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amstaff · New Member

I am up to my ears in starlings!!! I have the 204 Ruger for the ground hogs and fox... I even use the good 'ole 22lr for this as well... But I need something I can shoot at starlings around the barn, off of the house, on top of the barn, you get the picture.

I would like to buy an air rifle that can shoot "Minute-Of-Starling" out to, say, 100 yards. Is this unreasonable? I don't care about the make or charging system. I do care that this air rifle has a genuine hatred of starlings. I would like to keep the cost of the gun under $300 if at all possible. I prefer a synthetic stock and one that does not come wth a scope (I have plans for a Leupold air-rifle scope).

Well, let's hear it! I am open to any and all suggestions for an air rifle the comes in somewhere around $300 and is accurate enough to hit starlings out to 100yards.
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sniper · Silver Status Member

a good springer. or a pcp. have you ever shot an airgun? quite different from burners.

it more so a question of your knowledge and experience with airguns. ther're are many different types and they all have a special purpose. others will answer!

welcome to the forum! Very Happy

amstaff · New Member

Springer? PCP? I guess that answers the question as to my air gun experience!!!

I have shot centerfire and rimfire (rifle and pistol) all of my life. My airgun experience is limited to a single shot (load bb from the muzzle) Daisy lever cocking rifle when I was a kid. I do currently own a Beeman pistol that seems to be fashioned after a S&W (or Walther, for that matter) SW99. It is a single cock mechanism where the top of the "slide" unlatches and pivots on the muzzle... if that makes any sense. Problem is, I can't get close enough to the starlings! Chicades are no problem, I just now need to reach out and touch the starlings!

I am looking forward to any/all recommendations on an accurate and lethal air rifle for my purposes.
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sniper · Silver Status Member

others can answer and type faster than me. Wink

your answer will be at least a few paragraphs long. Laughing

go to www.pyramidair.com and nose around.

look at these brands:

RWS
BEEMAN
GAMO

BENJAMIN
CROSMAN
WALTHER

to name a few.

hang out a while, all of us will blow your hair back with knowledge. Cool

p.s. airguns are more fun than burners. Mr. Green

AirGunEric · Site Admin

The issue is the 100-yard distance for something the size of a starling. You could use a .177 for something that small, but you need something fairly powerful and remain consistently predictable at that distance.

I would suggest you look at an RWS Model 34 or a Benjamin SuperStreak to stay within your price range. Both also come in .22 cal, but the range may be an issue at that point.

amstaff · New Member

Thanks for all of the info!

If 100 yards is a little on the far side, what can I expect out of a 177 or 22... 50-70 yards? I'm guessing there is a considerable drop-off in accuracy after a certain distance. Is this correct?

Thanks for the link. I will check it out!
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sniper · Silver Status Member

mid power airguns get you to 50 yards. high power takes you to 70-80.

.177 is flatter but .22 has more punch.

.223 to .308. or 9mm-.45acp. kinda.

amstaff · New Member

Makes sense.

I assume (and I know what they say about assuming!) that 177 would be enough punch for a bird @ 75 yards (w/ a high power)??? If this is the case, I can officially narrow my search for a high power 177. Does the RWS 34 fit the bill? And I am kinda curious... what kind of benchrest accuracy is typical for a rifle like this @ 75 yards? 2-3" groups?
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sniper · Silver Status Member

you're on. .177 for feathers, .22 for fur. i've dropped pigeons @ 75 plus yards in .177. 7.9 grains @ 850 fps. starlings are smaller i think?

i've never shot a d-34. they're worshipped on this forum though.

i got a crow once at 30 yards in .177. 8.2 rws field point, in the chest. dead.

Slavia · Moderator

rsterne · Moderator

The Diana 34 in .177 will launch a 7.8 gr. pellet at 850 fps, and if you choose a good round nose pellet it will carry enough energy for a clean kill on a Starling out to 100 yards or so (assuming a shot in the vitals).... My D34 will shoot ragged one hole groups at 25 yards with JSB Express from the bench, so the accuracy is there, too.... Cool

The problem comes with hitting a Starling at the ranges you state.... Sighted in at 40 yards, it will be about 1/2" high at 25 yards and 1 1/4" low at 50 yards.... but at 75 yards, it will be almost 9" low, and at 100 yards, over 20" low.... Even with a great pellet, just a 5 mph wind will deflect the pellet about 2" at 50 yards, and nearly 9" at 100 yards.... Shocked

So it basically becomes how good are you at estimating ranges, pellet drop, and windage.... The gun will do it's part... can you?.... Neutral

Bob

Dust · Member

I want to encourage you to check your distances again, and see how far they are, and how close you can get. Have you tried baiting them? Might be easier than trying to reach out that far. For 300 you are looking at a springer or a used PCP like the Discovery. IF you could get the birds, or your self within 30-50 yards, then your power requirements would drop. The RWS 34, or the 350, or the Chinese equivalent should be able to get out that far, if you can get out that far.

dummyracer36 · Senior Member

Eric had mentioned the Benjamin SuperStreak. i have one in .22, it is very powerful, and when i do my part, very accurate. i can hit beer caps @ 85 yards, but it took me quite a while to be able to shoot it like that.

one thing to keep in mind if considering a PCP, you will need a way to fill the rifle, either a hand pump or a scuba tank, both set ups will run you an additional + - 200 bucks above the price of the rifle.

break barrel springers like the D34 or the SuperStreak are completely self-contained powerplants.

as far as picking a caliber, i am partial to .22s, but thats just me. you should take into consideration the local availability of pellets in your area. you can walk into just about any sporting goods store and pick up a tin of .177 pellets, .22 can be harder to find locally, forcing you to purchase entirely on line.

like the others have mentioned, i would really take a closer look at the ranges youd like to shoot. if you can close the gap to 50 yards and under, it will open up alot more rifle choices for you.

be patient, this can all seem like information over load, theres alot of guns out there, and even more opinions..... sift thru the info carefully, buy a quality rifle, and you wont be disappointed.

my 2 cents-
Dummy

amstaff · New Member

Wow! Lots of great info! As far as distance, I am looking at an honest 100 yards from my deck to horse barn. With that said, I could easily get within 50 yards and still have 5-10 starlings sitting on the top of the barn!

I like the idea of the break barrel springer. Seems simple. Regarding the PCP, I do have an air compressor in my garage, would that work?

OK, me thinks my dream of decimating the starling population while comfortable shooting an air rifle from my deck may be a fantasy! But I simply can't be launching a solid projectile from a powder burner into the air... Looks like I will have to get off my butt and get inside of 50 yards. Should not be too difficult!

34 seems like the way to go. I did check them out at one of the attached links, and there seems to be countless versions of the 34. Any models to steer clear of, or conversly, any models that need serious consideration??

I apologize for all of the questions! This forum has been an unbelievable help!
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Slavia · Moderator