"Will work for cookies."
Lay a few gun ground rules, like eye-pro and which directions not to shoot; heck I'd have spent many an afternoon on that job when I was 10.
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new to guns, need purchase recommendations
- Thread starter carlcrawford
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Lay a few gun ground rules, like eye-pro and which directions not to shoot; heck I'd have spent many an afternoon on that job when I was 10.
I'd recommend a springer if you're wanting to stay under 300. PCPs come with too many additional costs like compressors or bottles. You can get by with a stirrup pump if you're willing to put in a little sweat equity. I'd recommend finding where they are roosting on your property and sit under that and pick them off. Stalking into crows once they become aware is near impossible
If you want to get rid of them fast, I'd probably say a shotgun some decoys and hide.
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Due to the range and other factors brought out above. IMHO this is a job for a powder burner. Bolt action or semi that will shoot .22 shorts or .22 subsonic. Greater range, and much less expensive, even considering the cost of powder burner ammo.
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Air is a nice idea , but this guy gives the best fastest solution in your situation . I say this because it just makes sense. longer more reliable range in the wind , Wind / breeze is Air gun enemy It doesn;t take much of a breeze to miss a shot a 30 yards ,and it is hard to get within 30 yards of crows .
EDIT i know i recommended a pump rifle earlier but rethinking this is my final answer .
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My concern when shooting a 22 rimfire in the air is where it will land. I guess if there is no resident within 1.5 miles,it is OK. Range is shorter with a short or subsonic, but still pretty far. That is why I use a 177 or 22 cal springer.
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The only thing I can tell you. Buy once , cry once. Not saying to overspend , get a rifle that meets your criteria. If you can’t find one in your budget, save a few more dollars. I would highly suggest a simple regulated rifle that is magazine fed with some sort of an adjustable stock. Caliber I’d go .22 to get you going.
Welcome to the rabbit hole.
Welcome to the rabbit hole.
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I've had two of those and they are extremely expensive to maintain. The gun, not so much.
OTOH, girls are extremely pricey so....
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I haven't hunted crows with a pellet gun, but I would be fine at 50 yards for crows with my RWS 350 (177) or Xisco B28 (22). Was getting 2" 3 shot groups at 80 yards say 3 out of 5 times, with the Xisco B28. I have killed squirrels at 50 yards with the Xisco B28, and crows should be easier to kill. I think my FWB 124 has sufficient power to kill a crow at 50 yards, as it certainly has the accuracy. Another safe option at 50 yards is to use a shotgun with high brass #4 to #6.
Air Rifle Killing Power Guide (looks reasonable, but not sure of the source. I was looking for Beeman's hunting guide and found this)
1) Gray squirrel/Fox Squirrel - 4.5fpe
2) Eastern Cottontail/Swamp Rabbit - 4fpe
3) Jack Rabbit White, Black, and Jack O' lope - 4.5fpe
4) Raccoon/ Bandit - 9fpe.. if it's a big one, 10fpe.
5) Virginia Opossum/ County Rat - 10fpe
6) Ground Hog/ Wood Chuck - 7-8fpe (depending on size)
7) Gray Fox - 8.5fpe
8. Red Fox - 9.5-10fpe
9) Bobcat - 9fpe
10) Bullfrog - I have no clue, but 2fpe should do the job.
11) Snapping Turtle - no clue again but I would think at least the same as bird or squirrel.
12) Crow - 3.5 fpe head, 6fpe body/vitals
13) Pigeon - 3 fpe head, 5fpe body/vitals
14) Sparrow - 2.5fpe, it doesn't matter where you hit them.
My Xisco gets 24.1 fpe at the muzzle. I am sure plenty of energy is left for crows at 50 yards and beyond. The limit would be accuracy. For the FWB 124D, which is at 12 fpe at the muzzle, the limit would be power, but I'm pretty sure I would have 6.5 fpe left at 50 yards. I feel I am limited to 50 yards due to accuracy with all my springers shooting 800 fps and up.
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Since you'll only get one shot with each opportunity anyway, your best option is an Air Venturi Dragonfly MK 2 multi-stroke pneumatic in .22 caliber. Well within your price range, you might even work in a decent scope and a tin of 15.9 or 18.13 grain JSB pellets; the right sight and ammo for the job. No other expenses required.
Unlike inexpensive spring-piston guns, a multi-pump pneumatic won't shoot to wildly different points of impact with different holds or rests.
And unlike PCPs, you'll need no compressor or tank to USE it. 
15.9 grain FX, 10 pumps, 4 shots= 644 FPS/14.6 FPE
15.9 grain FX, 12 pumps, 4 shots= 664 FPS/15.6 FPE
5/13/23- Six consecutive three-shot groups at 50 yards on 11 pump strokes averaged .68” c-t-c.
By the way, you can pump it to 15 strokes if so inclined; but don't need to on crows to 35 yards. Fifty, maybe.
Once you've killed a couple (yourself), the crows will not only recognize you, but also your modus operandi; AND will communicate that to other crows that have never met you. YES, it is true; as proven in studies. So then as you go about your farming business they'll avoid you like the plague...
Correction- the bird flu.
.
Unlike inexpensive spring-piston guns, a multi-pump pneumatic won't shoot to wildly different points of impact with different holds or rests.
And unlike PCPs, you'll need no compressor or tank to USE it. 15.9 grain FX, 10 pumps, 4 shots= 644 FPS/14.6 FPE
15.9 grain FX, 12 pumps, 4 shots= 664 FPS/15.6 FPE
5/13/23- Six consecutive three-shot groups at 50 yards on 11 pump strokes averaged .68” c-t-c.
By the way, you can pump it to 15 strokes if so inclined; but don't need to on crows to 35 yards. Fifty, maybe.
Once you've killed a couple (yourself), the crows will not only recognize you, but also your modus operandi; AND will communicate that to other crows that have never met you. YES, it is true; as proven in studies. So then as you go about your farming business they'll avoid you like the plague...
Correction- the bird flu.
.
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I never really considered a pump gun since I had a Crosman 760 Pumpmaster about 40 years ago, haven't even looked to see what's out there. Seeing this reply you put out makes me want to take a look around at the pump guns again. ThanksSince you'll only get one shot with each opportunity anyway, your best option is an Air Venturi Dragonfly MK 2 multi-stroke pneumatic in .22 caliber. Well within your price range, you might even work in a decent scope and a tin of 15.9 or 18.13 grain JSB pellets; the right sight and ammo for the job. No other expenses required.
Unlike inexpensive spring-piston guns, a multi-pump pneumatic won't shoot to wildly different points of impact with different holds or rests.
View attachment 590650
15.9 grain FX, 10 pumps, 4 shots= 644 FPS/14.6 FPE
15.9 grain FX, 12 pumps, 4 shots= 664 FPS/15.6 FPE
5/13/23- Six consecutive three-shot groups at 50 yards on 11 pump strokes averaged .68” c-t-c.
By the way, you can pump it to 15 strokes if so inclined; but don't need to on crows to 35 yards. Fifty, maybe.
Once you've killed a couple (yourself), the crows will not only recognize you, but also your modus operandi; AND will communicate that to other crows that have never met you. YES, it is true; as proven in studies. So then as you go about your farming business they'll avoid you like the plague...
Correction- the bird flu.
.
Upvote 0