Anyone use a .177 air rifle for hunting?

Question

Is the calibre suitable for hunting rabbits etc, because everyone seems to think otherwise.

Answer 1

To the uneducated it may not seem possible to hunt with a .177. The only experience they may have is when they
were kids with their underpowered Crosmans shooting birds
or trying to take a rabbit that was out of range for their gun.
Today, quality adult air guns have much more power and range and can take small animals very easily. Shot placement
is very important if hunting with a .177. Because of the pellet
being small a pin point shot is a must to the animals vital organs for a one shot humane kill. Always make sure you can
take the animal with one shot, head, (between eye and ear)
heart, or lung. this will stop the animal from running off and suffering to die. There are also new pellets out in the market
made for hunting, hollow points, pointed.
Here is one very good air gun hunter, and yes, all of the animals on this site have been taken with the air guns shown with
the animals. He's just one of many who have their own website dedicated to air gun hunting.
http://www.adventuresinairguns.com/
If some of these people who answers these air gun or pellet
gun questions, (NOT AIRSOFT, those are toys) have air gun
knowledge, (just because they had a pellet gun as a kid, that dosen't count) and real experiences with these high powered adult air guns, may be people can get truthful answers from people who have years of experience with adult air guns.

Answer 2

Gamo is what I like and use.
I would not know if they make semi auto or not, but I would not thank they would be any where near as strong as my Gamo at around 1200 fps that makes it a hard hitter and gives it the better range.
Its been my experience that the 177 preformed better for me.
I get a faster muzzle velocity and much deeper penetration with the 177.
I first tried a 22 thanking it would be better, I was incorrect.
My son came over with his 177 Gamo and had me try it out.
Both weapons were scope mounted and very accurate.
I was impressed to see that the 177 was blowing completely through the squirrels chest cavity and resulting in 1 shot clean kills on the 4 squirrels that gave me a shoot around my house.
Luckily I had barrowed the 22 cal from a friend to try out to see if I liked it, and I did not.
I went out and bought a Gamo and mounted a scope on it and have rid my surrounding yard of squirrels and rabbits and a few snakes, only one required a follow up shot and that was a rabbit that happened to turn away from me just as I shoot.
But I do prefer the 177 at 1000 to 1200 fps at those speeds the cant help but blow all the way through your target.

Hope that was of some help.

D58

Because of liability law suits and the possibility of contracting a disease from medical waste and the chance of an injury while on the property, most if not all Corporate/Private owned Land Fills and or City/County Dumps have laws banning access for any other intention other then waste disposal.
To be caught on the property will get you Arrested and Fined.
I would advise you contact your local Police and Sheriffs Department before planning such an outing, we no longer live in the 1940s, 50s, 60s or 70s when this was allowed, or overlooked.

D58

Answer 3

Many, many years ago I hunted squirrels, doves and if I recall even a couple of marsh rabbits with an old Weirauch 177. I wish I still had it.

Rabbits with a .177 requires PRECISE shot placement but I would recommend against it. It would suggest you keep the .177 for doves and nothing larger than squirrels. There are several high power .22 air rifles better suited for rabbits. If you can use a firearm then I would opt for a .22 long rifle bolt action.

I suggest an afternoon of community service and FUN at the local garbage dump keeping the rat population under control with that .177. Always check that there are no ordinances against this.

Answer 4

I have used 177 and 22 on squirrels, rabbits, crows and the occasional rat. I usually stick to under 35 yards and at those ranges both have done the trick. My impression is that a 22 does a better job, but both worked, but the 22 is usually a quicker kill. A 900fps 22 will punch through everything in a rabbit's chest cavity, including the shoulders, but I usually go for brain shots. A 177 through a squirrel's chest still leaves it mobile for 10 seconds.

I currently use an RWS 34 in 177 and 48 in 22, I used to use a BSA Superstar and a Sharp's Innova, both in 22.

Answer 5

Hunting in .177 is great!

This will develop your hunting skills. If you have heard of the phrase "one shot one kill" ?

Whith air guns, you have to live by it, because you Only have ONE shot. This was soo true with the older guns.

But now a days there are repeater guns that have up to 7 or 10 rounds.

I was trained using a .177 pistol and I shot alot of rabbits, birds and oh yes rats. Rats in the city and field rats and mice on the farm.

I started out with a German brand Feinwerkbau model 88 this was a pneumatic pistol ( it worked with spring/piston power) Later on I moved up to a Steyr .177. Both single shot and 5 round rapid fire.

I also shot in both .177 and .22 . These guns teach you patience, perservance and discipling.

So there you go, just go hunt with your .177 and show then you can do it. Don't forget to put a notch on your gun for every kill.

Answer 6

In the UK, the convention used to be - with air rifles - 177 for targets, .22 for small game. Over recent years with improvements in guns & ammo technology more are using 177.
Shot placement, knowing your & the guns limitations are key.

Answer 7

If you get an air rifle with a very high velocity. Say a rifle that has a velocity of 1000 feet per second. You are better off going with a .22 caliber air rifle with a velocity of 800 feet per second.

Answer 8

Hunting with air rifles
http://kirschy.tripod.com/177vs22.html
"J Kirsch" has an excellent article on the subject

Air rifles / hunting / info
http://www.airgunarena.com/index.php/Airgun_Hunting
http://www.airguns.net/general_field_use.php
http://f4bscale.worldonline.co.uk/hunting.htm

Answer 9

for pests like racoons to tweety birds yeah.
i u hunt racoons, get a hihg powered .177 caliber pistol. or a .22 cb. instead of using powder to propel the bullet out of the gun, it uses the primer charge instead.

Answer 10

Im having trouble with this post - i cant fit my whole answer in. I cant post it in parts cos i can only answer the question once. If you enable email i have written an answer that i will mail to you.

Good luck - The art of doing more with less is truly satisfying.