I've shouldered a

great number of air rifles throughout the years but i think the two most outstanding ones I've had the pleasure to own are the Airforce Talon and the Benjamin Marauder; they're both PCP rifles.

there are, in existence, big bore air rifles, or i could modify my Airforce Talon by changing the barrel, air tank and valve to a larger bore, that are capable of taking big game such as elk, wild pigs and deer with available out there, but i choose to stop at the .25 caliber PCP. i have 'powder burning' rifles for that purpose; my air rifles are more for the smaller game and to 'plink' with around the property with so as not to disturb the neighbors and, the .25 caliber Marauder and .22 caliber Talon is capable of taking fair sized creatures out to around 70 yards. I've taken numerous, good sized rabbits at that yardage with the .22 and .25...they both knock them out of their tracks even at that range.

i had just finished doing some work on the Marauder recently and took it outside for a "test" after re-mounting the scope.

after shooting three shots to check 'zero' and being satisfied it was "on" i noticed something on an old tractor tire i have sitting in the southwest corner of the lot. i shouldered the rifle and peered thru the scope to see a ground squirrel sitting on it looking somewhat like a fur covered ten pins, pin.

these invasive creatures are cute, but, destructive and will render a field or meadow useless in very short order by way of burrowing, just like over sized gophers or prairie dogs, they'll have the place looking like moon scape terrain. not only that, but squirrels, especially ground squirrels, are known sources of the spreading of plague and carry other diseases as well. to me, they're on a par with their relatives, rats and mice.

i opened the bolt slowly and cautiously making sure to cock the hammer as quietly as possible, dropped a huge, .25 caliber JSB diabolo, pellet into the single shot tray, and slowly closed the bolt making sure the pellet fed into the chamber smoothly and correctly.

i lined up the Tech Force 4-12x power scope while adjusting the AO for correct yardage and sight picture all the while centering the heavy reticle cross hairs amidships of the offensive creature; it ranged out to be 68 yards by my Opti-logic, laser range finder.

the Marauder has a wonderful trigger with an ever so sweet, crisp, pull and break. i "snicked" off the safety, began my breathing routine, exhaled, held the thick cross hairs right on the middle of the chest of the squirrel and squeezed the trigger.

the mechanical "tink" sound that eliminates from the marauder tells me the shot has taken off as there is no recoil what so ever from PCP rifles and i see the squirrel literally, explode, in the scope. it was a good shot. one less vermin to destroy the meadow and leave a mess in our tack shed.

closer examination of the carcass showed that the pellet had struck 1/2" low of my aiming point...not bad by any stretch of the imagination; i was one click off.

didn't matter to the squirrel...

I'll continue to 'improve' my air rifle(s) if i feel the need to, but hey...i'm finding that if i want more/better performance...go to the next size up...most manufacturers have the basic platforms perfected, all you have to do is refine it.