Most people wouldn’t think of a BB gun or a pellet gun as a survival item, but lately, a number or people have emailed us asking about adding one to their supplies. While it wouldn’t be my first option, there are some reasons you may want to consider adding one to your survival stockpile.
Technology has made them stronger and more reliable
In terms of technology, design and manufacturing, BB guns have come a long way over the last decade. Today’s BB guns are not the BB guns of your youth, and many of them are actually very reliable and very powerful. Pellet guns take things up a notch, and are great for plinkers or hunting small game.
- They are both quite capable of taking small game like birds, rodents, squirrels and small rabbits.
- If you want to increase your odds, look for a pellet gun with a high velocity of at least 700 FPS in a .22 cal, or 950 FPS in a .177 cal.
- A good scope can increase accuracy, and help you spot smaller game.
They are dirt cheap
With the recent rise in ammo prices and a sudden shortage of rimfire ammunition, a lot of people are looking for cheaper alternatives. For training purposes, a BB gun might not be a bad alternative for speed or defensive drills. It’s probably not going to make you a better shooter, but it can be used to simulate some self-defense situations, and sure is a lot cheaper than almost anything else you can shoot.
- A 500 ct. box of pellets is going to cost you around 10 bucks, and BBs are going to be even cheaper at $10 for around 6,000.
- A decent BB or Pellet gun, suitable for hunting small game, can be found for under $200
A couple more reasons to consider adding a BB or Pellet gun to your survival stockpiles
- They are legal to carry in most areas of the country.
- They are quite and do not attract as much attention, making it easier to take out multiple small animals when hunting.
- Believe it or not, during the Vietnam war soldiers were trained with Daisy model 99 BB guns to practice instinctive shooting techniques. They can be a great way to practice target focused shooting and quick kill techniques.
- They are just plain fun, and can be a great way to introduce children to firearms.
What kind of Pellet or BB Gun is best for survival?
If you’re buying one for survival purposes, I would stay away from anything that needs CO2 or compressed air to fire. During a survival situation, these cartridges are going to be hard to come by, making your rifle completely useless once you run out of compressed air. Instead, look for a spring piston or lever action rifle; these allow you to build up air pressure by simply cocking a lever.
- Single pump air rifles only require one pump to obtain maximum power. They are quick, easy to use and the best option when trying to quietly take a number of small animals.
- Multi-Pump air rifles are another good option that allows you to control the amount of power you’re shooting with. They are typically less expensive but they are not as stealthy when trying to hunt.
Of course, if you’re looking to take things to the next level, I highly recommend checking out a Ruger 10/22. It’s one of our favorite .22LR Rifles on the market.
Some BB Guns and Ammo that we like:
For those of us living in Europe, a pellet gun is often the only option.
It seems to me that none of the responders have done their homework. For their three year trip to find a way to take a boat from the Missouri River to the Columbia river, Lewis and Clark carried an air gun with them all the way to the Pacific and back, and did most of their hunting, and most of their awing of Indians with an airgun – and this was in 1806. Not exactly a new idea. And the thing got wet, was lost in a river, shot by nearly everyone on the expedition and a whole bunch of Indians. It was their fall back weapon in case their powder got wet – and most of it did, or got lost in a river and such. And I doubt that many members of the Lewis and Clark expedition, used s they were to using their powder and shot smooth bores, were any better shots than “Big John” must be.
Clint
My 2 cents worth on this topic:
(Given we are talking about Survival items, not fun/games/hobbies)
I believe that a pellet gun is NOT a survival item. Most pellet guns that are powerful enough to reliably kill small game are quite large, long, and heavy. You would be surprised how long and heavy a powerful air rifle is. And FORGET about pellet pistols. They have no power at all, except for a Pre-Charged Pneumatic) PCP pistol, which is a joke because of how long they are (18 inches long, and you have to carry around a heavy pump or scuba tank to fill them). Not to mention, all PCP guns, whether rifles or pistols cost more than VERY nice firearms.
If you have a .22 caliber spring-piston air rifle, which really is the minimum for ensuring hunting medium and small game, this gun will weigh about 8 to 9 pounds and will be a foot longer than a .22LR rimfire firearm. And it is only one eighth as powerful. And WORSE YET, a .177 caliber version of the same gun is just as heavy, and is only one 16th as powerful as a 22LR rimfire firearm, which is a foot shorter, and weighs 4 pounds less.
Again, we are talking about SURVIVAL scenarios. Airguns are great if you want to shoot in stealth in your own house at 10 to 20 yards, or in your back yard, without the cops or neighbors knowing. But if you want to defend against hateful people, or kill a decent sized animal to survive off of, you won’t care about a loud rifle, because your life is either in danger, or you are in the boonies anyways. As for the cost of ammunition – lead pellets are quite cheap, yes. But if you have to shoot 4 of them at a prey before you kill it, or before you hit your target, are you really saving that much money.
Also, pellet guns are a lot less durable in the bush. They have very fragile seals, that are not going to hold up to abuse, rain, variations in temperature, snow, ice, etc. Air rifles are in general quite fragile and need a lot more maintenance and care than any firearm.
Sounds like someone who has never actually used an air rifle and has the cartoonish notion that they’re going to play mountain man after TSHTF.
You’ve got dreams of running around shooting deer left and right, when not battling mutant zombie bikers, don’t cha?
In the real world, spring piston air rifles are more durable than any cartridge rifle. They’re more than accurate enough to take common small game animals at reasonable distances, and even .177 rifles are powerful enough to kill squirrels, rabbits, possums and other edible animals.
And in the real world, those are the only animals that are going to be around to be shot. Deer, elk and other large animals will be wiped out in a matter of weeks.
HPL is an I.D.I.O.T
Brian is a MORONIC punk who knows nothing.
WTF are you talking about, Batman? I am not the one who wrote this original blog, claiming that an air rifle is a great tool for SHTF, etc. And why the hell are you talking about zombies? I live in the f-ing real world. I am not a child who believes in the goddam boogy man.
Dude, do your home work.
I have a 22 caliber Crosman crusher (1000 fps) that killed a wild bore (237 lbs) at 50 yards. First shot to the head.
Quieter and faster then my 22rim.
DON’T UNDERESTIMATE THESES ADULT AIR RIFLES THEY ARE A LETHAL WEAPON. and would rather carry it than my 22 rim.
I think we can let the zombies out of this… But as some of the guys are telling, if the —- hit the fan the best tactic is to keep a very low profile and stay quiet until everything clear out. And, if you want keep the protein coming in, the best option for steal hunting is a .22 cal pellet gun. This is not a way to keep other weapons out of play, but the sound of the air rifles will bring less attention to your operation area and will help protect your hiding hole. Of course, you will need for example a Ruger 10/22 with two or three 25 rounds magazines, a pistol or revolver that will be your every minute companion and something cal .223 or 7.62×39 (AK)in case you have to defend yourself and your family of a mayor problem. Airguns like Diana 34 or 48 in .22 are a little heavy but in power and precision are fully capable of taking medium size game without being noisy, also this is not an equipment to be carry al day long; just to get some meat for the soup of the day. On the other hand, and this was said already, you can buy 5000 pellets under $80.00 that used just to hunt will go a long way. Visit Walmart for boxes of 500 pellets Crossman Premier Magnum Pellets for $7.50 This is a no brainer: powerful, precise, silent and cheap… Now, with this part solved, I want to direct your attention to another very important issue: Water Purification… Think about it’s a very difficult task in the wilderness…
I’ve hunted squirrel and rabbit since I was old enough to hold a gun. Hunting small game is still my favorite thjng to do. I’ve used a .22 rimfire since I was 15 when hunting with a shotgun was no longer a challenge. I have tried probably 100 different rifles. The Ruger 10/22 is a good choice but my all time favorite is a Remington Speedmaster. Small game rarely sits still for long and getting a shot lined up is much faster with open sites. The Speedmasters accuracy with open sites is unmatched. It is a tube fed auto, so you tap out at 15 LR or 22 Shorts. It is also accurate enough to shoot the balls off of a piss ant with a scope. If you want to shoot the 100 yarder and be able to lay down quick fire at a rabbit on the run the speedmaster is what you want.
I bought my first REAL pellet gun about a month ago. It is a Hatsan 95 .22 break barrel. I fitted it with a 3-9x32mm scope and I have been very impressed. I bought the gun online for $95 refurbish and I use Crosman destroyer pellets which are $5 for 200. I have shot and killed two squirrels out of the same tree in consecutive shots at a minimum of 60 yards and probably closer to 70. I shot one that was laying across a small fork in a tree through the chest from below and the destroyer pellet left a hole almost the size of a dime when it exited through his back. It is sad that gun prices have inflated so much that if you ask me what the best gun you can get in the $100 range is I tell you to buy a Hatsan 95 pellet gun. My gun shoots a 14gr .22 pellet over 800fps
I have roughly 900 rounds brass plated hollow point long rifle .22 caliber bullets and was wondering how much i should ask for when I take them to sell them at a local pawn and gun shop? Any idea ? Thank you
These preppers who brag about their gun collections and stored ammo make me laugh at their stupidity.When the armed urban assualt vehicle pulls up on your road and swings its big armor at you,you are not going to use all that stored ammo.Useless.I have a collection of simple weaponry.You DO NOT want to break in my house and have me “throat” you with my 125 Hatsan .25 caliber pellet gun.You will need the emergency room.Feet per second means little.Ft/lbs at the muzzle is what you want with pellet guns.600-800 per sec. with domed shaped or any quality hunting pellet is what you want.Stay away from nitro-piston guns.Get a .25 cal long gun.Store 2-3 extra seals for the spring piston.I can shoot through a dried coconut at 70 yards.Even with a factory silencer..this gun is a loud snap but not as loud as a .22 rim fire.
Modding out a Crosman 1377 right now, perfect middle of the road weapon. If you seriously know a place to get 5000 rounds for under $10, PLEASE share!
i recommend the henry ar7. It’s lightweight and packs into itself. Of course if you want to go with something smaller you can always go with a s&w .17 or .22 revolver.
I was always under the impression that pellet guns were toys for kids. I recently bought a gamo socom extreme .177 cal that claims ” 1700fps”… I brought it home and the first thing I did was take a crack shot at a deer to spook him off my corn… it killed him! I felt so bad… he didn’t make it 20 yards before he folded up. it was a body shot too, I was shocked. 40 yard shot with a tic tac..
I am a 81 yr young woman, I live in a small town, Dalhart TX. I have raccoons that bother my 2 little dogs. What kind of pellet gun can I buy to kill them?I am a country gal can’t shoot my 22 or 410 in town. Would disturb neighbors Can’t trap, get the neighbors cats.
I have killed many squirrels with a .20 cal Benjamin Sheridan. It just depends on the shooter skills.
I have a gamo silent cat and a daisy model 25 and a daisy powerline 880. But my favorite is my gamo silent cat. It is break barrel single cocking and single shot but it shoots a pba pellet at the velocity of 1250 fps. Lead at 1000. Great for small game and pest and just incase I’m being attacked by an unfriendly person my rifle would be more like a .22 lr just because of its velocity.
I believe the high powered pellet gun is the way to go in long term survival,if carry a pellet mold with you. all you need is lead to renew your ammo supply on the go.(you can recover pellets from game, find old fishing lead in rivers, creeks or even old car tire weights).with a .22lr your done when you run out of ammo,unless you carry bullet mold and can make gun powder and brass on the fly.
It ain’t the arrow, it’s the Indian. A skilled hunter can easily stay fed with an air rifle.
Very informative post, than you for sharing.
A good pump pneumatic Air Rifle is a good small game hunting tool. I use my Daisy 880 (tuned for more power and better accuracy) and my Crosman 2289 (also tuned for more power) to help provide food when I am out in the desert for extended times.
I am thinking of buy a pellet gun any thoughts on good powerful ones?
What is wrong with you people. You are out hunting animals that are just in there own habitat trying to survive. and you call it a sport. I am not including someone killing a coyote attacking a pet or a family member. How many of you sick sobs eat all the squirrels and possums etc you claim to have killed. and to think this is only a slight percentage of the sickness that is out there. What a bunch of cowards. Not one of you can play a musical instrument is my guess. But if it’s good enough for your hillbilly papa and grandpappy it’s good enough for you. Weirdos.
Hey Dan, the discussion is about survival not gene pools.
I do play a musical instrument and I can read music too. I am proud of my first family American heritage which I’m sure would include what you have called hillbilly. I prefer the term American. I would prefer to have these folk as a friend rather than a foe should our society ever collapse.
As far as the question regarding survival, my preference for a survival firearm would probably be a 303 Lee Enfield. A simple Lee reloading kit and 303 bullet cast dies. Primers are cheap the gun can be loaded for black powder when the smokeless powder is spent. The action is fast and is combat proven. There are better firearms but I’m concerned with long term usability. A pellet gun could be usefull, just not my first choice.
I might disagree with your sentiments Dan but you have a right to voice your opinion. My hillbilly ancestors fought the British to give you that right.
Steve Barritt
My Ruger Impact 22 pellet rifle goes through a steel barrel at 25 yards. The included scope…all for $90 is icing on the cake.
PLENTY to kill even a large dog……not to mention good protection from any RIF RAF.
Yep- I certainly have real guns with bullets, but when Rome falls this air gun would be a must.