[RightOnline]

Little update for y’all on the Great Squirrel Hunting Expedition.

First, let me sincerely thank ALL of you for some GREAT suggestions, ideas, food for thought, heads-ups (is there such a phrase? there is now), etc. Y’all are the best.

So the lady and I go to Wally World over the weekend and get a wrist rocket (Daisy brand....don’t waste your money), some ‘ammo’, plus a little tub of airsoft pellets. For the last few days we’ve been launching airsoft pellets at the little bast.....er, beasties. We even occasionally hit ‘em. It makes them jump up, take off like a shot.......and they’re back 15 minutes later.

So the super-humane approach did not work. At all.

Add to that, one of the tubing pieces on the slingshot ripped after only a few days’ use. Wally World exchanged it no problem today, but let’s just say that device is now relegated to “emergency backup”.

So.....we go to Dicks Sporting Goods this evening. Based on all of your recommendations, my own research....and, not to mention what they actually HAD in stock on the shelves....I wanted the Daisy air rifle, almost got the Crossman equivalent....but wound up getting a Remington AirMaster 77 kit. Fires 755 fps (either .177 BB’s OR pellets). Pump; easy. No air to leak (cartridges, etc.), plus I don’t have to put 25 pumps into it before firing if I’m not out to actually kill the furry heathens (but by God I CAN if I opt to).

Gonna try this thing with the BB’s first, about 9-10 pumps worth...put some hurt on ‘em to see if that makes them call U-Haul and find a new neighborhood. Or neighbor. I don’t care which.

If that doesn’t work....out come the pellets and a lot more pumps. It’ll be time for hardball.

AND....thanks to the very sage advice of several of you, we’ll comply with local city regs and go get the requisite 90-day license from the local PD to use the thing in our yard legally. We will be VERY careful and won’t go launching rounds downrange into neighbors’ yards, etc. The object is to damage squirrels, not neighbor kids or surrounding windows.

Thanks again to you all, and I’ll let ya know how this things works out. :)

[GBA]

What does Remington say is the max number of pumps recommended?

My old Crossman's manual said to never exceed 6 pumps. Two pumps was good for a sting, more than that and it depended on the target and pellet as to the damage. More than 6 would damage the gun's seals.

Set up some targets, cans, paper, cardboard, etc. and experiment to sight it in and get used to what kind of power you have/number of pumps.

Just make certain of your backstop and watch out for ricochets with those BBs.

You don't want to put out your eye.

[Vendome]

You can whack the little punks with 10 pumps easy.

BTW, if you use the wrist rocket you need the .30 steel shot. Will absolutely ruin their little bods...

[BikerTrash]

Well, an air rifle should do the trick, definitely an upgrade from a glorified sling shot. Above it all though, it sounds like you and the wife are having some fun with this project, and I wish you luck. In the spirit of the original subject of this thread, if you end up getting heavily into air rifles, consider one of these...

They cost around a jillion dollars, but they truly are phenominal.

[garykfd]

Good Luck and happy hunting.. I have one of those pumps and believe me 9-10 pumps with a bb will kill them, albeit slowly. As far as them going somewhere else because your shooting at them... lol

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

My cheapo Crossman BB/Pellet pump at 10 pumps has proved fatal with one shot to the head every time. If you want to miss use a BB, otherwise a pellet is far more accurate especially if your barrel is rifled.

A thigh or body shot will gimp’em up pretty good. If you have a neighbor with a good sized dog, you’ll be giving him a great doggy treat (slow squirrel). That’s a WIN WIN in my book.