HELP needed choosing an airgun

[riku989 0]

Hi,i'm a new member and need help in choosing an air rifle.Basically i need a powerful weapon for vermin control at my allotment.It's riddled with rats.Max distance i would be shooting would be 25m.It has to be light,easy to use,be able to have a scope and silencer fitted and of course be cheap as it will be only for vermin control.Ive looked in the mags and quite like the look of the Crosman ratcather/king ratcatcher however they get mixed reviews.Can anyone help/advise,point me in the right direction??Much appreciated,Richy

[zini 1,939]

Hi there Rik and welcome to the section buddy.

 

From what you are describing I can have the perfect 2 choices for you mate.

 

Choice 1 is an absolute great deal and it’s a really nice rifle for the money mate.

 

http://www.sportsguns.co.uk/smkrifle/z19smksup22.html

 

Choice 2 is

 

http://www.sportsguns.co.uk/smkrifle/z20smksup22.html

 

I hope this helps you out mate.

 

I’m not sure if they are silencers fitted on the rifles or barrel weights mate but the rifles are quiet and wont make a lot of noise anyway if there not.

 

Both rifles are really good hard working vermin rifles.

 

For rat at close - ish range I suggest a .22 calibre rifle with RWS hollow point pellets mate.

 

Si

[garfield 23]

smk xs19 as above the karbine now has a fitted silencer/barrel weight or you could go for a bsa lightening xl

[Edgar 1]

Check you are allowed to shoot on your allotment if you haven't already. Get a second hand HW 57,30,50 or 99, should pick one up for 150, possibly with scope, mounts, sling ect. Failing that a webley stingray or BSA lightening or supersport would be ok for a similar price secondhand. Don't bother with CO2 rifles.

[andyfr1968 772]

Hi, mate and welcome to THL.

 

There's some good folks on here and we'll all try to help as best we can.

 

I've not had any dealings with the SMK's that Zini's sugested and have heard mixed reports about them. Seems if you get a good one you're cool, if you don't you don't...

 

I've used a King Ratty for a few years now for that kind of stuff and for what it is, I can't really fault it. Small, easy to use, quiet, accurate and it's never let me down. Co2 does have it's issue's though. If you use the search function on the forum, you'll get the guff on that.

 

Good luck, fella and if you've any qustions, there's probably some one who can help.

 

Cheers.

[zini 1,939]

Hi Rik,

 

I forgot to mention the gold plated options buddy.

 

If you want to spend more than £100 for a great second hand rifle and scope then i would look for a Weihrauch HW95K or HW97K.

 

You would probably be looking at around £180 to £250 though pal with scope if you’re lucky.

 

I know someone who is selling a Weihrauch HW80 with silencer in .22 for £200.

 

If I was you though pal I would go with either as Andy said or buy the SMK rifle.

 

They are very under estimated rifles due to their poor predecessors.

 

Ask Tony (Phantom) or Reggaeman what a SMK is like now these days for what you have described.

 

Si

Edited May 26, 2010 by zini

[Phantom 631]

Hi RiK,

 

:welcomeani: As has been pointed out, were mostly a good group here I think I have just found a rat amongst us though and its up to the mods to deal with him as they will. The mods on here are very good at their job and we all help them out by bringing suspects to their attention

 

Anyways I digress, so back on track.

 

The Ratties are a good gun, but can be temperature tempramental.

 

The XS19 is a damn good springer, with a nice high end legal power output but its not silenced as standard, not too hard to put one on though.

Rats are fast movers, so open sights can be an advantage over scopes, the XS19 has opens as well as can be fitted with scope. The 19 as described fits your requirement and as regards pellets, some very good one's in the XS19 are AA Field's and the FX 16 grainers. Wth rats you dont nesacerraly (sp?) need head shots, anywhere in the 1st third of the vermin will kill very effectively with a .22 although if you can bait them to be still for a second or two a head shot is always reccomended by me even these filthy animals deserve the most humane death as possible in my humble opinion.

 

All the best

 

Phantom (Tony as mentioned by Si)