Air rifle for groundhogs

hutchinsonkw · May 27, 2015

Hey,
I figured I would ask before I buy. Would a 22 cal air rifle be sufficient for a groundhog within a reasonable distance? 20-30 yards tops. There are tons of groundhogs on my property but I can not use a rifle.

If so which rifle would you choose? Anyone have experience with a stoger atac? I held one today and it felt pretty good.

-Kevin.

Second Amendment · May 27, 2015

I'm currently having an issue with the little bastards. From what I hear and read, a pellet gun won't do too much. They have tough skin.

outrider58 · May 27, 2015

Check velocities against 1.77s. I've seen air rifles kill mature hogs with head shots but, I have a feeling groundhogs have a tougher skull.

Streetgang · May 27, 2015

I have a .22 RWS 48. I have all confidence that a well placed shot would dispatch a ground hog no problem. It consistently runs about 900fps with 18 grain pellets.

If you want to be sure, get a .38cal PCP air rifle. You'll have zero issue with killing ground hogs.
Warning... be ready to spend a good sum on a decent air rifle.

HappyCamper · May 27, 2015

Not sure about a pellet gun, but I've killed more than one with 22LR Super Collibre. Just as quiet (or more) than a pellet gun. Good for Raccoons too :innocent0

Streetgang · May 27, 2015

HappyCamper said:
Not sure about a pellet gun, but I've killed more than one with 22LR Super Collibre. Just as quiet (or more) than a pellet gun. Good for Raccoons too

Agreed. My RWS is pretty loud considering it's an air rifle.

Fox123 · May 27, 2015

This should do the trick...
http://www.airforceairguns.com/Articles.asp?ID=307

justsand · May 27, 2015

Just got a stoeger x20 suppressed in 22 my rabbit problem is solved. Stop looking at velocity and look at foot pounds

Streetgang · May 27, 2015

OP that Stoeger probably won't do well. Most cheap air rifles are disappointingly inaccurate and weak. I know they advertise 800 fps but I wouldn't expect it. Go to pyramid air and you tube and check out air rifle reviews. Spend a bit of time researching. It's time well spent.

Streetgang · May 27, 2015

Fox123 said:
This should do the trick...
http://www.airforceairguns.com/Articles.asp?ID=307

Doubtlessly. That airforce is a nice PCP by be prepared to drop some big money on one.

outrider58 · May 27, 2015

Yep, some of those air rifles carry a pretty loud report, some as loudish as .22. I like bows.

Streetgang · May 27, 2015

Just got this ad from Pyramid Air for PCP's

and this one for the Memorial day sale

PCP's are easier to shoot accurately. Springers are not too hard to learn but you have to forget all you learned about shooting rifles. With a Springer you need to use the artillery hold or you'll be all over the place.

BigDaddy · May 27, 2015

Second Amendment said:
I'm currently having an issue with the little bastards. From what I hear and read, a pellet gun won't do too much. They have tough skin.

You need a bigger pellet http://www.extremebigboreairrifles.com/

DCSCO · May 27, 2015

Streetgang said:
I have a .22 RWS 48. I have all confidence that a well placed shot would dispatch a ground hog no problem. It consistently runs about 900fps with 18 grain pellets.

If you want to be sure, get a .38cal PCP air rifle. You'll have zero issue with killing ground hogs.
Warning... be ready to spend a good sum on a decent air rifle.

Got one with the RWS, the rest with CB shorts. The 10/22 was quieter.

hutchinsonkw · May 27, 2015

Thank you all for the replies. I will buy some quieter 22 ammo and try it at the range. I live on 15 acres so legally I could shoot but I just wanted to be stealthier since there is a school across a field and behind some woods.

I like the idea of a break barrel air rifle. I will research them further. If anything i could pick off squirrels when they get into my garden.

How much would you spend in a good air rifle? $500ish?

-Kevin.

ohen cepel · May 27, 2015

I have 2 PCP airguns listed now in the classifieds. Either of them will take a groundhog.

CCI .22 Quiet is also a good option.

Quality air rifles with power enough to take larger game get expensive. However, are cheaper to shoot and can be very quiet (and addictive :-)

Streetgang · May 27, 2015

hutchinsonkw said:
Thank you all for the replies. I will buy some quieter 22 ammo and try it at the range. I live on 15 acres so legally I could shoot but I just wanted to be stealthier since there is a school across a field and behind some woods.

I like the idea of a break barrel air rifle. I will research them further. If anything i could pick off squirrels when they get into my garden.

How much would you spend in a good air rifle? $500ish?

-Kevin.

My RWS 48 goes for $440 at Airgun Depot. It's a side lever. The thing weighs a ton but with a decent leaper's scope, you're golden. Mine LOVES diablo pellets.
I personally don't care for the break barrels. My thought is the accuracy isn't there if you can move the alignment of the barrel from the axis of the scope. My RWS 48 is a tack driver. I have a rubber squirrel spinner about 20 yards from my deck. I get consistent neck shots every time.

Arcamm · May 27, 2015

A .177 will drop them up to 20 yards with a well placed shot. You have a much better chance if you can get a second shot off. One shot not well placed will only wound them and they'll limp of and die.

HappyCamper said:
Not sure about a pellet gun, but I've killed more than one with 22LR Super Collibre. Just as quiet (or more) than a pellet gun. Good for Raccoons too

These in my T bolt are quieter than my Gamo break barrel. Good to 30 yards.

Blacksmith101 · May 27, 2015

Consider the energy of the round since that is what does the work. In my opinion the minimum energy for a humane kill on a groundhog, at close range 25 yds. with a well placed shot, would be a standard velocity .22 short weighing 27 to 29 grains. The ballistics tables show that equals something in the range of 60 to 70 foot pounds of energy at 25 yds. A better choice would be a .22 Long Rifle either sub sonic or standard velocity weighing 38 to 40 grains. This has an energy of 80 to 90 foot pounds at 25 yds. Look for an air rifle and "pellet" combination that will give equivalent energy at 25 yds.

If you can't shoot them with something adequate to insure a humane kill then either trap and dispatch them or use smoke bombs. Respect life even when you have to take it.

Second Amendment · May 28, 2015

Blacksmith101 said:
Consider the energy of the round since that is what does the work. In my opinion the minimum energy for a humane kill on a groundhog, at close range 25 yds. with a well placed shot, would be a standard velocity .22 short weighing 27 to 29 grains. The ballistics tables show that equals something in the range of 60 to 70 foot pounds of energy at 25 yds. A better choice would be a .22 Long Rifle either sub sonic or standard velocity weighing 38 to 40 grains. This has an energy of 80 to 90 foot pounds at 25 yds. Look for an air rifle and "pellet" combination that will give equivalent energy at 25 yds.

If you can't shoot them with something adequate to insure a humane kill then either trap and dispatch them or use smoke bombs. Respect life even when you have to take it.

Agreed, caught my first one this morning in a trap. The instructions for the trap are BS. I followed them and I caught nothing. I went on line and read a completely different approach to using the trap and it worked.

Air rifle for groundhogs

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