Would a decent air rifle kill a grey squirrel?
Discussion
I spent a few years shooting things (living and non-living) with air rifles of various types (PCP and spring), sold up now as I was just not using the nice PCP rifle I had (I decided it was a shame to let it sit and deteriorate though lack of use so it was sold).
A full power legal limit (sub 12ft/lbs) .22 or .177 will have no problem felling a tree rat at anything up to 40 yards, head shots are a must imho as it guarantees a clean kill. However, a squirrels head is small and size for size far tougher than a rabbit skull so if you can't land shot after shot on a 1p sized target at that range you shouldn't even consider it. It will take practice and a lot of it.
Tree rats are no better than their sewer dwelling scaly tailed distant relatives, they raid birds nests, taking eggs and chicks, raiding bird feeders and are generally being little s
ts, despite how 'cute' they may look.
As far as rifles go see if your local gunsmith has any used Weihrauch spring rifles (e.g. a 95), they are a lovely rifle to shoot, put out around 10-11ft/lbs (more than enough for a squirrel at 40 yards) which means you won't risk falling foul of the law on power ratings (above 12ft/lbs even by 0.1 means you need a fire arms cert! A scope with around 12x magnification will be more than sufficient. Stay clear of SMK rifles (unless you want to spend a lot upgrading them). Buying used also means that you won't lose a great deal if you decide to pack in and sell it.
Just be careful when shooting in your back yard that none of the pellets ricochet across a neighbours boundary and that you are not discharging a rifle within 50ft of a road (the centre of the road not the edge).
A full power legal limit (sub 12ft/lbs) .22 or .177 will have no problem felling a tree rat at anything up to 40 yards, head shots are a must imho as it guarantees a clean kill. However, a squirrels head is small and size for size far tougher than a rabbit skull so if you can't land shot after shot on a 1p sized target at that range you shouldn't even consider it. It will take practice and a lot of it.
Tree rats are no better than their sewer dwelling scaly tailed distant relatives, they raid birds nests, taking eggs and chicks, raiding bird feeders and are generally being little s
ts, despite how 'cute' they may look.As far as rifles go see if your local gunsmith has any used Weihrauch spring rifles (e.g. a 95), they are a lovely rifle to shoot, put out around 10-11ft/lbs (more than enough for a squirrel at 40 yards) which means you won't risk falling foul of the law on power ratings (above 12ft/lbs even by 0.1 means you need a fire arms cert! A scope with around 12x magnification will be more than sufficient. Stay clear of SMK rifles (unless you want to spend a lot upgrading them). Buying used also means that you won't lose a great deal if you decide to pack in and sell it.
Just be careful when shooting in your back yard that none of the pellets ricochet across a neighbours boundary and that you are not discharging a rifle within 50ft of a road (the centre of the road not the edge).
Jasandjules said:
I suspect you will injure a few. Then be prosecuted by the RSPCA for unnecessary suffering.
Personally I can see no justification for shooting an animal for taking food from a bird table.
Replace the squirrel with rats taking food from the bird table. Do you still feel the same?Personally I can see no justification for shooting an animal for taking food from a bird table.
I went to the local gun shop and told them what I was after. They sold lots of .22 air-rifles with a telescopic sight to people with the same problem as you. I controlled the vermin in my very large wooded grounds for 3 years using the air-rifle for squirrel and, occasionally, pigeon, and a shotgun for foxes.
Whenever I didn't kill something outright, it certainly wasn't well enough to scarper and didn't get far before being finished-off, so I'm not sure where all the 'disappearing and taking days to die' angst comes from.
It's quite satisfying and good sport, and always nice when you train yourself to do something properly and well.
Whenever I didn't kill something outright, it certainly wasn't well enough to scarper and didn't get far before being finished-off, so I'm not sure where all the 'disappearing and taking days to die' angst comes from.
It's quite satisfying and good sport, and always nice when you train yourself to do something properly and well.
My garden was overrun and the damage was horrendous. I bought an approved tube trap and after 2 years and 50+ bodies they are all but gone. Still get the odd prospector looking for new territory but they are quickly dealt with.
The trap has never caught anything other than squirrels (bar 1 heavy wood mouse) and nearly always kills cleanly and fast.
The disadvantage is that they are quite expensive for what they are, only kill 1 at a time, quite tricky to set on the limit, and very dangerous to careless hands - don't consider it if you have kids.
The trap has never caught anything other than squirrels (bar 1 heavy wood mouse) and nearly always kills cleanly and fast.
The disadvantage is that they are quite expensive for what they are, only kill 1 at a time, quite tricky to set on the limit, and very dangerous to careless hands - don't consider it if you have kids.
Was talking with an american colleague who is having critter trouble, although his is a 200lb wild Hog causing him trouble.
He said if he couldn't shoot it he was going to bait it and tannerite it.
I had to look it up, and surely this is a worthy PH method of eliminating vermin from your land.
https://youtu.be/4_F1YevSy7I
Don't click if your a vegan.
He said if he couldn't shoot it he was going to bait it and tannerite it.
I had to look it up, and surely this is a worthy PH method of eliminating vermin from your land.
https://youtu.be/4_F1YevSy7I
Don't click if your a vegan.
johnxjsc1985 said:
Jasandjules said:
I suspect you will injure a few. Then be prosecuted by the RSPCA for unnecessary suffering.
Personally I can see no justification for shooting an animal for taking food from a bird table.
I quite enjoy watching the lengths they will go to just to get a few peanuts.Personally I can see no justification for shooting an animal for taking food from a bird table.
Vandenberg said:
Was talking with an american colleague who is having critter trouble, although his is a 200lb wild Hog causing him trouble.
He said if he couldn't shoot it he was going to bait it and tannerite it.
I had to look it up, and surely this is a worthy PH method of eliminating vermin from your land.
https://youtu.be/4_F1YevSy7I
Don't click if your a vegan.
Hahaha, im not allowed to shoot a hog, so ill just lure it next to a big explosive and blow the fHe said if he couldn't shoot it he was going to bait it and tannerite it.
I had to look it up, and surely this is a worthy PH method of eliminating vermin from your land.
https://youtu.be/4_F1YevSy7I
Don't click if your a vegan.
ker up, when someone asks ill say it was an accident and the hog clearly ignored my "fire in the hole" warnings 
Mr GrimNasty said:
leigh1050 said:
227bhp said:
leigh1050 said:
You can also buy humane traps. Just put a couple of peanuts inside and you'll catch loads of the little buggers.
And then shoot them.Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff