So I impulse bought an air rifle.

pew pew pew.

I bought a Ruger Blackhawk a year or two ago to thin out the neighborhood squirrels (plus free hawk food). Works great. But, shooting a springer takes some getting used to.

I don't know much about spring piston air rifles, but I know mine is a Gamo in .22 that I got for cheap at Academy, and it drops crows with no problem. It took me a little learning, but the spring piston air rifles are very sensitive to how you hold them. Google "artillery hold for air rifles." Once I figured this out, it has been extremely accurate. I've had good results with Benjamin Discovery Hollow Point pellets that can be found at Academy. They are very accurate and heavy hitters.

I got some squirrels tearing up the house that need a good pew pew. What Walmarks did you buy this from?

Spring-piston air guns have a brutal double recoil on scopes. Also, check your local laws on shooting them in the city limits. I have been told by law enforcement officers in BR, they are legally no different than shooting a deer rifle.

eta: don't ever dry fire the gun. the spring piston needs the air resistance of the pellet in the barrel to act as a cushion. and another thing, do not use much oil in the gun. excess oil can ignite under pressure and cause a dieseling effect that can ruin the piston mechanism and seal.

Love the Gamo .177 but I will have to look into the 22 Benjamin. Sounds like you got a great deal. We use crossman pellets..gong to try the destroyer line withe next batch.

The Gamo is deadly ...and my boys can hit a big sized target at 150 with ease....and can hammer nails 25-35 yards.

A couple years ago I had a squirrel problem in the attic, so I bought a BB/pellet rifle just like the one I had as a kid. My kid and I had a blast shooting it in my game room. I bought a big box-type archery target. Figured out that 3 pumps was the perfect strength to get the BBs through the first layer, but not through the back of the box - thus, the BBs stay in the box. Put on protective glasses and we were set - had some great target shooting contests and taught him how to shoot, which led to us buying a few .22 rifles and going to the range.
Those squirrels were some smart mofos and made me look like Bill Murray in Caddyshack. But once the babies grew a bit and came out the attic, they were like a deer in the headlights. Easy pickings. But I was surprised it took about 5 pellet shots with 10 pumps from point blank range to kill them. One poor bastard was paralyzed and dragging himself across the sidewalk with his front paws while I was still popping him. I still have nightmares about that horror.