Air Rifles

[birch-fire]

Hello Everyone!

This may seem like a very open question but i am a 100% novice on this subject and know very little. I am thinking of purchasing an air rifle for shooting rabbits and maybe some magpies (?) there are some areas near me where i can shoot and i was wondering what recommendations people have. I have read-up on the subject on google, wikipedia etc. but i am overwhelmed by all of the information. I have heard a little about airgun s410 and 400 and that they are good guns. (I have fired a few air rifles and was quite an accurate shot). Please feel free to post any suggestions or information as it would be much appreciated.

Regards, Dave

 

[KAE1]

There are many good air rifles on the market, gas or spring, such as weihrauch, webley, theoben etc. One thing to remember is that it is only 12ftlbs (unless you have FAC)- not very powerful - so the most important thing is field craft.
You will only be succesful if you become really good at stalking and concealment, learn not only about your quarry but other creatures that act as natures alarm call.
A genuine sportsman has the deepest respect for his quarry and that means a humane kill, there are loads of crows, rabbits and pigeons suffering out there with bits of lead wedged in not vital areas.
Move slowly,then slower still. Get close, then closer still. Be aware of moveing every part of your body really slowly. Get used to sitting really still.
Follow the above and you will get results with any decent air rifle.

 

[Ogri the trog]

Some good info there KAE1,
If I might sensitively point out that some members here like to read the forum whilst in work, and some work firewalls are searching for the words "R*fle", "gnu", "k1ll" etc and filter out those websites as unsuitable. If you can follow my lead in disguising the subject matter a little, more folks will be happier.
I'll fully agree that an air rafle will teach you a huge amount of fieldcraft, stalking etc. The ones that you've mentioned are Pre-charged pneumatics, meaning that you'll need a method of filling the air reservoirs, but they make for a very accurate soht, as they have no recoil. And if you can get a magpie with an airgnu, I'll be very impressed, they are very timid birds and I can't get near enough around my local area.

ATB

Ogri the trog

 

[morch]

Hi Dave

I have an Air Arms s400 and have taken rabbits, pheasants, crows, magpies and woodies. I'm no expert but its much much better than the old weihrauch i used to have. Much lighter, quieter and more accurate.

Dave

 

[birch-fire]

Hi,

Thanks for all of the info i am looking at the airarms s400 and410 now and they look excellent (should i get a scope?). Also i heard that the government are actually encouraging people to shoot magpies as they are destroying the british songbird population, is this true? And what are the best ways to eat rabbit
p.s thanks ogri but i can't change the title

Thanks, Dave

 

[Too Much Kit To Carry]

And what are the best ways to eat rabbit

My fave way of cooking rabbit if I'm on my own is to spit roast it.

But equally as good is a massive stew with dumpings - hopefully we will be having this for our supper on Saturday night if Silverback bags a few bunnies. I really love doing a community stew at bushcraft meets where everybody chucks something in the pot - you never quite know what it's going to taste like but it's always wonderful!

Cheers,

Phil.

 

[Jjv110]

Yes Dave, get a scope. Something like a 4x32 or 4-9 x40. I don't know the exact figures, but along those lines.
Scopes are also very good for low light conditions.

Rabbit cooked in red wine with rosemary , garlic and black olives is good. It's an Italian stlye of doing it. But with potatoes and some decent bread it's very tasty.

What calibre are you going for?

 

[KAE1]

Just a quick note about scopes. Everyones seems obsessed with vari power scopes these days, indeed I have one for deer stalking yet never move it from 6x magnification. There is a tendancy to 'dial up' the magnification and bring the quarry closer - very risky with an air rifle as you will be tempted to shoot out of range.
Also a large objective lense helps gather light at dawn or dusk.
You wont go far wrong with a 4x40.

 

[Klenchblaize]

If I, or anyone else come to that, could afford the luxury of and air-powered fowling piece for squirrel hunting and nothing else, I'd plump for the brightest little (it would be by definition) 2.5 power scope I could find. Sometimes - well often actually - even a 4-power scope can be simply too much when tracking a fast-moving critter through an autumn-leafed canopy.

As for spring or pre-charged I'm moving towards the latter once I find the right one that ticks all the boxes. This simply because I believe they have the capacity to me more CONSISTENT than the spring or Theoben ram system and particularly when working at FAC velocities. Clearly they have certain limitations in respect of power replenishment that perhaps should not be overlooked. A thumbhole stock is a great advantage in my opinion and not just for 'target work'.

Enjoy your purchase. It has the capacity to make you a true Master of your chosen interest for not only is it cheap to shoot but such a 'piece of kit' is wonderful for ensuring your better understanding of the need to judge distance correctly. Once the allied need to deploy the art of 'holding' above; below; left or right of the target has been learnt, and without "dialling-in" such on a 6 - 50 field-target type scope you may call yourself a "Riflemen" which, if the sport gets a hold on you as I'm certain it will, you are sure to want.

Cheers!

 

[FGYT]

any of the AA 400 / 410 family will make a great hunting gun

on scopes you get what you pay for and any feature costs so cheap scopes with lots of twiddles and bits are a false economy if on a budget go for simple. Dont get a Twiddle unless you understand it and know how to use it AND it is of use to you
Twiddles include
Large Zoom (more than say 3-9power)
Parallax Ajustment PA adj however many fixed PA scopes are set to Centerfire ranges so can cause problems at airgun ranges. Simple test - hold the scope so it cannot move and point it at a target 30-40 yrds away (on highest Zoom) now while looking at through it move your head slightly like a small nodding while watching the cross hair if the PA setting is a problem the cross hair will move of the target . Some fixed PA scopes can be reset ( some cannot) The problem is that you can be aiming at different places depending on the position of your eye even minute changes mean you miss or injure i hade one that had 2" of wobble at 40 yrds till i re set it .

Illuminated Reticule they do have used but not for most people.
Target Turrets mean you can easily change the zero used by the military and Target shooters can be used by hunters but takes a while to understand and utalise.
Large objective lenses ie 56mm - yes they will let more light in but so will turning down the magnification and if you buy a cheap one you lose on the lens quality any way plus they usually mean High mounts to get the scope on (this can be an advantage at onger ranges but not at closer ones.
30mm Bodys again bigger lenses mean better light transmission But as with large Obj Lens cheap ones dont
Mil Dot reticule. claimed to give extra aim points yes they do but not really usfull untill you get to 10 mag plus and best at 50mag in .177cal
Sidewheel Paralaxx adj - nice and can be helpfull in rangfinding in very high mag scopes But takes a lot of practice and skill to use well mainly for Target shooting.

So what do i use well all the twiddles
a 10-50x56mm 30mm Sidewheel PA Illum Mill DotReticule was £650 6 yrs ago
yes i did hunt with it now the scope is on a AAS200

or this 8-32x56 30mm Sidewheel PA Illum Multi line Reticule was £500 6 yrs ago

I use both for Competition and Hunting but I like and can use a very high mag for hunting

a good basic spec is a 3-12x50 30mm tube fixed (but reset) PA in the £120-£150 range
and yes you will find you spend 95% of the time on probably 6x and the rest on either 3 or 12


oh Rabbit cut it into cubes cover in batte and deep fry Rabbit Mc nuggets mmmmmmm with dips ( nice with pigeon to )

ATB

Duncan
pS i would have the 410 TDR if they did it in 0.177cal :swordfigh

 

[birch-fire]

Hi,

Thanks for the recipes i will definetely be trying them out soon, my stomach is rumbling just reading them! Jjv110, i am really uncertain which calibre ill go for as i know that .177 has a flatter trajectory but .22 kills with more certainty but i am probably leaning towards the .177 for its accuracy.

And unfortunately Alex im not going to buy an air rifle for a couple of months but if i do change my mind soon ill be sure to contact you as it seems like a wonderful gun!

And a big thanks to everyone else for all of the advice (and the excellent photos from FGYT), i am gradually beginning to build up some knowledge about air rifles and am able to make a well thought-out decision on which air rifle to purchase. Thanks!!

Dave :You_Rock_

 

[Justin Time]

I think the thing about Magpies isn't true, AFAIK government isn't encouraging a magpie cull.

 

[grumit]

the poll dont have gas ram i have a slr 98 underlever gas ram made by theoben

 

[rapidboy]

If your starting out PCP's can be expensive because you need to add the cost of dive tank and decant set or a pump.
As with most things buying the best you can afford to will save you money in the long run because it will last and you won't feel the need to upgrade.
The S400 and S410 are probably the best value for money guns around so you won't go far wrong with either.

I bought mine a couple of years ago, it's no Theoben but it's a great wee gun for the money.

I have my choice of guns to shoot with but i still feel a good air rifle is the best tool for shooting rabbits, i take an air rifle before a rimfire rifle or shotgun almost every time.



As for rabbit's , here an easy method to start with
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/community/showthread.php?t=6802&highlight=rabbit+rapidboy

 

[mojofilter]

I have an S400 in girly calibre and would highly recommend it, although if budget allowed, an S410 would be even better.

 

[birch-fire]

What good kinds of spring-piston air rifles are there?

 

[CLEM]

What good kinds of spring-piston air rifles are there?

Air Arms TX200 and Prosports,HW 88,97 and 98 are the best available new.

 

[Jjv110]

What good kinds of spring-piston air rifles are there?

The Weihrauch HW77 is also very good. Under levers are favourable to me because I don't like the idea of the barrel moving which might get a bit slack after a while, therefore, putting sight alignment out.

Like you, I'm still undecided about the calibre. I had .177 and I was happy with it, good penetration and accurate, even at longish range, but .22 has more punch.

 

[rapidboy]

Also worth checking out the Diana or RWS 48, 52 or 54 side levers.
Full power and very accurate, run really well at FAC levels as well.

 

[birch-fire]

Thanks! I heard that the air arms pro sport was the best? I would like one that i wouldn't have to make alterations to. Also, is it best to get a 3-9x40 scope?