Crossbows & Air Rifles

Geezer

Geezer

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My nephew-in-law here is a very avid hunter. He has a lease where he deer hunts and he has a smaller lease very close to his home that is overrun with pigs. He was showing me game camera pictures from Saturday night and there were eleven pigs around his feeder. And, during the daytime the squirrels are running everywhere and all over the feeder.

He has invited me to go there anytime and either harvest a pig or thin out the squirrel population. This lease is pretty close to some houses so firearms are not allowed. He has a Bear 405 crossbow with a night vision scope on it. The thing probably weighs 15 pounds! He's told me to take the crossbow anytime I want and use it. He says he'll only use it at night.

I've never shot a crossbow before and would like some time to practice some before I went out for a pig. What did interest me was the squirrels. I have my Gamo air rifle that would be perfect for this. I have some Crossman Destroyer pellets that I think would be the ticket. Within a reasonable distance I feel confident taking head shots with the pellet gun.

Who here has experience with crossbows and/or hunting squirrels with a pellet gun? Of course, the first snake I see it's game over and I'm on my way back home.

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Ten Point crossbows are great. See if you can find a used one in good shape. You don't need to sink a fortune into it unless you really want to impress someone. Be sure to buy some sacrificial disposable bolts for de-cocking if you hunt.

I have shot those pellets but my Gamo Whisper doesn't like them. It likes the old standby non-fancy pellets. I've tried the Penetrators with the BB, the plastic tip ones those above but it likes the regular ones. I've also tried the alloys and it spit them out like it was eating a lemon, didn't like them at all. I'm wanting a 22cal pellet gun now.
 
Geezer said:
My nephew-in-law here is a very avid hunter. He has a lease where he deer hunts and he has a smaller lease very close to his home that is overrun with pigs. He was showing me game camera pictures from Saturday night and there were eleven pigs around his feeder. And, during the daytime the squirrels are running everywhere and all over the feeder.

He has invited me to go there anytime and either harvest a pig or thin out the squirrel population. This lease is pretty close to some houses so firearms are not allowed. He has a Bear 405 crossbow with a night vision scope on it. The thing probably weighs 15 pounds! He's told me to take the crossbow anytime I want and use it. He says he'll only use it at night.

I've never shot a crossbow before and would like some time to practice some before I went out for a pig. What did interest me was the squirrels. I have my Gamo air rifle that would be perfect for this. I have some Crossman Destroyer pellets that I think would be the ticket. Within a reasonable distance I feel confident taking head shots with the pellet gun.

Who here has experience with crossbows and/or hunting squirrels with a pellet gun? Of course, the first snake I see it's game over and I'm on my way back home.

61mG5oyYWZL._AC_SL1000_.jpg
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Hahaha! The Crosman “Destroyer” pellets bring up a good memory.

First. They work very well. Very accurate and effective on tree rats as far as I care to shoot em with my crosman springer (30ish yards).




The story.

Back when I lived in Charlotte with my now ex wife. We had a super bad tree rat infestation. They ate into the house, made nests in her GMC Sierra, ate up the garden etc.

I finally got the above mentioned air rifle since we were in suburbia, so I could wage war.

But I worked night shift, so those fuzzy rats had all day while I slept. So I taught the wife how to shoot and where it was a safe back drop in the yard to take the shot. She was a natural lol.

After a week or so she announced she was out of ammo as I was headed to bed. I described the crosman tin and said get whichever style u like. Goodnight.

I wake up and she shows me the “destroyer”. Then tells me with pure gleeful hate in her eyes that destroyer means it will kill them better:D:D

That still cracks me up every time I see the tin.
 
I have hunted with a recurve crossbow. While easy to use and can shoot accurately out to 50+ yds, they are loud. If I got another one, I would go with a compound crossbow to avoid the prey jumping or squatting when fired. If you get one, make sure you get a cocking rope.
 
With better air rifles, I find they are like .22's. You have to find the pellet the rifle likes best.
 
Had a Excalibur crossbow when I was hunting shot 350+FPS and it was just like shooting a rifle. only problem was reloading, until I got the cocker device.
 
I know most everywhere it is open season on pigs year round, on private property. Check the rules and Regs before popping the squirrels though. Most squirrel seasons end in early Spring.
 
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