Kernal,
the amount of money you can sink into airgunning is surprisingly large — top tier guns
of the PCP variety going for $2000 and more.
Add to that the accessories for air supply and you have another $1000 on your bill.
It's a deep, deep hole. Ask me how I know.....
However, if you're just looking for a tool to do the job at 25 yards, and move on — then you can do much cheaper.
A $100
break barrel airgun from Beeman, Hatsan, Gamo, Stoeger, Norica, or another brand will do OK.
If you want something more consistent and better quality, you can double that, or cuadruple that (for a high end
break barrel or
side lever from Diana, Weihrauch, or AirArms).
Here is a link to one of the big online sellers:
Start and end your spring rifle shopping experience with Pyramyd AIR. With your choice of a BB or pellet spring air rifle, you'll find what you need from our variety of brands at low prices.
www.pyramydair.com
They also happen to give you most of the specs of the guns.
Using Scopes on Springers:
Note that spring airguns (steel springs, or gas piston springs) have a double recoil (back
and forth) that is very harsh on scopes.
Scopes therefore must be certified for spring airguns — and a magnum springer might still break it eventually. ➧ Moral is to only put scopes on a springer that have a good warranty.
Caliber:
.22cal makes bigger holes than .177.
For a mid- or low-powered spring gun there might be some holdover required, but your ranges of 25y are pretty short. No big deal.
.177cal pellets are real tiny to handle with big fingers.....
Pellets:
Every barrel is different, so you'll have to find the pellet(s) that
your particular gun likes.
However, at ranges of only 25y on somewhat large targets (pigeons) thi shouldn't be too difficult.
Recommended pellet shapes are
round heads (domes) (best BC, and suitable for stronger guns).
Hollow points will only expand in the lil'birdies if they impact at very high velocities — which is negated by their low BC.
Wadcutters make good holes, but most wadcutters are light weight — and if you have a magnum power springer they might loose precision (close to the speed of sound!). The heaviest wadcutter is the JTS Dead Center wadcutter at 18.8gr — which won't run the danger of going too fast.
Happy pigeon killing! It is well worth your time and money to clean the earth of those rats with wings!
Matthias
