.22LR frangible vs .22 FAC air rifle

[C h r i s]

One of my permissions is plagued with pigeons around the cattle feeders, he wants them all shot, quickly and quietly. I don't currently own an air rifle but have several rimfires. However ricochet and/or noise is a concern with a regular .22LR or 17HMR.

So I'm looking at either using some sort of frangible .22LR bullet, or an FAC air rifle (I prefer the flatter trajectory that those extra ft/sec provides - most shots will be around 60 yards). I cant be the only person who's considered this, so if you've been there/done that I wondering what conclusion you came to?

I know I could use a standard 12 ft/lb rifle, but I'm looking to improve on that in breezy conditions over slightly further distances. (Yes we all know that so and so can hit a 1" FTR target in a gale at 100 yards with his 11.5ft/lb rifle, but I need consistent real world results.)

On the other hand I'm not sure just how frangible these .22LR rounds are, rimfire shots wont be taken unless there is a backstop, so no skyward shots.

 

[Zetter]

I really rate FAC air for stuff like this. It does (with a known fallout zone for the pellet) allow you to take skyward shots, I use it a lot for squizzer bashing where the extra thump comes in handy at longer ranges.
For pigeons compared to 12ft/lb you can comfortable body shoot pigeons and they go down hard. I run a 30 ft/lb .22 BSA R10 and its ideal for feral pigeon control when I have to do it.
I like the .22 RF but you always cringe when you hear that whine of ricochet I tended to not use mine when the ground was hard during the summer switching to the HMR instead and never used it round the building on the farm really due to the risk of a ricochet At that point I always reach for the FAC air or if its inside buildings with fagile roofs I tended to use the sub 12 ft/lb but the ranges were quite short.

 

[long_range_rob]

CCI segmented subsonic works very well. Splits into 3 main pieces.

 

[Whitester]

Just been clearing a few pigeons myself , me with a sub 12 fflb in .177 with heavy pellets and my mate with an fac in .22. I wouldNot consider the 22 lr segment or not as most are tree shots but the fac air definitely give you another 15 yards and more shot placement options.

 

[C h r i s]

hmmm, food for thought, those new Daystate Pulsar rifles are looking tempting, although eye wateringly expensive.

 

[Whitester]

I‘ve seen the pulsar go for £800. 2 nd hand in fac

 

[Zetter]

With the Pulsar if you are tempted just try one out first. I didnt like the balance when I shot one at all. I found the FX in the form of the wildcat much better.

 

[aled24]

CCI segmented subsonic works very well. Splits into 3 main pieces.

Hi, I have to disagre with you on this statement, I bought these to help stop the dreded ricochet after head shooting the rabbits, what a waist of money they still ricochet.

 

[Mr. Gain]

If you would be shooting with the ground as a backstop and 30 or so yards of safe space behind the point of impact, I think you'd be OK with segmented HP rounds. They do segment reliably and the shards have too little mass and too much drag to go far.

FAC air can be very effective -I do at least half of my corvid control that way- but I could do about half of that with a 12 FPE rifle.

If you already have a decent air rifle,
could you use a hide and get closer to the feeders? Pigeons are much less suspicious of new objects than crows are, and if their usual food source is still there, a hide is unlikely to put them off. Well under £100 spent on a hide could pay off better than spending many times that on an FAC air rifle.

On the other hand, if you really just want an FAC air rifle, and have the funds to get one, then why not? It'll do the job you want it for and add a little extra versatility to your arsenal.

 

[Dodder]

IMO FAC air rifles are absolutely mustard and nicely bridge the gap between 12ftlb air rifles and .22rf - wouldnt be without mine, is much much safer than .22rf.

 

[Craigsaun]

Theoben eliminator 28 ftlb on gun trader for £300 . A bit of recoil but no worries about running out of air and what a bit of kit !

 

[Ttocs]

I have both FAC air and 22LR. Both ricochet but the FAC air projectiles are significantly lighter. Have you considered a 410 moderated shotgun. I have one and it’s just as quiet as the 22’s, very effective and there’s virtually no risk of ricochets.

 

[Heym SR20]

What about CB caps or 22 Shorts in the 22 Rifle - can these be obtained still. They produce c30 ft lbs of energy and would be an immediate solution. Or could you load a 22 air rifle pellet into a 222 cartridge and power it with just the primer?

 

[Heym SR20]

What about CB caps or 22 Shorts in the 22 Rifle - can these be obtained still. They produce c30 ft lbs of energy and would be an immediate solution. Or could you load a 22 air rifle pellet into a 222 cartridge and power it with just the primer?

 

[Mr. Gain]

What about CB caps or 22 Shorts in the 22 Rifle - can these be obtained still. They produce c30 ft lbs of energy and would be an immediate solution. Or could you load a 22 air rifle pellet into a 222 cartridge and power it with just the primer?

I want to try the .222 + pellet + primer thing now!

Despite trying them with various rifles, I've not found .22 CBs of any type accurate enough to beat even a 12FPE air rifle, and previous primer/pellet experiments with a 5.56 also lacked adequate consistency. But maybe the smaller .222 case would give better results. I now have a .222 that hadn't yet arrived in the cabinet at the time of my previous experiments, so I may have a play this weekend.

 

[Dodder]

What about CB caps or 22 Shorts in the 22 Rifle - can these be obtained still. They produce c30 ft lbs of energy and would be an immediate solution. Or could you load a 22 air rifle pellet into a 222 cartridge and power it with just the primer?

I tried CB caps in my Finnfire that will easily do sub 1/2" at 50yds and got groups of about 3" at 10yds - absolute rubbish and a complete waste of time!
They were very quiet though - sounded like a mouse breaking wind..

 

[25 Sharps]

If you would be shooting with the ground as a backstop and 30 or so yards of safe space behind the point of impact, I think you'd be OK with segmented HP rounds. They do segment reliably and the shards have too little mass and too much drag to go far.

FAC air can be very effective -I do at least half of my corvid control that way- but I could do about half of that with a 12 FPE rifle.

If you already have a decent air rifle,
could you use a hide and get closer to the feeders? Pigeons are much less suspicious of new objects than crows are, and if their usual food source is still there, a hide is unlikely to put them off. Well under £100 spent on a hide could pay off better than spending many times that on an FAC air rifle.

On the other hand, if you really just want an FAC air rifle, and have the funds to get one, then why not? It'll do the job you want it for and add a little extra versatility to your arsenal.

My superten FAC cost £195 including rfd transfer

 

[Heym SR20]

I want to try the .222 + pellet + primer thing now!

Despite trying them with various rifles, I've not found .22 CBs of any type accurate enough to beat even a 12FPE air rifle, and previous primer/pellet experiments with a 5.56 also lacked adequate consistency. But maybe the smaller .222 case would give better results. I now have a .222 that hadn't yet arrived in the cabinet at the time of my previous experiments, so I may have a play this weekend.

My question led me to Googalator

 

[billy_boyle_2010]

FAC air. 30 ft lbs of .22 would be lovely IMO. sky shots not too much of a problem

 

[C h r i s]

I'm inclined to agree, looks like I'll be applying for a variation next week! I've heard that you don't have to stipulate the calibre for FAC air when you submit the variation?