Permie wrote:Hi , first post.
After a recent move to a small acreage (10.5) in the Yarra Valley region, instead of using friends guns on their land, I’m finally buying my own guns.
My main interest is to shoot to eat, and preferably to shoot and eat things that would otherwise damage/eat my garden and upcoming orchard plantings.
I’ve got rabbits and deer, and I like eating both.
The deer (usually Samba) will be dealt with by a .308W I have a PTA currently in for- if I am very careful with where I shoot and very patient waiting for them to come through my gully where I can ensure a very safe backstop, I might even be able to fire that gun here one day...
In the mean time I am now looking into a dedicated rabbit gun. I’ve got neighbours on two sides, some way off, and a big reserve on our front, but it is very quiet here. I want to be able to shoot rabbits at night and early morning without bothering my neighbours in the slightest. (when I plan to go after deer they will get warning, and I won’t be target shooting the .308 here, at least not till I have earned a bit more credit and understanding with them).
I’ve shot a fair few rabbits with various subsonic .22lr rounds, which I am not in love with, snd if I can get an accurate and reliably humane rabbit kill with something quieter, then that is what I want- for the neighbours and for the chance of dispatching more bunnies, and some noise and worry free plinking in the day.
I haven’t shot an air rifle since I was a kid.
My initial research says I want a good reliable accurate and powerful springer with a suitable scope, set up for shooting around roughly the 50m range, at a stretch a little longer. Probably a lever under. Second hand. Probably .22. Don’t have much money, but want to buy something decent. Can’t afford to be too concerned with looks.
Weihrauch seem to stand out, though I haven’t figured out the differences in models yet.
This one maybe, though it is pushing up well into the top what u want to spend- cheaper would be better.
http://www.ozgunsales.com/listing/79125 ... n_039.html
Is the pre-import ban ‘lump’ on the end of the barrel any quieter than the models that are available now (drilled out or something), or are they quiet enough anyway?
How do the other Weihrauch models compare?
What are some other comparable in quality and accuracy (good power, springer, probably lever under) air rifle brands/models to consider and look out for for the express purpose of rabbits? (and targets, practicing for rabbits).
Cheers
Permie wrote:I’ve shot the 22Z and the CCL quiet rounds, can’t really recall which was which, but they were pretty quiet and worked well enough on rabbits. I do remember the bullet drop being considerable but then that rifle wasn’t zeroed for that ammo. I would have thought an air rifle springer would be quieter, shows what I know, and if not then indeed there is no need to get an air rifle, I will look into cheap but decent used .22lr package.
Longer barrel should equal quieter yes?
Are there any relatively common decent .22lrs than had longer barrels?
Off to trawl through gun listings and google models again, thanks for the posts.
scoot wrote:Recently acquired an fx dreamline pcp. When cranked up to max "with out the box settings" it shoots an 18gr pellet at around 880fps. 32fpe. Enough for head shooting rabbits but the noise is in my opinion louder than a 22lr subsonic round (slightly different note though). Even my 12fpe springer has a crack to it. You could run it at lower energy, or a springer with less power and be quieter but it's a trade off for effective/humane range. As much as i love my new pcp I think a 22lr will be cheaper outlay and more suited to the task....either should still be ok on small acreage with good neighbours.
scoot wrote:Recently acquired an fx dreamline pcp. When cranked up to max "with out the box settings" it shoots an 18gr pellet at around 880fps. 32fpe. Enough for head shooting rabbits but the noise is in my opinion louder than a 22lr subsonic round (slightly different note though). Even my 12fpe springer has a crack to it. You could run it at lower energy, or a springer with less power and be quieter but it's a trade off for effective/humane range. As much as i love my new pcp I think a 22lr will be cheaper outlay and more suited to the task....either should still be ok on small acreage with good neighbours.
scoot wrote:The $1500+ price difference was the main killer. I
didn't really want to spend as much as i did for the dreamline but when looking and comparing it was not much more than anyp "entry level" pcp that I would of been interested in. i only got the dreamline last fortnight (after 6 mth wait) and I've been away, now on shift. I haven't had a lot of time with it yet but first impressions are good. Build quality is nice, feels "easy" to shoot well. I'll post up a bit of a review hopefully in the next few weeks once I've played more so anyone interested can read.
Permie wrote:Thanks for all the posts,
Due to the noise (which I was assuming wrong about) and the range, and for lots of other reasons including that I want to get a .22lr anyway, I will be going that way.
I think on my block it will work out very well for rabbits.
Given I’ve been able to satisfy the want for a nice new gun with the .308 (I’ve bought a nice ex-demo CZ 557 Range- rather an oddball unusual gun in Oz it seems?), I suspect I will end up going for a vintage classic .22, maybe an Anschutz or a Brno or something similar (totally open to suggestions). So long as it is in good straight-shooting working condition, I don’t even ,Ind some serious patina, especially if it makes a good shooting well made collectable and pricey model affordable.
John wrote:Rabbit hunting is one of my favourites I’ve hunted all sorts of larger game around Australia but still love going out busting a few bunnies I use both my 22. Gamo cfx air rifle and cz22lr depends on the day both are effective and quite enough not bother any one near by I’m having great results and a lot of fun with the air rifle it does take a little more thought behind each shot for clean kills but it’s a great way to hone anyone’s skills.
I have been running crosman 16.7g red flights they perform really well in my cheap gamo and I use cci standards in my cz which again my rifle really likes
A .22lr running subs or standards might be a little easier but air rifles are a lot of fun and addictive I’m finding after many years hunting larger game with big centerfires
I bought my cheap gamo a few months ago just to teach my son to shoot on the cheap and I’m addicted and about to buy a new fx pcp I like them that much