# How dangerous is my pellet rifle? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 20, 2006, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dangerous-is-my-pellet-rifle/353481 "2006-04-20T15:33:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2006, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dangerous-is-my-pellet-rifle/353481/41 "2006-04-21T18:16:47Z")
> [@newcrasher](#): > > Fer crying out loud… Word. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2006, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dangerous-is-my-pellet-rifle/353481/42 "2006-04-22T00:52:43Z")
If you charge a pellet gun with 10 pumps of the handle and aim it directly at the head of somebody within, say, 200 yards, you could kill or seriously injure them. Outside that range, in a fairly straight trajectory, you could still hurt them enough to get you in some trouble. If you’re shooting upward at, say, a 30 degree angle with nothing behind it, you aren’t going to hurt anybody as long as you use some common sense. That being said, if you’re asking these questions, I don’t trust you enough with firearms to take the necessary precautions. So don’t do it. Buy some firecrackers or something. Get an owl statue or some other simulated predator. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2006, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dangerous-is-my-pellet-rifle/353481/43 "2006-04-22T01:28:43Z")
> [@Brain Wreck](#): > > If you charge a pellet gun with 10 pumps of the handle and aim it directly at the head of somebody within, say, 200 yards, you could kill or seriously injure them. > . Your post reveals your Crossmancentricness. His pelletgun is a spring-piston design. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2006, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dangerous-is-my-pellet-rifle/353481/44 "2006-04-22T13:37:02Z")
> [@Brain Wreck](#): > > If you charge a pellet gun with 10 pumps of the handle and **aim** it directly at the head of somebody within, say, **200 yards** , you could kill or seriously injure them. I have a those spring-piston pellet guns. A Diana 34. Beautifully rifled barrel, shoots at about 1000 fps. It’s terribly inaccurate. I can hit pop cans from about 50 feet. Sometimes. I gave up on it. From what I remember of the Crossman pump guns, they are no better. Likely worse as they where not rifled. ---
**Author:** ![groman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@groman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groman)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2006, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dangerous-is-my-pellet-rifle/353481/45 "2006-04-22T13:56:21Z")
> [@Brain Wreck](#): > > If you charge a pellet gun with 10 pumps of the handle and aim it directly at the head of somebody within, say, 200 yards, you could kill or seriously injure them. I don’t buy it. I don’t know of any non-CO2 powered pellet gun that could make it to 200 yards much less hurt somebody, it’s going to hit the ground first. Hell there are actual firearms that are useless at 200 yards. ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2006, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dangerous-is-my-pellet-rifle/353481/46 "2006-04-22T13:57:15Z")
Why kill it? It made a mess? It’s bird shit. It’s not like a cow took up shitting on your roof. Why not let the bird have it’s babies then hose down the gutter? Perhaps generations of the blackbird’s family have made their nests in the tree that used to be where your house is. Bloody good thing it doesn’t have opposable thumbs eh. Leave the bloody bird to breed in peace rather then make it a BLOODY dead bird. ---
**Author:** ![groman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@groman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groman)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2006, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dangerous-is-my-pellet-rifle/353481/47 "2006-04-22T13:59:10Z")
> [@calm kiwi](#): > > Why kill it? It made a mess? Amen for that. If a drunk shits in my yard I’m not reaching for the shotgun, and that’s much worse than what a couple of birds can do. ---
**Author:** ![newcrasher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b3f665/32.png) [@newcrasher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcrasher)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2006, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dangerous-is-my-pellet-rifle/353481/48 "2006-04-22T14:35:45Z")
> [@groman](#): > > I don’t buy it. I don’t know of any non-CO2 powered pellet gun that could make it to 200 yards much less hurt somebody, it’s going to hit the ground first. Hell there are actual firearms that are useless at 200 yards. I second your sentiment. I grew up with bb guns and pellet guns. No way can one carry 200 yards. Even if it did it would be harmless…unless you get hit in the eye. ---
**Author:** ![Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crowbar_of_Irony_3)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2006, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dangerous-is-my-pellet-rifle/353481/49 "2006-04-22T14:54:58Z")
> [@Operation Ripper](#): > > Good sweet god, just get a bb gun, walk up underneath it and shoot it in the ass. Done and done. Peeps have been doing same for most of the 20th century without wetting their pants or even taking any precautions and most of us are doing OK still. If you blind or kill someone, buy a lottery ticket as chances of winning are about the same. The difference is that if you managed to blind/wound someone in the attempt, you be the one paying money, perhaps even more than you could get from winning the lottery. Not worth it, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2006, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dangerous-is-my-pellet-rifle/353481/50 "2006-04-22T15:23:58Z")
Would you be comfortable inviting Nolan Ryan to throw rocks at the bird? What if he missed—small chance, and small chance of the stones being lethal, but where will they land? Or, ever read any of the threads here about getting hail damage out of car roofs? Even small hail can cause a ding, so be aware that even non-lethal projectiles are still projectiles, can still cause general annoyance and anonymous damage. Egad, never ever shoot/throw/spit something unless you’re sure you know where it’s likely to land. Also: Does anyone know the average muzzle velocity of an unladen sparrow? (It was only a matter of time until someone asked) ---
**Author:** ![Operation\_Ripper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/34f0e0/32.png) [@Operation\_Ripper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Operation_Ripper)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2006, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dangerous-is-my-pellet-rifle/353481/51 "2006-04-22T16:36:03Z")
My god, won’t someone think of the children? ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2006, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dangerous-is-my-pellet-rifle/353481/52 "2006-04-22T19:14:10Z")
[Here’s the air gun you’re looking for](http://www.airgunsbbguns.com/Career_Dragon_Slayer_Combo_Air_Rifle_50_cal_p/shin-sung-combo-dragon-slayer.htm). Fires a .50 cal pellet, with 192 ft/lbs of energy. Whoo hoo! ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2006, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dangerous-is-my-pellet-rifle/353481/53 "2006-04-22T19:38:59Z")
I’m not happy with the gun solution, here. Why don’t go online and find a nice diagram for building a birdhouse? Get some wood and some tools, _build_ a nice birdhouse, and then throw it at him. ---
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2006, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dangerous-is-my-pellet-rifle/353481/54 "2006-04-22T22:25:02Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > I have never seen anyone killed with a pellet gun. However, I have seen three people blinded by a pellet gun. > > Dr\_Pap, ER Doc Hit in both eyes? Or does it bounce arround or something? Or were they only blinded in one eye? ---
**Author:** ![Iguana\_Boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@Iguana\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iguana_Boy)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2006, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dangerous-is-my-pellet-rifle/353481/55 "2006-04-22T22:31:00Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > … Moreover, every pellet gun fatality I ever heard of involved a child being shot at very close range… Although it doesn’t say here, [this case](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4748655.stm) wasn’t close range, let alone very close range. I’m talking about air rifle ranges of course. I think it was about 30 metres or so, but it’s been a while since I read the case so I could be wrong. The accused was in a 3rd floor flat firing down into the street. He was aiming at the boy’s brother who was carrying the toddler at the time, so this wasn’t a ricochet or a shot falling to earth. The accused was convicted of murder, by the way. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dangerous-is-my-pellet-rifle/353481.md?page=2)