How many FPS is necessary for "pest control"?

Rat?

Skunk?

Rabbit?

I was looking at options today. Saw anywhere from 375 FPS to 1300 FPS in .177, and 400 to 1000 FPS in .22.

The fully auto looked fun, but only 385 FPS. Is that enough for a rat?

I have a .177 cal listed as 1250 fps. that is deadly on squirrels and Voles.

The quality of pellet makes a big difference on one shot quick kills. These H&N Terminators and the Gamo Red Fire are a big improvement over the Crossman ones I used as a kid.

My .177 lists 1250. With hollow points I'm taking out raccoons.

Assuming .177 pellets:
Also assuming modern alloy pellets instead of lead, as the alloy ones are much lower density and higher velocity:

The low velocity ones will kill a small rodent. Any larger varmit you will want something in the 800+ fps range with the alloy pellets. Those seem to go about 30-40% faster than a lead one.

I have a $150 .22 Gamo that advertises 900 fps on whatever the standard grain size is. Sounds like tests on same rifle get more like 600 fps. I'd be surprised if a well placed head shot wouldn't kill up to a raccoon, but I've only killed a couple rats so far and it's been pretty much instant death each time.

The gun is incredibly accurate. I get dime sized groupings at 40'. Had to try a few different pellets before settling on Diablo Hades 15.89 gr, which are quite a bit more accurate than others I tried.

Keep it under 1100fps to make it quieter. You can do a larger caliber like 25 cal for a heavier pellet.

SunrayAg said:

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How many FPS is necessary for "pest control"?

Rat?

Skunk?

Rabbit?

I was looking at options today. Saw anywhere from 375 FPS to 1300 FPS in .177, and 400 to 1000 FPS in .22.

The fully auto looked fun, but only 385 FPS. Is that enough for a rat?

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Most jurisdictions consider an air rifle a fire arm. 22lr subs or cbs work better.

CTGilley said:

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SunrayAg said:

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How many FPS is necessary for "pest control"?

Rat?

Skunk?

Rabbit?

I was looking at options today. Saw anywhere from 375 FPS to 1300 FPS in .177, and 400 to 1000 FPS in .22.

The fully auto looked fun, but only 385 FPS. Is that enough for a rat?

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Most jurisdictions consider an air rifle a fire arm. 22lr subs or cbs work better.

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Not what I asked...

Sheridan .22 with 5 pumps will kill a skunk on the back porch and it won't spray if it isn't already riled up. Hit it right behind the front leg and it will jump up and scurry off. You can pick it up with a shovel the next morning, it will be dead about 15-20 feet from where you shot it.

Famous last words. Hit it right _ _ _ _ and it won't spray.

A pellet gun shooting gold Gamo pellets is almost as loud as a .22 round because it exceeds the threshold of 1200 fps or super sonic speed. Please correct me if I'm all wet! I know I can depend on the O B!

Yes speed of sound is around 1125 fps. Anything over will be loud. That's why I live a heavier 25 cal pellet. Can get a 40 grain. Benjamin Marauder will shoot a 25 cal pellet around 900-950fps. They have a reservoir and you can fill it with an air tank or high pressure hand pump. Get 8-10 shots per tank fill. Lethal on small varmints.

https://www.pyramydair.com/product/benjamin-marauder-air-rifle?m=1774#6467

I can tell you that you don't want to be shooting a benjiman 22 cal nitro piston at anything close. Like 22lr almost.

How is that set-up going to handle an armadillo infestation. Asking for a friend.....

Don't think I shot an armadillo, but did kill about 100 squirrels and a hand full of raccoons. Considering it's pretty much the same grain and velocity as my 22lr pistol, it should do the job.

Get a fully automatic BB gun. Thank me later.

They make some exploding pellets like Edgun West.

Gunny456 said:

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Famous last words. Hit it right _ _ _ _ and it won't spray.

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Well experience from shooting half a dozen says that they won't...

Caliber size is important with small game. 22 is good. 25 is better.

Boy you gots lots of skunks.

I've got i guess it was decided is a melanistic skink running around here that got my dog once. Didn't know that you might be able to kill it without it spraying.
I want to get this think mounted, it's the coolest thing ever. Almost like the colors are reversed. It's beautiful.

Gunny456 said:

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Boy you gots lots of skunks.

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People stopped dumping cats for my wife to feed and the porch skunk problem went away.

Have a pellet guy that's ~1100 ft/s and it's done wonders on raccoons. Not sure if it's killed them, but they jump as they're scurrying off. Lately, I've been using my son's BB gun that's 300 ft/s because it's much quieter and I can pop off a couple pretty quickly.

Your lucky!

TRIPLE 7 said:

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A pellet gun shooting gold Gamo pellets is almost as loud as a .22 round because it exceeds the threshold of 1200 fps or super sonic speed. Please correct me if I'm all wet! I know I can depend on the O B!

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I would say that you are close, so certainly not "all wet". A standard-velocity .22lr still has more muzzle blast than a Gamo air rifle, but the Gamo will have quite a lot of blast too unless it has a moderator. But a super-sonic pellet will give a sonic crack just like a .22lr.

I purchased a .22 caliber Gamo a few years ago with plans to leave it near my back door for just such occasions. That said, I hate the thing. It's extremely loud and the scope sucks.

I ended up buying a cheaper .22 rifle with a lower-end Vortex scope and just use subsonic ammo. It's slower, therefore quieter, and seems to pack more of a punch.

And when I finally order a .22 suppressor, I'll get the barrel threaded and complete the build.

OP - I just realized you were wanting to shoot rats. Lol my bad .. I opted for a larger caliber because I've shot everything from skunks to bobcats in my backyard with the .22 rifle.

Caladan said:

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TRIPLE 7 said:

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A pellet gun shooting gold Gamo pellets is almost as loud as a .22 round because it exceeds the threshold of 1200 fps or super sonic speed. Please correct me if I'm all wet! I know I can depend on the O B!

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I would say that you are close, so certainly not "all wet". A standard-velocity .22lr still has more muzzle blast than a Gamo air rifle, but the Gamo will have quite a lot of blast too unless it has a moderator. But a super-sonic pellet will give a sonic crack just like a .22lr.

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But a standard velocity 22lr will not crack

SunrayAg said:

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CTGilley said:

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SunrayAg said:

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How many FPS is necessary for "pest control"?

Rat?

Skunk?

Rabbit?

I was looking at options today. Saw anywhere from 375 FPS to 1300 FPS in .177, and 400 to 1000 FPS in .22.

The fully auto looked fun, but only 385 FPS. Is that enough for a rat?

---

Most jurisdictions consider an air rifle a fire arm. 22lr subs or cbs work better.

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Not what I asked...

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An air rifle is not a firearm by any definition and I'm curious exactly which jurisdictions redefine it as such.

But to your point, and I also don't respect ridiculous rules, you may as well use either a suppressed 22lr or use cb caps, colibris, or CCI quiets in a non suppressed 22 if you're not worried about frivolous law.

1000 fps 22 at a variety of bullet weights will definitely kill skunks and rabbits.

177 bbs kill rats

CactusThomas said:

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Caladan said:

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TRIPLE 7 said:

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A pellet gun shooting gold Gamo pellets is almost as loud as a .22 round because it exceeds the threshold of 1200 fps or super sonic speed. Please correct me if I'm all wet! I know I can depend on the O B!

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I would say that you are close, so certainly not "all wet". A standard-velocity .22lr still has more muzzle blast than a Gamo air rifle, but the Gamo will have quite a lot of blast too unless it has a moderator. But a super-sonic pellet will give a sonic crack just like a .22lr.

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But a standard velocity 22lr will not crack

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Yeah. Thanks. I know that. Which is why I didn't say that.

Watchful Ag said:

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I purchased a .22 caliber Gamo a few years ago with plans to leave it near my back door for just such occasions. That said, I hate the thing. It's extremely loud and the scope sucks.

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This is exactly my experience with one I purchased for squirrel control a few months ago.

One of my buddies bought one of these a few years ago to help control the squirrel population around his lake house and it's extremely quiet and accurate (with a good scope). If he doesn't one to kill a squirrel, it's accurate enough to circumcise the tree rat at about 75 yards.

https://www.benjaminairguns.com/product/marauder-synthetic/

Geez .. $600 for an air rifle?! I don't hate squirrels that much

Watchful Ag said:

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Geez .. $600 for an air rifle?! I don't hate squirrels that much

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Then you're not trying.