I went out back late last night to take my dog out. I see my dog staring at the bird feeder hanging on one side of my 10x10 canopy. I look up at the feeder and there's this rat sitting right on the ledge of the bird feeder, looking right at me. The only way he could have gotten there was by climbing the steel leg of the canopy and then along the rails up top.

All my rifles are in pieces so I was thinking of grabbing my 10/22 with subsonics (overkill) but he jumped and took off. I really need a pistol now for closer range rat killin'. I'm thinking of either a Crosman 1377 or a Beeman P17. It's a toss up for me between a multi-pump or a single stroke. I know the P17 may need some work with the seals from what I've read about it. Anyone here have experience with the P17? I'm planning on sticking with open sights...

I have a P17. It's more accurate than my 1377 (10 meters) and has a better trigger than most off the shelf guns. They aren't power house guns at all. They claim 400fps and most of them achieve that. Mine could muster up 373. I did a piston mod to it and I'm getting 450-460 on cphp's now. They are great plinkers. I wouldn't take any squirrels with them unless I was within 10 yards.

I may just go that route. Plus, I'm always open for another project. What kind of piston mods did you do? I'm not looking for a super powerful pistol, just something that can take rats within 5-10 yards.

just so you know Jon,
the 1377 out of the box is ready for the job of dispatching nutters and the like.
it has a longer barrel then any other pistol so i think it is the easiest to hunt with.

EDIT
also i should mention i have owned a marksman 2004 but never hunted with it.

Jon, I'd vote for the P17, it's got a much better trigger and will have no problem with rats, at 5-10-yrds. Fun to plink with all day too.

Hell I may just get both. I've been thinking about the 1377 for awhile, and maybe making custom furniture, a custom breech and scoping her as a rifle. Hard to go wrong with those prices...

Hey Jon,
The piston mod was a new machined piston with an adjustable rod, much like what you see on the adjustable pistons for the 13xx. I put a viton seal up front and a nitrile seal to the rear. There's a post on the GTA about what I did.

Not enough kick in the P17, but accurate all day long. It's a fun plinker, but get the 1377 for power.

Just my 2 cents: I LOVE the 1377,,,, swapped over to the 14.5" 22 cal Brl. it becomes quite deadly!! The 2240 with the same Brl. becomes even MORE deadly,, with a B&A valve,, WOW!! (Course,,, c-02 loses power in cold weather) I been playin with these pistols&/2250/2260 for a few years now,, I have learned a little about em. Anyone that bad mouths Cros. XX guns pertaining to accuracy,,,,,,,,, has just not shot them enough,, or given them a chance,,, or,, just dont understand bout "Air" or C-02:? Honestly,,, I dont want to offend anyone here,,, I just know what I have been able to achive accuracy wise with Cros. Brls. IMO they are WAY underrated. Tim.

Forgot: 177 is great for target shooting/plinking,,, fact is,, if Ya hunt like I do,, 22 cal. is bout 20% more eficient power wise (Ft. Lbs. Energy). Not sayin 177 wont work,, ( I have taken MANY a "Nutter" with my 1377) IMO 22 cal is better,,, well,, not my opinion,,, pretty well documented. Tim.