R7 / HW30S for squirrels - which caliber?

[lillysdad621]

I have used all three cals and have to disagree. The .177 is the perfect plinker, bird gun and such. But for defending the garden i would stick to a .22 or better yet, the .20. They put out a bit more power at the muzzle and retain a bit more on impact, without sacrificing accuracy. Yes, trajectory is loopier but i would not take a shot further than 20 yards (lotta people throw numbers out... go ahead, drop a golf ball in the grass, pace out 20 yards and then turn back... might small target right?), so the loopier trajectory is not a deal breaker. I have had 3 .177s, 1 .20 and 1.22... sold them all and replaced them with a FWB300s (silly accurate, but darn heavy to tote around). If i was to buy one more R7 it would be in .20. In your case, i would take the HW30s in .22 (you want the open sights too)

[Skinard88]

Where I live we have tree rats out the waazoo so I have shot them with most of my airguns. I have found that my d34 177 drops them as good as my disco in 22 and better than my prod 22. My hw30s 177cal does a fine job to 20 yards or less.   [1] rwsd34 pg2 tuned 177 40 yards [2] disco 22 lots of mods 40 yards  [3] tx200 22 pg2 tune 35 yards  [4] prod 22 stock 20 yards [5] hw30s 177 stock for now 20 yards or less. I like them all just depends on where the tree rat is and what I'm in the mood to use. I do think that 177cal is just as good to use on tree rats aka squirrels as 22. my hw30 with jsb 177  7,87gr. has taken its share of tree rats. good luck

[750k2]

I keep my shots to less than 20 usually and have run out of my polymags so went back to
My paper killer 8.2 rws's.
The poly mags kill better than others I have tried - not quite as paper perfect but when they
contact the noggin of tree rats they just work better - dead is dead but with three empty tins
of kills they just work - I think the lead has more antimony and the tip shatters them a little.
I base this on well over 400 in the last 7 years and that is just in the back yard.
R9 power is just to loud, fast and hold sensitive - works just not as well.
I may change after I get my 35E/.22 dialed in and tuned up.
But the 7 just plain works.

[Petey]

I keep my shots to less than 20 usually and have run out of my polymags so went back to
My paper killer 8.2 rws's.
The poly mags kill better than others I have tried - not quite as paper perfect but when they
contact the noggin of tree rats they just work better - dead is dead but with three empty tins
of kills they just work - I think the lead has more antimony and the tip shatters them a little.
I base this on well over 400 in the last 7 years and that is just in the back yard.
R9 power is just to loud, fast and hold sensitive - works just not as well.
I may change after I get my 35E/.22 dialed in and tuned up.
But the 7 just plain works.

The R9 requires more effort on the follow through due to the longer stroke. get that down and you'll be as happy with it as your R7.

Happy Shootin!
Petey

[Yak54]

The last squirrel I popped was at only 12 yds., but he was dead by the time he hit the ground.  Personally I'll use my HW30s out to 20 yds. max on a squirrel with a head shot.  Any further out then I use either the HW50S, or the R9.

[Not The Brightest Bulb]

R7 not enough power?   Bovine biscuits! lol..............
This subject comes up at least a few times a year...... Skill and shot placement are king...... Given enough time and experience most people will learn how power they "Don't Need" .
Read......
http://varmintair.typepad.com/varmintairs_blog/fwb-300s-sporter/

Still boils down too the individual's own skills.

Happy shootin To All!
Petey

Say it again Petey, say it again. I have eliminated 3 pests this year with my 30s and have no doubt that R7 would have done same job. (only had 3) All were within 10 yards, can't help it if I got dumb pests.

[MikieG]

My R7 shoots CPH at a very steady 612 fps. I am an R1 guy to my core. I have 3 of them in .22 and .177. Then our president Chris Martin (20cal) showed me his R7. Man that gun was on my mind for a month straight. Kinda like that hot girl i met at the club last night. It didnt stop till i found one.
What a sweet shooting gun. Even with iron sights. What a pleasure to shoot! I have shot plenty of stuff with my sons Marksman 0035 over the years. These guns are nearly identical. 612 with a .177 will do in dogs with a proper hit. Which is key with anything. You can shoot a cat in the tail with a 12ga slug and the cat will live. All be it with less tail.

R7 is loved for many fine characteristics. I wouldn't think .22 would be too good past 20 yards. For that i have the R1. The wind and the R7 are loads of fun. If you are paying attention, there is much to learn with every shot. This all translates quite cheaply to my .308 at distance.

[Methuselah]

In these little guns, which caliber would you choose for squirrels, .177 or .22.   And what kind of range are they good to?

(not interested in a .20 cal)

753 posts?

No offense Marc, but by now if you know what you shoot most accurately, try using it at no farther than the distance you can be sure you will hit the kill zone, right?

I would think that would work for anything from a slingshot to a .45-70

Odd ... a baby squirrel jus waltzed by while I'm writing this (first time).  Strange world.

[ancient1one]

Some "hunter" posts a well written article on the internet that a 6 fpe airgun at the muzzle is enough to kill a ground squirrel out to 45 yards and people take it as factual. Must be a fact.. Why? I read it on the INTERNET.
http://varmintair.typepad.com/varmintairs_blog/fwb-300s-sporter/

 I have killed 100's of squirrels with all types airguns including a .177 Diana 20. IMO 6 fpe is not enough to hunt squirrel, even if it is posted on the INTERNET. Most hunters tell others about their clean kills but leave out the shots that maim and make animals suffer. Even the "hunter" that post well written articles with nice photos attached.

[Methuselah]

Some "hunter" posts a well written article on the internet that a 6 fpe airgun at the muzzle is enough to kill a ground squirrel out to 45 yards and people take it as factual. Must be a fact.. Why? I read it on the INTERNET.
http://varmintair.typepad.com/varmintairs_blog/fwb-300s-sporter/

 I have killed 100's of squirrels with all types airguns including a .177 Diana 20. IMO 6 fpe is not enough to hunt squirrel, even if it is posted on the INTERNET. Most hunters tell others about their clean kills but leave out the shots that maim and make animals suffer. Even the "hunter" that post well written articles with nice photos attached.

IMHO there are exceptions;

http://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=91927.msg861412#msg861412

[Petey]

Some "hunter" posts a well written article on the internet that a 6 fpe airgun at the muzzle is enough to kill a ground squirrel out to 45 yards and people take it as factual. Must be a fact.. Why? I read it on the INTERNET.
http://varmintair.typepad.com/varmintairs_blog/fwb-300s-sporter/

 I have killed 100's of squirrels with all types airguns including a .177 Diana 20. IMO 6 fpe is not enough to hunt squirrel, even if it is posted on the INTERNET. Most hunters tell others about their clean kills but leave out the shots that maim and make animals suffer. Even the "hunter" that post well written articles with nice photos attached.

Nice attitude......... JMO.

[ancient1one]

 A life long "hunter" posts a nicely written post with pretty photos then people read the article and say to themselves it must be fact. He states hes killed thousands and thousands of California ground squirrels with a FWB 300S 6fpe airgun out to 45 yards.

Anyone that can hit a California ground squirrels head at 45 yards with a 6 fpe airgun should be in the Olympics. He states he hits them between the eye and ear. I am willing to bet that he could not hit a squirrels head at 45 yards with his .177 FWB 300S 50% of the time. Off had he be lucky to hit the squirrel 20%.

People read non factual articles like this(http://varmintair.typepad.com/varmintairs_blog/fwb-300s-sporter/) on the INTERNET then refer to it as fact. Again anyone who states he can hit a ground squirrels head at 45 yards consistently with a 6 fpe outdoors is out of touch.

In my opinion a R7 shooting 5 - 6 fpe is not the right airgun for squirrel hunting.

[EMrider]

A life long "hunter" posts a nicely written post with pretty photos then people read the article and say to themselves it must be fact. He states hes killed thousands and thousands of California ground squirrels with a FWB 300S 6fpe airgun out to 45 yards.

Anyone that can hit a California ground squirrels head at 45 yards with a 6 fpe airgun should be in the Olympics. He states he hits them between the eye and ear. I am willing to bet that he could not hit a squirrels head at 45 yards with his .177 FWB 300S 50% of the time. Off had he be lucky to hit the squirrel 20%.

People read non factual articles like this(http://varmintair.typepad.com/varmintairs_blog/fwb-300s-sporter/) on the INTERNET then refer to it as fact. Again anyone who states he can hit a ground squirrels head at 45 yards consistently with a 6 fpe outdoors is out of touch.

In my opinion a R7 shooting 5 - 6 fpe is not the right airgun for squirrel hunting.

By my standards that article is about as "factual" as it gets, even though it does not settle what is largely a subjective issue.

R

[Methuselah]

A life long "hunter" posts a nicely written post with pretty photos then people read the article and say to themselves it must be fact. He states hes killed thousands and thousands of California ground squirrels with a FWB 300S 6fpe airgun out to 45 yards.

Anyone that can hit a California ground squirrels head at 45 yards with a 6 fpe airgun should be in the Olympics. He states he hits them between the eye and ear. I am willing to bet that he could not hit a squirrels head at 45 yards with his .177 FWB 300S 50% of the time. Off had he be lucky to hit the squirrel 20%.

People read non factual articles like this(http://varmintair.typepad.com/varmintairs_blog/fwb-300s-sporter/) on the INTERNET then refer to it as fact. Again anyone who states he can hit a ground squirrels head at 45 yards consistently with a 6 fpe outdoors is out of touch.

In my opinion a R7 shooting 5 - 6 fpe is not the right airgun for squirrel hunting.

If you re-read the article I don't believe he said anyone could do it.  IIRC, he said he had 50 years experience, the rifle is a target rifle, and when he noted pass-throughs at reasonably close range, he started adding small increments to his maximum range.

Your concerns are quite valid though, as everyone has their own unique limitations and people do see someone make difficult things look easy.

In Alabama we call that "Hey you'all, watch this" and it is also engraved on many a tombstone 

My maximum range on sparrows is about 40 yards, on squirrels more like 6" if someone holds it down...

[anuthabubba]

Just yesterday I made single headshot kills at 30, 40 and 45 laser-ranged yards using a co2 rifle (Crosman 180) made in the early '60s. Shots were made while resting on a post, using painted open sights. Power output is around 7fpe. The heads were ~40-50mm wide and sticking up from the water about that same height. Have made similar offhand and rested shots with stock 1701p and 1720T pistols. Sometimes on moving targets. Have also taken nutria with offhand headshots at 50 laser-ranged yards with vintage 13fpe Sheridans.

Disbelief doesn't change the facts.

[Methuselah]

Just yesterday I made single headshot kills at 30, 40 and 45 laser-ranged yards using a co2 rifle (Crosman 180) made in the early '60s. Shots were made while resting on a post, using painted open sights. Power output is around 7fpe. The heads were ~40-50mm wide and sticking up from the water about that same height. Have made similar offhand and rested shots with stock 1701p and 1720T pistols. Sometimes on moving targets. Have also taken nutria with offhand headshots at 50 laser-ranged yards with vintage 13fpe Sheridans.

Disbelief doesn't change the facts.

And I'd bet that's not your maximum range 

Nice!

[lillysdad621]

 A life long "hunter" posts a nicely written post with pretty photos then people read the article and say to themselves it must be fact. He states hes killed thousands and thousands of California ground squirrels with a FWB 300S 6fpe airgun out to 45 yards.

Anyone that can hit a California ground squirrels head at 45 yards with a 6 fpe airgun should be in the Olympics. He states he hits them between the eye and ear. I am willing to bet that he could not hit a squirrels head at 45 yards with his .177 FWB 300S 50% of the time. Off had he be lucky to hit the squirrel 20%.

People read non factual articles like this(http://varmintair.typepad.com/varmintairs_blog/fwb-300s-sporter/) on the INTERNET then refer to it as fact. Again anyone who states he can hit a ground squirrels head at 45 yards consistently with a 6 fpe outdoors is out of touch.

In my opinion a R7 shooting 5 - 6 fpe is not the right airgun for squirrel hunting.

Sorry but i must also disagree. First of all, even if that gun was putting out 6 fpe (which it shouldnt be as mine puts out 7.8...) with 8.44s at 45 yards that pellet will have still 3.6 fpe, which if placed in the right spot, will drop a squirrel (especially a ground squirrel) at 45 yards. Go ahead, chairgun pro it... 3.6fpe at 45 yards... Second, we are talking about a rifle designed for a high level of accuracy, recoilless, shooting of sticks and with a powerful scope to boot. Dude, im not that good of a shot but i have shot HFT with mine and connected with 1 inch killzones at way pass 40 yards, so i find it very doable. Third, when someone says, Is such gun good for squirrels?, we assume that we are taking epic shots at ungodly distances, as if we where shooting prairy dogs at hundreds of yards... most people pest in their yards, and at ranges under 30 yards. I for one im lucky enough to do it for a living... yep, people actually pay me to pest in their properties all kinds of nuisance animals... I have taken my fair share of squirrels, rabbits, pigeons, gophers , chipmunks with R7s... and i can tell you that it is the perfect squirrel gun, as it is quiet, easy to shoot and more accurate than you could possibly fathom... I would even recommend the larger calibers, as they transmit more energy to the animal upon impact. If by hunting you mean that you must take a shot at the farthest possible distance, instead of using some bushcraft to get closer and guarantee a clean death, then nothing is the perfect rifle. An R1 is not a better  squirrel gun, its just more forgiving. But i tell you this, anyone who has owned an R7 will attest to the fact that you CAN shoot electrons as they fly around the nucleus of an atom, and with a little practice and familiarity, anyone would feel comfortable taking a headshot on a squirrel within 25/30 yards on an R7.  I sold all my R7s in favor of the 300s  on varmint airs recommendation. 4 years of experience with it ascertain that he was right. Do i miss my 7s? yes... i will buy another one, in .20. why? because the 300s is a pig to tote around the woods...

[VillageSniper]

I have a feeling that those California ground squirrels are thin skinned compared to the average tree rat, and a bit easier to take down. 

[Not The Brightest Bulb]

most people pest in their yards, and at ranges under 30 yards.

Yes indeed.

[Josan]

With my 7 fpe HW30S in 177 i will hit a 1" target consistently out to 30-35 yards, the biggest enemy being wind.

JSB Exact RS do very well in this gun at 650 fps.