what kind of gun do you use for small game

little boone · 07-17-2005, 05:36 PM

I use a 410 mossberge model 500. I have killed squirrles at 40 yards with it. Plus it is light, and it dosent tear up the meat, scare them, and i can shoot them on the run.

johnch · 07-17-2005, 11:43 PM

I use a Ruger MK 2 ,6 7/8" 22 pistol with a red dot .
I head shoot tree rats and don't tear up any meat.

Johnch

SifuSkyler · 07-18-2005, 10:29 AM

I use high-powered airguns. Not too many places to shoot a firearm out here in southern California, and our DFG allows us to take any resident small game with an air rifle (.20 caliber minimum for wild turkey), so we modify airguns for power and accuracy.It's cool becauseammo costs about a penny around, andyou can take rabbits out to 50 yards. I can't count the number of rabbits, squirrels, quail and pigeons I have dropped with my rigs. Anyways, here's a pic of my guns. AGamo S1K, and a heavily modified Crosman 1377c:

kevin1 · 07-18-2005, 06:47 PM

Charles Daly 20 ga. , full , modified , and Undertakerâ„¢ turkey chokes . - Birds , rabbits , squirrels , varmints .
Ruger 10-22 with 10 round magazine . Squirrels , rabbits , varmints .
.177 air rifle , spring piston , 1000 FPS . Squirrels , rabbits , varmints .

charlie brown · 07-18-2005, 08:14 PM

Cottontails, I shoot my Mossberg 500 12 Guage, also use it for all my bird hunting (which isn't too much usually). For varmints, I use my H&R .223, with my handloads.

live2hunt743 · 07-19-2005, 05:57 PM

The only varmints/small game i hunt are squirrels (i've only shot one rabbit and that was with a slingshot). but for squirrels I used a .410 for 2 years but this i decided it wasn't enough because it was just wounding all the squirrels. so now im buying a brand spankin' new .22 the old one i have isn't good enough..

but i have a question for you Sifuskyler...

the two things i have against pellet gun hunting is that you have load each shot individually after firing and that you have to pump up the airguns. but it looks like the gun in the top photo has no pump which led me to wonder what makes the pellet go? also, wouldn't it just be more convient to buy a $140 .22 with a 10 round clip that buying a $100 airgun and modifying it? and finally, what caliber are the guns in your photos? sorry for all the questions but im a curious feller.

charlie brown · 07-19-2005, 06:04 PM

live2hunt743 - I believe that air rifle has a spring loaded mechanism for shooting. The barrel breaks open on a hinge, you place the pellet in the barrel, and when you close the barrel back, it cocks the rifle. Not sure about what caliber it is, but thats how those rifles work.

wihunter1388 · 07-19-2005, 07:17 PM

well for squirrels i use a ruger .22 or bow. Just because shot guns i have bad experiences of them when they are dead and torn up. for .22 bullet i use hollowpoint, i dont want to go on a scavager hunt for them

and for rabbits i use 12 in thick thick cover other wise my 20 or .410

for pheasants my 12

yotes and fox 12 or .223

my .177 pellet gun loves to take down small game and birds with its first shot and not wounding it.

Live 2 hunt: the pumps of air all push the pellet out it stores the pressure in a tube and the only out is behind the pellet. 1 shot makes everyone a better shooter just like muzzeloaders or them single shots.

Finaddict · 07-19-2005, 07:33 PM

Traditions Crockett .32 cal blackpowder rifle. Great on the rabbits. Have yet to get a squirrel, but if I see any I will definitely take the shot.

SifuSkyler · 07-20-2005, 12:36 PM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: live2hunt743
But i have a question for you Sifuskyler...

the two things i have against pellet gun hunting is that you have load each shot individually after firing and that you have to pump up the airguns. but it looks like the gun in the top photo has no pump which led me to wonder what makes the pellet go? also, wouldn't it just be more convient to buy a $140 .22 with a 10 round clip that buying a $100 airgun and modifying it? and finally, what caliber are the guns in your photos? sorry for all the questions but im a curious feller.

Well, not all airguns are single shot. Some of the nicer PCP (pre-charged pnuematics) are repeaters. They run off of scuba air, and produce as much, if not more fpe than a .22 rimfire(they are available up to .50 caliber). As far as pumping, yeah, I have to pump my pistol, but not my rifle. The rifleuses a piston systemto push the pelletdown the barrel at 1000 fps. It is a .177 caliber rifle (the pistol is the same caliber). Works well on anything upto the size of a possum or coon.There are larger calibers available for larger game. As far as buying the rimfire, where would I shoot it at? This is socal (southern california). We have to drive for 2 hours just to get to a legal shooting area, and those areas aren't fit for hunting. They are more like a line of guys with shotguns and 9mm, blasting anything they want, lol. Plus the cops are there harrasing everyone the whole time and running their gun's papers. I like to avoid those areas if possible. As far as your ten shot clip...I thoughtthe industry standardwas "One shot, one kill." Besides, what is the point ofa ten shot clip if the sound of your powder-burner scares the target off after the first shot? I can get several shots in beforemy target even knows what's going on (it's the difference between a light "thwock" and a heavy "BOOM!")Anyways, I don't have any trouble with the law when I stick with my air rigs. And I don't have any trouble harvesting rabbits, squirrels, and game birds with 'em either, so I think I'll stick with air power. Dont' get me wrong, I have owned my share of powder guns, but they are all for home defense. For field use, I like air. Taking a rabbit down with a round a little bigger than a grain of sand is quite satisfying.