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Shooting Forum - Firearms licencing information


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Is anyone hunting with an air rifle?

  • 02-07-2023 5:33pm
    #1
    garrettod
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,456 ✭✭✭


    Hi,

    Is anyone hunting rabbits etc. with an air rifle, and if so, how's it going?

    What are you using? What kind of distances are you getting?

    Many thanks,

    Thanks,

    G.



Comments

  • #2
    Gazlam
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 49 ✭Gazlam


    I was hunting rabbits for a few years with a PCP rifle. I had a .17 RTI arms the Priest and a .25 Hatsan AT44-10 tac. Both were really good from 50-100 yards, however with the .17 you needed head shots only or you would risk injury. You could stretch the .25 a lot further.

    I went onto a .17 HMR and have never looked back. Can reach very far out and seldom injure a rabbit and a second shot required.

    The big bonus of the PCP was how quiet it was. However still had a few bunnies bolt off when their friend was struck.

    Personally if I was going back to being very quiet, I'd be out looking for a .22LR. With all the ammo selection I feel it's more versatile. You get super Colibri ammo which is dead quiet and doesn't carry much energy. The expensive cost of a good PCP rifle, air tanks etc also is very off putting.



  • #3
    garrettod
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,456 ✭✭✭garrettod


    Hi,

    Thanks for the reply, and the information.

    Both the silence, along with the low cost of. 22 ammo are obvious attractions, albeit initial capital outlay looks high, to get started.

    Also, did you find the guns heavy, when out in the fields, or did you opt for setting up a hide, and stay in one position, instead?

    Thanks,

    G.



  • #4
    Gazlam
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 49 ✭Gazlam


    The field was a few acres with rabbits in all corners. I would shoot 1 side and when none were coming out I'd walk to the next side and so on. Most the shooting was done at night with an ATN X-Sight 4k.

    The Hatsan was a heavy rifle but the Priest was fairy light. If I was able to go prone off a bipod that was preferred, otherwise I'd use shooting sticks (quad) because they were light, easy to carry and very fast to setup and get a shot off.

    Daytime shooting was mostly off the Jeep bonnet or roof when I was in South Africa hunting dassies.

    The outlay of a good PCP rifle is far more expensive than a .22LR. I wouldn't bother with break barrel or CO2 air rifle, they will grow boring and frustrating very fast.

    A second hand .22lr can be had fairly cheap and because of the low recoil a budged scope would suffice. Then all you'd need is a good torch for lamping. That would get you shooting day and night.

    For a PCP rifle, you'd need scuba tank to re-fill the rifles tank or a pump/compressor. The initial layout for decent PCP air rifle is very expensive.



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