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sscoyote · New Member

Guys, been thinkin' on airgun pistols for shooting pigeons and have a couple (+/-) questions for y'all. One of the ranchers whose place i hunt for varmints has a pigeon problem, and wants it addressed. I was thinking about an Airforce Talon 25 cal. pistol for the best bang for the buck...i think, but just purchased a refurbed 1377 to get started. What kind of distances can i expect for barn shooting these pests with this little rig. I also purchased the barrel rings for it as well and will put a Barska 2x on top. I have a set of Leica Geovids that go with me on every hunt, so i will have no problem getting precise ranges to the birds. What ranges can i expect to be able to get out of a setup like this? Any other ideas/suggestions are appreciated. Thks. in advance for input!

radar · Silver Status Member

Pistols for pidgeons? I never thought about it. I know there are guys who hunt with pistols and I'll let them hopefully add some specific experience, but I would guess that as long as you can place the shot with a pistol, the range on the Condor or Marauder pistols would be pretty far on something as small as a pidgeon. The little Crosman isn't very powerful, but if you're a good pistol shot, it should do inside a barn or short range like that. I'm sure the rancher doesn't want holes in the barn from a powerful air rifle, either.

A good rule of thunb that a lot of air gun hunters use, is at least 1 foot pound of remaining kinetic energy at impact range, per pound of animal body weight...but add a few more for birds because they're feathers are tough when laying flat...especially the wings. I don't recommend hunting a 1 pound animal with a 1 ft-lb gun, so there must be a minimum practical limit to this theory. However, it tends to work pretty well on squirrels, rabbits, and raccoons.

Here's a general guide from Crosman: http://www.crosman.com/mediacenter2012/Guides/Crosman_Airgun_and_Pellet_Capabilities_Chart.pdf

One from Dr. Beeman:
http://www.beemans.net/field%20use.htm

Maybe start thinking about that, and the power of you pistol(s) and figure what you need that way.

Also, maybe go here: http://www.hawkeoptics.com/chairgun.html and download free Chairgun Pro and you can enter the pellet data and initial vlocity, and see remaining energy figures at target ranges.
cheers
Ron

robert w · Senior Member

x-2 on what radar said

sscoyote · New Member

Great info guys--thks. much. Will research the links.

oddtodd · Silver Status Member

I've got s custom crosman pistol based on the 2240. I hunt birds with it all the time in a horse barn. It leaves dents in the roof if I miss, but it's dead nuts accurate so I don't miss much. I got the 10.1 inch barrel, but they don't pffer the pistol scope anymore. Good luck and happy hunting!

kykid360 · New Member

Hey Kykid360. They didn't give ya much info other than some links. I got one of those pistols. I shoot rats with it in the barn up the road.Use a good hunting pellet. I use crossman premiere hollow points. But the destroyers work good too. They make a pellet with a bb in the tip that I'm partial to in my bigger guns. As far as how far I shoot rats with mine at 25 to 30 feet. That particular gun shoots like 500fps I think. I don't hunt with ANYTHING that shoots under 500. & that's on small stuff & close. A cheap old 880 from walee world is a great lil rat & bird gun. Shoots bout 700 I think. Practice & you'll bw able to judge distance verses how many pumps u should pump it. Hope this is of more help.

Robw · Veteran Member

I shoot pigeons almost every morning with this 1377. They wake me up.
So I put a Kodiak and 8 pumps in it and go out and say good morning
at 660 fps. A good body shot and thump one is dead and the rest take off.

They are not too bright as they same ones are right back in the same tree
making noise the next morning, sitting there all lined up like little targets,
until I take my shot.

It's kind of like we have a date each morning and they are rarely ever late.

And it has the accuracy to do it with the 18.5" Lothar Walther barrel.

Five 10.2 grain Kodiaks at 30 yards.

Rob.

Robw · Veteran Member

You can't go wrong with an Airforce gun. I do not have the pistol
that they manufacture, but I have had a Condor for years and love
it. I have bought and sold/traded many airguns over the years but the
Condor will always have a home in my gun case. I really like the lifetime
warranty they have. I had the power adjuster sticker come off and they
shipped me whole new power adjusting wheel over night and I had it the
next day. I installed it myself as you can repair them yourself without
violating the warranty too!

On a side note:
I can honestly say that I have never met anybody before that has a $2300
range finder.

toadmyster223 · Senior Member

Yes, congratulations on owning a rangefinder worth more than my car :P

I think you'll be pretty satisfied with that Airforce. A .25 should throw at least 40 pounds of energy, if I'm not completely mistaken. Those pigeons will be in bad company soon.

As far as your 1377 goes, shot placement is everything. Just remember to never try to shoot through a wing or straight into the breast. I have seen pigeons fly away after taking .22 rimfire rounds to the gizzard. Try to go right in behind the wing for a heart shot, or take the head shot, just to be sure you don't maim something :P

Robw · Veteran Member

If I use H&N Field Target Trophy pellets I have to go for a head shot. With
the heavier Kodiaks a body shot has always easily done it.

rrdstarr · Member

I think the .25 will pass right through the pigeon!
I have killed pigeons with my sub500 Beeman .177 air rifle. Clean head shots at 30-50'. Verified with my Golf Laser! LOL!