Air Pistol Recommendations Please

[john b 38]

I need to get a new air pistol - the handle has broken on my current one and it is simply not up to the job anymore when it comes to trap dispatch, especially for adult squirrels.

 

I'll almost certainly get a .22 but I would appreciate recommendations of good models that balance power, accuracy and price.

 

Thanks

John

[Leon 0]

John I am using a .177 I tried a few .22's but had problems with lack of penetration but the .177 does not seem to suffer from that and if I want some extra stopping power I just turn the pellet back to front.

[Vermin Dropper 2]

I don't know much about pistols these days but I always had good results with a Webly Tempest in .177

Edited June 27, 2007 by Vermin Dropper

[OldTrapCollector 377]

I might be way off the mark but I remember reading somewhere that air pistols were not legal for shooting live quarry and also had to be regulated to below 6 foot pounds muzzle velocity. How does this fit in with the 'in cage dispatch' idea? As I say there might be an obvious loophole but I am not aware of it.

 

OTC

[TOMO 28,399]

JUST OUT OF CURIOSTY WHY ARE YOU USING A LIVE TRAP. WHEN THERE ARE SO MANY BETTER ALTERITIVES, KANIA, BODY GRIP. OR FENN. JUST PUT THEM IN A TUNNEL IN THE LOFT. DOES THE KILLING FOR YA AND THERE CHEAPER.

 

I KNOW SOME CLIANTS DONT LIKE THE IDEA OF KILLING THEM , BUT I JUST EXPLAIN THAT ITS AN OFFENCE TO LET THEM GO. ALSO IF THEY LIKE IT IN YOUR LOFT THEN IF REALEASED THEY MAY TAKE UP IN SOME ONE ELSES LOFT.

 

BACK TO THE ORIGINAL QUESTION THE CROSSMAN RATCATCHER THINGY GOES TO ABOUT THE 11 FT MARK ITS KIND OF LIKE A PISTOL WITH A SKELATON STOCK. I HAVE USED ONE IN THE PAST AND EVEN DROPED A FEW INDOR PIGIONS WITH IT. ABOUT £100

[john b 38]

OTC

 

I agree with the 6FTLB limit but I can't find any reference to the live quarry restriction. Clearly at 6 ftlb and with the inherent inaccuracy of a pistol they'd be completely inappropriate for any sort of 'hunting'

 

 

So what are the 'recommended methods' then I wonder ?

Edited June 27, 2007 by john b

[john b 38]

JUST OUT OF CURIOSTY WHY ARE YOU USING A LIVE TRAP. WHEN THERE ARE SO MANY BETTER ALTERITIVES, KANIA, BODY GRIP. OR FENN. JUST PUT THEM IN A TUNNEL IN THE LOFT. DOES THE KILLING FOR YA AND THERE CHEAPER.

 

because sometime I need to be sure what it is first.

[TOMO 28,399]

WHAT ELSE COULD IT BE IN WARICKSHIRE NO REDS THERE LIKE I SAY THOUGH CHECK OUT THE CROSSMAN NOT A BAD LITTLE TOOL

[john b 38]

I have just checked with the BASC firearms dept and can confirm that :

 

"There are no provisions inthe Firearms Acts which preclude the use of a suitable air pistol to dispatch animals in traps.

You are right about the Wildlife & Countryside Act of course, and there must be no unnecessary suffering caused, so only smaller animals should be dispatched in this way to avoid that."

[bunny bouncer 0]

There are only 3 pistols i would use for dispatching vermin in traps

the hw45 177 22 £180 sheridon eb17-eb22 £110 crosman rat blaster £90

all produce around 5 1/2 ftlbs

stu

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

John; I've always used .22 slugs, delivered by Webley Hurricane or Tempest pistols. I like the delivery of maximum kinetic energy to the inner cranium. Really messes with their heads and is pretty much guaranteed to stay there too. I consider it a sledge hammer blow to the brain, rather than a claw hammer. It makes things dead anyway.

 

Right now I'm still biding my time till I reckon I dare ask for a 'pistol' permit over here. Moment I get one, there;s only one air pistol I'd even consider for the job of cage despatch. It's already been recommended to ye. How many more times? Take a look at it and ye may see why I too consider this thing might have been made for slipping just inside those bars. It'll also lack the relatively immense weight of the Webley bro's.

 

Simply the Best ?

 

Incidentally; There's a huge, American, forum out there dedicated to the asthetic modification of this pistol. Get some walnut grips on it and ye'll end up crooning and caressing the damn thing!

[OldTrapCollector 377]

I have just checked with the BASC firearms dept and can confirm that :

 

"There are no provisions inthe Firearms Acts which preclude the use of a suitable air pistol to dispatch animals in traps.

<div align="left">You are right about the Wildlife & Countryside Act of course, and there must be no unnecessary suffering caused, so only smaller animals should be dispatched in this way to avoid that."

</div>

 

Nice one John - that clears that one up then

 

OTC

[Hob&Jill 258]

John; I've always used .22 slugs, delivered by Webley Hurricane or Tempest pistols. I like the delivery of maximum kinetic energy to the inner cranium. Really messes with their heads and is pretty much guaranteed to stay there too. I consider it a sledge hammer blow to the brain, rather than a claw hammer. It makes things dead anyway.

 

Right now I'm still biding my time till I reckon I dare ask for a 'pistol' permit over here. Moment I get one, there;s only one air pistol I'd even consider for the job of cage despatch. It's already been recommended to ye. How many more times? Take a look at it and ye may see why I too consider this thing might have been made for slipping just inside those bars. It'll also lack the relatively immense weight of the Webley bro's.

 

Simply the Best ?

 

Incidentally; There's a huge, American, forum out there dedicated to the asthetic modification of this pistol. Get some walnut grips on it and ye'll end up crooning and caressing the damn thing!

Was just about too recomend that one. Mates got one, perfect for the job

[john b 38]

does he want to sell it ?

[Malt 379]

John; I've always used .22 slugs, delivered by Webley Hurricane or Tempest pistols. I like the delivery of maximum kinetic energy to the inner cranium. Really messes with their heads and is pretty much guaranteed to stay there too. I consider it a sledge hammer blow to the brain, rather than a claw hammer. It makes things dead anyway.

 

Right now I'm still biding my time till I reckon I dare ask for a 'pistol' permit over here. Moment I get one, there;s only one air pistol I'd even consider for the job of cage despatch. It's already been recommended to ye. How many more times? Take a look at it and ye may see why I too consider this thing might have been made for slipping just inside those bars. It'll also lack the relatively immense weight of the Webley bro's.

 

Simply the Best ?

 

Incidentally; There's a huge, American, forum out there dedicated to the asthetic modification of this pistol. Get some walnut grips on it and ye'll end up crooning and caressing the damn thing!

 

 

Been looking for a new tempest for a while now, i'm not sure they are made any more, so you may have to go for a second hand one.

I've got a crosman king ratcatcher, as standard it produces around 9 ft/lbs, but with a rabbit stopper barrel and the right pellets, they produce around 11.