Airgun hunting?

[big dave]

Ive recently become very interested in airgun hunting for small game such as rats, etc. This weekend i helped my neighbor up here in Shasta Lake clean out 7 rats who kept nibbling at his garden and nesting under his house.

I have a Crosman Powermaster 66 with a 4x Crosman scope, and an arsenal of pointed and wadcutter pellets. Im looking into buying something more powerful when the money is right, something over 1000 fps. Any recommendations? Id like to take my airguns with me when i go camping/offroading to enjoy a little spot of varmint hunting.

I had no idea airgun hunting was such a popular sport until i searched the net and found a couple of forums dedicated to airguns. There are some serious airguns out there

[big dave]

I held a Beeman dual caliber (22, .177) at Wal Mart up in NorCal. I like it but id like to try out some other rifles before i buy a higher powered replacement for my Remington. Come on, everyone here has/had an air gun. Theres a serious adult following of airguns.

http://www.network54.com/Forum/79537/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[ssc]

I have taken quail and rabbits, missed a few rodents. Don't shoot rabbits anymore. Used crossman and RWS. RWS makes some serious guns.

Regards, SSC

[traveltoad]

I have used a .177 break barrel (around $100 at Big 5) to take raccoons. It takes a pretty good head shot but they drop in a couple steps.

[BoBoNel]

hubby and his mini-me (our son) like to take aim at some varments in our yard with the airgun. we are still overrun with varments though.

[OLLIE]

I feel air rifles are one of the best methods for training youngsters proper firearm handling techniques.

On a side note, when I was in combat training we were handed air rifles (.177 BB) to practice patroling with. Our tactics instructors were laying in ambush positions along the assigned patrol paths and we were required to recognize the ambush points and shoot them before they shot us (never happened). The paths measured from 100 yards to a few miles with multiple ambush points. We always went back to the barracks with welts all over us that would last for a few days.