Air Rifles

[Rosesandtea]

We shoot in our 85 ft long garden. Our problem is that we have little time each night that we do it - it has to be dark enough the chickens are in bed (and so are safe from any ricochets) but not so dark we can't see!

Lamping? (i.e. fix a torch to your rifle) or would that wake the chickens?

I suppose we could try that. I think we've tried using a torch pointed at the targets. As long as the chickens are shut up in their house they are OK.

[JohnRio]

We shoot in our 85 ft long garden. Our problem is that we have little time each night that we do it - it has to be dark enough the chickens are in bed (and so are safe from any ricochets) but not so dark we can't see!

Lamping? (i.e. fix a torch to your rifle) or would that wake the chickens?

I suppose we could try that. I think we've tried using a torch pointed at the targets. As long as the chickens are shut up in their house they are OK.

I use a headtorch when I've needed to test a catapult and couldn't wait until the following day! Not as good as daylight of course...

With an air rifle I'd go with the torch on the barrel, that way you're shooting down the beam of light. John Seymour mentions it in his book "Self-sufficiency". And lots of folks go lamping rabbits and sometimes deer (last is probably illegal in UK).

[modplod]

Anyone looking for a well made, durable and reliable SPRING / GAS RAM air rifle should try to get one of these guns. These are all powerful rifles capable of killing rabbits humanely (within 40 Yards). -
* My quoted Secondhand prices here are for MINT as new condition. Steer clear of guns that have not been looked after.

1. Weirauch HW97 (the most accurate springer to be found). £250 secondhand
2. Weirauch HW95 (light, well made and powerful). £200 secondhand.
3. Weirauch HW80 (big, heavy and durable). £200 secondhand.

4. Diana 48 (Expensive, Heavy). £250 secondhand.
5. Diana 52 (Expensive, Heavy). £300 secondhand.

Almost any Weirauch or Diana is a great buy. Diana's are expensive but probably the best made airguns in the world in terms of engineering/materials. All British made Air Arms spring rifles are very good buys too.

6. BSA Lightning (my top budget buy). £100 secondhand.
7. Webley Exocet. £100 secondhand.

Try to buy a Birmingham made BSA and not a Turkish made version of one (Lightning XL is Turkish made).

Although it's possible to find other springers that will do the job, it's best to stick to those rifles with a pedigree. For a great budget new buy go for a BSA Lightning.

Be careful with Chinese made SMK's - most of them are inferior quality compared to above. Most are not powerful enough to use for hunting.

Contrary to popular belief the maximum safe distance for humane hunting of Rabbits with a UK legal spring air rifle is 35 yards for a .22 and 40 yards for a .177

Good luck.

[diamond lil]

Lamping in a back garden ??

[nickdutch]

Although i am still learning it (but improving!) i reckon that the slingshot catapult is probably the best deal.

But has anyone here thought of using a David / Shepherds sling (like a Palestinian)?

[i_am_jim]

hi, ask him for an smk 19 .22 air rifle, they are very good spec for a low priced air rifle, very easy to use and upgrade. not too heavy either had mine for two years not had a problem with it. it took me a while to zero the scope that came with it. other than that excellent air rifle.

[i_am_jim]

had heard the stories of poor build quality etc not had any problems a very well put together rifle. havnt had a problem humainly killing rabbits squirrels or pigeons.

[modplod]

It's currently unlawful to hunt live quarry with a cross bow, long bow or sling shot. The powers to be have deemed that these methods are likely to cause suffering.

Personally I think the cross bow is an awesome hunting tool. As for a sling-shot, I don't think it should ever be used to kill small quarry as it's simply not accurate enough or indeed powerful enough. A sling-shot is however great fun if you use it for plinking at targets.

Of course when the "baloon goes up" the authorities won't concern themselves with policing such things. Personally I would never want to use any impliment that might result in an inhumane death.

I'd advise those of you who want to hunt and kill small game (upto rabbit size) with a sling-shot or similar to instead use a UK legal sub 12ftlb air rifle. Go for something capable of at least 11.5 ftlb (some cheap Chinese made guns struggle to produce this level of power).

[i_am_jim]

oh and yes i paid £140 for the air rifle. it came with a good quality rifle case, scope, targets and 500 pellets from a gun shop in peterborough. so all in all a good deal.

[modplod]

Jim,

Sorry I have just read my post above and see how I rubbished Chinese made rifles - this was unfair of me because there are in fact a few Chinese made guns which are powerful enough to kill small ground game and the model 19 is one of these.

That said, I stand by my former advice regarding airguns - £150 will get you a far far better rifle is you buy secondhand.

My top buy - BSA Lightning.