who owns an air rifle?

[boundy]

Thinking of getting an air rifle. I owned a BAS mentor about 15 years ago and have not had anything since. A friend of mine has recently been given permission to control vermin on and around his horse field. So what do I need to know?

[Marmalade]

don't shoot the horses.
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[Joenitro]

Make sure you know the law on air rifles and obey it cos penalties are harsh these days. I've heard of a few people by me that have had armed police pointing HKs at their head because of some do-gooder reporting them.

Make sure you get written permission from whoever has shooting rights to the land (this isn't always the landowner.)

[Frost]

My uncle just bought a new one for killing rats. He found a very helpful guy in a gun shop out in the country. the guy let him shoot a few different ones and zeroed the sights in for him etc.

I guess a big factor is the range you want to be shooting at. Indoors a pistol is what you need, outdoors a rifle. .22 calibre is great at short range outdoors, but as the range increases i think most people agree a .177 is better.
Professional vermin hunters use gas powered ones. I guess cause they're variable in power and can be reloaded that bit more quickly.

[hellkat]

[hellkat]

For the record, I have two air rifles, which I bought several years back, but never got round to finding the right ammo for.

Shame, cos there's a few teenage boys that annoyed me on Halloween, I could do with busting a cap in their skinny asses, yo.
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[boundy]

I'll he buying second hand what ever I get. Any good budget rifles to look out for?

[ashwin2936]

i have seen this in the classifieds

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=258500
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[boundy]

[keggyhander]

Used to be big into air rifles. Back in 2003 I got as far as 10th place at the World Field Target Championship. I sold my target rifles to fund my PA equipment when I started doing the Elvis act.

Still got a Air Arms TX200 Semi-Recoiling in .177. Bit of a collectors item that and I'm keeping it.

[Dazbo666]

I still have my BSA Mercury Challenger, similar to this
(Not used it for a number of years, and afaik it's still in the attic at my dads house ...along with a limited edition nickel plated HW45, and a Crossman 1377)

As for the Weihrauch, I remember them being one of the most popular break barrel air rifles in their time. So as long as it's been well looked after, IMO should be worth checking it out
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[at106]

The law is that an air rifle can produce no more than 12 FTLBS unless it is on an FAC (firearms certificate) but you wont need that!

There are two main types of air rifles that would be suitable for what you want. PCP (pre-charged pneumatic) are expensive and require extra filling equipment which could easily cost around £200. However they have no recoil so are easy to be accurate with.

The second option is spring rifles these are generally cheaper and can be just as powerful as PCPs. However they do produce recoil so take a bit of getting used to.

If you let me know your budget i can give you some links to look at. You also need to factor in the cost of a scope which can be had for around £50 for a reasonable one.

There is also the argument of .22 or .177 calibre which is really down to personal choice. .177 has a flatter trajectory so it's easier to be accurate over long distances but when hunting you should only shoot at a maximum distance of 40 metres and that's only if you're sure on accuracy. However if you're shooting say rats at close range i would recommend a .22 as the pellet is more likely to stay in.

[andys675]

got a webley tempest for the garden and a weihrauch HW35 for the fields, but no idea whats cool at the moment, go and have a free look at the airgun mags in wh smith
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[Joenitro]

[quote="boundy"]

[Islander]

Weihrauchs are excellent air rifles and the HW77 is a nice underlever.

I've got a Weihrauch HW80K and a BSA ultra single shot both in .22

[EazyDuz]

i have a Webley Stingray, my dad has a Webley Longbow i think its called. We have a couple of others too and a 1960's air pistol.
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[neatbik]

[Benno]

I have a Weihrauch HW99S, quality air rifle was a decent price.

I can hit a 2p coin from 40 metres with it. I still have the pellet, it's got a nice imprint of part of the coin on it Never found the coin though. Very accurate gun if you bother to zero it properly with a decent scope (Hawk standard scope, £40, here).

I've shot at small animals on our land but never hit one. I should practice more often.
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[Slacker24seve...]

[rezzin]

I personally wouldnt bother shooting at anything other than targets with .177 as .22 has been far more efficient in my experience. AirArms TX200 HC was a nice quality rifle for the money spent and with the supressor I could sit in one spot for a little longer without alarming the other critters.

[Joncrete Cungle]

Practice, practice, practice before you go shooting at live stuff. Eg you can hit a 2p 4 times out of 4 30 yards away from a variety of shooting positions. Buy a chronograph and learn how to use it.

Thins about getting insurance and learn the laws surrounding air guns, where are you in the UK? There might be a club you can go to and have a go of a few different guns to see what you get on with.

.177 or .22? Imho it doesn't matter so long as you can accurately place the pellet time after time. Learn about hold over and hold under. Have a look at the BASC website for the current airgun laws.

Have a look at a few airgun forums such as airgunbbs and airgun forum for second hand guns and scopes for sale with all the other bits you will need.

[smegballs]

Just had a quick look on UK gunroom. For the price of a half decent air rifle you could: apply for SGC, get a safe, and a rough beater shotgun. Even decent nick Ruger 10/22s are only a few hundred quid.

I suppose that the price you pay for being unlicensed, much in the same way 50cc and 125's are more expensive due to licensing regs.

Still horses for courses I guess, and I'll be the first to admit that air rifle can go places where others cannot, inside a cow shed being one of them. Plus the hassle of getting licensed etc etc. Much cheaper to feed too!

[aceofhearts]

Ive got a HW95 and love it. I recently got permission to shoot vermin in a local quarry but the rabbits there have been shot a lot in the past and are very wary

I think something like a new Hatsan break barrel would be good if you are just starting out. They are only around £100 and are well made. I had a muck around with one in my local gun shop and was very impressed for the money.

Hatsan 60s
https://www.guntrader.co.uk/Guns-For-Sale/Hatsan-Arms_Air-Rifle_MOD-60_For-Sale_121103143947001

Or if you prefer the synthetics then these have good reviews online:

Hatsan Striker
https://www.guntrader.co.uk/Guns-For-Sale/Hatsan-Arms_Air-Rifle_Striker_For-Sale_120820124326001

[boundy]

Thanks for the advice so far, I think I will go for somethink nice and cheap to start with and upgrade if I get into it.

Hopefully it will all come back to me. I came 7th in a county shooting comp when I was 14. Falling plate targets, 25 meters using 22 bolt action rifle. Good old day of army cadets.

[boundy]