Air rifles anyone?

[marcros]

12 ft lbs is the limit for air rifles (without a firearms certificate). There has always been ways of tweaking the power- changing springs, or adjusting the valve somehow to get an extra 10% but i was always told that there was no point adding a little bit of power- the difference in trajectory comes at about 20+ ftlb (and the appropriate certification to wn it). All gas guns now have anti tamper seals, and probably security fixings.

It remains the responsibility of the user to ensure that the gun is within the legal limit etc.

Yes, I'd found most of that out by digging around. My Ratty is about 7ft lbs. So you don't think it's worth getting it tweaked up to 12?

i doubt that you can. If you could, it probably wouldn't be worthwhile doing so. I think that co2 guns that run on the cartridges are usually relatively low powered. The charging equipment for the buddy bottles may be quite expensive, but my reasonably local gun shop only charges a pound to fill my bottle, so it isn't worth getting my own gear. Dont be put off by that expense if you are looking at alternatives.

 

[ColeyS1]

Get an ultramultishot, then let the fun begin !

 

[david123]

Weihrauch 35 kal .5.5 with a walnut stock, and a model 17 6x40 fixed reticule scope
Had it for years, earned its keep in rabbits and such. I would never sell it. is accurate at long range and packs a punch.

 

[ChrisR]

I don’t own any form of air gun/weapon, just wish I did, then I could try and start reducing the flying rat (seagull) population.

On second thoughts there are that many, I would need some form of automatic weapon to make any difference, to this out of control form of flying vermin. :x :x

Chris R.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Yes. Then end up in court for killing a pest.

 

[woodfarmer]

Webley Mk III .22, and an Original Model 50.

My favourite air rifle (the Webley Mk3) , had one as a lad and when I was in the forces my younger brother broke it

I now have a Webley long barrelled Viscount in .177 fitted with a gas ram. Also a .22 Bronze Benjamin pump up.

These days for hunting use a rimfire .22 and for target shooting a Swiss Hammerli Automatic and a little Spanish Astra revolver.

 

[Wildman]

I have a .22 Cometa Fenix 400 a full legal power job and a pair of BSA Meteors for plinking one in .177 and one .22 plus a pistol, I forget the make in .177

 

[Harbo]

Here's my Huntsman - I'm right handed but shoot lefty!

Rod

 

[Fat ferret]

Think it's hard to beat a nice break barrel for the money. They are spring powered, all self contained, just need a service every couple of years no need to buy CO2 or bottles/pumps for compressed air. Just add ammo!

Weihrauch are still good guns, lots on second hand market for around about the 200 mark. Or you can buy old rusty guns and lovingly restore them, easy to work on. Mine is an hw85 that was my fathers. It's killed thousands of rabbits and still going strong despite 20 years of constant use coupled with infrequent and inexpert servicing. Accurate to 30 yards, inch groups all day long providing technique is up to scratch.

 

[woodfarmer]

If you decide to tune an air rifle you need to be careful you don't overdo it. On my Webley I -have- to use the heaviest of H & N pellets as anything lighter runs so fast it melts in the barrel and smears all over the rifling. This has to be cleaned and those that travel at that speed are not accurate as they aren't spinning.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

It seems strange now, but when I was about twelve years old many of the boys I knew had their own 410 shotguns, and would have laughed at anyone using an airgun.

 

[monkeybiter]

If you decide to tune an air rifle you need to be careful you don't overdo it. On my Webley I -have- to use the heaviest of H & N pellets as anything lighter runs so fast it melts in the barrel and smears all over the rifling. This has to be cleaned and those that travel at that speed are not accurate as they aren't spinning.

That was most likely too much oil [i.e. not much] in the piston causing 'dieseling' which is a compression triggered explosion of oil creating over-pressure, excessive heat and often illegal muzzle energy.
This is a common side effect of 'home servicing' in a springer.
No offence intended [I'm not always good at knowing when I've done that]

 

[Graham Orm]

12 ft lbs is the limit for air rifles (without a firearms certificate). There has always been ways of tweaking the power- changing springs, or adjusting the valve somehow to get an extra 10% but i was always told that there was no point adding a little bit of power- the difference in trajectory comes at about 20+ ftlb (and the appropriate certification to wn it). All gas guns now have anti tamper seals, and probably security fixings.

It remains the responsibility of the user to ensure that the gun is within the legal limit etc.

I watched a YT video of a guy comparing 12 & 36 ft lbs guns in a back to back test. Over 45 yards the two both lost height, but the difference was negligible. He then shot from 25 years into a brick of plasticine. the 36lb gun went 15mm further in. Not a huge difference.

 

[Graham Orm]

Get an ultramultishot, then let the fun begin !

Just looked them up, theres a good YT video. They look the part, what are they like for pest control? He reckons very accurate. Are they? Which model have you got?

 

[novocaine]

yep you can tweak it towards the 12lbft mark but it will be a gas hog and may lose accuracy, gmac sell a kit. still a cracking little rifle though with shed loads of trick bits available which make it look great and some even add power lol. end of the day it's a light rifle designed for ratting with a short barrel and smooth action they are great at it but not much else. difference between 7 and 11lbft is penetration at 10-15m which on things like bunnies makes a difference as it means you dont have to get as close, anything beyond 20m is a no no still unless you are sure of your ability and accuracy, I am but still wont, besides it is all about fieldcraft which is what makes it fun.
if you want a CO2 rifle that can be taking up to the legal limit with ease then look at the SMK 78/79 range in .22, very easy to tune and work on and with a good barrel (some are garbage) are very very accurate.
If you intend to do any tuning to a weapon then get a chronograph first, the combro is an easy to use unit that is very good and cheap as chips.
check out http://ukchineseairgunforum.myfreeforum.org/ for whats being done with them over there. (some nice woodwork going on too)

I have a 78 in .177 which is setup for 10m target at 7lbft (have pushed it up into the 10's but not needed for 10m stuff) and has beaten a few much better pieces of equipment in it's time, doesn't come out much these days and thinking of selling it.
not in this guise will be putting it back to stock stock. ugly aint she.

looks better in clearcoat

what I wont be selling on the other hand is the Webley raider, the AA s200 or the BSA Airsporter MkII, all in .177 all fantastic weapons and all bunny killers in there own right.
wont be selling the pistol anytime soon either.

 

[ColeyS1]

Get an ultramultishot, then let the fun begin !

Just looked them up, theres a good YT video. They look the part, what are they like for pest control? He reckons very accurate. Are they? Which model have you got?

I had a bsa underlever before the ultra and the difference from the two was staggering ! No recoil what so ever and you should be able to get 5p groupings from 30yards easy peasey. I went for the 2.2 multishot (so 10 shot magazine) being good to go for another shot in under 2 seconds seemed mind blowing. You can quite easily drop 2-3 bunnies from a group before they realise somethings up and scarper. bunny bashing the ultra is fantastic. It seems short to start with but its definitely up to the job for vermin control. If you look on bsaog.co.uk you'll get an idea of what people think about the ultras, it's full of loads of useful information and like minded people

 

[Graham Orm]

Get an ultramultishot, then let the fun begin !

Just looked them up, theres a good YT video. They look the part, what are they like for pest control? He reckons very accurate. Are they? Which model have you got?

I had a bsa underlever before the ultra and the difference from the two was staggering ! No recoil what so ever and you should be able to get 5p groupings from 30yards easy peasey. I went for the 2.2 multishot (so 10 shot magazine) being good to go for another shot in under 2 seconds seemed mind blowing. You can quite easily drop 2-3 bunnies from a group before they realise somethings up and scarper. bunny bashing the ultra is fantastic. It seems short to start with but its definitely up to the job for vermin control. If you look on bsaog.co.uk you'll get an idea of what people think about the ultras, it's full of loads of useful information and like minded people

Cheers for that, just got to convince the money minder now !

 

[Graham Orm]

Get an ultramultishot, then let the fun begin !

How do you charge them up?

 

[ColeyS1]

Kind of like a vertical hand pump. If you google stirrup pump you'll get an idea of what it looks like- it's good exercise too :lol: Contributing members of bsaog get access to the forsale section. There's always someone selling an air rifle to upgrade or just for a change. If you can get to a gun shop, have a feel and see what you think. Once you find a pellet that works nicely there's very rarely anything that'll stop you getting good groupings.

 

[woodfarmer]

If you decide to tune an air rifle you need to be careful you don't overdo it. On my Webley I -have- to use the heaviest of H & N pellets as anything lighter runs so fast it melts in the barrel and smears all over the rifling. This has to be cleaned and those that travel at that speed are not accurate as they aren't spinning.

That was most likely too much oil [i.e. not much] in the piston causing 'dieseling' which is a compression triggered explosion of oil creating over-pressure, excessive heat and often illegal muzzle energy.
This is a common side effect of 'home servicing' in a springer.
No offence intended [I'm not always good at knowing when I've done that]

Nope, it does diesel, but only for the first 2-3 shots or if left a while.

Used to use hobby pellets but no more, only the h and n 's will work. And they do not affect whether or not it diesels. Think if it was in .22 calibre it would be a good hunting rifle, although quite heavy. The Career 9mm was much lighter and had a lot of whack at short range but lose power much faster than a .22 rimfire.