Hey guys. Got to looking at my basement and wondered if I could turn it into a shooting alley of sorts -- for PELLET GUNS. Targets are easy enough to make or come by. It is about 25 to 30 feet across.

My question is about pellet pistols though. Is it worth getting one of those to practice with in the basement when weather is bad, and if so, could you recomend one? I don't care what powers the pistol, be it CO2, compressed air, or whatever. I don't know what price range these things fall in, but lets say I have about $500 to throw at a setup if need be. Just so long as it is good quality. I may use this little pellet pistol for hunting some squirrels around hunting camp in the fall!

I would like to be able to put a scope on the pistol. That is my only "requirement" as I will be hunting with a scoped 460. No, I don't expect there to be ANY other similarities between my 460 S&W and the new pellet pistol!!!

Practice is practice and if you can do it in a controlled climate it's just that much better. I have been looking into this also. I have been into the airgun thing for a while and I am now looking at pistols also. Pyramid Air and Airguns Of Arizona have some pretty good selections. I have been looking at the Browning 800 Express.

Just remember that if you go with a pre charged gun there are a lot of accessories that you need just to be able to shoot. Not very fun to pack a pump out in the field. I am leaing toward the spring guns so all I will have to carry is pellets and it is only one stroke instead of pumping up a multiple pump gun. There are more things to consider, but that will get a start on things.

I have a Daisy pistol that pumps via cocking the forearm. Works great but don't think you can mount a scope on it. Scope or not, time on the trigger is most important.

If your basement is only 25 or 30 feet across this may be another factor in being able to practice with a scope. That's pretty close for scope work.

Air guns are great practice tools! Since you're willing to sacrifice up to $500, take a look at the Baikal IZH-46. Comes with a red dot option, I don't think you want to go scope on a basement gun. (Or do you??)

I used a cheap $60 Crosman 1322 with iron sights. Single cock, heavy but bearable trigger and reasonable accuracy. With pellet trap, 500 pellets and a stack of mini targets, you get to spend less than $100. What's nice about the cock guns is that you get consistent pressure, unlike CO2 containers which get weaker with every shot. Also, you don't have to buy CO2.

If you want something nicer in a gun, check out airgundepot or pyramidair, they have plenty choices. The Beeman HW-70 looks pretty nice...

I could definitely see my groups shrink when I shot a few groups every evening, I think you'll like it, too. Enjoy your new toy!

Thanks guys! Looked at a couple pistols this afternoon, including the browning 800 Express. Also saw the RWS LP-8, which for some reason cost more, but otherwise seems to have the same spec's.

Wanting to use a scope simply cause that is what I will be hunting with. I want to practice as close to the same as I will be hunting. Granted, I'm no were NEAR that cause of, well, basement vs. outdoors! Pretty big difference there already...

What about a .22 with shorts or CB caps with a back stop?

CB caps??

They are a little less power than the shorts.

Unless I had some good ventilation in the basement I wouldn't wanna be poppin' too many caps indoors ;-)

Good ventilation???

But I LOVE the smell of gunpowder!!!

Me2, may not be the best for your long term health tho ;-)

Yep, shooting indoors is no bueno. There's a group of shooters in Houston who got elevated lead levels real quick after shooting indoors for a while. And it's not just the bullet, it can be the primer, too.

Well fine. I'll ventilate then. :-)