Good Evening From Lincoln.

[khutchinson1862 5]

Good evening all who come across this. My name is Bill and I'm new to this forum, only joined tonight. I live in Lincoln (Bracebridge Heath to be more specific) and I have no experience at all. My first and last time of handling a firearm was at the fair, I didn't win a prize.

 

I've been interested in air rifles for some time but tomorrow I'll be purchasing my first one, I'm meeting a dealer who has about 5 or 6 for me to try and whatever feels best I'll be purchasing. Right now my only mentor is the internet but theres far too many conflicting opinions.

 

Is there anyone on here who could please spare me some of their time to show me the ropes so to speak? I'm happy to travel as I'm desperate for some hands on help. Once I've learnt how to handle my gun I'd love the opportunity to get some rabbits. I feel I'd get great satisfaction from collecting my own dinner. I've briefly spoken to people at work about using their horse fields however a large amount of people have taken issue with me using an air rifle to catch bunnies.

 

I want to learn everything possible from how to hunt to how to prepare the meal, I currently don't even know what I can and cannot hunt never mind eat. Anyway any help at all from advice to some hands on help would be amazing.

 

Many thanks, Bill

[Rez 4,961]

Welcome my man.

 

I'm on burton road myself... Get your arse to waddington HFT club mate, I'll see you there tomorrow.

 

Where are you going to buy? If it's city air weapons... YOU WILL NOT be allowed to take the rifles out the cabinate unless your buying. But his stock is superb. I've had 4 rifles from him and they have been some of the best I've owned.

 

Forest lodge guns in Wragby are super too, but limited stock for air rifles, unless your a full bore shooter, then you can get anything and everything to kill a blue whale.

[pianoman 3,589]

Hello Bill and welcome to the forum..

 

Well, what are you looking for to start with? Whether you choose a spring powered air rifle or a pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) you will find lots of friendly advices and banter here, from some fine fellows that know their stuff when it comes to shooting and hunting with an air rifle.

 

Do not be fazed or put off by some people's remarks about hunting rabbits with an air rifle. This is pure ignorance of modern built air rifles and what they are truly capable of.

 

Take Rez's offer of a meet-up at Waddington HFT club. It's not that far from your end of our beautiful county. That will prove an invaluable start for your new-found shooting past-time and Rez is a first class lad! He'll put you right on the best way to get on, building up your bank of skills.

 

For now though, best advice from me, avoid at all costs the temptation to buy a cheap, low price air rifle, just to get started with. This will not perform anywhere near as good as you might think. There are some truly awful guns out there posing as sporting guns for hunting and target shootiing. And none of them will do your confidence any favours.

 

The very best are made by Weihrauch and Diana from Germany. Air Arms and Daystate (on a good day!) from our dear old Blighty! A gun from these names will provide you with a superb quality rifle that will last you a lifetime and bring you some priceless hunting memories in the making.

 

It might be a good idea to hold-off on the final purchase of your first air rifle, until you've spent a bit of time with Rez at Waddington club and see for yourself what is on offer to you as a novice who wants to progress with practice and experience. Only a quality air rifle will allow you to do that.

 

Look at the members guns and don't be shy about asking questions and trying their guns for yourself. They will be only too happy to let you shoot a few rounds off and see what you think of each rifle you see and try.

 

That alone will help you decide on the right rifle for you, and save you a fortune from buying the wrong gun then, have to go finding a better replacement, costing you even more money.

 

Same goes for choosing a scope for your new rifle.

 

And a suitable brand of pellet your rifle prefers best overall in accuracy performance.

 

In a specific calibre and headsize you will come to favour as that which works best for your shooting needs.

 

But don't worry about all that for the time being. Just enjoy the finding out and trying out for now.

 

All the best Bill.

 

Simon the Pianoman

Edited April 22, 2015 by pianoman

[Durham John 693]

Very wise words there Simon, if the op follows your advise he should enjoy his new found hobby.

Rez thats another kind offer to help someone starting out

 

regards John

[secretagentmole 1,701]

Welcome my man.

 

I'm on burton road myself... Get your arse to waddington HFT club mate, I'll see you there tomorrow.

 

Where are you going to buy? If it's city air weapons... YOU WILL NOT be allowed to take the rifles out the cabinate unless your buying. But his stock is superb. I've had 4 rifles from him and they have been some of the best I've owned.

 

Forest lodge guns in Wragby are super too, but limited stock for air rifles, unless your a full bore shooter, then you can get anything and everything to kill a blue whale.

 

What Uncle Wainwright? The man who cannot tell a left handed Daystate from a right handed Daystate?

Prices are good but the bloke is a joke!

 

[Rez 4,961]

Ha. Adie. I dont actually say he's OK in my post do I?

 

Yes, he is a bit of a prick, but once you get to know him, he's actually alright. Just dry, very very dry.

 

Its a good job you dont go into buy him then...

[khutchinson1862 5]

Good afternoon gents,

 

I have just come on here and read your responses but I'm afraid to say I've already made my purchase, and yes it was from City Air Weapons. A fantastic collection and whilst he wasn't much of a talkative fellow he listened to my limited price range, found me a gun and scope for that and threw in some pellets for free. Whilst it may not be the weapon on choice for everyone its what I can afford at the moment. So by now I know your all no doubt desperate to know what I went for......drum roll.......I've no idea!

 

It says on it Hatsan Edgar Brothers Striker .177 Cal (4.5mm), I hope this is enough for you to know what it is because I haven't a clue. I'm now anticipating a few to make the same sound a mechanic does as he kicks your car wheel, that very moment before he says "its going to cost you".

 

The scope I got with it says GAMO4x32 WR and the pellets are Super Field, Field Line, 0,54g 8.4gr.

 

Again all this means nothing to me but it was right for my budget.

 

I'm now in desperate need for someone to zero in my scope, this is a phase I only learnt 2 days ago and I've read page after page of how to do it but just cannot get it right. Subsequently I've now removed the scope and shot a few rounds off in the garden. My garden is about 4 meters wide and 40 meters long so its like my own rifle range. The shots are grouping well and from about 35 meters their not straying any wider then a small plate. I don't know if thats good or bad but I'm still learning :-).

 

I went inside at one point to get a drink and when walking out my back door a huge pigeon was sat bold as brass on top of what I had been using as a target (a pallet on its side), I feel I did the honourably thing by aiming at it and pulling the trigger, intentionally with no pellet in just simply to frighten it and make it bugger off.

 

Unfortunately I sharnt be able to go out tonight as I'm working, I work for the emergency services so my shift patterns are terrible. but I will endeavour to make my way down to Waddington when I can.

 

Please give your honest opinions on my purchases and any help or advise with getting this damn scope right would be much appreciated.

[Rez 4,961]

"any help or advise with getting this damn scope right would be much appreciated."

 

Practise.

 

You'll soon out grow that set up. Like... by tomorrow.

 

All the best.

[bigmac 97kt 13,836]

You will not get another offer like rez has offered you so sort it out with him and set a time, and day you both can get down to the range and the lad will help you out no end he is a good lad

 

Now as for going down the range by your self just watch as there are a lot of look at me all the gear but no idea

 

but in saying that there will be a lot of lads that will help you out and as Simon has say,d will let you fire a few rounds off

 

the best bet is to meet up with Rez then you no you will be sorted from the start

 

Right put your scope back on

 

get an a4 sheet of paper

 

set it out at your 20 yrds

 

put a dot in the center of the paper

 

take off the caps on the scopes

 

one will say

 

high,( top cap)

 

one will say

 

right or left (side cap)

 

aim at your target (dot in the center of a4 paper)

 

when you feel right squeeze the trigger do not pull the trigger as this will pull the rifle

 

have a look at the paper and see witch part of the paper its hit

 

dont worry if it has not hit the paper just aim off the paper first left then right and then it should hit the paper and you will see where you need to adjust your scopes ie right or left high or low until you can hit the black dot or as near as

 

depending on how far away from the center the shot is just do a few clicks at a time until the shot is there

 

Do not give them 10 or 15 clicks at a time or you will be on all day

 

now once you have hit more or less the center and your confer-dance has grown (witch it will) set the target out at 30 yrds and repeat it all over again

 

and a few words of warning DO NOT GO AND SHOOT ANY PRAY until you can put ten pellets ether in the same hole or in a five pence size circle

 

it sounds easy but let me tell you ITS NOT

 

get to no your rifle and the way she shoots

 

learn how to breath when taking the shot

 

how to hold your rifle when taking the shot

 

as the lads have say,d practice , practice, and practice some more

 

hope this has been of some help to you

 

atvbmac :thumbs:

[Rez 4,961]

khutchinson. Get on facebook and join the Lincs HFT group.

 

You'll meet the lads there and they invite you along.

 

https://www.(!64.56:886/groups/1490975621132271/

[secretagentmole 1,701]

Ha. Adie. I dont actually say he's OK in my post do I?

 

Yes, he is a bit of a prick, but once you get to know him, he's actually alright. Just dry, very very dry.

 

Its a good job you dont go into buy him then...

We tried to, he advertised a left handed Daystate Huntsman, the wife wanted one so we trekked up one a half stuffing hours in the car to find out the Daystate was right handed. The difference is pretty obvious you would have thought but no. Then he moaned because we did not want to buy it. I asked him if he would like to repay the diesel we burnt off getting to his shop as he lied in his advert. He said we could not prove it and I played him back the recording of the call, then I asked him what did he say in the call. He said "I made a simple mistake". Never been back.

[khutchinson1862 5]

Joined group :-) I'm out the country for the weekend but hopefully find my way down the range early next week. What's the cost please I can't locate any information on it.

[pianoman 3,589]

"any help or advise with getting this damn scope right would be much appreciated."

 

Practise.

 

You'll soon out grow that set up. Like... by tomorrow.

 

All the best.

 

Ah....

 

You bought a Hatstand.. ...Never mind Bill. Just my pet name for Hatsans

 

It's going to be quite a learning curve I fancy, old sport. Rez is right, you'll be wearing that gun out and needing a new one to take you to the next level sooner than you currently realize. But, you've made a start and that's no bad thing!

 

Follow bigmac97kt's advice on zeroing your scope. He's a wise old owl our 'Mac and a first class shot to boot.

 

 

Edited to add:

Always begin to zero your scope in windless conditions as far and often as possible and perform zero check-shots BEFORE you venture out to shoot. Especially when going hunting with your rifle. Zeroing in a still-air environment will allow you to precisely match your bore and shot to the scope's crosshair perfectly. If you attempt this in windy conditions your shot will be way out of reckoning when the winds calm down.

 

Your scope is controlled in zero by two turrets seated on what is called the saddle of the scope. The upper, vertical turret is called THE ELEVATION and its job is to raise or lower the crosshair onto a paralell line with the target centre, if not actually onto it, period.

 

The second turret is a horizontal unit on the scope-saddle and this controls what is called THE WINDAGE or the left-right effect of the wind. It brings the crosshair to left or right as desired to rest perfectly on the target centre you are aiming to hit at a given distance or range..

 

WHAT YOU MUST BE AWARE OF, STRAIGHT OFF, IS ALL SCOPE WINDAGE TURRETS YOU WILL LIKELY USE, ADJUST THEIR LEFT/RIGHT FUNCTION IN OPPOSING, ASYMETRICAL MOVEMENTS.

 

Basically, for example. if you need to adjust to left, you turn the turret dial clockwise right. Or to left if you need to adjust to right. This is because, these days, the reticle crosshair is either etched or set-fixed on a glass lens and set onto a gymbal system to enable it to adjust with the turret dials and stay on-zero against recoil vibration when you shoot the rifle.

 

"Scope Zero" or, ZEROING THE SCOPE really means, when the numerical differences between the bore-centre of the rifle's barrel and the alignment iof the scope's crosshairs or, the reticle as it's called (the reticle is that black cross fine hair, thingy you see as you sight through the tube.) in relation to the barrel or bore centre, is reduced to nothing...or, zero!.

 

This is the point where rifle-bore and reticle are perfectly harmonised and your shot will hit the centre of the crosshair at a determined distance or range with precision accuracy. And that is always our goal when we set out to zero-up a new scope to our rifle..

 

If you intend to shoot at a target that is 30 metres or yards from where you are aiming and shooting from; and your shot hits precisely the bulls-eye where you have set your crosshairs on it. your rifle and scope are perfectly matched or "Zeroed" to 30 yards with precision accuracy.

 

Scopes sight the target in a commonsesnse way. If your shot hits the target but is off the bullseye or centre, say, an inch or two higher than centre and to the left of centre, you need to LOWER the reticle by turning the top turret winder DOWN or in reverse of the arrow pointing UP. As Mac says, a few clicks at a time will gradually bring your reticle down to align perfectly to left of target centre.

 

Now you need to bring the reticle to RIGHT until your shot is hitting a perfect centre hit on target. Click the windage turret a few clicks at a time, firing a test shot to see how far out you are as your shots start getting closer.

 

It rally is down to practice all you can till it becomes second nature. The more you practice the quicker it all comes together.

 

Again, as Mac says, DO NOT even think of attempting to shoot at a live animal or bird until you can confidently hit ten shots inside a penny-sized disc from at least 25 yards range distance. I cannot impress upon you any greater how serious an issue is wounding a small live creature. We are sportsmen who treat our quarry with humanity and respect. That means a quick, instant death with a precision aimed shot to the head and into its brain. Even a rat has the right to die with as painless a death as possible.

 

Look at it another way Bill. If someone sees you shooting a rat, pigeon, crow, magpie, rabbit or squirrel and you cause it to squawk, squeal and writhe in agony...and someone sees you do it, right or wrong, permission or not, they will come down on you like shit from on higfh. And will probably call the police for animal cruelty and a dozen other charges against you. No live animal culling till you are proficient in your marksmanship Bill. It's a serious point of professionalism with our shooting skill.

 

Well Bill, this lot between Mac and me should get you on the road to zeroing your rifle successfully.

 

Any problems just ask again!

 

Best wishes.

Simon

Edited April 23, 2015 by pianoman

[khutchinson1862 5]

I've sort of managed to zero in from about 25 meters before I left for work last night. I'm now able to fire off 10 shots all landing within an inch or 2 of each other which is a vast improvement. I won't be trying to shoot anything until I know I'll hit it in the sweet spot, I also don't think I'll shoot anything I wont eat afterwards.

[bigmac 97kt 13,836]

 

"any help or advise with getting this damn scope right would be much appreciated."

 

Practise.

 

You'll soon out grow that set up. Like... by tomorrow.

 

All the best.

 

Ah....

 

You bought a Hatstand.. ...Never mind Bill. Just my pet name for Hatsans

 

It's going to be quite a learning curve I fancy, old sport. Rez is right, you'll be wearing that gun out and needing a new one to take you to the next level sooner than you currently realize. But, you've made a start and that's no bad thing!

 

Follow bigmac97kt's advice on zeroing your scope. He's a wise old owl our 'Mac and a first class shot to boot.

 

 

Edited to add:

Always begin to zero your scope in windless conditions as far and often as possible and perform zero check-shots BEFORE you venture out to shoot. Especially when going hunting with your rifle. Zeroing in a still-air environment will allow you to precisely match your bore and shot to the scope's crosshair perfectly. If you attempt this in windy conditions your shot will be way out of reckoning when the winds calm down.

 

Your scope is controlled in zero by two turrets seated on what is called the saddle of the scope. The upper, vertical turret is called THE ELEVATION and its job is to raise or lower the crosshair onto a paralell line with the target centre, if not actually onto it, period.

 

The second turret is a horizontal unit on the scope-saddle and this controls what is called THE WINDAGE or the left-right effect of the wind. It brings the crosshair to left or right as desired to rest perfectly on the target centre you are aiming to hit at a given distance or range..

 

WHAT YOU MUST BE AWARE OF, STRAIGHT OFF, IS ALL SCOPE WINDAGE TURRETS YOU WILL LIKELY USE, ADJUST THEIR LEFT/RIGHT FUNCTION IN OPPOSING, ASYMETRICAL MOVEMENTS.

 

Basically, for example. if you need to adjust to left, you turn the turret dial clockwise right. Or to left if you need to adjust to right. This is because, these days, the reticle crosshair is either etched or set-fixed on a glass lens and set onto a gymbal system to enable it to adjust with the turret dials and stay on-zero against recoil vibration when you shoot the rifle.

 

"Scope Zero" or, ZEROING THE SCOPE really means, when the numerical differences between the bore-centre of the rifle's barrel and the alignment iof the scope's crosshairs or, the reticle as it's called (the reticle is that black cross fine hair, thingy you see as you sight through the tube.) in relation to the barrel or bore centre, is reduced to nothing...or, zero!.

 

This is the point where rifle-bore and reticle are perfectly harmonised and your shot will hit the centre of the crosshair at a determined distance or range with precision accuracy. And that is always our goal when we set out to zero-up a new scope to our rifle..

 

If you intend to shoot at a target that is 30 metres or yards from where you are aiming and shooting from; and your shot hits precisely the bulls-eye where you have set your crosshairs on it. your rifle and scope are perfectly matched or "Zeroed" to 30 yards with precision accuracy.

 

Scopes sight the target in a commonsesnse way. If your shot hits the target but is off the bullseye or centre, say, an inch or two higher than centre and to the left of centre, you need to LOWER the reticle by turning the top turret winder DOWN or in reverse of the arrow pointing UP. As Mac says, a few clicks at a time will gradually bring your reticle down to align perfectly to left of target centre.

 

Now you need to bring the reticle to RIGHT until your shot is hitting a perfect centre hit on target. Click the windage turret a few clicks at a time, firing a test shot to see how far out you are as your shots start getting closer.

 

It rally is down to practice all you can till it becomes second nature. The more you practice the quicker it all comes together.

 

Again, as Mac says, DO NOT even think of attempting to shoot at a live animal or bird until you can confidently hit ten shots inside a penny-sized disc from at least 25 yards range distance. I cannot impress upon you any greater how serious an issue is wounding a small live creature. We are sportsmen who treat our quarry with humanity and respect. That means a quick, instant death with a precision aimed shot to the head and into its brain. Even a rat has the right to die with as painless a death as possible.

 

Look at it another way Bill. If someone sees you shooting a rat, pigeon, crow, magpie, rabbit or squirrel and you cause it to squawk, squeal and writhe in agony...and someone sees you do it, right or wrong, permission or not, they will come down on you like shit from on higfh. And will probably call the police for animal cruelty and a dozen other charges against you. No live animal culling till you are proficient in your marksmanship Bill. It's a serious point of professionalism with our shooting skill.

 

Well Bill, this lot between Mac and me should get you on the road to zeroing your rifle successfully.

 

Any problems just ask again!

 

Best wishes.

Simon

 

Listen to the man he,s not the best spring rifle man on the net for nothing

 

and he put what i was trying to say in more detail (i new you would lol)

 

atvbmac :thumbs: