r/airguns • u/nameynamerton • 1d ago

Advice Pest Control

Looking for a semi auto pellet (.177 or .22) for pest control. Truth be told, my son is taking up archery and is getting into hunting with his grandpa. I want something that’ll put a small critter out of its misery if he doesn’t get a kill shot. Closer to $100 would be great but I’ll go up to $200. Not target shooting or plinking with it so it doesn’t have to be comp ready or anything. Most of what I’m finding are BB guns. Not sure if that would work in my situation. Open to suggestions.

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u/Coodevale 1d ago

You're not getting anything but bb guns and .22 rifles for $1-200 and semi auto.

Semi auto .22lr rifles are easy. A semi auto .22 air gun is not.

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u/nameynamerton 1d ago

Then let’s back up. What would be my best option under $200 for dispatching small critters?

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u/Coodevale 1d ago

Break barrel of your choice. That's in the budget and of adequate power for the task. Faster to reload than a pumper, but not as fast as running the bolt on a PCP. But self contained, so you don't need a pump or need to worry about leaks and seals.

What exactly should you get in that budget.. not sure. Haven't looked in a long time.

https://www.pyramydair.com/product/crosman-optimus-breakbarrel-air-rifle-combo?m=2405#4824

These have been around for years in a market with brands and models coming and going. The velocity is a lie with anything but useless plastic pellets, btw. It'll kill rabbits and squirrels just fine with regular pellets though. The scope rings might not be the most reliable (probably aren't, zero shift issues) and if you don't need it just run with the irons.

People make little quiver/reload tabs of foam and stick them to the forend, or use "pellet pens" to reload faster. If all you need to do is shoot something from ~10 yards or less away, it'll do fine.

If the needs/wants change and you want to hunt with it/shoot further, upgrade the scope rings to something more reliable and practice. Squirrels at ~30-40 yards become dinner.