Beeman R-7 Pellet Gun

[Guest]

I am looking to buy a Beeman R-7 pellet gun for S&S control. I live out in the country with about 20 acres between me and the next house. Where is the best place to buy. Is there a better pellet gun than the R-7? What is your choice & why?

[Sandy - NC]

How far are you going to be shooting? You need to know that before you can decide which air rifle is right for you or anyone can give you any suggestions. Email me if you would like some more info. sbunn1@suddenlink.net

[Guest]

My martin houses are about 100 feet away, and my closest blue bird house is about 200 feet away.

[Sandy - NC]

200 feet is just a little over 66 yards. That is asking a lot from a R-7, even in the hands of an expert. You are getting into PCP range with that kind of shot. A R-1 is capable, but you will really have to learn about and account for pellet drop. 35-40 yards is about all I ask out of my R-7s. Then, if I know I am shooting at that range, I usually grab the R-1. I just noticed that RC Moser posted a picture of a PCP gun in another post, so maybe he will step in here and give an answer/opinion.

[Fatman608]

The Benjamin that RC post is no longer made. However, Benjamin does make a replacement for it. Still you are asking allot from a Benjamin to shoot that far.

Goggle air rifle or pellet guns and you will find several places. I got my Benjamin at the locale sporting good store and got mine Beeman R-9 Goldfinger(has scope mounted already) from Bass Pro Shop because it was the cheapest price.

[RC Moser]

I think you would have to move up to the more expensive PCP. Logun, FX, air force, Class Ect....these guns start out about 800 bucks for there entry levels Plus pumps or scuba tank to recharge them adds another 200 bucks. After that you have to get a resonable good scope so add another 200 to 400 bucks. basiclly that's atleast 1200 to 14oo dollar investment. A rim fire or shotgun would be alot cheaper IMO.

I would just get me a cheap blind and set it up in the preimum shooting range and shoot from a reasonable distance with the R-7 to where you can be on target 98% of the time. 60 yards fror a light pellet is still asking a bit with alittle wind blowing to be able to hit a dime for sparrow or a quarter or half dollar area for a starling IMO..

[Scott D.- La]

RX, I live in a rural area and have houses around me, but safe angles to shoot. I shoot a Ruger 10/22. If the shot is 50 yards or less, and I get whatever, in the crosshair, Its dying and crying time and rarely miss. I have taken a Starling at over 65 yards with this rifle also. They are fairly cheap as well.I also shoot a .12 gauge at times. I dont know if it would be safe for your area, but if it is, I would consider the .22 rifle.

[parkerdes]

RxPurple, Someone recommended the Gamo Viper Express air rifle because of it's dual action. Check it out!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1CsUNUj_uw

I know I would get alot more pests if I had one!!! I also know I'd have alot more dents in my Trio if I did!

[Guest]

I used it for 8 years and sold it for $25 more than I paid for it!. Quality isn't nearly as expensive as something cheap! I use a RWS 46 now. But here is something I've tried and works great!

You can do what I've done however the last two years and see how it works for you. Get any cheapo bb gun/slingshot/throw a frisbee. Anything that can put the scare into a starling. Get out and sit in a lawnchair and shoot at them or at least get their attention. Then take off all your clothes! Yep! You then make a "scare starling" out of whatever you were wearing. Sit the "scare starling" about 15 feet from your house. Martins won't mind a bit but the starlings will head elsewhere. If they don't then you can get back in those clothes and suprise the living daylights out of them when they land on the house and ignore that "dummy" in the lawnchair. I can't shoot in the direction of one of my Trio houses and my dummy works great. You basically just need to keep it working for about 2 weeks. Once the martins are established they can pretty much defend the house themselves. Now just one pair might not be able to but I've got a housefull so its basically just a 10-14 day long deal with the scare starling.

[Retpsub]

Many good postings on this subject. Several things to consider. I just got a Beman R-7 .177 cal. because it shoots flat for my shooting distance, is MUCH quieter because it shoots slower than most of the other guns that cost less. I have shot several starlings while martins sat nearby and they never flew off. With my old .22 pump-up that made a entirely different and louder sound, they always scattered off. Very,very good accuracy from the start and I will use the "sampler pellets" after I go thru several hundred more pellets for a break in period first. It can shoot better than I can for now but there is a learning period for air guns to get used to for accuracy although I have shot thousands or rounds thru other firearms before. I was able to use my old 4X scope because it has a lighter recoil spring than most other guns and so far it hasn't hurt it. Make your plan of what you need to do to shoot then pick the best tool to do it with. Ask and I can direct you to a site for info, guns, service and price. Sometimes it is best to use traps and pellets for your S&S control. Hope this info helps. *BW*

[RC Moser]

"Once the martins are established they can pretty much defend the house themselves. " Sorry bilrus61 I just can't agree with that.

I use to think this too when I had round holes till I found dead PM in the cavities. Guess who took over? "Mr. Starling" I seen this one day early in my landlording. I wondered what the comotion was and went over to investigate. Starling was in there with a female PM on eggs. Took the starling less 30 seconds to drive the male off and kill the female on eggs. I watched as the female tried to block the entry hole with her body to keep the starling out while the male PM was trying keep the Starling at bay.

That was a hard lesson for me and my PM's that day. I made pledge then if I see a starling land the house, a tree or anywhere in range I shoot it. IMO OTHERS MAY DISAGREE PM's will never defend against a starling that want's that cavity.

[Sandy - NC]

I have to agree with RC on this one. I shoot, trap, whatever year round on both starlings and sparrows. I cut them no slack, give no quarter. And, I don't give a flip how they die, as long as they die. Been doing it for over 20 years and have all kinds of songbirds here that I didn't use to have.

[Guest]

bilrus61,
I really like your idea of a "scare starling". But don't you get cold running that 15 feet back to the house? I have some fairly tollerant neighbors, but I'm afraid I would scare the heck out of them after taking my clothes off and running back to the house. Also, I would forever be explaining that it was COLD that morning.

[Guest]

I have an R-9 but Dad has an R-7 - The 7 is quieter - and a few onces lighter. The 9 is slightly louder, kicks a touch more but will shoot farther and flatter.
At your distances I would go for at least an R9.
I after playing with lots of pellets, Kodiak Heavys are my current favorite. I can hit any pest at 75 feet - leaning off the window and a calm breeze.
I shot 2 sparrows with one shot - 2 different times last year...that was cool.
You not go wrong with a good beeman.

happy hunting
Kevin

[Rich Jewell In]

I also have the R9 Goldfinger. It's deadly at 75'. Much quieter than any of the other guns I own.

Rich

[Guest]

If you live in the country, consider using low powered 22 rounds........shorts, CBs, etc. (hope I'm remembering the name CB correctly). They are quieter than a normal LR 22 and don't have near the punch but could pull off the shot you are describing and do it much cheaper than a pellet setup. Wish I lived in the country where I could use them.

[Fred Kaluza~MI]

RC, I concur with your assessment of using a .22 rimfire when possible. Although I can get quarter-sized groups with my .177 FX Tarantula at 140 feet, that's still too much variation especially when you think about the distance a HOSP or Starling can move in the quarter-second it takes the pellet to get there. Misses on live targets with a 1000fps pellet gun (or slower) will be unacceptable at those distances. No sense spending $1200 and getting nothing but angry on those long-shots! Been there...done that.

[Guest]

Thanks everyone for all of the good advice, especially to Sandy. I have been doing a lot of research on air rifles and talking to some experts. It has been a great learning experience and a lot of fun studying a subject I don't know that much about. As a kid, I would hunt with 22's or a shotgun. As an adult I am very familiar with hand guns, having taken a course and spent much time on the firing range practicing. I have never owned an air gun. I was leaning toward a Beeman R 7, but after research I am now thinking about the Beeman R 9 Goldfinger. The only reason I would consider the R 7 at this point is that my wife might find it easier to use. I will use it mostly for S&S control, plinking, some pest control ( probably nothing bigger than a squirrel), and target practice. Does anyone have any suggestions on caliber and pellets for the different targets?

[Fatman608]

Rx, I have a R-9 Goldfinger in .22 cal and I am still figuring out pellet shape and size for it. I went with a .22 because the pellets are a little heavier than a .177.

[Guest]

since you live in the country why spend all that money on a pellet gun,after shooting a couple boxes of these Super Colibri .22 silent bullits i gave my pellet rifle to my grand son.