what are the most effective air gun (.22) pellets for killing pigeons?

Answer 1

any air pellet should do it, but your poundage is limited depending where you are in britain i think its 12f/lbs in england scotland its 18f/lbs i think, not really sure. but even a steel bb should stun them. then they flutter off and die from shock.

Answer 2

Loads of very good 22 air-rifles in sports & gun shops.
Can't go wrong with a good old BSA, with tele sights for getting rid of rats around the grain barn etc. The "Super Meteor" model is goodly for most things of that nature, powerfull & accuarate enough over a considerable range.
Target practice the sights over the distance first.Old beer tins are fun. the pellets should go right through at 20-30 metres away
Bit of a tip though, put the pellet in backwards.
Reduces the accuracy a bit, but acts like a dum-dum on impact, and does the rifle barrel no harm at all.
I'm not a fan of killing anything, for those concerned, But when you live in the sticks, sometimes needs must, so good luck.

Answer 3

Magnum 22 air gun. I had one a few years ago and bought the copper rounded pellets with the plastic shroud so when fired its like a mini bullet. High impact point and exit for knocking wood pdgeons out. And there nice to eat. No not the ones you find in the town

Answer 4

In all my years of air gun shooting, I've tried nearly every brand available in the UK, and would go for good ol' Eley Wasp's 9 times out of 10. Them or Crossman Verminpells (kind of cup-shaped tip, like a flat-head but with the middle bit missing.

I assume you're doing this for pest control or for the table, and not just dropping wildlife for "a laugh"? There's been too many incident's of late in the UK of utter retards shooting kids with airguns, read in the paper today about a uniformed Scuffer (I mean of course Constable) getting shot int he back of the neck. Given the Government's history of knee-jerk reactions (ie banning hand-guns etc) and the subsequent grief and problems they cause (like thousands and thousands of "illegal" handguns disappearing underground following the ban, and hence into the only-too-eager hands of villians and gangs), it's only going to take one or 2 more such occurences to force the Government (bless 'em) to ban airguns too. I for one, utterly enjoy a nice bit of freshly shot, pan-fried pigeon breast with redcurrant gravy and horseradish mash, or a well-cooked rabbit stew, not to mention jugged hare, all of which I carefully shoot myself, with full consideration for the intended prey and surrounding area - is it a clean kill? If I miss, where's the shot going? Can I take the shot safely?

Enjoy your sport, but be sensible, respect the environment and represent all us decent airgunners as we would represent you - shooting rights are getting more and more difficult to obtain.


FAO Karen: The Home Secretary issues a "general license" every year - check BASC.org.uk to get the facts. Pigeons CAN be shot, they are one a several species that are subject to the open licence, as are squirrels (grey), rats, magpies, crows etc. The key is having permission from the landowner to shoot on their land.

Answer 5

If you are intending to kill pigeons,it is an offence under the Wildlife Act 1981 to kill wild birds unless you are liscenced.It is also an offence to discharge a firearm in a public place.
It is illegal to kill any bird, or destroy their eggs or nests, without a government licence. Don’t be tempted to do it yourself.

Answer 6

I used to use promethius pellets which have a rounded top and a silicon plastic coating. Think they are stainless too, but they will that pigeon down!!

Answer 7

Waisted barrel pellets. And always go for a head shot. This is because a hit will almost certainly be a kill, and a miss will most likely be a clean one. Don't go for the chest. Head shot every time.

Answer 8

Roundheads of flatheaded pellets. Pointed ones go through them. Also, you need to shoot them from the side, just under the wing. Shooting them head-on doesn't work, as they tend to have their chests full of seed, which acts as armour.

Make sure your rifle is full legal power (12ft/lb in the UK) or beyond if you have a firearm certificate. Don't shoot anything with a pistol, as they aren't suitable for anything more than tin-cans.
Make sure you are capable of 1inch groups at 30-yards too before shooting anything living. If you can't make clean kills, you shouldn't take the shot.

Answer 9

you are rotten how you can kill any living thing is horrible even if something is considered a pest shooting is not the best way of control. i get fed up of human beings taking the moral ground we live with annimals and so should respect them no matter what.

Answer 10

The hollow point reinforced Multy detonation exploding missile (.22)
Available from the RSPCA.