posted in
Pellet Hunting Overview |
2 Comments →
When it comes to finding the best pellet gun for hunting it seems that most people start with the bottom line. They want to initially look for the cost in a certain range and then maximize the firepower they receive for that price. This is not the optimal approach to determine which weapon we should purchase and really the way we should go about it kind of puts that thinking on its ear. This post will try to boil down the salient points that people need to consider and define a process to come to the final selection for purchase.
What Quarry Are You Targeting With Your Pellet Gun
This is really where it needs to start. Regardless of what pellet gun you decide to choose you aren’t going to be able to bag large animals like deer, geese, or bear. That said, the size you can target can vary pretty dramatically. Are you looking to mainly be after birds and maybe the random chipmunk or small animal? Or are you likely to be targeting bigger species such as a rabbits or raccoons. Heck, maybe it is even in the middle of that and you are buying this gun to target squirrels. Of course there will be the person who says “all of the above” with a smile. When it comes to this, define the largest animal you think you will ever pursue and start from there. Now, we need to determine what size pellet to use and how fast it should travel based on this animal. Use the below table as a guide to determine what is the minimum and suggested pellet size and muzzle velocity for your future pellet gun.
| Largest Animal Pursued |
Minimum Pellet Size |
Suggested Pellet Size |
Minimum Muzzle Velocity |
Suggested Muzzle Velocity |
| Birds |
0.177 caliber |
0.177 caliber |
500 feet per second |
750 feet per second (0.177) |
| Chipmunk |
0.177 caliber |
0.177 caliber |
500 feet per second |
750 feet per second(0.177) |
| Squirrel |
0.177 caliber |
0.22 caliber |
700 feet per second (0.177) 500 feet per second (0.22) |
900 feet per second(0.177)
600 feet per second (0.22) |
| Rabbit |
0.177 caliber |
0.22 caliber |
700 feet per second (0.177) 500 feet per second (0.22) |
900 feet per second(0.177)
600 feet per second (0.22) |
| Raccoon |
0.20 caliber |
0.22 caliber |
700 feet per second (0.177) 500 feet per second (0.22) |
900 feet per second(0.177)
600 feet per second (0.22) |
Which type pellet gun should we buy?
When I say what type, I mean the multi pump pellet gun or the break barrel kind that only requires one fast pump. In general the multi pump models don’t last as long due to needing to build up pressure and therefore losing this pressure as time goes by. In addition, they can be a pain to continually pump over and over again. That said, it is a staple type model for most new pellet gun hunters. I used one myself for years, so can’t knock them too greatly. In terms of type of pumps, the two main players in this space are the Daisy and the Crossman. Before I make my next statement, please realize I grew up with a Daisy and likely am a bit biased, but also own a Crossman air gun as well. I think that the design of the Crossman is inferior and harder to pump. Kids have a hard time using these over a long duration and I think they are generally a pain in the rear. The Daisy models allow for a longer lever which is easier to pump and faster to get to the required 10 pumps. In fact I would suggest the Daisy Powerline 880 as a great baseline model for the initial model if you are going with a 0.177 caliber pellet gun. These pump type models max out around 800 feet per second muzzle velocity and therefore are only good for a certain type of pellet gun hunting and definitely have a shorter maximum range. If you are serious about hunting with a pellet gun I would suggest going with one of the break barrel single shot models. These are faster to get to max velocity and also afford much higher muzzle velocities. Some will even go faster than a rimfire 0.22 caliber rifle. Of course, they don’t offer the range of a 0.22 rifle, but that doesn’t mean that they are less effective at ranges less than 60 yards.
Which Brand Pellet Gun Should I Buy?
This is the age old question and one that seems to be never ending debate. The longest players in the field are the Daisy and Crossman. If you are going with a baseline model I would suggest one of these two, but again would steer you towards a Daisy as I think they are more user friendly. There are several other brands of air rifles that should be considered when looking to purchase a pellet gun for hunting purposes. The most prominent in these are the Gamo pellet guns and the Beeman pellet guns. In addition there are also models by Benjamin, Sheridan, Walther, and Baikal that people are known to purchase. I’m sure there are some other brands that I didn’t even cover to this point. But none of that answers the question of which to buy, does it? As stated earlier, if you are looking at a basic, pump action pellet gun I would steer you towards a 0.177 caliber Daisy pellet gun. For those that are serious about buying a gun for hunting with I would suggest you go with a 0.22 caliber gun. A great choice in this arena is the Benjamin 392 pellet gun.
So there you have it a way to determine what the best pellet gun for hunting is and what you should purchase for your own sport. Remember that this can be different based on what you are attempting to pursue and also the range you plan on hunting the critters at. One last note of caution, make sure to check your state regulations to ensure what you are using is a legal method for hunting. Some states ban 0.22 caliber pellet guns for hunting or hunting altogether. Hope you can use this guide to find the perfect pellet gun for hunting in your life.
When it comes to finding the best pellet gun for hunting it seems that most people start with the bottom line. They want to initially look for the cost in a certain range and then maximize the firepower they receive for that price. This is not the optimal approach to determine which weapon we should purchase and really the way we should go about it kind of puts that thinking on its ear. This post will try to boil down the salient points that people need to consider and define a process to come to the final selection for purchase.
What Quarry Are You Targeting With Your Pellet Gun
This is really where it needs to start. Regardless of what pellet gun you decide to choose you aren’t going to be able to bag large animals like deer, geese, or bear. That said, the size you can target can vary pretty dramatically. Are you looking to mainly be after birds and maybe the random chipmunk or small animal? Or are you likely to be targeting bigger species such as a rabbits or raccoons. Heck, maybe it is even in the middle of that and you are buying this gun to target squirrels. Of course there will be the person who says “all of the above” with a smile. When it comes to this, define the largest animal you think you will ever pursue and start from there. Now, we need to determine what size pellet to use and how fast it should travel based on this animal. Use the below table as a guide to determine what is the minimum and suggested pellet size and muzzle velocity for your future pellet gun.
| Largest Animal Pursued |
Minimum Pellet Size |
Suggested Pellet Size |
Minimum Muzzle Velocity |
Suggested Muzzle Velocity |
| Birds |
0.177 caliber |
0.177 caliber |
500 feet per second |
750 feet per second (0.177) |
| Chipmunk |
0.177 caliber |
0.177 caliber |
500 feet per second |
750 feet per second(0.177) |
| Squirrel |
0.177 caliber |
0.22 caliber |
700 feet per second (0.177) 500 feet per second (0.22) |
900 feet per second(0.177)
600 feet per second (0.22) |
| Rabbit |
0.177 caliber |
0.22 caliber |
700 feet per second (0.177) 500 feet per second (0.22) |
900 feet per second(0.177)
600 feet per second (0.22) |
| Raccoon |
0.20 caliber |
0.22 caliber |
700 feet per second (0.177) 500 feet per second (0.22) |
900 feet per second(0.177)
600 feet per second (0.22) |
Which type pellet gun should we buy?
When I say what type, I mean the multi pump pellet gun or the break barrel kind that only requires one fast pump. In general the multi pump models don’t last as long due to needing to build up pressure and therefore losing this pressure as time goes by. In addition, they can be a pain to continually pump over and over again. That said, it is a staple type model for most new pellet gun hunters. I used one myself for years, so can’t knock them too greatly. In terms of type of pumps, the two main players in this space are the Daisy and the Crossman. Before I make my next statement, please realize I grew up with a Daisy and likely am a bit biased, but also own a Crossman air gun as well. I think that the design of the Crossman is inferior and harder to pump. Kids have a hard time using these over a long duration and I think they are generally a pain in the rear. The Daisy models allow for a longer lever which is easier to pump and faster to get to the required 10 pumps. In fact I would suggest the Daisy Powerline 880 as a great baseline model for the initial model if you are going with a 0.177 caliber pellet gun. These pump type models max out around 800 feet per second muzzle velocity and therefore are only good for a certain type of pellet gun hunting and definitely have a shorter maximum range. If you are serious about hunting with a pellet gun I would suggest going with one of the break barrel single shot models. These are faster to get to max velocity and also afford much higher muzzle velocities. Some will even go faster than a rimfire 0.22 caliber rifle. Of course, they don’t offer the range of a 0.22 rifle, but that doesn’t mean that they are less effective at ranges less than 60 yards.
Which Brand Pellet Gun Should I Buy?
This is the age old question and one that seems to be never ending debate. The longest players in the field are the Daisy and Crossman. If you are going with a baseline model I would suggest one of these two, but again would steer you towards a Daisy as I think they are more user friendly. There are several other brands of air rifles that should be considered when looking to purchase a pellet gun for hunting purposes. The most prominent in these are the Gamo pellet guns and the Beeman pellet guns. In addition there are also models by Benjamin, Sheridan, Walther, and Baikal that people are known to purchase. I’m sure there are some other brands that I didn’t even cover to this point. But none of that answers the question of which to buy, does it? As stated earlier, if you are looking at a basic, pump action pellet gun I would steer you towards a 0.177 caliber Daisy pellet gun. For those that are serious about buying a gun for hunting with I would suggest you go with a 0.22 caliber gun. A great choice in this arena is the Benjamin 392 pellet gun.
So there you have it a way to determine what the best pellet gun for hunting is and what you should purchase for your own sport. Remember that this can be different based on what you are attempting to pursue and also the range you plan on hunting the critters at. One last note of caution, make sure to check your state regulations to ensure what you are using is a legal method for hunting. Some states ban 0.22 caliber pellet guns for hunting or hunting altogether. Hope you can use this guide to find the perfect pellet gun for hunting in your life.
July 30th, 2010 at 6:26 pm
I Have a vintage pellet rifle the Trade mark is Two Gooses brand with pond and two geese. It also has a marking that states Marked Brand is also Two Gooses. Do you have any idea how old this gun may be. The owner was 93. I think this was his gun as a boy.
hil Kelly
Break barrel Has 18inch barrel and overall is 47 inches. Barrel is rifled and still is accurate and hits hard. it is a .177 ca.
Regards
June 2nd, 2011 at 12:27 pm
Best Pellet Gun For Hunting
Posted in Pellet Hunting Overview
When it comes to finding the best pellet gun for hunting it seems that most people start with the bottom line. They want to initially look for the cost in a certain range and then maximize the firepower they receive for that price. This is not the optimal approach to determine which weapon we should purchase and really the way we should go about it kind of puts that thinking on its ear. This post will try to boil down the salient points that people need to consider and define a process to come to the final selection for purchase.
What Quarry Are You Targeting With Your Pellet Gun
This is really where it needs to start. Regardless of what pellet gun you decide to choose you aren’t going to be able to bag large animals like deer, geese, or bear. That said, the size you can target can vary pretty dramatically. Are you looking to mainly be after birds and maybe the random chipmunk or small animal? Or are you likely to be targeting bigger species such as a rabbits or raccoons. Heck, maybe it is even in the middle of that and you are buying this gun to target squirrels. Of course there will be the person who says “all of the above” with a smile. When it comes to this, define the largest animal you think you will ever pursue and start from there. Now, we need to determine what size pellet to use and how fast it should travel based on this animal. Use the below table as a guide to determine what is the minimum and suggested pellet size and muzzle velocity for your future pellet gun.
Largest Animal Pursued Minimum Pellet Size Suggested Pellet Size Minimum Muzzle Velocity Suggested Muzzle Velocity
Birds 0.177 caliber 0.177 caliber 500 feet per second 750 feet per second (0.177)
Chipmunk 0.177 caliber 0.177 caliber 500 feet per second 750 feet per second(0.177)
Squirrel 0.177 caliber 0.22 caliber 700 feet per second (0.177) 500 feet per second (0.22) 900 feet per second(0.177)
600 feet per second (0.22)
Rabbit 0.177 caliber 0.22 caliber 700 feet per second (0.177) 500 feet per second (0.22) 900 feet per second(0.177)
600 feet per second (0.22)
Raccoon 0.20 caliber 0.22 caliber 700 feet per second (0.177) 500 feet per second (0.22) 900 feet per second(0.177)
600 feet per second (0.22)
Which type pellet gun should we buy?
When I say what type, I mean the multi pump pellet gun or the break barrel kind that only requires one fast pump. In general the multi pump models don’t last as long due to needing to build up pressure and therefore losing this pressure as time goes by. In addition, they can be a pain to continually pump over and over again. That said, it is a staple type model for most new pellet gun hunters. I used one myself for years, so can’t knock them too greatly. In terms of type of pumps, the two main players in this space are the Daisy and the Crossman. Before I make my next statement, please realize I grew up with a Daisy and likely am a bit biased, but also own a Crossman air gun as well. I think that the design of the Crossman is inferior and harder to pump. Kids have a hard time using these over a long duration and I think they are generally a pain in the rear. The Daisy models allow for a longer lever which is easier to pump and faster to get to the required 10 pumps. In fact I would suggest the Daisy Powerline 880 as a great baseline model for the initial model if you are going with a 0.177 caliber pellet gun. These pump type models max out around 800 feet per second muzzle velocity and therefore are only good for a certain type of pellet gun hunting and definitely have a shorter maximum range. If you are serious about hunting with a pellet gun I would suggest going with one of the break barrel single shot models. These are faster to get to max velocity and also afford much higher muzzle velocities. Some will even go faster than a rimfire 0.22 caliber rifle. Of course, they don’t offer the range of a 0.22 rifle, but that doesn’t mean that they are less effective at ranges less than 60 yards.
Which Brand Pellet Gun Should I Buy?
This is the age old question and one that seems to be never ending debate. The longest players in the field are the Daisy and Crossman. If you are going with a baseline model I would suggest one of these two, but again would steer you towards a Daisy as I think they are more user friendly. There are several other brands of air rifles that should be considered when looking to purchase a pellet gun for hunting purposes. The most prominent in these are the Gamo pellet guns and the Beeman pellet guns. In addition there are also models by Benjamin, Sheridan, Walther, and Baikal that people are known to purchase. I’m sure there are some other brands that I didn’t even cover to this point. But none of that answers the question of which to buy, does it? As stated earlier, if you are looking at a basic, pump action pellet gun I would steer you towards a 0.177 caliber Daisy pellet gun. For those that are serious about buying a gun for hunting with I would suggest you go with a 0.22 caliber gun. A great choice in this arena is the Benjamin 392 pellet gun.
So there you have it a way to determine what the best pellet gun for hunting is and what you should purchase for your own sport. Remember that this can be different based on what you are attempting to pursue and also the range you plan on hunting the critters at. One last note of caution, make sure to check your state regulations to ensure what you are using is a legal method for hunting. Some states ban 0.22 caliber pellet guns for hunting or hunting altogether. Hope you can use this guide to find the perfect pellet gun for hunting in your life.
Trackback URI | Comments RSS
One Response to “ Best Pellet Gun For Hunting ”
# 1 Philip Kelly Says:
July 30th, 2010 at 6:26 pm
I Have a vintage pellet rifle the Trade mark is Two Gooses brand with pond and two geese. It also has a marking that states Marked Brand is also Two Gooses. Do you have any idea how old this gun may be. The owner was 93. I think this was his gun as a boy.
hil Kelly
Break barrel Has 18inch barrel and overall is 47 inches. Barrel is rifled and still is accurate and hits hard. it is a .177 ca.
Regards
Leave a Reply
Name (required)
Mail (will not be published) (required)
Website