Newbie with hunting rifle selection question....

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Flintlock

Member
Jul 23, 2020
59
83
Indiana
Greetings all. Good to be here as I've lurked long enough.

I have a short list of rifles which I'm interested in for hunting. Mainly tree squirrels here in Indiana. The rifle will see a lot of use for plunking and casual target work. Daily, no doubt.

Beeman r7/ Hw 30

Beeman r9/ Hw 95

Air Arms TX200



My most specific question revolves around the r7/hw 30......In your experience, will it have enough energy to humanely take head-shot squirrels out to 40 yards or so? Is it accurate enough to do so, if I'm capable of doing my part?

At what range would a grey squirrel be taken cleanly with a shot through the shoulders with the rifle?



Any comments on these rifles welcomed and appreciated.

Looking forward to gaining as much knowledge as I can from you all. Air rifles have certainly changed since I was young. Thank you for having me.

Best regards, Flintlock.


 
Id get the 95. It's the quintessential "do everything" break barrel. 

I've killed a lot of squirrels with guns near HW30 power levels, but any wind really throws a wrench in the spokes. Especially so at 40 yards. 

If hunting is your main interest, buy the rifle most efficient for that, which is the HW95. Particularly in .177 in my opinion. It should also be plenty accurate for targets. 

If you mainly plan to plink cans in the yard, and shoot the occasional squirrel from 25 yards and closer, the 30 would be fine. 

I don't care for the TX200. 

My personal favorite is the HW77K. It's a little heavier than the HW95, makes about the same power, but is easier to shoot accurately for me due to the extra weight. They are my favorite hunting guns. Work well with open sights too for casual plinking. 
 
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Concerning heart/lung shots, they are very effective as long as you hit where you are aiming. I've actually found most heart/lung shots anchor them quicker without all the flopping that a brain shot usually involves. 

I had a HW50 running at 10.5fpe and heart/lung shots at 35 yards left the pellet hanging just under the skin on the off side. I'd say thats plenty of power in my book. 

But either shot requires precision, I think the heart/lung may be a touch more forgiving. I base that on the fact that a slightly off brain shot will leave a shot through the face, and that never ends well. 
 
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ANY amount of wind at all will blow a pellet from a FWB300 or similar powered gun all over the place at 40 yards. 

I don't know about where you hunt, but where I do, it's usually outdoors, in the wind. Where squirrels live. 

I have hunted with an FWB150 quite a bit, and I can tell you from experience, you better be within spitting distance if there is a breeze. Excellent rifles all around, and I enjoy hunting with them, but id absolutely recommend against one being your only hunting gun. 

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Thanks Thumper and Yo for the replies.

The little r7/hw 30 is on my radar due to its light weight. I've been shocked to read some of the heavy physical weights of some springers. The light weight would be appreciated on all day treks which I've been known to make.

Thanks much for your thoughts and please share any others which come to mind.

Best regards Flintlock.
 
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ANY amount of wind at all will blow a pellet from a FWB300 or similar powered gun all over the place at 40 yards. 

I don't know about where you hunt, but where I do, it's usually outdoors, in the wind. Where squirrels live. 

I have hunted with an FWB150 quite a bit, and I can tell you from experience, you better be within spitting distance if there is a breeze. Excellent rifles all around, and I enjoy hunting with them, but id absolutely recommend against one being your only hunting gun. 

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Try shooting old Crosman Copperhead pointed 7.9gr the ones the current 7.4gr replaced. Shoot them at 50 yards even in slighr breeze then you will see how great the FWBs are (FWB300s specifically). I take out birds at 50-55 yards the most with this combo and to date even if I own several hundreds of airguns but my FWB300s one in particular out of the 12 that I own has been shot regularly with an old BUSHNELL 4-12x AO stadia line reticle scope and has the most accumulated kills to date out of all guns I have ever owned throughout my lifetime so far. The wind here isn't serious at all but does blow a little sometimes and I simply correct by compensating for the wind. I am that used to shooting it. I can even see the pellets in flight till it hits the birdies.
 

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HW30s are a pleasure to shoot. I’ve never tried their Mom, the HW35, but I think they are probably in the same ball park. The HW95 is easy to shoot for me. I don’t take kills with distance with springers personally, though I see many people are more capable than I am with more years behind the spring. Yo, sounds like you got a favorite :) send a pic of it.
 
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NOTHING to show off about. I had been using it shooting 7.9 gr Crosman pointed Copperheads to dispatch birds and pests at a family farm in my younger years and must have taken out well over100k pests to date and all that had been replaced was a breech seal. 

It's one of the handful of guns that I can trust and just grab at any day any time and just cock load then shoot then dead bird or rat period. NO EXCUSES...JUST A PLAIN AND SIMPLE TOOL FOR KILLING PESTS THATS ALL..That was a chore. Gets old when you've been doing it every day for years.
 
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The hw95 in .177 would be an excellent fit for the hunting and shooting you describe. I hunt squirrels a lot and usually take my 12fpe hw97k in .177. Next favorite is my 10.5fpe hw50s also in .177. Both are very effective on squirrels out to 40 yards. Love the hw30, but I would not hunt with mine beyond 25 yards.



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I second this. I have it in .22 and it is sluggish past 30 yards. Go .177
 
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