100 yards and beyond…?

[L.Leon]

I love my airguns for the practical to me, sub 60 yards pesting/plinking opportunities I may encounter… That said, I understand that there are a select few, who through due diligence and many, many rounds downrange. May achieve consistent 5 shot, 1 MOA groups at 100 yards, whether with pellets or slugs… And have kills on film to prove it… That said it is not the norm for the majority. And it is incongruous to why the majority come to airguns in the first place. I understand that many willl justifiably push the limits of what airguns, particularly PCPs can do. But to what end? To duplicate the ballistics of a .22 rimfire or .22 rimfire magnum? Heck, if you have the space to unleash that much power? Why not simply use a powder burner? For me? Personally, where airguns shine is in their traditional roles as short range target, plinking, pesting, hunting guns… For the average Joe, expecting to send 5 or 10 shot, 1 MOA groups at 100 yards, or even 50 yards? Is simply unrealistic… Mucho hype of late in the over 100 yards ranges, but very, very few will achieve those results… Within their practical parameters, airgun simply shine… So why try and turn them into powder burner equivalents? The purpose of this post is to sincerely query those who see it otherwise. And to maybe temper the expectations of those new to the game/hobby…

 

[Moog]

I got into air guns for the convenience of being able to shoot in my back yard. My air rifles are springers and I normally don't shoot them beyond 50 yards. That is a realistic range limit for me. I agree with you about keeping shots under 60 yards.

My air guns are used only for plinking. Just for fun on a couple of occasions I tried stretching the range out to 90 yards on some water jugs. I actually did not do to bad once I figured out the hold over.

 

[JaceSpace1369]

I love my airguns for the practical to me, sub 60 yards pesting/plinking opportunities I may encounter… That said, I understand that there are a select few, who through due diligence and many, many rounds downrange. May achieve consistent 5 shot, 1 MOA groups at 100 yards, whether with pellets or slugs… And have kills on film to prove it… That said it is not the norm for the majority. And it is incongruous to why the majority come to airguns in the first place. I understand that many willl justifiably push the limits of what airguns, particularly PCPs can do. But to what end? To duplicate the ballistics of a .22 rimfire or .22 rimfire magnum? Heck, if you have the space to unleash that much power? Why not simply use a powder burner? For me? Personally, where airguns shine is in their traditional roles as short range target, plinking, pesting, hunting guns… For the average Joe, expecting to send 5 or 10 shot, 1 MOA groups at 100 yards, or even 50 yards? Is simply unrealistic… Mucho hype of late in the over 100 yards ranges, but very, very few will achieve those results… Within their practical parameters, airgun simply shine… So why try and turn them into powder burner equivalents? The purpose of this post is to sincerely query those who see it otherwise. And to maybe temper the expectations of those new to the game/hobby…

For me, there's a time and place for different pcp set ups. If I could use my 17hmr or my 17WSM for iguana removal, you bet your a$$ I would. But I can't so I use high power pcp's with high expanding slugs. They may not have as much power as a 22rim, or 22mag, but they sure as hell expand way more, and expend majority of the energy within the cavity or head of the animal. 3 pc pic is 10gr VK going 1100 and 2pc pic is 20.83gr JSB KO going 930fps. I definitely wouldn't normally run 10gr slugs at 1100fpe but it's what my U2 600mm .177 shot them at. Normally I would shoot them somewhere around 950-1000 if it likes them so they can fragment within the prey.

 

[blackdog899]

I guess I find it even more amazing that I’ve entertained myself this far
without target shooting more than my 13 yard cellar and and some varmint
shooting out the window.… haaa!

 

[actionpistol]

In reality. Most people can't shoot 1 moa at 100 yds with a 22 lr.

 

[Long_Shot]

I'm one of those that likes shooting long range.
100 feels too close. Steel at 300 & 400 yards. Squirrels at 120 - 300.
Built up a long range slug gun too powerful to shoot at Starlings safely anymore.
So just started using a low power .22 pellet pusher I have.
Still got to shoot slugs out of it though.
That's the beauty of air guns easy to do both.

 

[Vetmx]

I like hunting at all distances with every kind of device I hunt with. Everything has its maximum effective range. With bows, pistols, rifles and airguns, I’ve always looked at mine as golf clubs. I grab the appropriate club for the task at hand. The maximum distance I can hit exactly where I’m aiming with an airgun has changed over the years. So I now have a couple clubs to tee off with in those situations. Fortunately for me my long range airguns have it covered right to the point where I switch over to a sure thing powder burner. For years there was a gap. Where the situation was for airgun only, but the distance was powder burner. Not now. But rest assured, my favorite airgun hunting and where I prefer to operate is still sub 100 yards. I get a lot of satisfaction in the 50-75 yard range. And no matter what anyone says, sub 100 is right in a good slug guns wheelhouse also. Because a good slug gun lets you hit stuff way out there beyond pellet range but it takes an excellent gun to place things right on the money. And that’s a hobby trying to achieve that within this hobby.

 

[cahil_2]

I find that I have to remind myself that I’m shooting pellet guns and that is what makes them so much fun.

 

[Ezana4CE]

For me it’s easy to answer….I’m in Texas. I do certain things with airguns because I can and I’m not harming anyone by doing so.

 

[shambozzie]

Love pesting starling @ 100 and beyond. Never cared for groups after zero. Starlings and steel at over 100 is fun and challenging. The right gun and Strelok pro makes it very doable . My guns of choice for the task is. Airgun revisions m257, Az tuned Raw hm1000x. 30 and Daystate alpha wolf .22. When not at farm have 100 backyard range. Yes, I shoot a lot. To each his own. Stay well my friends.

 

[HogKiller]

I didn't have a choice, ok I did have a choice, stop splatting ground squirrels or spend a modest fortune on airguns. Darn canine on premises didn't like the bang from my A17. Then I had to learn to shoot 50 yards for MOS (Minute of Squirrel) then out to 125 yards, again zero choice, wide open area and the pesky squirrels see you, so, it's reach out and learn to shoot with the tools you've invested in. I shoot off of a tripod seated, old guy ain't as steady as he once was.

 

[Vana2]

I love my airguns for the practical to me, sub 60 yards pesting/plinking opportunities I may encounter… That said, I understand that there are a select few, who through due diligence and many, many rounds downrange. May achieve consistent 5 shot, 1 MOA groups at 100 yards, whether with pellets or slugs… And have kills on film to prove it… That said it is not the norm for the majority. And it is incongruous to why the majority come to airguns in the first place. I understand that many willl justifiably push the limits of what airguns, particularly PCPs can do. But to what end? To duplicate the ballistics of a .22 rimfire or .22 rimfire magnum? Heck, if you have the space to unleash that much power? Why not simply use a powder burner? For me? Personally, where airguns shine is in their traditional roles as short range target, plinking, pesting, hunting guns… For the average Joe, expecting to send 5 or 10 shot, 1 MOA groups at 100 yards, or even 50 yards? Is simply unrealistic… Mucho hype of late in the over 100 yards ranges, but very, very few will achieve those results… Within their practical parameters, airgun simply shine… So why try and turn them into powder burner equivalents? The purpose of this post is to sincerely query those who see it otherwise. And to maybe temper the expectations of those new to the game/hobby…

These are my feelings as well.

When I started with my Slavia 618 back in the 1960's, 60 feet was the maximum practical range, now it's easily 60 yards. I'm more than happy with that, airguns and pellets have really improved!

Agreed, the 100 yard (and beyond) shooting done by skilled people with specialized equipment is impressive but hardly main stream.

To me, a real challenge is to shoot five targets of five shots, in one inch at twenty five yards, OFF HAND with a pellet rifle.

I like pellet guns because of their low power. Most of my plinking, pesting and small game hunting are well served by .22 caliber, 30ish fpe, PCPs shooting pellets.

I think that it's great to have such a variety of choice available in airguns, it gives us options to explore our interests.

Cheers!

 

[markhooper]

I used to shoot long distance but my health is not what it used to be.
honestly I like shooting 22lr, especially since I like cowboy guns and well short of a CO2 gun there's nothing really in air power that is like that.. yes there's the mustang lobo, but I can't get it imported if I had the money..
where I live I can shoot anything I wish.. but for me I enjoy the quiet of air guns over 22lr.. and yet my Condor 22 caliber will hit my 50 yard spinner harder than my 22lr lever action.. and it's quiet and enjoyable..
my little dog doesn't think it is quiet enough or maybe the big dog told her that she is going to get shot, just so the big dog can get right up next to me and get petted between each shot.. yes that big dog is a bit selfish
I do like the higher power PCP guns because they will move my spinners that if normally have to use 22lr or larger..
plus it's something different.. lots of times I'll get out several guns when I am plinking..
Mark

 

[boscoebrea]

I have only 30 yards to shoot in my backyard';30yds.,so any pellet pistol or rifle I have can do that with accrauccy,so then my better ones can do pellet on pellet,be it a pistol or rifle ,a PCP or CO2 or a springer.Then the challenge is to get the tightest group possible,not my guns as they all shoot better than me,it is a challage for me.
My target .22 rimfires can do good at 100 yards,it still a challenge.
I want to have a PCP rifle that can shoot good at 100 yards,not to hunt as I would rather stock and get close as possible for that.
So to answer the question ,it is the challenge.
If my guns or I am not up to it,then I would get as close as I have to for a tight group.
The challenge has to be obtainable,if not it is not fun and a waste of time.
Great question by the way

 

[Arzrover]

I agree with your main point there, L.Leon...
My journey was initially a half a million rounds in an urban yard that had a max distance of 32 yds. I just really love to shoot little things,. It was marbles, peanuts, flies, wasps, etc., in that yard. THAT led to FT competition when it started here in Az that led to nicer airguns that led to hunting with them, and of course, a lot more plinking. Along the way, I bought a Career 707 that was so powerful and loud, it was useless to me. That created a bias against the power craze so I never chased any of that till about 2016 when I was drawn into the EBR to help and experienced THAT type of competition that started another accumulation of higher powered airguns... still with a bias against chasing pb performance.
I'm getting old and have dropped away from the big competitions but as I can shoot 200 yds in my back yard, I really enjoy long range plinking still. I've met some good people in my little town that also enjoy it and we gather at my range or another one that really caught the bug and built a FINE 100 yard range. I have plates, bells, spinners and paper as well as little granite pedestals to put about anything on, like paintballs and little candies. The other range has a MASSIVE 100 yard setup with about 30 different fixed steel targets plus a beam that we put paintballs, silhouettes, shotgun shells, etc, and five granite benches to shoot from. It's a BLAST to race against the others to plink the small targets first at 100... HIGHLY satisfying to hit a paintball consistently at 100 and we are pretty good at it if the wind isn't too crazy.
It's also fun to plink paintballs at 10 yards offhand with the Daisy 499s... or about any other plinking with most any other airgun. I find myself not enjoying the 30 cals or any that I have that are loud or jolting in their behavior... not that they won't do the job, just really enjoy the pleasant airguns SO much more.
I'm with @Vetmx on the right tool. I would not choose an airgun to big game hunt or a 338 Lapua to shoot flies, but I DO have fun playing games that test the limits... all about having fun...
Bob

 

[ChefSparrowRagazzi]

And it is incongruous to why the majority come to airguns in the first place. I understand that many willl justifiably push the limits of what airguns, particularly PCPs can do. But to what end? To duplicate the ballistics of a .22 rimfire or .22 rimfire magnum? Heck, if you have the space to unleash that much power? Why not simply use a powder burner? For me? Personally, where airguns shine is in their traditional roles as short range target, plinking, pesting, hunting guns… For the average Joe, expecting to send 5 or 10 shot, 1 MOA groups at 100 yards, or even 50 yards? Is simply unrealistic…

No. I'm afraid, It's not.
1 moa at 50 yards is 1/2 inch. Airguns do that with astounding consistency.
Many airguns achieve better than that.
It's very realistic.

 

[FelixS]

We all have our perspectives and opinions based on our current shooting world view. And they may change as our needs, equipment, and available shooting opportunities present themselves.
When I got back into airguns a little over 5 years ago, 30 yards was "out there". My first PCP, an FX Bobcat changed that to 50-75 yards. Then my Raptor stretched it to 100 yards.
Although most of my targets were ground squirrels from an infestation at that time, my needs were between 20 and 65 yards. But when I smacked some at 100 yards, that became the new "out there".
I think that perhaps those few that would achieve that range are the ones that want to.
I am to the point that I don't feel it is very sporting of me to shoot a varmint much closer than within a general 50 yard range. And at that range, I would most likely shoot .177 to be a bit sporting.
Those are my thoughts and my experience. Acknowledging we all have our own.

 

[EdinGa]

I can't safely shoot at 100 with a PB on my property. I can with a PCP. Here lately, I prefer .177 slugs for long range work. I won't say I can consistently shoot moa at 100 with them, but I have managed quite a few groups that qualify. I have to be in the mood for the preparation and concentration it requires, so I prefer to plink at closer ranges most of the time.

 

[Struckat]

I am a parlor shooter like Blackdog.
All my 10m work pays off when I go on safari. Even then most of my shooting is 50 or less.
When I risk the outdoors at home, I stay within the law, smaller than .178 and less than 700fps. But even then, the risk of attracting Blackhawks is too great.

I did some 100 yard shooting last year, standing, poorly supported and not enough velocity. Hitting a paper plate, but I was basically out of hold over.
I will give another try with a different setup if there is time.
But it’s hard to shoot paper when surrounded by chirping little striped devils.

I am a 50-60 max range guy for now, and plenty happy.

 

[wimpanzee]

I've got 225 yards from my back porch to the spot in the field where coyotes like to cross. Been working on stretching out my high powered airguns, but man, that is a long ways over here...across one hill and on the side of the next one!