robborobbo Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 I am looking to start lamping rabbits at dark at one of my local permissions after no success of a daylight shoot. I own a shotgun & .22 air rifle. Which gun would you recommend I use at night? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mad1 Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 Air rifle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eccles Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 Air rifle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robborobbo Posted January 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 Not 100% sure the air rifle would be powerful enough for a clean kill as I shot at a pigeon last week well within range , less than 30 yards and it took about 5 pellets before using a shotgun to finish the poor boy off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wharf Rat Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 It is harder to judge distance at night, so a sub 12ft-lb .22 is easy to miss with due to weighing up the distance wrong; BUT, a .22 is obviously much quieter than a 12g! That said, unless the bunnies are very jumpy, a bit of patience and they will normally reappear after 20 minutes(ish) after a 12g shot if it is truly dark. A 12g is also handy for runners, which is especially useful if they are getting a bit lampshy. For walking around a large bit of land I use a 12g, for ambushing them in a small paddock I use a .177. I measured out the paddock with a 50 yard tape so that I know the range of fences etc exactly and can thus gauge holdover or under. I keep telling myself I will buy a hushpower one day... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy. Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 Not 100% sure the air rifle would be powerful enough for a clean kill as I shot at a pigeon last week well within range , less than 30 yards and it took about 5 pellets before using a shotgun to finish the poor boy off. ಠ_ಠ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oscarsdad Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 (edited) Not 100% sure the air rifle would be powerful enough for a clean kill as I shot at a pigeon last week well within range , less than 30 yards and it took about 5 pellets before using a shotgun to finish the poor boy off. I am not sure you should be shooting at live quarry if you are having to shoot birds 5 times and then use a shotgun. Not very responsible. Pigeons are easily killed with an air rifle, I have done it many times with .22 and .177 rifles, headshots most effective. Edited January 6, 2012 by oscarsdad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wharf Rat Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 Not 100% sure the air rifle would be powerful enough for a clean kill as I shot at a pigeon last week well within range , less than 30 yards and it took about 5 pellets before using a shotgun to finish the poor boy off. :o I must have been typing my reply when you posted that, and hence not seen it. That is seriously wrong. If either your marksmanship or your rifle are not up to cleanly dispatching quarry then don't attempt to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robborobbo Posted January 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 (edited) True, it was not a clean kill however I did not re attempt using the gun and this is why I was looking for advice with the bunnies, didnt want a reoccurrence. I will get the gun checked first. Cheers Edited January 6, 2012 by robborobbo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy. Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 True, it was not a clean kill however I did not re attempt using the gun and this is why I was looking for advice with the bunnies, didnt want a reoccurrence. I will get the gun checked first. Cheers You should dispatch an injured animal with your hands, unless they're likely to harm you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GRamsay Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 True, it was not a clean kill however I did not re attempt using the gun and this is why I was looking for advice with the bunnies, didnt want a reoccurrence. I will get the gun checked first. Cheers I Think you did re attempt using the gun,as you shot said pigeon about five times Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wharf Rat Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 True, it was not a clean kill however I did not re attempt using the gun and this is why I was looking for advice with the bunnies, didnt want a reoccurrence. I will get the gun checked first. Cheers What set up are you using? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robborobbo Posted January 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 (edited) What set up are you using? A Daystate .22 air rifle pre charged with silencer & scope fitted. Also have a led torch fitted to the scope but i will buy a handheld lamp if required. Edited January 6, 2012 by robborobbo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wharf Rat Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 Should be well up to the job. I always make sure I check my zero after getting my gun out of the slip. I have lost zero just carrying the gun to the field after knocking the scope (I am guessing)and not realising. I use a rifle mounted LED lamp on both airgun and shotgun - you only need about 40 yards for either. IMHO most handheld lamps are too powerful. You want to illuminate the target, not half the county... Hope you get things sorted soon and you enjoy some good lamping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robborobbo Posted January 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 What's the best way you find to zero the scope? Going to head down to a indoor shooting range tomorrow but will I need sandbags etc to rest the gun? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomhw100 Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 Not 100% sure the air rifle would be powerful enough for a clean kill as I shot at a pigeon last week well within range , less than 30 yards and it took about 5 pellets before using a shotgun to finish the poor boy off. OUTRAGEOUS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bedwards1966 Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 Not 100% sure the air rifle would be powerful enough for a clean kill as I shot at a pigeon last week well within range , less than 30 yards and it took about 5 pellets before using a shotgun to finish the poor boy off. Then please, use a shotgun instead, far more humane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wharf Rat Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 (edited) What's the best way you find to zero the scope? Going to head down to a indoor shooting range tomorrow but will I need sandbags etc to rest the gun? Practise practise practise. You can print out a 1" square grid to zero with, it helps you work out how many clicks to dial in at your given MOA. Measure out 30 yards and zero, you can lean on what you like with a PCP - whatever works. Try lamping with it when you can hit a 5p piece at 30 yards 99 times out of a hundred. Ask around the club tomorrow for pointers, you really shouldn't use your rifle on quarry 'till confident you know it inside out - use your shotgun instead. Just the way I would do things, other people may know better. Edited January 6, 2012 by Wharf Rat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outlander Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 I'd use the air rifle every time, not likely to see much after shot gun has gone off . I also think you need a good deal of practice with air gun both in daylight and with the lamp. Be patient and it will come in the end and besides you won't be the first or the last to not kill with the first shot!. Outlander Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billywoodsman Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 Sometimes i use a precharged .22 for lamping but i put a lot of time into target practice,zero is at 35 yds which i keep as my max distance for live quarry,get used to the hold over/under at different distances,when every pellet is in a 20mm group with 10 shots out in the field that would be a clean kill,with practice you should be able to shoot pellet on pellet groups with a precharged at 35 yds and over.Good luck and get plenty of target practice under your belt mate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oscarsdad Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 Definitely air rifle as stated. I had a walk with my BSA ultra this evening and fired 6 shots for 5 rabbits. The miss was because I didn't see a twig through the scope which deflected the pellet. Calibre doesn't matter as long as the pellet hits the right place (the head). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 (edited) True, it was not a clean kill however I did not re attempt using the gun and this is why I was looking for advice with the bunnies, didnt want a reoccurrence. I will get the gun checked first. Cheers Err I dont think its the gun that needs checking ,rather your ability to get a pellet in the right place , now I am not one of these people who think wounding never happens but 5 pellets ,perhaps I can understand a quick follow up shot but after that surly its a case of going and necking the poor thing :o I would say in most cases the airgun for rabbit lamping but in your case definately a shotgun and best keep the range to 15 yards to make sure you hit them Edited January 6, 2012 by fenboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robborobbo Posted January 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 (edited) Thanks for the constructive feedback guys, appreciated. For the other members yes I understand your point no need to keep posting the same thing over and over. I am new to shooting so I was only looking for advice. I seen the following website stating I should go for chest shots when shooting pigeons. http://f4bscale.worldonline.co.uk/hunting.htm For those who cant be bothered viewing the link I have copied & pasted a sentence below For discreet control of small populations of pigeons a .22 air rifle with hollow point pellets is recommended. Go for a chest shot, this will help prevent over penetration of the quarry and possible damage to surrounding property Edited January 6, 2012 by robborobbo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cleaner4hire Posted January 7, 2012 Report Share Posted January 7, 2012 I have one rule when using air rifles, head shot only. There isn't enough power imo to ensure consistent body kills. A bit of practice at various ranges and you'll be surprised how small a Target you can hit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted January 7, 2012 Report Share Posted January 7, 2012 Thanks for the constructive feedback guys, appreciated. For the other members yes I understand your point no need to keep posting the same thing over and over. I am new to shooting so I was only looking for advice. I seen the following website stating I should go for chest shots when shooting pigeons. http://f4bscale.worldonline.co.uk/hunting.htm For those who cant be bothered viewing the link I have copied & pasted a sentence below For discreet control of small populations of pigeons a .22 air rifle with hollow point pellets is recommended. Go for a chest shot, this will help prevent over penetration of the quarry and possible damage to surrounding property Hollow point pellets are no too acurate other than close range perhaps they are talking about feral pigeons in barns etc . Always a head shot for me ,chest shots are too easy to get wrong , if you hit the head they are dead if you miss the head they fly off,when you talk about a chest shot its only a small area that will get you to the heart / lungs ,the whole chest is not a target ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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