hellier0437 Posted May 14, 2007 Report Share Posted May 14, 2007 i know that there is a debate over whether a pistol should be used for hunting but i was thinking of buying an HW45 and shooting targets with it with a view towards if i got good enough, ie pellet on pellet at a given range, using it for hunting if it was capable. leaving the suitability of a pistol to one side, which calibre would be the best for hunting with a pistol on rats at no more than 7 yards i am worried that the 6ft lbs tragectory of a .22 might make it impossible to be accurate? thanks also, how much should i expect to pay for a good second hand one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNAKEBITE Posted May 14, 2007 Report Share Posted May 14, 2007 Don't bother hunting with a pistol. Get a rifle with open sights for quick target acqusition. Have a plink with the pistol, in.177 for a flatter trajectory. Am I correct in saying it is infact illegal to hunt with a pistol anyway? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hellier0437 Posted May 14, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 14, 2007 i don't think so, does anyone else know? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desperado Posted May 14, 2007 Report Share Posted May 14, 2007 Not illegal but not wise. A good carbine barrelled air rifle is small enough to provide a quick shot, especially using open sights at close range. I am sure it is possible to kill with an air pistol but in my opinion its not the best tool for the job. Why use 6 ft/lb and be uncertain when you can use 12 ft/lb and be sure. I can see no good argument for air pistol hunting, especially when air rifles are being manufactured more and more compactly. Just my 2p desperado Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magman Posted May 14, 2007 Report Share Posted May 14, 2007 i have a hw 45 in 22 took more rats with this than airgun, so quick to aim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted May 14, 2007 Report Share Posted May 14, 2007 I've used two pistols to hunt at very close range. The first was a Webley Nemesis which is not even close to full power but pretty accurate. I had it when I was about 12, and killed everything from Starlings (they were on the list then) to Rabbits and Mink! I was a very good stalker and I could hit a penny at the length of my garden (about 8 yards) every time pretty much. It was a .22. The second gun was a HW45 in .177. I got that when I was about 16. By that time I was losing my skill with the pistol a bit as I'd moved on to a rifle, so didn't take on so much. It took several Squirrels off of our bird feeders before I sold it though! The Nemesis proved that it can be done in my opinion. They run at about 4ft-lbs I think, which isn't a lot really. If you have the skill to hit the head of your target, you'll kill it inside 10 yards with a HW45. I used to fire about 300 rounds a week with my Nemesis, and used it most days on targets. It was a part of me and I didn't miss much. I took it everywhere apart from school and never caused any trouble with it, although I shouldn't have had it in my posession. It lived in the inside pocket of my jacket, and wherever I went, it was with me. If I could get the same feel for my shotgun now, I'd be very happy. Unfortunately, I don't have the money or the time to use the shotgun as much/often as I used my pistol. Go for it and give it a try, but practice on paper first Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hellier0437 Posted May 14, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 14, 2007 thanks, how much do they send to cost second hand or is it worth getting a new one (the new .22 versions have the adjustable power) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hellier0437 Posted May 14, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 14, 2007 also, would the webley typhoon be good enough as its just £50 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul in North Lincs. Posted May 15, 2007 Report Share Posted May 15, 2007 now the BSA Scorpion - now that was a man sized pistol .......I'd love another id I could ever find one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Elvis Posted May 15, 2007 Report Share Posted May 15, 2007 also, would the webley typhoon be good enough as its just £50 no go for a hw45, i have killed hundreds of rats with mine. i have a crossman laser on mine, zeroed at about 6-7 yards. Wacks through them no problem. I take it fishing with me too, the laser almost makes it unsporting!!!! One word of advice, if you are shooting that close up , make sure you wear protective eye gear, as richochets are common. Baz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hellier0437 Posted May 15, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 15, 2007 how much do they usually sell for second hand? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Elvis Posted May 15, 2007 Report Share Posted May 15, 2007 No idea, Ive had mine 5 years and it cost me £150 new from ebay. TBH you dont see them come up very often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hellier0437 Posted May 15, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 15, 2007 how did you get it from ebay, i thought that you couldn't buy guns there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Elvis Posted May 15, 2007 Report Share Posted May 15, 2007 You could then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hellier0437 Posted May 15, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 15, 2007 why did they stop? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Elvis Posted May 15, 2007 Report Share Posted May 15, 2007 No idea but i was selling a silencer when they stopped it and It got withdrawn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hellier0437 Posted May 15, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 15, 2007 where's the best place for them now? thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duster Posted May 15, 2007 Report Share Posted May 15, 2007 Go for a BSA Scorpion - basically a Meteor with the ends chopped off. I bought one few years ago and set about rebuilding it. It turned out brilliantly, and is the most accurate pistol I have ever used. Power is bang on the limit, and makes a great gun for close range ratting. I fitted a Webley Black Hole silencer to cut down the muzzle crack. Unfortunately the vicious recoil causes a bit of scope creep! If you can find a good Scorpion for sensible money, then go for it, you wont regret it. Cheers Duster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hellier0437 Posted May 15, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 15, 2007 is it any better than the hw45, also, does anyonehave any experience of the crosman and sheridan "high power" CO2 pistols? thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Elvis Posted May 15, 2007 Report Share Posted May 15, 2007 C02 pistols will **** a rat off, perhaps break something or maim them, you wont get a clean kill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theskyfox Posted May 15, 2007 Report Share Posted May 15, 2007 I have the HW45 pistol in .177. I've been very impressed with it....I use it for dispatching when hunting (I use the rifles for the actual hunting tho). It is very powerful and very "man sized" making most other air pistols look like toys. The only downside is its single shot only and has no silencer available for it. By the way the .177 also has variable power because mine does. Its very accurate, but you have to be skilled for pistol shooting IMHO... You won't be disappointed with a HW45 tho =). Its tough and powerful. -Andrew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hellier0437 Posted May 16, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2007 thanks for that, i have been wondering about despatch capabilities at close range for a while now. are there any legal requirements for carrying one in a holster? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Elvis Posted May 16, 2007 Report Share Posted May 16, 2007 Let me know if you find a decent holster, Ive never found one big enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hellier0437 Posted May 16, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2007 how do you carry it then? surely your hands are full of rifle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Elvis Posted May 16, 2007 Report Share Posted May 16, 2007 B) I dont, i bought it when I had an infestation of rats in the garden, i only really use it for shooting rodents that have escaped from my rat/mouse breeding room into my tackle shed now!!!! Im sure you have seen these piccys before, but out of 33 rats shot, about 30 were with the hw45. i do take it night fishing with me and bait the rats to a point outside my bivvy then....bang....wish you could silence these, great guns never the less. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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