Air rifles?

[Oneflewover]

Ive had a BSA Ultra PCP For the best part of 6 years. Thousands of pellets through it and never had it serviced nor had a problem with it. I will no doubt need it done at some point but don’t choose reliability as a detractor for PCPs. They are solid.
I also have a GMK springer. It’s fine but it’s a hulk and noisy compared to the BSA Ultra.
You should be able to get a 2nd hand PCP for sub £200 but you’ll need at least £80 for a stirrup pump to charge it. It’s worth the additional investment IMHO.

Cheers, hadn't thought about 2nd hand....

 

[Hagrid]

I'm pretty set on a Springer, probably .177, and I quite like break barrel.

I don’t blame you for getting a springer, I prefer them but thought it prudent to play a little bit of devils advocate and voice it and break barrel is just me being me. :)

Keep us up to date with what you go for.

 

[Clint]

I still think the JRT is the best option...you can still use it less than 50m of a bridal path and play with it after ratting...

 

[Oneflewover]

I still think the JRT is the best option...you can still use it less than 50m of a bridal path and play with it after ratting...

To each their own my dear fellow :hat:

 

[Drunkula]

Just get a jack russel that will sort rats out

Then what do you use to get rid of the Jack Russell?

 

[Oneflewover]

Then what do you use to get rid of the Jack Russell?

Good question....

 

[Steven]

I have a Weirauch Hw90k air rifle and would certainly recommend any of the Weirauch range as they are all very well made.

 

[welshfella]

I have a Remington .177 break barrel 12 ft.lb Springer it's more than adequate for pest control good build quality and reasonably priced

 

[Chod]

A mate lent me an air rifle, and my boys and I had such a great time plinking tin cans I'm thinking of getting one. It'd mostly be used for target practice, but I'm not ruling out being able to take out a rat now we have hens.

Anyone got any advice or recommendations? I'm looking at break barrel around the £200 mark. Cheers!

I have a BSA Lightning whish is great. I don't use it much anymore and would consider selling it.
It's ideal for targets and ratting which is exactly what I bought it for.
Regards
Richard

 

[itry]

A mate lent me an air rifle, and my boys and I had such a great time plinking tin cans I'm thinking of getting one. It'd mostly be used for target practice, but I'm not ruling out being able to take out a rat now we have hens.

Anyone got any advice or recommendations? I'm looking at break barrel around the £200 mark. Cheers!

A subject im more that proficient in! i have lots of air guns. my specialism is in german ones. Weihrauch to be straight. I would insist that you buy a weihrauch hw77 in .77 caliber. they are perfect. if your a fiddler stick a vmach kit in it and off you go. look at my instagram page d.p.c.s theirs lots of photos early on when i used to tune them up.

 

[Old Geezer]

I had a 7.62 SLR and a 9mm Browning loaned to me by the government many moons ago, they wouldn't let me keep them though.

 

[Old Geezer]

I have a BSA Lightning whish is great. I don't use it much anymore and would consider selling it.
It's ideal for targets and ratting which is exactly what I bought it for.
Regards
Richard

When I read BSA Lightning my first thought was a motorbike, BSA Lightning was a 650cc twin late 60s nice bike sounded good too.

 

[Gingerbrews]

And if you're in Scotland,you'll need a licence.

 

[foxbat]

I'm pretty set on a Springer, probably .177, and I quite like break barrel.

It won't take long before you actually want to hit what you're aiming at so I'd buy a decent one second hand rather than something second rate new. If you must get a break barrel then hold out for a good used HW80 from a dealer. Preferably though a used TX200HC or HW97 underlever are in the next league up and won't cost much more. Don't forget to budget for a scope if you can't score a package that includes one. +1 for the 177, aka the gentleman's calibre. 22 is for knuckle-dragging artillerymen.

Remember when buying that private-to-private air rifle sales by mail are legal but only via Parcelforce 48. Dealer-to-individual sales must be face to face or via the RFD transfer network (dealer sends to your local dealer for face-to-face pickup). The exception is buying from a European mail order shop - they can ship directly to your door but you do have to check you're buying a sub 12fpe (16J) model.

 

[Rogermort]

I have two PCPs, a BSA Ultra and an Air Arms 210, both .22 which I use with a diver's bottle. Interesting reading the comments about shooting coypus, roe deer and wild boar. The only way you'd kill a wild boar with a legal power air rifle (12 ft.lb) in the UK is to use it as a club!
Both are good for UK vermin control but then so are our cats. :)
I had a friend in Greece (he died suddenly a couple of years ago) that bought a PCP from Bulgaria that showed me what a powerful air rifle is capable of. Interestingly, he wasn't legally allowed to have a silencer or telescopic sights on it.

 

[Oneflewover]

It won't take long before you actually want to hit what you're aiming at so I'd buy a decent one second hand rather than something second rate new. If you must get a break barrel then hold out for a good used HW80 from a dealer. Preferably though a used TX200HC or HW97 underlever are in the next league up and won't cost much more. Don't forget to budget for a scope if you can't score a package that includes one. +1 for the 177, aka the gentleman's calibre. 22 is for knuckle-dragging artillerymen.

Remember when buying that private-to-private air rifle sales by mail are legal but only via Parcelforce 48. Dealer-to-individual sales must be face to face or via the RFD transfer network (dealer sends to your local dealer for face-to-face pickup). The exception is buying from a European mail order shop - they can ship directly to your door but you do have to check you're buying a sub 12fpe (16J) model.

Really helpful, thanks. Looks like air rifles are one of those things that have increased in popularity during covid and it's not easy to find a good example 2nd hand at reasonable price.... Might go for a rifle without scope initially due to budget then retro fit when I have some cash available

 

[Oneflewover]

A subject im more that proficient in! i have lots of air guns. my specialism is in german ones. Weihrauch to be straight. I would insist that you buy a weihrauch hw77 in .77 caliber. they are perfect. if your a fiddler stick a vmach kit in it and off you go. look at my instagram page d.p.c.s theirs lots of photos early on when i used to tune them up.

Brilliant, thanks. Any idea where I could get HW77 for reasonable money? Out of my budget at local dealer...

 

[Oneflewover]

And if you're in Scotland,you'll need a licence.

I'm not, but thanks anyway.

 

[Oneflewover]

I have a Remington .177 break barrel 12 ft.lb Springer it's more than adequate for pest control good build quality and reasonably priced

Yeah, read pretty good reviews for them. Thanks

 

[Oneflewover]

I have a BSA Lightning whish is great. I don't use it much anymore and would consider selling it.
It's ideal for targets and ratting which is exactly what I bought it for.
Regards
Richard

I'll pm you