A quick firearms-choice question, or two.

[24942895]

Air-rifle or small-bore rifle?
My experience with this kind of shooting is back when I was a kid, I learnt to shoot with an old .22 air rifle and moved on to hunting small game with it,
I went out with a farmer whose land I used to hunt on and used his .22 rimfire rifle a few times which was far better for taking small game.

I've decided to get into shooting again and intend tracking down a local shooting club, my intent is to get into target shooting, probably competitively (I'm a bit handy with a rifle).

Does the power of air rifles used for target shooting come anywhere close to a .22 rimfire rifle?
I'm thinking that post SHTF I can turn my tools towards food rather than paper but my experience with air rifles is that they're somewhat low powered for that role compared to a cartridge-rifle (I'm sure there is proper terminology for that!), however a rimfire rifle would mean stockpiling ammunition in a way that is more expensive (and possibly have legal limitations) that stockpiling air rifle pellets isn't.

[sg4]

If you have approved land permission to get firearm license get a rimfire rifle. They start at £300 with suppressor, then get an air rifle. both can be bought cheap with the Webley raider starting at £400 to the Daystates at £1000+. places to shoot will be the biggest issue so look at what clubs are local before deciding what to do first. remember you can buy an air rifle today if your over 18. fire arms license might take 6 months if you can even get one.

not an air rifle does not have a similar muzzle velocity

you will be given a maximum storage capacity for rimfire when you get a license. not seen one above 5000 rnds

[Plymtom]

however a rimfire rifle would mean stockpiling ammunition in a way that is more expensive (and possibly have legal limitations) that stockpiling air rifle pellets isn't.

That is a fair point however if you get into re-loading centerfire fullbore ammunition I believe by making as you need, you then have a self replenishable supply, and if you want to get into shooting why not go fullbore? it's a fun social activity, you can have your permitted .22LR, + whatever other allocated ammo you are allowed, it is commom for a target shooting enthusiast to have .22LR and more than one scoped/unscoped/silenced/semi auto or bolt action for instance, bolt actions are also popular in other calibers in the UK right up to .50 (though you are very limited where you can use those) .308 /.223 probably the most common, then you can have lever action rifles that fire pistol ammo like the .38/.357 magnum, .44/.44 magnum and likewise in long barrel revolvers, having 6 or more guns on your ticket first time is not uncommon, have a look around http://www.full-bore.co.uk.

Being a member of a shooting club or the NRA simply because you like to shoot is enough grounds to apply for a FAC in fact if you join a club they will help and encourage you to do so, shooting is the second most popular sport in this country still, so don't be shy of it incedentally one of the safest too, I am not keen on encouraging people with no experience to get into hunting unless they need to to make ends meet, target shooting is fun and hones your skills ( not your stalking skills but you don't have to shoot animals to learn how to get close enough to do so, which opens up many options in terms of where you can go to try), my advice join a club, if you have the time and can afford to join a full bore one, and airgun one, a clay shooting one, and an archery one, do so you won't look back

[24942895]

however a rimfire rifle would mean stockpiling ammunition in a way that is more expensive (and possibly have legal limitations) that stockpiling air rifle pellets isn't.

That is a fair point however if you get into re-loading centerfire fullbore ammunition I believe by making as you need, you then have a self replenishable supply, and if you want to get into shooting why not go fullbore? it's a fun social activity, you can have your permitted .22LR, + whatever other allocated ammo you are allowed, it is commom for a target shooting enthusiast to have .22LR and more than one scoped/unscoped/silenced/semi auto or bolt action for instance, bolt actions are also popular in other calibers in the UK right up to .50 (though you are very limited where you can use those) .308 /.223 probably the most common, then you can have lever action rifles that fire pistol ammo like the .38/.357 magnum, .44/.44 magnum and likewise in long barrel revolvers, having 6 or more guns on your ticket first time is not uncommon, have a look around http://www.full-bore.co.uk.

Being a member of a shooting club or the NRA simply because you like to shoot is enough grounds to apply for a FAC in fact if you join a club they will help and encourage you to do so, shooting is the second most popular sport in this country still, so don't be shy of it incedentally one of the safest too, I am not keen on encouraging people with no experience to get into hunting unless they need to to make ends meet, target shooting is fun and hones your skills ( not your stalking skills but you don't have to shoot animals to learn how to get close enough to do so, which opens up many options in terms of where you can go to try), my advice join a club, if you have the time and can afford to join a full bore one, and airgun one, a clay shooting one, and an archery one, do so you won't look back

After some further reading I'm considering fullbore, I used to usually shoot 7.62mm which I think is the same as the .308, but I also spent alot of time with a .50, not to mention 5.56mm which I think is the same as .223
It's the kind of thing I'd be immediately familiar with, if a bit rusty.

A .22 rimfire would probably be more adaptable post-shtf but between here and there I'm quite attracted to fullbore. I'll take a look at that website.

[Moony]

7.62mm which I think is the same as the .308, .... 5.56mm which I think is the same as .223

This sort of statement will spawn a flurry of views on any firearms related forum. Best to get expert advice on the level of interchangeability of these calibres before diving in and mixing ammunition / rifle types.

[24942895]

7.62mm which I think is the same as the .308, .... 5.56mm which I think is the same as .223

This sort of statement will spawn a flurry of views on any firearms related forum. Best to get expert advice on the level of interchangeability of these calibres before diving in and mixing ammunition / rifle types.

I was just mentioning my previous experience, translated into civilian terms

[Plymtom]

This sort of statement will spawn a flurry of views on any firearms related forum. Best to get expert advice on the level of interchangeability of these calibres before diving in and mixing ammunition / rifle types.

Yes you're right chamber, head room, tollerances, and military brass tends too be heavier duty/thicker walled, but basically they are very close to being the same sizes as 24942895 said but if you buy a .308 rifle best use .308 ammo, and so on, if you're lucky enough to be able to afford both types where they're simular, then you have to learn the exact differences between your particular firearms, but even then better use the ammo meant for the gun.

We have used club guns and have come across a case (which I'm told is not unusual) where a magazine or gun in this case a Ruger 10/22 didn't like a certain brand of bullets which a different Ruger 10/22 was perfectly happy to shoot, I actually like that, it's like they have a character and you have to make friends with them.