Advice on initial purchase.

You say "initial purchase" implying that you may be tempted to buy more airguns (that is normal/typical for people who frequent this site ). Right now you are looking for a pesting rifle, do you enjoy shooting, could airguns become a hobby for you?

If you were shooting at 15-25 yards I'd suggest a good break-barrel springer (Weihrauch or AirArms) and a scope.

For pesting sparrows at 35 yards I think that a PCP (either .177 or preferably .22 caliber) would be a better choice. Most decent PCPs will shoot dime-sized groups at that distance and many new or used are available at a reasonable price.

I pest with a .22 as the energy transfer is better and the pest is less likely to run/fly away. The .177 trends to shoot-through carrying most of its energy with it.

Unfortunately a PCP will require a High Pressure Air (HPA) source, either a tank (to be filled at a dive shop), a hand pump (which can be strenuous) or a small HPA compressor. Note that used SCUBA tanks can often be had at a reasonable price.

I don't recommend multi-pump guns as they take too long to load when pesting. (Said by a guy that hunted with a Crosman 101 for years.)

Co2 guns are a possibility, think they have the range. Personally, I don't use them as here in Canada, extremes in temperatures make them inconsistent to shoot.

So if this is your initial purchase (and you may be following the rest of us down the airgun rabbit hole) I'd suggest that you buy the best quality that you can afford, $300 might not get you where you need to be.

Cheers!

With a $200-300 budget, I'd be tempted to try a 3622. Well inside your price range for a rifle and hand pump. It is one of the few that come with open sights these days, so you can go with that to start if you're able or so inclined. Though I would personally prefer .177 for sparrows, .22 will certainly get the job done. Given what you're after, you might find it to be a good place to start.
https://www.pyramydair.com/product/crosman-3622-pcp-air-rifle-pump-kit?m=6173#12799
I do not own one, nor have I tried one. But interesting entry-level option, new with a warranty for under $300. Probably going to be better than the Gamo you tried.

What about a pump up? The Seneca Dragon Fly gets good reviews. Pyramyd has them for $200. Add a Hawke Vantage scope (I'd want a 3-9 but I have a 2-7 and it would work but is only about $10 cheaper) and you'd be at $350. Big disadvantage is you have to pump it for each shot. You can do it in advance, it should hold the air, however. If you only get one shot anyway it might not be a big deal.

I'd want a PCP, however, for quick follow ups and more fun shooting. The Notos gets good reviews and is about $250 new. That's about the low end for PCPs, at least until Crosman brings out their announced one. It needs extras to mount a scope so I'm not sure how cheap it will be in the end. Could also check at "Air Archery Fun" to see what Wes has. But I think you will be closer to $500 for even a low end pcp, hand pump, and a decent scope.

I would suggest a Crossman
PY-5418-11657

Crosman 362, 100 Year Anniversary Edition

check it out at pyramyd air $299​

Nico5999 said:

.177 or .22 will be just fine for house sparrows. If you get a PCP, .22 will consume more air per shot (unless you turn the power way down to get equal energy to a .177) so you will need to pump it more often. Not an issue, just something to consider.

.22 is typically more forgiving shot placement wise compared to .177 as well.

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I agree. I would just go with a .22, and be done with it.

For sparrows at 35 yards, Would not a scoped Daisy 880 work. Mine is accurate enough with sufficient power for something that small. Also the Flying Dragon Air Rifles has some low priced quality springers and CO2 air rifles. However for me, a used RWS 34 would be the gun I would go for.

I'm actually surprised that nobody mentioned the UX Notos. I just got mine in the mail today. Inexpensive, light and compact. SURPRISINGLY accurate out to 50 yards using JTS 18.1g pellets.
$270- Notos
$60- hand pump
$59-scope
You'd be just under $400 even if you got a couple of tins of pellets.

midwest said:

When I said initial purchase I wasn't implying I would be buying more, I guess that was just the first word that popped into my mind. I am in Indiana, between New Castle and Muncie if there are any members here who happen to be nearby.

I reached out to the guy about the used Kral NP-03 and he still has it for sale. Just looking at my options moving forward. My price range is not set in stone but I don't plan to get over 500.00. Knowing little about air rifles I thought there was a chance I might find something used for a decent discount over new price. Since I am just planning to use it for pests, if someone had an older gun that still shoots really gut but shows some wear, I would be fine with that. I can't find much on the Kral as far as what they cost new.

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Oh there's a good chance you will buy more than one if you shoot long enough. Welcome to the rabbit hole.

I added the two numbers together.....I'm stupid.

Where in the Midwest? You able to try some rifles before buying?

I would opt for a Umarex Notos PCP and a hand pump.....

If you bump it up to $500 Notos for sure with a cheap handpump and scope.

Hi, MidWest. There are a number of guns that can work in the pest control role you mention. One consideration is how the gun gets charged with air and, if you are considering a hand pump for a Pre-Charged Pneumatic (PCP), how fit you are. I have PCPs, Spring-Piston, CO2 and single stroke pneumatic guns. For pest control, I'd advise staying away from the single stroke pneumatics since they are mostly target-focused with relatively low velocities in the 500-600 feet per second range. CO2 guns are great but can have velocity swings with temperature changes and such. Multi-stroke pneumatics can certainly work well, but knowing your gun and ensuring consistent strokes to charge it is imperative if you want to hit small targets at range. The most consistent powerplants for pesting are therefore, in my mind at least, spring-piston and PCP.

PCPs are easy to shoot, come in versions that have a magazine and usually operate shot-to-shot much like a bolt action rifle, offering relatively quick follow-up shots. The down-side of PCPs is a higher price point for the gun, additional costs for a high pressure air charging apparatus and, if you are hand-pumping, significant effort pumping to fill the air reservoir to 2,000 - 3,000 PSI or higher. It can be a bit of a workout if you aren't in good physical condition.

Spring-piston guns are not as simple to shoot at first (they can shine, though, with the correct manner of holding). Now there are versions with magazines so they can be a bit quicker in follow-up shots than old-school guns, but still slower than a PCP, and you have to get out of position to charge/cock the gun whether it is a break-barrel, under-lever or side-lever. You say the Gamo gun you got isn't grouping well enough for the role. There are plenty of Gamo and other manufacturers' spring-piston guns that do group quite well -- with the proper hold. That is one possible reason the gun you already have isn't grouping. Another possible reason is the optics on the gun. Most of these discount/sporting goods store springers come out of the box with scopes that are not good, and sometimes either the scope won't hold a zero or there is a mounting issue. Spring-piston guns are hard on scopes due to the recoil impulses as the piston accelerates and stops during the firing cycle.

All that said, I'd consider spending a modest sum (say $100 - $150) on a known spring-piston rated scope and rings to put on you Gamo, spending some time learning about and practicing proper hold for a spring-piston gun and then testing different projectiles for grouping. You may find that is all you need. If the Gamo you have still won't group, you'll already have an optic you can put on a different gun later.

midwest said:

Been lurking around and see a lot of threads similar to mine but I have some specifics.... Like many others I am looking to pick off some house sparrows around my purple martin colony. Each year I start trapping before the martins arrive and then transition to the shot gun. Early on I can walk out and get close enough to shoot them as they fly away from my martin houses. By this time of year they have wised up and if I am anywhere in my yard they take off so I contend with several of them that are super skittish.

My martin housing is about 35 yards from my house where I could set up in a window. There are some perches around and a couple small bushes they use so my range would be 30-40 yards. I am seeking an air rifle that will shoot sparrows at that range. About 10 years ago when I moved to this house not knowing any better I bought a gun off the shelf from Wal Mart (I think it was a Gamo) or something like that, around 120.00 including a scope. I tried all different types of pellets and could never get it to group well enough to hit sparrows at that distance. I have hunted/shot weapons for 35 years but just couldn't get accurate with it.

I would like to keep my budget around $200-$300 (lowers is obviously fine) and would be fine buying used. Not picky about what type or brand it is. Just something that will take out the sparrows at that distance. Would love to hear your thoughts and if anyone has anything for sale I would be interested as well.

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Got my Gamo Maxxim a couple of days ago. $200.

midwest said:

I am in Indiana
Still looking around but like what I am seeing on the Notos. Are there any retailers to use or stay away from, any that are forum sponsors?

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I am in Centerville, IN not too far from you.

Scopes have a ton of options and price points. Some really like the Crossman Centerpoint scopes. Amazon offers a 4-16 with adjustable objective and illumination for just over $70. I did not look to see what sort of reticle it has. You want a mil dot reticle or one with hash marks for holdover points. If you sight in for 30 yards, you should be OK from 20 or 25 yards to at least 35 yards without holdover. But for shorter or longer shots you will probably want a reference point. I would personally spend a little more and get a Hawke Vantage 3-9 or 2-7 with a mil dot reticle. Hawke has a no-questions-asked warranty and makes a fine scope. The Vantage is the bottom of their line but still a nice scope in my opinion. Probably cost twice what the Centerpoint costs, however. I used to buy scopes like the Centerpoint but I got tired of them messing up and needing replaced. But some people apparently have good luck with them.

Kral's are made in Turkey and often have nice looking walnut stocks. They are probably lighter than Hatsans on average but still not on the light end of airguns. They are not regulated but still have a pretty flat shot string. The Notos is regulated but only stores a little air so it's shot string is not long. For the distances you are talking about I would not be afraid to get an unregulated gun. Kral made the Crosman Craftsman series guns (Cayden, Akela and one more that I can't remember at the moment). I think the Notos would be a pound or two lighter and also much shorter.

Corvid_hunter said:

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Is this for sparrow control or removing unwanted cats from your property?