New to vermin control

[craigfssnow]

I am awaiting the arrival of my FAC in order to shoot rabbits on a couple of farms and have been pricing up which .22 to buy. Having spoken with my old man, a seasoned wildfowler, stalker and rabbit shooter himself, he was adamant that there is no need to buy brand new and a second hand outfit would be a much better option.

 

Would anyone be kind enough to advise me either way? I'm looking at a CZ 452 which I can get brand new for about £285 according to guntrader, or £195 second hand. By the time I've added scope, moderator, lamps etc it will soon add up but being new to this side of the sport, any advice woul be greatly received?

[dazza]

try doing a search there's loads of info on the subject

 

http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/ind...15&hl=22+lr

[Oly]

Secondhand wouldn't be a bad way to go, nothing really goes wrong with .22 rimfires - so long as it all works and shoots straight when you buy it odds are that it'll be doing similarly after 10 years and 10,000 rounds later. And £285 secondhand would go further too.

 

CZ - cheap, cheerful, will work hard and long...but not the most exciting gun in the box.

[JohnGalway]

You'll most likely be using Eley or Winchester subsonics if using .22lr on rabbits.

 

If you do go down the secondhand route, no offence at the next bit as I don't know your history, but, unless you're a good shot yourself bring someone along who is a good shot and make sure to get an oppertunity to shoot the rifle to see how it groups with those brands of ammo at 50 or 60 yards.

 

I've seen one or two old .22's that I thought would be dogs but turned out very accurate so nothing wrong with them like Oly says as long as everything works.

 

If you buy a new CZ, I hear mention of an Eric Brooks trigger kit for it quite a lot, seems to be worth the investment.

 

As for me I have a Sako Quad .22lr. Stock is a bit short until I buy some spacers, and live rounds do not always get extracted as the bullet head gets stuck in the start of the barrel. But, it's quite an accurate little rifle and I like it a lot. It'd be a lot more expensive than the CZ though just FYI.

[DaveK]

Depending on your physical stature be careful which CZ you go for if you do go down that route. The varmint is arguably the best and most obvious choice and it can take out paperclips off a bipod no problem but carrying it round any distance can be horrendous on your arms etc.

 

There are other CZ's that will perform just as well for what you want. Some with lighter synthetic stocks.

 

Dave

[luckytrigger]

I used to own a 452 and found it great value and i shot a lot of rabbits with it. Trigger was a little heavy but that never worried me or affected accuracy. Pound coin sized groups at 50yds were the norm. Top rifle

[Bazooka Joe]

craigfssnow, Nothing wrong with the secondhand route......take the Old Man with you when you buy. Over 15yr ago I bought a secondhand Bruno Mod-2, since then I've bedded the barrel, threaded for a mod, sorted the bolt, done the trigger to the way I wanted it, blued the barrel, & renovated the stock to my liking, & I've never looked back.

 

BJ.

[davo]

I've got a CZ452 16" silhouette, it's a cracking little rifle for the money, very accurate, very reliable, I've lost count of the rabbits it's taken out up to and over 100yds.

You can spend more if you want but for .22LR it will do everything the rest can.

[dazza]

Another vote for the CZ.

[loopy bunny blaster]

one vote for sako quad brilliant tool.

[magman]

I've got a CZ452 16" silhouette, it's a cracking little rifle for the money, very accurate, very reliable, I've lost count of the rabbits it's taken out up to and over 100yds.

You can spend more if you want but for .22LR it will do everything the rest can.

 

 

 

[Paul223]

cz are good but have a look on GT for an anschutz, second hand start around £200 or try the classifieds on here and other forums

[tuck1]

Horses for courses really. I bought a new CZ less than a year ago with a wooded stock. It already looks like it's been through a war! Hoewever, it's a tool for me, not something I take pictures of, so I'm happy.

 

I got the varmint with the looong barrel. Mistake! It's heavy, and a lot of my shooting is now done from a vehicle, which made things awkward, but £30 later I had lost several inches(!) and it's loads better. Also did the trigger.

 

There are some second hand bargains to be had, it is getting harder and harder to get (and keep) a FAC these days and many people surrender their weapons, or send them in to a gunshop, so it is worth shopping around.

 

Some people spend as much on a scope as on the rifle. Not me I'm afraid, £60 Hawke Sport. However, I don't do much low light shooting (when it gets too dark for me to see through the scope I have a brew then put the lamp on!) However, sometime I will be getting some slightly better glass.

 

Cz's are ten a penny. Good basic, reliable, time proven. Heavy triggers (easy to sort out)

Anshutz have an excellent reputation in target and field rifles, are beautifully made, with a price to match. Reknowned triggers.

Sako have discontinued the Finnfire (superb) and now do the Quad, which has it's advocates (and some enemies.)

Lots of old Brno's around still - same as applies to CZ really.

Marlin, Savage, etc etc. Can't help much there I'm afraid.

Ruger 10/22. Good fun (when working) but not for me. I like it when I pull the trigger and hear a bang!

 

Good luck.

[Oly]

If you can find one for £285 get an Anschutz...I have one and wouldn't change it for the world...they are simply the dogs!