Air rifle target shooting - what starter rifle?

[Zippee]

chemistry said:

iidentifyaswoke said:

If you say you want advice, mine is this:

Work on your wife to change her opinion of firearms. They are inanimate objects. They are only dangerous when misused through criminality or negligence. Neither of which should apply to you.

My wife didn’t like the idea at first either. Now she’s quite ok with our primary school age kids going to the gun club and having several gun safes in the wardrobe.

A .22 is a lot more versatile than an air rifle and is also usually cheaper. The licensing side isn’t hard, although it can take a while.

I agree; if you want to do clays then why not have a joint ‘have a go’ session with your wife at a reputable shooting ground?

She’ll get to see how safety is prioritised and hopefully have fun (and might even decide to take it up herself…).

I still occasionally do clays and Sporting targets is generally where I go.

[r159]

I got back into air rifle field target shooting with my lad this summer. We rapidly went from my original .22 springer and a co2 pistol to now having (in addition) vintage bsa .22, .177 springer, co2 .177 rifle and a full on pcp .177 (on loan).

The challenge of shooting the springers well can be more fun but the pcp (HW110) is amazingly accurate.

Check out YouTube channel Andy’s Airgun Reviews he looks at guns from less than £100 to £loads! There are gems for all budgets.

Find somewhere with a range so you can try before buying…and get a decent scope.

[Zippee]

Has a little play today and some erm serious budget creep.
Either an air arms s400f classic or a weihrauch hw100 (s or kt), an air arms s410 and a weihrauch hw110

Edited by Zippee on Saturday 21st January 17:23

[r159]

Zippee said:

Has a little play today and some erm serious budget creep.
Either an air arms s400f classic or a weihrauch hw100 (s or kt), an air arms s410 and a weihrauch hw110

Edited by Zippee on Saturday 21st January 17:23

I'm no expert but the HW110 is a cracking gun (wish it was mine and not on loan!!!).

[SpydieNut]

r159 said:

Zippee said:

Has a little play today and some erm serious budget creep.
Either an air arms s400f classic or a weihrauch hw100 (s or kt), an air arms s410 and a weihrauch hw110

Edited by Zippee on Saturday 21st January 17:23

I'm no expert but the HW110 is a cracking gun (wish it was mine and not on loan!!!).

Agreed - I shot the HW100 many years ago - beautifully made and stunningly accurate. But the Air Arms is no less accurate or well made. If you chose either of them I think you’d be very happy, initial budget be damned

[Turn7]

TX200 and Tinbum kit, lovely fixed barrel setup. Nice scope with a decent reticule and job jobbed.

Ive had a number of PCP rifles, including FAC rated, byt my TX gave me by far the most pleasure to shoot.

PCP are awesome for live prey, but I think honing your skill on a quality springer is very satisfying.

[Caddyshack]

Zippee said:

Has a little play today and some erm serious budget creep.
Either an air arms s400f classic or a weihrauch hw100 (s or kt), an air arms s410 and a weihrauch hw110

Edited by Zippee on Saturday 21st January 17:23

Yes, all very good guns. A decent scope is important too. I have a nice element.

You should try first focal plane vs 3rd to see what you prefer.

[Turn7]

For some balance, I had an S410 and I didnt gel with it all. Didnt feel right, didnt have a nice trigger and never managed to be accurate with it.

I did come from a Rapid7 tho....

[Caddyshack]

Turn7 said:

For some balance, I had an S410 and I didnt gel with it all. Didnt feel right, didnt have a nice trigger and never managed to be accurate with it.

I did come from a Rapid7 tho....

That sounds a bit odd, the s410 is a very consistent action normally and I think the trigger is adjustable?

The rat works do some amazing s410 mods.


The rapid 7 is a well respected classic gun though to be fair.

[Zippee]

Just as a quick update. I agreed a purchase this morning on a very lightly used AirArms S400. It's 7 years old, includes a case and a basic BSA essentials 29x40 scope (will be updated soon) at what I think is a bargain price of £325.
Need to get a 7l air tank now and then can start shooting

Edited by Zippee on Tuesday 24th January 09:24

[M11rph]

Great air rifles, nice and light, trigger is good and can be made excellent with some fettling. Hope you really enjoy it.

If the previous owner has gone to the trouble of recording the muzzle velocity over a shot string it's worth asking for the info. Whilst you may get 100 plus shots (from the full length version) there will be a sweet spot for 50-60 where the velocity is consistent, once you start to stretch the range this helps with accuracy.

Have fun.

I always found the charging gear from Best Fittings to be top quality. Nice hoses, fittings and valves. Or you may get lucky and find a secondhand cylinder?

https://www.bestfittings.co.uk/shop/airgun-chargin...

Their Jubilee valve slows restricts the air flow from the cylinder making filling a bit easier and avoiding the risk of dumping 300 BAR into your air rifle. (On AA s400 the max safe fill pressure is finely engraved on the cylinder by the fill valve, typically 210 BAR iirc, but you'll only need around 160-170 BAR).

Have fun. Happy shooting.

[Siko]

Zippee said:

Has a little play today and some erm serious budget creep.
Either an air arms s400f classic or a weihrauch hw100 (s or kt), an air arms s410 and a weihrauch hw110

Edited by Zippee on Saturday 21st January 17:23

I see you bought a S400 now - congrats and a great price too I have a real hankering to get one despite buying my dream rifle only recently. I bought a nearly new HW100T Laminate with A&M lightweight cylinder and it's bloody amazing - all in with a new test air tank cost £850. The only problem is my son prefers to use it rather than his Crosman 1077, so we go plinking in the field and he's taking the 35yd head shots (on chalk Lego men!) and I'm trying to hit tin cans at 10 yards...little sod I suppose I'd better buy him something decent for his birthday.

[Zippee]

Siko said:

I see you bought a S400 now - congrats and a great price too I have a real hankering to get one despite buying my dream rifle only recently. I bought a nearly new HW100T Laminate with A&M lightweight cylinder and it's bloody amazing - all in with a new test air tank cost £850. The only problem is my son prefers to use it rather than his Crosman 1077, so we go plinking in the field and he's taking the 35yd head shots (on chalk Lego men!) and I'm trying to hit tin cans at 10 yards...little sod I suppose I'd better buy him something decent for his birthday.

I seriously considered very similar. An hw100kt laminate with tank etc but it was 950. I just thought the AA would be a good starter, won't lose any value and even after I've bought a tank will still be almost half the price of the HW. I can always upgrade later
I might be a little way off 35yd lego heads though, especially as it only has a basic BSA 3-9 x 40 score at present

Edited by Zippee on Tuesday 24th January 22:32

[r159]

Siko said:

Zippee said:

Has a little play today and some erm serious budget creep.
Either an air arms s400f classic or a weihrauch hw100 (s or kt), an air arms s410 and a weihrauch hw110

Edited by Zippee on Saturday 21st January 17:23

I see you bought a S400 now - congrats and a great price too I have a real hankering to get one despite buying my dream rifle only recently. I bought a nearly new HW100T Laminate with A&M lightweight cylinder and it's bloody amazing - all in with a new test air tank cost £850. The only problem is my son prefers to use it rather than his Crosman 1077, so we go plinking in the field and he's taking the 35yd head shots (on chalk Lego men!) and I'm trying to hit tin cans at 10 yards...little sod I suppose I'd better buy him something decent for his birthday.

I know that feeling…

[MC Bodge]

Slightly off-topic. I've been shooting targets and vermin with a springer air rifle for a while now. Stoeger Rx20.22. It worked very well out of the box (I haven't even felt the need to tinker with it) and was excellent value. Super H Points seem to suit it.

I recently had a go with a Steyr pcp pistol on an indoor range and really enjoyed it (I have used a Gamo springer in the past). I'm now considering a pistol for use on plinking and targets, 10-15m outdoors.

I don't mind a bit of physical effort, so would a hand pump and PCP be a better option than a CO2?

Budget of less than £200 for a pistol and pump (so, not a Steyr!)

The LOV 21 CO2 appears to be popular.

[300bhp/ton]

MC Bodge said:

Slightly off-topic. I've been shooting targets and vermin with a springer air rifle for a while now. Stoeger Rx20.22. It worked very well out of the box (I haven't even felt the need to tinker with it) and was excellent value. Super H Points seem to suit it.

I recently had a go with a Steyr pcp pistol on an indoor range and really enjoyed it (I have used a Gamo springer in the past). I'm now considering a pistol for use on plinking and targets, 10-15m outdoors.

I don't mind a bit of physical effort, so would a hand pump and PCP be a better option than a CO2?

Budget of less than £200 for a pistol and pump (so, not a Steyr!)

The LOV 21 CO2 appears to be popular.

These are quite nice shooting target pistols.

https://www.pellpax.co.uk/airguns/air-pistols/co2-...

The .22 CP1-M is on offer at the moment and a compete steal at £79

I have on in .25 and it is brillint.

PCP in theory would be more consistent. But I suspect quite a bit of budget creep if going that route.

[Zippee]

My purchase of the s400 fell through as the seals had gone.
Looking at these
Can get this at 500, they won't go lower but it is a good package - https://www.gunstar.co.uk/air-arms-s400-classic-17...
The hw100 they'll let go for 850 but is less of an overall package. I can add a brand new tank with the AA and still be 150 under. https://www.gunstar.co.uk/weihrauch-hw100-s-with-3...

What are your thoughts?

[liner33]

Zippee said:

My purchase of the s400 fell through as the seals had gone.
Looking at these
Can get this at 500, they won't go lower but it is a good package - https://www.gunstar.co.uk/air-arms-s400-classic-17...
The hw100 they'll let go for 850 but is less of an overall package. I can add a brand new tank with the AA and still be 150 under. https://www.gunstar.co.uk/weihrauch-hw100-s-with-3...

What are your thoughts?

Take a look at Blackpool air rifles stock https://www.airgunbuyer.com/ , personally i'd get the HW but the s400 is a still a decent rifle

But first thing is to join a club imo , you'll get to try other peoples kit and get some really good advice

[300bhp/ton]

liner33 said:

Zippee said:

My purchase of the s400 fell through as the seals had gone.
Looking at these
Can get this at 500, they won't go lower but it is a good package - https://www.gunstar.co.uk/air-arms-s400-classic-17...
The hw100 they'll let go for 850 but is less of an overall package. I can add a brand new tank with the AA and still be 150 under. https://www.gunstar.co.uk/weihrauch-hw100-s-with-3...

What are your thoughts?

Take a look at Blackpool air rifles stock https://www.airgunbuyer.com/ , personally i'd get the HW but the s400 is a still a decent rifle

But first thing is to join a club imo , you'll get to try other peoples kit and get some really good advice

Remember if you are MK based, you'll either need to drive and collect from another shop, or do an RFD transfer. The latter might include charges from both RFD's and a shipping fee, so budget another £30-60 on top of the total price.

Private sales that aren't from a shop can however be sent via courier and no need for an RFD.

[Zippee]

It'll be a private purchase and collected. Just really struggling to decide between the 2 guns though.