Air Rifle

black_bear

black_bear

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Since I have sold my .22, I am looking at getting something for small game hunting again, and am thinking of getting a high-powered air rifle since cash is a bit tight, and it is a bit cheaper than a mid-end .22 for the rifle and ammunition. Does anyone on this forum hunt or shoot with a high-powered air rifle? How is it compared to a .22LR? I was also wondering what kind of range on small game and grouse to expect out of a 1000fps.+ rifle, and what kind of accuracy to expect? (I know that it varies from rifle to rifle, but just a general idea).

When I used to hunt with my .22, I think pretty much all of my shots were within 75yds, if not 50yds, so I think it would have adequate power for the type of hunting that I like to do. The species I am primarily after would be rabbits, squirrels, ground squirrels, and many crows and ruffed grouse. I also like to stalk as close as I can to my quarry before taking a shot, so that's why shots are usually closer. Another thing is that the .22 messed up grouse a bit when they were shot at closer ranges, so I think an air rifle might be a bit more 'meat friendly', and with pellets I would not have to worry about a bullet travelling a long distance off. Since the pellets travel slightly slower than a standard .22LR, would they have a better ability to anchor game, since it would not travel completely through the animal?

Thanks!;)
 
A decent air rifle will cost more than a good .22. Almost double.
And the airgunners are quite often moaning that good airgun ammo costs almost as much as rimfire ammo.
 
I have a hopped up B4 in .177 that really pounds what it hits..but don't expect to take anything over 50 yards..and clean shots are a must due to the light weight of the pellet,you'll injure game a lot more than you'll kill at 50 yards...
Stick with the .22 with some powder behind it ;)
They're cheaper and get the job done right
 
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My high powered pellet guns which have velocities in excess of 500fps and up tp 1500 fps are very expensive,heavy,as loud as a 22LR rimfire and in Nova Scotia hunting is not permitted with them.

The average 22LR rimfire velocity is 1300 FPS I think so some pellet rifles can achieve same velocity,I would buy a .22 cal pellet gun as opposed to a .177 cal because the .177 cal is small and may pass through the target (cans or animals) and not "take it down".
 
Slash5 said:
A decent air rifle will cost more than a good .22. Almost double.
And the airgunners are quite often moaning that good airgun ammo costs almost as much as rimfire ammo.
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+1. For a good hunting springer, I'd suggest a .22 cal, is going to run you at least $479 + tax. I'd recommend the RWS 350 Magnum. Good power, nicely put together and great for the money. This place has them almost $200 cheaper than Wholesale sports wants.
http://www.specialtyshootingsportsoutdoors.com/

For a powerful PCP rifle, you are looking at $700 & up. That's just for the rifle. Then you need the pumps or airtanks which run from $200-550.

Just as every bit expensive as the .22 LR route.
 
I was looking at the Beeman SS1000, I guess it is 'decent' for me :D I do not need anything 1500fps, I think 1000fps should do just fine. I am for sure going to go with a springer if I do go the airgun route, I prefer them by far compared to PCP. As for pellets, I'd just be buying those tins from Canadian Tire or SIR, just some hollowpoints or round nose pellets, but I want to try out those predator pellets from Cabelas, they look pretty good. I don't know what would be better, a .177 or .22, I hear the .22 has slightly more power at longer ranges, but it has alot less speed, and I don't think alot of power would be needed for squirrels or crows anyways? I used to kill tons of them with an old crosman shooting 495fps, and doubling that speed should mean it would have quite a bit more range..... If I could I'd go with a .25, but I think it would only be found in the higher-priced rifles, and pellets would probably be alot more.

I am also going to take a look at the Winchester Wildcat .22LR, but I'm really thinking of going the airgun route right now..... But if I do happen to get another .22, I'd be spending upwards of $350 to get something decent (what I think is decent, anyways :D) I think if I buy any .22, it will be the Savage 93FVSS, I have been eyeing that rifle for a while, but then again, it's $160.00 more than the beeman.....
 
Try and keep hold of your expectations. Airgun velocities are a lot like the horsepower ratings on shop vacs at sears. Only really fit to use to compare the specs of two models from the same lineup.

Expect to see mid 800's or maybe a tiny little bit better from that 1000fps gun with a pellet heavy enough to be fit to shoot at anything other than cardboard, and maybe a lot less by the time the pellet is one that shoots accurately.

The English writeups in the UK airgun magazines at least base their reporting on energy, so when they say a gun gives you a level of energy, the lighter pellets may go faster, or the heavier go slower, but the energy is about the same, at least at the muzzle.

Cheers
Trev
 
Wrong Way said:
There is no advantage to an air gun. Buy a cheap bolt .22 and a few boxes of CCI Cee Bee's. More powerful, just as quiet, costs WAAAAAY less than a magnum springer.
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I agree. The cost of a high poered air rifle is ridiculous in comparison to a $150 brand new .22 rifle. It would have to be registered anyways, they are loud as Hell and will not last as long. They require more maintanence, and weigh a ton. Buy yourself a .22 rifle, and be done. Plus if you want to scope it, air rifles eat scopes for a snack.
 
pharaoh2 said:
Plus if you want to scope it, air rifles eat scopes for a snack.
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Yes and no. Springers will destroy traditionally-built scopes, regardless of maker or price point. But purpose built scopes that will withstand the "two-way recoil" of a springer can be found, often in the <$200 catagory. The Bushnell Sportsman 3-9x32AO with target turrets is one, aprox $80 on-line and built for use with springers. The Banner 4-12x40AO and 6-18x50AO are also safe for use with springers.

Regardless of what springer-proof scope you pick, you'll want a scope-rail stop and a decent set of rings.
 
I am planning on topping it off with my Mueller 8.5-25x44mm, and it has a lifetime warranty, and I will probably pick up a leupold Mark4 or something nice around there for my AR once it's done. I can't see how an air rifle can be that loud, I expect it to be similar to a 495fps. springer since it will still be shooting subsonic, and will not have the crack that a supersonic .22 round would have. As for the weight, I don't mind it, and I kind of prefer it for varminting since it keeps me more steady, and I will be shooting off of a pair of homemade shooting sticks, anyways. I don't see how they can require more maintenance, since you don't clean the action or firing pin or anything like that, and if I bought a .22 it would have to be registered aswell, anyways. It's not like having a pellet gun without registration would do me any better anyways, since I'm out in the woods, and shooting in the city with a low-powered air rifle is illegal anyways. As for the variance in velocity, I will be using standard-weight pellets for .177, either round nose, pointed or hollowpoint. I have also found a sight with relative energy-per-foot-pounds for different calibers shooting at different velocities, and found that the .177 shooting around 1000fps. should be fine for small game inside the ranges I should be shooting at, and after reading some articles on the matter (including some articles by Jim Chapman in my Predator Xtreme issues), I'd like the flatter trajectory and quicker impact of the .17 cal. Besides, for anything farther than 40yds, I can just use my shotgun.
 
When I said the require more maintanence, I mean they will wear out far faster than a rimfire rifle. Too many mechanical parts, under high pressure. Seals, piston, etc. They are very loud. To me, it sounds alot like dry firing a compound bow. Kind of a 'thwak' sound. The cost of an air rifle of that type, in my opinion doesn't make much sense to me. And check the warrenty of the scope you are planning on. If they find out it was on an air rifle, they may or may not honor it. I'm not going to try and persuade you into buying somthing you don't want. It is just my opinion that a .22 rifle is superior in every way over an air rifle. But it's your choice, and you do what your comfortable with. Good luck on your purchase, and I hope it works out well for you.
 
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my B4 that has a few internal mods..and the guys are right..they are just as loud as a .22 rimfire
Get yourself a cheap .22.
Airguns will cost you wayyy more,and perform half as well
 
Guy you can get away shooting airguns in your backyard or around where people live a lot easier then you can with a .22 :( .

Hell I got my 10/22 last weekend and I still havent shot it yet! Damn suburbs.

-Tyler
 
I own a RWS Diana. It supposedly shoots .177's @ 1000 fps. It shoots very straight and can punch out 5 shot groups that measure 1/2" @ 50 yards. It also has the ability of flip-flop'n crows and squirrels w/ one shot, out at that range. Haven't tried it on bunnies or any other animals.

I bought it as a package from Specialty Shooting (earlier post) w/ a scope from the same builder. The gun has ~1000 rounds fired and I haven't seen any change in POI. Everything seems to be working fine

They do make a fair bit of noise, but the sound isn't as sharp as a .22lr. and there isn't a 'crack'.

I'm very pleased with this purchase, but I'll still use the .22lr for hunting rabbits and grouse. I'm sure it would do the job on rabbits, I have punched right through 3/4" cedar boards w/ the Diana - But I like my .22 when out in the bush.
 
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Mr. Twister said:
I own a RWS Diana. It supposedly shoots .177's @ 1000 fps. It shoots very straight and can punch out 5 shot groups that measure 1/2" @ 50 yards. It also has the ability of flip-flop'n crows and squirrels w/ one shot, out at that range. Haven't tried it on bunnies or any other animals.

I bought it as a package from Specialty Shooting (earlier post) w/ a scope from the same builder. The gun has ~1000 rounds fired and I haven't seen any change in POI. Everything seems to be working fine

They do make a fair bit of noise, but the sound isn't as sharp as a .22lr. and there isn't a 'crack'.

I'm very pleased with this purchase, but I'll still use the .22lr for hunting rabbits and grouse. I'm sure it would do the job on rabbits, I have punched right through 3/4" cedar boards w/ the Diana - But I like my .22 when out in the bush.
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I've taken a few rabbits with my 500fps Gamo. You need to be a crack shot like me to make it an painfree kill though. Headshot or bust.
 
I own over a hundred airguns from HW100T to alot of Crosman vintages from
the 60's era. HW100T .22 does 900 fps, B51 .22 1050 fps. they're
fun to shoot with. Pellets from CT is very cheap, 500 for less than 7 bucks.
PCP rifle uses compress air .... air is free.
For the springer I use REX 4x32AO, very good scope for $ 59.00 including
mounts or 3-9x40AO for $ 99 including mounts.
I do alot of practice shooting with airguns, especially the handguns ... no ATT
is required .... lol...
Fun shooting with airguns.....
 
Only airgun i have left is a Weihrauch Hw30s. I had a webley tomahawk and it spit .177 cal pellets out over my chrony about 800 fps and easily blew through gophers at 50 yrds...i'd see the pellet skipping in the dust behind them. But it was a big gun, lots of kick/twang and not as much fun to ####.

If going to a full size rifle get a good springer like a Weihrauch HW80...they are legendary and get it in .22 caliber. You don't need 800 plus fps for 50 yrd or less imo...i'm a fan of about 600-650 fps, more than plenty to 40 yrds for penetration on small game...you only need about 350 fps at impact to get into or through the vitals of most small critters fyi and they don't lose that much speed over 40 yrds.

The little tiny(basically youth size) Hw30 that i still have does honest 625 fps with 8 grain crosman points over my chrony and it is a joy to shoot. Very quiet, very nice and easy to #### and more than enough speed to kill small game to 40 yrds...you gotta do your part and place the pellets though. But its a really great little air rifle.

Yeah .22 cal at the same speed would be much better but you need a much stouter rifle for that and then lose some of the apeal to shooting air rifles. The little hw30 is a sweatheart of an airgun...very accurate too.

The pcp(compressed air) guns are loud. The springers are not. My preference is to the springer for the application you described. You've got to be a little more hardcore into it to get into the pcp scene imo. You won't break the bank with a weihrauch but thats the level you want to be at if you want some serious quality/longevity/accuracy etc.

Can't remember where all you can find them in Canada but i've found mine from Specialty Shooting Sports in BC. They have a pistol called the HW45 which i've had two of....awesome air pistol, lots of fun but takes lots of practice to get good with it. I had good luck with it on small game to 15 to 20 yrds tops for the most part and had to use the hard crosman points to get good penetration to be successful with that pistol. I think you'll wreck about 5-600 bucks for an hw80 but around 300 bucks for hw30....been awhile since i checked though?

Hope that helps.

Blake
 
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