Beeman R9 .20 cal for 'chucks?

DAA

DAA

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Hey All,

Have any of you ever used anything along the lines of a Beeman R9 .20 for rock chucks? I've killed a bunch of ground squirrels and starlings with mine, but never anything any larger.

Stormbringer and I are going to be 'chuck hunting in a couple of days in a spot where we can't use our rifles. I'm taking my bow, and thinking it will probably be my primary tool. But also thinking about taking my R9. It shoots the 14.3 gr. Premier at somewhere above 800 fps (can't remember exactly), accurately enough that I think I can keep my shots placed between the eye and the ear out to about 15 to 20 yards or so in the field. Question is, for anyone with experience, is that shot going to be effective as far as 20 yards with this setup? Just from shooting ground squirrels with it, I kind of suspect it might be marginal for 'chucks at 20 yards, even with a well placed shot. If it's going to be marginal, I'll leave the air rifle home and just stick 'em to the turf with my Bowtech Guardian.

Appreciate any experience anyone would care to relate.

- DAA
 
I sold my R9/.20 a couple years ago.

Last year I shot a dozen rockchucks with my .22 air rifle at about the speed you are out to 40+yds. I also shot 10 or so with a .20 pcp rifle and they dropped like a stone.

There shouldn't be a problem with a good head shot.
 
Quote:
Hey All,

Have any of you ever used anything along the lines of a Beeman R9 .20 for rock chucks? I've killed a bunch of ground squirrels and starlings with mine, but never anything any larger.

Stormbringer and I are going to be 'chuck hunting in a couple of days in a spot where we can't use our rifles. I'm taking my bow, and thinking it will probably be my primary tool. But also thinking about taking my R9. It shoots the 14.3 gr. Premier at somewhere above 800 fps (can't remember exactly), accurately enough that I think I can keep my shots placed between the eye and the ear out to about 15 to 20 yards or so in the field. Question is, for anyone with experience, is that shot going to be effective as far as 20 yards with this setup? Just from shooting ground squirrels with it, I kind of suspect it might be marginal for 'chucks at 20 yards, even with a well placed shot. If it's going to be marginal, I'll leave the air rifle home and just stick 'em to the turf with my Bowtech Guardian.

Appreciate any experience anyone would care to relate.

- DAA



I used my .177 cal R-1 (~950fps) to kill lots of crows and squirrels.

Used it on feral house cats a few times, and they died, but it isn't something I'd want to do again, unless I had to.

If your rock chucks are anything like our eastern woodchucks, you'll just piss them off!


.
 
The ones I shot in Central Oregon didn't put up much of a tussle! The greydiggers are WAY harder to knock down and stay keep put.

The nutria rolled over pretty easily too.
 
Hmmm... Our western 'chucks are smaller than their eastern cousins.

Sounds like I ought to just take the R9 and give it a try, see how it goes.

I'll report back next week and let you guys know how it went - with photos, if it went well LOL!

- DAA
 
If you use a close in well placed headshot the .20cal will probably work but a .25 would be a better choice. I'd double check your laws and rules regarding hunting with an airguns first, especially if this is a WMA. Many Conservation areas don't allow airguns.

I'm not a Sheridan fan, but the .20cal Sheridans with their solid pellets hit really hard! PCP guns are lots of fun and great for fast followup shots. Good Luck!
 
Nikonut said "check your laws and rules regarding hunting with an airguns" and that's the best advice yet.

Oregon has a quite a few "unprotected" species that are without a bag limit or season so there's plenty of legal shooting here.
 
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