Which airgun and caliber for pigeon control ina and around barns

Energy is the important factor here. I own a .25 cal that I can detuned to 12-18 fpe respectively that I would opt to use, if I couldn't detune I would look for a .177 putting out similar energy. (sub-12 fpe ideal IMO)

I used a Crosman 2260 with wadcutter pellets to cull a bunch of pigeons in a 27000 square foot barn. It worked great. It is very accurate and I could head shoot them at 25 yards or so. I loaned the owner a gun and we double teamed them in the huge barn and had a ball.



Bob in WV

Zboria kozak compact 177 p15 177 cricket 177bullpups are good guns for indoor pesting and a ratting gun

I would recommend a .22 or .25 shooting light wadcutters at about 600ish fps. You will be pretty close so powerful isn't in order. My old 24fpe .22 would poke holes in metal roofs so I went lower fpe. Works well. A dot sight or low magnification scope (3x or 4x) works well, no need for 16x.

Remember that "X" fpe in .22 won't have as much velocity and has a larger frontal area than the same fpe in .177 so it won't penetrate metal roofing as easily.

A light on your air rifle parallel to the barrel works well to see where you're aiming in the shadows.

I’m using a HW 30 177 . Removed a coil on the spring. Very accurate eaay to handle .

For a compact, light and lower power/short range gun how about the Benjamin Woods Walker. Accurate, quiet, good trigger and decent shot count. Bill

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MScHMY5K9Wc&t=3s 



https://www.airgundepot.com/benjamin-marauder-woods-walker.html

This is where the 177 low power 22 shine. IMO 25 even on low power unless you have money to spend on 25 pellets is expensive vs the177 -22 pellets food for thought

FX Streamline 22. True 3-level power, 30/20/10fpe.

My barn gun .177 Matador STD @ 18 FtLb. This particular gun can be set up for 15-31 FtLb. I am still tuning and figuring this gun out. It is looking like I may be able to reduce reg pressure to 75-80Bar for harmony with the 10.34 pellets. Shot count should be impressive. Today I am at 95 Bar and almost no HST. Tomorrow I will reduce reg pressure again and see what happens. Gun is shooting ragged hole groups at 40 yard outdoors.

https://www.airgunnation.com/topic/wts-fx-streamline-22-synthetic-2/

I would highly recommend the FX Streamline. I have been shooting starlings this winter inside of the cattle barns and with the .22 Predator GTOs (lead free) they did the job and didn't put holes in the roof. Bob_O just sold his in the classifieds but I linked it here so you can see the videos, if you already haven't. Adjustable power is nice so you can turn it back up easily if/when you want to shoot something else out-of-doors. I have also shot many pigeons and Eurasian collared doves with the Steamline and it is perfect for the job. Light and compact options are available/effective also. I have taken many a bird down with my .177 Brocock Compatto. More of a challenge to make sure you get a clean ethical kill, but lights out accurate out to 50yrds, more if indoors. Good luck in your search!

*edit-- I see that Bob responded in person while I was typing it up. He knows his stuff.

I have used a Crosman 2240 carbine in 22 cal from the custom shop with a 18" barrel. It's CO2 powered, so low temperatures affect POI, but it shoots below 12FPE (about 6FPE with Crosman Premier HP). I have killed pigeons, rats, and collared doves out to 20 yards with it. It doesn't poke holes in roof or siding tin if I miss.

For shorter distances and inside barns, check out L.Leon's posts on the Artemis 22 pp700sa with a shoulder stock. That would be perfect for 35 yards and in for sure. My maximus euro was brutal for squirrels around my house and backyard. The artemis is short and regulated. 

Edit: Apologizes for the odd font size. No idea why that happened. 

the new HADES pellets coming from JSB should be of great benefit to help prevent pellet pass through, where the domes go in and out the other side

Energy is the important factor here. I own a .25 cal that I can detuned to 12-18 fpe respectively that I would opt to use, if I couldn't detune I would look for a .177 putting out similar energy. (sub-12 fpe ideal IMO)

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Which one? I’m looking for a .25 to add, but I seem to be in the minority, looking for how low it can go. Been hard to find data on low end of S510XS and Impact. 

Energy is the important factor here. I own a .25 cal that I can detuned to 12-18 fpe respectively that I would opt to use, if I couldn't detune I would look for a .177 putting out similar energy. (sub-12 fpe ideal IMO)

Click to expand...

Perfect. I’d use a .25 BSA Ultra for this work or a .25 Leshiy. 

Low power on the XS is pretty low....in the 400's if I remember correctly on the one I had.

I hunt two dairy barns that are 1/4 mile long (each) with thousands of pigeons and starlings. I’ve used my P-rod extensively last year. It’s good to about 40 yards max. Problem is, with high roof and and building framework the closest I can get a shot off is 20 yards and that is rare. Most shots are 40 - 50 yards. Once you start shooting, the birds get really skittish and fly away as you creep up on them and shot distances increase quickly. The P-rod is a great rifle but the lower power makes the shot arc a lot more curve to compensate for.

This year I am using my Streamline .22 on medium power. It shoots MUCH flatter trajectory over longer distances. My longest kill shot is 91 yards. At the medium power level I use 15.9 grain JSBs and it dispatches them to the ground with ease.

My buddy uses a 177 / 1100 FPS springer and his misses leaves holes in the steel roof. My rare misses never puncture the roof.

Nice!!