Is the Crosman Nitro Venom Dusk .177 powerful enough to take out small games?

[Daniel]

Hi,

I posted a previous thread about my family's being terrorized by rabbits and beavers, and I was planning to use an Edgun Matador in .22, but as there's not much access to the compressed air I need in the valve, so using a PCP isn't even planned anymore.

So I am wondering if a Venom Dusk in .177 can take out these bunnies? I will be using Predator Polymags and Walther Hunter Impact, even though I prefer to use shotguns to eliminate these pests, which is not gonna happen, because of my age. Anyone who knows? I've calculated that a shot from the Venom with Hunter Impacts will have energy around 20J. I believe this is strong enough to take out these pests, but I am not sure.

In advance, all help will be apperciated.

Best regards,
Daniel

[Spankys Monkey]

Dropped a few wascally wabbits with my TR77nps. Not sure where you're from with "20J" rating but a rifle pushing an 8grain pellet @ 800+ fps should have you covered on the bunnies. Don't have beavers round me, cornfields, they should have thick skulls and a tough hide. Gonna be a pushing it cause of pellet size and weight i recon.

[longislandhunter]

The rifle is perfectly capable of taking rabbits out to 30 or 40 yards with proper shot placement, head shots being preferred.  I can't answer about it's capability for taking out a beaver as I've never hunted one.   I have taken some large woodchucks with my .177 Venom, some of them going around 10 lbs and they are one tough critter.... but like I said I've never gone after a beaver. 

Jeff

[OleTomCat]

Rabbits easy, beaver not so much....

It would take a near perfectly placed head shot at close range and if you miss be prepared to run, they are known to charge...

[Nate the airgunner]

Venom will kill those wabbits out too 45 yards or so granted you can put it in the thinker. Beavers are better to chase with a rim fire or PCP IMO.

[TR]

The Nitro Venom is a very decent air rifle.  The crosman trigger is garbage, you will want to replace it.  Here is a link to the Charlie Tuna Triggers that are very popular:

http://charliedatuna.com/

Since you were considering an Edgun, I assume you are not budget limited.  I have several very capable .22 pellet rifles including the Nitro Venom.  If you are looking at taking out beavers, I would
suggest you step up to a more powerful package.

Take a look at the reviews and comments on the RWS 350 and the RWS 48.  They are both quality rifles that you will be able to pass on to your grandkids (when they are old enough to handle them).  The 48 is a fixed barrel with a side lever action.  The 350 is a breakbarrel.  I have managed several generations of raccoons with them. 

I could point to alot of stats on the various rifles, but the best way I can compare a Nitro Venom to an RWS 350 or 48 is the sound that the pellets make when they hit your target.  The nitro venom  goes "tink" where the 350 has a very satisfying "thwapp" .

Good luck managing your beavers....

[Bullit]

As the other guys say, EXCEPT for beaver, your rifle has enough for taking care of the rabbits and pests.
  As far as beaver, I never shot one with an airgun, simply for their size.  Doesn't take much beaver to make 20-30lbs.     Today, we are lucky that there are some good .22 rifle cartridges available, that are subsonic (no sonic crack) and are just as quiet (dB),as a more powerful air rifle.  They deliver Much more power (FPE) than a 22 spring/or most PCP air rifles will.  Still a headshot deal.  Don't know your license situation for using a .22, so take it for what it's worth. It may be illegal to actually hunt them with the .22  (but it is legal to dispatch trapped ones).  Traps are very efficient...better for selling the pelt too.  They're not bad eating, slow roasted.  Give it a try.
 Good Luck!