Can anyone recommend a budget air rifle setup for pest control purposes?
Ideally something quiet and quick to set up.
Only needs to be effective/accurate at 15 meters ish, probably closer
Cheaper the better really

In reply to Post #1
Yes Crossman ,Ratcatcher..look on the Pellpax site,or Blackpool air rifles..

We have the crossman,and its great for barn work,outside its the tuned 95k..weirauch, springer..

There is a new webley out,the Andy on air,on YouTube has just reviewed, its got the higher capacity co2,cannisters..

I'm after a Edgun leishy,not far from getting one..saving up..!!

In reply to Post #2
That edgun looks a serious bit of kit

The ratcatcher looks good, but is there anything reliable a bit cheaper, or perhaps anything to avoid at the bottom end of the market?

In reply to Post #3
Duggs,another range of air rifles,both budget and slightly higher end are the Gamo make,Gamo are essentially BSA ,think the barrels are made in Spain i believe.

Gamo do PCP,break barrel mulitshot springers and co2 all in the various price brackets,they get good reviews..


A bit like fishing,you get what you pay for in a way,but again like fishing there is some good so called budget guns out there,maybe,get a good second hand springer,from Pellpax for example,they can deliver to your do or register FAC,dealer..

Don't underestimate those Ratcatcher co2, you can modify them,customise etc,plus for places like barns etc they won't put a hole in mateys roof ..if you miss,or other..

In reply to Post #2
I'm also thinking about the edgun leishy 2 with vector scope.

In reply to Post #4
Cheers Adam, it's been an annual battle around this time every year. I've only got a small garden but there's a nature reserve behind it, a river probably 50-60 yds away.
I know they can't get into the house as I went to town on the subfloor when I moved in, replaced airbricks etc but I can't keep them out of the garden. I had to cut my first fishing trip in ages short as the mrs sent a video of a couple of small ones digging around under the bird feeders (dealing with that issue this week) and then a video of the neighbours cat running away from one it's equal in size (pussy)
I don't like poison and the only trap that seems to work is a DIY bottle over bucket jobbie that leaves me having to dispatch them (I could half fill it with water but that's a bit cruel imo)

Obviously the park has been ultra busy lately, bins overflowing etc so I'm expecting more this year

I don't really understand the differences between the different types, I just want something simple and accurate, I can set up a bit of bait in front of a wall at the back and just pop them off

In reply to Post #6
OK Duggs,..take a look at the Wembley nemisis,works on co2 cannister,probably perfect for your situation..

A short rundown of types..

Break barrel..cock the gun in half,ready to fire ..
Co2,small gas cartridges, cheap..plus the bigger capacity versions as well..
PCP,pre charged pneumatic, various price points,you'll need a air dive bottle,which can be pricey..

You want to be thinking ,quiet,stealthy,and not draw attention to yourself, so co2,like the Ratcatcher probably perfect..

Bird feeders,are your friends,..White bucket lid,under feeders,bit of feed on the bucket lid,at dusk,dim light,when the pre trained sighting on the lid goes dark,pop,pop...,those co2 guns very quiet with a moderator on them

In reply to Post #5
Thats the one mate,....'sprit of the woods'..awesome bit of kit,..

My plan was or is wildcamp,leishy in backpack,hunt to feed myself..95k,bit big for some situations, so looked at various take downs,..leishy it has to be..

Even the single shot version is magnificent 👌

In reply to Post #1
My lads got a Gamo CF-30 under lever that's rated just under the 12 ft.lb firearms cert limit.
Nothing special and I couldn't say how accurate it was but it's definitely very effective against rats.
My guess is that Adams Ratcatcher is probably quieter so might be more suitable for you.

In reply to Post #9
I did a lot of research into those Gamo rifles,found a lot of positive reviews,tried a couple at Ian Hodges, thought for the money very good guns..

I like the mulitishot,break barrel versions they do,think it might be a Swarm,can off hand remember..

Show your son the Edgun range,the Leyla and leishy, very compact,smart..and effective.

In reply to Post #10
As you say ok for the money. We bought it from Trago with the main criteria that it was just under the limit.
I'll mention those models, thanks.
He's been playing with SA 80 s for a while now but thinking about giving that up so he might get into target practice again.
I've got the Gamo on permanent loan at present so it might save me giving it back if he gets another.😀

In reply to Post #10
Initially when I looked at the ratcatcher on pelpax site, it was the full kit with scope, silencer and bag. Do I need a scope? The basic version at 140 looks more like it.

How quick are they with deliveries?

There is a local shop but looking online there isn't a lot of choice, and only springer models in my budget which are louder apparently

In reply to Post #12
Hi Duggs,Pellpax is the shooting equivalent of the best and fastest tackle shop,you shouldn't have any problems at all,they also are great for info over the phone..

100% you will need a scope,mainly for headsets,clean kill..we have a red dot thing,lazer my son uses on the Ratcatcher in barns,its good but I prefer a scope..you'll be using it ,Ratcatcher at shortish range,so want a domed heavy pellet,get .22..make sure you get a good silencer ,moderator,think neighbours etc etc..ask for JSB,pellets..

Some springers are quiet ,but not as quiet as a PCP,or co2..powered..

Its great fun,backyard hunting,guarantee,it will bring your inner survivalist out..I have shot an eaten a few different things,squirrel is nice ,but survival, bushcraft,and truthing is my other hobby,...fishing is my main thing tho,

My son ust read my reply,and says,backdrop,backdrop,always register in your mind where that pellet goes .

In reply to Post #13
Yeh I've got the backdrop sussed, brick wall with strategically placed sandbags
No risk of going through and low chance of ricochet, plus the bag is white.

I'll try pellpax, but the mrs is doin her nut, if it's more than a couple of days for delivery I'll have to see how loud the remington tyrants are as I could get one tomorrow.

Edit, a shop in norbury, South London guns, has a better stock than the local one. A few co2 rifles with scopes for sub £200
I might get a window to head there tomorrow if I don't hear what I want from pellpax
(typical South London, the gun shop is in a pawnbrokers )

In reply to Post #14
OK mate let me know how it goes..

In reply to Post #15
With an unexpected afternoon off and loads of messages from the mrs I had to stop at the local shop for the remington. Pretty horrible tbh, not as loud as I expected but very front heavy with a real kick. I can't hold it steady without resting it on something at the moment, was getting a 4 inch spread at first resting on the back of a chair but after half a tin of pellets and putting an unhooking mat over the chair I'm getting a grouping about the size of a pound coin at the longest distance diagonally across the garden. Have setup the baited spot at about half that distance now so it should be pretty clean.
Seems overkill for the range I'm shooting.
It's likely that I'll get the ratcatcher next year and get rid of this, although I do quite like that it's ready to go in an instant

In reply to Post #16
Main thing is you got something,and you can put your wife's concerns at ease now..

Just remember about eye relief,and try sitting on yr haunches,or bottom when holding your gun at first,it'll soon become second nature..

There seems to be even more rats,mice around this year,I don't know why,out cat brought in this big barn rat recently,was huge..

Good luck,with gun remember squeeze trigger,don't pull or jerk it Duggs,and wrap the whole of your finger around that trigger..

In reply to Post #17
The guy in the shop reckons he's selling 10 of these in a slow week for this purpose only. With all the bars and restaurants shut down there heading to the residential areas, and with the bins overflowing in the park the population must be booming

I set up my sniper station with a comfortable chair and a second chair to act as a front rest

We'll just have to see how long they can resist the Icelandic red boilie paste with a bird seed garnish

Breathing control finger position/pull and follow through will all help with your accuracy.

In reply to Post #19
I'll have to work on that. I can see why target shooting is a popular hobby, I was having loads of fun drawing smiley faces.

I can't see me ever enjoying the other bit, I got three this morning, absolutely horrendous!

I read back through this earlier and googled a few bits that went over my head
Eye relief-after moving the scope quite a bit I'm in a much more comfortable position, getting a tighter group without needing a front rest
Not quite sure what follow through is or how to work on it. Doesn't seem to be an issue at the range I've got but I like to learn new skills

I'll make a dent in the population in the next week then do what I can to block access

Had lots of rattys and rifles ranging from budget to silly money over the years then discovered the amazing SMK range total Quality

for a budget rifle with top price accuracy and performance nothing comes close IMHO to this LINKY POO

In reply to Post #22
If that's a budget rifle my one must be bargain basement

It feels it tbh, makes me wonder what the 1st one I looked at would be like at £80

Got a job coming up out in the Surrey countryside, I dropped a subtle hint about getting some target practice at longer distance and he's happy for me to do it, with the condition I use non toxic pellets. Are these any different in use?
I initially just bought hollow point pellets but went back for domed ones when I realised they were half the price for twice the quantity. I see a difference in accuracy between the two with the domed ones seeming more accurate. Can pretty much get ten shots through the same hole without enlarging it much with the domed but 10 shots with the hollows gives me a 5p sized hole. It'll be interesting to the spread at double or triple the range

No signs of rats for a few days now, and had a mouse in a trap this morning which is a good sign apparently, but I know I haven't got the big one that chased the cat away so I'm not concreting this week.

This gun being a legal limit .22 is probably a lot more than I need, but I think I'll keep it for now as I can just grab it and shoot if it's needed in future. But I do want something quieter and more suited to 10m shooting

Stocks of the ratcatcher seem pretty sparse at the moment, but that really does seem perfect for what I want. I also came across the smk victory cp2 which appeals being a multi shot gun. Will have to do some research on reliability of that gun vs the ratcatcher, plus the rat catcher wins on simplicity

Noticed a dead rat in my yard which set alarm bells ringing.

Fortunately I've a little waste ground over the fence down the back side of my garden. Purchased the blocks from amazon and threw over a dozen where I could see them. Next morning all of them had gone. Next door neighbour phoned the council and said he'd seen rats in his yard too. With his home being council property there was no charge to get the rat catcher out. Put in a rat food ‘believe it's on like of a spit rod as the rats when they get in cannot take the bait with them'. Rat catcher came back 2 weeks later to take a look in it and there was nothing nibbled at. I put another block over 1 week ago and it's still there so hopefully the ones I threw around have killed them.

From modern combat sports I purchased a Umarex T4E TPM1 paintball pistol which also fires rubber and rubber/steel bullets. Legal to own and doesn't half pack a punch.

In reply to Post #25
From what I read they have to eat a lot of the poisons we can buy. They're deliberately less effective due to careless, irresponsible use like you did, just chucking a bit about so anything could eat it.

Plus with falcons, owls and reports of a red kite in the area, not to mention people's pets, amazingly it seemed to me a rifle was the more responsible solution

BBs are too bouncy for my liking, my neighbours would love that

In reply to Post #27
Oops.....

Edit - Thankfully I've not heard of anyone's pet going missing and I've seen their pets on my walks.

In reply to Post #28
Any good for the neighbours

In reply to Post #29


Unfortunately I've seen one or two around earlier....

In reply to Post #24
But I do want something quieter and more suited to 10m shooting

Co2 if you want quieter then a PCP, a Springer will always make quite a twang as the spring is released there are ways of quietening them down also giving you double reverse recoil which is something you have to account for with your accuracy as the muzzle end will naturally lift, a longer barrel is usually best for accuracy but not always the case especially with the more modern bullpups/carbines but on the cheaper end I would probably look for a longer barrel type air rifle, if it comes as a set for less than 100 notes then the scope on a springer is probably going to fail at some point because that will be the cheapest of the cheap and lots of shooting I have seen the recoil damage these types of optics even the mountings if over tightened will crack the crosshairs with the first twang of a .22 rifle.

Walther/Umarex do a reasonable range of Co2.

At short range of around 10 metres any rifle will **** a rat if zeroed in and good shot placement but .177 will fire flatter and faster than a .22 which takes on more of a lobbing effect with the pellet, finding a pellet that the rifle suits is another headache some will prefer one type over another my .20 Rapid loves a H&N Barracuda best for tight groupings out to 35/40 yards in perfect conditions.

I've spent many an hour with the black widow in a sadistic game of risk and reward with air dried 10 millers. It's an all or nothing sport for the rat but they seem to love it

In reply to Post #31
The one I got is priced between 150 and 180 looking online, the scope has stayed intact after 300 or so shots, but with the noise it's not really suited to me. The double recoil is a bit strange as it seems to pull then push if you get me.

At 10m is there a higher chance of a 177 going straight through, possibly with a big deviation?

Just as there's so much choice I'm looking at the ratcatcher or the cp2. Probably in 22 but as you say even in the same caliber the guns might want different pellets. The hollow point Bisley pest controllers aren't as accurate as the remington domed pellets I got, and are a bit tighter in the breach, need a bit more care loading in this gun.
I noticed pellpax do sample packs of pellets so I'll probably get one when I get the other gun.
The cp2 is appealing as it's multi shot and I can store it broken down meaning a smaller cupboard, or probably a lock box withing a cupboard
Accuracy doesn't seem to matter at 10m tbh, with a cheap gun, no experience and little practice it's hard to miss a 10mm circle

Edit
Decided on the cp2, as the ratcatcher with 18inch barrel is a fair bit more money, silencer is extra and the cp2 will be more convenient to store. Most reviews seem to favour the cp2 out of the 2 very similar guns too.

Shooting seems a very expensive hobby
Looking at scopes for the cp2 and pretty much settled on one of the cheaper offerings from hawke. but then I need mounts, and something quick release preferably as the front mount will have to be removed to break the gun down for storage.
I can't seem to find much below 100 quid for about 2 pence worth of metal

I'm guessing there a lot of DIY modding in the shooting scene with costs like that.

In reply to Post #34
Its even more expensive than carp fishing. A good scope will easy cost you upwards of a grand. I nearly ordered the new daystate red wolf heritage today but i think the missus would file for divorce.

In reply to Post #35
Am I right in assuming anyone spending that on a rifle will be buying fac versions? I understand it if you want to p p p pop off a pigeon from 90 yds, seems crazy money if it has the same power outputs as my cheap piece of ****

I'm getting used to hitting the filter by price button on websites, I like a nice bit of engineering but some of this stuff is obscene. I've found a few qr mounts at more realistic prices but they say they fit weaver or picatinny rails, I guess they won't fit a standard dovetail? It's a similar story looking for a cheap folding bipod to fit the dovetail underneath. Everything I've found is either weaver, picatinny, or clamps to the barrel which will get in the way of the co2 port.

In reply to Post #36

Within the space of the thread you have gone from wanting to cap a few rats to Lee Harvey Oswald!
I have a friend in the us who got an assault rifle and pistol for less than that air rifle lol.
PLEASE make a giant trebuchet and bait it, make them somebody's problem 300 yards away

In reply to Post #37
I could do that
Hmm I could Re purpose a couple of old spod rods to make a giant ratapult....

I still only want cap a few rats on the cheap, but my idea of cheap has had to be adjusted

In reply to Post #37

In reply to Post #38
It's the humane way to do it and if they do survive I doubt they'd be up for another go

In reply to Post #36
Not necessarily fac versions, competition target shooting is very competitive and that requires reliability and consistent accuracy. People will spend 3k on three carp rods and reels and a competitive rifle and scope settup can be bought for considerably less so like most hobbies it's all down to the individual.

In reply to Post #41
It's all new to me, I'm surprised how satisfying it is tbh.

Took the gun to the Surrey job this week, and the guy had a couple of rifles, both well out of my price range. Was interesting to see the difference in accuracy at 40 ish meters. The one with tank was so much easier than my spring jobbie, quite easily hitting a bottle cap vs 1 in 4 with mine. Was a bit disappointed with the co2 rifle he had, seemed really inconsistent, especially if you fired a few quickly.

Still probably the right choice for me tho, the full power one makes to much mess at the range I'm using springer is too loud, the air tank one's sound high maintenence and expensive

No sign of rats for 10 days or so, put concrete gravel boards below the wooden ones and some wire mesh to try and stop them digging under, and sorted the bird feeders so that discarded seeds are collected, this was the source of the problem for me.
Neighbours were quick to complain about the noise but didn't seem interested as to what I was shooting, if they'd shown a bit more willing I might have baited heavily and tried to wipe them out. I'm tempted to try the ratapult and send the 100 yards up but only 10 to the left

In reply to Post #36
Its more of a collectors rifle so probably wouldnt really be used.

I reckon if you got rid of the birdfeeders you'd be a long way into solving your rat problem, the food is attracting them, no food they'll go a elsewhere,

In reply to Post #44
Exactly right, i made something up so they can't climb up to it, pigeons and squirrels can't get to it either, and so far nothing seems to be getting dropped to the floor. Any more problems and they're gone tho

Picked up the cp2 yesterday, haven't shot it yet but had a play with it swapping between rifle and pistol configuration, seems brilliant so far. So light and easy to handle. Looks like a toy but feels better made than the remington.

Looking forward to a bit of target practice with this, still need to order scope and mounts for it tho, not sure what I need tbh

Are red dot sights any good? I put the scope from the other gun on the cp2 and it makes the barrel change a bit awkward, it's tricky to get the Allen key to the grub screws, so I wonder if a red dot might be better.
Had a go with the open sights, fine for target's but I don't think I'd fancy that with a rat (fingers crossed I won't have to do that again tho)

Something that's confusing me tho, the gun will fit in the locked cupboard I've got with the long barrel fitted if I remove the stock, but a few things I've read say it's an illegal pistol set up like this as its over 6ftlbs

Edit
Had a good play with it now, it doesn't seem to like the Bisley pest control or the remington pellets I've got, I also need a mount to throw the scope forward a bit, and fit something to the stock to throw the gun forward a bit and give me a cheek rest. These issues combined gave me groupings closer to a £5 note than a 5p coin so after near silently firing a 100 or so pellets through the cp2 I had to mount the scope on the remington and line it up incase its needed. Three shots before I heard the neighbours moan!!

In reply to Post #47
Another season's coming for some pest control action. There are ways to make it fun while also increasing the effectiveness of rat extermination.

In reply to Post #48
A few months ago I traded my old HW80 in. Was going to refurbish it through the winter but couldn't be arsed. Bought myself a 97k in blue laminate with some Hawk sights. Prefer a springer, cracking set up, just need to find some ratting grounds now lol 🐀

Just a personal rule for me, it's either vermin or it has to be eaten which can't say it appeals

Can't do with these bell ends shooting Robins and blue tits etc

In reply to Post #49
Anyone shooting robins and blue tits should be put against a wall and shot themselves. I will happily pull the trigger.