• Airguns vs. Pigeons

    From Simeon Nevel@21:1/5 to All on Fri Jun 7 17:29:33 2019
    I apologize if isn't the place to ask...

    I'm having a major pigeon issue. I'm considering the purchase of an airgun deal with them.

    How much power do I need to avoid simply maiming them? I live in a suburban area but can make sure that no pellets leave my property.

    Thanks for any advice.

    Simeon

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  • From Ernie Baresch@21:1/5 to All on Fri Jun 7 21:10:52 2019
    ## I apologize if isn't the place to ask...
    ##
    ## I'm having a major pigeon issue. I'm considering the purchase of an airgun ## deal with them.
    ##
    If you have a .22 rifle you could use shot shells:
    <https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&channel=tus&q=.22+short+shot+shell>
    .22 short is quiet but I only found shot shells in LR.

    ##
    ## How much power do I need to avoid simply maiming them? I live in a suburban ## area but can make sure that no pellets leave my property.
    ##
    Most city health departments will send someone to help.

    ##
    ## Thanks for any advice.
    ##
    ## Simeon

    YW
    Ernie B.

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  • From Simeon Nevel@21:1/5 to All on Sat Jun 8 08:55:06 2019
    Ernie Baresch <ernie-baresch@neb.rr.com> wrote in news:qdejss$jgf$1@news.albasani.net:

    # ## I apologize if isn't the place to ask...
    # ##
    # ## I'm having a major pigeon issue. I'm considering the purchase of
    # an airgun ## deal with them.
    # ##
    # If you have a .22 rifle you could use shot shells:
    # <https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&channel=tus&q=.22
    # +short+shot+shell>
    # .22 short is quiet but I only found shot shells in LR.

    Thanks for your advice Ernie... I don't own a .22 of any sort (my Glock 26 wouldn't be appropriate in this setting ;)) and discharging an actual
    firearm in city limits is really frowned upon.

    I'm investigating pest control companies, but was just wondering about my options.

    Simeon

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  • From Arthur Erhardt@21:1/5 to All on Sat Jun 8 20:58:28 2019
    Simeon Nevel <snevel+usenet@silvilagus.com> wrote:
    # I apologize if isn't the place to ask...

    # I'm having a major pigeon issue. I'm considering the purchase of an airgun
    # deal with them.
    Aside from legality considerations: Pigeons die reliably when hit
    into the stem of the brain with an 8 grs .177 lead pellet flying at
    550 fps (~ 5 ft lbs). Solved a pigeon problem a long time ago that
    way. The low projectile energy had legal reasons where it happened.

    Obviously, such headshots can only be reliably applied at very
    close range, both due to accuracy and energy loss over distance
    concerns. Furthermore, for reliable headshots the pigeon(s)
    targeted should be shot from the front or from the back.

    For body hits, I'd go with as much airgun as one can buy and fire
    without too much noise. .17 calibre is good enough and faster is
    better. Also, pellets optimized for hunting or pest control should
    be used.

    HTH

    Arthur

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  • From Peter Franks@21:1/5 to All on Sat Jun 8 20:58:31 2019
    On 6/7/2019 10:29 AM, Simeon Nevel wrote:
    # I apologize if isn't the place to ask...
    #
    # I'm having a major pigeon issue. I'm considering the purchase of an airgun
    # deal with them.
    #
    # How much power do I need to avoid simply maiming them? I live in a suburban
    # area but can make sure that no pellets leave my property.
    #
    # Thanks for any advice.
    #
    # Simeon

    Check out "Ted's HoldOver" on YouTube (e.g.
    https://youtu.be/fV-8pdVAogg), this guy covers everything re. pigeons
    and airgun setup. Probably much more than you need for casual pest
    control, but his comments and techniques are invaluable.

    Another control option is to trap the birds. There are relatively
    inexpensive (<$50) one-way cage traps that you can set and forget for a
    few days. I've used them successfully to eliminate the pigeon problem
    in my back yard. (I'll take the live birds outside of city limits and
    get some good wingshooting practice for fall bird hunts. Those few that
    do escape, I've found, isn't a bad thing. They do not come back to my
    house, and I think that they tell their friends, because NO pigeons come
    to the back yard after that...)

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  • From Ralph Mowery@21:1/5 to All on Sat Jun 8 20:58:30 2019
    In article <qdft5a$edn$1@news.albasani.net>,
    snevel+usenet@silvilagus.com says...
    #
    # Thanks for your advice Ernie... I don't own a .22 of any sort (my Glock 26
    # wouldn't be appropriate in this setting ;)) and discharging an actual
    # firearm in city limits is really frowned upon.
    #
    # I'm investigating pest control companies, but was just wondering about my
    # options.
    #
    # Simeon
    #
    #
    #

    You can get what is called a PCP (pre charged pnumatic) that will do the
    job with no problem. The shoot .177 or better .22 caliber pellets at
    about 1000 fps. The pellets are not as heavy as a 22 long rifle round.
    You use a pump to charge them up to about 2000 psi and they are good for
    about 30 to 50 shots depending on the pellet. Cost is just under $ 200
    for some.

    Example:

    https://www.airgundepot.com/beeman-qb-chief.html

    Some vidioes on youtube about shooting squirrels with them.

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  • From Ernie Baresch@21:1/5 to All on Sat Jun 8 20:58:32 2019
    # Thanks for your advice Ernie... I don't own a .22 of any sort (my Glock 26
    # wouldn't be appropriate in this setting ;)) and discharging an actual
    # firearm in city limits is really frowned upon.
    #
    # I'm investigating pest control companies, but was just wondering about my
    # options.

    I've lived in a city where the Health Department would send someone,
    possibly armed with an air rifle, to deal with an abundance of
    pigeons. Since pigeon poop can be a health hazard this service was
    covered by real estate taxes. It's worth looking into imo.

    Ernie B.

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  • From Simeon Nevel@21:1/5 to All on Sun Jun 9 12:27:03 2019
    Ralph Mowery <rmowery28146@earthlink.net> wrote in news:qdh7hl$g2h$1@news.albasani.net:

    # You can get what is called a PCP (pre charged pnumatic) that will do
    # the job with no problem. The shoot .177 or better .22 caliber pellets
    # at about 1000 fps. The pellets are not as heavy as a 22 long rifle
    # round. You use a pump to charge them up to about 2000 psi and they
    # are good for about 30 to 50 shots depending on the pellet. Cost is
    # just under $ 200 for some.

    So anything over 1000 fps would work? Assuming I actually hit what I'm
    aiming at?

    The reason I ask is that the local W*lm*rt sell some air pistols but
    they're only rated for about 350 fps which seems more than a bit
    underpowered.

    Thanks for the information.

    Simeon

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  • From TimR@21:1/5 to All on Sun Jun 9 12:27:08 2019
    We had a flock of about 80 on a building at work.

    I shot about 4 or 5 with a Diana/RWS 34. I don't have it anymore but you can look up the velocity. I got the alpha bird and that disturbed the social structure enough that they went elsewhere. Birds are funny like that, you don't have to kill them all.

    That said, any decent airgun looks like a scarey sniper rifle and unless you have very understanding neighbors you're going to end up face down in handcuffs while the police investigate. I haven't tried traps but I suspect that's the way to go.

    There are spikes you can put up that discourage them. They can't land if they can't fold their wings and they go somewhere else.

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