N/A Low powered guns
- Thread starter Dairyboy
- Start date
My favorite yard rifle is a sub 12 fpe HW100, .177. I bought it as an FAC level rifle, but soon decided that it's true place in the market is at the lower power levels, as was its design. I turned down the reg set point, and lowered the hammer tension for a balanced tune at around 11.5 fpe, and I have no regrets. At 80+ shots per fill I have far more than adequate capacity. We shooters in the US seem to consistently screw up thoughtful designs by demanding more power, kind of stupid.
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You know now that you got me thinking about it.. I started this hobby over 20 years ago, shooting springers. That's all I could afford and had to develop the skills to shoot it accurately. I used it for popping starlings to small game hunting. Then I moved to CO2 rifles. QB built by Tim McMurray. I thought it was a huge step, accuracy was amazing. It still is as I still own it. But when I made the jump to pcp it was a lot easier and I do believe shooting the lower powered rifles did help in all that you mentioned. I do believe a guy can be more accurate shooting any well tuned rifle no matter the flavor. Smooth and mild mannered is the key
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They come up very infrequently used, you have to be ready to pounce… My three are keepers and back each other up…
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The three look very similar. Any reason to consider the atomic or the pathfinder over the ranger?
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The Atomic doesn’t come with a folding stock like the Ranger does but they’re pretty much the same. Pathfinder is the big bro.
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I can see the appeal of high powered airguns and they are very tempting indeed especially seeing all those seemingly amazing long distance shots on YouTube... However, when I bought my gun 4 years ago, I had a very specific use case for it; suburban backyard pest control. When I first got my .22 Taipan Veteran, I had to down tune it quite a bit because it came from the factory set at 40 fpe.
There's obviously a place for high powered airguns, but for my use case, any place I'd be comfortable in using a 50 fpe or so gun, I'd rather just use a firearm. In other words, I'm not comfortable shooting 50 fpe in the backyard.
I actually bought some slugs a few years back but haven't shot a single one yet because the pellets are doing what I need to for now and pellets (JSB Hades in particular) is what I tuned the gun to.
There's obviously a place for high powered airguns, but for my use case, any place I'd be comfortable in using a 50 fpe or so gun, I'd rather just use a firearm. In other words, I'm not comfortable shooting 50 fpe in the backyard.
I actually bought some slugs a few years back but haven't shot a single one yet because the pellets are doing what I need to for now and pellets (JSB Hades in particular) is what I tuned the gun to.
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Dairyboy, you're spot on.
It's not a PCP of course, but I have a wonderful little Beeman R7 that the previous owner tuned. It shoots a 7.33g pellet at around 700fps. Occasionally--on a good day--once in a while--I can shoot 1/2" groups at 40 yards--and I'm not a particularly good shot.
It's not a PCP of course, but I have a wonderful little Beeman R7 that the previous owner tuned. It shoots a 7.33g pellet at around 700fps. Occasionally--on a good day--once in a while--I can shoot 1/2" groups at 40 yards--and I'm not a particularly good shot.
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I've had to reduce my range quite a bit due to new neighbors and wanted to reduce power as well. My DreamTac has a 6.25 fpe tune with 7.8gr pellets. I haven't shot all the way down, but I'd estimate at least 120 shots per fill. Super quiet, stupid accurate and effective on small rodents and birds out to 25 yards. I haven't switched ammo all winter.
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I have one springer, and it's the HW30S in .177. Not tuned but such a sweet shooter and only iron sights for me. I pull it out to get back to basics every once in awhile. Will teach my kids to shoot when they get old enough on it.
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Nice shooting.
I had an airarms tx200 in .177, it was probably the most consistent gun over the chrono I have ever tested, it was insanely accurate but it does require better shooting skills than I have to get the most out of it.
If I were to be stuck on a desert island, that would be the one gun I would take with me.
Bb
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I don't typically go for under 25 fpe, but I just got a crosman 3622 solely to modify for looks and quietness. At only 14 fpe, it's perfect for pest birds in the yard. It's also nice being able to see the pellet in flight when it's windy, so I can adjust as needed for the next shot.
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I have .177 a hw30 w open sights also . It goes with on camping trips because it's accurate and fun to shoot . I've had a Prod for many years and it's one that puts its 12fpe on the pests . A slower pellet that transfers its energy onto pest and it's safer and more efficient.
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