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I've killed some squirrels with my old Daisy breakbarrel .177 but are .22 really the way to go for small game? I'm looking at getting an RWS 34
(I'm a newbie to real airguns)
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If small game that your looking to kill, save your buck and get a benjamin marauder. I would say go 25, but a 22 will do. I have both, the 22 kills the 25 does it 5 times better.
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I would second the Marauder, however the air supply for PCPs is daunting for some. I have a .25 and in the realm of airguns, it's a killer. If you go with the RWS 34, for small game I would pick the .22.
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For sure the 25 Mod is a killing machine, 3/8" groups are no problem at 100 yards. There a lot cheaper than using a 22LR with the price of ammo now days, and I think it kills better than a 22LR. I have shot ground hogs out to 125 yards with it and they were drt
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I have an RWS 460 that is a serious weapon. With heavy dome pellets have killed Varmints as big as skunks @40 yards+.
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Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
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I set up a Discovery and had a lot of fun with it until the pump died. Wish I had gotten a Maurader from the get go. If I start over again doing pcp I will most likely get a Maurader in .22.
IMHO I think if you are likely to do a good bit of plinking oh can stick with the .22 and do just fine. You can find pellets locally and save a bit of change as well. If the purchase is strickly for hunting and you most likely won't put tens of thousands of pellets through it shooting paper and cans and random stuff (glass marbles is pretty fun) then the .25 would be a beast of a killing tool. Burn.23 grain pellets out of my nodded disco hit like a truck and would most likely penetrate to skull of anything I could want to hunt with it. I haven't measured or scoped it or anything but my .22 disco did everything a .22 short could do but a little quieter and cheaper a good bit cheaper. So I shot it a lot!
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For sure the 25 Mod is a killing machine, 3/8" groups are no problem at 100 yards. There a lot cheaper than using a 22LR with the price of ammo now days, and I think it kills better than a 22LR. I have shot ground hogs out to 125 yards with it and they were drt I think you spelled feet wrong.
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
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For sure the 25 Mod is a killing machine, 3/8" groups are no problem at 100 yards. There a lot cheaper than using a 22LR with the price of ammo now days, and I think it kills better than a 22LR. I have shot ground hogs out to 125 yards with it and they were drt I think you spelled feet wrong. No, that rifle will kill at that distance. Best I have done is killing a squirrel at 100 yards with mine. Killed hogs out to 50 yards, and coyotes past 40. I don't get 3/8" groups at 100 yards with mine though. 1 1/2" is my avg.
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I owned a Marauder but sold it. I didn't like dealing with the SCBA tank or hand pump. For a newbie to airguns, I'd look at a nice simple spring gun or even a Sheridan pump up. You still have a pumping issue with a Sheridan, but it's much lighter and you're not out a lot of money if you get tired of it. The RWS 34 the original poster recommended would be a good starting spring gun for hunting. And yes, the 22 has the edge for killing pests.
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
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I like the air tank. I shoot the Marauder very often. Nearly daily. Only fill it about once a year. If I start shooting the Rogue .357 caliber, it uses way more air, though.
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I did spell feet right, YARDS. These are serious pellets rifles and this isn't even the most powerful ones you can get. Mine will fire a25 cal, 25.39gr pellet at just over 979fps
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I did spell feet right, YARDS. These are serious pellets rifles and this isn't even the most powerful ones you can get. Mine will fire a25 cal, 25.39gr pellet at just over 979fps Yes I know they are great rifles.I have owned one for a while.At 25 yrds they will rival any rimfire I own-several CZ's,tricked out 10/22's,52&75 winchesters etc.But you are not going to "easily" shoot 3/8" groups at 100 yards,nor will any rimfire ever made,and I have shot tens of thousands of rounds in rimfire benchrest competition.The Marauder is good for 1/2-5/8" at 50 yards on a good day,which is superb for what they cost.
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You didn't have your Marauder tuned right if you were getting 1/2" to 5/8" groups at 50 yards. I have a non tuned 22 Syn Mod that will do less than that at 50 yards, and I haven't done anything to it.
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You didn't have your Marauder tuned right if you were getting 1/2" to 5/8" groups at 50 yards. I have a non tuned 22 Syn Mod that will do less than that at 50 yards, and I haven't done anything to it. I am more interested in those "easy" 3/8" groups at 100 yards-I can only imagine how small your 50 yard groups are.Even with your tuned marauder you have 30% less energy than a high speed .22 short.I love my marauder,but you can tune until you are blue in the face and not come close to a standard .22 energy wise.Accuracy?I would be willing to bet you could shoot a dozen 5 shot groups and not come near .375".
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[quote=gemby58]You didn't have your Marauder tuned right if you were getting 1/2" to 5/8" groups at 50 yards. I have a non tuned 22 Syn Mod that will do less than that at 50 yards, and I haven't done anything to it. I am more interested in those "easy" 3/8" groups at 100 yards-I can only imagine how small your 50 yard groups are.Even with your tuned marauder you have 30% less energy than a high speed .22 short.I love my marauder,but you can tune until you are blue in the face and not come close to a standard .22 energy wise.Accuracy?I would be willing to bet you could shoot a dozen 5 shot groups and not come near .375". [/quote go over here ( http://www.marauderairrifle.com/forum/) and tell them what a 25 mod wont do and what your thoughts are.
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[quote=gemby58]You didn't have your Marauder tuned right if you were getting 1/2" to 5/8" groups at 50 yards. I have a non tuned 22 Syn Mod that will do less than that at 50 yards, and I haven't done anything to it. I am more interested in those "easy" 3/8" groups at 100 yards-I can only imagine how small your 50 yard groups are.Even with your tuned marauder you have 30% less energy than a high speed .22 short.I love my marauder,but you can tune until you are blue in the face and not come close to a standard .22 energy wise.Accuracy?I would be willing to bet you could shoot a dozen 5 shot groups and not come near .375". [/quote go over here ( http://www.marauderairrifle.com/forum/) and tell them what a 25 mod wont do and what your thoughts are. Spent plenty of time on that wonderful site! Have not been able to find any claims of "easy" 3/8" 100 yard groups. (or uneasy ones for that matter).
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Doesn't most guns shoot one hole groups on the internet??
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
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Doesn't most guns shoot one hole groups on the internet?? All Day Long, as well.
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Thanks for the info to all. I'm really not interested in a PCP rifle. I just don't shoot guns enough to justify the investment. I do realize they are powerful airguns.
I shoot my longbow every day and actually kill most squirrels, rabbits and other pests with an arrow. There are times I need a rifle but with less power than my 22lr.
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Buy the marauder and you will like it enough to justify the investment!I only have a Airforce hand pump and don't find it bad to use-but I weigh 265-I think it would be rough for a lightweight.The only thing I wish I would have done different is to not wait so long to buy one.Accurate,very quiet and plenty of ammo available.
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