air rifle versus airsoft

kadman

As a total novice with regards to shooting, and as a person interested in maybe looking further into the sport, I would welcome your advice and expertise on the following question.

I have spent some years shooting with bows, american flatbows, recurves ect, so I do have some regard as to safety issues regarding target sports.

Today I looked at air rifles from the point of view of target sports as opposed to hunting vermin ect, but I also saw some airsoft rifles as well. The question I,m really asking is , would an airsoft weapon be a better choice for short range targeting , or is a standard air rifle a better choice, given that I would need a liscence for the air rifle, but not too sure about the air soft weapon.

Thanks for your help.

kadman

It wasn't me!

You won't need a licence for an airsoft toy as (as far as I'm aware) they're all built to ensure a muzzle energy under one joule, which is the threshold specified in the firearms acts.

Really, it depends what you're looking to do. If you want to engage in airsoft games, that's the job, but if you want to shoot targets, the air rifle is the way to go I expect. If you've been doing formal target shooting with a bow before, then you may be interested in getting into competitive air rifle. This is the Olympic discipline shot at ten metres with standard air rifles, with the ten half a millimetre across. It's very challenging and excellent fun.

kadman

Target shooting with the air rifle is what I,m considering, I was just curious about the airsoft, as Its all new to me at the moment. I think the skill element of target shooting would be more appealing to me , as opposed to the airsoft games element, but each to his own.

Thanks

kadman

IRLConor

kadman wrote: »

Target shooting with the air rifle is what I,m considering, I was just curious about the airsoft, as Its all new to me at the moment. I think the skill element of target shooting would be more appealing to me , as opposed to the airsoft games element, but each to his own.

If you're interested in air rifle target shooting then the best places to start are either Wilkinstown Target Shooting Club (they are an archery club also) or if you are a student, staff member or alumnus of either TCD or UCD the college clubs (DURC and UCDRC respectively).

Those clubs cater to ISSF 10m air rifle. The only other type of air rifle target shooting I know of is field target air rifle but I don't know of any clubs who do it.

Tomebagel

how do you go about getting an air rifle liscense is it the same as a real firearms?

IRLConor

Tomebagel wrote: »

how do you go about getting an air rifle liscense is it the same as a real firearms?

Yep, exactly the same. As far as the law is concerned they are real firearms once they have a muzzle energy of more than 1 joule.

Sparks

kadman, if you're interested in air rifle and in the Navan area, WTSC do a beginners course as well that you might find of use.

Tomebagel

IRLConor wrote: »

Yep, exactly the same. As far as the law is concerned they are real firearms once they have a muzzle energy of more than 1 joule.

is there an age limit to getting a liscense?over 16?
and what to do next?

kadman

Sparks wrote: »

kadman, if you're interested in air rifle and in the Navan area, WTSC do a beginners course as well that you might find of use.

Thanks for the info, I,ll look into that in the next few days. How long is it in general before you get word on the liscence. ( spelling ).

kadman

IRLConor

Tomebagel wrote: »

is there an age limit to getting a liscense?over 16?

I think it's 16. Can't remember off the top of my head.

Tomebagel wrote: »

and what to do next?

1. Find people near to you who do the kind of shooting you want to do. (A target shooting club or gun club is a good first bet.)
2. Talk and/or shoot with them and ask them for advice on what gun/kit to buy.
3. Find the gun you think is best based on the advice you've got and find someone to sell it to you. Put down a deposit on it and get the serial number.
4. Take the serial number to your local Firearms Officer and apply for a Firearm Certificate.
5. Wait.
6. Get cert, pay the balance on the gun and collect it.
7. Enjoy!

IRLConor

kadman wrote: »

Thanks for the info, I,ll look into that in the next few days. How long is it in general before you get word on the liscence. ( spelling ).

Anywhere between 2 weeks and several months. It depends on how busy/helpful/well-organised your local firearms officer and superintendent are.

For your first cert it takes a little longer since they usually do a background check.

Tomebagel

IRLConor wrote: »

I think it's 16. Can't remember off the top of my head.

1. Find people near to you who do the kind of shooting you want to do. (A target shooting club or gun club is a good first bet.)
2. Talk and/or shoot with them and ask them for advice on what gun/kit to buy.
3. Find the gun you think is best based on the advice you've got and find someone to sell it to you. Put down a deposit on it and get the serial number.
4. Take the serial number to your local Firearms Officer and apply for a Firearm Certificate.
5. Wait.
6. Get cert, pay the balance on the gun and collect it.
7. Enjoy!

What might they refuse for?is it common for them to refuse?how much is the balance?

kadman

kadman wrote: »

I have spent some years shooting with bows, american flatbows, recurves ect, so I do have some regard as to safety issues regarding target sports.

I personally take offence to your allegation that target shooting isn't safe.

IRLConor

Deleted User wrote: »

I personally take offence to your allegation that target shooting isn't safe.

:rolleyes: Not what he said zaraba. Read properly next time.

IRLConor

Tomebagel wrote: »

What might they refuse for?

There are lots of possible reasons, they're set out in section 4 of the firearms act.

In summary, the Superintendent issuing the cert needs to have the opinion that:

• you have a good reason for having the firearm
• you will not be a danger to the public or the peace if you get the firearm
• you're not barred from holding a cert (by being too young, "of intemperate habits", "of unsound mind", previously convicted of a firearms offence, bound by a court order not to have a firearm or by not being a resident of the state)
• you have secure accommodation for the firearm and ammunition
• you're a member of an authorised club if you're getting the firearm for target shooting
• you've provided all the information the Gardai have asked for with your application
• you comply with any conditions the Super attaches to your cert

It's a pretty wide ranging set of conditions but from the stories I've heard/read here and elsewhere most Superintendents are quite reasonable and if they have a problem they're willing to compromise and will say things like "upgrade your home security and I'll issue then", "I won't give you 1,000 rounds on your license you can have 250 and I'll review it later", "I'll license you for something smaller for now and consider letting you upgrade later", or "keep your nose clean and re-apply next year and there'll be no problem". The only area where this is not the case is with full-bore pistols where there are some Superintendents who are very strict and will only issue a cert in extremely rare cases.

If you're applying for a cert for a shotgun, a .22 rifle or an air rifle you're unlikely to meet much resistance from your local Super. Anything else on a first application and you may have trouble.

Tomebagel wrote: »

is it common for them to refuse?

I don't know what the stats are, but the likelihood of a refusal is very different depending on the particulars of the application.

A teenager applying for a full-bore pistol as their first firearm is way more likely to be refused than a middle aged "pillar of the community" who is applying for a cert for an air rifle.

Tomebagel wrote: »

how much is the balance?

The cost of the firearm minus whatever deposit you paid. Depends on what deal you do with the firearms dealer.

Tomebagel

thats basically everything i needed to know.

thanks a million connor;)

IRLConor

Tomebagel wrote: »

thats basically everything i needed to know.

thanks a million connor;)

No prob. Glad to be a help.

Tomebagel

sorry for spelling your name wrong:p

one last Q.

can you recommend any beginners rifles nothing overly powerful yet but one that will certainly do the job? and what sort of price range we talking?

IRLConor

Tomebagel wrote: »

sorry for spelling your name wrong:p

You're not the first and I doubt you'll be the last.

Tomebagel wrote: »

can you recommend any beginners rifles nothing overly powerful yet but one that will certainly do the job? and what sort of price range we talking?

What job is it you want done? I shoot 25yd & 50m target rifle and I don't hunt so unless you're looking at short-range smallbore or airgun shooting I won't be too much use to you.

You mentioned airguns. If it's an airgun for target shooting, have a look at Feinwerkbau 600 series rifles. Dead simple and can bring you far. As for air rifles for hunting I don't know. The brand Weihrauch rings a bell but I don't really know anything about them.

IRLConor

IRLConor wrote: »

:rolleyes: Not what he said zaraba. Read properly next time.

Whoops! My bad!