The Air Rifles & Pistols thread

[Frozennova]

Do you mean feet? Because there is now way some cheapo chinese tat will group properly at 50 yards and you wont be hitting stuff at 150 yards . Most of the decent guns in this thread wont do it so a spring based single stage plinker sure as hell wont .

Nope definatly yards.

at 150 yards it was a couple of hits with around 20 pellets, probably a couple of lucky shots.

at 50 yards im grouping in a 10p with a couple of strays.

It may be a cheap chinese rifle but it isn't massively down on power and its not like the recoil will leave me looking at the moon.

 

[panyan]

They are quite big targets so understand why you wants some distance between you and them

its not the size, it is the ricochet consequences!


(i tape my paper target to a metal drum)

 

[Snaggle]

a 10p is an inch .. so yer grouping an inch at 50 yards? dam you best sign up for the olympic team now !!!

Infact i shall go sell my precharged kit and buy a $100 chinese spinger cause i must have been doing it wrong all theser years

 

[D.Roberts]

When I get 5 mins I will take a pic of my set up.

Air Arms S400
Hawke Varmint 2 pro 4-16x44

I go hunting as and when I can these days but me back limits me 99% of the time.

 

[Mark A]

I'm looking for a budget rifle atm. I'll be shooting paper targets (no hunting), and I'd like to punch out as far as possible and learn about wind correction and so on. I'm a bit torn though, my father sells SMK rifles (a Chinese manufacturer), and some of the rifles seem to get a good review, especially after fettling. And most importantly for me as a beginner, I can buy any of the SMK equipment for a massively reduced price. Hmmm, what to do..

Edit, an SMK XS20 in particular, which is apparently a Weihrauch HW95K clone. I would be replacing the spring, which seems to be the let-down (and it seems some guns come properly lubed/greased, others don't), either way it would be stripped down before I fired it. I'd be looking at <£100 for the gun, bag + semi decent mil-dot scope and spring kit. But.. Is it worth buying Chinese..

I'm not up to date on SMK guns if i'm honest. Back when I was really into it a few years ago SMK was regarded as utter crap. The reason they get good reviews is because people buy them who are just starting out, so they have nothing to compare to. Also Airgunner and airgun world were regarded as a complete joke as well, they gave every arigun they tested high marks, even the B2.

The airgun you linked to does look a lot different to the B2 etc though, so they might have changed now. Depends what price you can get one for though, might be worth having a try of one then trying a proper HW95 at a gun shop. Weihrauch rifles really are very good quality and are built to last, so worth thinking about getting one second hand rather than a chinese copy IMO.

I'm guessing that the real record trigger in the HW95 will be far better than the copy for a start. Probably better stock and bluing on the Weihrauch as well. Also I'd look into whether or not the parts are interchangeable so you can get upgraded internals at some point.

EDIT: One of the most important things is getting the right ammo for it. DO NOT buy any SMK ammo whatever you do .

 

[Amos91]

I have had a Tx200 HC .22 for a few years now but fancied a PCP.

My only regret is not picking up an S410 .177 Classic earlier. Got it for £350:

It's already racking up the kills on my permission

 

[D.Roberts]

Yep the Air Arms s400 s410 etc are one of the best tbh for me I see it as the best.

They have to be one of the most accurate consistent air rifles out there.

EDIT

Some pics

 

[Mark A]

What do you use to fill these PCP guns? I wouldn't mind getting one but cant be bothered with the hassle of getting it filled at a diving shop. Can you fill these with a pump and some hard work?

 

[Snaggle]

a proper pump or diving bottle which i guess is what most people use

 

[jumpy]

Better with a dive bottle - consistent and dry air. Pumps are ok, but some people have problems, depending on what type of filling valve is on the gun bottle - ie shrader valve sometimes get a problem with seating, so they leak. This is less likely to happen when filling from a 300bar diving tank. Depending on what size (in litres) and connector hoses you want, you're probably looking at about £150.00 outlay for a bottle + hoses.

 

[ianh]

A mid-range 7ltr tank which could cost £5 to fill in a dive shop (or free at a gun shop) should fill a standard sized PCP 150-200cc cylinder (AA410, BSA Scorpion, HW100 etc) esaily 50 times, probably more.

 

[steveo]

A mid-range 7ltr tank which could cost £5 to fill in a dive shop (or free at a gun shop) should fill a standard sized PCP 150-200cc cylinder (AA410, BSA Scorpion, HW100 etc) esaily 50 times, probably more.

I got my tank from BAR which arrived next door well packaged, took it to my local gun shop who filled it for free as it was the first charge it need a full fill, little tip for people with tanks never let them empty after its been used as it can cause damge to valves

 

[Ewaf]

These look awesome, but what do you guys actually do with them? Do you all live in rural areas/farms ?? Or are their ranges where you can go and pop a few off? Seems like something I could get really into (thought it looks like it could be addictive and expensive!!)

 

[B&W]

my dad found a RARE Parker Hale Dragon (brand new condition) for free in an old warehouse recently, will be having a go on it on eid day.

 

[ianh]

These look awesome, but what do you guys actually do with them? Do you all live in rural areas/farms ?? Or are their ranges where you can go and pop a few off? Seems like something I could get really into (thought it looks like it could be addictive and expensive!!)

My guess would be that 95% of airgunners fall into 1 or more of 3 categories

a) Hunting (usually farms doing pest control - thats what I do)
b) Sport (HFT or FT shooting at clubs)
c) Backyard "plinking"

There are lots of ranges/clubs but there's a much higher concentration in the south east. It's not that expensive to start if you get a Springer (£100-300) but if you go for the more modern PCP you'll need a dive bottle or hand pump (£350-£2000+ for really high-end kit) but you can get 2nd hand kit very easily/cheaply.

Have a look at some of the forums - http://www.airgunbbs.com (probably the biggest) and then once you've picked something that takes your fancy have a look at the specialist forums for that make, there's soooo much info it's unreal.

 

[steveo]

Pest control for me i have 16 permissions would love to work what the size is in total lol

 

[Efour]

i live in a town with a 100ft back garden

can i legally get an air rifle and shoot targets in my garden?
what cheap gun can you recommend for such a little place?

 

[Mark A]

You need to make sure no pellet leaves your property with a suitable backstop. If one does you can be in a lot of trouble.

Other than that I think it is legal but better off waiting for confirmation from someone with more knowledge. I have been shooting in my garden for years without issue though.

 

[ianh]

i live in a town with a 100ft back garden

can i legally get an air rifle and shoot targets in my garden?
what cheap gun can you recommend for such a little place?

I'd say a Springer (low cost, not complicated, no "faff" with dive bottles etc & accurate enough for a 30m back yard). You could look at really cheap Chinese SMK guns like a B2 (works but can be nasty build quality, it's pot luck) or get a more expensive BSA or Weihrauch (HW) which will be much better but cost upto £300. these are all available in most air-rifle shops but you have to pick them up, they can't be delivered anymore.

Make sure you've got a good backstop (to stop the pellets and to prevent them ricocheting) and make sure you've got good neighbours. The forums have stories of people visited by the Police after a neighbour "saw a man shooting a gun" etc.

 

[Mark A]

BTW, does anyone know where I can get a new breech seal for my BSA lightning?

Tried ebay and a few online gunshops and they want £6 inc delivery for a tiny rubber O ring .