is a crosman 760 pumpmaster strong enough for squirrel hunting?

Question

i only have two BB guns, a daisy red ryder, which i know wouldn't do squat to a squirrel, and a pumpmaster, would the 760 pumpmaster be good for squirrel hunting

Answer 1

Not really. You'd have to be close and get a head shot, otherwise you will just seriously wound it, it will run off and die a painful prolonged death. That is unnecessary, unethical and illegal. I'm sure you wouldn't want to do that.
To kill a squirrel look for a .22 caliber pellet gun (2x the mass and killing power of a .177) with a velocity in excess of 700 fps.
Learn to be a good shot on paper targets. One shot, one kill. That's ethical hunting.

Answer 2

So, if you are squirrel hunting with the 760 PumpMaster, you are going to be running 10 pumps on it. Next, you should be looking at a midweight pointed pellet which shoots tight groups for you. Some specific ones you can take a look at are the Beeman Silver Sting, or the RWS Super Point. These are 8.2 - 8.3 grain pellets. If you are shooting 10 yards and in you may want to try Beeman Silver Arrows, which are heavier around 10.3 grains. Essentially, air guns have a tendency to do better with heavier pellets in terms of creating kinetic energy, because the generate a much greater volume of air than pressure. The 760 is no different. In a BB or really lightweight pellet you might generate 600 - 625 FPS, running a 4 - 5 grain BB or pellet. Going to the 8.2 - 8.3 grain pellet, you are still likely to be generating 580 - 600 fps if you get one that runs well for you. However, the 10.3 may be too heavy for the air rifle. Generally, you need to be running at least 5 - 8 foot pounds of energy at delivery to cause a hollowpoint pellet to expand, depending on the brand and weight of the pellet. Thus, it is unlikely you will be able to get consistent expansion with the 760. Because you are running relately low energy, the concern of overpenetration which is normal for a pointed pellet is unlikely to be a problem. Now, you might want to try a midweight domed pellet as well. They have a somewhat better ballistic coefficient than a pointed pellet so they will carry a bit better. With a 760 your shots should generally be about 20 yards and in, if you are stretching that range the domed pellets will carry a bit better. A couple of my favorites in this catagory are JSB Exacts (standard weight, not heavy) and the RWS Superdome. A couple of others you can try which are a bit lighter but still heaver than a BB are the Crosman Premier Lites and the JSB Express. In a domed pellet, because of the improved ballistic coefficient you can go with a slightly lighter pellet (7.9 grains vs. 8.3) because they are less effected by wind resistance. Now, how do you really tell if these work well in your gun? I'd recommend spending the less than $50 for a 4 power fixed air gun scope and mounts. Use your basement or some sort of range at home and actually benchrest your air gun and shoot some groups at about 20 - 25 feet. Even with a 760 you should be able to shoot a group of 5 shots that you can easily cover with a dime - full 10 pumps each time. Now, when you are shooting squirrels, yes, head shots can be good, if you can make them. However, squirrels are like tons of other critters, where if you shoot them quartering away, just behind the front shoulder you'll get lung and heart which will put them down hard as well. Now, is all of this stuff really necessary, if what you want to do is go out after some squirrels in the back yard? Not necessarily. Heck, as a kid, my best friend took down plenty of squirrels, mice and other small critters with plain old BB's, sometimes running 2 of them at the same time. We ran open sights, and missed as many as we got, which wasn't bad. Generally, if we wounded one, it was injured enough not to be able to move and we'd have to administer a coup de grace. However, what all of this stuff will do is give you the maximum performance out of your 760, which is for the price, a handy quick pumping compact carbine air gun. There are even some companies which will customize your 760, basically upgrading the quality of your seals and such, so you can go to 20 pumps on your gun which makes it quite a reasonable low cost carbine airgun. Now some people have a problem with putting a $70 tune into $40 air gun. Which I completely understand. However, if the alternative is a $150 Benjamin which is where you would have to go to get one to shoot as well, it starts to make sense for some. Benjamin's will have nicer furniture on them, no doubt, but for some it's all about the power and the group. Good luck, Thinkingblade

Answer 3

I killed a few squirrels with my 760, but you should save up and get a .22 instead unless you are hunting somewhere you have to be more quiet. If you stay with the 760, use pointed pellets and make sure you pump your 760 all the way up (10 pumps), but don't ever pump it more than 10 times. Over pumping is bad for the gun. Squirrels are tough, and make sure they are dead before you pick them up. One time I shot a squirrel through the head with my 10/22 Ruger and when I picked it up it woke up and tried to bite me. I had to beat it to death with a stick. That was no fun at all.

Answer 4

I'm not sure what kind of velocity you can get with this particular pellet gun. Personally, I don't recommend shooting at small game with a pellet gun that shoots anything less than 900 fps. I've skinned out too many squirrels and rabbits that had pellets just under their skin from under powered guns. Also, check local laws. In many areas it's illegal to hunt small game with pellet guns. Do your best to get very close and take only clean head shots to dispatch the animal quickly and cleanly.

Answer 5

I had a 760 as a youngster and tried to hunt squirrels with it. After one bad expierence with a lost animal after numerous hits I quit. I got a Diana spring gun and then was able to take squirrels and rabbits cleanly, but only with head shots. I was handicaped by only being able to get diablo style pellets in my area in those days. I wouldn't hunt with a 760. If you like pump guns get a Benjiman or a Sheriden.

Answer 6

You, can hunt squirrels with anything you want, like a BB gun, pellet rifle, a stick, rock or even an empty beer can. BUT, if your intentions are to kill said squirrels, you would do better with a real gun, like a .22 caliber rifle, rather than a toy.
Before going hunting with any type of weapon, be sure to take a gun/hunter safety course.

Answer 7

I killed a squirrel in my backyard w/ a 760. I pumped it to the max, used a pointed pellet and was maybe 12 yards away. She jumped around 5 or 6 times and then lay still. Pretty good, eh?

Answer 8

I hunt partridge with my pellet gun, .17 cal and 500fps, headshots needed for a clean kill, although breast or wing shot will stun it long enough for me to run over there and ring it's neck.

Go for the head, but be ready to keep shooting if you wound it. .22 cal would pack a lot more punch...

Answer 9

Hello,,sure it is, but you'd better be a darn good shot and get as close as you possibly can. I'm not sure of the distance you can get so pratice makes perfect. good luck.

Answer 10

you will have to be close and go for a head shot