What’s Applications Do You Use Your Airguns For?

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Vana2

Vana2

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May 11, 2015
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Ontario, Canada
The posts of some of the amazing things that people are doing with a 6-7 fpe springer like a Weihrauch HW30 was my inspiration for asking the question: What’s Applications Do You Use Your Airguns For?

I’m not doubting them or suggesting that we should observe some arbitrary “rules” or limitations of what you should do with your airgun of choice. Heck, I’m as guilty as anyone of pushing the limits to see what’s possible.

I’d like to compare notes of the applications that people use their airguns for. In my 25 gun “airsonal” there’s some duplication of duties and obviously a generous overlap of capabilities but each was purchased with a particular application in mind.

Guess that I’m trying to identify the “typical” use of a type of airgun for my own curiosity and maybe help Newbies make more sense of the mind-boggling variety available on the market.

Disclaimer: I like airguns BECAUSE of their low power and my choice of caliber reflects that. I prefer moderate power airguns (.22 caliber, 30ish fpe) for general shooting, pesting and squirrel and rabbit hunting at the sub50 yards ranges I typically shoot at. I’ve eliminated groundhogs, raccoons and porcupines with my “stealthy” airguns but, for efficiency reasons, prefer a .22 rimfire for that kinda work.



I’ve got a good variety of airguns in .177 to .25 calibers and I’m presenting my perspective of how I view their prime roles…

For winter indoor shooting, 10 meter target pistols and rifles are hard to beat.

In residential backyards BB-guns and CO2 replicas are practical choices.

I like springers and iron sights for fast, off-hand, close in shooting be it plinking or pesting... say sub 25 yards.

Much beyond 25 and out to 60 yards that I'm reaching for a scoped, 30ish fpe PCP and looking for something to lean up against.

After 60 yards I want a solid rest and a 45 (plus) fpe heavy bench rifle with at least a 6-24x50 scope.

IMHO, anything beyond 100 yards is powder burner territory... sorry ;)



I just believe in choosing the appropriate tool for the job... why use an axe when you really need a chainsaw? Or maybe a steak knife is more appropriate.

Each to their own eh? My comments are based on personal preferences; I’d like to hear yours.

Cheers!
 
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Well let’s see.

Wadcutter guns
1986 1377, nostalgia
P-17, D717, D753 10m in the shooting parlor.
1741 co2 pistol, 10m, chippers and HOSPS
1701, 1720 and both Prods, Reds, chippers and HOSPS

Dome guns
Mpup, Talon P, AA s500, HW95, paper and anything smaller than a coyote that strays into range.

Specialty guns
HW30, 10m arch rival of the Avanti, Reds and smaller.
“Dan Wesson” co2 Carpenter bee gun fighter.

They all have a purpose and most can back each other up.
Looking to add another Air Force later this year.
 
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Vana2 said:
The posts of some of the amazing things that people are doing with a 6-7 fpe springer like a Weihrauch HW30 was my inspiration for asking the question: What’s Applications Do You Use Your Airguns For?

I’m not doubting them or suggesting that we should observe some arbitrary “rules” or limitations of what you should do with your airgun of choice. Heck, I’m as guilty as anyone of pushing the limits to see what’s possible.

I’d like to compare notes of the applications that people use their airguns for. In my 25 gun “airsonal” there’s some duplication of duties and obviously a generous overlap of capabilities but each was purchased with a particular application in mind.

Guess that I’m trying to identify the “typical” use of a type of airgun for my own curiosity and maybe help Newbies make more sense of the mind-boggling variety available on the market.

Disclaimer: I like airguns BECAUSE of their low power and my choice of caliber reflects that. I prefer moderate power airguns (.22 caliber, 30ish fpe) for general shooting, pesting and squirrel and rabbit hunting at the sub50 yards ranges I typically shoot at. I’ve eliminated groundhogs, raccoons and porcupines with my “stealthy” airguns but, for efficiency reasons, prefer a .22 rimfire for that kinda work.



I’ve got a good variety of airguns in .177 to .25 calibers and I’m presenting my perspective of how I view their prime roles…

For winter indoor shooting, 10 meter target pistols and rifles are hard to beat.

In residential backyards BB-guns and CO2 replicas are practical choices.

I like springers and iron sights for fast, off-hand, close in shooting be it plinking or pesting... say sub 25 yards.

Much beyond 25 and out to 60 yards that I'm reaching for a scoped, 30ish fpe PCP and looking for something to lean up against.

After 60 yards I want a solid rest and a 45 (plus) fpe heavy bench rifle with at least a 6-24x50 scope.

IMHO, anything beyond 100 yards is powder burner territory... sorry ;)



I just believe in choosing the appropriate tool for the job... why use an axe when you really need a chainsaw? Or maybe a steak knife is more appropriate.

Each to their own eh? My comments are based on personal preferences; I’d like to hear yours.

Cheers!
Click to expand...
I don't hunt anymore so it is mainly target shooting with a rare pest thrown in. All of my guns now run off of air since converting my co2. My 2240 has a Don c. stainless 3000 psi tube with a disco valve. My AR2078 has the bulk fill on it and is tethered to a 48cui tank filled to 3000psi and the reg set to 1100. I can shoot it forever before refilling. None of my guns are power houses and don't need it, but I still like shooting at 75 and 100 yards to test myself. Mark
 
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I shoot for training and recreation. All my pellet rifles are .22 cal springers. A couple scope mounted (HW97k, HW95) and a couple open sights for offhand (Cometa 400).

I shoot paper to sight in the rifle at 25 yards. Then it is little green army men, shotgun shells, toy dinosaurs and an array of gongs from 70-80 yards. We play 5 shot poker with cards on edge at 15 yards and broadside at 50.

I generally stand offhand (iron sights) or sit in a lawn chair with my elbows on my knees.

I like a camera tripod to rest across when shooting with a scope. I keep it simple and inexpensive.

I agree about the proper tool for the job. I will shoot shotgun shells with anything. But I don't hunt much with a springer. Only rarely a collared dove or a ground squirrel around the house. If I'm going out to take scalps I carry a rimfire, a shotgun or a fishing bow.

I reload and shoot a couple boxes of centerfire rifle ammo every year for deer and elk. And a few hundred rounds for the revolvers. I used to rebarrel a varmint rifle every couple years and spend hundreds of hours at the reloading bench. Now it's just seals and springs for the pellet rifles. I shoot a LOT more, spend less time in the shop and save a little money.

I love my simple springers. They've taught me a lot and have a perfect spot in my daily routine. They don't need to be anything more than a pellet rifle for my purposes.
 
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🔘 Hunting down pest animals with .22, .25, and .30cal.
Theore kills per hour the better.


🔘 And some game animals, too. Cleaning and preparing them isn't my most favorite activity, though.....


🔘 And simply shooting as far as I can hit stuff is a never ending fascination for me.
Don't know why. 🤷🏻‍♂️
Maybe it's got something to do with my other fascination with elevation — as in "getting higher up in the world," like 14.500ft (4.800m) on a recent trip....

Matthias
 
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Well, I have a 230-yard range that's way off the grid, love being up there, that's how one stays sharp (practice), paper but mostly steel targets I also hunt coyote woodchuck and racoon mostly at long range 60-200 yards. Tools used, AEA 357 side lever 150gr boat tail and Airforce Texan 308, 150gr boat tail. I hunt from a blind (even a woodchuck can sense movement) on a portable shooting table or a tri-pod and tethered.
 
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