Air Rifles

[Pedalpusher]

I have a .22 SMK under lever air rifle with a nice scope. Joined a local rifle club to learn the basics of handling the weapon as well as “zeroing” the scope all these things where new to me but not to hard to learn. Living as I do in the Scottish Highlands I'm surrounded by small suitable game, and have found great satisfaction from putting something in the “pot” at weekends.
Never been tempted to get anything more powerful since if TEOTWAWKI happened I wouldn't have a electrical supply, other than my 12volt system so a fridge would be out, of the question and it's so easy to take a few rabbits or even a duck and with my limited butchering skills anything bigger could be very messy.
One last point, ammunition, I have 5000 pellets in the shed, legal and safe, last me a life time and cost under £50 try keeping 5000 rounds of something else in the shed!!

Pedalpusher

[diamond lil]

We got the youngest son a nice Weihrauch when he was 16, but it left home when he did and now he says its "broken".... OH likes rabbit and it would have been handy. We got another cheapy old one but its not much good. OH once had a 12 bore but hated the noise and I hated picking pellets out of my food.

[the-gnole]

I guess you could get a 12v fridge or even an LPG one or both, we bought one last year from a camping and outdoor shop, not particularly cheap and not huge, but enough.

Similar to this one

http://www.amazon.co.uk/35Ltr-Capacity- ... 370&sr=8-1

[Pedalpusher]

That's true a wee 12volt fridge would be handy for maybe milk or butter but I'd think you'd need more storage for a hunch of venison or any larger game. my point is that providing enough animal protein through small game would be simple enough up here, even over the winter, geese migrate down from Iceland and amass in huge flocks, not to difficult to approach. If a more powerful weapon was required I'd go for a good crossbow, again no licence so nice and discreet.
It's amazing just how anti-gun some people can be, I've been verbally abused having met people while carrying a rifle but those same people will have a burger on the way home!
Pedalpusher

[counsellor]

Hi preppingsu
I've been thiinking about your issue here about getting an air rifle and my feeling is, first to ask why you want a gun
if its to catch food, then there are other ways to do so and some of them are less messy. on the other hand if it for protection in a TEOTWAWKI situation then you maybe need to think about how shocking that going to be
in the past I have all sorts air rifles, pistols, shot guns, long bows and crossbows but came to the conclusion that they were not the sort of things to have around with kids around

[southernPrepper]

Self defence is not an acceptable reason for owning a weapon unless you live in Northern Ireland where the law is different or you get a special dispensation from the Home Secretary.

Shotguns should always be locked away when not in use and in my opinion if you have kids so should air rifles and anything similar like crossbows. If it can be loaded and pointed then lock it away.

However, forbidden fruit is always sweetest. If you suddenly introduce a gun to house with children in it (especially boys) then they will want to play and things can go very wrong. Far better to get them involved early and teach them the difference between a toy and a gun.

I have room for a safe 10m range and encourage my kids to shoot under supervision. They get bored after a while and go and do something else which is exactly as it should be. They know that video games are far more exciting than target shooting and once the initial novelty has worn off it becomes just like anything else in life.

[diamond lil]

Counsellor I agree. I cannot imagine ever having a crossbow under my roof, and I did wonder at the earlier thread where a female forum member actually got one. I think people who have never hunted game can't envisage how that might go, what might be asked of them.

[itsybitsy]

Counsellor I agree. I cannot imagine ever having a crossbow under my roof, and I did wonder at the earlier thread where a female forum member actually got one. I think people who have never hunted game can't envisage how that might go, what might be asked of them.

I'll second that - the thoughto of having a crossbow in the house is not something I even want to think about! I'd be perfectly happy with an air rifle though and it's something I am going to purchase as soon as funds allow.

[the-gnole]

We have a compound crossbow, a compound bow, two normal bows, three air pistols, 6 air rifles, all in secure places, don't ask about the knives and axes though

(They are out of the way though)

[Pedalpusher]

I must admit to being a bit puzzled by the anti-crossbow arguments. I'm a careful guy so my house and land are pretty much built so I can live off them, nearly ½ acre of veggies with fruit trees and hens, power at the moment comes of the grid but we have a wind generator that could do lights but not much else. Good storage means lots of pasta, grains and long “shelve life” products stored. With the Hens and the small game I shoot with my .22 rifle we'd cope better that most.

So given the above, if hyper-inflation or some other society based disaster occurred and groups of roving plunderers came to help themselves, what do I do? Shout threats ? Or share all my carefully saved supplies and therefore end up in the same boat as most sheeple?

I have no desire to injure or hurt anyone but! And I'm afraid there is a but! I would defend my home, not to do so, seems to negate the point of being a prepper.
My own view is and always has been remaining invisible is the best form of defence, but to state “never under my roof” is a braver viewpoint than mine.