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Posted
2 minutes ago, CHIEF said:

I have a Crosman Phantom in .177 with a cheap Simmons scope. It is accurate enough for eye shots out to about 35 yards. It is subsonic by about 7ft/sec. I tried to link one from Bass Pro Shop, and Cabela's, but they no longer have them in stock, so no price. I don't think I have $200 in the gun and scope. It was less than half the price of the Gamo, if I remember correctly.

CHIEF

That is probably the best option for back yard small varmints instead of a .22.

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Posted
On 10/15/2025 at 2:21 PM, markstanco said:

Looking for an auto 28 GA, looking for feedback if you own one of these.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1123625471

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1123876716

Beretta A400 XPLOR or the Benelli Ethos. Links are for pics, I am looking at a 28" barrel.  As mentioned, any feedback appreciated! 

I didn't care for the rubber cheek piece on the ethos, but obviously both are really nice guns.  I have an A400 in 20 - the one without the rubber in the grip (also don't like that).   Was looking at an Ethos 28ga myself but think I'm going to treat myself to a Rizzini O/U.

I'd guess you'd love either one, but you have to get out there and swing them.  There was a difference for me, and I ended up with an A400.  Just landed and swung better.

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Posted

We've had an old 1100 28 gauge in the gun closet for decades.  I took it out dove hunting last season and since I like eating doves, I put it right back in there.  I couldn't hit shit.  Granted, these were mostly white wings I was trying to bring down.

Posted
4 minutes ago, Lat22 said:

We've had an old 1100 28 gauge in the gun closet for decades.  I took it out dove hunting last season and since I like eating doves, I put it right back in there.  I couldn't hit shit.  Granted, these were mostly white wings I was trying to bring down.

I was gifted the same shotgun and had the same exact experience last year. I'll keep it around for my daughters. 

Posted
1 hour ago, Lat22 said:

We've had an old 1100 28 gauge in the gun closet for decades.  I took it out dove hunting last season and since I like eating doves, I put it right back in there.  I couldn't hit shit.  Granted, these were mostly white wings I was trying to bring down.

Please DM a price so it doesn’t have to live out existence in darkness. 

Posted

I took the advice of the board and bought a hard to find Benelli off gunbroker.  Process was super easy but now I get 10 emails a day from GB. A few days ago they emailed about a triple barrel shotgun.  It looks pretty gimmicky (and I imagine heavy as shit).  I'm not interested in one but was wondering if anyone had one / had every come across one / had any thoughts on them?

Posted
On 10/18/2025 at 12:41 PM, Party_Taco said:

 


Noise is certainly an issue, so appreciate that suggestion. Thinking of scavenging my Vortex red dot from another platform, but will likely need a new can… which is a problem I’m OK having.

 

If noise is an issue, isn't range?  I'd be worried about a .22 in an urban/suburban setting unless you're using subsonics, which I assume won't cycle a semi-auto.

There are some fun airguns out there.  Spring pistons of the inexpensive variety (big box stores) probably aren't them, though.  The challenge they present to accurate shooting can add a dimension though.

Posted
22 hours ago, Lat22 said:

We've had an old 1100 28 gauge in the gun closet for decades.  I took it out dove hunting last season and since I like eating doves, I put it right back in there.  I couldn't hit shit.  Granted, these were mostly white wings I was trying to bring down.

I started quail hunting with a .410 a few years ago and it was a blast, albeit expensive.  A 28g is considerably cheaper to shoot and sends a lot bigger load of shot.  Hell I've found 32 gauge, yes 32, ammo cheaper than .410.      If I'm hunting dove in fields, 12 (special white wing)/20 (general).  If I'm hunting over our tank, .410.    It's a lot more fun until you have to go and hunt down more ammo.   FWIW, my closest academy has considerably more options in 28g, which is also cheaper, than they do .410.   Makes no sense and drives my up the wall. 

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Posted
2 hours ago, TwiceHorn said:

If noise is an issue, isn't range?  I'd be worried about a .22 in an urban/suburban setting unless you're using subsonics, which I assume won't cycle a semi-auto.

There are some fun airguns out there.  Spring pistons of the inexpensive variety (big box stores) probably aren't them, though.  The challenge they present to accurate shooting can add a dimension though.

Depending upon the velocities, they are every bit as accurate as a .22lr up to 100yds.  Just get the ones < 1,000fps or physics comes into play (exceeding the sound barrier - noise, etc.)

Posted
1 hour ago, fattyflattie said:

I started quail hunting with a .410 a few years ago and it was a blast, albeit expensive.  A 28g is considerably cheaper to shoot and sends a lot bigger load of shot.  Hell I've found 32 gauge, yes 32, ammo cheaper than .410.      If I'm hunting dove in fields, 12 (special white wing)/20 (general).  If I'm hunting over our tank, .410.    It's a lot more fun until you have to go and hunt down more ammo.   FWIW, my closest academy has considerably more options in 28g, which is also cheaper, than they do .410.   Makes no sense and drives my up the wall. 

 

IMG_2983.jpeg

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Posted
 
 
IMG_0400.thumb.jpeg.f610355cab9e49b5f828bd25ee276d44.jpeg
i-want-that-498-x-280-gif-rj70f4luxwdcriu1.webp

This is similar to a 1911 setup right?

I went with the Tarus TX .22 with red dot and threaded barrel for the little bird can. Striker fire setup to match the pistols for edc training.

Also a S&W MP 15, with threaded barrel and warcomp to swap out the can with other .22 platforms. Again, for cheaper range days.

Last but not least, and the most fun, a Ruger 10/22 integrally suppressed barrel. The “squirrel sniper”.

All shoot subs (CCI) and cycle just fine. Although when shooting regular 22lr, they seem to have an affinity with a certain brand.
Posted
On 10/17/2025 at 11:36 PM, Party_Taco said:

Alright, after a few more weeks of both squirrels and crows ripping my yard to shreds I’m finally prepared for jihad.

Who here has recommendations? Looking either for bad ass pellet variety or suppressed .22LR with rat rounds.

Hell, given the range even a suppressed .22 pistol would get the job done… so what say you all?

So far looking at the following:

https://www.academy.com/p/ruger-10-22-magpul-22-lr-semiautomatic-rifle?sku=22-lr

https://www.academy.com/p/henry-small-game-carbine-22-lr-long-short-lever-action-rifle?sku=22-lr

This is what I use to keep the nutrias, soft shell turtles and [redacted] out of my pond. I’m in a fairly non-permissive environment and with subsonics, nobody hears a thing. 
 

IMG_0895.jpeg

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Posted
17 hours ago, BabaYaga said:

Depending upon the velocities, they are every bit as accurate as a .22lr up to 100yds.  Just get the ones < 1,000fps or physics comes into play (exceeding the sound barrier - noise, etc.)

Oh, airguns are supremely accurate.  But spring-piston airguns have slow lock times and unusual recoil (forward, lateral, and rotational components in addition to the rearward), making them difficult to shoot accurately without some adaptation to those facts.  And the cheaper, higher velocity ones are that much worse.  And they will destroy scopes that aren't built for it.

750fps is a good sweet spot for a spring piston gun and is lethal to most varmint types at backyard ranges.  I wouldn't take many 100 yard shots at a living target with most airguns other than some PCPs.

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Posted
11 minutes ago, TwiceHorn said:

Oh, airguns are supremely accurate.  But spring-piston airguns have slow lock times and unusual recoil (forward, lateral, and rotational components in addition to the rearward), making them difficult to shoot accurately without some adaptation to those facts.  And the cheaper, higher velocity ones are that much worse.  And they will destroy scopes that aren't built for it.

750fps is a good sweet spot for a spring piston gun and is lethal to most varmint types at backyard ranges.  I wouldn't take many 100 yard shots at a living target with most airguns other than some PCPs.

After I graduated from my venerable Benjamin 347 pump I picked up a Beeman R7 spring piston rifle at McBrides.  The spring piston is superior in just about every way - noticeably because there's no pumping (#yourmom) or bleed off of compressed air over time.  I toted that Beeman for the better part of a decade as a "yute" and killed everything Texas has to offer short of deer/pigs.  Ducks, quail, rabbits, snakes, lizards, doves, skunks, turtles, frogs, etc. 

It was smooth and dependable and I never had any issues with the recoil at all.  Now that you mention it, I can't remember any recoil issues at all? 

Maybe the new ones are different, but my dad still has it up in WA state to this day almost 40 years later to thwart the random squirrel/rabbit messing with his garden.  Same gun.  Zero mods.  Four decades later.  He's older, so cocking the barrel down is more of a chore, but he's also 80+.

Posted
27 minutes ago, TwiceHorn said:

I wouldn't take many 100 yard shots at a living target with most airguns other than some PCPs.

We used to bullseye surfaced turtle heads in stock ponds out past 100yds all the time.  Big tanks, multiple acres.  We'd set up these little 'sniper hides' on the elevated tank dam and murder those little shits.  One shot.  No optics.  Floating little black speck smaller than a golf ball.  Make it count.  

Posted
1 minute ago, BabaYaga said:

After I graduated from my venerable Benjamin 347 pump I picked up a Beeman R7 spring piston rifle at McBrides.  The spring piston is superior in just about every way - noticeably because there's no pumping (#yourmom) or bleed off of compressed air over time.  I toted that Beeman for the better part of a decade as a "yute" and killed everything Texas has to offer short of deer/pigs.  Ducks, quail, rabbits, snakes, lizards, doves, skunks, turtles, frogs, etc. 

It was smooth and dependable and I never had any issues with the recoil at all.  Now that you mention it, I can't remember any recoil issues at all? 

Maybe the new ones are different, but my dad still has it up in WA state to this day almost 40 years later to thwart the random squirrel/rabbit messing with his garden.  Same gun.  Zero mods.  Four decades later.  He's older, so cocking the barrel down is more of a chore, but he's also 80+.

Well yeah, a Beeman R7 is a sweet little rifle.  It's actually a Weihrauch HW30 at about 700fps.  And a far cry from most of the junk sold in big box stores these days.  Goes for about $450 these days.

To be completely fair, though, those big box guns are often Chinese copies of Weihrauch and RWS/Diana designs that can be made quite decent, but need some polishing and tuning.  

 

Posted
3 minutes ago, BabaYaga said:

We used to bullseye surfaced turtle heads in stock ponds out past 100yds all the time.  Big tanks, multiple acres.  We'd set up these little 'sniper hides' on the elevated tank dam and murder those little shits.  One shot.  No optics.  Floating little black speck smaller than a golf ball.  Make it count.  

700fps gives something like a 7" drop at 50 yards, I have no idea what 100 is and wind effects at ranges over 25 yards are extremely non-negligible.

Posted
5 minutes ago, TwiceHorn said:

Well yeah, a Beeman R7 is a sweet little rifle.  It's actually a Weihrauch HW30 at about 700fps.  And a far cry from most of the junk sold in big box stores these days.  Goes for about $450 these days.

To be completely fair, though, those big box guns are often Chinese copies of Weihrauch and RWS/Diana designs that can be made quite decent, but need some polishing and tuning.  

 

I think back in the 80's it was less than $200?  I was a little guy, and all my cobbled together money was in a Crown Royal bag.  Quarters, $2 bills, just a hodge-podge of money from mowing lawns, birthday money, etc. 

Posted
5 minutes ago, TwiceHorn said:

700fps gives something like a 7" drop at 50 yards, I have no idea what 100 is and wind effects at ranges over 25 yards are extremely non-negligible.

Yep.  We were like little bowhunters, adjusting for elevation and drop.  You had to arc it in there and we got damn good at adjusting for distance.  

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Posted (edited)
9 minutes ago, BabaYaga said:

I think back in the 80's it was less than $200?  I was a little guy, and all my cobbled together money was in a Crown Royal bag.  Quarters, $2 bills, just a hodge-podge of money from mowing lawns, birthday money, etc. 

Yeah don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of spring piston airguns broadly.  I shoot a Weihrauch HW97 in field target competition.  Just not the ones at big box stores.

And due to their idiosyncracies, may prove unsatisfactory for the average Joe.

Any any spring piston gun that's put 500-1000 rounds down the tube, if the spring doesn't fatigue and crack, is highly likely to become a pretty sweet shooter.  There's not a lot of tuning that can be done that's as good as just having the thing wear in.

Also, pro tip for those attempting to shoot a spring piston accurately.  A light and loose grip is key, careful with that "cheek weld," and sure, firmly seat it against your shoulder, but after that loose as a goose.  Also, avoid trying to shoot off a rest.

Edited by TwiceHorn
Posted
Just now, BabaYaga said:

Hell, sometimes that was a good weekend

To cap this off, yeah, a Beeman R7/Weihrauch HW30 would be an excellent pesting solution.  So would a DIana 34, though there are reports that Diana quality has fallen off in the last few years.

Posted
On 10/15/2025 at 3:21 PM, markstanco said:

Looking for an auto 28 GA, looking for feedback if you own one of these.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1123625471

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1123876716

Beretta A400 XPLOR or the Benelli Ethos. Links are for pics, I am looking at a 28" barrel.  As mentioned, any feedback appreciated! 

Late to this one. I have not shot the Ethos or the XPLOR. However, I have spent considerable time with my friend’s  A400 Xcel, which is mechanically similar and it’s the smoothest operating semiautomatic shotgun that I’ve tried. I prefer an O/U for sport and a pump for home, but if I was going to buy a semi it would be one of the A400s.

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Posted
3 hours ago, Lat22 said:

This is what I use to keep the nutrias, soft shell turtles and [redacted] out of my pond. I’m in a fairly non-permissive environment and with subsonics, nobody hears a thing. 
 

IMG_0895.jpeg

Good setup. What folding stock is that? 

Posted
1 hour ago, tequila said:

https://volquartsen.com/departments/summit-22-lr/products/1282-summit-rifle

 

I have one of these for extra quiet work.  Biathlon style bolt action that handles 710 fps 22lr all day long.  Knocked a dove out of a tree with it at 110 yds.  

 

It’s built with a 10/22 footprint, so most accessories work.  I love it.  

Volquartsen makes SUPERB stuff.  All of it.  Cadillac of .22s

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