What is a good nitro piston air gun for pests?

[Ernie]

My old Crossman pump rifle finally quit holding pressure. It is not worth repairing and I am ready to move up. I have a springer that is great for targets but it is not working for dealing with my red squirrel problem. After some reading I am considering buying a nitro piston rifle. Seems I can leave it loaded and grab it when the little buggers are clearing out the bird feeders or breaking into my shed.
I would like a 22 caliber with iron sights and have the option to mount a scope. Needs to be quiet with the new neighbors so keeping it subsonic is good. I have been shopping. The selection under $300 seems to include a junk scope and plastic sights with iffy reviews. I don't want to spend a lot of money but I also don't want to buy a toy. I have had CO2 from back in the 60s and know the feeling of grabbing the gun only to find the gas has leaked out so the nitro piston sounds like a good alternative. Has anyone had experience with these guns or have alternative advice?
Thanks
Ernie

[DsGrouse]

Look for a side or underlever air rifle.
https://www.pyramydair.com/product/dian ... m=403#9487

break opens tend to have closure issues over time. Whereas a side or under lever isn't reliant on the barrel locking up to the action.

So, for pests. I'd pick .22 over the .177. In pellet rifles, accuracy is better, too much speed isn't your friend. The pellets will flash, wobble once you near the speed of sound. A good FPS range to shoot for is about 850 to 875 fps. That'll give you plenty of power for varmint control, without going too fast.

How do you achieve that speed. Simple, you test various weights of pellets. In .22 18.13 grain JSB's are usually right around that speed.
https://www.pyramydair.com/product/jsb- ... 00ct?p=690

You might also find using the cannon hold for piston and nitro piston airrifles very helpful.

My old 48 was good for one ragged hole at 10m. Yeah that's not a lot of distance, but it is what i had at the time. My nitro air rifles, were somewhere around 2". They simply pushed pellets to fast.

As for 0.177, I picked this gem up last year. It's a freakin hoot. A little low-powered for varmint stuff. But it's crazy accurate and fun to shoot

https://www.pyramydair.com/product/dais ... 753s?m=144

[daytime dave]

Ernie, I have a Benjamin Nitro Piston 2. It is accurate and in .22 cal. It's a little heavy, but not bad. It isn't too loud. I have a scope on it. This is it's current offering at Pyramid https://www.pyramydair.com/product/benj ... fle?m=2052

I think it would handle pests.

[North Country Gal]

Hi, Ernie

What spring piston gun do you have, now? Why isn't that working for you?

[Ernie]

Weihrauch HW 95. Can't leave it loaded and ready to shoot. I shoot this noisy gun and the critters are 2 feet in the air before the pellet gets there. These red squirrels are too skittish now, I want something with iron sights I can point and shoot quickly. Shot my CO2 .177 BB pistol last night. Scared one off but no contact. This morning took it out again but the cartridge had bled off overnight. BB dribbled out the barrel. Need something with some accuracy and power that is quiet enough to not upset my new neighbors.

[North Country Gal]

Sorry to hear the HW95 isn't working for you. Wish you were closer and I could lend you one of my PCPs equipped with moderators. They win in terms of accuracy, ease of shooting (no recoil), power and silent shooting (as long as you use a moderator) over any of my guns.

Even my old Benjamin Discovery in 22 cal would work great. I got it used for $150 and that included the Benjamin pump and an add on moderator. It gets me 20 shots per fill and close to 900 fps with standard Corpsman domed pellets. No recoil, so I can shoot it just like a 22 rimfire and it will do under an inch at 50 yards. Whisper quiet and it only weighs about 6 pounds with scope. You always leave a PCP charged when storing it, so it's always ready to go.

[Ernie]

Have been checking PCP options. They do appear to be better built and not a bad price once you get a pump.
Any experience with the Benjamin Marauder Pistol with stock and sight? That looks interesting.

[North Country Gal]

Not the pistol, but I once had the rifle. It's a good system, if a pump works for you. The M-rod runs at 2900 psi. My Disco runs at 2000 psi and takes 50 pumps to fill from min to max, so probably similar or a bit more for the M-rod. My husband and I are now at an age where pumping is physically just too hard, so we invested in a good compressor a few years, back. If you can handle the pumping, it's a good way to get started with PCP, but sooner or later, anyone who shoots PCP gets a compressor if they want to do a lot of shooting. Of course, if you plan to use a PCP strictly for pest control, pumping may be practical.