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leadballs

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Nov 21, 2018
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I’m new here. Like anything else I do in life once I get into something it seems as though there’s more to it than meets the eye and I get sucked in. I have a red squirrel problem and wanted something to take care of them so I did a little research and got a Benjamin Prowler. What I didn’t read in my brief research is that I have to twist my arms in a pretzel, wear velvet gloves, and fart just right when I pull the trigger in order to get this thing to shoot descent. I have tried cleaning the barrel and I’ve tried not cleaning the barrel, I put a new scope on, tried many different pellets, learned the artillery hold and I still can’t get this thing to shoot right. I’ll get a fairly good 3 shot group and then the next 3 shots hardly hit the paper plate at 20 yards. I don’t need to stack pellets at 80 yards, I just want a pellet gun that I can pick up and hit red squirrels with at 20 yards. I have a son and two new twin daughters so I’m likely not going to go too far down this rabbit whole that is pellet gun shooting for now as time won’t permit. Any suggestions on my Benjamin or another .22 pellet gun under $200 that I can hit red squirrels with consistantly would be great! Thanks! 
 
There may be redemption for your gun, I just don’t know. However, the going moto here is, Pay once, Cry once. The better guns will be the German or UK models in springers. AoA will have a Walther for $99 you may want to consider. Also, a good scope is paramount. Springers like to eat Scopes for breakfast. 

https://www.airgunnation.com/topic/black-friday-deals-airguns-of-arizona-2018/

*Lots of guns will do you just fine at 20 btw. It’s when you start going for 30 or further that you want to get more picky, but the scope is a must, unless you are shooting open sights. 
 
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Well the Prowler would not have been my first choice but all is not lost. They do look nice and don't give up on it just yet. Clean the barrel and make sure the screws are all tight. They advertise this gun as shooting way too fast which they use as a selling point. Try some heavier pellets in it to maybe slow it down a bit and shoot at least 500 or so thru it to break it in. You might also check to see if the pellets are clearing the muzzle break(or whatever they call it). If all that does not improve accuracy you might want to leave it cocked for a week or so(no pellet in it of course). As far as scopes go, any decent airgun scope would work for your purposes, anywhere from 4 to maybe 16 power.should work well.

These things can be frustrating but take your time with it and good luck.

Rick B.
 
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Spring guns and "easy to shoot" don't go together. You can learn to shoot them accurately but it takes time and patience and you need a well made gun to do it with such as an RWS, Weirauch or Air Arms models. I had a gray squirrel problem, bought an RWS Diana .22 caliber model 34 and have taken out over 250 of those tree rats in the last 2 1/2 years and have become accurate enough with this gun to take squirrels out to 50 yards. If you want easy to shoot, or more appropriately, easier to shoot, then you need to go to a PCP gun.
 
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Welcome aboard! Have you tried tightening all of the screws on the rifle?

Are you using open sights or a scope? If you are using a cheap scope with no name scope rings then that could be a problem.

For open sights are they firm and secure and not move around when you try to wiggle them front and rear with your fingers?

I may suggest "easy to shoot and accurate" and to dispatch pesky squirrels the 22 Benjamin Maximus Hunter and use the AGN 25% discount code direct from Crosman. It is very light and handy which is a big plus in my book for hunting.

Then buy a $50 or less Ebay hand pump. These may put you just over your $200 budget but I can't think of anything else easy to shoot 

and since you are hunting red squirrels then you need the proper tool for humane kills. Minimal effort required to accurately shoot this PCP aside from a recommended simple trigger mod.

The Maximus Hunter only requires 2000psi maximum to start so using a hand pump won't be too difficult and you would probably pump to 1700-1900psi to start from the sweet spot out of the box then shoot up to 20 shots then pump it.

You should be able to dispatch those pesky squirrels easily out to 50 yards once you learn the trajectory and find the ammo it likes the best.

If your spinger was purchased recently and you have the option to return it then I would do it and use the money for the Maximus Hunter in 22 and the hand pump from Ebay. You can do the 3 screw trigger mod and the trigger spring mod if you want a better trigger and will cost you next to nothing and the barrel is already threaded to accept an LDC if you need it quiet.

IMHO when hunting, you really need an accurate tool with enough power that you can be confident shooting and based on your price point this is what I can recommend because I am not sure how well actually shoot with a better springer because I don't know how good of a shot you can be and state this suggestion based on your hunting needs and ease of shooting accurately.



CA
 
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The go to gun for me for a lifetime of use is the rws 34 in 22 cal. There are a bunch of sales on this gun now so you could get it for around $200 probably. But i would locktite all the screws on the stock of your prowler first and then try a heavier 22 cal pellet like in the 18 to 21 grain range. No gimmicky pointed or hollow point pellets. Get a heavy roundnose pellet. H&N Baracuda 21 grain are something I would try if i was you.
 
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