I have an old MARINE CORPS buddy, Quagmire or Quag for short, that is interested in getting a Pellet Rifle to Kill Squirrels in Pecan trees. I sent him a link to this Board and he read all of your responses with great interest.

He said he found himself justifying the move from wanting a $120 Break Barrel up to the REALLY $$$expensive$$$ Pre-Charged styles. Then an hour or so passed and he came back to to the reality of it only being Squirrels at maybe 30yds max which did not justify $$$hundreds$$$ in expendatures.

Quag has a local Florida buddy with a $130-$180 Gammo 17cal who loaned it to him. Quag said the first shot made a B-O-I-N-G-G-G-G-G sound which seemed a bit loud. He was comparing it to a $20 Air Rifle he had gotten a good while back from Harbor Freight and thought the amount of Sound was quite similar. He is concerned that the Noise level will cause the Squirrels to head for cover after only one shot. Due to the Noise, he is now considering a Pump-Up Air Rifle of some sort.

So, his question to the Board is, "Do all the Spring Powered Air Rifles make the loud B-O-I-N-G sound?"
-----

Thanks for any insight you can provide my old buddy Quag.

Hot Core--I am amazed you of all people would send Quag out for squirrel with an air rifle--I know you know it takes a .300 mag minimum and better yet an Ackley Improved 45-70. But in answer to your question--spring airs make a whammy noise and have a whammy type recoil that takes a little getting used to. This same recoil is what wrecks scopes that aren't designed for such. Have Quag read the recent thread here on hunting squirrels with the Benjamin.

Hey Carpetman, Quag used to be fairly proficient with the M79 Grenade Launcher, Bazooka and he darned near beat "me" on the Parris Island Qualification with the M14. So, he is an Expert Marksman of the highest order.

At one time, he really prefered a gasoline and Diesel fuel mix to create dramatic explosive effects, becaue it would "run into" where you wanted to "make environmental changes."

He has any good number of Powder Powered arms that would do, but there is also a Noise Concern for the near-by neighbors. His desire is to keep it in somewhat of a Stealth Operation and still effect the Kills.
----

Called him a couple of years ago and asked what he was doing. He said, "Gathering up a mess of Squirrels."

I figured he had shot them, but no, it was a different operation he had going. He would Bait some Steel Traps with P-Nut Butter and hang them in trees near his garden about shoulder high. Then just go "gather" a mess of Squirrels from the Traps.

The Traps are not an option due to the location of the neighbors on this other property with the Pecan trees. So, some type of Air Rifle seems to be what he wants to try.

I'd mentioned the Blue Streak to him and told him he could listen to it over the phone if he wanted to.
-----

By the way, the latest NRA American Hunter had an ad for a 1200fps Gammo with a Sound Supressor on it. I'm guessing a Heavy Pellet would take care of that Sonic Crack noise anyhow. Looks like a gimic to me.

What do you think?

Does no one else notice a noise from their Spring? I was wondering if the Gammo just needed a Tune-Up or if that was normal.

If you do not, what Spring Powered Air Rifle are you all shooting?

Mine made noise, then after a couple years of excellent service the mainspring broke...

Wasn't Quagmire from Family Guy in the Marines too?

quote:

Originally posted by Tyler Kemp:
Wasn't Quagmire from Family Guy in the Marines too?

Hey Tyler, You are probably correct about that, but I've never seen that show.

My buddy Quag got his nickname from falling into the Quag on his way to the Hooch from the Slop Chute - a few times. That would have been in 1969. Then he ended up sticking a 6-by in there nose first during a Monsoon.
-----

What type of Air Rifle was it that had the Spring broke? Did you send it to get it repaired?

Tech Force 99 from China. It was really powerful for an airgun, .22 caliber, around 900 fps. It blew shampoo bottle in half. Anyways, Compasseco out of California I think said they would fix it for $25 plus shipping to them, but I figured I could just use CB shorts instead of cocking it every time. It was really loud, it didn't have the crack of the 22 (except with real light pellets), but I would say it was as loud. It was supersonic with light pellets, but accuracy wasn't there.

Hey Tyler, Thanks for the info and your thoughts on the CB Caps.

I think the pellet gun is more powerful than the CB's, maybe not in actual ft-lbs, but the results from the pellet gun were really impressive. You can scroll down on the airgun page, and see about my exploding pellets. They could really do some damage.

Hey Tyler, Quag has already read about the Primers glued to the Pellets in your post. It did get him a bit wound up, until I mentioned it "might" be breaking a Federal Law about manufacturing Exploding Devices.

I'd guess it depends on the view of the Law Enforcement guy that might find out about it. Some would no doubt lock-up a person using them and others might just laugh it off.

I'm not telling you what to do at all. Quag did enjoy your posts concerning it very much.

Best of luck to you.

Since my pellet gun broke the exploding pellets are defunct now. I'm not trying it on a gun that uses an explosion for energy.

Hey Tyler----is that powder burns on that target (your avatar)?

No it's the lead rings from a cast bullet.

Tyler---Was just pulling your chain. Do you cast your own? Most likely it's the lube used on cast bullets.

Nope, these were bought from Grafs, I think they are called Lazer-Cast? I got a bag of 100 that was unlabeled except .458 405 grain for a cheaper price.

Tyler--If you shoot many cast bullets,you might want to consider getting into casting your own.
Not rocket science and can be done fairly cheaply.

I don't shoot too many, and I only have one gun that shoots cast, I'll probably start when I get older, but not now.

Pre-charged with a proper silencer is the best set up, and Yes, you have to buy the tax stamp but it really makes a nice setup for small game. I've got a Gamo Whisper on order to see how well the non NFA/Title 2 technology has come along for a spring rifle. Have a range report in the next week. Don't worry Hot Core, I'll mostly be using it for culling does.

Anyway, for two and change I'm gonna see if it makes a nice knock around quiet spring gun.

Friend in Durban has a HW 100S Weihrauch with a proper silencer on it and it's great for francolins, squirrels, and monkeys. Sounds about as loud as the hammer fall dry firing a 1911.