Looking to get my first pellet gun. Mostly to take care of a rabbit and squirrel problem I have. What fps minimum would I need? Hoping to spend around $100. Saw on another thread that the Gamo red tipped .177 pellets should do the trick and perform well.
Thanks for the suggestions.
The Gamo Red Fire pellets in either .177 or .22 are mean deadly on critters up to coon in size. Experience here.
As for a gun, there are a ton on the market. Personally, and again from experience, I’d buy a rifle without a scope. Spend the extra money on a better gun. If you feel that you need to scope it, spend some money on an after-market scope made specifically for air rifles.
Those scopes that come with guns as a set tend to not hold up too well. If and when you do go with a scope, buy some medium set thread locking glue [Loctite] and use it liberally when you mount the scope. Use it on every screw that holds something to the receiver like a base and to all screws that secure the scope in the rings. I get the scope mounted tight and make sure eye relief and things are in order, then I loosen one screw at a time to apply the Loctite then tighten it immediately and very firmly. When all screws are treated and tight I let the gun sit over-night to let things cure up solid, then shoot away.
Hoping to spend around $100.
I’ve had a Crosman Vantage NP in .177 for a few years that’s right around that price point, and I have been very pleased with it. It’s very quiet, and it drops squirrels and varmints in their tracks. I like Crosman Ultra Magnums for pellets, but each gun is different.
I have a Beeman and it takes down rabbits, squirrels and a couple woodchucks (not in one shot).
My dad has a gamo, the stock busted and the spring broke. He sent it back last week and they are supposed to fix it free even though he has had it for 10 years. That is nice. He has another Gamo that he bought when the other one broke. He didn’t realize it had a great warranty or he would have sent if off long ago.
My gun came with .22 and .177 barrels. I have contemplated switching to the .22, but haven’t gotten around to it.
Tom is right, for the most part a scope is really not necessary since they aren’t meant for close range shooting. I use mine and it works fine, but I am sure I could be just as accurate without it. My dad ended up taking the scope off his because he couldn’t get it zeroed in for the close shots.
I shot mine without the scope for a while. I decided to put it on and try it, and so far, I’ve liked it. When it eventually craps out, I’ll decide what route I want to take.
Have been shooting a Gamo Varmint Stalker 1000 for a few years now, but replaced the BSA scope that came with it. A scope is a great benefit for my older eyes and I had a thirty year old Redfield 2 3/4 power hanging around so nothing to lose. Used to shoot only .177 pellets made in Germany, but can’t find them anymore, so bought a sample packet of Gamo ammo. Pleasantly surprise at the quality. The Red fires perform well, but my favorite is the rocket ammo. 60 yard shots on rabbit size game is not very challenging now. Actually shoot grackle or chipmunk size varmints at 60+ yards.
What is the equivalent to the Gamo Varmint Stalker 1000 that comes with iron sights?
My dad ended up taking the scope off his because he couldn’t get it zeroed in for the close shots.
That’s a common issue with the cheap scopes that come in package deals. I spent $50.00 and got a Winchester scope that has the fast focus eye piece plus it allows for parallax adjustment down to 15 feet if I want for close target stuff. I put this scope on 6 months ago and haven’t needed to adjust anything since. I set the paralax at 25 yards and things are nice and clear out to 100 and right down to mere feet if needed.
This scope is specific to air gun use.
I picked up a couple of nice pellet rifles in Gander’s going out of business sale.
Cabela’s in Woodbury had a rack full of air rifles on sale, just outside of the Bargain Cave.
I bought a Hatsan Edge from Sportsman’s Guide, in .22 caliber. It hits hard…blows through 1/4 inch plywood at 40 yards and throws big chunks of wood into the air. I can hit pop cans at 30-40 yards with the iron sites no problem. It came with a 3-9X scope. I mounted it and tried to do a “bore site”….basically I blocked the gun up and put the iron sites on target, and the tried to move the scope over to that same spot. It wouldn’t move far enough to the left, indicating a need for some shimming. I don’t know if I want to get that involved. The reviews on that scope aren’t very favorable in the first place, and I can hit with the iron sights.
SR
Looking to get my first pellet gun. Mostly to take care of a rabbit and squirrel problem I have. What fps minimum would I need? Hoping to spend around $100. Saw on another thread that the Gamo red tipped .177 pellets should do the trick and perform well.
Thanks for the suggestions.
If you are near the twin cities area I have a gamo whisper fusion .177 that I am looking to sell. Open sights, probably only 100 pellets through it. Pm me if you are interested.
Taking out rabbits doesn’t set the bar very high. I’m zapping about 10 per year with a Daisy 880. Kills them just fine at reasonable distances. Cheap and effective. The trigger is awful, but again the bar isn’t very high as it’s not bad enough to matter when the accuracy demand is only minute of rabbit.
Grouse
I’m zapping about 10 per year with a Daisy 880. Kills them just fine at reasonable distances.
Yeah, but you have to catch your breath and steady yourself after pumping that thing 10 times! 
It came with a 3-9X scope. I mounted it and tried to do a “bore site”….basically I blocked the gun up and put the iron sites on target, and the tried to move the scope over to that same spot.
SR
Pretty much have to be able to look straight down the bore itself to the point of aim and then adjust the scope to do this Steve. Put the scope on, grab some cheap pellets and start by zeroing at say 20 feet, then start moving the target back. Once you have things close at a range you want, fine tune with more consistent pellets.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>TheFamousGrouse wrote:</div>
I’m zapping about 10 per year with a Daisy 880. Kills them just fine at reasonable distances.Yeah, but you have to catch your breath and steady yourself after pumping that thing 10 times!
Exactly! The bunnies in my area would be wise to that in a hurry and you would never get a shot. Mine bolt the second I start punching in the code to unlock the safe.
We have smarter bunnies over here…
We have smarter bunnies over here…
LOL, our squirrels bolt at the sound of the window latch.
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