Recommendation for a quiet air rifle for shooting pigeons?

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D-Red

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Oct 16, 2015
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Hello all,

I have a pigeon problem on my balcony at my apartment complex. It is just two pigeons. I made the mistake of letting the hen make a nest and lay eggs. I thought it was cool to see the eggs hatch, watch the chicks grow up, etc. MAN WAS I WRONG. Once the chicks got old enough that they were constantly screeching for food, I went out there to shoo them away. Lo and behold, the hen had already laid two new eggs. I tossed the eggs over the balcony onto the sidewalk, along with the nest. That did not deter her. I think I've thrown a total of 7 eggs onto the sidewalk now. The office said they'd send maintenance to come clean up the poop. The poor guy showed up with a broom and a dustpan, then left and came back with a bucket and a shovel, wearing a mask over his mouth and nose. It was that bad. It took him almost 2 hours to get it cleaned up.

It's just about back to being that bad again. I'm on my second attempt at trapping them (the last trap blew off the balcony and broke) - I've spent over $100 on this so far now, and I'm not having a whole lot of faith in the trap. If it does work, a professional exterminator will come to retrieve them, and as he discreetly put it, "Make sure they don't come back again." I told him that he could hit them with a flamethrower for all I care. I HATE THEM.

My friend suggested a Daisy .177 pump air rifle. It was a tremendous hassle. As I'm sure everyone knows, the pellets are quite small. It was really difficult to load the Daisy. I had to get the pellet into a small opening in the top, directly under the scope, oriented absolutely perfectly, or else the air rifle would break. I'm a gun enthusiast and have loaded guns a bazillion times, but this was a different animal - and more difficult yet because I have a tremor. It doesn't affect my aim; it just affects things such as, say, putting a very tiny thing into a very tiny hole very precisely and directly under an obstacle. After I broke my second one, I decided to go back to trying to trap them. No luck.

I've gotten conflicting information as to whether I will need a .22 air rifle to dispatch them, or whether a .177 will be sufficient. I measured and for the places where I could safely shoot them, it's 5 to 7 feet tops. I know the rules of gun safety (I have a CPL), and if they fly up onto the edge of the balcony wall, I no longer have a clear shot because there are other apartment buildings right across the way. But often they choose to hang out where the worst thing I could hit if I missed would be a concrete wall or concrete floor. 

I found a couple of models online that had great reviews, but they looked like freaking assault rifles. I've got nothing against assault rifles - I have an AK - but I'm also not trying to terrify my neighbors if they see me. So here are the specs I'm looking for. I'm not sure if something that fills these specs actually exists.

1. Caliber of pellet sufficient to kill a pigeon at 5 to 7 feet.
2. Relatively quiet. The Daisy, for all of its flaws, just made sort of a popping sound. I don't need people calling the cops because they hear what they think are gunshots.
3. Something where I can get off more than one shot at a time. At least two shots.
4. Preferably pump action since I would also be using this as a potential backup survival tool, and there aren't a whole lot of CO2 cartridges in the wilderness.
5. Not looking like I'm about to go on a murderous killing spree.
6. Not costing an arm and a leg.

I would be fine with a rifle design or a pistol design, so long as I'm not out there looking like Rambo. A pistol type might actually work better for me since I have far more experience with pistols than rifles, but I'm open on that. So, does anything exist that meets most or all of these specs?

Oh and also - since you're the experts - is this entire thing a terrible idea? Am I risking a ricochet that will land me in the ER for pellet removal? Because another option would simply be to have maintenance come every month or so for a balcony de-pooping until these effers eventually die. I don't know how old they are, but if I understand correctly, they can live for up to 3-5 years. That's a lot of pigeon poop.

I'm not open to poisoning them. I looked into it, but that's a miserable death taking over an hour. I hate them, but I'm not sadistic.

Thank you for any advice you may be able to offer!!!
 
Welcome to AirgunNation.

.177 should be fine for pigeons if it's powerful enough. I'd be concerned about what your backstop is. If you miss where are the pellets going? As for loading the pellets, a pellet pen should help. You, or someone else loads the pen. Then you can just put it where the pellets need to go and push it into the slot for loading. I have an Umarex NXG APX and it is pretty easy to load but the pellets still sometimes go in backwards. How about a slingshot?



 
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A .177 is enough for dropping pigeons at such a small range. If you want a multishot then it is going to cost you probably more than you want to spend. My recommendation is the crosman 1377 pistol or the 1322 which is the same thing but in .22 if you like. It is a multi pump and will have plenty of power for 7ft pigeon elimination. I have taken squirrels and rabbits from 10 yards with mine as comparison. The noise should be basically the same as the pop from your daisy. If you want a rifle Benjamin 392 is great and if you are willing to spent around 300 the hw95 from AOA is an amazing deal on a real quality break barrel. Both have open sights so no need for a scope unless you want to. As far as ricochet danger goes lead pellets mostly flatten when hitting hard objectsand lose basically all there energy so don't worry. Just wouldn't recommend shooting BBs. It might help to add a price range as well to your requirements. 

If if you wanted to go a whole other route you could use a slingshot. That is what I would use if I had that problem but I love slingshots and have practice. Just a thought. 
 
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I think something like this might be a bit more effective in your situation.. it makes it so they cant land.. but I dont really know how your balcony is set up or where the birds are nesting
http://www.walmart.com/ip/17012103?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=22222222227009723274&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=40471870712&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=78363048272&veh=sem

and at 6' on pigeons, a well thrown shoe will kill one.. save red ryder class bb guns, I don't believe there is an pellet gun in existence in any caliber that wouldn't be lethal with a well placed shot at that range.. but honestly the apt manager should foot the bill for a professional to come out.. that amount of bird droppings poses all kinds of respiratory health risks
 
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+1 on the slingshot idea (like Matt and ztirffritz it was the first thing that came to mind as I was reading your post). I would not buy an airgun for just 2 pigeons unless you want to make a hobby out it. 10-15 bucks, half an hour searching on you tube on how to aim with the slingshot - and you are all set.

Also, if a pair pigeons found a certain place attractive, would not new pigeons occupy the spot once you dispatch the previous tenants? Is it possible to somehow close off the spot where they make a nest?
 
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Your a gun enthousiast, you live in an apartment, are not familiar with airguns.
I say, get a Weihrauch HW30s. 
Easy to cock and load, fantastic trigger, sufficient power for your current needs, good for shotting indoors once you get hooked, high quality gun, a joy to use. Plus it should be affordable. 
Slingshot sounds a bit risky to me in your environment, and buying a cheaper crappy airgun may suit your needs now, but will end up on a shelve cause its no fun to use after you dealt with your situation....

just my 2 cents...
 
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I'm going to approach your problem from your survival angle and recommend the Benjamin Marauder Pistol in .22 cal. and a hand pump. It is a pistol format with which you're most familiar, but the included buttstock attachment turns it into a handy carbine that can be thrown into a backpack. It has multiple power settings and for your pigeon problem the lowest setting will be plenty of power, be exceptionally quiet and will give you better killing effect than a .177. On the highest power setting it's quite capable of taking small game out to 30 yds as a survival tool.

If you get hooked on airguns like the rest of us, there are lots of aftermarket tuners and accessories to turn it into an even more effective survival tool.

 
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First question: assuming it's not a legal issue, do you have any interest in airguns? If you do, research the issue and buy something decent, that way you're not ending up with a dust collecting closet ornament. I'm not suggesting blowing hundreds to thousands of dollars on what may end up a passing interest. I'm suggesting you get something you like, and think you will shoot at things other than pigeons within 2-3 yards.

Second question: ​ have you checked your local laws? While many places don't bat an eye at airguns, some places define them legally as firearms..."Discharging a Firearm within city limits" is something that could foul up you life for a while. You don't want to be haunted by laughing pigeons...no matter how "cool" you think your neighbors are, there's always one willing to dial 911 and point at YOU, even when it's clearly an accident.

I suggest that if the answer is "no" to either question, ask...no...TELL the landlord to handle it. If you decide you do want to handle it yourself with an airgun, a Benjamin 397 at 3-4 pumps, and slinging wadcutters or hollow points will have more than enough juice to flatten these pests (with a head/neck shot...probably with a heart/lung shot as well) at the range you're talking about. It'll be unlikely to over-penetrate, and even if you do (or miss), they shouldn't go far or carry much energy after hitting the side of you building. You can also shoot the 397 indoors (2-3 pumps), or take it outside for some longer range fun (4-8 pumps). The 397 comes equipped with iron sights, can be fitted with a scope if needs be, and has "variable power" depending on how many times you pump it. It's brass and wood, has a crappy trigger, but is nice to look at and fun to shoot.



 
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While use of an air rifle may be an option, the real question you need to be asking is whether or not it will solve the problem. There is a reason why the pigeons are using your balcony as a nesting area and until that has been addressed, you will always have pigeon issues.

My recommendation is to look at solving the problem and not the symptom. Your exterminator should be able to offer multiple products (and there are many on the market that actually work) ranging from ledge deterrents to exclusion. Part of the solution may include permanent removal of the current nesting pigeons, but again this is something the exterminator should be offering instead of you having to do it yourself.
 
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You can install a pigeon detractor ( which are spikes) so that it is difficult for them to land. I have had to place these along all my ledges as we have a lot of pigeons. We have also used "Magic Corn" which takes them out. Check the law as only a licensed exterminator can use these in many areas as it can get rid of birds you want to see as well.
 
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My favorite pigeon airgun is my Benjamin 397. It is equipped with a Stoeger 4x16x40 scope, SuperSear, and a slightly modified valve assembly. I use Gamo Red Fire pellets, a 3/8x20, threaded barrel adaptor, and an Hatsan air brake. From 10 feet away, you virtually cannot hear the report. 

I'm at the point, that I couldn't care less with hitting them in the neck—although I can! They are, after all, pests! If the flop around too much, I shoot them again.

​PS: I'm not squeamish about catching mice in sticky traps either!
 
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I like my first Adult air gun. The RWS M34 springer in 22. The 22s are easier to load than the tiny 177s and hit much harder. They have good triggers and German quality. Granted it is a single shot but cocking is quick and all you have to do is stuff the pellet in the end of the barrel close and fire. What ever you decide do not shoot BBs or steel slingshot ammo as they will ricochet off hard surfaces. Here's a thought. How about a blow gun? Or you could see if any members live close enough for a hit job on the birds.
 
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Hello all, Thank you for all of the recommendations! I apologize for the delay - I was not taking your time and advice for granted. I'm a full-time grad student and a teaching assistant for three undergraduate classes of about 200 students each, and two of those classes had papers due at the same time. Egads. 

I'll see if I can address everybody's suggestions and comments. Thanks for the welcome and for being concerned about my backstop. Yes, that is one of the primary rules of gun safety - be aware of your target and what is beyond it. That's why it's so annoying when they fly up to the ledge of the balcony - if I missed, I'd hit the apartment buildings across the way. Which is just maddening because they're only 5 feet away. 

Several folks suggested a slingshot. I had considered that as well, but I did some research and they seem to entail a relatively steep learning curve. I asked my buddy, who is proficient with guns, slingshots, bows, and blow darts, and he agreed that while it's a worthwhile hobby, it probably is not the best for an immediate need due to the time it takes to gain any sort of expertise. I also agree with the commenter who mentioned that it may not be best given the environment I'm using it in. 

Yes, everything I've read has said NOT to use BBs because they bounce. And thank you to the commenter who said a ricochet off a concrete wall would be unlikely. I know that doesn't mean "impossible," but the worst things it would hit if it did ricochet would be me or my balcony window/screen. I'm sure it wouldn't be pleasant to get hit with one, but wouldn't be lethal, and I'll be wearing safety glasses. 

To all the folks who said the apartment complex should take care of this by hiring an exterminator instead of my incurring the expense, I wholeheartedly agree. They do not concur. They offered me the options of having my balcony routinely de-pooped (inconvenient, and poor maintenance guys!) or having it screened. That was going to be my last resort. I just really don't want it screened. That's my "outside." I chose this apartment specifically for the spacious balcony, and prior to the poop issue, always enjoyed leaning over the edge during thunderstorms and feeling the wind and rain on my face or just enjoying the breeze. So that would suck, though nowhere near as much as the poop issue.

With regard to deterrents - yep, I tried a bunch of them. The birds would stay away for a few days before they learned that the things (owl statues, streamers, noisemakers, etc.) were harmless. The spikes would be great except that they land EVERYWHERE on the balcony, so I'd have to coat every horizontal surface in spikes. Which means *I* couldn't be on the balcony either. 

With regard to what makes me think other pigeons won't take their place - I can't know that for sure, but I doubt it. I lived here for over a year before this started. It was my mistake for letting the hen build a nest and rear young out there. Now they believe it's their home. If a new hen laid eggs, I would be able to dispatch her quite easily with an airgun. This one would let me come quite close before abandoning her eggs and flying off. I actually tried sneaking up on her with a hammer, but I wasn't quick enough. 

The trap actually did work for one of them. I suspect it's the male, because my research said that if the female is in the trap, the male typically will follow. The other one isn't going into it. I am being humane - it has food and water. I actually called a local vet to see about having it euthanized, but they won't do it. They said to take it to a wildlife shelter. The wildlife shelter said that because it was not sick or injured, they would have to release it. And pigeons are VERY WELL KNOWN for flying back over many miles to return to the spot they consider home. 

I've been in touch with an exterminator who is extraordinarily ethical. He said his company charges $75 to deposit the trap (which I would not get to keep) and another $75 to retrieve it for each bird, which (as he accurately predicted) may be only one bird at a time. Cheaper to get my own trap for $40. When I called him back after capturing this one, he suggested poisoning it. I can't do that. I've seen the videos, and that's an agonizing death taking an hour or more. I hate them, but I don't want to cause any more suffering in their deaths than necessary. That's why I was hoping for multi-shot - if the first shot didn't take it out, then it's gonna be suffering while I repeatedly reload. The exterminator warned me that if I only shot it once, it could take a couple hours to die. I'll shoot it as many times as I have to, even if it takes me a couple minutes. Again, thanks for the recommendation of the pellet pen - that should speed it up. 

It did also occur to me to take it out into the desert (I'm in NM) where I routinely shoot my guns, but again, an hour's drive in a car, which I imagine would be extraordinarily traumatic for a wild bird. I want it dead, but in the most humane way possible. I went with MattChastain's suggestion of the Crosman 1322 pistol. It's low profile enough that I won't even look like I'm holding a rifle. I also went with ztirffritz's suggestion of a pellet pen. I know it's not sporting to shoot a bird that is confined in a cage. I actually feel really bad about it. But this isn't for sport; it's for extermination. It's the quickest death I can give it. 

Thank you all! Please let me know if you have any additional recommendations or concerns. I felt very welcomed in this forum!
 
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Just an update - thanks everyone for your advice and suggestions. Ztirffritz’s suggestion of a pellet pen was really helpful. Unfortunately, I almost immediately jammed the airgun - it was totally my own fault, I just did it wrong. I could load any of my guns (of which I have many) in my sleep, but the pellet gun is an entirely different animal. I've got it down now. :) My boyfriend asked how it went with dispatching the pigeons, and I thought he was going to die laughing when I said I'd almost immediately broken the airgun. He's a gun expert (his arsenal equals mine) and also a gunsmith. He said to just bring the airgun and the pigeons over to his place. I also brought safety glasses.

It turned out to be a better plan anyway. As Mentolio pointed out, even if it is legal, there's always going to be some neighbor who sees what I'm doing and decides to call 911. A visit from the police - especially if the officers are unaware that it is legal - would be a tremendous hassle. My boyfriend has a fenced-in backyard that's pretty much clear from public view. He fixed the Crosman easily, and to MattChastain's credit, he was very impressed with it - and he's very picky about his firearms. I thought he'd never stop playing with it. It is quality.

In the end, he used plastic grocery bags to grab and restrain each of the two pigeons, and shot them execution-style point-blank in the back of the head for the quickest possible death. As much of badasses as we both are, we also both looked away at the last minute at the time of the shot. What I was NOT expecting was that they kept flailing, moving their heads, and flapping their wings after the shots. He assured me that they were dead and not suffering; their brains were destroyed and it was just residual nerve activity, like "a chicken with its head cut off." (I researched this afterwards, and he was absolutely right.) But he could see that I was distressed, so he also stomped them both. He's a big guy, so it only took one stomp for each. Brutal. We were both feeling pretty disturbed afterwards. Needless to say, we completely took out the fifth of tequila that I had brought over as a thank-you for his help.

But they're gone, and I don't believe any others will choose this site. The general pigeon problem in this area of the complex seems to have abated. The management said it was only my quadrant of the complex that had the problem (it's a big complex), and they believed it was because somebody was feeding them. Now I can get my balcony de-pooped and power-washed and use it again! 

Thanks again to all of you for helping me resolve this issue. You rock!!! :)
 
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