Air rifle hunting is in some ways like bow-hunting or even a little like fishing with ultra-light tackle.
Similar to bowhunting in that you need to get fairly close with most air rifles and many require you to cock or pump before you can shoot, somewhat like drawing a bow.
When doing ultra-light fishing you are more likely to get some action because there are usually many more small fish. When using an air gun you are hunting for more abundant small game and pest. If such hunting is too slow you can start sniping at insects for fun.
There are exceptions, some very specialized larger caliber air rifles, but that's not what this page is about. The more typical air guns, even the best, will not reliably take game much bigger than jack-rabbits.
Advertising claims using words like magnum power, high power, extreme power, and such are a little misleading. Those words are true only when comparing air guns to air guns, not when compared with firearms. Claims of pellet rifles shooting at speeds of 1200, even 1600 fps. (feet per. second) are often made.
You can "bet the farm," those claimed muzzle velocities were with very light weight pellets. Some .177 caliber pellets weigh as little as 5 grains, that is about 40% less than the weight of a typical 8 grain .177 pellet. Such light weight pellets will start out faster, but loose the speed advantage quickly. For air rifle hunting many experienced hunters prefer pellets of normal weight or heavier.
Velocities of the best guns with "normal weight" pellets will most often range from about 800 fps to around 1100 fps and most often nearer to the low end of this range in the larger calibers.
Although the advertised velocities may be a bit misleading; we can still use them as a rough guide to categorize air gun power. For simplicity I'm only talking only about .177 caliber guns here. If you choose the same gun in a larger caliber you will get slightly to considerably less velocity depending on the gun type. Less velocity can make it a little harder to shoot accurately because of a more rapid pellet drop, but the larger or heavier pellets sometimes add a little more energy or killing power.
 |
| Mouse in Hay Barn |
Most pellet handguns shoot in this range of speeds. Even such low power guns can be used at close range for pest birds, mice, rats, frogs, snakes, insects...
600-800 fps. Many guns in this middle range are used for hunting; especially in Europe. Some places in Europe don't allow firearms and limit air guns to about this power level. Many spring-piston rifles, inexpensive pump-up pneumatics, and even a few CO2 powered rifles can reach these velocities. The pre-charged pneumatic handguns can also reach these speeds. Head shots on animals of rabbit size at 20-25 yards are reasonable targets.
800 fps.-up. Many shooters in the USA are going to buy these guns which will be advertised to shoot at much higher speeds. These guns can extend the range, but not by a huge amount; pellets loose velocity and energy rapidly. No gun, no matter how powerful, gives us an excuse for careless shooting. An air gun hunter should be thinking precision head shots, not power. Scopes made for air guns are highly recommended. Note: Spring air guns have reverse recoil and will eventually wreck any scope not made for that reverse recoil.
 |
| Fox Squirrel |
Some guns have excessively heavy, rough, trigger pulls. Some of the guns, especially spring air guns, can shoot differently, depending upon how they are held. Even the heaviest pellets will get blown around by the wind.
Air rifle hunting is fun, but sometimes challenging.
No comments:
Post a Comment