air rifles?

[private fraser]

Daven, if you go for a gas ram or a springer at that power level, bear in mind that they can be pretty snappy and rough on 'scopes.
There's the effect of the piston hitting home and bouncing on the air cushion at the end of the stroke so you get a kind of a double whammy.
Theoben designed a two piece piston to counter this effect. I think the Theoben Dampa mount is still available and I would definitely fit that.
Shame they went bust as their designers were pretty damn good.

 

[Cyres]

In this case HW80 is the one you want, actually originally designed for the export market and is best at 18ftlb, If my memmory is correct was sold as a Beeman Crow magnum in USA. All bits/springs are readily available and tuning kit from T Robb to be recommended.

D

 

[daven]

do you folks have crosman air rifles? Any experience with the Crosman Optimus? Ad says 1200 ps which in a converter on pyramid air is 25.5 ft lb.....

 

[Mr. Gain]

There are some good rifles out this year.

Crosman's Benjamin Trail NP2 is a second-generation gas ram and promises to be both powerful and smooth, as well as quite cheap!
Umarex's LGU under-lever is a spring-powered rifle but one with a fast action and a good trigger, and less expensive than its LGV break-barrel counterpart
Diana also do a gas-ram rifle now, the 340 N-Tec, which is rather handsome in its Luxus Compact Pro format, if also rather pricey.

Benchmark spring rifles are the Weihrauch HW99 and 95, both of which handle more like lightweight stalking rifles than the older HW35, HW80 or gas-ram HW90; plus the Air Arms TX series and Pro Sport.

I think air rifle shooting is a great way to practise sitting, kneeling and standing shots, and also to practise compensating for drop and wind, but power isn't essential to either kind of practice. What you do want is a trigger that resembles the one on the cartridge rifle you are trying to get better with, and an air rifle that approximates to its weight.

 

[daven]

It may seem like a good idea, but you live in Germany, so can forget about sensible air rifle usage.

If you want to buy one freely it will be limited to 7.5 joules (5.5. fpe). I've got pistols more powerful, and they are only good for punching holes in paper at 6-10 metres.

In the UK we can freely buy rifles up to 12 fpe. In Germany you can't.

Air gun laws - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Air weapons exceeding 7.5 J muzzle energy, e.g. field target guns, are treated like firearms and therefore require a relevant permit for acquisition and possession. Proof of need, a clean criminal record and the passing of a knowledge and handling test are required to gain the permit.

Presumably this wouldn't be a problem for you, so fill your boots.

AFAIK you will not be allowed to use one for vermin control. Targets only.

Rabbiting and ratting, also grey squirrel and pigeon, with a 12fpe air rifle is often the introduction to fieldsports in the UK. But not allowed in most of Europe. Certainly not France, and also I think Germany.

As said "packing a punch" at 50 yards plus is not possible with a UK 12fpe rifle, we would need an FAC rifle in 20-30 fpe, which realistically means a precharged pneumatic rifle.

Which are expensive. To buy new, with decent 'scope, refilling kit (dive bottle or pump) could easily cost over £1000.

A good quality springer will start at £200 plus new. The best are made by Weihrauch (DE) and Air Arms (UK). Their better rifles will be £350 plus, then there will be a 'scope and mounts needed. Another £200 for anything decent.

you could start with e.g. a Turkish Hatsan or Webley break barrel and cheap 'scope. £200. Or even a Chinese SMK. But you might soon regret it.

Air rifle practice is very useful, particularly with a springer, which requires a firm consistent hold. You don't need to practise at 50 yards plus, 10-25 yards is all that is necessary, with suitably small targets, and .177" pellets. Even an emasculated 7.5 joule German air rifle at 6-10 metres will deliver useful practise, and you may be able to set up an indoor range.

Done some checking this morning.... (that I shoulda done before shopping
) I can get whatever I want... Just have to register anything over 7.5 joule... Also, anything over 7.5 joule can't be used in the backyardscenarion I have in mind so would be useless to me... Guess I need to shift gears a little....
Thanks...

 

[sandspider]

You can have a lot of fun with a 12ftlb air rifle at reasonable ranges - 40m max for me or thereabouts, unless just plinking. I've had a BSA Lightning, Weihrauch HW90, Air Arms TX200 HC and a few others. All did the job fine. The TX200 was the most accurate, it was also the heaviest and the most expensive.

 

[sandspider]

Ahh, just seen your 7.5J limit - that's under 12ft lbs, so I'd ignore me!

Having said that, you could get a lower powered rifle and just use it at shorter ranges - still fun and satisfying...