What type air rifle or bb gun is good for shooting starlings and sparrows? Have seen these posts before, but unfortunately did not print off for future reference.
A pesky starling has managed to force his way into SREH entrance. Want him gone asap.
What kind of air gun/bb gun?
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GeneP
- Posts: 525
- Joined: Mon Jul 23, 2007 7:35 am
- Location: Kansas, Lawrence
- Martin Colony History: 1 gourd rack with 24 gourd capacity. 2018, my 11th year hosting martins.
18 pair in 2017.
Hello Birdy Girl,
Here's a good post that should answer most of your questions.
http://purplemartin.org/forum/viewtopic ... ht=air+gun
Here's a good post that should answer most of your questions.
http://purplemartin.org/forum/viewtopic ... ht=air+gun
PMCA Member, Single Gourd Rack, 2019 marks 12 years hosting martins.
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Emil Pampell-Tx
- Posts: 6743
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 pm
- Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
- Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas
I would recommend a Beeman R7 pellet rifle, its very accurate but costly. The rifle is a German made rifle. Its spring loaded, which means you "break" the barrel, one push down on the barrel, and its ready to shoot. You need a scope, and you need a scope that is built for the recoil of the spring, a regular rifle scope will not last long or will break on a spring loaded airrifle.
There are some fairly good pump up airrifles.
There also are very good but expensive airrifles where you use an air supply of some sort.
There are many cheaper models, some are no good, and some are accurate so you sort of take a chance on cheaper models, such as you can get at Walmart.
FORGET the BB gun, they are too weak, and not accurate at all, you can't hit with them.
There are some fairly good pump up airrifles.
There also are very good but expensive airrifles where you use an air supply of some sort.
There are many cheaper models, some are no good, and some are accurate so you sort of take a chance on cheaper models, such as you can get at Walmart.
FORGET the BB gun, they are too weak, and not accurate at all, you can't hit with them.
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
Hey Birdy Girl........How is this year going so far? I hope you have another great year....maybe you could give us an update........
I just nailed two starlings today with my Beeman R7. Picked off a couple of sparrows the other day which takes a steady aim but very possible.
IMHO the R7 is worth the investment, just like having quality racks and houses for our purple friends.
James
I just nailed two starlings today with my Beeman R7. Picked off a couple of sparrows the other day which takes a steady aim but very possible.
IMHO the R7 is worth the investment, just like having quality racks and houses for our purple friends.
James
2009 One ASY pair 5 eggs 5 fledged 2010 2 pair 5 fledged 2011 8 pair 27 fledged 2012 14 pair 38 fledged
2013 20 pair 64 fledged 2014 19 pair fledged 84 2015 26 pair fledged 124 2016 36 pair fledged 156 2017 40 pair fledged 156
PMCA member
2013 20 pair 64 fledged 2014 19 pair fledged 84 2015 26 pair fledged 124 2016 36 pair fledged 156 2017 40 pair fledged 156
PMCA member
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birdy girl
- Posts: 1179
- Joined: Wed Apr 19, 2006 9:09 am
- Location: Mississippi/Dumas
Hey Emil,Gene, and James
Thanks for the info. What kind of scope (size,name) do I need for the Beeman R7? I am not up on the gun thing so I need simple,brief, to the point info? Where do I order one from? Maybe I need a better scope for the 22 rifle I have. I need a scope that you can see target with crosshairs very well. With age my vision is getting worse.
James,
We have lots of martins here,maybe close to 100 so far. No way to count them all. Of course more males than females. Waiting on SY martins to arrive. Raining and very cool here today. Offering 171 cavities here this year. Hoping more will go to T-14 this year. It is their least favorite cavities to choose for nesting.
Thanks for the info. What kind of scope (size,name) do I need for the Beeman R7? I am not up on the gun thing so I need simple,brief, to the point info? Where do I order one from? Maybe I need a better scope for the 22 rifle I have. I need a scope that you can see target with crosshairs very well. With age my vision is getting worse.
James,
We have lots of martins here,maybe close to 100 so far. No way to count them all. Of course more males than females. Waiting on SY martins to arrive. Raining and very cool here today. Offering 171 cavities here this year. Hoping more will go to T-14 this year. It is their least favorite cavities to choose for nesting.
Thanks for the update Terri
The R7 comes with a Bushnell scope. You can read a lot more about it on Sandy's website. Since you are out in the country and can shoot a .22 maybe you should look into a better scope for your rifle. If I could I would use a .22 which I think would be much more accurate that an air rifle.
Now Terri..........Age? Vision? What in the world could you be talking about?
Somehow, I seem to resemble those remarks. 
The R7 comes with a Bushnell scope. You can read a lot more about it on Sandy's website. Since you are out in the country and can shoot a .22 maybe you should look into a better scope for your rifle. If I could I would use a .22 which I think would be much more accurate that an air rifle.
Now Terri..........Age? Vision? What in the world could you be talking about?
Somehow, I seem to resemble those remarks. 2009 One ASY pair 5 eggs 5 fledged 2010 2 pair 5 fledged 2011 8 pair 27 fledged 2012 14 pair 38 fledged
2013 20 pair 64 fledged 2014 19 pair fledged 84 2015 26 pair fledged 124 2016 36 pair fledged 156 2017 40 pair fledged 156
PMCA member
2013 20 pair 64 fledged 2014 19 pair fledged 84 2015 26 pair fledged 124 2016 36 pair fledged 156 2017 40 pair fledged 156
PMCA member
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birdy girl
- Posts: 1179
- Joined: Wed Apr 19, 2006 9:09 am
- Location: Mississippi/Dumas
Maybe it's not age or vision, maybe just lack of practice. And maybe all three!!
I have a Marlin 22 rifle. The scope is a 3-7x20. My son said a large scope wouldn't fit on this rifle. IMO, this is not a good scope. Can anyone tell me of a better scope that will fit this rifle?
I have a Marlin 22 rifle. The scope is a 3-7x20. My son said a large scope wouldn't fit on this rifle. IMO, this is not a good scope. Can anyone tell me of a better scope that will fit this rifle?
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DakotaLady
- Posts: 654
- Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:06 pm
- Location: Bismarck, ND
BirdyGirl,
I live in the country and use a .22. It is a very old style .22 so I don't know what brand it is. I use bird shot. It is a bullet that has a lot of little bb's in it and they spread out when shooting like a shotgun. It works AWESOME. I've shot 2 or 3 starlings in one shot before when they were sitting on the ground in a flock.
Any sporting goods store has bird shot for a .22. Check into it you don't even have to be dead on accurate as the bb pattern is fairly wide.
Good luck.
I live in the country and use a .22. It is a very old style .22 so I don't know what brand it is. I use bird shot. It is a bullet that has a lot of little bb's in it and they spread out when shooting like a shotgun. It works AWESOME. I've shot 2 or 3 starlings in one shot before when they were sitting on the ground in a flock.
Any sporting goods store has bird shot for a .22. Check into it you don't even have to be dead on accurate as the bb pattern is fairly wide.
Good luck.
~Tangula~
2013 - 16 pair, 79 eggs, 71 fledged
2012 - 4 pair, 18 eggs, 18 fledged
2013 - 16 pair, 79 eggs, 71 fledged
2012 - 4 pair, 18 eggs, 18 fledged
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Emil Pampell-Tx
- Posts: 6743
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 pm
- Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
- Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas
Maybe its all 3 of your reasons, but often its lack of practice. If you practice a lot, you will get better
Age often makes a person unsteady, and one cannot hold the rifle still, it moves when we are trying to hold it steady. If that is the case, you will never be able to hit consistently unless you lean the rifle onto something, that will help a whole lot to have a rest for the rifle.
Its probably not vision, as the scope improves the vision. In all probability, your scope is most likely adequate.
You may need to shoot a few boxes of 22 shells until you are comfortable with it, and can consistently hit in a nickel sized pattern.
The 22 is by far better than an airrifle if you can safely shoot it at your place.
Age often makes a person unsteady, and one cannot hold the rifle still, it moves when we are trying to hold it steady. If that is the case, you will never be able to hit consistently unless you lean the rifle onto something, that will help a whole lot to have a rest for the rifle.
Its probably not vision, as the scope improves the vision. In all probability, your scope is most likely adequate.
You may need to shoot a few boxes of 22 shells until you are comfortable with it, and can consistently hit in a nickel sized pattern.
The 22 is by far better than an airrifle if you can safely shoot it at your place.
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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Guest
I use a 12 gauge with 2-3/4" #8 shot. I have used a 22 but I usually shoot them right off the house and the 22 tears it up, where as the bb's simply embed a bit and you can paint over it next year. It may get heavy after a few years though.
Hey Birdy,
You can get different scope rings/mounts for your .22 that will easily allow you to use about any scope you want.
In my opinion the best pellet rifle out there is the Benjamin/crossman Marauder. It's capable of less than dime shot groups all day long and is only as loud as a normal talking voice. But it's very expensive of course.
Any good break action pellet rifle (such as Benjamin, Gamo, etc) is capable of nice groups with the right pellets. Pellet rifles are usually very finicky about using the right pellet. You can find sample packs of pellets on line that will allow you to find what shoots best in your particular rifle.
If you already have a 22 rifle and it's in an area that's safe to use it I would just get a better scope and some rings for it and use it. And as Emil said practice a lot and always try to use a rest of some sort even if it's just a door frame.
Sorry for such a lengthy response. Best of luck with eliminating your flying rats.
You can get different scope rings/mounts for your .22 that will easily allow you to use about any scope you want.
In my opinion the best pellet rifle out there is the Benjamin/crossman Marauder. It's capable of less than dime shot groups all day long and is only as loud as a normal talking voice. But it's very expensive of course.
Any good break action pellet rifle (such as Benjamin, Gamo, etc) is capable of nice groups with the right pellets. Pellet rifles are usually very finicky about using the right pellet. You can find sample packs of pellets on line that will allow you to find what shoots best in your particular rifle.
If you already have a 22 rifle and it's in an area that's safe to use it I would just get a better scope and some rings for it and use it. And as Emil said practice a lot and always try to use a rest of some sort even if it's just a door frame.
Sorry for such a lengthy response. Best of luck with eliminating your flying rats.
When my pellet rifle broke I got a youth sized .22 rifle with scope. Its cost was around $160. The rifle is very light weight, much less than my pellet rifle. I use CB 22 short bullets that are subsonic. Traveling at 710 ft./sec. they are quieter than my pellet rifle was. Safety wise too, at a horizontal shot the bullet drops off at 300 yards.
An inexpensive .22 can be as exact as an expensive air rifle. With CB shorts you're subsonic and the bullet travels a "short" distance. Unless you live in the city limits, I wouldn't even think about an air rifle.
An inexpensive .22 can be as exact as an expensive air rifle. With CB shorts you're subsonic and the bullet travels a "short" distance. Unless you live in the city limits, I wouldn't even think about an air rifle.
Fledged over 3,000 martins in beautiful southern Indiana since 1996.
Started 2 colonies and mentored 3 colonies with total fledged >4,000 martins into the world.
Started 2 colonies and mentored 3 colonies with total fledged >4,000 martins into the world.
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Scott D.- La
- Posts: 823
- Joined: Thu Jun 08, 2006 8:35 am
- Location: Louisiana
BirdyGirl,
If you have and can shoot a .22 rifle, it is the way to go IMO. I have killed Starlings at 70 yards with my Ruger 10/22, Hosp at 50 yards. I have missed at those distances but usually, it's a kill. I have a quality Nikon scope on it. A cheap scope is always a coin toss on performance, so if you have a decent .22 that is accurate, I would invest in a good high quality scope for it. The next thing is to find the brand of ammo that your gun shoots best. Mine loves the Federal 712 .38 grain Hollow Points. You would be surprised at the differences between ammo but once you have a good scope and the right ammo, it is difficult to miss.
If you have and can shoot a .22 rifle, it is the way to go IMO. I have killed Starlings at 70 yards with my Ruger 10/22, Hosp at 50 yards. I have missed at those distances but usually, it's a kill. I have a quality Nikon scope on it. A cheap scope is always a coin toss on performance, so if you have a decent .22 that is accurate, I would invest in a good high quality scope for it. The next thing is to find the brand of ammo that your gun shoots best. Mine loves the Federal 712 .38 grain Hollow Points. You would be surprised at the differences between ammo but once you have a good scope and the right ammo, it is difficult to miss.
Ok, .22 rim fire rifles are very accurate, but? always a but! depending on the rifle some will only shoot Long rifle loads, some will shoot shorts, long or long rifle loads. Most of us old timers won't shoot bird shot in our vintage rifles (we think it will destroy the rifling, but that maybe be old superstitions)
Long rifles loads are the most dangerous, but all .22 rifle loads including CB loads will penetrate your housing and may destroy it some let along the fact that the bullet will go right through one cavity and kill something in another. Usually you would position you housing or take shots only when the target is positioned where the bullet will not enter the housing/gourds. This way you don't shoot holes in your housing or kill something in another cavity depending on the angle your shooting. The only .22 rimfire load that I'm aware of that won't penetrate your housing are Aquila calbri which are usually just the primer cap with no power. They may bounce off if over 40 feet away.
This is why .177 cal. air rifle would be good choice. they don't destroy your housing, just poke ting holes in them if you miss and hit the housing, most will only penetrate one cavity wall, light bullet/pellet, and usually between 600 and 800 feet per second. That way the pellet looses it energy quickly and course don't travel as far it you miss. The down side would be finding one that you can hit something with and course windy days will most likely blow your pellet off target, unless you can correct the pellet flight by judging the wind.
As far as scopes I find it hard to beat Bushnell sportman series scope for entry level shooting. 2x9x32mm or 40 or 44MM with objective adjustments, not your wallyworld special for 39 bucks. Usually I buy rings for the size scope I'm buying. Why? IMO the closer the scope to the barrel the easier to site in and more accurate IMO. ALso good idea when you get you scope sited in if it has numbers on the adjustments to write them down along with which way to move the bullet on target up or down right or left if the scope not marked. awful easy to turn the scope the wrong way and now your way off target cause you forgot which way the turrents turn.
If you got old .22 that you don't care about I agee why not just shoot bird shot if you got good angle that don't hit the housing in the background.
Long rifles loads are the most dangerous, but all .22 rifle loads including CB loads will penetrate your housing and may destroy it some let along the fact that the bullet will go right through one cavity and kill something in another. Usually you would position you housing or take shots only when the target is positioned where the bullet will not enter the housing/gourds. This way you don't shoot holes in your housing or kill something in another cavity depending on the angle your shooting. The only .22 rimfire load that I'm aware of that won't penetrate your housing are Aquila calbri which are usually just the primer cap with no power. They may bounce off if over 40 feet away.
This is why .177 cal. air rifle would be good choice. they don't destroy your housing, just poke ting holes in them if you miss and hit the housing, most will only penetrate one cavity wall, light bullet/pellet, and usually between 600 and 800 feet per second. That way the pellet looses it energy quickly and course don't travel as far it you miss. The down side would be finding one that you can hit something with and course windy days will most likely blow your pellet off target, unless you can correct the pellet flight by judging the wind.
As far as scopes I find it hard to beat Bushnell sportman series scope for entry level shooting. 2x9x32mm or 40 or 44MM with objective adjustments, not your wallyworld special for 39 bucks. Usually I buy rings for the size scope I'm buying. Why? IMO the closer the scope to the barrel the easier to site in and more accurate IMO. ALso good idea when you get you scope sited in if it has numbers on the adjustments to write them down along with which way to move the bullet on target up or down right or left if the scope not marked. awful easy to turn the scope the wrong way and now your way off target cause you forgot which way the turrents turn.
If you got old .22 that you don't care about I agee why not just shoot bird shot if you got good angle that don't hit the housing in the background.
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Don Strickland
- Posts: 430
- Joined: Fri Mar 12, 2010 4:38 pm
- Location: Oklahoma/Shady Point
I use a Ruger 10/22 with a Simmons 6.5x20x44 w/AO. I'm old and shaky but seldom miss. I love the scope because my eyes are old too.
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jeffwilliams72
- Posts: 267
- Joined: Tue Apr 27, 2010 9:22 am
- Location: Indiana/Carthage
I shoot a Gamo .17 cal. air rifle. with a Leapers scope 3-9x40,Beemen scope rings, with polymer tipped pellets. Pyramid Air sells them online. It is quiet, and I can pick off trash birds, without even spooking songbirds at the feeder. Highly accurate, perfectly balanced, and a joy to shoot without worrying about downrange impact. These are more affordable than some, and I do believe they offer them with the proper air-rifle scope mounted and sighted in, out of the box.(minimal adjustment of the scope will have you dialed in perfect). Emil and James are right about the Beeman, it is top of the line. But I just wanted to let you know of this option. I can make dime size groups @ 40 yds. all day long. Good luck and please keep us posted on your final decision.
2008/1st pair/ 4 fledged
2009-2010 visitors only
2011/2 pr/9 eggs/8 fledged
2012/9pr/33 fledged
2013/27pr/101 fledged
2009-2010 visitors only
2011/2 pr/9 eggs/8 fledged
2012/9pr/33 fledged
2013/27pr/101 fledged
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Scott D.- La
- Posts: 823
- Joined: Thu Jun 08, 2006 8:35 am
- Location: Louisiana
Hey Don,
That is a sweet looking Ruger.
That is a sweet looking Ruger.
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Don Strickland
- Posts: 430
- Joined: Fri Mar 12, 2010 4:38 pm
- Location: Oklahoma/Shady Point
Hi Scott,
Thanks. It's my favorite firearm, and it would be a lot more accurate in the hands of a young steady shooter.
Don
Thanks. It's my favorite firearm, and it would be a lot more accurate in the hands of a young steady shooter.
Don
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birdy girl
- Posts: 1179
- Joined: Wed Apr 19, 2006 9:09 am
- Location: Mississippi/Dumas
THanks to everyone for the advice and info. I live where we can shoot .22 or shot gun.I do have the rifle barrel sitting on a wooden surface when shooting. I think the problem is unsteadiness when pulling the trigger. It is uncomfortable and doesn't feel like correct distance from gun resting on my shoulder and where I look into the scope. Maybe rifle is to long for me. I will not shoot and ruin my housing to much work and expense has gone into it. I will just have to practice when time permits. Maybe I will also invest in a better scope and try different ammo (using Remmington 22 longs). We narrowed the distance from porch to bottom of sreh entrance. Haven't seen the starling go in the cavity since we did this. Hopefully they will give up and go somewhere else to nest or just maybe I will get lucky and hit my target very soon. Thanks again.