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jdh2550

jdh2550

Member
Feb 19, 2019
553
139
PA, United States
The COVID recovery has proven 1 thing to me, I need to make more time for family, friends and things I enjoy more frequently. 

Since I had nothing but time on my hands I've read and watched everything I can on the Dream-tac and the new Maverick.

I currently have a .22 Kozak FC tuned for pellets. This will be my designated squirrel gun (for half my hunting excursions). The other half of my hunting is for groundhogs in PA. Shots between 30 - 150 yards are possible.

I want the next gun designated for groundhogs only. Undecided on .22 or .25, (not a fan of.30 due to pellet cost) pellets or slugs. Wait on the Maverick release date and get more shots per fill or go with a Dream-tac now?

Your thoughts?

P.S. - thanks to all for providing entertainment the past week and a half!
 
I like the ability to shoot pellets even on groundhogs, just because I am presented with shots close to barns and other out buildings that I dont want to risk a slug taking a bad bounce and doing damage (even though the property owner is okay with it- its just not my style)

I'm convinced to go with the Maverick in .25. From what I see online anticipated in stock date is Feb 22 or around there. How is FX about holding true to this? Will I run into an issue where this is indefinitely delayed like the Umarex Hammer?
 
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jdh2550:

I am also a resident of PA (Quakertown). First I would like your opinion of the .22 Kozak FC you already have. Have you experimented with different pellets for your squirrel hunting? I know each barrel of the same model rifle may prefer different pellets, but your suggestions might give a good starting point for testing.

Next, are you absolutely clear on what I find to be the ambiguous language in our state's laws concerning hunting with air rifles? Viewing the laws of our state as posted on these forums, I first read that hunting groundhogs required "at least .22 caliber," indicating to me that using a larger caliber would be legal. Lately I revisited the site and the wording was different, simply indicating that ".22 caliber," was required. I do not wish to order a rifle that would not be in a legal caliber for hunting a given species. As suggested by qball in his reply to your post, perhaps a powerful .22 caliber, such as the new FX Maverick would suffice for distant shots at groundhogs when using a tested/selected slug. I can see the wisdom of having rifles for different purposes, but I am an old man without the resources to have many rifles. But having a cheaper rifle for hunting smaller creatures (rabbits, squirrels, pest birds) and a dedicated groundhog rifle (gone are the days when I used a 22-250) might be attainable.

I appreciate all replies and suggestions to this post and thank you in advance.
 
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My Kozak FC550 was tuned by Georgia Airguns. Very inexpensive and highly recommended. He has it tuned to shoot Air Arms the best and they are lasers out to 75 yards. Mine does not like Haydes or NSA or other slugs. Squirrels don't stand a chance against these regular designed pellets with decent placed shots. 

As far as the .22 or larger on groundhogs you need to refer to the written law in Title 34, NOT the hunting guide book. The law states .22 or larger for airguns on groundhogs. The printing vendor did not get it right in the handbook you get with the license. I spoke with 2 game commission officers. Both told me .22 or larger is legal for groundhogs. They told me this will be addressed with future publication of the guidebook, we will have to wait and see. Title 34 is the final say in matters of legality for officers and it simply is not possible for them to issue a citation for calibers above .22. The section states "(vii) A manually operated or semiautomatic air rifle or manually operated air handgun .22 caliber or larger that propels single-projectile pellet or bullet ammunition. BB ammunition is not authorized."  This is specific to groundhogs only. Not applicable for other small game. This information can be found here, http://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pabull?file=/secure/pabulletin/data/vol47/47-46/1880.html
 
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Already owning a Maverick in .30 cal I say definitely hold out for the Maverick in .25!

One of my shooting buddies bought a .25 the same day I got my .30 and both are absolute hammers...we got lucky and our local dealer had 2 VP models from initial release of guns...

Ive been using a power tuned Cricket in .25 shooting slugs the last two years...39 two years ago and 36 last year! My farthest kill shot was 148 yards with a 32.8 grain varmint knocker hollow point at 920fps!

This year I'm stepping up to the .30 cal.

Haven't decided if I'm going to shoot slugs yet or not...took a couple pigeons the other day at 110 yards with 44.75 pellets at 895 for 80fpe! Thats more that enough power for those whistle pigs!!! Lol.

James from Michigan 
 
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