Canadian Air rifle that's good for small game

[Ausername]

So, most air rifles seem to just barley reach 4ft/lb and because of that you would have to be rather close to your target to kill it effectively. I was wondering if there is any good options for small game hunting with a Canadian air rifle that is better than just doves and a possible good placement on a squirrel.

[Esterel01]

Some air rifle are limited to 500 fps for sale in Canada, but that's only for those who don't have a firearm permit. Anyone with his permit can hunt any small game with, say, a 1200 fps .22 air rifle. I do and have no problem with it.

[Glem Chally]

The Benjamin .22 classic from Canadian tire is decent. I've got 20+ squirrels, 15 rats, 2 chipmunks and a couple pigeons with one this year.

If you're limited to 500 then .22 is the way to go, there is downsides to getting a PAL rated gun. Now its the same as a .22LR or shotgun, any place you can't shoot a shotgun you can't shoot your PAL rated airgun. Help me with the petition and we can change this!

[wheeliehd]

Even under 500FPS it is still a projectile in the eyes of the law. You can not even by law shoot a pellet gun in your own house if their is a projectile bylaw where you live. You can not shoot a sub 500FPS anywhere you want. One other thing is you can get a hunting licence without a PAL. It becomes a bow only hunting licence. At least that's the way it always was in Ontario.

Good luck with your petition. They wont even discuss changing bowfishing regulations so I highly doubt they will discuss changing FPS regulations. Got to look out for the sweet innocent children you know.

[leadslinger]

Even under 500FPS it is still a projectile in the eyes of the law. You can not even by law shoot a pellet gun in your own house if their is a projectile bylaw where you live. You can not shoot a sub 500FPS anywhere you want. One other thing is you can get a hunting licence without a PAL. It becomes a bow only hunting licence. At least that's the way it always was in Ontario.

Good luck with your petition. They wont even discuss changing bowfishing regulations so I highly doubt they will discuss changing FPS regulations. Got to look out for the sweet innocent children you know.

And that's the problem.. Rather then just agreeing, you get people that think there's no point in trying. Sticking head into sand won't get anywheres other than having things taken away.

Kids been hunting squirrels since the dawn of time w/o hunting licenses or pal rated airguns.

[Daryl]

Kids been hunting squirrels since the dawn of time w/o hunting licenses or pal rated airguns.

Yes I & many of my friends did exactly that. After reaching 12/13 yrs. old, it was with a .22 - used them all, too, shorts, longs and long rifles.

The local hardware store used to part out boxes of ammo, RF and Shotshells for us kids. Many times I went out hunting with 4 'shells' for my 20 bore single shot, and come home with 2 to 4 grouse, squirrels or cotton-tails.
With .22RF's, it was 1/2 boxes.

[Ausername]

Kids been hunting squirrels since the dawn of time w/o hunting licenses or pal rated airguns.

Yes I & many of my friends did exactly that. After reaching 12/13 yrs. old, it was with a .22 - used them all, too, shorts, longs and long rifles.

The local hardware store used to part out boxes of ammo, RF and Shotshells for us kids. Many times I went out hunting with 4 'shells' for my 20 bore single shot, and come home with 2 to 4 grouse, squirrels or cotton-tails.
With .22RF's, it was 1/2 boxes.

is this in america or is the 18+ pal ownership law new in canada?

[leadslinger]

Kids been hunting squirrels since the dawn of time w/o hunting licenses or pal rated airguns.

Yes I & many of my friends did exactly that. After reaching 12/13 yrs. old, it was with a .22 - used them all, too, shorts, longs and long rifles.

The local hardware store used to part out boxes of ammo, RF and Shotshells for us kids. Many times I went out hunting with 4 'shells' for my 20 bore single shot, and come home with 2 to 4 grouse, squirrels or cotton-tails.
With .22RF's, it was 1/2 boxes.

is this in america or is the 18+ pal ownership law new in canada?

Canada. Always had to be 18 to buy airguns in Canada. Also you can get whats called a minors permit, pre PAL.

[wesb2007]

Yep we shot 22s all the time as kids on the farm too. My cousin and I would save up and buy a 500 pack of 22 shells and blast away at gophers all summer. We both hd our hunters safety course, and our dads had FACs so life was good! I'm sure on lots of farms it's still the same. Laws that seem to make sense in the city don't seem very realistic in the country, and I think most police officers realize that and take it in consideration. At least conservation officers do! My dad talked with them about PAL licenses and they said they never ask for your pal because it's a federal license and they are provincial. Away from the farm though I'm glad I have my PAL! Don't need a criminal record for something so silly that's for sure.
Sure would be nice to get some decent common sense laws!

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[ole cleatus]

Even under 500FPS it is still a projectile in the eyes of the law. You can not even by law shoot a pellet gun in your own house if their is a projectile bylaw where you live. You can not shoot a sub 500FPS anywhere you want. One other thing is you can get a hunting licence without a PAL. It becomes a bow only hunting licence. At least that's the way it always was in Ontario.

Good luck with your petition. They wont even discuss changing bowfishing regulations so I highly doubt they will discuss changing FPS regulations. Got to look out for the sweet innocent children you know.

i get a normal license every year and havnt been asked for a pal , even for deer and wolf during rifle season ...if youre looking for a non pal rifle id get a 2240 and mod it inta a 2250 rifle its my go to small game rifle

[Benny]

Yes I & many of my friends did exactly that. After reaching 12/13 yrs. old, it was with a .22 - used them all, too, shorts, longs and long rifles.

The local hardware store used to part out boxes of ammo, RF and Shotshells for us kids. Many times I went out hunting with 4 'shells' for my 20 bore single shot, and come home with 2 to 4 grouse, squirrels or cotton-tails.
With .22RF's, it was 1/2 boxes.

is this in america or is the 18+ pal ownership law new in canada?

Canada. Always had to be 18 to buy airguns in Canada. Also you can get whats called a minors permit, pre PAL.

I started buying airguns from stores when I was 10, never had any problems. Before the PAL we had the FAC and I was 16 when I got mine. I just walked down to the local RCMP station and answered their 10 question quiz then went back a few days later and picked it up. I bought my first rimfire shortly after.

[Daryl]

Yes I & many of my friends did exactly that. After reaching 12/13 yrs. old, it was with a .22 - used them all, too, shorts, longs and long rifles.

The local hardware store used to part out boxes of ammo, RF and Shotshells for us kids. Many times I went out hunting with 4 'shells' for my 20 bore single shot, and come home with 2 to 4 grouse, squirrels or cotton-tails.
With .22RF's, it was 1/2 boxes.

is this in america or is the 18+ pal ownership law new in canada?

Yep! - my bro bought his first air gun when he was 8 years old. We're talking 1956 here. A number of kids at school had air rifles for shooting pests. Got my first .22 Cooey in 1962 when I was 12 years old - a gift from my uncle who gave us both our early firearms training.

Was this all legal back then? Probably not, however the OPP didn't care and neither did we - they are "just" pellet guns and .22's.

Nowadays one must obey of become a firearms stat.