FAC air instead of .22lr?

[wildfowler.250]

Well folks, I’ve had a pcp air craving for years, just never got round to it. The old Weihrauch springer is fine but I think I’d get more out of the pcp and quieter.. The main thing I’d like the airgun for is roost shooting pigeons. Normally when you see the videos online (airgun show and so on) they tend to be using the FAC air rifles for this. Possibky longer distances, swaying branches and chest shots.

I don’t use the .22lr much unless it’s for ambush tactics. Frankly I find the trajectory a pain and the .17hmr so much easier.


Am I daft to sell the .22lr and get a FAC air? Or would normal 12ft/lb be plenty?


Are there any particularly good airgun shops in central Scotland or something you realistically have to travel south to for a trail?


Thanks!

 

[hammo]

Hi
I went down exactly this route. I bought an FX Dreamline classic in .22, it gives 28 ft/lb with pellets; super accurate and a nadge over 30ft/lb with hollow point slugs - these are heavier and really hit hard. I have done a couple of rabbit clearance jobs and it was a great tool for the job.
There is a power setting which lets you drop down to around 12ft/lb with the simple turn of an adjuster - very handy.
The stirrup pump is handy but becomes a slight chore, so upgraded to a 7 litre bottle instead.
To be honest the FX gets little use now, and resale values will see you take a beating on an FAC air rifle.
Go for it if you want to scratch the itch, but take into account your charging options.

 

[flatliner]

I wouldn't be without mine now. Bought a Mk2 Rapid just before Christmas running at 32ft/lb, covers me for the majority of my corvid control,and any rabbits in areas where noise could be an issue. .17hmr was my first rimfire, but had changed to .22lr because noise considerations, but given how well I'm getting on with FAC air, the .22lr is making way for an hmr.

 

[Rake Aboot]

It’ll never replace LR but it has its place.
I use both.

Try Live lines in Armadale.
Or Ed at Edinburgh rifles ( on here)

 

[.270s202]

I find air is very dependant on the person, some people love them,and like me some as said above scratch the itch then get fed up of them!
Used an fx maverick sniper in .22 for a while at max 40ftlb ish, was a good tool etc, handy aswell with adjustability on the power output so could take pigeons inside sheds with the worry of putting holes in roof!

But after novelty wears off, you get fed up carting an airtank around, a seal here and there might start getting leaky and then it'll sit in the cupboard

 

[Bowland blades]

Well folks, I’ve had a pcp air craving for years, just never got round to it. The old Weihrauch springer is fine but I think I’d get more out of the pcp and quieter.. The main thing I’d like the airgun for is roost shooting pigeons. Normally when you see the videos online (airgun show and so on) they tend to be using the FAC air rifles for this. Possibky longer distances, swaying branches and chest shots.

I don’t use the .22lr much unless it’s for ambush tactics. Frankly I find the trajectory a pain and the .17hmr so much easier.


Am I daft to sell the .22lr and get a FAC air? Or would normal 12ft/lb be plenty?


Are there any particularly good airgun shops in central Scotland or something you realistically have to travel south to for a trail?


Thanks!

Have you not looked at lower power 22 ammo I use CCI quiet target spec for some jobs where a shorter fall down range is required . 12 ft lb is good for rats and feral pigeon in barns etc . In my direct personal experience 14-16 ft lb out of a .22 air rifle , preferably a good spring gun because the faff over tanks and air leak fixing is not worth my time and effort and 22 rf can cover more bases after that at less cost and waaay lower maintenance issues.
Quiets , Subsonic then HV ( velocitors on the latter as they are std 40 grain) and the 22 covers the rest .
Ex airgun nut speaking BTW but today i keep one rescued Scottish BSA and one Steve Pope built HW80 lazerglide .
Past what i have typed airguns / airgunning is a hobby in itself but is far more expensive , less effective and more costly and less reliable ( the latter point applies mainly to pre-charged ) .

 

[Bowland blades]

I might add inside of 40 yards 12 ft lb will kill all appropriate vermin very well if the gun is accurate and the user competent with it . 40 yards is further than generally required to shoot Ferals in barns or rats etc
I didn't find 30 ftlb helped much at all

 

[old keeper]

Basically, FAC Air and 22LR have different uses. I wouldn't be without my .22 FAC FX Crown, and equally, I wouldn't get rid of my LR. I find I'm using the FAC more and more and out to 60 and more yards it's quiet and lethal. But there are occasions when the heavier bullet of the LR can be of use.
To be honest, with the sort of prices secondhand 22LRs are fetching, I suspect you would be better off hanging on to it.
FAC air rifles are incredibly accurate and great fun to use and once you get to know the rifle it's amazing just how far they will kill quarry humanely.

 

[6.5-06 TIKKA]

Try SK ammunition for for .22lr it's cheap , accurate and slower than usual non subsonic.
I had a Theoben Eliminator in 22 and it did a job.
If I did it again I'd buy a Theoben Rapid....due to barrel accuracy.
Anschutz or Lothar Walther.

 

[B&W FOX]

PCP air rifles in sub 12 ftlb format or fac are expensive in comparison to .22rf.

Make sure you have somewhere local that can fill and retest your bottle.
Best still have two bottles.
Trying to fill an fac on a pump is a chore.
Could buy your own compressor to fill depending on your use.

Probably will need a service and new seals every 4/5 years. cost around £130 by a good gunsmith. ( I was quoted £250 by one who thought the " Sunshines" out his @rse)

Another good tool that has it's place for pest control along with 22rf.

 

[CookM]

12ft lb less likely to go through the barn roofing sheets.
I used a BSA Airsporter .22 with heavy flat head target pellets to good effect.
Beat the rats over, and found it did not go through too often on the pigeons.

Why? oh why? did l swap it for a mountain bike.......

 

[HonestJohn]

Love my 22LR and will never desert her.

Also love my old Diana Mod 70 22 springer which I’ve upgraded to FAC with an OX spring now running it around 18ft/lbs. Sorts out anything needed pest wise with ease and it’s standard open sights to around 50yds. Plink from field positions around 500 pellets a week for practise, so even the odd rat at 30 yds has become a pretty basic affair standing with open sights. Head shooting feral pigeons past 25yds is more tricky, but you can generally sneak up on them.

Not going down the pcp route, love my simple life!

 

[Squirrelbasher]

PCP’s are good tools for sure, whether 12ft lbs or fac. I have four of them 12ft lbs and fac and I’ve had leaks along the way. My 12 litre bottle is out of test and almost (180bar) out of air. As accurate as they are, I find them a faff to keep charged, boring to plink, practice or target shoot with and use my springers mainly for that. I’ve got a Theoben Sirocco in .20 cal but always fancied an Eliminator, it’s an itch that keeps coming back. Maybe one day…..

 

[Bowland blades]

PCP’s are good tools for sure, whether 12ft lbs or fac. I have four of them 12ft lbs and fac and I’ve had leaks along the way. My 12 litre bottle is out of test and almost (180bar) out of air. As accurate as they are, I find them a faff to keep charged, boring to plink, practice or target shoot with and use my springers mainly for that. I’ve got a Theoben Sirocco in .20 cal but always fancied an Eliminator, it’s an itch that keeps coming back. Maybe one day…..

Try and get to shoot an Eliminator, It will soon put you off ! Horrid things at full power , Terry Doe if i remember correctly wrote a genuine honest review saying how poor it was and it got totally re-written by the editor
I have shot two examples both where unpleasant and displayed terrible accuracy!
Doing similar with the Pope developed lazerglide spring piston design ( as used in the TX ) could have been interesting but the Eliminator Probebly is the worst airgun i have ever shot only slightly ahead of the Stirling backwards acting spring piston system.

 

[Macloaded]

Subject to set up costs (charging gear) FAC air is fantastic. I have both 22lr and X2 fac air (.22 and .25). There is a lot of crossover between.25 fac air and the 22lr and both will take rabbits happily out to 90 to 100yards in the right conditions. Despite this I find myself reaching less and less for the rimfire as fac air is just much more flexible in terms of power. It also is less likely to ricochet and if it does it isn't quite so dangerous.

Really the only downside to fac air is the cost of purchase and set up as compared to a 22lr. If that doesn't put you off it is a very useful tool and would probably compliment the hmr better than the 22lr.

 

[Cyres]

If your going PCP buy an older Daystate or Air Arms both easy to do DiY seal replacements. Get the biggest bottle capacity you can. Saves vast amount of hassle and costs the same to fill regardless of volume. Don't get FAC in .177
FAC air rifles are cheap and certainly don't get anything with electronic gizmos on it.
D

 

[6.5-06 TIKKA]

I had an Eliminator in the ambidextrous Crow Magnum stock.Mine was great to shoot and very accurate. Cocking it was made easier because it had a long barrel too.
So good for some and not for others I suppose.

 

[.270s202]

If your going PCP buy an older Daystate or Air Arms both easy to do DiY seal replacements. Get the biggest bottle capacity you can. Saves vast amount of hassle and costs the same to fill regardless of volume. Don't get FAC in .177
FAC air rifles are cheap and certainly don't get anything with electronic gizmos on it.
D

I'd agree with that, had multiple daystates over the years, a few of the mct type with the digital screen etc, they did have a few issues here and there,
Had an early cdt airwolf with just the regulator gauge on side of rifle, albeit still has the electric trigger (which I think is great), snapped stock twice due to various accidents, got soaking wet multiple times, still has original battery for trigger, never had seals bar a couple on the pellet probe, its north of 10years old and still operates perfectly and puts pellet on pellet

 

[Bowland blades]

Subject to set up costs (charging gear) FAC air is fantastic. I have both 22lr and X2 fac air (.22 and .25). There is a lot of crossover between.25 fac air and the 22lr and both will take rabbits happily out to 90 to 100yards in the right conditions. Despite this I find myself reaching less and less for the rimfire as fac air is just much more flexible in terms of power. It also is less likely to ricochet and if it does it isn't quite so dangerous.

Really the only downside to fac air is the cost of purchase and set up as compared to a 22lr. If that doesn't put you off it is a very useful tool and would probably compliment the hmr better than the 22lr.

Reliability is down with PCP , Purchase cost UP a long way technical issues are frequent . Hearing a ricochet and having one are two different things . I have never had an audible CF ricochet but i have 100% had them occur . CF ricochet are so rarely audible that i have never heard one from the firing point ( the projectile needs to be subsonic after impact ) for you to hear a ricochet and when we talk deer rifle that is likely had to be slowed by 2/3rd or so on the poor impact for the wizz noise to be noticed and then bare in mind you have ear protection on or tempary hearing acuity loss at that time

 

[Old Waltonian]

As someone who has been down the line of FAC air (springun) in the past and had the itch quickly scratched, I would echo what Bowland blades has said above, regarding low-velocity .22LR ammunition. Taking this to the next level, I use RWS 'Z Lang' ammunition in place of an air rifle for ranges between 10 and 40 yds on rats and grey squirrels. The bullets weigh 29 grains and generate around 30 ft lbs of energy, which, when used in conjunction with a .22 rimfire sound moderator, are far quieter than any PCP air rifle I have ever used, with nothing more than the click of the rifle firing pin being audible!