I have a Remmington pump with a scope. Just make sure you can id 100% for sure what the female and male HOSP look like so you don't shoot another kind of bird by accident.

I have a 760 Pumpmaster. It's worthless. I need a better one. I can use Hubbys good 22 but only on the one box that has nothing but woods behind it. How do you like your Remmington? Was it big $$$? I know I am going to have a bigger problems next year as those 2 males got away this year. UUUGG. I still feel shooting them is the best way.

Lisa, mine is a Remington Airmaster 77 with a scope and I don't think it was that much maybe $75 or so, got it at Walmart. Three times now I have shot a HOSP at approx 75-80 feet away with it. It is very accurate if you are steady. The more you pump the stronger it gets and it will kill Starlings too. I am at about 20 now within the last week. I hate it when they have fledglings and they come and eat all the suet. Ugh!

.22 LR shells also come loaded in a plastic head containing #9 birdshot instead of the regular bullet. VERY effective on small birds at a limited range-also much easier on the neighbors. For blacksnakes, I relieve them of their heads with my.357 snub nose revolver with the same type of .357 #9 birdshot cartridge. For TOUGH situations the German 88 milimeter Flack gun is VERY efective but the neighbors house would be gone! (sorry, I had to!!!)

what pellets do you use? I can't remember what gun we bought, but my son hit two birds but didn't kill them. I don't like the idea of the bird suffering.. I bought a chair blind and he got to sit about 20 ft away from the food.

I've taken out like a dozen male HOSP with the van ert trap. These males are the most dangerous to other box nesters.. I have a ground trap too, havn't caught anything yet in there.

I use BB's in my gun, it will take pellets too but the flat head pellets are not the greatest for killing anything imo. I have heard there are pointed pellets though that should work better. BB's work good though so no reason to change. I prefer my BB gun over anything stronger even a 22 and it is not loud at all.

Donna

Not a BB rifle, but I have a Gamo Shadow and a Gamo Whisper, both with scopes. The Whisper has a permanent silencer. The pellet rifles are powerful and I like to kill what I shoot at. Naturally, there has been collateral damage, like vinyl siding but my aim sure is improving.

I agree I can't stand the thought of anything suffering, this is hard enough as it is. I was wondering if my crappy little BB gun would do the job if I ever actually hit anything with it. It's NOT ME It only takes me one shot with the 22 and Im dead on. I really wish there was a program to trap them and send them back to Europe unharmed! However with our treck to Lowes this weekend I don't think we could even begin to put a dent in them.

OH those home improvement stores are the worst at breeding those birds! Gosh, just keep your windows open and drive around and you here them everywhere!! It's almost hopeless! I still hear them around my house.. at least the blues seem somewhat safer? It's more in balance now.

he he, I like sending them back to England, he he! Don't forget the starlings too!

ps, My blues have a completed nest already..(two eggs went missing and the blues moved to another house) the nest is in a horrible spot, lots of overhanging branches!! I think I'll just move the pole away from the tree branches and get it as safe as possible. I'd rather them reject the move than have more eggs/hatchlings die or disappear!

Go to Cabella's or Bass Pro and buy a RWS or Gamo pellet rifle. They are extremely accurate. As long as you can hold steady, you will "knock out" sparrows and starlings very easy. BB guns can be very eratic and not always get the job done. I've taken out over 100 sparrows and starlings so far this year. All we have around our property are beautiful song birds.

which model did you buy? yikes!!$150+ and they go even higher!!

A good starter gun is a RWS Model 34 in .177 caliber. It costs @ 200.00, but it will not let you down. I have taken problem raccons with this rifle. You can find some used rifles on-line on pellet gun sites. One of these is Straight Shooters.com.

I agree,The Gamo's are nice pellet guns for the money,I have the Gamo CFX combo,Once I got this baby sighted in,taking out Starlings was a breeze.I would go with a springer style air gun over the pump guns.Check out the link below for lots of info.

Here is a link that might be useful: pyramydair

The only problem is that you may get hooked on them like I did. I now own several high powered precharged pneumatic rifles from England and Sweden. Now these are FUN to shoot. They are whisper quiet and extremely accurate! I do alot of target shooting to keep up on taking out the pest birds.

Believe the pros train on high end pellet rifles for the Olympics.

May as well have really inexpensive ammo to improve sharp shooting skills.

this is what I ended upgetting

a gamo whisper silent cat,paid 190 at fleet farm

looks nicethe only question I have is it's Barrel: "Fluted Polymer Bull barrel"
will this be ok?

didn't put scope on yet but just gave a test shot, suprixing noisey and has a
kick.... though I don't know how loud other brands are

Here is a link that might be useful: gamo pellet

Nice,This will easily take out HOSP,I was also surprised with the kick from my Gamo,but I love it.lots of power.I added a GTR-lll trigger to mine ,It made a BIG difference in the accuracy of the shot.You can see it on the link below.

Here is a link that might be useful: GTR-lll trigger