Springer air rifle recommendations

[Chris]

I am in the market for a sub 12ft/lb springer for some light pest control.

I was looking at these two: https://www.pellpax.co.uk/airguns/a...ington-pest-controller-kit-22-air-rifle/29607

Remington Express XP - .177 Air Rifle + FREE Gunbag! - Spring Powered Air Rifles | Pellpax

For a limited time only, this gun comes complete with FREE gunslip! The Remington Express XP .177 Caliber Air Rifle features a superbly finished, full-length

www.pellpax.co.uk

Would a .22 be best for things like rats, grey squirrel and woodpigeon? I'm a bit torn between the stopping power but larger arc of .22 vs the slightly flatter trajectory of .177.

Anyone have any insights? Does that rifle look decent enough? I don't want anything too fancy, I do full bore at a club so not that interested in using it for anything other than pest control in my back garden, so ranges less than 20 yards.

 

[Broch]

I have an old BSA Supersport break-barrel that I've owned for over 30 years and still use. I've probably shot more greys with that than any of my other guns. Despite having a PCP and an underlever air rifles (as well as shotguns and firearms) I still use the Supersport for simple around-the-house shooting; and I can still get spares for it after all this time.

Having said that, a new one is now well over £200, so for what you want, I think either of those guns will do the job.

Choice of calibre is a bit subjective - for short range I'd stick with .22 personally but I know several shooters that won't shoot anything but .177

 

[Kadushu]

I've had 3 in .177 but my gut feeling is I prefer .22
The trajectory is more loopy but the shot cycle tends to be softer for a given power. Easier to handle ammo if you're blessed with sausage fingers too. If at all possible then try some guns out from friends or at a club so you can get a feel for what you might prefer. Pellets are cheaper in .177 so that might be a factor, depending on how much you're planning to shoot.

 

[Chris]

Well I went to the local gun shop today and had a good look at a few.

Came home with a Weihrauch HW99S in .22. Lovely feeling rifle and made by our German friends, so no concerns about build quality. Should be more than enough to miss some pests with.

 

[Broch]

Well I went to the local gun shop today and had a good look at a few.

Came home with a Weihrauch HW99S in .22. Lovely feeling rifle and made by our German friends, so no concerns about build quality. Should be more than enough to miss some pests with.

Good choice!

 

[Nice65]

Well I went to the local gun shop today and had a good look at a few.

Came home with a Weihrauch HW99S in .22. Lovely feeling rifle and made by our German friends, so no concerns about build quality. Should be more than enough to miss some pests with.

Gun for life that is, Weihrauch are top of the line springers, superb rifles.

 

[demented dale]

I am in the market for a sub 12ft/lb springer for some light pest control.

I was looking at these two: https://www.pellpax.co.uk/airguns/a...ington-pest-controller-kit-22-air-rifle/29607

Remington Express XP - .177 Air Rifle + FREE Gunbag! - Spring Powered Air Rifles | Pellpax

For a limited time only, this gun comes complete with FREE gunslip! The Remington Express XP .177 Caliber Air Rifle features a superbly finished, full-length

www.pellpax.co.uk

Would a .22 be best for things like rats, grey squirrel and woodpigeon? I'm a bit torn between the stopping power but larger arc of .22 vs the slightly flatter trajectory of .177.

Anyone have any insights? Does that rifle look decent enough? I don't want anything too fancy, I do full bore at a club so not that interested in using it for anything other than pest control in my back garden, so ranges less than 20 yards.

Weihrauch air rifles. German and pretty much as good as they get you can pick up a good 2nd hand one for a decent price and it will outlive you.

 

[Kadushu]

I have a 99S, it's a nice little gun.

 

[demented dale]

I am in the market for a sub 12ft/lb springer for some light pest control.

I was looking at these two: https://www.pellpax.co.uk/airguns/a...ington-pest-controller-kit-22-air-rifle/29607

Remington Express XP - .177 Air Rifle + FREE Gunbag! - Spring Powered Air Rifles | Pellpax

For a limited time only, this gun comes complete with FREE gunslip! The Remington Express XP .177 Caliber Air Rifle features a superbly finished, full-length

www.pellpax.co.uk

Would a .22 be best for things like rats, grey squirrel and woodpigeon? I'm a bit torn between the stopping power but larger arc of .22 vs the slightly flatter trajectory of .177.

Anyone have any insights? Does that rifle look decent enough? I don't want anything too fancy, I do full bore at a club so not that interested in using it for anything other than pest control in my back garden, so ranges less than 20 yards.

I hadn't even noticed that that you had already bought a Weihrauch when I posted my recommendation. Good choice. Can you post a picture please? x

 

[Chris]

I hadn't even noticed that that you had already bought a Weihrauch when I posted my recommendation. Good choice. Can you post a picture please? x

Sure! Took one yesterday. Can take more tomorrow, but had a beer so no touching firearms tonight.

 

[demented dale]

Sure! Took one yesterday. Can take more tomorrow, but had a beer so no touching firearms tonight.

Nice , how much was that?

 

[Nice65]

Nice , how much was that?

Depends on the beer, but nearly a fiver a pint nowadays.

 

[Chris]

Nice , how much was that?

£300 including optic, slip and a tin of ammo. The jump in quality feel between the ~£100 cheaper ones and this really were night and day, so thought I would be better buying something that'll last.

 

[demented dale]

£300 including optic, slip and a tin of ammo. The jump in quality feel between the ~£100 cheaper ones and this really were night and day, so thought I would be better buying something that'll last.

100%. job done. you have got that for life and can recoup every penny if you decide to sell. superb choice

 

[Chris]

Took a couple of visits of trying different pellets and getting the rifle set up to my liking, but today’s trip to the range was pretty successful. Think I’d be confident with some pest control with this setup now - 10 rounds in that target.

 

[slowworm]

Looking good, what distance is that and what pellets did it like best?

 

[Chris]

Looking good, what distance is that and what pellets did it like best?

25 yards, pellets were Baracuda 15 Super Hunter at 15.89gr. I think I could go slightly lighter, but these seem pretty consistent.

 

[slowworm]

My 22 sub 12 ft/lb springer preferred the 15 Baracudas to the 18s or heavier.

 

[Chris]

I went up as high as 21gr and that was far too heavy, it looked like I was firing a mortar.

 

[CLEM]

It’s all about accuracy with a sub 12ftlbs air rifles, try lots of different pellets to find out what suits the barrel, I’ve been out of the game for a good while now but I’ve yet to see a rifle that didn’t like AA Fields. If your barrel liked Falcons then great, as those were very light for a .22 and have a very flat trajectory. There’s probably lots of new stuff out there now though in the ten plus years since I shot competitively or hunted. One thing that won’t have changed is the need to put the pellet in the sweet spot for a humane end for the quarry, from my experience as long as that can consistently be achieved calibre didn’t matter .177 .22 or .25 all did the job. I never owned a .20 but no doubts just as effective as the other more popular calibres.