Powerful non-PAL air pistol for hunting rabbits?

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I_HATE_PAL

Powerful non-PAL air pistol for hunting rabbits?

#1 Post by I_HATE_PAL »

Hi folks,
I am looking for a powerful non - PAL air pistol capable of taking rabbits from 10-20 yards away.

Thanks in advance - - lookin' forward for your suggestions;)

Al
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airsmith282
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Location: North Bay Ontario Canada

#2 Post by airsmith282 »

id reccomend the following models

2240 22cal
2289 22 cal
2200 magnum rifle 22 cal
diana model 24 in 22 cal
diana 5G Pistol 177 cal
Crosman Mark 1 pistol 22 cal
Bell B2 Rifle in 22 cal very good choice
Daisy model 1200 BB pistol great for partridge not sure on the rabbit thing
Crosman 38 T Pistol 22 cal very nice and muilty shot

just some ideas
airgunfun
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#3 Post by airgunfun »

I wouldn't use a pistol for taking rabbit....at least a carbine or rifle. Take into account accuracy, power, and velocity.
ScottC
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Location: GTA

2240, 1322, HW45, or Sheridan pumps

#4 Post by ScottC »

I think it was in the first or second Airgun Digest where Jess Galen said he favoured the Crosman 1300 (now 1322) for rabbits. You obviously want the most powerful pistol you can get and the 2240, 1322, HW45, or Sheridan pumps are your choices.

Scott
airgunfun
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#5 Post by airgunfun »

The 13xx series is more a carbine than a pistol in my humble opinion.
I_HATE_PAL

#6 Post by I_HATE_PAL »

Yes I was looking into the Crosman_2240. I hear it's not that hard to mod it. If I could get 500 FPS in .22 to the rabbit's vital signs from 15 yards away, I think it should do the job. Unlike squirrels, rabbits have a greater shock factor, so stopping them in their paths is eaiser.

If I run out of options for an air pistol, I would look into the carbine option... Although, I am not sure if there is much of an option there either...

Lastly, there is the cold weather issue with the co2...
airbuddy3
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#7 Post by airbuddy3 »

A lightly modded 2289 is a better option , more powerful , more accurate
due to the stock and is more resilient in cold weather .
shim the hammer and add a crosman steel breech , and scope it .
Powerful and accurate and only 3 lbs wieght

Frank
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#8 Post by airgunfun »

airbuddy3 wrote:A lightly modded 2289 is a better option , more powerful , more accurate
due to the stock and is more resilient in cold weather .
shim the hammer and add a crosman steel breech , and scope it .
Powerful and accurate and only 3 lbs wieght

Frank
Agreed.
I_HATE_PAL

#9 Post by I_HATE_PAL »

I didn't like the idea of continuous pumping from the start... But now I'm beginning to realize it may be a good idea for cold weather shooting.
TCooper
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#10 Post by TCooper »

I'll try to answer your "hunting pistol" question.

CO2 Power - Yep, sensitive to cold temps. Might not be a good choice for under 60F. Apparently the Mac-1 LD Pistol will work okay at temps down to 55F but I think price is around $500USd.

Single Stroke Pneumatic - Not much power for hunting (HW40, M2004, Compact, Nemesis). The IZH-46M is decent but might not be a design you desire (longish target pistol). It's also a bit low powered.

PCP - Great choice but a lot of cash. The Falcon pistol is what you want if it fits your budget. It will need detuning for Canada (500fps).

Springer - The HW45 is a 5.5fpe-6.0fpe pistol in .22 caliber. Unfortunately many of them are a bit sensitive to temps that approach 50F, or lower. If I remember correctly, mine drops from 425fps to 400fps when temps drop from 68F to 50F. A bit sensitive but not unuseable.

Multi-Pumper - This might be the best choice for economy. A 1377 or "chopped 2289" would be considered "pistols". I have not seen any cold weather reports on these pistols so I advise to test at temps of 50F and below. It is possible for the seals to stiffen up and compression to suffer but testing will give the facts, rather than guesses. Please post results if anyone has tested velocity at 70F and 50F(or lower) with these pistols. Real velocity numbers are preferred over tin can penetration.

The HB20 and HB22 are two other multi-pumpers to consider. Once again temp testing is recommended. Drops in velocity will give drops in POI and energy output.

Todd
I_HATE_PAL

#11 Post by I_HATE_PAL »

Hi TCOOPER!

You laid out all the options right there for me. Thanks a lot for the help!

I now have a firmer direction as to where I should be heading with this.

Thanks again Todd and to all of the good folks for the help.

Al
hotsky
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#12 Post by hotsky »

I wouldn't use a pistol for taking rabbit....at least a carbine or rifle. Take into account accuracy, power, and velocity.
+1

I wouldn't go with anything in .177 for sure. I guess moded 2240-2289 seem to be teh best option. And don't think about using HP pellets, they simply don't work at the low velocitied like 500fps... Heavy pointed pellets have the best penetration.

btw why not use your CZ .22LR?
member number 65
I_HATE_PAL

#13 Post by I_HATE_PAL »

hotsky wrote:

btw why not use your CZ .22LR?
Because my uncle will only allow me to hunt on his farm with an airgun...
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randyhub
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How about a 2240 bulked with HPA?

#14 Post by randyhub »

..
Last edited by randyhub on Sat Feb 09, 2008 5:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I_HATE_PAL

Re: How about a 2240 bulked with HPA?

#15 Post by I_HATE_PAL »

randyhub wrote:I bulked my 2240 Carbine using HPA instead of CO2 it does not care about the cold.
Please forgive my ignorance: but I would presume that HPA stands for High Pressure Air?
So you're using a detachable "paintball tank" ?
What parts were needed to make it bulk? Where did you get your parts?

Thanks in advance,

Al
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