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What rifles would you consider to be roughly on par with the rapids?

fieldwanderer

By fieldwanderer,
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fieldwanderer

fieldwanderer

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I've wanted a rapid 17 for years now but never really had the money - or, more accurately, couldn't justify leaving myself short for an air rifle that would see little use.

 

The other day, I got talking to a farmer I was collecting wheat from and ended up offering to do something about the pigeons around his barns, he virtually begged me to! But, Air only because its in a little village and he doesn't want holes in the roof (not that I had any plans of putting his roof at risk) but there it is; I have a use for a better air rifle but it's a long time since I considered myself an "airgunner".

 

I see the rapids are still holding their price like they always did, with the odd bargain if you're in the right place at the right time. I'm not too worried whether I go for .177, .20 or .22 but I may want to put it on my fac at some point so possibly more sensible to go with the larger 2. I have a chrono and would be keen to tinker to get the most ft.lbs possible (so 11.9 rather than 11.5).

 

Anyway, that's all a bit beside the point. What other options should I be looking at that are of equal build quality and as easy to dismantle, service, tune etc and get parts for (a lot to ask I know)?

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FalconFN

FalconFN

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Lots of Rapids seem to have been 'tinkered' with so finding a good one is going to be hard, and expensive.

 

Personally I wouldn't think about changing a sub 12 ft lb rifle into an FAC as you'll probably lose money on it, so stick to a tried and tested rife like an AA s410 and if you then want to later on sell it and buy an FAC rated one for less.

 

I shoot .177 exclusively as I prefer the flatter trajectory but if you are only going for short range pigeons inside then .22 would be better so you don't get over-penetration.

 

Also I wouldn't aim to get to 11.9 ft lb but stick to 11.5 Max as different pellets give different muzzle energies and you could find yourself in hot water if your rifle was tested with different pellets - I set my rifles to 11.3 which is more than enough.

 

Lastly, it depends on budget as to what rifle to get, but an AA s410, HW100, BSA R10 etc will all perform well. Hi to a gun shop and feel the difference to find one that fits and feels comfortable.

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fenboy

fenboy

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I've wanted a rapid 17 for years now but never really had the money - or, more accurately, couldn't justify leaving myself short for an air rifle that would see little use.

 

The other day, I got talking to a farmer I was collecting wheat from and ended up offering to do something about the pigeons around his barns, he virtually begged me to! But, Air only because its in a little village and he doesn't want holes in the roof (not that I had any plans of putting his roof at risk) but there it is; I have a use for a better air rifle but it's a long time since I considered myself an "airgunner".

 

I see the rapids are still holding their price like they always did, with the odd bargain if you're in the right place at the right time. I'm not too worried whether I go for .177, .20 or .22 but I may want to put it on my fac at some point so possibly more sensible to go with the larger 2. I have a chrono and would be keen to tinker to get the most ft.lbs possible (so 11.9 rather than 11.5).

 

Anyway, that's all a bit beside the point. What other options should I be looking at that are of equal build quality and as easy to dismantle, service, tune etc and get parts for (a lot to ask I know)?

Tinkering to get 11.9 instead of 11.5 will make no decernable difference other than increase the chances of your gun being over the limit if you are ever unfortunate enough to have it checked by the police , if you have it running at 11.9 with one particular pellet and they test with another and get over that reading you can kiss any certificates you have goodbye as well suffering what ever punishment they want to dish out for a illegally held firearm , its really not worth the pain 11-11.5 ft/lbs is plenty , want more get one on you FAC to begin with .

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evo

evo

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your best 2 choices are as follows

 

Air Arms s410 .22 pre anti tamper or a

 

Daystate huntsman classic .22, both tick all the boxes you have asked, both are excellent in sub 12ftlb or FAC the only difference is the daystate is a far superior build quality

 

DO NOT go for .20 as pellets are more expensive and less pellets to choose from , other than that Falconfn has hit the nail on the head

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7daysinaweek

7daysinaweek

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hi fieldwanderer as falconfn says the AA s410 is an excellent rifle, have had mine in 177 for last 12 years and will take care of your requirements for those piggies and vermin. mine runs sub 12ftlb and would not change it for any other as it suits all my requirements. pity you are not closer, as you would of been more than welcome to have a look and try out the rifle.

 

atb and hope you find suitable rifle for your needs.

7diaw

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jameswrx

jameswrx

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Owning a chronograph and setting my guns up, it's worth baring in mind you're not exactly safe from prosecution setting a gun to 11.5!

 

The only way (with a PCP) you'd be safe setting to 11.5 is by using the heaviest pellets the police would use. If you set a PCP to 11.5 on the average mid weight pellets it will be over on heavy pellets. Maybe on average it 'might' be ok, but you really want to find out?

 

I think people underestimate how much difference pellet weight makes. I set my gun up on 14.89grain pellets then stuck some wad cutters (lighter) in and it was well over 1ftlb lower. The same could be said going the other way.

 

To be honest, I think there's a very good chance you'd be safe from jail if your gun was slightly over with the police's heavy pellets. As long as you stick to your one pellet and swear in court that's all you use, the case that got turned over would be good enough assistance. BUT what I would not like is all the other grief that comes with it you may not have considered...

 

Your gun being taken and if you're lucky fettled back down at your (no doubt great) expense before you can dream of getting it back.

 

Being banned from gun ranges and shooting grounds.

 

Being unable to get liability insurance (so even if you can't go to any grounds nobody would want you shooting on their private land)

 

Losing your shotgun licence (if you happen to be a SGC holder too)

 

The above have all happened to someone I know of even though he hasn't had any jail time. All from a gun he'd never touched.

 

It's all pretty pathetic really. And I know people will say "well they shouldn't be over". But I'd put my house on the fact that a lot of people with airguns are breaking the law and they don't even know it.

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fenboy

fenboy

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Owning a chronograph and setting my guns up, it's worth baring in mind you're not exactly safe from prosecution setting a gun to 11.5!

 

The only way (with a PCP) you'd be safe setting to 11.5 is by using the heaviest pellets the police would use. If you set a PCP to 11.5 on the average mid weight pellets it will be over on heavy pellets. Maybe on average it 'might' be ok, but you really want to find out?

 

I think people underestimate how much difference pellet weight makes. I set my gun up on 14.89grain pellets then stuck some wad cutters (lighter) in and it was well over 1ftlb lower. The same could be said going the other way.

 

To be honest, I think there's a very good chance you'd be safe from jail if your gun was slightly over with the police's heavy pellets. As long as you stick to your one pellet and swear in court that's all you use, the case that got turned over would be good enough assistance. BUT what I would not like is all the other grief that comes with it you may not have considered...

 

Your gun being taken and if you're lucky fettled back down at your (no doubt great) expense before you can dream of getting it back.

 

Being banned from gun ranges and shooting grounds.

 

Being unable to get liability insurance (so even if you can't go to any grounds nobody would want you shooting on their private land)

 

Losing your shotgun licence (if you happen to be a SGC holder too)

 

The above have all happened to someone I know of even though he hasn't had any jail time. All from a gun he'd never touched.

 

It's all pretty pathetic really. And I know people will say "well they shouldn't be over". But I'd put my house on the fact that a lot of people with airguns are breaking the law and they don't even know it.

For sure , but ignorance has never been a defence in law , a bit like trying to tell the judge that you had no idea the speed limit is 30mph in a built up area and expecting him to say ok mate we will let you off then !!

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fieldwanderer

fieldwanderer

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Ok, so going for the top end of 11 ft.lbs may be ill advised but I'd still like to have the ability to fine tune it if I found it to be a little down on power.

 

If I'm honest, I'm not over keen on the rifles with a long thin cylinder though my feinwerkbau has one. I will look at the falcons though, I remember some of them being very nice looking guns. And, for some reason, I'm not over keen on the r10. Can anyone think of any others?

 

I think perhaps the best bet would be a .177 as I've lots of pellets about (mostly wad cutters from my match shooting days) and put in for a .22 fac air at some point. I may even be interested in building a rapid over time if it works out reasonable price wise.

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FalconFN

FalconFN

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If I'm honest, I'm not over keen on the rifles with a long thin cylinder though my feinwerkbau has one. I will look at the falcons though, I remember some of them being very nice looking guns.

 

Very underated rifles in my opinion, I have 2 Falcons, one of which is 20 years old and is super-accurate and probably on par with many regulated rifles. I checked it out today to see if it needed re-zeroing and I'd forgotten just how accurate it was. I shot 2 mags of 8 and had 2 small one hole groups at 35 yards. I can't see myself changing it any time soon.
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  • 2 weeks later...
fieldwanderer

fieldwanderer

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Well, if we're talking accuracy - my fwb (p70 alu) went to H&N to be batch tested before I recieved it and put 10 4.49mm pellets through a 4.50mm hole at 10mtrs, the smallest group they'd seen that year :D Sadly only 6ft.lbs and now in need of a service but it won me silver at a junior international back in the day.

 

I got a rapid 7 in .22 in the end, it's only real fault being the vortex mod is near useless - think I'll be getting a 1/2" adaptor for it as I have several mod's I can try.

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secretagentmole

secretagentmole

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Posted (edited)

Are you OK Mole?.......only you missed an open invite to wax lyrical over the virtual Smorgasbord of advantages of buying a Turkish Delight......I'm worried now :rolleyes:

When someone has owned a Rapid and is looking for a Rapid, only a Rapid will do, so why not guide them to a Rapid?

Edited by secretagentmole
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evo

evo

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Owning a chronograph and setting my guns up, it's worth baring in mind you're not exactly safe from prosecution setting a gun to 11.5!

 

The only way (with a PCP) you'd be safe setting to 11.5 is by using the heaviest pellets the police would use. If you set a PCP to 11.5 on the average mid weight pellets it will be over on heavy pellets. Maybe on average it 'might' be ok, but you really want to find out?

 

I think people underestimate how much difference pellet weight makes. I set my gun up on 14.89grain pellets then stuck some wad cutters (lighter) in and it was well over 1ftlb lower. The same could be said going the other way.

 

To be honest, I think there's a very good chance you'd be safe from jail if your gun was slightly over with the police's heavy pellets. As long as you stick to your one pellet and swear in court that's all you use, the case that got turned over would be good enough assistance. BUT what I would not like is all the other grief that comes with it you may not have considered...

 

Your gun being taken and if you're lucky fettled back down at your (no doubt great) expense before you can dream of getting it back.

 

Being banned from gun ranges and shooting grounds.

 

Being unable to get liability insurance (so even if you can't go to any grounds nobody would want you shooting on their private land)

 

Losing your shotgun licence (if you happen to be a SGC holder too)

 

The above have all happened to someone I know of even though he hasn't had any jail time. All from a gun he'd never touched.

 

It's all pretty pathetic really. And I know people will say "well they shouldn't be over". But I'd put my house on the fact that a lot of people with airguns are breaking the law and they don't even know it.

sorry buddy but that sometimes can be true BUT not all the time, my daystate airwolf mct was set at 11.4ftlb this was chrono,d at daystate and also at valley arms, BOTH chrono,s produced the same results as my own, these results where set with jsb 4.52 pellets, it was then chrono,d with jsb heavies and the power would not rise above 10.8ftlb, yet when I put AA diablo 4.52 8.4gr pellets in the rifle it would shoot 11.8ftlb so it is not always the heaviest pellet that produces the highest reading,

strange but true, also I have in the last 3 years bought 5 new rifles , 4 out of the 5 have been running at 11.6/7ftlb , not one of them has gone over the 12ftlb mark with whatever weight pellet I have used, also my EV2 is regulated and runs at 11.8ftlb for competition use, has it gone over the limit using heavier pellets ?,,,, nope not once

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