[freebird61]

sounds good, exept bee sure to get at least a 1000 fps model, and dont even bother with the birds. try gamo raptor pellets . it increases velocity. youll need it more with skunks.

[Coldwood]

Killer, that short trigger is the safety. Pull it back for safety, push it forward to fire.

I bought a Gamo 1000 with black nylon stock a couple of years ago, about $150, I have used it to take squirrels, pigeons and one woodchuck. It has grooves for a scope, but I like the open sights, nice adjustable dials for elevation and windage. And it has those fiber-optic light gathering sights that seem to glow.

Previous to the Gamo, a friend loaned me his scoped up RWS to clean out some pigeons from an old barn in a residential neighborhood. Pigeons are a nuisance in town, obviously a .22 was out of the question, needed something quiet. It was too easy. Just walked in and closed the barn door behind me, they were trapped.

[Coldwood]

Killer, I like the idea of eggs, that puts a whole new spin on the idea of an Easter Egg Hunt for the kids next spring

[YugoUser101]

Have found that an RWS with a 4-power scope at .177 and Raptor pellets are just about perfect for small rodents and cottontails that abound here. You don't need a more powerful scope at my usual distance.

You need to shoot the air rifle at least 400-500 times to get optimal accuracy (it gets "worn in").

At present, I am able to clover-leaf shots at 11 yards (average distance of the rodents in my yard) ... have taken 20+ rodents and rabbits this Summer without a miss.

Favorite practice target is the head on the Star Bucks "Mermaid" logo.

Key on the scope is steel rings and locking those rings in place because the air rifle is murder on scopes and will move the scope unless you over-build the mounting rings.

Another key to accuracy is the adjustable trigger. Use artillery hold (loosely held) and make that discharge happen as a surprise -- impressive accuracy!

[joehudo]

Quote:       Originally Posted by Cotton26

What would be a good pellet rifle setup (rifle and scope preferably in a package) for hunting squirels, residential birds, and skunks? I'm assuming I should get a 1000FPS break-barrel that shoots .177 pointed pellets?

the truth is that the closer your shot comes to the sound barrier the less stable it will be causing inaccurate shots. if your rifle firers at 1100 fps or close to it you will need a heavy pellet. however if you are shooting a 177 than you want somewhere around 900 fps. iv seen pellet rifles fire accuratly at 150 yards, at a quarter mind you.dont listen to those whom say its not posible. most likley they dont have any idea of proper shooting tecniques or of ballistics. and try pbr pellets their solid gold. very accurate. i was a sniper for the milltary for some time and iv become very interested in pellet rifles. so dont get discouraged. it is possible.

[big boomer]

I have a break barrel in 177 and have killed many rabbits with it.

[Tack Driver]

You should look at the Remington 1200 Vantage for $129 at Bass Pro Shops. 1200 fps break barrel with a 4x scope.

[sawtooth]

i use a gamo bigcat. its a break barrell and rated at 1200 fps with the crappy gamo raptors pellets. works every good and hammers the squireels. only thing i really hate is the trigger. it needs to be up graded. now at 50 yds i can groups very good with it but im changing my trigger out as soon as i get the cash.

best hunting pellets imo are the jsb predators but they cost alot at $20 for 200.

i use crossman destroyers now which kill pretty good but ill looking for a better more accurate one now. probally will go back to jsb predtors

[Dust]

Might i offer a different option. If you are only using in the city, a multipump might suit you better. You can choose how much power you want, and with a mildot scope, you can determine how many pumps gets you what distance. Don't trust the gamo velocity numbers, and don't go light on pellets. YOu don't need 1000 fps to take down a bird, and 500 fps will not go as far as 1000 fps. Unless you need to get out to 40+ yards, you don't need that much speed. IF you are going to be shooting skunks, well, good luck.

[EtherialOne]

I used to do a lot of small game hunting with air rifles as a kid, and have more recently had to slightly cull the local black bird population (or at least make them leary of where they get their food!). And although I'm currently using a daisy multi pump .177, If I had more of a need I think I would try and find a multi-pump .22 cal or similar air rifle. I say this because I have had numerous instances where I would shoot a black bird at close range and have them fly a good distance before dropping (enough so that I'm now sure that several times when I thought I missed, the truth is they were able to travel excessive distance before succumbing to the wound, with a .177 pellet easily going all the way through, even tried the pellets backwards to try and achieve better expansion / knock down, and lowering the velocity / # of pumps. In the end I think that I would be better served with a larger caliber and limited velocity for knock down, the Ideal goal being to have the pellet dump all of it's energy into the target without exiting... Having a 1200 FPS pellet exiting the target with 900 fps to spare puts less energy on target than a 600 fps pellet embedding itself into the target without exiting. Anyway just my thoughts. Also for bigger things like skunks or possums / rabbits another practical option with a little more punch would be to use a .22 rimfire that can handle shorts or longs (ie a bolt, lever, or pump) and pickup some subsonic rounds (such as CCI "CB" shorts or longs). These have the report of an air gun with a 29 grain bullet at approx. 740 fps if I remember right and won't break the piggy bank at about $8-10 per 100 pack.