Air Gun Home :: View topic - Need advice for which air rifle to purchase

angieg5966 · New Member

I want to buy an air rifle for fun and for shooting (but NOT killing or seriously injuring) at a pack of 12 dogs that invade my property and fight my dogs.

I am thinking of a co2 powered pellet rifle. I want distance and power. I know there are all price ranges but I'm looking to stay under $200. Can anyone please give me recommendations?

I am female, age 42 but not petite. I don't need a smaller gun.

Thanks all!
Angie

Crosman140 · Senior Member

Welcome to the forum.

Hmm...dogs.

Well, if you don't want to harm them, just give the a reminder not to come looking your way, you might consider a pump pellet gun so you can vary the power and affect.

Even a simple Powerline 880 from a discount store will do that job for you.

But, my question is, why are they coming around your dogs?

Are yours female? If so, you may never get rid of the strays because they are simply following their instinct. Then, when your dog won't respond, they are getting mad and attacking. That's my thoughts.

So, another direction would be to get rid of them one by one if you know what I mean. If you are able to shoot, kill and dispose of without getting in trouble, I'd do it that way. Sounds like from your description they are just strays that don't have homes and they are probably a nuisance to many others as well. So, they you will want to go with a nice springer (not air) in .22.

Some others will jump in here and give their thoughts and will be able to suggest other models for your situation.

sniper · Silver Status Member

call animal control.

you will be torturing to a slow death with an AIR GUN! Rolling Eyes

AirGunEric · Site Admin

This is not a good idea.

Dogs do not have a tough hide like deer and such, so it is more likely you will severely injure or kill (perhaps quite slowly) any dog you shoot using a pellet gun for this purpose.

Depending how close you can get to these dogs, perhaps an airsoft gun would work- shoots plastic BBs at lower speeds than a typical airgun. As had been mentioned, maybe a pump-type BB gun that is only pumped a few times might be enough for the dogs to take notice, and as long as they aren't shot anywhere near the head, the energy/speed of a steel BB from a pumper with only a few pumps might not do any significant damage.

I don't know what the laws would be in your area, but shooting a dog with a pellet rifle that penetrates the skin/does any damage might classify the act as one involving a "firearm" which could bring you a pile of other issues to deal with.

If the dogs in question are wild are are doing damage to your property, there might be a different argument (nuisance animals)- but it sounds more like they are just someone's animals they are letting run off on their own. Is there any way to determine who/if these dogs belong and talk to them about it?

If the only solution you have is to try and deter them by 'scaring' them off, I think you should be prepared that you could very well kill one of them if using a pellet rifle and face the wrath of your local animal-lovers groups.

Slavia · Moderator

Jaxom · Senior Member

There's also a nonleathal method of using one of these....

http://www.pepperammo.com/index.php

angieg5966 · New Member

Thanks to everyone for their input. To answer a couple of questions:

My 3 dogs are all "fixed". The invading dogs may or may not be. These are dogs that belong to the neighbor down the road but they just basically collect them and let them roam (but then, everyone's dog roams free here).

It is actually legal to shoot dogs that come onto your property and harass your livestock or other animals.

Animal control is basically non-existent. This is in a very rural area in Southern Colorado at the base of Mt. Blanca. Visits from sheriffs don't happen unless there is a report of violence or death (obviously very infrequent). The roads are unpaved and extremely rocky.

I like the PepperAmmo gun. I will check into that.

I'd still like an air rifle for recreational use (shooting targets, cans, etc.). There are so many choices and when I finally seem to settle on one another one looks better or I'll find poor reviews of it. I do want a rifle versus a gun.

At any rate, I appreciate everyone's input. I consider dogs our friends but when they're in a pack and get that "pack mentality" they can become very aggressive and dangerous.

Angie

sniper · Silver Status Member

if you must kill 'em. .22wmr or bigger! not an airgun!

just my opinion. Neutral

cruise the forum. there is endless info here on AG'S!

AirGunEric · Site Admin

You can use an airgun, but stick to .22 caliber and one that is fairly powerful- Diana/RWS and Hammerli have models that should work.

The thing to remember here is that using such a gun, you need to be trying to kill the dog, not scaring it off- and for this shot placement is critical- i.e. head/neck shots, not shooting them in the butt- that will likely just result in a dragged-out infection issue.

The thing that most people don't seem to gather is that airguns are not "toys", but nor are they high-powered firearms, they can kill, maim and/or injure entirely based on how they are used.

fritz · Silver Status Member

Well said Eric.

I think that a Crosman 22xx might be a good carbine for your use. CO2, easily tuned, enough for critters, inexpensive.

sniper · Silver Status Member

fritz · Silver Status Member

We are still talking about killing them, huh?

$200 won't buy you enough gun to humanely kill a dog.

Need at least $750 for a pump and 909 or Dragon Slayer, and some optics. Seeing a beginner isn't likely to shell that out for a gun they might not even like...

thepaladin · Senior Member

Shooting to "frighten" or "run the dogs off" is a bad idea. You run the risk of injury no matter how low power the gun is. I'd suggest another plan entirly than an air gun. Possibly pepper spray or something. Perhaps a Gamo air shotgun could be loaded with salt (I don't own one so don't know if this would hurt the gun or be feasable). This would sting the dogs and do no damage assuming they don't get hit in the eyes. Any projectile gun should be shot assuming a kill. If it's underpowered it is worse it could maim.

sniper · Silver Status Member

last opinion then i'll keep my kill power opinions to myself.

i don't know what breeds are the problem but i wouldn't use my 25fpe 392 on a rottweiler. or any other dog of that size.

if killing is nessacary a good .22lr is cheaper than a quality AG.

enough said.

fritz · Silver Status Member

Sniper, suggesting a .22lr only leads us back to the kill power debate.

Bottom line: Any airgun under $200 and that's not custom built, will not have the power for a dog.

If you really want to just kill the dogs, borrow a neighbor's shotgun or smallbore rifle to do the job. A 6-pack payment or a box of shells/bullets should be enough compensation.