Jameshenry
Well-Known Member
Thinking of getting a sub 12ft lbs air rifle for ratting around my farm buildings mostly, most likely it will be a HW100 , but which calibre should i get ?
Air rifle calibre choice
- Thread starter Jameshenry
- Start date
I have an HW100 in .22 and use it for exactly that. I followed the old adage ".22 for fur, .177 for feather".
Never had a rat complain that it wasn't the right tool for the job either
Never had a rat complain that it wasn't the right tool for the job either
Jameshenry
Well-Known Member
Think 177 gets less shots per charge doesn't it ?
There we go - two answers, two different conclusions 
Jameshenry
Well-Known Member
I have shot a few rats with my .222 around the yard when i've come back from foxing but it's a bit extreme
Sampo
Well-Known Member
.22 gives you more power per air unit used, so having it lowered to .177 should give you more shots.
I shot at a rat inside an old brick and flint barn with .22 subs and NV. I missed and hit an old grain trailer. I bet that bullet is still going round that barn now.I have shot a few rats with my .222 around the yard when i've come back from foxing but it's a bit extreme
.177 all day, And if you take it to the local rifle range there is less restrictions to safety than a .22 on our indoor range anyway. Due to bounce back off the back stop?
BC.
BC.
Me too! Love my Hw100 .22I have an HW100 in .22 and use it for exactly that. I followed the old adage ".22 for fur, .177 for feather".
Never had a rat complain that it wasn't the right tool for the job either
I had the original hw100 then the carbine I can’t really fault it. To be honest, only slight issue I see is that the pressure gauge is at the barrel end of the rifle which isn’t ideal. Over than that it is defiantly one of the best if not the best PCP airgun ever made IMO.
I think that's right - more efficient use of air with larger bore
...but if you're still trying to get 12ftlb, and the smaller bore is less efficient, then you'll use more air - meaning fewer shots for a given fill.
Having said that, I am very happy with my .177 for general pest-control use. The flatter trajectory made the decision for me - but that might not matter if the ratting ranges are short.
You can add a third - .20.There we go - two answers, two different conclusions
My HW80 is in .20 and spits out H&N FTT pellets with incredible accuracy and that’s from a springer. Regularly practice on spent 12g carts at 30yds and only go home after making 10/10 hits - sometimes 20/20 if I feel I need the practice.
I should add this is standing / free hand with no rests or supports of any kind
I bought both .22 & .177, mainly because most (all?) club ranges I know of stipulate use of .177
I don't think the .22 hits much, if any harder, than a .177 in non-FAC air rifles
And I think that the flatter trajectory of the .177 makes naff all difference for any of the shooting I do
I don't think the .22 hits much, if any harder, than a .177 in non-FAC air rifles
And I think that the flatter trajectory of the .177 makes naff all difference for any of the shooting I do
East Coast Lifeboat
Well-Known Member
I have had great sport over the years with a simple .22 springer. Stalking rabbits with a springer at dusk is both extremley challanging and very rewarding when sucsessful.
I favor springers for ease of use and reliability, plus if you buy a half decent one they will last a lifetime and beyond. PCP are expensive and require pumps or air bottles, plus that need to be serviced by a specialist engineer to keep them up and running well.
Its hard to beat any HW springer .22 or .177.... IMO !
Sampo
Well-Known Member
Thanks for clarifying.
Similar threads
