Jump to content
Sign in to follow this  
cwnova

Worth buying a pellet gun or hold out for a shotgun?

Recommended Posts

My first deer season ended with tag soup and I'm more than anxious to get out in the field sooner rather than later. I would like to pick up small game hunting down near the Tucson area. Right now I'm content with chasing rabbits and maybe some squirrels if I can get into the right area. Of course during the appropriate seasons I would also like to go after dove, quail, and ducks.

 

Currently the only gun I own is my big game rifle. For the sake of rabbits and squirrels, is buying a $100 pellet rifle sufficient for the time being? Clearly a shotgun is the way to go for quail and dove, so I will have one eventually, but should I just skip the pellet gun and go right to a shotgun?

 

Regarding a shotgun I will probably be looking for one in the sub $450 range. Maybe the Remington 870 or a Benelli?

 

Thanks in advance for the input

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

You will get a lot more use out of a shot gun than you will a pellet gun. Yes you can use the pellet gun for rabbits and squirrels, but you can do that with a shotgun as well. I recommend putting that money into a gun that is a little more versitile.

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

imo, $100 pellet guns suck. if you want a good pellet gun, get yourself an RWS. got one used 25 years ago and it still shoots hard as the day i got it. but theyre like the same cost as a shotgun. to me, thats like comparing apples and oranges

  • Like 2

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

you could find a single shot 20 or 12 for around 150 or less. That would be a good start. H&R Topper or an old Iver Johnson single shot would be great.

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Or keep an eye on the classifieds here on the site, lots of guys selling used quality shotguns for less than $450. IMO a pellet gun for actual hunting purposes is a waste.

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I recently picked up a 22 pellet gun for shooting pigeons in the backyard. I figured 22 wold be good because I can take it to shoot little critters like rabbits and such as well. Well, that 22 is WAY to powerful for backyard pigeon shooting. Get a shotgun.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Pellet guns are a lot of fun and make for some good practice though. you could pick up a pellet gun and a shotgun for less than $450 pretty easily

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

For every shot of my pellet gun, I take 100 shots with my shotgun. Pellet guns are great for backyard Eurasian dove shooting. Other than that, they sit and collect dust.

 

I really wouldn't suggest a single shot. Just my opinion, even though they do make you a better shot in the long run. But I rarely take more than one shot at game, but nice to have a second (or even third) if you are shooting fast flying birds or multiples. Even for sporting clays, it is needed.

 

All of these are at or under $450:

Pump:

Rem 870

Mossberg 500

Benelli Nova Field

Winchester SXP Field

Weatherby PA-08

Stoeger P-350

 

O/U:

Stoeger Condor (Field or Longfowler) These actually got really good reviews.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Over under

While I could not agree more, there is really only one or two that fit the price range of $450. But I love mine (not in the price range).

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Benelli and Stoeger are made by the same company. it is gmc/Chevrolet (In my understanding of it). Guy from work bought a real nice Stoeger autoloader for about 4-450 (cant remember).

 

I have two nice remingtons myself. Bought one brand new. Then my brother found me one with a cracked butt stock. Don't recommend the synthetic thumb through stocks for birds... especially if you aim and shoot like I do. ha ha. An afternoon of missing leads to a sore hand

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

No. Benelli and a stoeger are not the same in that sense. They have some same features but no where close to the same gun. Price in a shotgun should be closely watched. You pay for what you get.

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thank you everyone. I don't think I'll be spending any more time looking at pellet guns and will start narrowing down which shotgun to purchase for 2016! I have only used shotgun once and it was a Benelli SuperNova I believe. I like the look of the 870 a little bit more but I want to do more overall research on all my options, not to mention the 12 gauge vs 20 gauge debate.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
Sign in to follow this  

×