Need help :)

[leila]

I'm new to this forum and I'm just starting to learning basics about air rifles. Would anyone be able to give me any suggestions which riffles I should be looking into more for predator control. And by predator I mean starlings and sparrows that somehow exploded over this summer and destroyed what would have been a nice start of my Purple Martin colony.
I live in one of those newer subdivisions and don't have a very big yard, plus I would like to get something that is very accurate. I already tried one of my friends riffles and missed the birds everytime... I don't know the name of it but it was very basic looking type of air riffle  (pump) and it didn't have a scope.
Thank you!

[longislandhunter]

Welcome to GTA, very nice to have you with us.  There are quite a few rifles out there that would suit your needs.  A good place to start is usually by defining how much $ you are looking to spend.  Since you mentioned removing birds, starlings and sparrows, .177 caliber should do nicely, a fact that greatly increases your options.  If you don't mind spending around $450 I would say get a Beeman R-7 combo... here's a link......

https://www.pyramydair.com/product/beeman-r7-elite-series-combo?m=1561

To me this rifle is the ultimate backyard bird gun.  It's a high quality rifle, is deadly accurate, it is a lower powered rifle perfect for backyard shooting where distances might be a bit "tight" and it's also a gun that will hold it's value.  It's a classic 

If you're not looking to spend that much then there are of course many other options.   

Jeff

[Mark 611]

+1 for the R7!

[lizzie]

Welcome to GTA leila!

There's lots of knowledgeable folks here, and they are helpful too.
All I've shot starlings and sparrows with (so far)  is my Remington (Crosman)  Airmaster77. It will do the job in my experience with 5 pumps, and is very affordable. That being said, I've acquired a couple of older springers in the past couple of months, and will be trying them out next spring when the S&S return to my martin houses. I suggest reading around the different forums and making yourself familiar with the terminology regarding different types of air guns. There's also a great GTA library with much good reading time to spend (top bar, right side of the page).
Again- glad you dropped in.

[Nathan]

Welcome to the GTA. I would first say that you need to set yourself a budget. Then decide if that budget includes a scope or not. If it doesn't, figure your budget for optics and mounts too, don't forget them. Then with a $ figure in mind, many people can give you suggestions on what rifles you should consider. Also, what type of powerplant do you want? Spring, CO2, multi-pump. Each has positives and negatives. The R-7 is a great rifle as Jeff said, but if your new and/or unfamiliar to adult airguns, you maybe in for sticker shock. There are some good choices for less money.

Nathan

[althawk]

couple of Questions.

How far away from the target site (infested purple martin habitat) are you planning on shooting?
-using height of the habitat and the distance from base: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagorean_theorem

How worried are you about noise pollution disturbing your neighbors?
Whats behind where you are aiming? (if you miss what will you hit/damage/hurt).
Is it feasible to install a backstop on the habitat? (or in the habitat).

if this the pump air gun you'd been using before? https://www.pyramydair.com/product/crosman-760-pumpmaster?m=339

Have you checked to see what local ordinances are concerning air guns?




For starlings (aka yellow-beaks)
Just about any .177 rifle with over 6fpe should be fine as long as its accurate at 10-20m.

A .22 is almost overkill, or some would argue a guaranteed kill IF it hits.

Cheap:
7 fpe Daisy 880S ($45 at walmart)
8 fpe Crosman 2100b (airmaster 77 $85 at walmart or $39+ s/h refurbished from crosman)
People generally go for the crosman, more power, easier to fix, better receiver for a scope...etc.
http://www.crosman.com/outlet/9-2100BRM
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Remington-Air-Master-.177-Air-Rifle/5913355
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Crosman-2100-Classic-.177-Caliber-Carbine/15939531

Moderate:
12 fpe Benjamin Sheridan 397/392/Blue Streak ($150)
Be sure you get .177 ammo for 397, .22 ammo for 392 and .20 for blue streak.
People have been using these for decades.
 
Specialized/Expensive:
Any springer that is well recommended (i.e look for ones that are reasonably quiet, not too hold sensitive)
Any PCP (i.e. the Dark Side)

Scopes are great on multipumps/pcps.


Also consider what you'll do for a follow-up shot.
At 10m and under you could probably use the following for head shots on starlings, zombies:
Crosman 1377 (AKA pc77, pc77b)
$55 - ~6fpe - http://www.walmart.com/ip/Crosman-Pumpmaster-Classic-.177-Caliber-Air-Pistol/15939540
Beeman P17
$40 - ~3 fpe - http://www.walmart.com/ip/Beeman-Deluxe-Air-Pistol/17217811

[leila]

I would say get a Beeman R-7 combo... here's a link......

https://www.pyramydair.com/product/beeman-r7-elite-series-combo?m=1561

To me this rifle is the ultimate backyard bird gun.  It's a high quality rifle, is deadly accurate, it is a lower powered rifle perfect for backyard shooting where distances might be a bit "tight" and it's also a gun that will hold it's value.  It's a classic 

If you're not looking to spend that much then there are of course many other options.   

Jeff

Thank you! I've watched the video from the link and it sure is a super nice riffle... amazing actually! A little expensive, but I have till next spring budget for it, so in the end it will depend how well I've managed my finances...

[leila]

Welcome to GTA leila!

There's lots of knowledgeable folks here, and they are helpful too.
All I've shot starlings and sparrows with (so far)  is my Remington (Crosman)  Airmaster77. It will do the job in my experience with 5 pumps, and is very affordable. That being said, I've acquired a couple of older springers in the past couple of months, and will be trying them out next spring when the S&S return to my martin houses. I suggest reading around the different forums and making yourself familiar with the terminology regarding different types of air guns. There's also a great GTA library with much good reading time to spend (top bar, right side of the page).
Again- glad you dropped in.

Lizzie, thank you again for recommending this forum! I've already found some good info and so much more left to read... and now you tell me there is also a library...

[leila]

Welcome to the GTA. I would first say that you need to set yourself a budget. Then decide if that budget includes a scope or not. If it doesn't, figure your budget for optics and mounts too, don't forget them. Then with a $ figure in mind, many people can give you suggestions on what rifles you should consider. Also, what type of powerplant do you want? Spring, CO2, multi-pump. Each has positives and negatives. The R-7 is a great rifle as Jeff said, but if your new and/or unfamiliar to adult airguns, you maybe in for sticker shock. There are some good choices for less money.

Nathan

Nathan, I'm not sure yet what "Spring, CO2, multi-pump" is... that's how much of a beginner I am! But since there is a library here I'm hoping soon I'll be able to answer that question.
I wasn't planning originally to spend over $200, but now I see that it could end up costing more.

[Rico14]

Welcome to the GTA. It looks like you have some time to do more research before you decide what to get. Good luck and let us know what you buy.

[Mark 611]

just remember you get what you pay for!

[lizzie]

Nathan, I'm not sure yet what "Spring, CO2, multi-pump" is... that's how much of a beginner I am! But since there is a library here I'm hoping soon I'll be able to answer that question.
I wasn't planning originally to spend over $200, but now I see that it could end up costing more.

It can easily cost more than $200, but it doesn't have to. It's really all up to you and what you want. The most important factor (imo) is to get what you want, and practice practice practice. When I first bought my 77, I would sit at the bench for hours at a time (until it flared up my tennis elbow, then I learned to pump with my left arm, lol. )

[althawk]

just some reading for ya... (might wanna search for posts december-february and april-june for yellow beaks)

http://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php/topic,12957.0.html

http://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php/topic,11402.0.html

One Starling Hunting Guide--For the record
http://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php/topic,10424.0.html

Starling Observations
http://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php/topic,9732.0.html

[jonnnyboy]

Leila, welcome to the GTA.  We're family and we're glad you're here.

You've asked a truly loaded (LOL) question but this is the best place to get your answers.  Do some searching and explore the library but most of all, talk to the fine folks here who are happy to help you.  Of course, when all is said and done we want you to spend a lot of money on airguns and then tell us all about them!!!

joe

[leila]

couple of Questions.

How far away from the target site (infested purple martin habitat) are you planning on shooting?

It would be mainly my backyard, but exact distance I’m not sure, I’ll probably will measure later when I get home.

How worried are you about noise pollution disturbing your neighbors?
Whats behind where you are aiming? (if you miss what will you hit/damage/hurt).
Is it feasible to install a backstop on the habitat? (or in the habitat).

I think my most worry is not hitting my neighbors houses that are behind the habitat… Even though mostly I would be shooting up, because my purple martin gourds are on top of a pole and there is no way I can install a backstop.

if this the pump air gun you'd been using before? https://www.pyramydair.com/product/crosman-760-pumpmaster?m=339

Yes it is… and I couldn’t hit neither sparrow, nor a starling with it… So I guess my problem is with accuracy.

Have you checked to see what local ordinances are concerning air guns?

I’m in Illinois and on another forum I’ve read that someone from Illinois as well uses air riffles to control sparrows/starlings, so I’m hoping I’m good, but I guess I’ll checked that out as well.

I thank you so much for the list and all the info!!!! Somethings I will have to look up because of my limited terminology but it’s great to know that there are so many options.

[leila]

just remember you get what you pay for!

Lot of times that is the case!

[althawk]

ahh illinios... i'm just west of you.
There is an airgun show in st. louis, missouri this weekend.
It might be best (cheaper) to buy something across the river. I just hope you aren't near chicago.

Um.. projectiles (bullets, arrows, pellets) are all gonna arc downward if u fire upward.
"What goes up, must come down" - Isaac Newton, lil known brother of Fig Newton. j/k

The crosman 760 which is what you'd been using, doesn't surprise me that you weren't able to hit them with that. Its barrel is smooth bore (not rifled). Intended more for bb's at like 10m than pellets.

Save you're self a couple hundred bucks and try out a rifled barrel multi-pumper.
Daisy 880, Crosman 2100, Benji 397.

A lot of people in the past used Sheridan Blue Streaks, the ancestor of the current crosman benji 397/392/blue streaks, to protect their purple-martin habitats.  There are a couple posts on this forum of people still using their 35 year old 342s to take out starlings.

Sheridan made the .20 blue streak 1958-1977
Benjamin (St. Louis Air Rifle Co.) made the 312/317,347/342, and bought out sheridan in '77, then they started making the 392/397/current blue streaks.
Crosman bought out Benjamin-Sheridan in 1995.

Daisy has been Daisy since... late 1800's.  Not much new, innovative stuff from them.
RWS = Diana (think Nobel of Nobel Peace prize)
Anything else is likely made in China/Turkey under license.

The only problem, is that beyond 20m you'll want to use a scope (unless you've got naturally telescopic vision), and these aren't exactly scope friendly, you have to buy an intermount: https://www.pyramydair.com/product/air-venturi-intermount-fits-benjamin-sheridan-multi-pump-rifles?a=2015

to mount a scope, since these don't typically have a built in grooves for mounting scopes.

[leila]

Leila, welcome to the GTA.  We're family and we're glad you're here.

You've asked a truly loaded (LOL) question but this is the best place to get your answers.  Do some searching and explore the library but most of all, talk to the fine folks here who are happy to help you.  Of course, when all is said and done we want you to spend a lot of money on airguns and then tell us all about them!!!

joe

Ha ha ha that’s funny and as long as it’s not all of my money and just lots of money then we good (you see I have to keep some for my other of hobbies) And thank you so much Joe!

[leila]

 

Welcome to the GTA. It looks like you have some time to do more research before you decide what to get. Good luck and let us know what you buy.

Thank you! And I will!!!

[althawk]

Pyramyd Air Blog commentary
https://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2005/09/fix-your-benjamin-or-sheridan-pneumatic-at-home/

The Purple Martin Forums
http://purplemartin.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15363

http://purplemartin.org/forum/viewtopic.php?printertopic=1&t=19658&postdays=0&postorder=asc&&start=0

http://www.purplemartins.com/RTC/showthread.php?t=108