PCP air gun recommendations

[MickyMook]

Hi folks,

I'm looking at buying a PCP air gun. I'm a reasonably capable shooter in the rimfire and centrefire categories, but I want something for controlling vermin around the yard. I have tried the ultra low velocity .22 rounds but my rifle just won't group with them at all, even at 25 yards!

The world of PCP air rifles is new to me and the price variation is huge for new rifles. I just want something that can shoot rats, pigeons, corvids, with some occasional rabbit shooting. I'll be putting an NV scope on it most likely.

Does anyone have any recommendations from experience? I'm not interested in looking cool, just want good value and functionality.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Kidds]

Had an Air Arms S410 once upon a time, very highly rated. About as good as you will get.
Buy a good second hand one, loads of people buy them only to find they have nowhere to shoot them so sell them on practically unused.

 

[tr250]

I took my son shooting to the local gun club a couple of months ago we nievely turned up with our old air gun that sits round the yard waiting for a pigeon or rat that needs shooting. By Christ I was in for a shock at how air guns have moved on in the last 20 years. Some of the others came and wanted to look at our gun like it was some sort of antique. Then I went into the shop and was even more astonished at the price of them.

 

[MickyMook]

I took my son shooting to the local gun club a couple of months ago we nievely turned up with our old air gun that sits round the yard waiting for a pigeon or rat that needs shooting. By Christ I was in for a shock at how air guns have moved on in the last 20 years. Some of the others came and wanted to look at our gun like it was some sort of antique. Then I went into the shop and was even more astonished at the price of them.

It can make your head swim for sure. The last air rifle i owned was a break barrel job with steel sights. It was a disaster that couldn’t hit a barn door at 40 paces though

 

[MickyMook]

Had an Air Arms S410 once upon a time, very highly rated. About as good as you will get.
Buy a good second hand one, loads of people buy them only to find they have nowhere to shoot them so sell them on practically unused.

I see a few air arms going second hand. You can get brand new guns for cheaper - based on what you’re saying the quality reflects that.

 

[tr250]

It can make your head swim for sure. The last air rifle i owned was a break barrel job with steel sights. It was a disaster that couldn’t hit a barn door at 40 paces though

Yes I’ve never had a break barrel but mates had them when we were kids and they seemed less accurate due to the movement in the hinge maybe. The one I’ve got I could constantly knock empty shotgun cartridges off of fence posts at 30 yards when I was a lad but it’s been neglected lately and haven’t spent the time sighting it in also I find it shoots straighter if it’s had a few pellets through always a bit all over it it’s not been used for a while

 

[Vader]

HW100 KT

View the Weihrauch HW100 KT rifle. This outstanding pre-charged pneumatic rifle is in a league of its own and is undoubtedly amongst the best air guns in…

weihrauch.co.uk

Top gun.

Always had weihrauchs.
Had underlever as a kid.

Got the above for vermin as quiet and short.

 

[Wombat]

i bought a gamo phox 2 last year, for what I want it wasn't that expensive and came with all the bits needed

 

[deleted user 837354]

Had a lever action air rifle and scope as a kid. Used to put snail shells on the fence at the bottom of our yard and shoot them out of my bedroom window no sweat. 20 yards or so I guess? I once shot a mouse off a hanging peanut bird feeder with it.

 

[Longlowdog]

Look at

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he does everything from 400 quid rifles that will shoot 5p sized groups at 40 yards to 3k rifles that will shoot 5p sized groups at 40 yards.
I personally use a weirauch HK100 that was gifted to me and it shoots amazingly well but it sits at about £1k.
The joy of the HK is that it comes with a sound moderator that works every bit as well as the ones you spend £100 buying. There are no easier loading magazines than the Weirauch. one bit of metal and you just place the pellets in. Some mag's are real awkward in the dark or low light.
Within reason it doesn't matter how you grip or what you rest a pcp on, they don't vibrate or jump.
These days lever action (not the same as rifle lever action) tends to be the most ergonomic method of cocking an air rifle and it doesn't interfere with a sight.
Be glad you live where you do...if you were in Scotland you'd need a licence to own an air rifle.

 

[Kidds]

I see a few air arms going second hand. You can get brand new guns for cheaper - based on what you’re saying the quality reflects that.

Quality is usually reflected in the price with air rifles but that doesn't mean cheaper ones can't be accurate.
I'm no snob and if a cheap one works well I am happy at that.
One thing that can be an issue is weight, I have had some very nice, accurate air rifles that are just too heavy to lug around the yard. As long as you are buying a decent ish gun it doesn't matter much about the price, but it does matter if it is too heavy.

 

[MickyMook]

Be glad you live where you do...if you were in Scotland you'd need a licence to own an air rifle

I do need a licence as Northern Ireland unfortunately

 

[TheTallGuy]

I use a Hatsan AT44 in .22 for bunny busting - it's at the lower end of the scale compared to some of the premium brands, but perfectly usable. The ten round magazine saves bit of fidling around in the field - particularly if you get a spare or two. The main drawbacks are that its a but geavy compared to my springer and it's a bit finicky on choice of ammo - I can group Air Arms Diablo Field or Hunter in a 50p at 30 yards with an occasional zinger, but some others end up spreading like a 12 bore!

 

[ford4000]

Not a weihrauch Hw110 if they are all like mine, constantly breaking down. Hasn't worked since covid lock down, I should get it fixed again

 

[benny6910]

I’ve just got a gamo gx 40 quite pleased with it. The shop where I bought it from said the barrel is made by bsa so should be decent quality.

 

[suffolksmallholder]

I had a Stalker .22 adapted by Adrian Hartley of Stalker Rifles.
Lovely, steady & very accurate. Way too good for my shooting skills!
They pop up from time to time.
Buy quality then you have good re-sale.

Stalker .22 Tiger Ten Rifle | GunTrader

Stalker .22 Tiger Ten Rifle for sale. Contact the seller today via the contact form or phone.

www.guntrader.uk

SS

 

[Wilksy]

I’d look for one with a regulator, more consistent, I have an old air arms 410 and sent it off to get a regulator in, without it you fill it up with air and your first few pellets can be erratic then it goes into the Sweet spot’ then as the air goes down can be erratic again, regulator does away with that, it’s pellet on pellet full to empty, I think some bsa’s and weirauch have them factory fitted

 

[Phil P]

Hi folks,

I'm looking at buying a PCP air gun. I'm a reasonably capable shooter in the rimfire and centrefire categories, but I want something for controlling vermin around the yard. I have tried the ultra low velocity .22 rounds but my rifle just won't group with them at all, even at 25 yards!

The world of PCP air rifles is new to me and the price variation is huge for new rifles. I just want something that can shoot rats, pigeons, corvids, with some occasional rabbit shooting. I'll be putting an NV scope on it most likely.

Does anyone have any recommendations from experience? I'm not interested in looking cool, just want good value and functionality.

Thanks in advance.

It really does come down to budget and how fancy you want to go. Not sure what restrictions you have on power where you are as well?

I have a sub 12 ft/lb bsa ultra which is super compact and very accurate, bought it used for about £350. It’s great for ratting around buildings and machinery as you don’t get too much ricochet or risk damaging things. 10 shot magazine in .22

At the other end of the spectrum I have an FX wildcat sniper which I bought new for about £1200. This is classed as a firearm though so would have to go on your license. They’re fully adjustable/tuneable and mine is currently running at 40ft/lb with a 15.8 grain pellet. It will also shoot slugs. @ 50 yards it will literally keep putting the pellets though the same whole.
18 shot magazine .22

Don’t forget once you have a rifle you’ll also need something to pump it up. For occasional use the Stirrup Pumps are ok and not silly money but if your doing a lot of shooting like targets it soon gets old so you’ll want a bottle. If you go down the bottle route make sure it’s a high pressure (300bar) one not a scuba tank and you need somewhere to get it filled unless you’re also going to invest in a compressor.

 

[Longlowdog]

@ford4000 my Hw100 is probably 19 years old. It's had one leak internally a couple of years ago fixed for £120 inc RFD carriage and came back with a report including ten shots over a chrono and it 's extreme spread was 7fps. Some years back the seal in the end of the air receptacle began leaking and I bought the tool and a complete seal kit for £30 from Ebay and it now stores air for indefinitely. Two minor repairs in 16 years and 10's of thousands of pellets isn't too bad. It must really irk to manage to find a lemon from such a reputable company.
Does yours have the Hull Cartridge mark on it. Weirauch UK get really upset by imports and may refuse to work on them. Dealers don't tell you that.

 

[Mickstup]

I'll second the BSA Ultra, the gun doesn't miss, the operator maybe not so good.