Tuning Wildcat barn power level question

[idaho_varminter]

Greetings,

I have an FX Wildcat Mk III Compact in .25 caliber. It’s been a beast with pest birds and rodents out to 100 yards plus. It came tuned from Utah Airguns, and I’ve never shot it off power level 7, or modified it it any way. My question is, what ft/lb level is safe for shooting indoors in a barn with galvanized roofing? I’ve never shot or zeroed off full power on the Wildcat. I’m sure I could find a good short range zero at a lower power level, but I’m not sure how much is too much in this setting.



My friend has an enclosed feeding area for cattle, that now has a massive problem with roosting pest birds. How many ft/lbs are too much for a galvanized tin roof? Can I turn the power wheel low enough on the Wildcat to help, or do I need to shop for a low power barn gun like the PROD. Please tell me I can achieve this with my gun. I don’t have a wife to contend with, but I am a single dad of a 14 year old girl who says I am wasting her college funds. 

 

[dizzums]

a 25 will punch holes through metal roofing like butter even at reserved power .. i wouldnt shoot it ...

...if you got some really close high angle shots and you want to be sure not to penetrate a metal roof i'd use something really low power, like a co2 pistol ..

 

[AirShot]

I use my RWS 10 meter match rifle for inside pesting. Puts out about 6 fpe and has plenty power for birds inside barns. Taken starlings and pigeons out to 30 yds, easy to make precise shots and the 4x40 scope is plenty bright in low light. Cant afford to damage the building or livestock and 6 fpe wont !!

 

[Hal4son]

I've killed a lot of raccoons with a .25 @ 500 fps shooting 35 grain Eun Jins. Not sure you could get a .25 slow enough for that kind of work. If I was going to try it, I'd shoot Crow Magnums as slow as possible.

 

[rsfrid]

I've got my wife's dreamline 22 dialed down to low power transfer port and 4 on hammer spring and it blows through 3/4” treated plywood like through paper. Pretty sure 25 would go through roof even at lowest hammer spring.

 

[harrymoreland]

Buy your 14yo a nice new low power gun.

Then borrow it.

 

[rob_g]

A lot of older barn roofs are like tinfoil. You could probably put a hole in them with a slingshot. Any holes in newer roofs will really upset the landowner. Better to be safe than sorry.

 

[TDK]

I'm pretty sure the law mandates that you buy a .177 HW30 to deal with this scenario. If you don't already own at least one Weihrauch springer you are in violation of another law, so you really need to get this taken care of ASAP.

 

[qball]

Buy your 14yo a nice new low power gun.

Then borrow it.

^^^^^that! And make sure it’s 177 shooting less than 550 FPS with CPHP or even better wade cutter. 

 

[Med8]

Might it help to get a piece of metal the same thickness as the barn's roof and use it as a test target? That would provide some direct feedback on pellet types and power levels. I live on a farm with a couple of old barns and there's generally a piece of metal roof around somewhere. Our local metal roofing supply shop has scrap roofing I'm sure they'd provide for test purposes. One of the worst whippings my Dad gave me was when I was a wee lad happened when I shot a couple of holes in the barn roof with my .22 trying to snuff a pigeon. Yep, rob_g is right about farmers being touchy about their barn roof.

 

[corny]

A 177 shooting with jsb exact at 800fps will go though tin at 20-30y

possibly the softer nose of a hades pellet would help.

Keep in mind, even if u only make a dent, you probably removed the paint and long term made a rust spot.


my guess is, u need around 500-600fps and 8g pellets