Are you kidding me?! Air guns ARE REAL GUNS!!!

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Blackpaw

Blackpaw

Member
Apr 23, 2020
3,202
357
Idaho, United States
Okay, first this is a bit of a rant, but I am sure I am not the only one who has heard this from your powder burner buddies. I was explaining a recent order/purchase of the FX Crown Continuum and Element Optics Helix scope to a buddy who is strictly a firearms guy and he said literally, “why didn’t you spend that money on a REAL GUN!!!”, AKA powder burner. My buddy’s view is airguns are plinkers and minor pest control, should not be used for medium and large game.

First, living in the Netherlands, currently, I can ONLY purchase air arms, and second, I have plenty of firearms, which I think is 15 (handguns / shotguns and rifles) that meet my needs when I am back in the USA.

Anyways, sorry I had to vent to a place where people would understand.
 
Hello there. That is normal on anyone that normally shoots Firearms and no Airguns. 

From time to time I get that too, and for the "audience" I say: Yes you are totally right, this are toys compared with firearms. And IMO we should all do the same, lets keep ush ush about the real FPE some airguns have to avoid politicians get into our game. 

I will say: let's keep making think "outsiders" that airguns are toys! ;) toys from 10 fpe up to over 1000 fpe 


 
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Well, I now convinced a buddy in Idaho to get a air rifle for turkey next year, plus he saw what his buddy’s 30 cal FX Impact could do, and he was impressed beyond belief. So now my buddy is setting aside $1500 to get into an air rifle that can do the job, and he told me yesterday, his days of hunting turkey with a bow are over, now it will be air rifles.
 
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@chrisis I agree, fewer hassles and I can go between the Netherlands and Idaho/Utah via plane without issues. I will pay the extra $300-$400 for a plane ticket that is direct, no thank you to NY airports, there it could be more of an issue than landing in a very pro gun state like Utah and then Idaho. No one gives a hoot if you have check in / check out a gun because it happens every day. All I have to do is check them in with Dutch customs mainly for tax reasons, and of course, to verify no pressure in the rifles’ cylinders. With a firearm, on the Dutch side it becomes more complicated.
 
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You broke one of rules of owning an airgun.

"Thou shall not discuss airguns with those who do not own one without rebuke"

I've been down that road soooooo many times like what you've described. I won't discuss AG's unless they bring it up. Even then I speak little about them. Like they are only found in Area 54. 

I've never even discussed them with the people I work with. I don't feel I need to explain myself. The less they know the smarter I am. 
 
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My answer to the "Why don't you just get a powder burner "question. I have to note that this mostly applies to only smaller-bore airguns.

1. They're significantly more quiet than powder burners, especially with smaller calibers.

2. Ammo is much cheaper. There's just no comparison for the price of pellets.

These are really the main two advantages to airguns without getting into all the legal differences, but firearms certainly have their place. If you're really worrying about what someone thinks of your gun, don't. You shouldn't care about someone giving you flack if they don't know the first thing about the sport. That said, if you're trying to get someone into the sport, you should anticipate that mindset of thinking that airguns = weak, inaccurate. (I've even had one person think airgun = airsoft.) Most people will have had limited experience (if any) only with a cheap break barrel with crap ammo.
 
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on idaho air gun laws (i'm in idaho and have looked into this)

https://idfg.idaho.gov/question/what-are-legalities-hunting-air-rifles - all calibers

Predatory wildlife (raccoon, coyote, jackrabbit, weasel, skunk, and starling) and unprotected wildlife may be legally hunted with an Airgun at any time and in any amount. Cottontail rabbit and Snowshoe hares may be hunted with an Airgun during season (See Upland Game, Furbearer & Turkey Seasons and Rules Brochure for seasons, bag and possession limits). A valid Idaho Hunting or Combination license is required.

https://idfg.idaho.gov/about/rules/allow-use-qualified-air-guns-hunt-big-game-animals - big game

  1. For moose, mountain goat, bighorn sheep, elk and black bear; “big bore” airguns not less than .45 caliber.
  2. For pronghorn, deer, mountain lion and gray wolf; “big bore” airguns not less than .35 caliber.
    [/LIST=1]



    This website calls out upland game birds also, but i do not believe it is correct, as the IDFG docs specifically call out allowed species.

    http://www.varminter.com/airguns-are-legal-to-hunt-small-and-upland-game-in-idaho/#:~:text=Airguns%20of%20all%20calibers%20are,allowed%2C%20with%20no%20caliber%20restrictions.



    ...which i guess still leaves turkey in some sort of gray area.





 
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Where I live in Colorado, very few people I run into take air rifles very seriously. It takes some considerable coercion to even get guys to try them. I shoot Steel Challenge pistol and would bring my FT rifle with me to show guys and try to get them to give it a chance. Most were not interested at all.

Just to keep it real....22LR ammo costs less and is far more capable. 100fpe, 1/3 the wind drift, and 7c per shot. A 30 cal pellet is 10c per shot or worse and even an average 30 cal airgun is very expensive...plus all the stuff you need to go with it. You can buy a 400$ Rimfire rifle that will bury it in every category. You can also put a suppressor on a Rimfire rifle and be very quiet. It’s not as easy as just ordering one up....but it’s very doable.

So in Colorado....that’s why most people don’t care about air rifles. It’s not a mystery. As an air rifle builder...I get it.

Mike 


 
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I agree that they are real guns, but as someone with a quite extensive collection of firearms, I am happy for people to continue to think of airguns as “toys”. It allows me to get them shipped to me by mail, shoot in my backyard, and generally avoid all the hassles that are associated with my “real” guns.



Chris
Click to expand...

Ditto Chris. Ditto. I can’t tell you how many times I have been to a “real gun” range and drawn a crowd when they heard (or really didn’t hear) my Field Target rig, RAW HM1000 and huge 50x scope. Then when they saw the accuracy they couldn’t believe it. Even my .25 Marauder draws crowds. 

Gary

Venice, FL
 
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I don't have any desire for them to be "real guns". I don't want all the bullpoop that goes along with "real guns" to deal with. If I did id have bought a "real gun".

People these days seem to be hell bent on making airguns as close to "real guns" as they can get, and they will be whining when they come to be treated as "real guns". 

All this high power, fully auto, big bore shooting nonsense is gonna screw us all in the end, and especially the people who have been content for years using airguns for what they are and enjoying that. 

Maybe when we have to have a background check, pay a tax, buy from a licensed dealer and so on people will finally be satisfied that they are "real guns" and nobody will want one anymore. 

Personally, the biggest thing I like about airguns is that they are a welcome diversion from real guns. I can shoot in the backyard, hunt about anywhere, and I don't have to go to the range and squeeze in between all the GI Joe dickheads with AR15s trying to hit a man sized target at 15 yards. 

There's my rant. 


 
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@thomasair, yes Idaho is the same way, in some ways, air rifles aren’t taken too seriously, BUT Idaho has formally approved last year the use of big bore air rifles for large game. I think it going to be updated again this year for midsized game, i.e. turkeys. If you allow for big game, why not for turkey. Also, online I have watch a couple of YouTubers heading to Idaho this year for big game using an air rifle, one them is Colorado Airgun Enthusiast. Maybe I misunderstood @sticman77, so I searched for big game use. For turkey I am not sure, but for big game here is a screen shot what is allowed, and this is the 2020 IDF&G hunting regs.

1594996109_10033271245f11b58d2d7c28.95279821.jpeg

 
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