Got a Question. (All Input Will Be Helpful)

[RJSchaefer]

The fact that I can outshoot both my parents, both of whom have been shooting their entire life, and I still average higher than a lot of people who have been shooting their whole life. I've placed 1st in the state of Michigan multiple times at state level competitions and have been to nationals a few times as well. With the exception of a few very good shooters, I am a better shot than most people in my club, which has placed top in the state multiple times as well[...]

Good for you. You're a good shot. The OP might not be, hence the need for something more powerful than an air rifle.

Personally, I would never attempt a one-shot kill on a larger pest with anything less than my .45 lever action. I've seen possums take three 9mm rounds at point blank and keep kicking. I've seen .22LRs bounce off a rabbit's head at 10 yards. Just the other day - I posted about this - we had a field rat and The Man hit it with 5 .22mag rounds out of his North American at less than 4 feet. It was still trying to get away (and doing an admirable job).

If I'm going to attempt a one-shot, I'm going to use the round that will leave the least amount of pest remaining in one piece.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Quote: You've said that more than once, and yet you continue

All the stories about your shooting prowess STILL don't override the PHYSICS that show a 17 Ca; Air Rifle is pitifully weak for game larger than a squirrel
Quote:
Actually, it's very hard to aim for the exact part of the neck with the spinal column you have to hit it get a reliable kill.
It's less than half an inch wide.
Quote: They don't take three shots to the brain and do all that.
You missed
Quote:
LOL
"Apprehensive" has nothing to do with anything.
You first said you can always make a "well placed shot" and that "head shots always work", so I figure you missed the head and got lucky on the neck hit

I know all about how deer react to being shot, since I've killed close to two hundred.
The yearly limit here is 6, and I generally limit out without even leaving my own property.
I've shot them with bow and arrow, handguns, muzzleloaders, rifles and shotguns.

None of that makes a 17 Cal air rifle a good predator choice if you can use something better
They are weak, they lack bullet weight, and they are too SLOW for follow up shots

 

[blucoondawg]

when it comes to the reliability of a certain type of gun to kill a certain animal it all comes down to energy of the projectile, it doesn't matter one bit if that projectile is propelled by air or gun powder, a 20 grain pellet or bullet shot at 1000 feet per second will have the same energy, only difference may be accuracy of the gun and the person shooting it. If you can use comprable projectiles and shoot them at the same speeds then the only difference will be whether or not you can accurately hit where you aim. You can shoot a rabbit multiple times with most any small caliber and it isn't going to die fast unless you hit it well. I will have to call bs on the poster who claims to have seen a 22lr bounce off a rabbits head at 10 yards, that is getting to be beyond the laws of physics.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Quote: A HEAVY 17 Cal pellet will weigh a little over 11 GR
Most average around 8 GR
The guns that are advertising "1000 FPS" are using velocities obtained with the LIGHTEST pellets, which are only about 6 GR

You have to go up to a 22 Cal pellet to approach 20 gr weights:
http://www.airgunningatlanta.com/Assets/images/ft_qa/pellet_weight_chart.html

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Quote: What were you shooting?

 

[Dove1B]

Shmccarthy, You have to realize you're not the only one here who shoots or is knowledgeable about firearms. I've won competitions and outshot many old timers as well, but there's no use arguing online about who can outshoot who, when there's no way of knowing. 
Your marksmanship was never called into question, but you are reacting as if you're being challenged. All bear foot was saying was that it's not RELIABLE. I could hit birds with a slingshot, that doesn't make it a reliable weapon. You are basing your opinion off of only your experience with your particular gun. There are thousands of shooters out there who have tested ballistics and weapons capabilities, and the conclusion is that it's not reliable. Possible does not mean reliable. I don't doubt that you've killed a raccoon. But people have killed deer with a .22, that doesn't make it a reliable deer rifle. It's hard to be taken seriously as a young female shooter, and you seem to be taking this very personally. I don't believe that anyone was challenging your shooting abilities.

To the OP: if an air rifle is your only option other than a muzzle loader, go for it. It's quiet, so you're less likely to have angry neighbors. You'll probably be able to kill or deter most predators with it and you don't have to worry about a stray .22 hitting a neighbors house.

 

[moetrout]

I have a Ruger Airhawk and don't doubt it can kill varmints, but I feel there are better choices. I'm old and don't see as well as I use to. I may need a followup shot and with the airgun that is not so fast. What you can take away from all this arguing amongst our superior shootist is use what works for you. If it were me that would be a semiauto .22 lr during the day and a 12 (or 20) gauge shotgun at night.

 

[RJSchaefer]

I posed the question to The Man (works with guns all day every day), and he mentioned an air rifle called "Whisper." He said he wouldn't rely on it to be a clean kill (or kill at all without good placement), but it would be good enough to detour and control if that's your only option.

 

[blucoondawg]

A HEAVY 17 Cal pellet will weigh a little over 11 GR
Most average around 8 GR
The guns that are advertising "1000 FPS" are using velocities obtained with the LIGHTEST pellets, which are only about 6 GR

You have to go up to a 22 Cal pellet to approach 20 gr weights:
http://www.airgunningatlanta.com/Assets/images/ft_qa/pellet_weight_chart.html

I know 17 cal pellets aren't as heavy as 22 cal, my previous post was simply to inform some who may not know any better that whether a standard rifle or air rifle they can both have the same power if comparable projectiles and speeds are used. The cb shells that I have had were around 710-750 fps if I recall, and being 22 were likely approaching 20 grain though I don't remember, now take a air rifle with a lighter bullet traveling substantially faster, you can still make pretty good energy, though the light pellet of the air rifle will not be able to hold that energy as long as would the heavier bullet of the cb which will end up substantially shortening your lethal range with any gun shooting a light bullet, air or powder shell. Sort of like throwing a ping pong ball then throwing a golf ball, which one will go farther? The heavier one of course.

I posed the question to The Man (works with guns all day every day), and he mentioned an air rifle called "Whisper." He said he wouldn't rely on it to be a clean kill (or kill at all without good placement), but it would be good enough to detour and control if that's your only option.

Shot placement is key with any firearm, I don't advocate shooting something to detour or control, that indicates wounding to me and that is just wrong in my opinion. If you want to simply scare them by giving them a welt on the rear and stinging them then use a paint ball gun or something less lethal than a firearm, an air gun is just as dangerous as a powder gun and should be treated as such.

 

[Wrooster]

I'm new here but I've spent a lot of time on firearms forums and you know what? You can't have a civil discussion about "what gun should I get for..." anywhere.

Facts, not opinions:

The noise level of air guns can vary greatly, as can the accuracy, killing power and price.
In a rifle (not a pistol) the various quiet .22 rounds can be as quiet as an air gun or quieter, depending on the guns. Barrel length matters.
That ammo might not cycle a semi-auto but as single-shot or in most bolt-actions it's fine.
At 500 feet your neighbors probably wouldn't hear any of the above but wouldn't have much to complain about with .22 lr either.

Opinions (mine):

If you're looking for an excuse to get an air rifle, go for it but if you already have .22lr you know it will do the job.
If you're not going to go for the gun until you see the predator, the rifle behind the door is fine. If you're carrying it, pistols are a lot more convenient and just as accurate at short range. Easier to swing inside the chicken coop.

FWIW: I have all the weapons you are considering but only use the air guns for practice. I'm about to strap on my Browning Buckmark .22lr semi-auto pistol, put an LED light on my head and head into the darkness to close the birds up for the night. I also like my Ruger MKIII pistol.

PS: At night, the headlamp works well with the pistol because it lights the sights as well as whatever you are looking at.