Hi All, I am new to airguns and could use some advice before I buy my first rifle.
1. looking for a super quiet airgun for backyard plinking and don't want to disturb neighbors. Any suggestions?
2. for rodent hunting which caliber do you recommend is best?
Thank you for any wisdom shared.
1. looking for a super quiet airgun for backyard plinking and don't want to disturb neighbors. Any suggestions?
2. for rodent hunting which caliber do you recommend is best?
Thank you for any wisdom shared.
Accepted Answer
I was in the same boat at the start of lock down and I raided the kid's piggy-banks to buy an SMK Artemis CP2, Cheap, runs on CO2, very quiet and you can swap out the barrels to have a pistol, a very short carbine (ideal ratting gun in sheds) or a rifle (don't make the long-barrelled pistol combination, it is over-powered). Great for plinking and short-range ratting but not that powerful, the rifle is about 8.5 ft lb.
I then sent off for a bunch of parts from T R Robb (https://www.trrobb.com) such as hammer springs, transfer ports, spring guides and such which both gave me a good understanding of air-gun tuning without ruining an FX and the power is now close to 11ft lb, which is good enough for rabbits and pigeons out to 25m or so. Total cost for the gun and the bits was about £200.
As to calibre, there are so many arguments going and everyone has an opinion. Both .177 and .22 work well in sub-12 ft lb guns. I bought a .22 and now want a .177 too for those shots that you can't make with a .22. I'd probably suggest that if you are shooting in your garden and only want to target rats the .22 is probably best, you get quite a thump to the target but the pellets won't over-penetrate and take out the neighbours cat through the larch-lap.
Any good?
I then sent off for a bunch of parts from T R Robb (https://www.trrobb.com) such as hammer springs, transfer ports, spring guides and such which both gave me a good understanding of air-gun tuning without ruining an FX and the power is now close to 11ft lb, which is good enough for rabbits and pigeons out to 25m or so. Total cost for the gun and the bits was about £200.
As to calibre, there are so many arguments going and everyone has an opinion. Both .177 and .22 work well in sub-12 ft lb guns. I bought a .22 and now want a .177 too for those shots that you can't make with a .22. I'd probably suggest that if you are shooting in your garden and only want to target rats the .22 is probably best, you get quite a thump to the target but the pellets won't over-penetrate and take out the neighbours cat through the larch-lap.
Any good?
Accepted Answer
I was in the same boat at the start of lock down and I raided the kid's piggy-banks to buy an SMK Artemis CP2, Cheap, runs on CO2, very quiet and you can swap out the barrels to have a pistol, a very short carbine (ideal ratting gun in sheds) or a rifle (don't make the long-barrelled pistol combination, it is over-powered). Great for plinking and short-range ratting but not that powerful, the rifle is about 8.5 ft lb.
I then sent off for a bunch of parts from T R Robb (https://www.trrobb.com) such as hammer springs, transfer ports, spring guides and such which both gave me a good understanding of air-gun tuning without ruining an FX and the power is now close to 11ft lb, which is good enough for rabbits and pigeons out to 25m or so. Total cost for the gun and the bits was about £200.
As to calibre, there are so many arguments going and everyone has an opinion. Both .177 and .22 work well in sub-12 ft lb guns. I bought a .22 and now want a .177 too for those shots that you can't make with a .22. I'd probably suggest that if you are shooting in your garden and only want to target rats the .22 is probably best, you get quite a thump to the target but the pellets won't over-penetrate and take out the neighbours cat through the larch-lap.
Any good?
I then sent off for a bunch of parts from T R Robb (https://www.trrobb.com) such as hammer springs, transfer ports, spring guides and such which both gave me a good understanding of air-gun tuning without ruining an FX and the power is now close to 11ft lb, which is good enough for rabbits and pigeons out to 25m or so. Total cost for the gun and the bits was about £200.
As to calibre, there are so many arguments going and everyone has an opinion. Both .177 and .22 work well in sub-12 ft lb guns. I bought a .22 and now want a .177 too for those shots that you can't make with a .22. I'd probably suggest that if you are shooting in your garden and only want to target rats the .22 is probably best, you get quite a thump to the target but the pellets won't over-penetrate and take out the neighbours cat through the larch-lap.
Any good?
No worries. Not saying that the route I outlined is the best, or that the CP2 is spectacularly good (it's a sub £200 gun, with all that that implies) but I have had tremendous fun with it and, more importantly, learned enough about owning and using an air-gun to know that it is a hobby I really enjoy and will pursue, and all without having to sell a kidney. Which is what I wanted to know.
Now, anyone want to buy a kidney? There's a Daystate Huntsman Regal HR with my name on it...
Now, anyone want to buy a kidney? There's a Daystate Huntsman Regal HR with my name on it...
As for rifles, I own several and have tested them with SPL meters. The quietest rifle I own is the Umarex Gauntlet. The built-in baffle system works really well. Some brands don't use baffles, or even an air stripper, in their guns! Do your research before laying down your hard-earned money.
Regarding caliber differences, AAR has a great video discussing exactly this subject matter!
https://youtu.be/nArzO2bQq7Q
Regarding caliber differences, AAR has a great video discussing exactly this subject matter!
https://youtu.be/nArzO2bQq7Q
It is good you have decided what you want it for. Depending on your price range is the next step. Gamo/BSA. Have packages from around £500.00. Good luck and have fun.
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