Crosman Ratcatcher

[Riven]

Hi all, anyone have any experience of the Crosman Ratcatcher(2250).
Are they any good? Do they have any faults or limitations. Is it capable of taking out bunnies and pidgeons?
I want something light and portable and these seem to fit the bill. Handled one over the weekend at Chatsworth Fair but didn't get to shoot it so not sure about power etc.
Any info appreciated, Riven.

 

[British Red]

Its not a hunting gun - pushes out hardly more than 8 ft lbs. Not a gun for the responsible hunter - but a great fun gun for tin cans - which is all its meant for.

 

[chimpy leon]

Its not a hunting gun - pushes out hardly more than 8 ft lbs. Not a gun for the responsible hunter - but a great fun gun for tin cans - which is all its meant for.

+1

I personally would not shoot any living creature with anthing less than a reliably consistant 11 ft lbs, rat or otherwise. More chance of a good, clean kill. Ratcatcher is just a modified air pistol, and as BR said for plinking cans, not as a humane hunting tool.

 

[Riven]

Thanks for that Red, clearly not what I am looking for then. Can,t eat tin cans so no good to me.
Cheers, Riven.

 

[Black Sheep]

Its not a hunting gun - pushes out hardly more than 8 ft lbs. Not a gun for the responsible hunter - but a great fun gun for tin cans - which is all its meant for.

True in it's standard form but with a few carefully modifications a 2250 can produce 11+ ft lbs. Most parts are available on the web from companies that specialise in Crosman 2200 range.

I know I own and have worked on a few

All depends what your after.


Richard

 

[British Red]

I'm sure it can be tweaked Richard

Then again, if the OP is asking the question, I suspect he is referring to a "stock" configuration - if he knows how to tune one, he wouldn't have to ask

 

[chimpy leon]

If your hunting on a regular basis, then I'd recommend budgeting for a good second hand, full power springer. Say a break-barrel weirauch or similar. You should be able to get a decent set up for not much more than the price of a ratcatcher + scopes and mounts.

 

[Countryman]

Chimpy Leon makes a good point. Certainly the way I would go.

You can up the performance of a Rat Catcher considerably but the short barrel and therefore lower sight radius will kill its effective range with its iron sights. They can be fitted with a scope but to be honest at in-barn ranges where it might be useful you want quick target acquisition.

It's not really the tool for vermin control.

 

[Andy BB]

For rats at short range its excellent - remember that in the "old" days the typical hunting air-rifles such as the Vulcan, meteor etc were putting out similar ft/lb performances. Surprisingly accurate - possibly because it has a single-shot bolt action, but relatively short barrel means its not a 30-yard weapon.

Power is always a subjective subject - there are many who say anything under 30-ft/lb is irresponsible. But rabbit skulls only need 3-4ft/lb for an instant kill. Just make sure you're up to hitting the skull before trying it!

 

[Gray]

I wouldnt, even with a power adjuster chrono'd in at full power, as already stated the short barrel defo limits the range and in the winter the cold weather causes a considerable pressure drop in the co2 and the reverse in the summer. If you have it tweaked to full power at winter time or in cold conditions, when it warms up the chances are it'll be over 12 fpe which means without a fac, your breaking the law. I was in my local gunshop on friday and he's got a clean 2nd hand HW80, probably one of the best springers ever made for £180. No way i'd choose a ratcatcher over that tbh.

 

[Jonbodthethird]

Honestly buddy they will go about 30 yards accurately anything more then that I wouldn't try it.. Get a decent air rifle for longer shots. I've got a weihrauch hw97kt and tuned it! I can take down pests at 70/80 yards fairly easily its definitely the Best spring gun there is with a good v mach spring. My AA s410 also a good solid hunting gun for the money too.


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[Jonbodthethird]

Get your self a second hand 97k, 80k, or if you can spend a little more a 90 wouldn't go a miss. Other then that its pcp prices after that and then your looking at pumps.


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[Welshwizard]

Even with the power upped on these the trigger does not aid accuracy in its standard form , as others have said go for a Weihrauch or AA prosport etc in springers or if its within your budget a good multishot PCP rifle .

 

[Tomcoles]

You would be better off with a stick to kill a bunny than a rat catcher. Buy a decent springer follow what mr red has advised or save up and buy a pcp otherwise u will be wasting money and become dissappointed

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[stonepark]

Hi all, anyone have any experience of the Crosman Ratcatcher(2250).
Any info appreciated, Riven.

If you are capable of knocking a few pins out and some basic handiness, would be better looking at a modded 1377 to 2250 configuration, barrel,stock and a flat topped piston will give you 11 to 12ftlb. Do a search on google or crosman owners forum.

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[ozzy1977]

The accuracy is still dubious even if it has been tweaked, and you would also need a chrono to check you have not gone over limit

 

[FGYT]

I used to Use a Ratcatcher for rats and feral Pigeons but only close up and in barns etc at night with NVD so 10-15yrds (Yes i did get a Defrea Licence for birds at night with illumination etc)
Was in airgunner artical many years back Terry Doe came out to meet me even bought fish n chipps

it was Highly tweaked and putting out just over 10ft lbs (to get 12 you needed a longer barrel) with heavy pellets

Wouldnt use it for rabbits or longer than the 15yrds ish on the Rats etc CO2 is also very finicky on temperature affecting the ME/MV

 

[NikDarkwood]

I''ve had a great ratcatcher for years, it's accurate, tuned to just below the legal limit and running on hpa gets between 100 and 300 shots per refill. It's a tack driver out to perhaps 40m and takes down very small with the simple addition of a backpacker stock quick release button. However it is hideously ugly. Most people I shoot with are snobs so I tend to use a mk2 airsporter to avoid ill informed ribaldry.
I don't like co2, it's too temperature sensitive but the air conversion was cheap simple and safe. (12oz bottle as fore stock.) If you don't like co2 or charging cylinders it is possible to built a self contained legal multi pump carbine based on other crosman components that's accurate, reliable and powerfull enough for rabbits. It will cost you almost as much as a quality second hand Springer but will have the advantage of being easier to work on and a fraction of the size and weight. Traditionalists will hate you however

 

[Samon]

I''ve had a great ratcatcher for years, it's accurate, tuned to just below the legal limit and running on hpa gets between 100 and 300 shots per refill. It's a tack driver out to perhaps 40m and takes down very small with the simple addition of a backpacker stock quick release button. However it is hideously ugly. Most people I shoot with are snobs so I tend to use a mk2 airsporter to avoid ill informed ribaldry.
I don't like co2, it's too temperature sensitive but the air conversion was cheap simple and safe. (12oz bottle as fore stock.) If you don't like co2 or charging cylinders it is possible to built a self contained legal multi pump carbine based on other crosman components that's accurate, reliable and powerfull enough for rabbits. It will cost you almost as much as a quality second hand Springer but will have the advantage of being easier to work on and a fraction of the size and weight. Traditionalists will hate you however

Spot on. Hpa (high powered air/PCP conversion) transforms the toys into ugly but capable tools. Sticking with costly co2 can still give you full power but with only around 10 shots or so with the standard capsule.

The best thing about the rat series is the customisability, there is a shed load of bits to stick on them!

Here's my 2240 ratbuster I spent some time on,





I did trigger mod's,custom grips, moderator, stock, scope, steel breech and brass hardware. Great fun and I ran it at pistol power and took out rats at under 10m humanely.

At 10m I could do this, not bad for such a light weight gun,

 

[Jonbodthethird]

That's it though it's a rat gun for under 20m but a gun for further distances your looking at a rifle bit a pistol.


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