The Value of FAC Air

[Munty Hunter]

I used to have an Air Arms S410 at 30ft/lb it was the extra model with a bigger tank than standard. I sold it after a couple of years, as has been said they can be fantastic and i shot loads of crows and squirrels. The fact is it was rarely used, besides is it not possible to get lower than subs powered .22lr ammo. I am sure i have read about lower velocity ammo for the rimmy that would be ideal for the same jobs, not that i have ever found any .

 

[countrryboy]

I've been thnking about gettin an fac airgun and renewal time not far away. Reading this thread i'm surprised no one has mentioned the low power bullets that Muntyhunter above did.
I'm pretty sure CCCI shorts are one brand from wot i've heard bring 22lr down to around 30ftlbs ish, u also get something called 'sparrow shot' i think which is more like a tiny shotgun cart for the 22 for shooting rats or pigeons in buildings i think. Never used either of them.
I'm meaning to buy some off the shorts and have a play see wot there like (althou i've heard the sparrow shot is useless?), if the cci shorts work i might jist get a 2nd 22lr and can either feed it shorts or hv's, 1 rifle could almost do the job off both a fac airgun and a hmr(granted not quite in same league as hmr
but much cheapness ), and u can buy 2nd hand 22's for buttons

 

[liamnjs]

Thanks for all the thoughts, much appreciated! If this were only about shooting around the farmyard I would agree with the 22lr using cb/shorts etc., but my main focus at the moment is corvids and squirrels in trees, hence the air rifle interest!

 

[ezzy6.5]

Over the years I have tried all different .22 ammo. The low velocity .22lr that uses the same case as a standard .22lr will function well but the ones I had used a 40gn solid and bounced worse than anything..22 short will have to be fed individualy and in time can erode a ring in your chamber that will cause .22 le rounds to stick (same as using lots of .38sp in a .357mag) as some of the ground I shoot has become more and more popular with members of the public I have been considering a fac air rifle. I now have a slot for one so we will wait and see what comes along.

Ezzy

 

[Buchan]

I'm in a similar position, loads of bunnies, but loads of dog walkers - at all times- and too many houses backing onto our 5 acres. Almost flat field so no cover to sneak closer, lots of surface rocks as well, so .22LR limited. I have wondered about the CCI ones that fragment, but I think an earlier thread didn't rate them. So I'm on the look out for an FAC air rifle! I have a chance at an HW80 - what's the noise like? My BSA doesn't half twang!

 

[MONGOOSE]

I'm in a similar position, loads of bunnies, but loads of dog walkers - at all times- and too many houses backing onto our 5 acres. Almost flat field so no cover to sneak closer, lots of surface rocks as well, so .22LR limited. I have wondered about the CCI ones that fragment, but I think an earlier thread didn't rate them. So I'm on the look out for an FAC air rifle! I have a chance at an HW80 - what's the noise like? My BSA doesn't half twang!

Get a pcp mate much better IMO

 

[hunta]

I have owned air rifles all my hunting life and wouldn't be without one.
My present rifle is a Stalker Super 10 at 30 ft/lbs. If shooting into trees is required then the air rifle is your only option other than shotgun. It is zerod at 50 Yrds and will knock pigeons, crows and squirrels out of trees at 70 - 80 yrds with ease. it is also great to use in more confined areas where ricochets would be dangerous. I am also a fan of the .22 and own two and accept that in open fields, shooting at ground game, they are superior. Over the years I have tried many of the low power options in the .22 ranging from 40 ft/lbs down to 20ft/lbs. Most were .22 shorts using a 29g bullet. In my rifles these bullets didnt compare to the accuracy of a good air rifle and at 600 - 800 ft/sec the trajectory was nowhere near as flat. I have found that 25 - 35 ft/lbs is a good compromise power for an FAC air rifle as these power levels allow the use of lighter pellets in the 15 - 16g range. My rifle will very accurately shoot Airarms Field pellets well in excess of 900 ft/sec. The even more powerful air rifles usually need the heavier 20g plus pellets. Although they give better down range energy this can be at the detriment of trajectory and at the cost of less shots per charge of air.
My air rifle shooting is usually done in Spring and Early summer so just starting . I will use my .22s at any time of year but not so much these days because I invariable reach for one of my stalking rifles in preference to any of the other guns in my cabinets.

 

[Bavarianbrit]

I use RWS Z lang, which are .22lr cases with the 1.9 gram bullet they have no powder just the primer in the rim = 3x more power than a 12 ft/lb .22 pellet check the RWS website!, I took a magpie at the weekend they run perfectly in my .22 single shot H&H converted rook rifle. They cost 8 euros for 50 here.
Martin

 

[varmint223]

Thanks for all the thoughts, much appreciated! If this were only about shooting around the farmyard I would agree with the 22lr using cb/shorts etc., but my main focus at the moment is corvids and squirrels in trees, hence the air rifle interest!

Hi mate ,

Over the last 18 months i have taken nearly 100 grey squirrels from my permission (as i was instructed to do ) nearly all with a sub 12ftlbs HW100kt .177...........like i said in previous post glad i swapped my fac rapid although it was a great rifle , its much more fun trying to get as close as you can.

Not against fac air rifles ....just my personal opinion

 

[hunta]

Hi Bavarianbrit,
My favorite lower power .22 offering is the Eley Z long. This shoots very well in my .22s and produces around 40 ft/lbs so I would imagine is extremely similar to the RWS version.
The 29g bullet leaves the barrel at 800 ft/sec and is extremely quiet in a moderated .22. I did only use it on ground game though as I was concerned that the 29g bullet would retain its energy more than my 16g pellet, even though the pellet had a muzzle velocity of 920 Ft/sec. The 29g bullet was very effective out to 60 yrds, took several foxes through the head and killed countless rabbits with much less ricochets so was good in more confined areas. More punch than my air rifle but for that reason wouldnt shoot tree game in my shooting area.
All the best,
Andy.

 

[Cyres]

I have a Daystate LR90FTR .177 which runs just about 19 ft lb. Just sub sonic and use RWS FTS pellets. Highly accurate but is like putting needles through the quarry. Absolutely awesome on rook branc hers. I have shot hundreds/thousands of corvids, rats, tree rats and alike with a .22 HW77K and laterly AA S200. The S200 is a wonderful gun and all but silent.
If you are doing tree work then an air rifle is the answer. If you shoot up into very tall trees or tops of HV pylons then you will need a Cosine indicator,an extremely useful and underrated gadget.

D

 

[Squirrelbasher]

I use reduced load .22's but if you can get an FAC rapid at about 30 ft lbs in .22 they're more accurate and safer to shoot into trees. Flat shooting with 16 grain pellets out to 50-60 yards they take some beating as a squirrel bashing tool and also for lofty corvids. You won't be disappointed with an FAC rapid but beware home made "high power" ones that have been DIY uprated , because if they haven't been done correctly they can be ruined by inconsistency. They work best with a longer barrel as its more air efficient and quieter.

 

[Monkey Spanker]

Most people that feel limited in range with an air rifle just need to change from .22 to .177!
The difference is vast!
MS

 

[nun_hunter]

I was in AC Guns yesterday and he had a Dragon Slayer that was a .50cal running 250lbs/ft. Not really sure what you would hunt with that! Just the hollow point was big enough to fit an entire .22lr round in!

 

[Squirrelbasher]

Most people that feel limited in range with an air rifle just need to change from .22 to .177!
The difference is vast!
MS

I agree, the .177's accuracy will do the job, its just that a 30 ft lb .22 will be more forgiving if your shot isn't spot on. More about it hitting harder than extra range IMO although they will allow longer shots than a 12 ft lb rifle.

 

[BunnyDoom]

Pointless, they are for people with closed tickets who can't get the land cleared.

.177 standard air rifle or .22lr/.17hmr - FAC air rifles try to fill a gap that doesn't exist

 

[Squirrelbasher]

FAC air, salmon can, 60 yards..