F.A.C

[marticus 9]

As I'm new to the forum, forgive me if this has already been asked.

As I'm in the market for a new springer, I fancy something with a bit more 'clout'

so was wondering about fac airifles, or should I say the fac itself.

Is the licence as stringent for a higher powered air weapon as it would be for a firarm proper, or is there a lower grade licence, as it is still an air weapon? I just want a bit more distance and stopping power for rabbit shooting, I've read where lads have stopped rabbits at decent distances using these but don't fancy the idea of a full police check as per a 'proper gun'

ATB , Mart

[Phantom 631]

The process and checks are identical unfortunately.

 

Tony

[iana 25]

If you don't want to go down the FAC route then invest in a decent springer or PCP. Weirach or air arms in either and you wont go too far wrong.

[walshie 2,804]

To the old bill, a firearm is a firearm, regardless of whether it has 30ft/lb or 2000ft/lb.

Edited September 27, 2012 by walshie

[pianoman 3,589]

Hello Marticus.

The application and conditions you must meet for getting an FAC for an air rifle are the same as those for a .rim/centrefire rifle. So, like it or not, you will be subject to the police making personal background checks about you; clearing your permission as a suitable hunting ground with safe-distance boundaries and visiting checks of your home security; steel gunsafe bolted to a supporting wall etc. etc. After all, a .22 pellet will have the same lethal power as a .22 bullet if the power's there in the rifle to fire it.

 

If you want a spring rifle to perform superbly at higher power, the Weihrauch HW80 is the one to have. It was specifically designed for FAC tuning and mine is tuned to 21 ft/lbs on my Ticket. That's more than all you need to shoot all airgun vermin. But it will send a pellet over a good couple of hundred yards with enough power to possibly, wound or even kill someone. I certainly would not like to be the one who accidentally gets to test that one out!

 

The real art to using this level air power though, is not to hit an animal's head a mile away, but, it gets the pellet to the target faster over the same sort of ranges as you'd shoot with a sub 12-ft/lb rifle. And gives less of a chance of the animal bolting or flying off out of the pellet's path.

 

But, I will add that FAC air power isn't the only way to hit a rabbit clean kill through the head at 60 metres or whatever. A sub-12 ft/lb rifle with around 11.3 ft/lbs muzzle energy will still put a pellet through a rabbit's head at equal distances...if you know how to shoot to those ranges.

 

In both cases, it's all down to whether or not, you have the chops to be able to shoot with precision accuracy yourself to those distances. Because a Rabbit's head is a damn small target at the best of times. And it's moving!

 

I love my HW80 to bits. It is brilliant against squirrel and Mink which plague some parts of the river running on my permission.

 

But, my best rabbiting rifle of all I have, is my Weihrauch HW77. 11.3 foot pounds of the finest accuracy you'll ever have in your hands.

 

Pianoman

[marticus 9]

Thanks for the replies, specially to pianoman, plenty to think about there.

[robwelsh 354]

F.a.c spring will be quite a bit tougher than a 12ft lb too. So patience an perseverance is key, otherwise you can kiss sweet good bye to the decent ranges people have said they've shot out to. Good luck.

[secretagentmole 1,701]

Idea for you, spend some time paper punching, see what ranges you can repeatedly hit the bull at, the results with your sub 12 might just surprise you!

[ArchieHood 3,692]

Practise your stalking skills and you wont have to shoot at distance................Get up close and personal.