Hunting BB rifle (NOT pellet)?

M

MSCantrell

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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Mar 12, 2005
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So Michigan has a bizarre set of laws: pellet guns, both rifles and pistols, are subject to all the same laws as powder-powered guns.
No shooting indoors or in city limits, register your pistols with the police, etc.
BB guns, that's not the case. Just pellet guns.
BIZARRE.

Anyhow, I'd like to plink cans and kill chipmunks in my yard in town.

So I'm looking for a BBs-only rifle with enough power to kill those little munks. And squirrels.
Is there such a thing? Under $200 I hope?
Thanks, guys!
Mike
 
Does that mean dual ammo, or ONLY shoots bb's?

There's a lot to offer from Crosman and Daisy, but they tend to be dual ammo.

I'll see what I can find as a BB only just in case that's what you were looking for.
 
I did find something pretty quickly:

GAM611000754_1.jpg


GAMO CFX FIXED BBL .177 1000FPS

That should kill anything it hits :D

Let me know what you think, J.
 
I believe the Gamo CFX is a pellet rifle.

It will be hard to find a BB (ONLY) rifle with enough velocity to do what you want. Most BB only rifles are around 300 fps give or take and the ammo is so light, they have very low energy and thus, low kill potential. Dual guns, meaning they shoot pellets and bb's (Like the Crosman 760) will be higher powered but will also be lumped in with firearms.

That being said, I have killed MANY squirrels with my Daisy 747 target pistol running less than 400fps with lead pellets. I have done so with 2 restrictions, all shots less than 20 yards, all head shots. I either miss, or kill.

You can get Daisy Powerline air pistols that push a steel BB at 480 fps with CO2, so my only realistic suggestion is to get one of those and use Gamo .177 lead balls instead of BB's so you have some energy when they hit.

Hope this helps.
 
Maybe a Baikal Drozd will do. They do full auto spurts. Some folks have modded them to do continuous full auto. They seem like a lot of fun, but are kinda pricey.

There are possibly some CO2 bb pistols on the market that do over 400fps. On the used market, there are some old Crosman rifles that were multi pumpers or CO2 powered that were bb only. Good luck finding them. Maybe on the gun auction sites.

The old Daisy 25 was reputed to be among the hardest hitting among Daisy bb repeaters. Long out of production. What constitutes "hard hitting" with a bb gun is a bit of a mystery.

I find shooting bbs over about 500fps decreases accuracy. Without the ability to engage rifling, and without an inherently stable design like a diabolo pellet, they seem prone to be flyers at higher velocities. And at around 5 grains each, they simply will never pack as much punch as a lead pellet.
 
Move out of state and buy yourself a Beeman and you'll live a happy life plinking! Corks on a board, Necco wafers in tongue n groove boards, old playing cards for targets, you get the idea.....joy of joys a Beeman Air Rifle!
 
So Michigan has a bizarre set of laws: pellet guns, both rifles and pistols, are subject to all the same laws as powder-powered guns.
Click to expand...

That is a little strange... but our laws still take the cake !

For example:
An air gun (pellet or BB doesn't matter) which exceeds 500 fps is considered a firearm and must be registered like any other by a licensed owner.

A flintlock muzzleloader however, falls under the "antique" category and no license or registration is needed.

Now which one is truly more dangerous ?!!
I WISH we had your laws up here !
 
Any normal pellet gun is capable of firing BBs...you just have to make sure they're lead BBs and not the copper type ones. You can pick up lead BBs in 177 and 22 cals online from different store.

Pellet gun of my choice is a Benjamin Sheridan .22....used to have one with a williams peep. Would be an awesome gun for pest control or small game hunting. I shot a pheasant, a dozen or so wild chickens and a few myna birds with mine.
 
MSCantrell said:
So Michigan has a bizarre set of laws: pellet guns, both rifles and pistols, are subject to all the same laws as powder-powered guns.
No shooting indoors or in city limits, register your pistols with the police, etc.
BB guns, that's not the case. Just pellet guns.

Mike
Click to expand...

I lived in Lansing but it has been years ago. How does the law determine the difference between pellet gun and bb gun? Is it the matter of rifling?

8.3t. Firearm; defined; exception. The word
"firearm", except as otherwise specifically defined
in the statutes, shall be construed to include
any weapon from which a dangerous projectile
may be propelled by using explosives,
gas or air as a means of propulsion, except any
smooth bore rifle or handgun designed and
manufactured exclusively for propelling BB's not
exceeding .177 calibre by means of spring, gas
or air.
Click to expand...

There are very few smooth bore air rifles made today and those that are are lacking in power, 300fps is about tops.
 
J's Knives-N-More said:
Does that mean dual ammo, or ONLY shoots bb's?
Click to expand...

Yep, BB's only.
Absintheur got the legal language there: "designed and manufactured exclusively for propelling BB's."


PrimitiveMan said:
You can get Daisy Powerline air pistols that push a steel BB at 480 fps with CO2, so my only realistic suggestion is to get one of those and use Gamo .177 lead balls instead of BB's so you have some energy when they hit.
Hope this helps.
Click to expand...
That DOES help. Now, anybody know how much velocity I'd lose with the heavier lead balls vs steel BB's? 480 FPS with BB's is respectable, but if that translates into 200 FPS with lead... I might still be out of luck. :)


Great thoughts, and it's only been a couple of hours. Thanks guys, keep 'em coming!
 
Get yourself a slingshot and save yourself the hassle. A steel ball bearing or bag of 100 marbles for a dollar, at the dollar store, makes great cheap ammo for small game!
 
I would think muzzle velocity would be knocked down to 410-420, you might get a bit more (no better than 450). Hit a squirrel in the head under 20 yards and it is gonna die quick and ethical.

Chipmunks would probably die quickly even with a body shot.

BTW, you can get the Powerline under $60 and if you can get one with an accessory rail, put a dot sight (not a laser) on it.
 
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