What’s Applications Do You Use Your Airguns For?

[357cal]

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!

This is a great topic, Thank you.

 

[357cal]

Well, I have a 230-yard range that's way off the grid, love being up there, that's how one stays sharp (practice), and 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. Both have day/night digital scopes.

 

[Kgphotos]

Informal silhouette shooting in my own backyard. I can shoot out to 30 yards at home and I really enjoy knocking down the little silhouette targets. Ten meter air rifles are perfect for that. I really wish there were some matches near me so I could get together with others once in a while. Closest I’ve found are about a three hour drive away.
Kenny

 

[beerthief]

IN my yard , rarely at the range, Always Paper or KYL spinners . All my guns are fun and if 8 or 12 FPE i will protect the bird feeder .

 

[Vana2]

IN my yard , rarely at the range, Always Paper or KYL spinners . All my guns are fun and if 8 or 12 FPE i will protect the bird feeder .

Yeah, pretty much the same here. I have spinners scattered all over my backyard range.

Except for testing and tuning, paper is for winter indoor use, outdoors it's reactive targets.

Love the low power airguns, I do a lot of plinking and sniping with my 10 meter target guns.

Though I do have a 55 yard shooting lane for the 30ish airguns and a 128 yard lane for my heavier PCPs.

Cheers!

 

[RossK]

Backyard paper punching and steel targets of sorts. Smacking silhouette's good times.

 

[beerthief]

Yeah, pretty much the same here. I have spinners scattered all over my backyard range.

Except for testing and tuning, paper is for winter indoor use, outdoors it's reactive targets.

Love the low power airguns, I do a lot of plinking and sniping with my 10 meter target guns.

Though I do have a 55 yard shooting lane for the 30ish airguns and a 128 yard lane for my heavier PCPs.

Cheers!

Me too . Have up to 48 yards , first 16 yards under roof shooting 10 meter guns @ 16 yards. love low power , reminds me of younger days the railroad yards used to give us free Pepsi for shooting pidgins Daisy model 25 pump springer . no idea what happened to that gun ?

 

[Vana2]

Me too . Have up to 48 yards , first 16 yards under roof shooting 10 meter guns @ 16 yards. love low power , reminds me of younger days the railroad yards used to give us free Pepsi for shooting pidgins Daisy model 25 pump springer . no idea what happened to that gun ?

I had a Daisy Model 25 for a while but preferred pellets to BBs so it got traded away. I'm considering getting another Model 25 but, locally, it seems to be in short supply.

Started off with a little Slavia 618 break barrel springer, still have it and shoot it occasionally. The "light springer" category is now covered by a HW30/R7 that has become my favorite plinker.

 

[rcarlisle]

I'm also a low to moderate power airgun lover as I mostly punch paper these days. I shoot .177 cal exclusively for now, as that is all I've needed thus far. I've got a good target pistol that sees a lot of use in the basement during the winter. I've rigged up my Marauder with aperture sights for offhand target, plinking and pesting out to 35 yards or so. My DreamTac is set up for longer range, but is adjustable enough that I can shoot several light pellets for target shooting at shorter range and extended shot count (as low as 6 FPE). In fact, I've barely shot past 30 yards for some time, I've enjoyed the long shot string and docile shot cycle very much indeed. My Benjamin 397PA is primarily a hunting gun these days and I've taken many squirrels using Gamo 8gr round ball ammo, for that authentic, back-woods experience.

 

[Kgphotos]

Me too . Have up to 48 yards , first 16 yards under roof shooting 10 meter guns @ 16 yards. love low power , reminds me of younger days the railroad yards used to give us free Pepsi for shooting pidgins Daisy model 25 pump springer . no idea what happened to that gun ?

I like hearing stories like that and thinking about how how America used to be.
Kenny

 

[L.Leon]

Mostly plinking and some pesting when I have the time…