Air Pistol - Squirrel Dispatch

[D_H_P]

Hi,
I am looking for an air pistol for humane dispatch of trapped grey squirrels. Crosman 2240 or 1377 are possibilities and easily tuned to close to the legal limit, but would prefer a cheap springer. I have a number of air rifles suitable for dispatch, but want to be as inconspicuous as possible, so needs to be a pistol. Any ideas or thoughts.

[fullbandit]

not that cheap but A HW 45 is the tool for the job

[CapitalBee]

I helped a friend out who wanted a springer for exactly the same - Webley Typhoon (or Hatsan 25 as I think they're the same)

[Rog5]

I have an old Webley Senior in .22 just the job with Hobbys or Super-H-Points

[grumpygit]

BSA Scorpion, if you can find one.

[Gareth W-B]

​.
Diana P5 Magnum in .22 (.177 pellets will pass straight through): 5.5ft.lb as standard, plus well made and great to shoot.

[TonyL]

I have an old Webley Senior in .22 just the job with Hobbys or Super-H-Points

I'd have also said any of the Webley barrel-over-cylinder models, too.

[Geezer]

Almost any of the above.

If you want the cheapest tool possible, purely for the purpose of head shots at contact distance in a trap, the economy option is to find a cosmetically rough but functionally OK Scorpion or Hurricane or Tempest in .22”. The older Diana 5/5G should also be up to the job.

I wouldn’t recommend the “Webley” Typhoon (later model) or the big “Browning” or similar Turkish or Chinese guns, unless you can find a really cheap used one. They’d be fine as a tool for this purpose, but unlike the Scorpion, Webleys, Dianas, HW, are not very good pistols. If you fancy using the pistol for a bit of plinking or target work as well, avoid them.

In a private sale, a decent Scorpion or Webley Hurricane/Tempest should be £100 or a bit less. Used HW45 or Diana 5M/8 (rare) maybe £120-160. And you can sell on with no loss if/when you no longer need it.

Springer will be much quieter than 2240 or 1377 on 8 pumps. But worth considering 2240 with a silencer?

[Saxmaniac]

Smith & Wesson .500 Magnum will guarantee humane dispatch every time.