Ground Squirrel Gun For Buddy !

[wll2506]

Today I helped a buddy of mine out that is having a lot of trouble with ground squirrels. He raises pigeons and the ground squirrels are raising havoc with his high priced competition birds food and everything else they can get into.

He asked me if I knew of a good inexpensive pellet gun that would take care of these rascals, being that he didn't know much about air rifles.

Well there's lots of different choices and I decided for the amount of money he wanted to spend the Crosman Vantage would probably be the best bet. He could keep it cocked a while without spring fatigue, can get parts and is easy to fix, no other EXTRAS to use this gun, can use the iron sights if he wishes. He said a long shot would be 35 yards, with most in the 20-30 yard range --- (and of course I'd buy it off of him if he didn't like it  ---- lol, lol).

It took a little over a week to get the Vantage from Crosman, but when I did, I called him over to the shop and I did some work on his gun with his permission.

1st thing I did was take off a bear trap - I told him all the pros and cons, next thing I did was take out the 3 mm short trigger setscrew and replace it with a allen set screw that was much longer -- (his trigger now is actually very nice, nicer than my gun, I need to do the same thing to mine !).  I then blue locktited all the stock screws in firmly and I told him to keep a watch on them.  I then lightly lubed all the hinge points.

I then gave him an inexpensive 4x scope that is parallax corrected at 35 yds, so at least he would have something.  Told him to get what I have and that's the Hammers 3-9x32AO, he ordered it today I believe.

He is using CPHP pellets on my recommendation to start out to see if they perform like the do in my gun.  We sighted in at my office at 25 yds and it seems to be doing pretty good.

He will keep me posted on his ground squirrel hunting success :-)

wll

[brewbear]

Today I helped a buddy of mine out that is having a lot of trouble with ground squirrels. He raises pigeons and the ground squirrels are raising havoc with his high priced competition birds food and everything else they can get into.

He asked me if I knew of a good inexpensive pellet gun that would take care of these rascals, being that he didn't know much about air rifles.

Well there's lots of different choices and I decided for the amount of money he wanted to spend the Crosman Vantage would probably be the best bet. He could keep it cocked a while without spring fatigue, can get parts and is easy to fix, no other EXTRAS to use this gun, can use the iron sights if he wishes. He said a long shot would be 35 yards, with most in the 20-30 yard range --- (and of course I'd buy it off of him if he didn't like it  ---- lol, lol).

It took a little over a week to get the Vantage from Crosman, but when I did, I called him over to the shop and I did some work on his gun with his permission.

1st thing I did was take off a bear trap - I told him all the pros and cons, next thing I did was take out the 3 mm short trigger setscrew and replace it with a allen set screw that was much longer -- (his trigger now is actually very nice, nicer than my gun, I need to do the same thing to mine !).  I then blue locktited all the stock screws in firmly and I told him to keep a watch on them.  I then lightly lubed all the hinge points.

I then gave him an inexpensive 4x scope that is parallax corrected at 35 yds, so at least he would have something.  Told him to get what I have and that's the Hammers 3-9x32AO, he ordered it today I believe.

He is using CPHP pellets on my recommendation to start out to see if they perform like the do in my gun.  We sighted in at my office at 25 yds and it seems to be doing pretty good.

He will keep me posted on his ground squirrel hunting success :-)

wll

Excellent! Next thing you know, he'll ask about PCP!

[wll2506]

Still have not heard if he has had any success, I'll get in touch with him tomorrow !

 He may be out today racing pigeons or running RC cars -  he is two major hobbies lol, lol.

wll

[ranchibi]

Will, that was very kind and generous of you to order and service it for him! Hope he he has fun blasting those nutters and probably rats at night!

[avator]

Just curious..
Why did you remove the bear trap?

[wll2506]

Just curious..
Why did you remove the bear trap?

Every airgun I own has that "Can't De-Cock" type of feature removed, this includes my Airforce guns.

I MUST be able to de-cock the gun when I'm not shooting. I won't walk around with the gun cocked. This includes my firearms also !!

wll

[avator]

Got ya. Like I said, just curious.

[Rico14]

You might want to let him know to be careful when handling the ground squirrels. In California, they are known to carry the fleas that carry bubonic plague.  When I shoot them at my permission, the owner is okay with me just leaving them where they fall. There's plenty of predators that will take care of them

[wll2506]

You might want to let him know to be careful when handling the ground squirrels. In California, they are known to carry the fleas that carry bubonic plague.  When I shoot them at my permission, the owner is okay with me just leaving them where they fall. There's plenty of predators that will take care of them

They can be disease carrier's for sure, I'll remind him !

wll

[ER00z]

Oh boy... Nitro Pistons are gateway airguns (no pun intended). I remember a buddy had a Benji Trail and I got a Nitro Venom Dusk...

If they get the "bug" there are so many options available now. Luckily NP guns hold up well for years and years with essentially zero maintenance.

(As the trigger wears in, please be careful that there are no AD's with that longer trigger screw. I'd bump test at least once every tin, just incase, especially with the anti-bear trap removed)

Happy hunting!