Cranfield Posted August 3, 2003 Report Share Posted August 3, 2003 This time last year, I asked for recommendations for a quiet, small, non target air pistol. Its prime purpose is to shoot close range rats. I would really appreciate names and model numbers, if possible. My airgun knowledge is limited to once owning a Diana Original .177 and a BSA Meteor .22. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 of 5 Posted August 3, 2003 Report Share Posted August 3, 2003 Quiet(ish) in a pistol really means spring power which means large. The best springer for the job would be the HW45. Not small but around 5.5ft/lb. Get a .177 version as it has a two stage sear system which gives a half power option for backyard plinking or full power for ratting. A .22 barrel for it will be under £20. The .22 version as std does not have the half power option. In co2 you're looking at the Sheridan EB20 in .20 cal or the Crosman 2240 in .22. Both run at 5.5ft/lb but both are loud. The 2240 can be fitted with a silencer relatively easily but that adds considerably to the size. Your other option is a Brocock Specialist or Orion 6. Neither are small or quiet but will produce enough power to do the job - Specialist about 5ft/lb - Orion 6 about 5.5ft/lb. Beware though that Brococks are about to be licenced by this government making their value nil. If cash is tight then an old BSA Scorpion will do the job. It's essentially a cut down Meteor action. Again though it's not small. Personally I'd go for a Crosman Ratcatcher carbine. Far easier to aim than a pistol and about 8ft/lb as std. Plenty for close rats. Again not quiet but you can add a silencer. Do not get a Crosman red tip silencer as they're rubbish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil Posted August 3, 2003 Report Share Posted August 3, 2003 Cranfield,if you want somthing small for the job i would get crossman ratcatcher or one of the many carbine rifles that are on the market at the moment,you will have to be really close to get any sort of consistant groups in field conditions in order to kill cleanly with a sub 6ft/lb pistol.Atleast if you get a rifle you can use it for a few rabbits etc aswell and you will also have a lot more choice and it will be more accurate.If yu do get a hw45 in .177 and change the barrels make sure you fire it through a chrono as it will increase the power on a pistol that is allready close to the legal limit and take it into fac terretory (ie section 1 pistol= illegal post dunblane) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 of 5 Posted August 3, 2003 Report Share Posted August 3, 2003 Changing barrels on a HW45 doesn't take it over power . I know a few who've done it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 of 5 Posted August 4, 2003 Report Share Posted August 4, 2003 I should've also mentioned the Falcon FN6/FN8 pistols. These are precharged and will take a std Falcon silencer. Superb pistols but not for the short in wallet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigDave15 Posted August 4, 2003 Report Share Posted August 4, 2003 Iv shot a rat with my smith And Wesson 10 shot co2. Its not a hunting pistol mind I shot the rat close range off a beam in my shed through the head job done not a twitch. P.S The smith and wessons look nice but dont take them hunting because like the other target pistols there a bit unaccurate and not that powerfull Sheridan EB20 in .20 cal is a Rat hunting machine my dads got one in the tractor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hammergun Posted August 4, 2003 Report Share Posted August 4, 2003 You don't want anything too powerful or all you will end up doing is putting holes in the roof! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vulcha Posted July 1, 2004 Report Share Posted July 1, 2004 Why not try a Umarex CPSport. You can get one for about £50 from J S Ramsbottom. Its an 8 shot co2 pistol and you get about 30 full power shots per capsule. Or try a crossman rat blaster. There about £100, but seem to be good for shooting rats at cloase range (or so i have been told) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 of 5 Posted July 2, 2004 Report Share Posted July 2, 2004 1. You're 11 months late with that.! 2. A CPsport puts out on average about 1.5 ft.lb. Not enough for rats by a long margin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ak47 Posted July 3, 2004 Report Share Posted July 3, 2004 i have a p23 its a wicked 177 Co2 gun it can take about 8 shots and you can shoot em out in about 2 second or somthing, its alos very accurate even at 20m its only about 30-£40 plus you can put a lazer thingy on it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vulcha Posted July 3, 2004 Report Share Posted July 3, 2004 1. You're 11 months late with that.! Am I? it was near the top, so i just posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurcherboy Posted July 3, 2004 Report Share Posted July 3, 2004 Cranfield, buy a terrier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gamebag Posted July 5, 2004 Report Share Posted July 5, 2004 Just out of curiosity & intrest what sort of ft Ilbs do you need to slot a rat I thought that the legal limit for air pistols are 6lbs??? surly you would need more than that to take ratty down Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharp_shooter Posted July 5, 2004 Report Share Posted July 5, 2004 I have read that it takes only 4ftlbs to take down a rabbit so less than 6ftlbs could easily do a rat in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gamebag Posted July 5, 2004 Report Share Posted July 5, 2004 I was told never to shoot at a bunny without at least 10ftlbs behind the lead!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharp_shooter Posted July 5, 2004 Report Share Posted July 5, 2004 It takes 4ftlb's of impact energy to penetrate and cause sufficient damage to a rabbits head to produce a clean kill. However energy loss happens quite quickly so for longer range shots more power is needed at the muzzle to have sufficient down range residual energy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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