high power air rifles

2LaneCruzer · Jan 19, 2014

I'm sure that most of you have seen this, but large bore, high powered air rifles have been around a long time.

Girandoni air rifle as used by Lewis and Clark. A National Firearms Museum Treasure Gun. - YouTube

lockhaven · Jan 19, 2014

I have a very inexpensive crossman RM 377 in .177 squirrels and rabbits and crows I think it would also fix a cat but I would be reluctant since it may run off.

dmccarty · Jan 19, 2014

I have an RWS 22 caliber, either the model 52 or 54 and with a scope, it is very accurate with dime sized groups very easily at 25ish yards. It seems the 22 caliber pellet could easily kill rabbits, tree rats, and skunk sized critters. It is fun and cheap to shoot.

Later,
Dan

buickanddeere · Jan 19, 2014

Why did you choose .22 and not .177 caliber and do you prefer the 460 because of the cocking lever under the barrel said:
Weihrauch HW50S Review - YouTube[/url]

Compromise between velocity and retained energy for the .22.
The kid bent the barrel when it slipped out of his hands while cocking it. Just one more thing on the list he has smashed. Doesn't happen with the under barrel lever.

Renze · Jan 20, 2014

forgeblast said:
Pyramid air has a few new ones in.
Pre-Charged Pneumatic Air Rifles | PCP Rifles - PyramydAir.com is the .45 caliber,
Pre-Charged Pneumatic Air Rifles | PCP Rifles - PyramydAir.com is the .50 caliber,

I was talking 4.5 millimeter, which is a .177 caliber... a .45 caliber might be good at close range shooting but i guess you cant approach rabbits to sniffing distance.. ??

Renze · Jan 20, 2014

buickanddeere said:
Compromise between velocity and retained energy for the .22

I was thinking 5.5mm (or .22 inch) would be about the optimum, 4.5mm pellets just fly through but dont kill, and .25 pellets are harder to obtain here.

I made a list of .22 (5.5mm) springer rifles with the highest exit velocities and wrote the local price behind it:

Weihrauch HW77 230m/s 599 euro
Weihrauch HW97 230m/s 359 euro
Weihrauch HW90 260m/s 415 euro
Gamo 1250 extreme: 260 m/s 510 euro
Diana 470 TH 270m/s 599 euro
Benjamin trial NP 285m/s 320 euro

What i read when doing a quick google search is that the Benjamin trial NP is quite inaccurate, and some say it about the Gamo too... Does anyone else have an idea ?

Industrial Toys · Jan 20, 2014

Just curious. If you had similar air weapons in both .22 an .177 what would the difference be, in velocity range and killing power?

I was looking at automatic air guns that are available in varying calibers. The scuba tanks really deterred me from that though. I always figured I could just get a high pressure compressor, but I never knew of the expense involved.

EDIT: Just another curiosity. Why are air rifle pellets always a different shape from a powder fired projectile?

buickanddeere · Jan 20, 2014

RWS 460 and Dianna have high powered spring piston rifles that will launch .22 pellets at 1000fps/305mps.

RWS Diana RWS 460 Magnum. Air rifles - PyramydAir.com

foggy1111 · Jan 20, 2014

Somehow I bought a 20 caliber Beeman air rifle. It's plenty accurate and powerful for most small game to 40 yards or so. Not sure why I bought 20 caliber…..but seems it was a good compromise at the time.

corl · Jan 20, 2014

.IT: 177 will have higher velocity, longer range and flatter trajectory than .22 but .22 will have more knock down power. .177 for feathers and .22 for fur.