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Cheap rifle for bunnies


Man o kent
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The .177 supporters will suppport their reason for the .177 option and the .22 fraternity lm sure likewise will be along to bolster their rationale for the .22

 

I'm immune to any pursuasive fact ... l'm a .22 man ... though l personally seen a good shot use a .177 with devastating success ... as can be gathered my limited logic isn't based on fact ... mine is based on personal preferrence and .22 calibre win out everytime ... "close-ish range and head shot leans to .177 .. but you're interpretation of close range might be different to other peoples .. try and have a shoot with both calibres .. people say night equals .177 .. some say day equals .22 .. l say buy what puts the biggest smile on your face .. happiness is priceless .. l'd suggest pcp ..

Edited by hoggysreels
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.177 is a fantastic cal. for any quarry in sub12 ft/lb ranges - by which I mean 60yds max. It's what I use more often than not!

 

 

What to get really depends on your budget. A decent springer is going to be cheaper, but they take a bit more practice to be clinical with them. It's a bit of a myth that they're inherently less accurate than PCP's on account of the recoil, it's just a harder skill to master. Anything out of the HW range of springers, or the AA's TX200/prosport.

 

PCP's are more expensive, but they're great tools. multishot is far easier to come by, so follow up shots/new target shooting is much quicker. Far fewer movements to reload as well! Having said that you need to factor in the cost of refilling the reservoir!

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Cheap is cheap for a reason-you might get a gun that will suffice for about £150 but chances are it will struggle to do the job as you get better with it-then when its old and knackered (like me) it will be worthless. Save as much as you reasonably can and get something that will perform well and hold its value-TX200 or HW80 etc-its a buyers market so haggle hard and be prepared to walk away. Find a local shop that has the facilities to let you try the guns-try a cheapy then a TX200-decide whats best for you and then buy the TX200 like you knew you wanted before you went to the shop. Think long and hard about which caliber then buy a .177 cos I said so :whistling: ( Hard hat firmly on.....)

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60 yards might be pushing it just a little bit sub 12ftlbs however cheap and accurate can be down.

There are many second hand to choose from or you could get what I got, a hatsan (I can hear the gasps) striker 1000 in .22. (Or 177 if u like). It's £150 New with a scope and bag, maybe cheaper elsewhere.

I have had numerous hw and air arms rifles and funds willing would have had another howerver the hatstand has done the job and puts in sub 1 inch groups all day out to 35 yards (which I think is far enough with a Springer).

Downsides- my trigger is not the Quattro so is rough as **** but predictable. The spring is twangy but only to the userx from 20 yards away the gun is quiet as any other.

The stock is plastic and some don't like it.

Sub 35 yards and you'll bag bunnies all day. 177 is more forgiving in range estimation and at that distance is just as good as a 22.

 

Another £50 and you will get something better but then it's not so cheap and to be fair to the hatstand it's great for the price.

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60 yards might be pushing it just a little bit sub 12ftlbs however cheap and accurate can be down.

There are many second hand to choose from or you could get what I got, a hatsan (I can hear the gasps) striker 1000 in .22. (Or 177 if u like). It's £150 New with a scope and bag, maybe cheaper elsewhere.

I have had numerous hw and air arms rifles and funds willing would have had another howerver the hatstand has done the job and puts in sub 1 inch groups all day out to 35 yards (which I think is far enough with a Springer).

Downsides- my trigger is not the Quattro so is rough as **** but predictable. The spring is twangy but only to the userx from 20 yards away the gun is quiet as any other.

The stock is plastic and some don't like it.

Sub 35 yards and you'll bag bunnies all day. 177 is more forgiving in range estimation and at that distance is just as good as a 22.

 

Another £50 and you will get something better but then it's not so cheap and to be fair to the hatstand it's great for the price.

Yeah i should qualify that. I'd be happy to take pigeons at that range, probably not rabbits though.

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I'd go secondhand and get one of the rifles that's made a name for itself over the years. Just an example, if I were in your shoes and on a tight budget, I'd have a look for a bsa supersport and buy the bits to give it a real good service.

 

It always used to be said that .177 is better for pigeons because it penetrates better and .22 is better for bunnies because it hits "harder". 177 pellets are slightly cheaper but suffer more in the wind.

 

I think it's personal preference really though.

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What do you call cheap? Cheap can be £40 (SMK B2 best used for killing phone books as that is what the grouping is like), £90 (SMK XS19 a lot better than the B2 and quite capable of close range hunting), £120 Hatsan 55 (.177) or 60 (.22) which are better known as a Webley Stingray Mk 2 at twice the cost, £200 which is HW99 territory or £300 which is HW95 territory.

 

Those are approximate prices (Blackpool Air Rifles HW99 for £208)....

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My first rabbit gun was an £80 tuned secondhand .22 B20 (same as an SMK XS20) and put plenty in the freezer for quite a few years. It had a £30 Leapers scope on it. They will all do the job as long as you are honest with yourself what is your range limit at shooting hunting size groups. The B20 with me on the end could hit £ coin groups only out to 25 yards time after time so that was my limit. I used it to ambush rabbits from set positions about that distance away and it was very effective. My mate's .177 AA TX200 was good for 35 yards for me but weighed a tonne..! Then I got a .177 pcp and never looked back, it takes out everything I point it at with clinical efficiency. Amazingly all of a sudden it seems I have become a world class shooter over night out to 35-40 yards, nothing to do with how easy the gun is to shoot, honest.... :)

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Hatsan and stoeger are two cheap rifle brands that have suprised a LOT of people on quality and accuracy! The stoeger trigger is quite heavy and lengthy, but for it's money! Offers a shrouded barrel and fiberoptic open sights. And a choice of wood or synthetic stock.

 

As for Calibre! There is naff all wrong with both. .177 is a fine calibre for good trajectory. But having said that! Lighter pellets in a .22 will offer an improved trajectory also.

 

I use H&N field target tophy pellets in .177 on rabbits. Last time I got an invite out, I got 7 rabbits in the space of a few hours. Every one was a head shot. Dropped on the spot.

 

2013-06-22_10_48_46.jpg

 

Not one, got up to complain. Ranges between 20-45 yards

 

2013-06-22_09_09_14.jpg

Edited by Lord Geordie
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Bear in mind though, the place where you are shooting. If you are not having to walk great distances, gun weight is not

an issue. If you need to wonder around alot, it could be. My HW95 .22 is great , but not after I have been carrying it for

an hour or two, Also , the woodwork on the HW Is fabulous, so the prospect of a big scratch , sends shivers down my

spine.

So for 'roaming' , I got myself a Stoeger X20 suppressor .177 ,(2nd hand), fitted a Woodfield (Welsh Willy), trigger , and spring kit.

Turned out a 'stonkin' little gun. £150 all in.

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There are some knowledgeable people on PW so take a look around for what is available on your budget then ask on here before you buy anything.

Take a look on gun watch. I bought a Edgar Brothers Mod 105 for a bargain price based on advice from here. Very accurate, repeatable power and cheap enough that you don't mind it getting a few bumps.

 

I've also 'built' a couple of rifles based on the QB78 and XS78. Cheap, very easy to tune and very quiet.

 

P5110161_zpsa436d828.jpg

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There are some knowledgeable people on PW so take a look around for what is available on your budget then ask on here before you buy anything.

Take a look on gun watch. I bought a Edgar Brothers Mod 105 for a bargain price based on advice from here. Very accurate, repeatable power and cheap enough that you don't mind it getting a few bumps.

 

I've also 'built' a couple of rifles based on the QB78 and XS78. Cheap, very easy to tune and very quiet.

Please note, Edgar Brothers are Hatsan, they are the Hatsan importers for the UK, 105 = Hatsan 105 or Hatsan Torpedo!

Edited by secretagentmole
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Hatsan and stoeger are two cheap rifle brands that have suprised a LOT of people on quality and accuracy! The stoeger trigger is quite heavy and lengthy, but for it's money! Offers a shrouded barrel and fiberoptic open sights. And a choice of wood or synthetic stock.

 

As for Calibre! There is naff all wrong with both. .177 is a fine calibre for good trajectory. But having said that! Lighter pellets in a .22 will offer an improved trajectory also.

 

I use H&N field target tophy pellets in .177 on rabbits. Last time I got an invite out, I got 7 rabbits in the space of a few hours. Every one was a head shot. Dropped on the spot.

 

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Not one, got up to complain. Ranges between 20-45 yards

 

2013-06-22_09_09_14.jpg&&0

 

Fair comment but isn't that a Titan/Falcon PCP, certainly not top end money but not in the cheap category either?

 

No matter what the calibre cheap guns can be lacking in consistency.

 

:good:

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You don't say how much shooting you have done. I will take it that you are a novice to hunting by virtue of your enquiry. Firstly, before you go out spending your hard earned, do yourself a favour and visit an HFT club close to you. Talk to the members and if possible try as many rifles as possible. Honestly, they are a very nice bunch of people and will be very helpful.

 

You will need to answer a number of different questions:

  1. Budget? If you are going to start hunting you will need to include cost of clothing. Ex army DPM gear is great. it don't matter if it gets dirty, hose it down in the garden then chuck it in the machine (NO powder as it contains whiteners - you will stick out like a white shirt at a disco. Nights are cold so you need warmth. You will need a lamp for night shooting.
  2. Springer or PCP. Both will do the job but PCP is easier to shoot as there is no recoil. However if you can learn to shoot a springer well then you will be able to shoot anything. PCP needs a means of filling the reservoir up. Dive bottle or pump? Personally I don't want to wait 30 mins for my heart rate to get back to rest before starting the hunt. Generally, a PCP with a moderator on is quieter than a springer.
  3. .177 or .22. I'm not going to open this debate. Both will work. 177 is flatter but more prone to effects of wind than .22. Personally I prefer the .22 as there is more residual energy in the pellet when it hits. Personal choice though.
  4. Field craft. You are going to have to get close to the bunnies (within 30yds or so) whilst remaining unseen. This is a skill you will have to learn.

Once you have digested all this and tried as many as you can, please remember you owe it to your prey to ensure a clean kill. Before you go after live prey then you should be able to shoot Polo Mints or Extra Strong Mints at 30yds regularly. You need to respect your prey even though they are classed as vermin.

 

Dave

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