Fac air is it worth it ?

[Muffin man]

I have just got my ticket for a .22 FAC air rifle for pest control. I have used my Walther RM8 .177 sub 12 with Precision Ballistics slugs for squirrels at short 10-15m distance and it is phenomenally accurate for head shots and always goes through, even body shots through the chest cavity.
However, I won't yet go near problem birds with it in case they get winged and end up off my property. I opted for FAC to ensure I had first time knock-down power with 20-ish grain slugs so there is no risk that they may move off.
It depends on where you are shooting and whether if you only injure something, you can safely take follow-up shots.

With an Fac .22 the slugs will expand and not pass through or on the odd occasion they do will be heavily deformed and not go very far at all. If you want a set and forget slug shooter check out the airgun technology uragan standard it will do exactly what you want

 

[villaman]

I have just got my ticket for a .22 FAC air rifle for pest control. I have used my Walther RM8 .177 sub 12 with Precision Ballistics slugs for squirrels at short 10-15m distance and it is phenomenally accurate for head shots and always goes through, even body shots through the chest cavity.
However, I won't yet go near problem birds with it in case they get winged and end up off my property. I opted for FAC to ensure I had first time knock-down power with 20-ish grain slugs so there is no risk that they may move off.
It depends on where you are shooting and whether if you only injure something, you can safely take follow-up shots.

Yes they can move off

 

[villaman]

With an Fac .22 the slugs will expand and not pass through or on the odd occasion they do will be heavily deformed and not go very far at all. If you want a set and forget slug shooter check out the airgun technology uragan standard it will do exactly what you want

Not completely true about slugs

 

[Muffin man]

Not completely true about slugs

What’s not completely true ?

 

[villaman]

Slugs will not pas through

Slugs will definitely pass through depending on fps

 

[Muffin man]

Slugs will definitely pass through depending on fps

I’ve shot slugs from 16 grain to 40 grain in .22 and never had any problems because they open out so much. Once their going fast enough to fly straight they have enough energy to expand and not pass through that’s been my experience with avs, nsa, h&n and zan

 

[villaman]

I’ve shot slugs from 16 grain to 40 grain in .22 and never had any problems because they open out so much. Once their going fast enough to fly straight they have enough energy to expand and not pass through that’s been my experience with avs, nsa, h&n and zan

You are a bit naive if you believe slugs won’t pass through

 

[Muffin man]

You are a bit naive if you believe slugs won’t pass through

I’m speaking from my own experience, I’ve shot pigeons with 33 grain slugs at 75 foot pounds of energy and not had pass through yet a pellet shot at much lower power will go straight through. What slugs are you using at what speeds and getting them pass through ?

 

[scoby3030]

Had several different Fac air rifles, in both .22 and .25, mainly for use on squirrels and rabbits. i have on numerous occasions had slugs go through the quarry, they do deform but you can sometimes hear the thwack as they hit the backstop, 33gr zan's in a 75ft lb .25 are accurate and deadly.

s

 

[Muffin man]

Had several different Fac air rifles, in both .22 and .25, mainly for use on squirrels and rabbits. i have on numerous occasions had slugs go through the quarry, they do deform but you can sometimes hear the thwack as they hit the backstop, 33gr zan's in a 75ft lb .25 are accurate and deadly.

s

Yeah I agree they can go through I did say that in the first place but they deform so much they usually drop just behind the target animal but I’d say my shots that have passed through are probably 1 in 30 and I’ve picked up and examined a hell of a lot and fished out the slugs which end up as big as a 5p piece

 

[David.evans]

Slugs will definitely pass through depending on fps

Correct

 

[Muffin man]

Correct

What slugs are you shooting at what speeds.because I really don’t get many pass through

 

[David.evans]

Zan 33g @ 986fps they go thro 18mm ply at 50 yards

 

[Muffin man]

Zan 33g @ 986fps they go thro 18mm ply at 50 yards

Yeah similar speeds to where I’m at I run them at around 1000fps and yes they go through 18mm Osb at 50 yards but I find all the splattered bits of slug right behind the target. On wooden targets the slugs expand so much they come apart and the pieces are the thickness of a milk bottle top and the exit holes on the timber are a big smashed out mess. That’s exactly what their designed to do but what about on live targets are you hearing them hit behind or zing off ? All I’ve ever had is them exiting and landing a few feet away

 

[villaman]

Yeah similar speeds to where I’m at I run them at around 1000fps and yes they go through 18mm Osb at 50 yards but I find all the splattered bits of slug right behind the target. On wooden targets the slugs expand so much they come apart and the pieces are the thickness of a milk bottle top and the exit holes on the timber are a big smashed out mess. That’s exactly what their designed to do but what about on live targets are you hearing them hit behind or zing off ? All I’ve ever had is them exiting and landing a few feet away

You definitely need to think about pass through if you want to keep your certificate

 

[Muffin man]

You definitely need to think about pass through if you want to keep your certificate

always do anyway incase I miss and always have that goes without saying. but pass through aren’t a problem with my setup as I’ve already stated

 

[maxmax75]

I’ve never heard that as being an issue
As I said, that’s a BSA R10 running 20ft/lb and it shoots like a laser.

Interesting about the supersonic thing though.

Yes, supersonic is a disaster for airgun pellets as they get hit from behind when they go back through the sound barrier. This is also the downfall of the 22lr but it's even worse for light diabolo pellets.

 

[Klenchblaize]

Rather than starting a new thread, I’m interested in what you guys think of the following. Not the crass approach to reviewing the piece of kit in question but rather the potential for this to be the future for hunting with a rifle if projectiles can be made from a non-toxic material.

Either way it’s overkill for West London grey squirrel!



K

 

[Rake Aboot]

Already popular , especially in the US but I hate to think what the shot count on that cylinder is .

Recharge every 3 shots maybe ?

 

[Klenchblaize]

Already popular , especially in the US but I hate to think what the shot count on that cylinder is .

Recharge every 3 shots maybe ?

I did note that and yes, probably only 3.

But we shouldn’t be overly fixated on this limitation as all SD members are clearly “One Shot” Deer Hunters!

K