bit smoother. A good tune will smooth it even more noticably. My own custom tuned R-1 in .22 cal will shoot 5 shot 3/4" groups at 50 yards which will rival some serious rimfire shooters. Best shots to date are two crows at 75 yds on different days of course. R-1 is a great choice as a hunter.....

KenR
Airshot