Air Rifle Advice

[1hughes]

Hey Guys - Can someone give me some advice on an air rifle, for rabbits out to 60-70yrd. In a paddock, backdrop is safe but quite open so ideally 50yrs+

I don't want to get it on my firearms but seems gas is the best option but have limited knowledge. Also unsure about .17 vs .22

Pricing - don't want to go mad. Say £500-£800 full package new...tbc

thanks for the advice

 

[Zetter]

Really I would go for a Pre Charge Pneumatic air rifle for the budget you have you should be able to get something middle of the road easily with all the kits (bottle etc for that) Second hand you could do really well tbh.
Range wise though its doable by much better shots than me I have always limited myself to <40 yards with sub 12 ft/lb just due to the lower energy/ requirement for head shots.
For 60-70 yards I prefer FAC air though as you note is it a lot more hassle, but having an FAC for other stuff it wasnt that much of an issue for me. Also there are some PCP FAC rifles out there for silly money second had at the moment.

If you still prefer sub 12 ft/lb .177 gives you a flatter trajectory which helps as the .22 trajectory can get a bit like a banana further out although this can be fixed now if you use a digital scope with ballistic calculator.

I would definitely have a look second hand as that sort of money would buy you a decent rifle and bottle from one of the big manufactures such as air arms, BSA or HW.

If you wanted to go new you could still get one of the raft of Turkish PCP kits out there that to be honest do the job and have come on a long way in the last couple of years.

 

[old keeper]

If you're using an air rifle for rabbits out to 60-70 yards, then that pretty well rules out sub 12 ft lb. I've been through most of the calibres over the years but have finally settled on .25 for rabbits. I've started using 30grn slugs in my FAC rifle, and they are truly lethal.
Obviously it's up to you, but if you are regularly shooting out to 70 yards or so, then it really does have to be FAC- rated air. As Zetter said, there are a lot of very good second-hand FAC rifles out there at very manageable prices.

 

[7-08Ai]

Fac air is the way to go

 

[1hughes]

Thanks a lot guys. Very helpful

 

[Zetter]

If you do go FAC on the SD there are some really good rifles to be had if you have an FAC and can get a reasonably rapid variation. Like the Old Keeper I have a .25 FAC air and even with normally pellets coupling it with a second hard digital scope with a ballistics calculator its a cracking gun for rabbits and squirrels out to 80 yards.

 

[Klenchblaize]

FAC air in either .22 or .25 and a 50-yard were made for each other.

K

 

[12gsnapcaps]

70-80 yards is possible with a sub 12 but it is the extreme exception rather than the rule.

You'd need a top level .177 rifle, a top level digital optic with BC DOPE/Drop, specific pellets that you've tested after going through 10 other brands, then lots of practise.

Then you'd need a zero wind day, and a fully supported shooting position. A static quarry.

I've taken rabbits at 70+ yards with the above, a handful of times.

As others have said, get a sub 12 and limit yourself to 40/50 yards or just get an FAC air. Or better yet, just get a .22LR which is better in every way for the same licensing rigmarole

 

[andyk]

I’d agree with what others have said. Sub-12 I’m now a convert to 177. A non-FAC airgun kills by punching a hole in something vital, so you need whatever allows you to most easily put that hole where it needs to be.

I consider about 40-45m (so 45-50yds) about the max range for reliable hits with a 177 at less than 12ft/lbs.

Some years back I had a 20ish ft/lbs 22 Daystate. Using 20gr pellets it was pretty good for what you describe.

My view would be get a FAC 22 in the region of 20-30 ft/lbs and a PCP. If you go second hand, these can be had for really good money, as the market is poor. You can get some really flash FAC airguns now, but I do struggle to see what they offer over a 22LR, while costing somewhat more.

 

[iain b]

70-80 yards is possible with a sub 12 but it is the extreme exception rather than the rule.

You'd need a top level .177 rifle, a top level digital optic with BC DOPE/Drop, specific pellets that you've tested after going through 10 other brands, then lots of practise.

Then you'd need a zero wind day, and a fully supported shooting position. A static quarry.

I've taken rabbits at 70+ yards with the above, a handful of times.

As others have said, get a sub 12 and limit yourself to 40/50 yards or just get an FAC air. Or better yet, just get a .22LR which is better in every way for the same licensing rigmarole

Go .17hmr over the .22lr Less chance of ricochet. Not to say the hmr won’t. It will but not as often as .22 lr. And it’s a much faster round but at 30p+ a round. I’d go fac air

 

[12gsnapcaps]

Go .17hmr over the .22lr Less chance of ricochet. Not to say the hmr won’t. It will but not as often as .22 lr. And it’s a much faster round but at 30p+ a round. I’d go fac air

.17HMR is in an utterly different league. It's likely OP is looking for something quiet and cheap to shoot within certain parameters.

HMR is loud, almost as expensive as a small Centrefire. Whilst it is an EXCELLENT chambering - I shoot mine regularly - it's not really relevant to this discussion as per what I presume the OP is searching for.

It also, whilst the projectile has a lower chance of ricochet, carries two and a half times the ft/b energy as a subsonic 22LR, 10 times the energy of a mid range FAC air and 25 times the energy of a non ticket air rifle.

No disrespect to you, I see what you're getting at, but - in my personal opinion - the 22LR is the best all round chambering for what the OP is likely looking for.

 

[Rake Aboot]

I’m using FAC air in 177. Running 20 ft/lb and it’s absolutely amazing out to those ranges
Flat and hits plenty hard enough to knock the over with the trajectory allowing for reliable head shots

Lots dismiss 177 for FAC. They are wrong.

Other than that just get a 22lr on subs

 

[Bowland blades]

Cheapest and best and cheapest would be a .22rf used CZ 452 has served my many years . Airguns? Well you will be spending a lot more and they still wont be as effective . Range of different ammo runs CCi Quiets , subsonic , std velocity , Match , High velocity . Quiets are the low end your looking at 30 yards effective , high velocity and the range . An expert with the right will go 150 and capable for clean head shot
If you haven't got an FAC just yet? go for a break action air rifle ! I like Weihrauch of then just termed HW . Your looking at sub 12 and every shooter should have at least one , great fun and at 10.5 - just touching the 12 ft lb . I mainly use these for Rats etc but they certainly Kill Rabbits but you need to keep to around 40 yards MAXIMUM unless your an expert and the conditions are perfect ! Yeah you can shoot further but you will get a lot of injured Quarry .

 

[Squirrelbasher]

If you already have a fac I'd suggest applying for a variation for fac air slot. Shouldn't be a problem at all and will be better suited for the job than 12ft lbs for sure.

 

[Bo Diddley]

AGT Vulcan, fac in .25 is made for the job. An excellent workhorse, reliable, accurate.

But you could give it a whirl with a decent .177 sub12 with something like a Zulus on top.
I've shot and killed cleanly out to 74 yards with my sub12 .177, not sure how often I'd pull it off though .

 

[Flash G 74]

If you already have a fac I'd suggest applying for a variation for fac air slot. Shouldn't be a problem at all and will be better suited for the job than 12ft lbs for sure.

Hello, As above sounds the best solution,

 

[sauer]

FAC air

Now there are those with amazing high end kit slugs liners for barrels etc and by christ they know their 5hit and can literally one hole

Or those of us who dabble with a FAC are and enjoy it.... both can do what you want

.22 or .25 FAC air...

Im a dabbler ...an old fac 28ft lbs 30 odd yr old theobhan and it works ..cost circa £400

It will do what your asking

But if you have the work for one and the money for a high end fac air rifle .in
25 or even .30 using latest slugs and 50 or even 80 odd ft lbs then go for it


Either way.....its bl00dy damn guid fun
Ps ....go ratting with Nv or thermal....now that's addictive!

Paul

 

[Bowland blades]

Go .17hmr over the .22lr Less chance of ricochet. Not to say the hmr won’t. It will but not as often as .22 lr. And it’s a much faster round but at 30p+ a round. I’d go fac air

The .22 RF has less energy . Ricochet danger can only be measured by the energy and the HMR has more energy . You will get ricochets with your HMR but they cannot mostly be detected by the ear its fast enough as they are super sonic . Both still hold ricochet potential and both can travel a long way . We really cannot pull out " they turn to bits " . "they dont ricochet less " etc etc .
When we talk risk factors , we rely on Kinetic energy produced , you will also find indoor clubs ban the 17 HMR . There was a Lady who dropped a Grizzly Bear one shot to the brain with a 22 short The Bear was very dead

 

[wully1234]

Hmr is way overkill for rabbits at that distance, more suitable for 120/150m+ as well as foxes.. devastatingly accurate and devastating explosive round at sensible ranges.
Sounds like 22lr would do the job just nice unless you need the fac air for other jobs

 

[Bowland blades]

Hmr is way overkill for rabbits at that distance, more suitable for 120/150m+ as well as foxes.. devastatingly accurate and devastating explosive round at sensible ranges.
Sounds like 22lr would do the job just nice unless you need the fac air for other jobs

many of us shoot Rabbits with CF Rifles near and far . You will loose a few heads on a few but we don't go big on eating the brain the head is discarded. Any Rabbit that is hit clean in the head is perfectly ok for the kitchen Up to 223rem 50 grain . Likewise the HMR which of course has a lot less kinetic than the 223.
Of course we can shoot Rabbits with a fairly low power say 9 to 12 ftlb if ranges are modest