PCP or .22lr??

[southeastpete]

I am looking at getting one of the above later this year, to help control rabbit numbers on a permission I have thats is overrun. I'm just wondering which is best, cost wise, for longterm regular use, and range.

I know the ammo will be more for the .22lr, but it has better range, and is alot cheaper start up cost. I can get a basic rifle, with scope silencer and 3 mags for £100, but a PCP with a scope and silencer would be 3 times that, and probably single shot. Then there is a stirrup pump to buy. How far can you really take bunnies with the .22lr, I know it will be limited by the scope you use, but is 120 yards easily done? Because thats would definately sway me toward the .22lr. Also if you buy a standard .22 rimfire, can it fire .22 hornets? I'm not quite up on this yet.

Thanks for any input,

Pete

[pegasus bridge]

I am looking at getting one of the above later this year, to help control rabbit numbers on a permission I have thats is overrun. I'm just wondering which is best, cost wise, for longterm regular use, and range.

I know the ammo will be more for the .22lr, but it has better range, and is alot cheaper start up cost. I can get a basic rifle, with scope silencer and 3 mags for £100, but a PCP with a scope and silencer would be 3 times that, and probably single shot. Then there is a stirrup pump to buy. How far can you really take bunnies with the .22lr, I know it will be limited by the scope you use, but is 120 yards easily done? Because thats would definately sway me toward the .22lr. Also if you buy a standard .22 rimfire, can it fire .22 hornets? I'm not quite up on this yet.

Thanks for any input,

Pete

 

if you want to shoot up to 120 yards, you would need a lot of practice with a .22, they have a very loopy trajectory - have you thought about a HMR ? yes the ammo is much more expensive - but the kill rate is higher (i find anyway - and certainly at the distance you have asked about) with a 100 yard zero you can pretty much aim and shoot from 20 yards - 130 yards.

 

ideally though - i would get all three - its worth asking for them if you are applying for your first FAC - each has its own use, i would say 80% of my shooting is done with the HMR, 15% with the .22 and 5% with FAC air

[vole]

Hi , Hornet is a centre fire calibre and cannot be used in a rimfire rifle , its in a different league despite it being the smallest centre fire round ..22 rf is a great round for rabbits , I am an average shot and I think but 80 yards is my limit . My range work at 100 yards tells me I would not be consistently accurate on live quarry so I stick to ranges where I know I will get humane kills .I use a 4-16 x 50 scope which is a bit big really . .17 HMR is good for 100 yards + and is approved of widely as a first calibre , being a rimfire. I expect you are referring to fac rated pcp ?

[kyska]

if you want to shoot up to 120 yards, you would need a lot of practice with a .22, they have a very loopy trajectory - have you thought about a HMR ? yes the ammo is much more expensive - but the kill rate is higher (i find anyway - and certainly at the distance you have asked about) with a 100 yard zero you can pretty much aim and shoot from 20 yards - 130 yards.

 

ideally though - i would get all three - its worth asking for them if you are applying for your first FAC - each has its own use, i would say 80% of my shooting is done with the HMR, 15% with the .22 and 5% with FAC air

 

I agree, apply for all 3. I use the hmr more than anything.

 

And no, you can't use Hornet through a lr, one is a rimfire, the other the a centrefire, although you can use high velocity rimfire ammunition, you might not actually hit anything with it, but you can use it.

[fo5ter]

Hi

 

Having had both I would recommend the .22lr over a PCP air for exactly the reasons you mention.

 

There are lots of things to take into account and I'm sure other people will agree and disagree - I use a .22lr and it suits me for what I need.

 

Why not consider a .17 HMR? they cost more per shot than a .22lr and are significantly louder but are flatter and have a much better effective range and minimal ricochet. However, if you plan on bagging bunnies to eat a .17 can make quite a mess!

 

A .22lr can be absolutely whisper quiet (quieter than a PCP air) with a moderator and subsonic rounds.

If you use supersonic rounds there is more noise but you get a more powerful round with a relatively flatter trajectory.

a.22 also leaves a tidier carcass if you like to eat your kills. of course an air rifle will have the cleanest carcasses.

 

If you just ask for 'rimfire' on your FAC that gives you more options - my FAC came with 'rimfire' slot which meant I could have bought any of the 4 common rimfire types as my first gun. If you search this forum you will find people arguing the case for .17 and .22 and the debate is just the same as the air rifle calibre argument - Its personal preference in the end.

[southeastpete]

OK thanks.

I was just referring to a standard 12ftlb pcp. I know they are only good for about 30-35 yards, but i have never used one before, and itmight well be enough to get on top of the bunnies. But if I can get out to 80 yards with a rimfire, I think I might well have to go for the rimfire option. When i apply for my FAC, I will apply to get slots for all 3 options, but most of my rabbit shooting is right next to horses, so .17hmr would probably be a bit noisy. That and the rounds will break up if they hit grass, and alot of my shooting is around long grass, and the cost.

Thanks for the replies, think I'll head for the rimfire route.

[pegasus bridge]

if you are using it around livestock - the .17 IMHO would be better (if you can get them used to the sound - its not that bad really) - because of the far greater speed and light bullet - it rarely riccochets, the .22 on the other hand will bounce a lot - because its a slower moving heavier bullet it will often bounce and retain a fair amount of energy. i would personally not use mine around livestock - mine gets used when the ground is soft, with a high backstop, and i always shoot it from sticks, they are all tools at the end of the day - dont restrict yourself to one!

[kyska]

Hi

 

Having had both I would recommend the .22lr over a PCP air for exactly the reasons you mention.

 

There are lots of things to take into account and I'm sure other people will agree and disagree - I use a .22lr and it suits me for what I need.

 

Why not consider a .17 HMR? they cost more per shot than a .22lr and are significantly louder but are flatter and have a much better effective range and minimal ricochet. However, if you plan on bagging bunnies to eat a .17 can make quite a mess!

 

A .22lr can be absolutely whisper quiet (quieter than a PCP air) with a moderator and subsonic rounds.

If you use supersonic rounds there is more noise but you get a more powerful round with a relatively flatter trajectory.

a.22 also leaves a tidier carcass if you like to eat your kills. of course an air rifle will have the cleanest carcasses.

 

If you just ask for 'rimfire' on your FAC that gives you more options - my FAC came with 'rimfire' slot which meant I could have bought any of the 4 common rimfire types as my first gun. If you search this forum you will find people arguing the case for .17 and .22 and the debate is just the same as the air rifle calibre argument - Its personal preference in the end.

 

How long have you had your FAC for? I'm Leicestershire too and they certainly won't let me do that, wish they would, so much easier.

 

I tried to get .22 CF on mine, I told them it was for fox and any .22CF will do me, it was just a case of going to the shop and seeing what was what and they said no.

 

Lucky you.

[dadioles]

Forget the PCP and start with .22RF with a view to adding .17HMR when funds permit. Try and get them both on your FAC. The justification for .22 is shorter range rabbit (20 to 80 yards) and quietness for night shooting. The justification for HMR is longer range rabbit (80 to 130 yards).