The Air Rifles & Pistols thread

Yes, that was a concern of mine... as I mentioned, I was hoping to find something which would frighten them off, so to speak, and have no wish to injure or maim wildlife... even if they are classed as rodents!

A clean kill is a different matter however, but I now appreciate that would probably require a more powerful weapon.

I am fortunate in living in a rural, country area and am aware of the legal aspects you mention.
 
Snaggle said:
Please do not buy a cheap pistol / rifle and use it on animals .. the chances of injuring or maiming them with low powered inaccurate airguns .

Build a better table or save and buy something that's up to the job . There is also legal repercussions if your shots go outside your boundary or of you are to close to a highway
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Hence my recommendations for something that will dispatch a squirrel, with proper practice a 10m shot with either of the Crosmans I mentioned should be more than suitable for a head shot kill. 6ftlb at 30m would down a rabbit with a head shot quite comfortably for example and at 10m with a 4-6ftlbs pistol should easily dispatch a squirrel.

I wouldn't recommend anything to shoot at them to "scare them" though that is just irresponsible
 
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Not sure that I quite agree with your last comment.

Surely (assuming I could buy such a device) hitting a squirrel with with something like a small (6mm) plastic ball bearing which would 'sting' but not actually wound the animal, or penetrate the skin, is not irresponsible behaviour.

So far as I am concerned anyway it is quite acceptable to administer a 'slap' to an animal to discourage, or upset it slightly, which is what I wish to do here. Having thought a bit more about the subject, I have no real wish or desire to actually kill it .

Going back to the distance in question it is almost exactly 10m I am talking about here.
 
The problem with shooting at things to scare them off is that you immediately fall fowl under animal welfare laws, unless you are using something like a water pistol I suppose.
There was a recent case about an old man shooting at a squirrel in his back garden, shot it a few times thought it was unresponsive, left his home for a bit and then came back and shot it another couple of times. He was taken to court. I don't know what the outcome was as it was adjourned to the 6th Feb and I can't find anything else about it at the moment.

So it's kill it or don't shoot at it.

Pistols are quite hard to shoot accurately at that sort of range, so the chance of a clean kill is lowered, you've got to be able to hit a 1p sized target (it's brain) at that range each and every time.

Although you don't need a reason for killing grey squirrels, the general licence mentioned before only applies to birds, you have to do it humanely.

Plus there are loads of things out there for stopping squirrels getting on your feeders. One video I saw on Facebook recently was after someone had greased the pole and the squirrel couldn't climb up it.

In short, if you want to shoot the squirrel, that's fine, but do it responsibly with the correct equipment and don't be the next person to appear on news sites damaging an already fragile pastime.

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co...from-stockport-shot-a-squirrel-before-1216036

Simon
 
I'm thinking of maybe selling my HW100T, anyone know what theyre going for?

2806_189839780174_6366913_n.jpg


Heres the other half having a go.

hw100t.jpg
 
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The general licence does apply to Squirrels as well as rabbits and a few others (reference BASC website). I wouldnt want to shoot an animal to cause it pain or to irritate it. As someone else said, either shoot to kill (cleanly) or dont shoot.

Not wishing to cause offence but due to your subsequent posts i would recommend you don't buy an airgun or anything air soft related and find an alternate method to deal with the problem
 
Montala said:
Yes, that was a concern of mine... as I mentioned, I was hoping to find something which would frighten them off, so to speak, and have no wish to injure or maim wildlife... even if they are classed as rodents!

A clean kill is a different matter however, but I now appreciate that would probably require a more powerful weapon.

I am fortunate in living in a rural, country area and am aware of the legal aspects you mention.
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big supoer sopaker rifle, you can get some that fire a long way plus you only need the "spray" to get them not a full blast.

.
 
how safe is it to eat wild rabbits you shoot?

im guessing with my medical history (depression) getting a fire arms license would be impossible for a .22


thers lots of farmland/country side around me and you see loads of rabbits would be intersting to hunt for some.

is ther an air rifle that doesn't need firearms license thats safe/humane to use on them at reasonable ranges.

would practice aim a lot before going after something living and i was confident in my ability to kill clean but really wouldn't want to be using something underpowered and just letting it run off with a pellet stuck in it :(
 
In no way is a pistol suitable for hunting with. That's not just my view, BASC categorically state that too. These are not things to "deter" animals with - either you want to hunt, in which case you need to look at a rifle and practice to ensure clean kills, or you just leave the animals alone.

If you want to give a squirrel a shock, get a hosepipe.
 
Tefal said:
how safe is it to eat wild rabbits you shoot?

im guessing with my medical history (depression) getting a fire arms license would be impossible for a .22


thers lots of farmland/country side around me and you see loads of rabbits would be intersting to hunt for some.

is ther an air rifle that doesn't need firearms license thats safe/humane to use on them at reasonable ranges.

would practice aim a lot before going after something living and i was confident in my ability to kill clean but really wouldn't want to be using something underpowered and just letting it run off with a pellet stuck in it :(
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Fine, I eat them all the time Tefal! Also, don't assume that because of your medical history you will have an issue, it won't necessarily preclude you. The only way to find out is to chat with your local FLO.

A decent sub 12ft-lb air rifle will do the job, and doesn't require a license, but you will need landowner's permission, to be 50yards+ from a public highway, etc.
 
whats the best way to find local clubs to learn etc, googling for my area just brings up hundreds of results calling for bans etc after a boy was killed.

(13 and 11 year old playing unsupervised with a high powered airrifle)

mother blames the gun.....
 
Club map:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewe...15918&z=6&hl=en&mid=zWAhr1QI30nE.kVdtlMG6_HUA

Pretty much any rifle in this thread would be suitable for you. Check out youtube for checking rabbits to see if they are fit to eat. Checking the eyes, ears and bottom are easy things, then you can check the liver once inside.

Permission is the all important thing get that first, or second if your garden is long enough and then you can practice on targets util you are ready for the rabbits.
 
@kingshawn
Depending on what's with it!
There is a thumbhole carbine with scope, pump, slip and pellets for sale on airgunforum for £450 at the moment.

Also one for £485 no scope, A&M cylinder but a slight leak
and one for £540 but with an A&M cylinder.
 
Makhaira said:
Fine, I eat them all the time Tefal! Also, don't assume that because of your medical history you will have an issue, it won't necessarily preclude you. The only way to find out is to chat with your local FLO.

A decent sub 12ft-lb air rifle will do the job, and doesn't require a license, but you will need landowner's permission, to be 50yards+ from a public highway, etc.
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As above but im sure its 50ft no 50 yards from the centre of a highway
 
Makhaira said:
In no way is a pistol suitable for hunting with. That's not just my view, BASC categorically state that too. These are not things to "deter" animals with - either you want to hunt, in which case you need to look at a rifle and practice to ensure clean kills, or you just leave the animals alone.

If you want to give a squirrel a shock, get a hosepipe.
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Again.. agreed for hunting a pistol isnt suitable but for back garden vermin a 5-6ftlb pistol like the Alecto will happily and easily dispatch a squirrel for example at 10m. I wouldn't dream fo telling anyone to go shooting in a field with a pistol that would be Irresponsible as hunter and mental and a complete waste of time.
 
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