Maybe a trap and relocate the GH 's ? Cage traps are less than $100 OR a cage trap and gangland style head shot with a gun you already have ? or a tub of water to drown the beasts .
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N/A Cheapest option for groundhogs
- Thread starter AirJoe
- Start date
Why not the Umarex Komplete in .22; around $200.00. It uses 3600 psi Nitrogen cylinders. For the occasional use, it would make sense. The nitrogen cylinders are about $12.00 each, but like you said, you don't want to get into the sport, so just an occasional investment.
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There was also a nice .25 marauder on classifieds. Im in same spot as you cant comment on classifieds yet.
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There is a guy selling refillable cylinders for the Komplete too for about $100.
I like SPA guns for less expensive ones. I have 5 but one does not currently work (gross manufacturing error but I wouldn't worry about that, they are generally reliable). They are all bullpups which are a little more expensive, pushing $500. A less expensive option that is similar except for length would be the Stoeger Ranger or Scout. I would get the Scout because it is not so long. I would get the 25 caliber. Groundhogs can push 10 lbs and I shot a raccoon about that weight with my P35-22 and it worked but I would use my 25 next time one shows up (and I did and it worked better). Airgun Revisions has Stoegers too, I saw a Scout for $319.
A hand pump is totally doable for pesting. You will need to pump hundreds of times to get it full initially but then you have about 50 shots which should last awhile. PCPs should hold air for years. If they do not, you can return them. Refills are also a lot less pump strokes than an initial fill. You will need to use some air to get it sighted in so you will probably do at least one refill but after that you should be set. My "better" hand pump is a cheap one from Amazon. No need to spend even $100.
I recommend JSB (or FX) 25.4 grain and H&N Baracudas to try. If you had to pick one, I would get FX 25.4s. 2 of my 3 25 caliber SPA barrels like them a lot.
My favorite "cheap" scopes are the Hawke Vantage line. A 3-9 is a good all around but for shots within 30 yards or so the 2-7 would be fine (that is what is on my Prod).
I like SPA guns for less expensive ones. I have 5 but one does not currently work (gross manufacturing error but I wouldn't worry about that, they are generally reliable). They are all bullpups which are a little more expensive, pushing $500. A less expensive option that is similar except for length would be the Stoeger Ranger or Scout. I would get the Scout because it is not so long. I would get the 25 caliber. Groundhogs can push 10 lbs and I shot a raccoon about that weight with my P35-22 and it worked but I would use my 25 next time one shows up (and I did and it worked better). Airgun Revisions has Stoegers too, I saw a Scout for $319.
A hand pump is totally doable for pesting. You will need to pump hundreds of times to get it full initially but then you have about 50 shots which should last awhile. PCPs should hold air for years. If they do not, you can return them. Refills are also a lot less pump strokes than an initial fill. You will need to use some air to get it sighted in so you will probably do at least one refill but after that you should be set. My "better" hand pump is a cheap one from Amazon. No need to spend even $100.
I recommend JSB (or FX) 25.4 grain and H&N Baracudas to try. If you had to pick one, I would get FX 25.4s. 2 of my 3 25 caliber SPA barrels like them a lot.
My favorite "cheap" scopes are the Hawke Vantage line. A 3-9 is a good all around but for shots within 30 yards or so the 2-7 would be fine (that is what is on my Prod).
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Normally, "cheapest option" happens to be very expensive.
You rather try to make a reasonable good deal that fullfil your needs with good percentage of risk.
You rather try to make a reasonable good deal that fullfil your needs with good percentage of risk.
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I can’t believe I’m actually going to say that gun is a perfect fit for something but I have to agree. It’s perfect for this. You will just have to get proficient enough for a headshot in .22 for sure. You can usually post up on a groundhog hole and wait them out and get pretty close. I killed one with a .22 Airacuda max. One in the head and it went nowhere.
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Even Walmart has the Komplete/cylinders. Other stores have the 3622 Crosman w/ handpump for about the same price.
While looking at the nitrogen cylinders, discovered that Tippman C-3 used to exist; It did 50,000 paintball shots off one 480cc tank of propane.
While looking at the nitrogen cylinders, discovered that Tippman C-3 used to exist; It did 50,000 paintball shots off one 480cc tank of propane.
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Komplete apparently makes about the same fpe as a Notos. I think that is too light for a 5-10 lb animal. The raccoon I shot with my P35-22 got hit with nearly 32 fpe and still took 3 shots to be gone. The second was between the eyes. It was only about 10 lbs. I'd rather use a 40 fpe 25 caliber (or more). My P35-25 was less than 45 fpe when I hit one between the eyes and it was immediate lights out. Size was similar. I'm not saying a 25 fpe 22 can't kill a groundhog, just that it may take multiple hits to expire.
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@JimD Average fps of the HAWKi Thunder 25.3 gn pellets out of my Komplete is 718.8 fps, so 29 fpe; this is muzzle energy. I don't know the down-range energy. I suspect your P35-25 is 45 fpe at the muzzle also (?). It would be nice to now what the acceptable fpe is for different size small game, squirrels, rabbits, ground hogs, etc, for a clean kill. Then the down-range energy could be calculated, and you would know what can be humanely killed with a particular gun. I haven't chrono'ed the pellets at 40 or 50 yards, yet, but it seems like a good idea. (I'd use a .22lr or magnum after 50 yds. in any case!)
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Gerry, you are asking a sensible question but there is no consensus answer. I give answers based upon my experience but others have different experience and different answers. The difference between my 32 fpe and your 29 fpe at the muzzle (in both cases) is not significant in my opinion. My point was that at 32 fpe I took 3 shots to kill a 10 lb raccoon. Maybe with better placement it could be done with less. But based upon that I think lower energy 22s are great for rabbits and squirrels (and that has been my experience) but a little weak for bigger small game. My P35-25 reference was also a muzzle energy but the 25 caliber has both higher fpe and also makes a bigger hole. I once had my P35-22 and P35-25 at the same fpe (32). I couldn't really see a difference on squirrels but I think on a larger animal the 25 may be a bit better even at the same fpe. Both worked great. 28 clean kills between the two (with none lost).
Another reason for different opinions is the difference between taking brain and body shots. I think there is general agreement that brain shots take less fpe for clean kills. But they take more accuracy too and more discipline to turn down other shots. My second shot on the raccoon with my 22 hit the brain, I could see it leaking out. His heart still took awhile to stop so I put another in his neck. My one shot with the 25 was to the brain and stopped the raccoon immediately. Could have been subtle difference in where the shots landed but I think a bigger hole helped too.
I haven't shot any groundhogs. I haven't seen any. I killed a 5+ lb armadillo with the P35-22 and it took 3 shots too. The first was not well placed, however. I plan to use the 25 on them too if another comes around. I also killed about a 8 lb turtle with a 18 fpe 177 too. 1 clean brain shot did it.
With ideal shot placement I think a 29 fpe 22 will give a clean kill on a groundhog. But I don't think it gives you much room for less than ideal placement. That is where a bigger hole and more fpe may be the difference between the animal getting away wounded or needing more shots and just being DRT.
Jim
Another reason for different opinions is the difference between taking brain and body shots. I think there is general agreement that brain shots take less fpe for clean kills. But they take more accuracy too and more discipline to turn down other shots. My second shot on the raccoon with my 22 hit the brain, I could see it leaking out. His heart still took awhile to stop so I put another in his neck. My one shot with the 25 was to the brain and stopped the raccoon immediately. Could have been subtle difference in where the shots landed but I think a bigger hole helped too.
I haven't shot any groundhogs. I haven't seen any. I killed a 5+ lb armadillo with the P35-22 and it took 3 shots too. The first was not well placed, however. I plan to use the 25 on them too if another comes around. I also killed about a 8 lb turtle with a 18 fpe 177 too. 1 clean brain shot did it.
With ideal shot placement I think a 29 fpe 22 will give a clean kill on a groundhog. But I don't think it gives you much room for less than ideal placement. That is where a bigger hole and more fpe may be the difference between the animal getting away wounded or needing more shots and just being DRT.
Jim
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how big is this backyard? I have a 250z in .25 doing about 65fpe right now it is not backyard friendly unless your backyard is real big. Even the .22 will do like 35-38FPE straight out of the box shooting pellets. I LOVE the 250z with all my heart and I could recommend it for so so so many reasons but this ain’t one of them…it’s $450 and long as a fence post.Id look at a Barra 250z I think. Something like an Urban will work, but your range will be limited to about 60yds max due to the lower power. A Kratos or Cayden from AR would also be a good option.
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OP
Go get an Umarex Komplete. For $200 you’ll get everything you need in the box. The 2 nitro bottles it comes with will be more than enough. The factory scope is trash but the gun is simple, bulletproof, powerful and unreasonably accurate for what it is. I dropped an 11-12lbs Fox from 20y back in feb. 25-30FPE is more than enough for a groundhog as long as your aim is decent.
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