Guns for pest control

We review .22LR rimfire subsonic ammunition from six different manufacturers for vermin control

It’s the general opinion that a .222 rimfire is enjoyable to shoot

Most shooters who have used a .22 rimfire have found it an inexpensive and accurate vermin cartridge, and one that is enjoyable to shoot.

However, the .22 is often ranked lower than a cherished stalking rifle or shotgun and consequently there is a rather casual attitude towards the calibre.

This is a shame, because in order to achieve the best from your rimfire and for the rifle to achieve its potential, all it takes is a little time and methodical testing. People frequently choose the cheapest ammunition manufacturer or a make recommended by a friend.

In fact, every rifle has an ammunition type that suits it best.

Humane accuracy
Accuracy is the key to achieving any humane shot, but you also have to consider the performance of the bullet when it reaches its target. Poor performance of penetration or expansion can mean less than perfect results.

With this in mind, I chose six types of .22LR rimfire subsonic ammunition from varying manufacturers to ascertain accuracy and stopping power at normal vermin ranges.

I purchased some soap bars measuring 2in x 2in and cut to approximately 6in lengths to test the penetration of each bullet. The range test for these was 30 yards and the rifle used was a Ruger M77/22 rimfire.

Each brand of ammunition was sighted in at 30 yards and any differing point of impact noted and compensated for on the soaps, which were securely fixed. The test was to measure the depth of penetration and the bullet expansion.

While of course soap does not mimic animal flesh, it is used by certain bullet makers to test their products and it should give a consistent basis from which to compare each bullet’s performance. As long as I mounted the soap in the same way on the range for each test, the comparison between each bullet would be valid.

For every bullet, I shot two soap-bar tests and took the mean result. I also looked at each bullet design and weighed them to get a real bullet weight and measured a five-shot string over my chronograph to give a fuller picture of ballistics at the end of the testing.

A choice of six
I chose six of the most popular .22LR rimfire subsonic ammunition available: Eley, Winchester, Remington, CCI, RWS and Lapua.

First was the Eley Subs Xtra Plus, which has a newer, lighter wax lubricant covering. The bullet weighs 40.2 grains of hollowpoint design. This is intended to give superior stopping power. Its actual weight was 40.61 grains and it produced a velocity of 1,032fps and 95.1ft/lb.

Next I tested the Winchester subsonic hollowpoints, which weighed a measured 40.3 grains and gave a 1,065fps and 101.5ft/lb. There is a slight lubricant on the surface and the biggest hollowpoint cavity of all the bullets tested.

The Remington is a relative newcomer in the subsonic rankings, weighing in at 38.7 grains, and is almost a clone of the Eley, except it is shorter and it has three lubricant bands rather than two. The velocity and energy figures over the chronograph were 1,029fps and 91ft/lb.

The CCI ammunition has a measured 39.8 grains lead hollowpoint small cavity bullet, very different from the old hollowpoint copper washed bullet. The newer variety was fast for a subsonic at 1,077fps with 102.5ft/lb over the chronograph because it has a lighter bullet.

The slowest velocity ammunition tested was the 40.3-grain RWS bullet with an average velocity of 991fps and an energy figure of 87.9ft/lb. This had a very thick wax coating and nice hollowpoint design of relatively soft lead when compared with the other bullet types.

The Lapua bullet has a good pedigree from the target circuit and its subsonic .22LR shot a consistent 1,071fps with resulting 101.4ft/lb energy from the 39.8-grain bullet.

The penetration test was very interesting. When performing this test, I questioned what I wanted from a subsonic round. Their primary use is to despatch game such as rabbits as humanely as possible, but still produce good exterior ballistics such as flat trajectory, accuracy and stopping power.

At the same time, I do not wish for over-penetration or carry over, where the bullet’s killing power is lost. I always look for an accurate, consistent bullet that expands and has maximum stoppage within the quarry if possible.

Expand your knowledge
How did the selection of ammunition fare? In the penetration test, the RWS produced the least penetration, while the Lapua gave the most.

This can be explained as the Lapua was the second-fastest bullet tested and one of the lightest, which ordinarily would cause a rapid expansion, but the bullet was the hardest of all the bullets and therefore failed to expand well in these tests.

The RWS had the shortest bullet path in length at 2.8in, which bodes well for effective transferral of its energy within the quarry. The expansion was 0.4in – the second largest of the bullets on test, with a broad 0.35in wound channel.

Undoubtedly the soft heavy lead projectile travelling at the slowest velocity performed admirably in the tests. With its 40.3-grain bullet, the Winchester expanded well to 0.35in and penetrated 2.95in, allowing all the energy to be transferred to the target in the quickest possible time.

The CCI penetrated 3.4in, just behind the Remington round, but the bullet expansion was larger at 0.35 in, probably due to the softer lead used and larger hollowpoint cavity.

Eley Subs turned in some impressive results. It did not over-penetrate like some of the bullets and expanded to 0.45in at 3.25in depth with an impressive 0.5in wound channel. This was the best performance of the ammunition tested.

The Remington, despite being lightest at 38.7 grains, gave the second-lowest velocity and energy figures but penetrated to 3.55in, more than the Eley, RWS, CCI and Winchester.

This was probably due to the fact that, though the bullet exhibited the classic mushroom shape at 0.25in the same as the Lapua, it was made of harder lead and had a smaller hollowpoint cavity.

For accuracy, this is paramount, as you may choose a particular type of bullet based on performance, but if it is not accurate in your particular gun then all your hard work will go to waste.

Top marks went to Eley with a 0.45in five-shot group at 50 yards, with RWS and Lapua close behind with 0.5in groups. The Winchesters and CCI were next with a 0.55in spread, with Remington turning in the largest but still reasonable 0.75in clusters. This accuracy is from the Ruger tested and it is important to remember that every gun will produce different results.

Conclusions and choice
So what conclusion can be drawn from this? Your first choice should always be accuracy – there’s no point going for the fastest, best-expanding bullet if it does not connect with the target.

Looking at the results objectively, if you want a fast-expanding bullet that puts its energy into the target quickly and causes the largest wound channel without over-penetrating and has good exterior ballistic characteristics, the Eley Subs Xtra Plus or the RWS would be my choice.

The Winchester is hot on their heels it expanded quickly and gave good velocity and energy figures. The Lapua Subsonics were accurate and gave good velocity figures but did not expand as well as other bullets tested.

Finally, the CCI and Remington expanded the least and despite the CCI bullet being the fastest round tested, it seems to have less stopping power. Obviously, there are many varying factors to take into account: do you aim for a body or head shot? At what range will you shoot your quarry?

The soap does not behave in the same way as flesh and blood, but I hope that these tests might aid you in working out how your rifle and ammunition perform in the field. A little testing prior to shooting can give valuable insights, ultimately making you a safer and better shot.

It can be a tough nut to crack for airgunners. Mat Manning thinks inside the box to get the cull back on track

Squirrel control using an air rifle can be a real bind during the summer months. Dense foliage can make it virtually impossible to spot your quarry in the treetops, and the abundance of natural food means it’s difficult to pinpoint them to any specific area.

It was so much easier during the colder months, when the trees were bare and hungry squirrels were drawn out from their hiding places by the lure of the pheasant feeder. It was while bemoaning the challenges of summer squirrel shooting — compounded by the fact that the woods are no longer dotted with the gamekeeper’s grain hoppers — that I decided to try to create a squirrel-feeding station of my own.

Airguns really come into their own with this sort of pest control, especially when fitted with a sound moderator

My initial ideas revolved around setting up a grain feeder similar to the keeper’s. However, I felt that I needed to offer the squirrels something even more appealing to compete with the glut of natural food at this time of year. I also wanted something that would be more portable than the conventional drum-style hopper — a feeder that I could leave in situ for a week or two before ambushing the diners, then move it on to another part of the woods or on to another shoot altogether.

Peanuts seemed to be the obvious offering. From time to time, I am called upon to deal with squirrels that are making a nuisance of themselves in people’s gardens. The offending bushy-tails are usually concentrated around the bird feeders, where they enjoy a free meal of peanuts. Indeed, many of the squirrels I have shot in my own garden have been picked off while raiding the hanging nut feeders.

The wooden hopper’s contents spill onto a small trough in front of a hole at the base, creating honeypot areas in which squirrels can be targeted

My initial attempts at fixing shallow wooden trays to trees brought some success, but their limited capacity meant they were quickly emptied and the constant trips to top them up became a nuisance. So, over the past couple of years, I’ve been using a wooden hopper. It’s a simple box that, once loaded with peanuts, gradually spills its contents into a small trough in front of a hole at the base, courtesy of gravity. These boxes can easily be set up and moved from tree to tree, and only need filling once or twice a week, depending on the number of squirrels in the vicinity. So far, they have given excellent results, enabling me to create honeypot areas where I can target squirrels throughout the year.

Woodland conflict

Apart from being useful in the summer, the feeders also mean that I can set up feeding stations in woods that are not used by pheasant shoots and where I’m unable to depend on the lure of the gamekeeper’s grain —woods where squirrels are conflicting either with timber or conservation management. The only downside is that squirrels are inclined to chew through the wooden box, with the result that the front section needs to be replaced from time to time. I’m trying to persuade a friend to knock up a metal version in order to overcome the problem.

How much of a problem are grey squirrels?

Grey squirrels have received a lot of bad press lately in relation to the decline of woodland song birds. How…

I try to set up my feeders in areas where the squirrels are present in high concentrations, identified either by seeing squirrels or their dreys, or by locating the tree species they like best. The feeder is then set up about 5ft off the ground. This is high enough to keep it out of the way of badgers but low enough for me to top up without any great difficulty.

I sometimes go to the trouble of building a hide, but it’s not usually necessary, as incoming squirrels are more distracted by the urge to fill their bellies than the threat of lurking shooters. Settle down in the shadows with a decent backdrop and you’ll probably go unnoticed. What is important is to havea clear view of the feeder. You need to find a hiding place where you’ll be able to pick off squirrels from between 20m and 30m away, depending on your marksmanship, and which has a safe backstop. It’s worth considering these factors and settling on a spot before you fasten your feeder to a tree.

Settle down in the shadows with a decent backdrop and you’ll probably go unnoticed

Squirrels are quick to notice changes in their surroundings and will usually start visiting peanut feeders within a day or two of them being set up. I have sometimes used trailcams to keep tabs on the number and frequency of visits — and have been astounded by the variety of wild birds that dropped in to help themselves to the peanuts — but this level of surveillance is not really necessary. Squirrels are quite messy feeders and their raids are usually indicated by a scattering of nutty scraps beneath the hopper.

Squirrels are bullish around any kind of feeding opportunity

What is particularly interesting is the usual sequence of events. For the first few days, small birds such as blue tits, nuthatches and chaffinches are the most frequent visitors, with jays soon joining the banquet. It is apparent that the flurry of feathered diners eventually catches the attention of the resident squirrels, which quickly muscle in on the feast. Squirrels are bullish around any kind of feeding opportunity and it’s surprising how quickly the birds back off once the greys arrive in numbers. These invasive rodents don’t just feed on eggs and the young of woodland birds, they also deprive the adults of nourishment.

Airguns really come into their own

It’s tempting to reach for the air rifle as soon as squirrels start to show an interest in the peanuts, but it pays to be patient. Just as the birds initially led them to the peanuts, squirrels will attract more of their ilk to the feeder as they scamper back and forth to empty it. Six to 10 days is usually about right — if there’s no sign of visiting squirrels after a fortnight, the feeder should be moved.

Once the squirrels are on to the peanuts, a good bag is on the cards. Ideally, you want to slip into position just before first light so you can intercept incoming greys when they venture out for their dawn binge. Getting up at the crack of dawn is a tall order at this time of year and the feeder will usually attract a steady trickle of squirrels throughout the day once they have a taste for the peanuts — bed-heads may take a few more visits to mop up the squirrels than the early risers, but you’ll still get some shots.

Airguns really come into their own with this sort of pest control, especially when fitted with a sound moderator. The pap from the muzzle of a silenced pre-charged pneumatic is barely audible, so squirrels are unlikely to be discouraged by the sound of your shots. I’ve had as many as seven in an hour.

Squirrels will not be discouraged by the sound of your shots. I’ve had as many as seven in an hour.

I find that it takes three or four visits before it’s time to move the feeder and try somewhere else. By this time, I would expect to have bagged between six and 15 squirrels – my best so far is 21 from a single feeder – depending on how many there are in the locality. What is particularly intersting is the way the birds come back on to the peanuts after the squirrels have taken a hammering. This is a useful indication of the impression being made on squirrel numbers in the immediate vicinity, as well as a gratifying reminder of one of the benefits of keeping them in check.

Pre-charged air rifles are rapidly growing in popularity with pest controllers. Ian Mason visits The Airgun Centre in Essex to find out why they're flying off the shelves.

For discreet but deadly despatch of small pests you can’t beat pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) air rifles. Almost silent and astonishingly accurate, these have become the favoured tool of many rural and urban pest controllers. I keep one beside my office window. Complete with scope and moderator. It has done sterling work keeping my Surrey garden free from songbird nest raiders such as squirrels, jays and magpies.

Looking to upgrade my rifle, I happened across the website of The Airgun Centre in Rayleigh, Essex. A pal of mine recently purchased a rifle from the centre. He told me they were “very nice people.” Online feedback was also excellent, so I paid Rayleigh a visit.

The shop, owned and run by Peter Zamit, is currently celebrating its 35th anniversary, making it one of the UKs longest established air rifle retailers.

Staff from the Airgun Centre in Essex

Peter has been shooting air rifles since his early teens. As a school- boy he mowed neighbours lawns to
supplement pocket-money and scrape together £18 for his first rifle, a break-barrel spring-powered BSA Super Meteor. He progressed to a Weihrauch HW 35 and then a Feinwerkbau (FWB) Sport with which he says he “shot a lot of rabbits.”

He also joined the fledging air gun business (then owned by John Stevens) straight from school, eventually taking over when John retired in 2003. Over three decades, Peter has noticed many changes in the air rifle market.

The most obvious shift has been the growing popularity of PCP air rifles (although interestingly, pneumatic rifles were first developed in the 17th century to hunt big game and were even used by Austrian army snipers in the 18th century).

PCP versus spring

“Air rifles today are massively different to those when I started,” said Peter. “Compare even a very good
spring rifle like an Air Arms TX200 with an entry level pre-charged rifle, and the PCP wins every time. It is recoilless, more consistent, more accurate, can be silenced very effectively, can be magazine fed and is generally lighter and easier to work with. It is just a better all round package.”

He currently sells around 3,500 air rifles a year; of these around a third go to people shooting live quarry. Top sellers are BSA (whose rifles go up to .25) and Daystate. The majority are 12ft/lb PCPs, however another trend has been a slow but steady increase in sales of more powerful FAC air rifles for hunting (requiring a Firearms Certificate).

“Generally speaking, these are purchased by people who shoot .22 rimfire rifles for pest control, but realise that modern PCP airguns are just as capable but a far safer option. Powerful air rifles are effective on rabbits out to 80-90 metres, but are a thousand times safer than a rimfire round,” said Peter.

The PCP is also a lot quieter and can be used for rabbit shooting on land where rimfires are excluded due to risk of ricochet towards nearby property or footpaths. “The extra killing power of a rimfire is of no use if you can’t actually pull the trigger half the time and have to leave large patches of ground unshot.”

What pellet – what scope?

Air gun pellets come in many shapes and sizes such as flat-head wadcutter, domed, hollow point and pointed. For hunting rabbits, squirrels, corvids or rats, Peter says there is only one shape. “The best, most accurate and most efficient for shooting live quarry is a regular dome-head pellet. I’m not interested in anything else. Pointed pellets are less accurate and the majority of air rifles don’t have enough energy to expand hollow points on impact.”

“Top of the list is to be sure of your back stop. If you miss the target, where will your pellet end up?

Regarding pellet calibre for hunting, Peter is less definitive. “I’ve been in this business a long time. Do I know which is the best calibre to shoot live quarry? The answer is no. There is no definitive answer. It depends on personal preference, skill, distance to quarry, wind conditions – all this talk of one is better for fur and the other for feather, I don’t hold with that.”

The most popular scope he sells for air gun hunting is the Hawke Eclipse 3-2×50 IR AO Mil-Dot. “It is a nice rigid scope with good light gathering, good lens quality, it does not shift zero and has all the gadgets you might need including the popular glass etched Mil-Dot reticule with centre illumination in red or green,” explained Peter.

“Air rifle silencers have become a lot more efficient over recent years. The leaders are Hugget and then Weihrauch. Both are very efficient, but remember they only really work on PCPs, in my opinion silencers are a waste of time on spring rifles.”

His number one safety tip when air gunning bunnies or pests is obvious, but worth repeating. “Top of the list is to be sure of your back stop. If you miss, where will your pellet end up? You must know where footpaths are and always shoot away from them – an air rifle is a lethal weapon.”

Overall I was impressed with Peter and his airgun business. Even with four staff serving, there was trouble keeping up with customer demand on a busy Saturday. One reason for the shop’s popularity may be the offer of free rifle servicing for life, plus a lifetime guarantee on any purchases made – not just rifles but scopes and other accessories.

“We have to sell quality products that we know are reliable and not going to cause trouble. I’ve just swapped a scope for a customer who bought it 10 years ago. Sure this costs me money, but over the years it has also bought us a lot of repeat business.”

Bruce Potts tests three 10-shot repeater pre-charged pneumatic air rifles for around £500 and advises on which offers the best value for money, which is the most accurate and consistent and which has the best looks

Air rifles are cheap, easy to shoot and let you practice your shooting skills at home. They’re extremely useful for pest control because they have a limited range, making them safe for use around say, a farm, when you need to get rid of vermin without worrying about richocheting bullets or potential damage to property. Toys they aren’t.

Another reason for the popularity of air rifles is that you don’t have to have a firearms certificate to own one (provided the air gun is below the 12ft/lb energy threshold).

The BSA Ultra SE was the shortest on test with a barrel length of just 12in

The Webley Raider 10 is supplied with a QGS moderator as standard

The Hatsan AT44-10’s synthetic stock has a thumbhole, which enhances handling

Why are pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) rifles so popular?

PCP rifles use an external power source – the air is supplied by a pump or diver’s tank into the rifle’s air reservoir. As a result they are consistent, accurate and have no recoil which of course makes them a popular choice. The use of magazine systems is now standard, which makes PCP rifles in demand for rabbiting.

The most common versions of air rifle you’ll see are break-barrel designs with a spring or gas-ram propulsion system.

I have compared the BSA Ultra SE, Webley Raider 10 and Hatsan AT44-10 against each other because they are the most popular 10-shot repeater PCP air rifles in .22 calibre and available for around £500.

Barrels

The barrels were of different lengths on all three rifles.

The BSA Ultra SE’s is short – 12in with a 0.61in diameter – and threaded with a half unified fine thread (UNF) for a moderator. The barrel is of excellent quality, with precision rifling and free-floated along its length.

The Webley Raider 10 has a Walther barrel. It is 16.5in long with a 0.63in diameter and a single support at the muzzle end. It is threaded with half UNF for a sound moderator – here, the QGS moderator was supplied as standard.

The Hatsan AT44-10 had the longest barrel, at 19.4in, and a 0.55in diameter, supported by twin polymer pillars halfway along its length. Again, it has a half UNF thread.

All three barrels have a deep-lustre blued finish that isn’t too shiny.

BSA Ultra SE technical specifications

Overall length: 32in
Barrel length: 12in
Magazine: Rotary 10-shot capacity
Trigger: Adjustable two stage
Safety: Side-lever
Action: Bolt
Weight: 5.7lb
Stock: Synthetic ambidextrous
Calibre: .177, .22 and .25
Extras: N/A
Price: From £519

Webley Raider 10 technical specifications

Overall length: 35in (42.5in with moderator)
Barrel length: 16.5in
Magazine: Rotary 10-shot capacity
Trigger: Adjustable two stage
Safety: Switch type
Action: Bolt
Weight: 7lb
Stock: Ambidextrous walnut wood Sporter
Calibre: .177, .20 and .22
Extras: QGS moderator, spare magazine
Price: From £418.32

Hatsan AT44-10 technical specifications

Overall length: 39.4in
Barrel length: 19.4in
Magazine: Rotary 10-shot capacity
Trigger: Adjustable two stage
Safety: Push action
Action: Lever
Weight: 7.3lb
Stock: Synthetic thumbhole
Calibre: .177, .22
Extras: Spare magazine
Price: From £480

Magazines

A rotary 10-shot magazine is common to all three air rifles, automatically indexing as the bolt or side lever is operated, aligning a new pellet with the barrel each time.

The Hatsan and the Raider have the same magazine, which gives some clues as to the origin of their manufacture. They are both made of alloy with 10 pellet wells in which the pellets sit and are retained by an “O” ring around the circumference that grips the pellet’s waist. Both are removed when the bolt probes are moved rearwards (cocked) and the retaining slide is pushed forwards. Both magazines are loaded and ejected from the right side of the action.

BSA Ultra SE air rifle

The BSA is different in that it loads and ejects from the left and it has a self-contained steel magazine with an alloy wheel that rotates inside. Importantly, the BSA magazine is tensioned inside so that you thumb the wheel around as the new pellets are seated in the wells, and when the bolt is operated the magazine tension repositions each new pellet.

Actions

All three of the air rifles on test have an action that sits on top of the air reservoir and is machined from an alloy block.

The BSA has a full-length, 11.5mm dovetail for scope mounting; the Hatsan has a 11.5mm rail intersected by the magazine three-quarters along its length; and the Webley is 11.5mm with the magazine again intersecting it at the front.

Different bolts

The bolts are different on each air rifle.

The BSA has a rear-mounted bolt like a rimfire rifle, with a rounded knob and a low bolt lift finished in black paint.

The Webley has a short, straight bolt that has two positions – rearwards to cock and lock (to remove the magazine) and forwards to lock a pellet in the barrel ready to fire.

The Hatsan is different from the other two, featuring a side-lever arrangement with a 4in lever on the right that is brought rearwards to cock and index the magazine – an excellent feature.

Webley Raider air rifle

Air reservoirs

The Hatsan has a removable reservoir while those on the Webley and the BSA are fixed.

All have quick-fill adapters that use a probe to fill between charges (supplied as standard).

The Hatsan has a fill pressure of 200bar, and for the .22 calibre on test provided 50 to 60 consistent shots per charge.

The BSA is filled to 200bar, giving 45 consistent shots per charge, while the Webley yielded 50 to 60 consistent shots per charge with a fill pressure of 190bar. (Note: these were consistent shots, not the total number due to power curve.)

Checking the status of the air pressure is straightforward. Both the BSA and the Webley have a pressure gauge set into the underside of the fore-end, while on the Hatsan it is sited at the end of the air reservoir – another handy feature.

Taking stock

The Webley has a well-designed walnut Sporter stock with a matt lacquer finish but without chequering for extra grip, though its well-proportioned design negates the need for this anyway.

The stock is ambidextrous, and both sides of the cheekpiece are of a good height to ensure proper scope alignment. A solid recoil pad finishes off the design nicely, though sling swivel studs are a notable omission. The fore-end is long and slender so any hold can be comfortably maintained in any firing position, and there is a full-length flute giving the fingers a good grip.

Both the Hatsan and the BSA have synthetic stocks.

The BSA’s stock is compact and solid with a black crinkled finish. The cheekpiece is moulded on both sides with palm swells to the pistol grip that make it ambidextrous. The short fluted fore-end has two small stippled grip panels, and the stock is also fitted with QD sling swivel studs and a rubber recoil pad.

The Hatsan has a thumbhole synthetic stock that looks great and handles well. The polymer is grey/black in colour and solid like the BSA’s, but less dense, though also ambidextrous. The recoil pad is adjustable for height and the foreend is long to ensure a full grip in any position.

Hatsan air rifle

Triggers and safeties

The Webley has a good trigger, being a two-stage adjustable unit. The first take-up is smooth and the final let-off is clean and light at 2.75lb. The safety is non-automatic and is sited at the rear of the action. It moves vertically to lock the trigger.

The Hatsan’s trigger is called the Quattro and, again, is excellent, allowing adjustment for travel before the sear drops, and it is smooth, breaking cleanly at 2.5lb weight. The safety is an automatic unit that moves rearwards above the pistol grip to lock the trigger in safe.

The BSA’s trigger is also excellent, being adjustable to the user’s taste. It is the two-stage type with a predictable let-off at 3lb.

Testing the air rifles out in the field

To test the three, I set up targets at 30 yards and, off a sandbag rest, I shot over a chronograph to record velocity and energy data.

PCP air rifles have no fast-moving springs to affect firing, so they are potentially accurate.

However, pellet choice for air rifles is still critical to ensure the highest accuracy.

All three of the PCPs were of .22 calibre, and I shot a variety of pellets.

BSA ultra SE

So what conclusions did I draw from reviewing these three air rifles?

I awarded the prize for the most accurate and consistent air rifle to the BSA Ultra SE, with great handling qualities due to its short construction. Though its compact nature makes it ideal in a tight spot, the short barrel is noisy, so needs a moderator.

The Webley Raider 10 was the best looking, in addition to being accurate and having a good trigger. This great all-rounder handles well and comes with a QGS moderator fitted as standard, making it the quietest on test.

Finally, the Hatsan AT44-10 offered the best value for money due to its excellent lever action system and its impressive number of shots per charge. Being a lot longer than the other two, it is a full-sized gun and its barrel is quiet even without the moderator.

air rifle accuracy air rifle energy air rifle review

One of the advantages of owning an air rifle is that you don't need a firearms certificate provided it is below the 12ft/lb energy threshold. An accurate air rifle is essential for pest control and of course you don't have to worry about richocheting bullets. They're also useful for target practice and are easy to shoot. What's not to like? Our expert reviewers have looked at five popular air guns that come in at under £500.

1. Logun Solo

A wallet-friendly price at £299, this single-shot PCP air rifle is built to withstand regular use. It looks good but combines looks with a workmanlike approach. Definitely one to consider.

2. Webley Osprey

This gun stands out from the reset of the airguns produced by this manufacturer. It’s fun to shoot and at £100-200 second-hand, does not cost silly money. You can read the full review of the Webley Osprey air rifle here. You might like to also read a review of the Webley Raider 10 which costs from £418 and is included in our roundup of the best PCP air rifles.

3. Hatsan AT44-10

One of the most popular 10-shot repeater PCP air rifles in .22 calibre. Excellent value for money due to its excellent lever action system and impressive number of shots per charge. Comes in at under £500, expect to pay around £480. You can read the full review of the Hatsan AT44-10 here.

4. BSA Lightning XL Tactical

A superb ABS stock design makes this one well worth a look. Easy to use, lightweight and fast-handling. You can read the full review of the BSA Lightning LX Tactical here. You’ll pay around £277 for one.

5. Umarex 850 Air Magnum

A very impressive air rifle. Our reviewer writes that the accuracy is “on a par with most conventional PCPs and it handles wonderfully”. Light to carry and great value for money, coming in from £269. Review of the Umarex 850 Air Magnum in full here.

Advice on pest control

Are you looking for some guidance and tips on pest control? You might like to watch some of our useful videos on the subject which have been created by experts in the field. There’s a particularly useful one on rabbit shooting with an air rifle – good to know in the spring when ferrets and dogs go off on a sabbatical. If grey squirrels, rats and corvids are making themselves a nuisance robbing nests of eggs, you’ll learn how Matt Manning dealt with the problem with an air gun.

Six types of .22LR rimfire subsonic ammunition from varying manufacturers are tested out - what did our reviewer think of their accuracy and performance?

A .22 rimfire is largely considered by shooters who have used it to be an accurate vermin cartridge that’s budget friendly and straightforward to shoot with.

On the other hand, the .22 often doesn’t have the respect and appeal given to stalking rifles and shotguns which results in a disinterested approach towards the calibre.

Users often make their ammunition choices based on the cheapest manufacturer or on a friend’s recommendation. This may not be best for you however, for getting the best out of your rimfire and achieving your rifle’s potential. To do that, you need to invest a bit of time and test out what is available in a methodical manner.

Getting good results

A responsible shooter is always keen to achieve a humane shot and for this accuracy is paramount. You also need to think how the bullet will perform when it reaches its target – to get the right results you need good performance of penetration or expansion.

With this in mind, I chose six types of .22LR rimfire subsonic ammunition from varying manufacturers to ascertain accuracy and stopping power at normal vermin ranges.

While of course soap does not mimic animal flesh, it is used by certain bullet makers to test their products and it should give a consistent basis from which to compare each bullet’s performance. To ensure that each bullet would be equally compared, I matched the way the soap was mounted on the range for each test.

I chose six types of the most popular .22LR subsonic ammunition available

Eley, Winchester, Remington, CCI, RWS and Lapua.

The Lapua bullet has a good pedigree from the target circuit and its subsonic .22LR shot a consistent 1,071fps with resulting 101.4ft/lb energy from the 39.8-grain bullet.

It’s worth commenting particularly about the penetration test which I found very intriguing. On performing this test I’d thought about what I wanted from a subsonic round. Primarily they are used to despatch game such as rabbits as humanely as possible, but still produce good exterior ballistics such as flat trajectory, accuracy and stopping power.

Equally, I did not want carry over or over-penetration where the bullet’s killing power is lost. My goal is an accurate, consistently performing bullet that expands and has maximum stoppage within the quarry if possible.

Which bullet failed to expand well?

So how did I get on with the six types of ammunition? In the penetration test, the RWS produced the least penetration, while the Lapua gave the most.

The reason for this is that the Lapua was the second-fastest bullet tested and one of the lightest, which ordinarily would cause a rapid expansion, but the bullet was the hardest of all the bullets and therefore failed to expand well in these tests.

The CCI penetrated 3.4in, just behind the Remington round, but the bullet expansion was larger at 0.35 in, probably due to the softer lead used and larger hollowpoint cavity.

Impressive results

The Eley Subs caught my attention and turned in the best performance of all the ammunition I tried out. It did not over-penetrate like some of the bullets and expanded to 0.45in at 3.25in depth with an impressive 0.5in wound channel. The Remington, despite being lightest at 38.7 grains, gave the second-lowest velocity and energy figures but penetrated to 3.55in, more than the Eley, RWS, CCI and Winchester.

This was probably due to the fact that, though the bullet exhibited the classic mushroom shape at 0.25in the same as the Lapua, it was made of harder lead and had a smaller hollowpoint cavity.

For accuracy, this is paramount. You need to choose a bullet that is accurate in your own gun, rather than a bullet based on its performance. Otherwise all your hard work will be wasted.

How to make your choice

Your first selection should always be based on accuracy – there’s no point going for the fastest, best-expanding bullet if it does not connect with the target.

The Winchester is hot on their heels as it expanded quickly and gave good velocity and energy figures. The Lapua Subsonics were accurate and gave good velocity figures but did not expand as well as other bullets tested.

Finally, the CCI and Remington expanded the least and despite the CCI bullet being the fastest round tested, it seems to have less stopping power. Obviously, there are many varying factors to take into account. What’s your range for shooting quarry? Are you after a body or a head shot?

Obviously, soap differs from flesh and blood. However, these tests should give you insight into discovering how your rifle and ammunition will perform in the field.

If you want to be a better, and safer, shot – and of course you do – then I strongly recommend testing prior to shooting. You’ll gain useful insight into your performance and almost certainly improve.

Pest control is rather a blanket term because there are obviously a variety of pest control needs - for rats, foxes, crows... Here Bruce Potts helps you to make a suitable choice.

What I’m going to do here is highlight the various cartridges available and their usefulness in pest control. It’s impossible to choose a calibre for all the different species of pests – a rabbit and a poult-pinching fox cannot be compared. While many cartridges come close to covering all bases, no single round will be suitable for all pests in all circumstances.

Small pest control

I shoot as much small game with an air rifle, both sub-12ft/lb and on a Firearms Certificate (FAC), as I do with a rimfire. So for small pest control work I could recommend an air rifle. However, cartridge-wise, I’d say the humble .22 rimfire is your choice.

That said, all .22 rimfires are not the same and you have a major choice of loads from which to choose. Personally I use a huge variety of .22 rimfire cartridges, from the tiny squib bulleted breach (BB) caps to the relatively hefty .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire (WMR) loads. Each has its own particular talents and uses.

A poult-pinching fox

Due to their dimunitive size BB and conical ball (CB) caps are single-shot only. However they are very useful for the nuisances of mice, rats or ferals in confined spaces. Their maximum effective range is 10 yards. Beyond that they are not accurate enough, but they shoot 15.5-gr and 16-gr bullets at 880fps and 950fps for 27ft/lb and 33ft/lb energy respectively.

Better are the little .22 Shorts. These can be reduced velocity at 710fps as with the CCI CB load, or you can have a standard load that shoots a 27-gr bullet at 1,105fps. In a pump-action Winchester they are excellent for dealing with squirrels.

Possibly my first choice are the CB Long loads that feed through a standard magazine bolt-action rifle and send a 29-gr bullet at 705fps for 32ft/lb — basically a rimfire version of an FAC air rifle in some respects. The effective range is 20 yards at best but it’s quiet with a sound moderator fitted.

Cartridges for shooting rabbits

First choice for all-round use on rabbits are the .22 LR subsonic loads. Here hollowpoint bullets ensure maximum expansion of the bullet and delivery of the bullet’s energy into the vital area for a humane shot. You should still be aiming for head shots though. The .22LR high velocity (HV) has its place if you really have to use a .22LR for foxes, but keep these ranges short and take head shots only. Velocities of 1,245fps to 1,650fps can be achieved, but with lighter bullets that lose velocity quickly.

You’ll find 40-gr subsonic bullets from any of the manufacturers such as RWS, Eley, Winchester or CCI that will deliver approximately 95ft/lb. It is the rifle that chooses the bullets it likes, not you. No one manufacturer is a better choice than another.

If you have a semi-automatic .22 rimfire then dependability is important and the new RWS Semi Auto cartridge is superb. Yes it is a solid bullet, not hollowpoint, but as head shots are the norm, it is of no consequence.

Cartridges for shooting foxes

At short ranges and with higher velocity ammo a .22LR can be deadly against a fox, as long as you place head shots accurately. The problem is that as the range passes 50 yards, the odds of a humane shot are stacked against you. I have called in and baited foxes in barn areas and used .22 rimfires to good effect, but the .17 HMR is best if you don’t want a centrefire.

Here again the 17-gr V-Max bullet for the HMR is the most common and is certainly capable of despatching a fox humanely, but at sensible ranges and with good shot placement. I prefer the CCI 20-gr GamePoint load, as it’s accurate, and the extra weight and slower expansion helps penetrate the fox’s exterior before delivering its energy, whereas a more fragile .17 HMR 17-gr bullet might fragment on a bone on its way in.

Alternatively, the older .22 WMR — the inspiration behind the .17 HMR — is still a good fox cartridge. The new Hornady 30-gr V-Max load is effective at closer ranges with a velocity of 2,200fps and striking energy of 322ft/lb.

Better still is the new .17 Hornet round. This new round is actually similar to the old .17 AK Hornet but it lets you use a lightweight rifle with the availability to reload your ammunition to suit your need and game species. Here a 20-gr bullet can be pushed at 3,650fps for 592ft/lb energy, a good flat-shooting bullet for rabbits, crows and foxes.

This brings you nicely to the .22 Hornet — old but still a cracking little round. The advantage here is you can up the bullet weights over the .17 and there are a lot of ammunition or reload choices. RWS makes a good factory loading, while I have always liked a reload recipe of 35-gr V-Max bullet with 11 grains of Vit N110 for 3,050fps.

The big guns

Realistically, a centrefire is usually the most suitable for anything larger than a hare. The newer .204 Ruger is a capable round delivering a blend of higher ballistic coefficient bullets for better down-range performance and accurate shot placement. Either a 32-gr or 40-gr factory load is effective, with velocities of 4,225fps and 3,900fps respectively. The 32-gr bullet zeroed at 100 yards is still within the kill zone of a fox at 275 yards.

Next up are the old retainers, .222 Rem, .223 Rem, .22-250 and the .220 Swift rounds. The .222 Rem is a wonderful round — sweet to shoot, low recoil, accurate and available in a wide variety of lighter weight or heavy varmint rifle configurations. With a sound moderator fitted you have yourself a quiet effective fox round to 250 yards or so and it doubles up as a small species deer round, with the correct bullets.

I like the Norma 40-gr V-Max factory load at 3,051fps and 1,137ft/lb is an accurate round with reloads such as the 55-gr Sierra soft nose bullet on top of 25-gr of Varget powder for 3,095fps and 1,170 ft/lb. If you want a tad more range or want to use a heavier bullet then the .223 Rem is an excellent choice. Slightly bigger than the .222, the .223 is great for small game or foxes. You can load with bullets as light as 30-gr up to 90-gr if necessary. But you will need a rifle with fast-twist rifling, 1-in- 9in or 1-in-7in to stabilise bullets above 70-gr as the standard 1-in-12in is only good for the lighter bullets. Regardless, the .223 Rem does everything the .222 Rem does but just that little bit better. A good load is 40-gr V-Max and 25-gr of RL10X for 3,750fps for smaller game giving accurate longer-range shots if necessary and safer more frangible bullets, while a load of 23.5 grains of Vit N133 and a 50-gr Berger Varmint gives 3,400fps plus and is ideal for foxes. I’ve been using .223 GECO 56- gr Express factory ammo with excellent results on small game and on foxes.

Watchful crows

Then there’s a big change in size to the .22-250 round, which is the old .250 Savage round necked down to .224 calibre. You can use the .22-250 two ways: a superb flat-shooting long- range small vermin round with a 40-gr bullet travelling at 4,100fps delivering 1,493ft/lb — excellent for watchful crows at long range. Then load a heavier bullet such as the 55-gr V-Max and you have a good short or longer-range fox load.

The extra speed of the .22-250 over the smaller .222 or .223 rounds means a flatter trajectory so less sight adjustment and less wind drift — more chance of a good hit. The downside is more noise and a little more recoil, both of which you can reduce by fitting a good sound moderator. Also if you reload a .22-250 you can reduce the load to a .223 level for shorter or smaller game if necessary, but you can never load a .223 to the velocity of a .22-250.

Similarly the big .220 Swift is an old one but still a good one, delivering a 50-gr bullet at 3,950fps for 1,732ft/lb. Whilst I like it, I have to say that a .22- 250 is more practical as more rifles are chambered in it.

Most importantly

I like the odd calibres, but the reality is that a good .22LR will sort you for all your small game issues, a .17 HMR bridges the gap between small game and foxes (with the right ammo and at shorter ranges) while a good centrefire is really the best for foxes. Plus a .22 centrefire can double as a small species deer rifle with the right ammunition.

I have missed out the .17 Rem, .17 Fireball and many .20 cal wildcats. However the ones I have detailed here are in the most common use.

What you need to remember, however appropriate your ammunition, is to ensure that your ranges are realistic, your rifle suits your shooting and your shot placement is accurate.

If you're looking to buy a cheap shotgun that's within your budget make sure you read this guide first

You might be on a tightish budget and on the lookout for a cheap shotgun but remember that price does not always equal a good gun.

Some people may be put off at the thought of spending less than £500 on a shotgun but buying ‘cheap’ doesn’t mean ‘buying twice’. You will find plenty of good quality but cheap shotguns on the market nowadays and if you look at the Shooting UK marketplace you’ll see plenty of shotguns for sale listed for £500 or under.

There are plenty of options that will stick to a budget of £500, whether you’re looking for a second-hand shotgun to use in exacting conditions or a cheap, low-risk, entry-level firearm.

Value of second-hand shotguns

Although these shotguns may have double triggers, lack ejectors and feature only the most basic of finishes, they still shoot well.

Furthermore a second-hand shotgun is a bit like a car. A new car starts depreciating as soon as it’s driven out of the showroom and a new gun loses some of its value as soon as it’s taken out of the shop. This doesn’t happen so dramatically with a second-hand gun.

Good gun dealers will issue a warranty on any gun sold

The simpler a shotgun is, the more reliable it will be, so a boxlock with double triggers and no ejectors would be ideal for taking out on rough-shooting sessions, rainy days and even onto the foreshore. English non-ejector side-by-sides were hugely popular during the 1970s, and with many people of that vintage now reaching the end of their sporting careers, there are plenty available to buy. The Hudson non-ejector – a handmade Birmingham boxlock – sold new for £120, the same price for which they can be bought second-hand today. Have the confidence to buy a shotgun that’s no longer fashionable and you’ll benefit from being able to find a decent gun with a very affordable price tag.

In addition, good gun dealers will issue a warranty on any gun sold. They are also responsible for selling firearms that are in a good state of repair only. This should give you confidence with the safety of cheaper guns.

Stringent testing

Buy through a reputable, responsible dealer and you’ll get security. On top of that, guns have to go through a very stringent proofing test before they can be sold in the UK. However you should still remember to check the barrels for any pits and dents, and examine the fit and tightness of the levers and the action. On older cheap shotguns you should watch out for wearing on the cocking dogs, which can be seen by the barrels springing back slightly after the gun has been opened. This is not a major problem and they can be replaced easily by any good gunsmith. But if you’re buying from a private seller and you see this problem, you should probably steer clear as it will cost about £100 to repair.

Finding a bargain

You will find over-and-under guns in the £500 budget range but they are unlikely to be high specification. Don’t stress too much about the name on the gun: several little-known European manufacturers made excellent guns throughout the 1970s and 1980s, and continue to produce them today. You should be able to pick up a good quality AYA boxlock, for example, from this period for around £450. But you should also look into Ugartechea or a USSR-era Baikal.

Want an English gun?

So your heart is set on an English gun? In that case a Birmingham-made Webley & Scott is not beyond the realms of possibility. But again, your first thought should be the condition and quality of the gun. If you can get over your initial concerns relating to the reliability and quality of cheap shotguns, it’s worth exploring this end of the market because you may well unearth a treasure for less than you ever imagined.

Start off by looking in the Shooting UK Marketplace where hundreds of guns are listed by dealers and private sellers. You can refine your search by specification, price (under £500 in this instance) or location.

Baikal over-and-under for £100

Baikal over-and-under shotgun

Baikal is a Russian company with its roots in the USSR and takes its name from the world’s oldest and deepest lake, Lake Baikal, It still makes a range of firearms today, and has always had a name for reliability.

This shotgun is probably 40 years old and is an excellent example, being in very good condition. It has obviously been well looked after because it is in a good state cosmetically, and the action is still good and tight. The barrels are chromed, and the gun is a double trigger non-ejector, so along with the inherent strength of the action, which functions on inertia, there isn’t much to go wrong. The metalwork is blacked and features very little engraving. The wood is an oiled piece of surprisingly impressive quality.

On the downside you wouldn’t expect great refinement from a cheap gun and this one feels slightly too heavy in the hands, being biased towards the 28-inch barrels. It has two and three quarter inch chambers so will take most modern cartridges, and would be a great gun for wildfowling. Cheaper than dinner for two out in a restaurant. You can read more on Baikal shotguns here.

Lames Model 801 for £195

These guns were made in Chiavari, Italy, in the 1960s and 1970s and predominantly used for trap shooting, so tend to be tightly choked. This gun has a single selective trigger and is an ejector, so represents a lot of gun for the money. Indeed, these two factors are the major causes of the price difference between this and the Baikal. The action is blacked and features a rolled-on scroll engraving with game scenes on each of the plates of the boxlock action. Pleasant guns but not surprisingly a little unrefined.

Once again, these guns tend to be rather weighty. On the other hand you could use them for driven bird shooting so perhaps the weight isn’t a bad thing as you could maintain a good swing. One standout feature is the comfortable-to-handle rounded pistol grip, good for overhead birds. The wood used for the stock and fore-end has an attractive grain but I found the chequering rather bold. I would recommend bringing out the grain with a fine wire wool and regular application of linseed oil. This early Italian model would make a good first gun or a low-risk investment for those looking for something a little different.

Parker Hale Boxlock for £350

This Birmingham-based company made a name for itself after the war by producing a range of firearms accessories for the trade, such as rifle scopes and cleaning kits, before moving into firearm production itself. Parker Hale was famous for its barrels, and became well known for the large range of rifles it produced.

Parker Hale also sold shotguns from the 1960s to the 1980s and many were made by Spanish firm Ugartechea, who are still producing guns today. This boxlock is modelled on the Churchill XXV, with a short stock, 25-inch barrels and a tall, thin sighting rib. It has double triggers, a nice, slim straight-hand grip and a push-rod fore-end. The engraving is pleasant enough but does not cover every surface, which suits the bright coin finish. It is a boxlock with ejectors, and would make a great first gun for a young person as it is relatively small.

The gun is starting to show its age – the wood needs rejuvanating and oiling and the chequering needs to be re-cut. Most importantly though the gun is extremely sound and shoots extremely well. Tidy it up and it will be worthy of its price tag. Likely to last you a lifetime and not be superseded any time soon.

Mike George chooses his top three value-for-money semi-auto shotguns for those looking to pick up a bargain

Hatsan Escort Magnum

Target Price: £330

In the 1960s, two trend-setting semi-autos were introduced – one from the USA and the other from Italy. Both were no-nonsense guns that became favourites, primarily with clay target and pigeon shooters.

The American offering was the Remington 1100, while the Beretta A300 came from Italy. The Remmie was so good it is still in production, more than 50 years on, while the Beretta marked the start of a whole family of semi-autos, each more sophisticated, and more expensive than its predecessor.

This growing sophistication of design and increase in price, in all semi-autos and not just Berettas, in a way transformed the semi-auto from a tough and simple knockabout gun to something in price on a par with a reasonable break-action double. Then, as the second decade of the new millennium opened up, there came a new family of guns which took the semi-auto back to its roots.

One of the best of the new, affordable range is the Turkish-built Hatsan Escort, and it is the Escort Magnum you see in the illustrations. This isn’t the cheapest among the Hatsans, but a new one is only around £475, and £330 is a reasonable estimate for a well-conditioned secondhand semi-auto shotgun. The Escort is a simple, reliable gun and there’s quite a lively secondhand scene. It is a great entry-level semi-auto, and ideal for anyone with part-time keepering duties.

Call Edgar Brothers on 01625 613177 or visit their website.

Remington 11-87

Target price: £490

In the mid 1980s, Remington was looking for a replacement for the Model 1100, which had been around for more than 20 years. Although the 1100 did have a few faults – fragile extractor claws and bolt followers mainly – it became close to a don’t fix it if it ain’t broke” exercise.

The great thing about the 1100 was, and still is, its super handling. If I had a pound for every 100 straight shot at skeet on both sides of the Atlantic with an 1100, and a further pound for every woodpigeon shot with an 1100 in the UK, I’m sure I would be writing this review in a luxury Monaco harbour-side penthouse.

The fact is, the first 11-87s on sale in Britain in 1988 were overweight, caused largely by very heavy barrels. I always thought this was to do with the Americans getting paranoid about the introduction of steel shot and the potential horrors of American litigation if a barrel burst, but fortunately the then importers, Hull Cartridge, had a word in the right ear, and a much lighter barrel
was introduced on guns for the UK market. This transformed the handling, and tweaks over the years made the 11-87 an excellent stablemate for the 1100.

Although the Remington 11-87 doesn’t appear on the UK importer’s website at the time of writing, it features strongly on the USA site and there are plenty to be found on secondhand racks. Around £490 is the going rate for a reasonably recent secondhand example.

Call Sportsmarketing on 01206 795333 or visit their website.

Benelli Vinci

Target price: £1,000

Benelli’s selling point on this gun is that it can be easily broken down into its three basic pieces – literally the lock, the stock and the barrel. At first its assembly looks a little complicated, but with a
little practice it is soon mastered.

There is, however, another procedure involved if the bolt is to be removed for cleaning – and cleanliness is usually one of the keys to reliability in all semi-autos. Three-piece basic assembly may be a good sales ploy, but underneath the hype the gun is pure Benelli – that is, it is not yet another gas-fed auto, nor is it cycled by recoil in the conventional sense. Rather, succeeding
cartridges are fed by an inertia system, and the bolt head turns to lock in the firing position – a bit like a Kalashnikov. The absence of a gas system means that the gun is easy to clean, with no gas ports and piston to get fouled up with baked-on carbon.

As with all good semi-autos, shims are provided to alter the comb height through an impressive rage, while length can be altered by the use of different butt pads. Overall weight is around 7lb, which is light for an auto, so firing a long succession of heavy loads may be a little tiring. If this is so, there are heavier guns in the Benelli range. There are also other finishes if you don’t like camouflage.

A new gun like the one illustrated is listed at £1,775 by the importer, but most dealers sell it more cheaply. £1,000 should get you a good secondhand version.

Call importers GMK on 01489 579999 or visit their website.

Annoyed by thieving grey squirrels, rats and corvids robbing nests of eggs? Time to get out the airgun and wait says Mat Manning

Airguns are an excellent tool for pest control. Their limited power and relative quiet mean they can be used safely and discreetly, particularly when a shotgun would be too noisy or risky – such as in a confined area like a garden. Many is the time I have been asked to deal with greys, rats and magpies in a garden where they have been terrorising songbirds.

With diligent use of robust backstops I have stopped the nest-robbing antics of these pests on numerous occasions.

Discretion is the word

A modern, pre-charged air rifle is a quiet tool when fitted with a good-quality moderator. This allows usefully silent vermin control — just the thing if you need to deal with a grey squirrel or an inquisitive pair of magpies without your neighbours cottoning on.

Safety first

Remember that you’ll be breaking the law if a pellet strays beyond your boundary. So take extra care when shooting in a confined area such as a garden. Panel fences aren’t that robust – an airgun pellet will
usually rip straight through the flimsy strip of wood. However, walls made of stone or concrete will stop an airgun pellet in its tracks, flattening the soft lead projectile and sending it tumbling to the ground. Coax your quarry to a spot in front of such a backstop, and they can be picked off without risk of ricochet.

Sometimes it’s not so simple — perhaps the garden only has hedging or flimsy panel fencing for boundaries. In this situation, I’ll either set myself up where I can take shots at a downward angle and safely into the ground. Alternatively I’ll prop up a large concrete paving slab to create a solid backstop exactly where I want it.

Getting your quarry to settle in the right place

Finding or setting up a suitable backstop is only half the battle. Getting your quarry in front of it so that you can set up a successful shot is a lot more difficult. For squirrels and rats, try putting a handful of peanut or birdseed in front of the backstop. Magpies are a bit more fussy. They tend to home in on easy sources of food and like pickings from a bird table. Tear up a stale loaf and scatter it in front of your backstop and they may be persuaded to drop by.

We keep hens in our garden and, apart from drawing in the odd rat, from time to time they also attract attention from magpies. I use a Larsen trap to keep down numbers of these corvids — not just to stop them helping themselves to the chicken feed but also to give nesting songbirds a decent chance of success. Most years I manage to trap seven or eight, but I usually get one or two that hang back from the Larsen; sitting in the nearby apple tree but refusing to succumb to the trap. My take on this is that these birds are more wary after having had a lucky escape from springing the track.

“I have halted nest-robbing antics of hundreds of marauding rodents and corvids”

I can’t aim at these corvids directly into the apple tree for reasons of safety obviously. Instead, I prop up a concrete slab beneath the apple tree, then crack an egg in front of it and scatter a few vegetable scraps to grab the birds’ attention. The magpies will usually flutter down for a closer inspection, offering a safe shot from my hiding place.

Keeping rat numbers down

I’ve had calls from angling clubs on the local fishing lakes who wanted help controlling rats who were helping themselves to the eggs of nesting duck. I heard that the rats had a liking for the sweetcorn that fishermen were using for bait, so I used heaps of the stuff to lure them out to where I could take clear, safe shots. I quickly dispatched several dozen large rats— mostly by night shooting with a scope-mounted lamp. It is now five or six years since I first visited these fishing lakes, and I only ever see one or two rats there now. I’m pleased to say that not only are the resident duck flourishing, the place is also home to a colony of water voles, which are no doubt thriving as a result of the significant reduction in rat numbers.

Pest control for pheasant shoots

I mostly use my airgun for pest control to help out pheasant shoots. Firstly to reduce the eggs and chicks of gamebirds that fall to predators. However the wild birds and small mammals nearby also benefit as numbers of rats, corvids and grey squirrels are controlled.

Though there is less risk of pellets straying beyond boundaries when shooting in large expanses of woodland, I still use various ruses to draw my quarry to where I want it. This enables me to incorporate safe backstops when necessary, and also to tempt wily quarry close enough for me to achieve clean kills consistently. Scenarios include using grain to lure rats away from their lairs and decoys to coax crows and magpies within range of my airgun.

Grey squirrel “magnets” usually come ready-made in the shape of pheasant feeders, but they tend to disperse when feeding ceases from late spring. Frustratingly, this coincides with peak nesting season, and the bushy-tails will no doubt switch over to eggs to avoid going hungry. In the absence of the keepers’ offerings, and with the added problem of the screen of dense foliage, I used to struggle to bag decent numbers of squirrels through the summer months — until I came up with a solution.

I was called in to thin out grey squirrels in a wood where the owner fed large amounts of peanuts so he could watch the nuthatches and woodpeckers when they dropped in to feed. However the greys were faster, jumped the queue and ate the nuts before the birds had a chance. The feeders made life easy for me — I just had to sit back and wait for the squirrels to arrive. It occurred to me that I could employ the same set-up on some of my other permissions. Landowners and keepers were quick to give me the nod, so I built some rather rustic feeding stations that not only benefit wild birds but also create “honeypots” for grey squirrels. By feeding them up for three of four days in a row, I can usually expect a steady trickle of greedy squirrels when I come back with my airgun.

Kill zones

Grey squirrels and rats

The head is the most reliable kill area for an air rifle when you’re aiming at grey squirrels and rats. Take them from the side and aim to land your pellet between the eye and ear. A .22 calibre will also produce clean kills with a strike to the heart and lung area, delivered from the side to strike just behind the shoulder. If a squirrel clings to a tree with its back to you, a shot between the shoulders will strike the heart and lung area.

Magpies

As above, headshots are the best kill area. However magpies can also be despatched with a strike to the chest, or shot from behind, directly between the shoulders, to hit the heart and lung area.

When it comes to reducing the springtime increase in the rabbit population, Simon Whitehead finds that the CZ 452.17 HMR is the best tool for the job

man shooting .17HMR — Using the .17HMR has helped Simon fine-tune his shooting skills

I spend a lot of time with my rifles to complement my ferreting and trapping — especially at this time of year. Not all rabbit problems are the same so I have to be adaptable, which is why my gun cabinet contains a wide variety of firearms.

I certainly couldn’t operate without my air rifle. I often shoot in intimate and noise-sensitive environments, where a neither- seen-nor-heard rule applies. I use a .22 FX Cyclone, kicking out 23ft/lb energy, fitted with an adjuster that enables me to go sub-12ft/lb and below if the need arises. This is good for consistently producing results at up to 60 paces. I started using this rifle more because my .22 rimfire presented too many dangers when shooting locally. But it has pretty much been superseded by a rifle that has helped me fine-tune my skills: the CZ 452 .17 HMR.

This rifle continues to teach me about shooting rabbits

Sporting a heavy barrel to aid steadiness and therefore accuracy, coupled with a good sound moderator, this rifle continues to teach me about shooting rabbits. I am forever stretching my ability to the limit in pursuit of maximising this calibre’s capabilities in the field. But as I discovered when talking to other shooters, it is not to everyone’s taste.

I have fitted a new scope to my CZ. All my rifles now boast an MTC Mamba 4-16×50 parallax adjustable scope, which provides massive value for money and great optics. With a 30mm diameter tube, it syncs perfectly with my customised digital night vision and fits straight on to any rifle in seconds.

Fitting a NightMaster 800 on top of the scope gives Simon the feel of old-school lamping

The advantages far outweigh any disadvantages for my situation, style of shooting and what it brings to the job. I can see why so many farmers, pest controllers and keepers use them, especially at this time of year. The major drawback to using a .22 rimfire on flat topography — criss-crossed with footpaths, used by ramblers and dog walkers — is the danger of ricochets. I know any bullet has the ability to rebound, but the Hornady 17-gr V-Max ballistic tip, travelling at more than 2,500fps, makes me confident that every time I squeeze the trigger, I will hear a thud and not an elongated ping.

If I miss, the energy ensures that, on the whole, the ballistic tip breaks upon impact. I also like the fact that, being so light and fast, this load has a flat trajectory.

Simon can decimate a warren thanks to his new rifle

The difficulties in accurately estimating distances in the dark using night vision
do not present the same problem that I get with, for example, my air rifle, where every metre makes all the difference.

Despite the crack of the supersonic bullet in flight, on numerous occasions the rabbit sitting next to the one that has just been shot isn’t spooked. More often than not it is the light accompanying the shot that scares the rabbit, not the noise or the thud of the bullet hitting home.

Influence of the wind on shooting accuracy

But there is a downside. Travelling at such speed, this load is affected by the wind. It depends on what distance you are comfortable shooting at because the greater the distance, the greater the influence wind will have on accuracy.

This is why you can never spend enough time on a range or in a field, practising at varying distances in differing conditions. Zeroed in at 75 yards, the rifle will, with allowances, give me the confidence to shoot any rabbit up to the 125m mark.

This is something I intend to improve this summer by practising shooting at longer ranges. In windy conditions, I will have no hesitation shooting up to the zero range because its accuracy is all down to skill and marksmanship. With such a high- speed round, the impact ensures that your target will not get up when hit in or around its vital areas; something that cannot be said of the .22 rimfire or an air rifle of whatever poundage. This makes it a consistently more humane calibre.

Superior range

With this superior range at my disposal, I can let the rabbits come to me rather than covering the ground to look for them. If I have a problem area, I usually use my CZ on my quad bike or shoot from a stationary vehicle using the wing mirror as a rest.

Shooting from a stationery position allows Simon to get comfortable and wait for the rabbits to come to him

I can get comfortable and wait to shoot the emerging rabbits from a static position. This can decimate the warren in no time, and in spring I can have a real impact on the local rabbit population in a relatively short time.

Static shooting is often underrated — on my quad, I get a combined range of 250m and 180° view. Using the quad bike means I can get almost anywhere. When I fit my Night Master 800 on the top, with a red LED pill, I can “lamp” almost old-school style. This is great, but once the rabbits realise the danger that the light presents, I turn to my night vision. I prefer to shoot this when static or to be driven because I don’t like to ride around on a quad with this perched on my rifle.

Once the rabbits realise the danger of the light, Simon switches to night vision

I have a fair bit of rabbit shooting coming up. Youngsters sitting out on the headlands, adults nipping the shoots off the emerging crops, they are all fair game. I use my CZ 452 because it offers safety, efficiency and great results.

It does exactly what I want a rifle to do. My only handicap is the ability of the person pulling the trigger.

At 25p a shot, you’ll want to hit your target every time

Bite the bullet — the cost of an HMR round pays off

At 25p a shot, you’ll want to hit your target every time

There are possible drawbacks to the speed and energy of my .17 HMR set-up. Many recreational shooters sell their shot rabbits to a gamedealer to help fund their shooting, but the .17 HMR can damage the carcase.

The best way to avoid this is to aim at the head because head-shot rabbits are still perfectly acceptable to a dealer or butcher.

Another downside is the cost of an HMR round — a box of 50 costs between £11 and £15, compared with the Winchester .22 at around £5 for the same quantity. On the plus side, at 25p a shot, you will still be in profit from the dealer, and the cost is a great incentive to brush up on your skills so you don’t miss and waste your money.

Explaining the popularity of the rifle, David Beer, the manager of the gunroom at The Country Store in Pampisford, Cambridgeshire,said: “At this time of year, keepers, farmers and pest controllers want to shoot every last rabbit on the field. The .17 HMR goes a long way to guaranteeing that.”

The 1416 DG Classic is a trim rifle with the superb trigger that you’d expect from Anschutz. It is the perfect choice for pest control, says Bruce Potts

Anschutz rifles are that bit more pricey than other rimfires. That’s because the quality of the barrel and triggers has always been superb and stem from a pure target pedigree, and that’s what you are buying. The Anschutz 1416 DG Classic, with a short barrel and a sound moderator and bipod fitted, is a kit put together by the importer, RUAG, so that all the shooter has to buy is a scope of their choice.

It’s a lovely, trim little rifle of 33in overall (383⁄4in with sound moderator fitted) that handles nicely. This model came with a plain walnut stock made for practical use; others have fancy walnut and thumbholes if you want them.

Barrel, moderator and action

This model has a 15in barrel and a 1⁄2in UNF threaded muzzle for a sound moderator. It is a nice weight with a 0.66in muzzle diameter to the barrel, so short but stiff.

The muzzle crown is recessed to avoid damage to this area and is about 1⁄2in deep. Supplied in the kit is an Anschutz aluminium .22LR sound moderator, which is made in Switzerland by Brügger & Thomet. It’s a light and effective moderator with subsonic ammunition and is ideally suited to this little rifle. The action is the Anschutz 1416 model, which is the Sporter version of the larger model 54 target-based action. Its size is perfect for a small vermin rifle and is manufactured from a hammer- forged process and button rifled. The Anschutz 1416 is scope-sighted only via twin 11mm dovetail rails; there are no open sights because it does not need them. Best of all is the action itself, which is a 1in- diameter cylindrical tube construction that is deceptively simple but very strong and rigid for great accuracy and bedding to the stock for consistency.

The bolt cocks on opening via a bolt handle with a large plastic bolt knob ensuring positive cycling. This is also helped by the slightly curved bolt handle body towards the shooter. There are two large claw extractors in the front of the bolt face sited at 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock for reliable cartridge feeding. Extraction is positive by two protruding tabs in the action base: as the bolt is retracted the case is forcibly ejected.

Trigger, safety and magazine

Anschutz is famous for its triggers and fits precisely the best to each model. This one, a 5094D model, was a single-stage unit that broke extremely crisply at 2.75lb weight. Adjustments can be made via a small screw in front of the trigger-blade. This is grooved for better grip and, overall, is a lovely trigger in all respects.

The safety, operated by a lever behind the bolt handle, blocks the trigger and lifts the trigger sear and bolt release catch, so that the bolt can be opened in the safe position.

The five-shot magazine is detachable — a 10-shot version is an optional extra. It is made of metal and plastic and is reliable — but don’t lose it, because they are expensive to replace. Removal has always been a bit fiddly because the release catch has to be pushed forward and there is not quite enough to get hold of, but you do get used to it.

Stock

The stock is plain, straight-grained walnut with a good, dark, heavy lacquer to it — it’s practical rather than beautiful. It handles very well because the straight comb non-cheekpiece design fits most shooters’ dimensions and the pistol grip is generous enough even for my big hands.

The fore-end is long with a rounded end, and chequering panels cut to this and the pistol grip are well executed, though there is no palm swell to the pistol grip. The only real bugbear of mine is the plastic butt-plate, which would be nicer if it were made of rubber. It is a stock that most shooters, even left-handers, will get on with.As part of the kit a 6in to 9in or a 9in to 14in-length swivel bipod is fitted via a sling swivel stud.

Anschutz 1416 in the field

You really notice how light and good handling this Anschutz 1416 is from the shoulder — and, when testing accuracy from the bench, how good the trigger is. At 30 yards the Anschutz 1416 was capable of almost one-hole clusters with nearly all the subsonic ammunition. In this rifle, the best were the Eley subsonics, Winchester Max and RWS subs.

It was not until 50 yards that the Winchester Max just edged it, with Eley and RWS close on its heels, but there really is nothing in it. If you like high-velocity ammunition, once again the RWS HV 31-gr bullets were a clear winner at 1,230 fps for 104ft/lb energy, 0.45in groups at 50 yards and at 100 yards under 1in. The Federal 31-gr bullets were good too — 0.65in at 50 yards and 1.25in at 100 yards.

Conclusion

The stock is a little plain but very practical, and the barrel length is ideal for this type of .22LR, especially with a fitted sound moderator that doesn’t increase the overall length too much. The trigger, as on all Anschutz rifles, is superb, and the accuracy is one of the reasons someone would choose this rifle. It is a nice package deal for anyone wanting a handy, accurate vermin gun.

Imported by RUAG tel 01579 362319

A custom airgun with an unconventional barrel is joy to use for rats and pigeon, says Bruce Potts

Steve Harper is one of the old-school airgun makers in Britain. Famed for his innovative Harper classic guns, his fortes were his precision-made air canes and air cartridge firearms and pistols, many bearing his electronic triggers. Based in his Buckinghamshire workshop, Steve now spreads his time between classic one- offs and designing innovative systems for modern guns, such as Daystate’s electronic circuitry.

This is an unusual Harper Classic in the guise of a Weihrauch HW90 gas-ram air rifle, which has been converted to .25 calibre before Weihrauch offered a .25 barrel. It wears Steve’s distinctive brass medallion inset in the breech of the HW90, denoting a non-standard Weihrauch.

Very clever rifling system

Instead of using an aftermarket .25 barrel, Steve has opted to go the custom route and re-bored the old .22 barrel to accept his own home-grown .25 brass tube. Look down from the breech end and the barrel’s interior is anything but conventional. Usually, you will have between five to eight rifling lands — sometimes three, like my fast Wildcats —but Steve’s barrel is different.There is a total spiral rifling system with 20-plus rifling lands; slim and shallow rifling that provides good rotational grip but with a little frictional force to remove lead and deform pellets. It’s very clever.

The barrel is also short at 10in, as being a .25 calibre it utilises air more efficiently than the smaller.177, .20 or .22. This allows a shorter overall rifle design. It is fitted with the efficient Panther sound moderator from Michael Tawn airgun supplies. It is large enough to mute the muzzle report to a slight “thut” but, interestingly, it is elliptical in design. Here the barrel rides in the top section, and the baffles to mute noise are sited below the axis of the bore.

Good for pigeons and rats

This Harper Classic was reduced in power by its owner to 10ft/lb instead of the full 12ft/lb as it was used to topple feral pigeon off chimney pots and factory gantries. Thus the pellet stayed inside the pigeon for maximum striking force yet provided no problems with over-penetration that could break a window or roof tile. The rest of the Harper classic is pretty standard with an original stock that needs no further modifications. As this is a rifle to be used, a few scratches add to the history.

The action is a collaboration between Weihrauch and Theoben Engineering using a gas-ram propulsion system instead of a spring. Air is stored within a pressured chamber which, when cocked with the break barrel, compresses it behind the piston. When you squeeze the trigger, the pressure is released and the piston travels down the action, compressing atmospheric air in front of it and propelling a pellet through the barrel.

It does this with a very fast lock time and therefore firing cycle. Pressure can be altered via a bicycle Schrader valve system sited at the rear end of the action using a special pump.

Due to the fact that these are one-offs or designed to a client’s own specification, they are now rare classics and hard to find, but great fun to shoot. This model was best suited to Milbro Rhino .25 pellets that weigh 19 grains and, when shot at 487fps, deliver bang-on 10ft/lb energy. At 20 yards at this power setting, you can achieve pellet-on-pellet accuracy that no small pigeon nor rat can avoid.

What to look for when buying a secondhand Harper Classic .25 HW90

Barrels: Precision-made custom bore with numerous thin rifling lands to stabilise but reduce friction for excellent accuracy with a number of pellet weights.

Action: Power levels can be altered with this gas-ram system; this is set low at 10ft/lb for close-range rats. Brass inset on breech authenticates as a true Harper Classic.

Weight: 9.5lb

Length: 42in

Features: Superb build quality with custom barrel for the classic .25 calibre.

Price: Unique, you pay your price

Bruce Potts looks at crow shooting and talks rifles. Should you stalk or sit and wait in a hide?

A 4am start saw me positioned in my favourite spot for a bit of crow control. Spring was on its way here in the Surrey Hills and the wildlife knew it. To me nothing is more emotive than the distant kaw-kaw of a crow signalling the new day.

Worthy quarry

Shooters, regardless of their preferred quarry, enjoy their sport for its ability to transfer them from their day-to-day life into a world where they can lose themselves for a few hours. Certainly the thrill of a morning roebuck stalking is high on many lists, but I enjoy every moment in the woods or hills whether I shoot or not. Some quarry may be smaller, but it is no less worthy for that.

Taking the wily old crow with a rifle

At this time of year the noise of crows and other corvids seems more apparent. Traditionally, crows were a quarry for the shotgun, but increasingly the wily old crow is being taken with a rifle. This can elicit outrage from people concerned about shooting into trees with a solid projectile. Understandably so, but any safe shooter always considers the likelihood of ricochets and always ensures a safe backdrop.

I find stalking a crow with a rifle is true stalking. You literally only get one shot with a crow. They are clever and don’t give you a second chance. The balance is tipped in favour of the quarry. There is a wide choice of rifles or cartridges suitable for the task and the style of shooting is also important, whether it involves stalking in close, sitting in a hide, baiting or long-range centrefire shooting. All have pluses and minuses.

I have two distinct approaches to crow shooting. First, you can sit and wait – whether from a hide, hayloft or tucked up in a drainage ditch. The important thing is to position yourself on a flightline, near a sitty tree or near a source of food. The second approach is to stalk, spotting a crow at a distance and then stealthily closing in, depending on the calibre, to take a shot. If this fails, as it often does, I usually stay put and set up a position overlooking woodland or fields that provide food and wait for quarry to come within range.

A farm that is a magnet for crows

Dawn saw me hidden behind some bales with a silage area on my left. This offered a safe backdrop for a .22 rimfire and allowed me to lure in crows with bait. On the way into the farm I had shot a magpie and I placed this 75 yards from my position and waited. A barn behind me offered excellent cover and gave me the opportunity of benefitting from a more elevated position and safe use of any centrefire crow round to take on the birds out in the ploughed field.

The owner of the farm expected results because his land is a crow, magpie and jackdaw magnet. To keep them under control requires a high level of skill – crows seem to have a sixth sense that warns them you are about.

Using the .22 rimfire

Many shooters have a .22 rimfire. Though it is capable of shooting crows, thanks to its ability to overpenetrate and ricochet, it should only be used from an elevated position shooting into the ground or with a suitable backdrop. A head shot is typically fatal and the use of subsonic ammunition with a sound moderator fitted can often lead to more than one crow in the bag. I have been using CCIs new fragmenting .22 rimfire ammunition to good effect but the bullets often pass straight through and ricochets are common, although usually they are in fragments rather than a single lump.
The .22 WMR round increases velocity and noise, especially with the new Federal V-Max 30-grain load. This extends the range and makes for faster expanding shots.

Probably the best short-range crow round and most commonly used today is the .17 HMR. This sends a 17-grain V-Max bullet down-range at more than 2,500fps, producing a flat trajectory and a fast expanding bullet. This is good for crows for a number of reasons. The flat trajectory means that out to 100 yards little adjustment to aim is necessary. In addition, the faster, lighter bullet is devastating when it hits its mark, achieving humane kills. The HMR round is highly accurate, which is perfect for a small target such as a crow.

Even the ultra-shy crow will be enticed to an easy meal

Whilst I was thinking about all this, a solitary crow glided silently into the treetops, but it was obstructed by branches about 125 yards from me. It signalled to another crow and then lifted off the treetop and slipped away. Crows are clever and do this on a farm. They don’t commit themselves – but let the cannon fodder venture in first in the shape of magpies and jackdaws.

You can either leave these firstcomers alone to encourage the crows to follow or, as in this case, take a magpie. This sends most of the remaining black-feathered friends into a frenzy of cackling. Soon, another magpie will simply have to see why one of his chums refuses to fly off and eventually even the ultra-shy crow will be enticed to an easy meal.

Luck was with me. Having secured the first magpie, the second was quick to follow in the bait. There was a lull before a lone crow lumbered down on a silent arc to within 20ft of the magpie. A .22 CCI bullet despatched it in an instant. And then there were crows all around. The sound-moderated rifle meant the birds had little idea of my location and over the next hour I accounted for two more out in the field with a .20 BR Sako rifle. Finally I had fired seven shots, bagging four magpies and three crows. It was time to call it a day.

A serious tool for crow shooting

Centrefires hold their own value and my .20 BR Sako rifle is a serious tool for crow shooting. It is able to send a 40-grain bullet at 4,000fps with pinpoint accuracy, meaning distant crows that think they are out of range often find they are not. Even with a sound moderator, however, if you miss, it can often be a long wait until another crow reappears. This is especially true in Scotland where shooting hooded crows from long range is sometimes the only option. In this case the centrefire is safe to use and, for me, it is the way to go with crows. Apart from the greater cost of ammunition and more noise, the high velocity combined with a fragmenting bullet such as a V-Max, Blitz King, Berger or TNT means there is less chance of a ricochet. The impressive energy dispersal when it hits the target also helps to ensure a humane despatch.

Airguns have a distinct use in my crow battery. Usually I leave the 12ft/lb energy for rabbits and magpies as the crow is tough to get within range, whether it is carrion or hooded. The FAC-rated Theoben .20 Eliminator I use, however, and the Daystate .177 both shoot laser-flat and allow a pinpoint shot out to 50 yards.

The advantage of an air rifle for crows

Head shots make for a humane kill and the major advantage that the air rifle offers over other rifles is that one can shoot with safety among the barns and skyward at lofted crows, which is a real bonus. An air rifle-only crow hunt takes far more skill than using a centrefire rifle. Where crows often use the same sitty tree, farm building, or dead tree I frequently use the lazy lead technique. That’s to say I use a .25 calibre air rifle, usually a BSA Tactical from a camouflaged position of no more than 20 yards. Those slow-moving large .25 pellets deliver all their energy into the crow and lift it off its feet. That’s handy when you want them to fall away from farm machinery or snagging branches.
Shooting crows with rifles makes for challenging sport and will test your ability to the limit. I certainly rate it.

From backyard plinking to serious hunting and high-level match shooting, Shooting Times has rounded up a selection of air rifles to cover all the bases

In the market for buying a new airgun? Look no further, we have rounded up the nine best airguns on the market.

Weihrauch HW100 K, HW100 TK

best airguns

Length: 96cm

Weight: 3.3kg with moderator

What it offers: This impeccably finished pre-charged air rifle combines refined performance with rugged build quality. The HW100 K features a simple, yet remarkably smooth and reliable, 14-shot magazine-fed firing system that’s operated by a silky side- lever mechanism. Specifications also include a fully-adjustable two-stage match trigger and manual safety catch.

We like: The HW100’s stock is crafted from high-grade walnut and embellished with some crisp chequering – an eye-catching laminate model is also available. A 200BAR fill will return more than 50 consistent full-power shots, and the air level is displayed on a clearly marked gauge at the front of the cylinder.

RRP: HW100 KS and HW100 KT both £839; KT Laminate £916

www.hullcartridge.co.uk

Air Arms Pro Sport

best airguns

Length: 100cm

Weight: 4kg

What it offers: The Pro Sport is one of the most technologically advanced spring-and-piston airguns on the market. This ingenious air rifle offers fixed-barrel accuracy without the usual encumbrance of a typical underlever. Instead it features a recessed aluminium cocking lever, housed discreetly within the fore-end of the stock.

We like: The cocking stroke is exceptionally smooth, as is the firing cycle; the compression chamber and piston are fully supported on synthetic bearings, which results in minimal felt recoil.

Automatic safety catches are incorporated within the cocking mechanism and the crisp two-stage CD trigger unit, and the barrel shroud features baffling to soften the muzzle report. A sculpted stock with elegant laser-cut chequering, rollover cheek-piece and ventilated recoil pad give excellent balance and handling from this thoroughbred springer.

RRP: £512 with beech stock, £578 with walnut stock

www.air-arms.co.uk

Weihrauch HW77 K

best airguns

Length: 100cm

Weight: 4.1kg

What it offers: The Weihrauch HW77 dominated the field target competition scene in the 1980s, but a rolling development programme has kept it among the finest spring-powered airguns available. It does have a reputation for being hefty, but its weight helps to absorb the modest recoil produced by its firing cycle, which churns out power close to the UK legal limit.

We like: The legendary Rekord two-stage trigger unit is fitted as standard and, combined with the fixed barrel, makes for precise shooting. Cocking is by means of an underlever, which also engages the anti-beartrap mechanism and resets the automatic safety catch. The HW77’s ambidextrous stock features sharp chequering on the fore-end and pistol grip, and has a rubber recoil pad.

RRP: £389

www.hullcartridge.co.uk

BSA Scorpion SE

best airguns

Length: 88cm

Weight: 3.1kg

What it offers: This robustly constructed PCP combines field- tough build quality with target-level accuracy. Its bolt-lever cocking and loading action is fed by the latest version of the Birmingham gunmaker’s proven 10-shot magazine, which is made from a high- impact polymer that’s been impregnated with self-lubricating PTFE for ultra-smooth performance.

We like: Its ergonomically designed ambidextrous stock comes in a variety of options, including beech, walnut and a camouflage version. This gun is equipped with a very predictable, and fully adjustable, two-stage trigger, a positive manual safety catch and BSA’s famously accurate cold-hammer forged barrel. A 232BAR fill gives 65 full-power shots in .177 calibre and up to 100 in .22, and the pressure gauge set in the underside of the stock will tell you when it’s ready for a top-up.

RRP: £689 (walnut), £649 (beech), £629 (Realtree), £589 (Black Tactical)

www.bsaguns.co.uk

BSA Comet EVO

best airguns

Length: 95cm

Weight: 3kg

What it offers: This affordable offering from BSA proves that entry level airguns do not have to be a compromise. Though an adult-sized gun, it’s well suited to newcomers and teenagers

We like: It has a relatively easy cocking stroke, especially as it produces power close to the 12ft/lb legal limit. Its ambidextrous synthetic stock is robust enough to stand up to bumps in the field. The Comet EVO comes with a tidy set of fibre-optic open sights, and is equipped with scope-mounting rails. An automatic anti-beartrap mechanism ensures that fingers are safe when loading, and there’s a resettable safety catch in front of the two-stage adjustable trigger.

RRP: Comet Evo and Comet Evo Silentium £152

www.bsaguns.co.uk

Air Arms S510 Ultimate Sporter

best airguns

Length: 101cm

Weight: 3.3kg

What it offers: The Ultimate Sporter builds on British manufacturer Air Arms’ target-shooting pedigree. A fully adjustable cheekpiece and butt-pad ensure that there’s no compromise with the fit of this ambidextrous handle.

We like: The Ultimate Sporter’s 10-shot magazine is cycled by an extremely smooth side-lever action. A fully adjustable, match- quality two-stage trigger ensures crisp, predictable shot let-off, while the calibre-specific moderator keeps this airgun whisper- quiet. It has a discreet pressure gauge under the stock, and a 190BAR fill gives 70 consistent shots in .177 calibre and 80 in .22.

RRP: £919, includes 2 x magazines and fixed moderator

www.air-arms.co.uk

Anschutz 9015 One

best airguns

Length: 75.5 – 86cm (adjustable)

Weight: 4.9kg

What it offers: Made for the modern-match shooter, this gun combines absolute precision with almost limitless adjustment. The stock can be tweaked to fit junior and senior shooters, whether left- or right-handed, so it can grow with the shooter.

We like: This new Anschutz features optimised air-pressure control, stainless-steel barrel unit and muzzle tube, and an advanced firing pin- and-valve system for ultra-calm shot release. It also features the new 5065 4K trigger – one of the world’s best mechanical trigger units.

RRP: £2,499; Benchrest model RRP is £2,650

www.ruag.co.uk

Daystate Pulsar Forest Laminate

best airguns

Length: 76cm

Weight: 3.5kg

What it offers: This hi-tech air rifle features Daystate’s Mapped Compensation Technology (MCT) motherboard, which acts as an electronic regulator to deliver excellent shot-to-shot consistency and a very fast lock time.

We like: The neat gizmos don’t end there; this airgun is also kitted out with a fully adjustable two-stage electronic trigger, integral laser sight, digital display screen to show air pressure, magazine count and battery level, and the computerised set-up also enables you to shift between power levels. Other features include a side-lever operated 10-shot magazine, crossbar safety catch and sound- moderating barrel shroud. At full legal limit power level, the Pulsar returns 250 shots in .22 calibre and 220 in .177 from a 230BAR fill. This stubby bullpup measures just 76cm and weighs around 3.5kg depending on which version of its adjustable stock you go for. Options include walnut, laminate and synthetic.

RRP: Pulsar Laminate £1,995; Pulsar Synthetic £1,595

www.daystate.com

Brocock Compatto

best airguns

Length: 86cm

Weight: 3kg

What it offers: The eagerly awaited new release from British airgun manufacturer Brocock, the Compatto is a compact semi- bullpup pre-charged air rifle. Tipping the scales at around 3kg and measuring just 86cm, it’s a gun that will be manageable for most shooters, whatever their build.

We like: The Compatto is cradled in an eye-catching ambidextrous synthetic stock with adjustable butt-pad, and includes an adjustable two-stage trigger, resettable safety catch and a 10-shot magazine-fed firing system that’s operated by a slick side-bolt. Producing power close to the UK legal limit, the Compatto will deliver around 75 shots in .177 calibre and 90 in .22 from a 200BAR fill — air pressure is displayed on a gauge at the front of the cylinder. This neat little airgun even has a power adjuster so you can wind it down when shooting in confined places, and baffles within its barrel shroud keep the muzzle report discreet.

RRP: £789

www.brocock.co.uk

A reader wants to know about rimfires for rabbit control

The wild rabbit — Rabbits are taken only if they bolt straight along one of the rides

Q: I was going to apply for a certificate for a .22 rimfire rifle for rabbit control, but I am now tempted to go for a .17 HMR. What can you tell me about the cartridge?

A: Mike says: There are quite a few .17 rifle cartridges, both centrefire and rimfire. HMR stands for Hornady Magnum Rimfire, and the cartridge is the fastest rimfire available. It came out in the early 2000s.

At 17 grains, the bullet is lighter than a .22 rimfire, records 2,550 feet per second at the muzzle, and in the right rifle and in good conditions, can shoot half-inch groups at 100 yards. You won’t achieve performance like that in field conditions, but you should get good accuracy – the the added bonus of a flat trajectory and not too much wind drift.

Rabbiting with rimfires

Simon Whitehead writes:

Now that the clocks have gone forward, the extended daylight hours and rising temperatures mean the rabbits are no longer using up as much energy to keep warm.

The spring barley is growing quickly, the beet is poking its head through and the wheat has reached an irritating height where a rabbit can bob down and disappear. This gives rabbits an extra sense of security and encourages them to squat rather than run when alarmed.

With this in mind, and the appearance of so many juvenile rabbits, springtime offers some fantastic shooting for pot hunters and pest controllers alike.

Five .22 rimfire sound moderators reviewed

As far as noise reduction goes, the humble  .22 rimfire has reached its peak, yet the shooting industry continues to…

Which rimfire rifle would be best for you?

You’ve finally decided to buy a high-powered rimfire rifle, but which one’s best for you?

Rifles for rabbit shooting

In my gun cabinet I have three rifles that I use for rabbit shooting: a firearms-rated .22 air rifle, a .17HMR and a .22 rimfire. Of these, the rimfire stands head and shoulders above the rest as the instrument to use. The reasons include range, cost, effectiveness, consistency and noise. The cost of the ammunition is fairly low compared with that of the .17HMR. If you shoot for the pot or profit, the carcass damage is also significantly different from a .17HMR.

Though I use my .17HMR purely for pest control, it is no replacement for my rimfire, but it is a useful gun to have. This also applies to my air rifle. Having a choice of three guns gives me an adaptability to shoot safely in almost any given situation.

Any shot must be safe and humane

Whatever calibre used, any shot taken has to be a safe one. Not only do you have to deem it safe, but it has to hit the right spot to give a humane kill. You need to know the ground you are shooting on well, especially if the public has access to it.

Time spent practising with life-sized targets at differing distances is time well spent. It helps your accuracy and allows you to gauge the various sizes of the silhouettes at different distances.

An accurate and silent shot

For reliable accuracy, I currently shoot an Anschutz bolt-action .22LR, which is fitted with a sound moderator. I carry my spare magazines in a clean, dust-proof container and I prefer to use Winchester subsonic bullets. The scope is a Hawke Sport HD 3-9×50. For night-time work, I use an LEDray Tactical 700 that sits on top of the scope without hampering performance or manoeuvrability when shooting from inside my truck or from the sticks. This is essential when I want to move around safely without accidentally knocking anything.

After shooting this rifle for a few years, it fits like a glove. With spare magazines at the ready, it makes for relaxed shooting zeroed in at 50 paces, and I rarely shoot a rabbit at more than 70 paces.

Practising your fieldcraft techniques is always invaluable. You can sit in a high chair, in a truck or under a hedge and observe the behaviour of the rabbits and any other wildlife that happens to pass by.

To keep my focus, I have to be warm and dry, and I must blend in with my environment.

Once you are ready to go rabbit shooting with a rifle, you need to decide which style to adopt. Do you want to hunt from a vehicle or quad, either using the vehicle as a hide, or, if discretion is required, at night with a lamp or nightvision equipment? You might choose to go stalking on the hoof with a set of sticks or sit inside a natural hide and ambush the rabbits as they come out to feed.

Daylight shooting

For me, however, nothing beats daylight shooting when the rabbits are feeding eagerly. Sitting motionless, the first rabbit presents a safe shot. With the sound moderator dampening the noise, the rabbit drops. Sometimes a few of its fellow feeders can be shot before they realise that something isn’t right and head for home. With patience you can shoot quite big bags in early spring adopting this approach.

The rimfire must account for millions of rabbits each year across the UK. Nipping a problematic rabbit population in the bud during the spring and summer months not only saves the farmers’ crops, it provides thousands of sportsmen plenty of enjoyable and affordable shooting.

Many consider the FAC air rifle to be unnecessary compared to a rimfire, but there is a place for both guns, says Patrick Hook

One of the perennial issues facing the air gunner who wants to move up to something bigger is where to go next. Likewise, there are also shooters who already have large centrefires, but find that they need to shoot in places where they are way too powerful.

In both situations, the question is whether it’d be better to buy an FAC air rifle or a rimfire of some kind. Many consider the former to be unnecessary, and that the latter will do everything they can do. My personal opinion is that there’s a place for both – I have FAC air rifles in both .22 and .25, as well as a .17 HMR in my cabinets.

One of the benefits of going for an FAC air rifle is that they can often be bought second-hand very reasonably, simply because not many people have a suitable open slot on their firearms tickets. Some people like to have their existing air rifles uprated to FAC spec – while this can be done, the process will seriously devalue it. So, let’s look at the typical range of rifles in question – these fall into three categories:

Conventional air rifles

In the UK these are limited by law to under 12 ft/lb of muzzle energy, and can be spring, gas or air-powered. They typically come in four calibres – .177; .20; .22 and .25. There are others, of course, but they’re much more rarely encountered.

Patrick’s .22 BSA Superten runs at about 30 ft/lb

FAC air rifles

Once these are on your firearms licence they can be of any power level you want. In reality, most are in the 30 to 50 ft/lb range. Although any of the above calibres can theoretically be used, you can pretty well discount .177 and .20. This is because the limit to how much power can be generated is the speed of sound – as a pellet nears this it is said to go “transonic” and loses all accuracy. Unless you can get well clear of this figure you won’t be able to hit anything. The bottom line is that .22 works well up to about 30 ft/lb, while .25 can reach about 50 ft/lb. There are bigger calibres but they are rather specialist and are little used in this country.

Rimfires

The most common rimfires are either .17 HMR (Hornady Magnum Rimfire) or .22 LR (Long Rifle), but there are several others too, such as the .22 WMR (Winchester Magnum Rimfire), the .17 Mach 2, and the relatively new .17 WSM (Winchester Super Magnum). The laws governing rimfires in this country are bizarre to say the least – although you are allowed to own a .22 semi-automatic, such as the ever-popular Ruger 10/22, you are not permitted to own a self-loading rifle in the smaller .17 calibre. No – it doesn’t make sense to me either!

Patrick’s CZ.17 HMR is a tool rather than a showpiece

In the larger .22 calibre, ammo is available in wide variety of formats from solid to shot as well as in both sub-sonic and supersonic forms – few people use anything but conventional one-piece lead bullets, though. The real advantage of the slower round is that it is much quieter – with a decent moderator the discharge can be almost silent. The disadvantage is that it is not very powerful. Most makes, based on 40 grain bullet running at around 1,080 fps (330 m/s), produce just over 100 ft/lb (135J). The high velocity rounds are better, but still only produce around 140 ft/lb when running at 1,328 fps (405 m/s). They have the disadvantage that they make a loud supersonic crack when fired. On the positive side they are cheap, which is obviously really important if you’re culling large numbers of bunnies or rats.

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Controlling rabbits with firearms certificated air rifles (FAC)

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For me the worst thing about .22 rimfires, especially those in the subsonic form, is that they suffer from a very loopy trajectory. This is fine if you know what the range of your target is, but it’s a significant problem if you don’t. In daylight, you can always ping the distance with a rangefinder, but this is much harder at night when using nightvision (NV). I once fired almost a whole 10-round magazine at a rabbit sitting out in a big flat field. In the end it got bored and walked off! I went back the next day and I realised that it had actually been about 175 yards away! It’d obviously been a much bigger in than I’d realised, but through the NV it looked much closer – I’ve not used the .22 LR plus NV combo since.

The .17 HMR is, in my opinion, an excellent round for both daylight and NV purposes. It will take rabbits or corvids to around 175 yards, and for some unknown reason, it often spooks rabbits less than the quieter .22. The ammo is more expensive though, and its availability seems to go through fits and starts.

Fits the picture

Now we’ve looked at the options available we need to examine where the FAC air rifle fits into the picture. Let’s start with a few example scenarios. Imagine, for instance, that you have to deal with either squirrels or corvids/pigeons at the top of some tall trees. While a lower power air rifle could be ideal closer in, such quarry can take some reaching. Rimfires are immediately out of the picture – anyone who fires one upwards into a tree deserves to lose their licence as the bullet can still kill when it comes back to earth up to a mile later.
Likewise, many people will tell you that  a conventional air rifle is perfectly adequate for shooting – that’s true as long as you can get close enough. However, this only works if both the terrain and quarry are suitable.  If the bunnies are particularly nervous you’ll really struggle to get within the necessary 40 yards. If you’re pushed for time and need to produce results, being able to shoot to 70 yards is extremely useful.

Likewise, although rats can be taken very successfully with a sub-12 ft/lb air rifle at short distances, they are tough creatures and when the ranges are extended I like to use a much more powerful tool. Whenever I’m asked to sort out these destructive rodents, I reach for my dedicated rat cannon – an old .25 calibre Theoben 12-250 that runs at about 50 ft/lb. It’s heavy and uses quite a lot of air, but I’ve fitted  a quick-fill port so that I can top the bottle up in seconds. It is quite literally devastating on them!

Summary

So, in summary, I find FAC air rifles tick lots of boxes. They’re quiet, relatively cheap to buy and to run, accurate to 70 yards or so, and can be safely used in places where bigger guns would impose a significant risk. They’re also fun to use and have the advantage that most police forces rarely bat an eyelid when asked for permission  to own one. What’s not to like?

The new Lite version of Tikka's "go-to" fox and deer rifle features some improvements that impressed Bruce Potts, who found it hard to fault

I tested the stainless steel .243 version of this new model of the iconic Tikka last year when it was launched but I wanted to test the entry-level version, too, which is, let’s face it, the industry standard when it comes to a fox/deer rifle. If you have £1,000 in your pocket, the new X version of the Tikka T3 rifle is  a no-brainer.

A dependable “go to” rifle

Tikka has the kind of heritage not only in manufacture but also in durability that makes it the dependable “go to” rifle because you know it just works. This is why it is so popular with professional deer managers, estate managers, keepers, rangers and sportsmen alike.

The test rifle was chambered in one of my favourite cartridges, the .222 Remington, which transcends the boundaries of its origins as a target and benchrest round to being a  great vermin-come-fox-and-small-species deer calibre. I have used  a Sako .222 Rem extensively for roe  in Scotland where that cartridge is legal for roe deer.

The T3X is available in many guises, including stainless steel, a laminated stock, tactical and heavy-barrelled; the Lite is a synthetically stocked, blued steel sporting rifle.

The blued steel version still uses the chromium-molybdenum steel in the barrel construction, which is cold hammer forged, and has a deep and even, semi-matt blued finish, which is ideal for subdued light reflection. It is Sporter-profiled for a lighter weight and this, of course, helps in keeping the overall weight down when a scope and moderator are fitted. It comes threaded with a metric M14-1 pitch. Tikka takes pride in individually crowning the muzzles of each rifle, which ensures that a bullet’s exit from the barrel is perfectly concentric  to aid accuracy.

Tikka T3x

What can be said that has not been said a thousand times before with the Tikka T3? This Scandinavian sporting…

£955.00

Our rating: 88%

Barrels

This model Lite comes with  a 20in-barrel length — ideal when a sound moderator is fitted as the overall length of the rifle at 40½in is not increased greatly. It came chambered in .222 Rem, which is  a darling of a cartridge that has become overshadowed by the larger .223 Rem case. Here you have button-rifled rifling that has a 1-in-12in twist rate to accommodate up to 55-gr or 60-gr bullet weights and six-grooved rifling that together add to the bullet’s stability. It is free-floated for three quarters of its length, so you now  have a one minute of angle (MOA) accuracy guarantee.

Action

The action on the Tikka has always been its strong point and it is still one of the smoothest actions on the market in its price range. The all-steel action uses a separate recoil lug union to secure the barrelled action to the stock for a solid bed. This steel lug is set into the synthetic stock forward of the front stock screw and this locates into a recess slot in the receiver bottom. There is no pillar or synthetic bedding material but the floorplate does have steel washer inserts to the stock screwholes to ensure a non-crush, even tension — again, all helping in maintaining a solid action.

The T3X has an improved ejection port to the action; it has been enlarged to allow unimpeded case ejection and, even better, also allows a single round to be fed into the chamber quickly if necessary.

The receiver top has additional drilled and tapped screw fitments  for a scope mount as well as the usual full-length Tikka dovetail rails; all bases have been covered. The bolt has a low 70° bolt lift for smooth and fast operation and for ensuring low-mounted scopes are avoided, too. The twin-locking lug end and sprung ejector run incredibly smoothly  in the action and the T3X now has a metal bolt shroud. This encompasses the rear of the bolt and has a spring inserted to avoid any vibration noise. Old models had a plastic one and people weren’t keen.

Trigger

The trigger is just what you want on a hunting rifle; it has a slim but grooved trigger-blade with plenty of space in the trigger-guard for a gloved hand. It has a single-stage release that breaks very cleanly at 3.15lb, on test, with zero creep. You can adjust the pull/weight from 2-4lb by removing the magazine and accessing the adjustment screw through an aperture in the floor plate.

The magazine is polymer made and rustproof; and because the T3X design uses a one-action size for all calibres, the magazine has an inset to seat the shorter .222 Rem rounds forward in the magazine for a reliable feed. Four rounds can be loaded. The safety locks both the trigger and bolt and is either on or off with a silent smooth action.

Stock improvements

The newer T3X stock has several improvements and you also have  an adjustable cheekpiece option that raises the height for perfect scope-to-eye alignment. This standard Lite model still has a black-coloured stock made of fibreglass reinforced with polypropylene. It’s tough and further enhanced by a more solid profiling and there is a foam insert in the interior of the rear stock to eliminate any hollow echo noise.

There is also a larger and better  soft recoil pad, sling swivel studs and, best of all, improved checkering — which translates as better “grip areas” — the T3X now has an asymmetrical grip pattern to both the pistol grip  and fore-end that works well. The pistol grip has a securing screw so  that the front and side section come off in one unit and you can exchange them for different angled grips to suit your own preference (these are  sold separately).

Testing the Tikka T3X Lite out in the field

Now the fun part. I fitted a new scope from OpticsWarehouse called an Ultimax, which has the quality of German glass but at eastern European prices, with an illuminated reticule. I added an MAE Scout stainless steel moderator creating a set-up ideal for both fox- or deer- shooting duties.

The .222 Rem is a mild-kicking and low noise level round. With factory ammunition and the MAE muzzle, the report was little more than a .22LR high-velocity round, ideal for urban areas. The shorter 20in-barrel did reduce velocities, though.

I had five factory loads, with the lightest being the Federal 40-gr bullets. These shot 3,446fps for  1,055ft/lb energy and grouped three shots into 1in at 100 yards. The Remington 50-gr Accutip shot 3,077fps and 1,051ft/lb with 0.95in groups. The Winchester 50-gr bullets were slower at 2,951fps and 9,67ft/lb energy with just under 1in groups. The 55-gr Sako bullets shot 2,945fps and 1060ft/lb energy and 0.85in groups. The best, however, were the Norma 50-gr bullets at 3,045fps, 1,080ft/lb and 0.75in groups. All the groupings fell under the Tikka one minute of angle guarantee of 1in.

Reloads are easy on the .222 Rem and I soon worked out that this T3X liked the 40-50gr range bullets best; 40-gr Nosler Ballistic Tips shot well with 21 grains of integrated munitions rifle (IMR) 4198 powder for 3,372fps, 1010ft/lb and ¾in groups. Upping to 50-gr Hornady V-Max and 21.5 grains of Vihtavuori N130 achieved ½in groups, 3,101fps and 1,068ft/lb.

With the 50-gr small species deer-legal Hornady V-Max, the target showed how the small difference of 0.25 grains of powder shrunk the groups from 1in to ½in, making it well worth the increase. The 55-gr Sierra GameKing is a nice small-deer bullet with 22 grains of H322 powder and 3,076fps and 1,156ft/lb.

With the 50-gr V-Max reload, I also set up some Shoot-N-C targets that gave highly visible bullet hits. At 200 yards I had five shots off the bench clustering into 1½in — superb.

Field test

I chose an area of fast-growing maize to exploit the T3X’s hunting potential as the crop is currently high enough for deer to hide in during the day under its cooling leaves. Foxes would also favour it for a midday snooze —  I was tempted myself.

I loaded up the detachable magazine with four rounds of Norma 50-gr ammunition, making it legal if a muntjac appeared and good for old Charlie, too. With the T3X’s synthetic stock you do not feel the need to cosset the rifle as you do with a wooden stock, so I was able to crawl unimpeded along the crop margins. Its grip pattern meant I was gripping well and the balance and silent nature of the new stock improvements made their presence felt.

I spotted two muntjac feeding along the hedges bordering the maize but, of course, they never stop for long and by the time I had deployed the T3X they’d scarpered. It didn’t matter, though, as a small crawl later, a fox appeared. The T3X was up and the Ultimax scope centred on its vitals The clean trigger action was released, sending the Norma 50-gr bullet on its way. Success.

Need to know

Manufacturer Sako/Tikka Ltd
Model T3X Lite
Type Bolt action
Overall length 40½in
Barrel length 20in
Length of pull 14in
Weight 3kg
Finish Blued steel
Stock Black synthetic, replaceable grip.
Magazine Detachable box
Sights None
Trigger Single-stage adjustable, set trigger option
Price from £1,035
Left-handed option available
Importer GMK Tel.01489 579999

I had a head start with this T3X anyway, due to the inherently accurate .222 Rem cartridge, and when coupled with the T3X rifle it’s an all-round winner. True, most people go for a .223 Rem, but don’t discount its little brother. The improvements of the T3X are well worthwhile and add to the overall feel and performance. It remains the most stocked rifle on gunsmiths’ shelves for deer or fox shooters in the Britain.

With the engineering you would expect, and the attention to detail that leaves nothing to chance, the Weihrauch CW66 .22LR is a perfect vermin gun, says Bruce Potts

Weihrauch is famed for its well-engineered range of air rifles,  of which I am a bit  of a collector. My first air rifle was  an HW35, too.

Weihrauch has made a range  of rimfires as well as full-bore rifles  for decades and its rimfire rifles offer the same blend of old-world engineering and craftmanship combined with modern-day techniques to offer a superbly built and accurate rimfire rifle for vermin.

The Weihrauch HW66 .22LR exudes quality

I have tested the HW60J about 10 years ago, but this time it is the turn  of the Weihrauch HW66 .22LR thumbhole. It exudes quality and you  just want to pick it up, handle  it, and get out in the woods after  rabbits. The all-blued steel action  and barrel give a traditional feel that  is complemented by a walnut stock  with pretty radical thumbhole design  for practicality rather than looks.  Add to this a match-quality trigger  and detachable magazine system and you have a lovely little vermin gun.

The action is smooth and reliable and the detachable magazine system is extremely easy to use

Action

This is a very well-engineered action design of tubular steel and is large enough to accommodate a .222 centrefire cartridge. It is strong and over-engineered, as with all Weihrauchs — built to last springs  to mind — but still nicely styled.

The whole action has a lovely deep bluing to it and is 7.25in long, accommodating the 6.75in bolt. This  is part-blued and polished steel and has a twin extractor claw that grabs  the spent case which is then ejected by  a protruding spur from the action floor.

The magazine well has a blank  at its rear to accommodate the  smaller .22LR rimfire rounds  and the bolt does not operate fully rearward for the same reason. Its operation has a low angle opening and is very smooth, assisted by the semi-flattened oval bolt handle with ample chequering for grip.

There is also a red cocking indicator — to denote the action is cocked — that protrudes from the bolt shroud and the action has a twin dovetail 11mm rail. Weaver-type bases can be fitted, as I have, and are handy for putting night-vision kit on and off.

When putting a new rifle through its paces spinners can be good for practising field skills

Trigger, safety and magazine

The trigger is Weihrauch’s forte as  the Rekord on its air rifles is the best  in the industry. This model too  is superb — match-quality with  a fully adjustable capability. Set at  the factory, there is a two-stage trigger with a smooth first pull then a 1.65lb final stage, which is perfect. The safety is a simple lever type behind the bolt handle: off when forward  and on when rearward.

The magazine is all steel, of  course, and comes with a five-shot and eight-shot option. The release catch is easy to use because it sits behind the magazine. A quick tilt rearward and the magazine pops  out to refill or exchange.

Stock

This is the asset that stands out with this model. Weihrauch’s thumbholes, as on its airguns, put the “hole” into thumbhole — they are large. I like this as it gives a good hold, though it may not be that aesthetically pleasing.  The stock has no cheekpiece so  is ambidextrous, with a very long fore-end and large pistol grip. Both have really nice fish-scale laser-cut chequering that both looks good and gives a really good hold. The overall finish is matt oiled, which is practical and a good grade of walnut is used.  My only quibble is no sling swivel studs to fit a sling — but this is an optional extra.

Barrel

The HW66 has a match-grade 1-in- 16in rifling twist-rate barrel made  from chromoly steel. It has a heavy  profile for its whole length of 16in,  which is ideal on a .22LR because  a sound moderator can be fitted to the threaded muzzle without increasing the overall length too much.

Left: The Winchester 42-gr Max was outstanding. Right: Checking the rabbits runs to the field margins for activity before setting up to take the shot

To the bench

A rifle of this stature — in size as well  as quality — deserves a good scope that complements the look and  does not spoil the balance. I chose  a Leupold 3-9x33mm EFR scope as  it is light, compact, has great optics and a parallax focus down to 10m; perfect for rimfire use.

I also fitted a Schultz & Larsen rimfire sound moderator as, in addition to the good noise reduction, it is light and looks good on the rifle. Most people will buy this rifle as  a rabbit gun and so will only shoot .22LR rimfire subsonic loads but I also shot some high-velocity and reduced loads to see how versatile the HW66 was.

First over the chronograph were the subsonics. The Eleys shot an average of 1,044fps for five shots over the chronograph, which is pretty standard for this length barrel. At 30 yards I had five shots in 0.45in. Stretching to 50 yards I had 0.55in groups — so not that much bigger — and at 75 yards I was well under an inch at 0.75in. This is very good.

Next I tried the Winchester 40-gr subsonics, followed by the new 42-gr Max loads. Winchesters always have very truncated and hollow points to the lead bullets that expand very well, exerting their retained energy into the game you are shooting. Accuracy is excellent and the 40-gr bullet shot 1,067fps, five shots into 0.40in at  30 yards and 0.50in at 50 yards. The 42-gr Max shot even better, slightly higher velocities but still subsonic at 1,078fps, 0.35in groups at 30 yards, 0.45in at 50 yards and 0.65in at 75  — that is impressive.

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The RWS subsonics too shot less than 0.50in at 50 yards. They  are always slower in velocity at 992fps so very quiet through the Schultz & Larsen sound moderator.

I often use reduced-load rimfire ammunition for feral pigeons in  barns and the CCI CB Long is good to  a maximum of 20 yards. Here a velocity of 751fps for 36ft/lb energy yields 0.55in groups at that range. Another favourite, the RWS Z Lang, achieved 855fps and 47ft/lb from its 29-gr bullet.

It is always worth keeping  a spare magazine with high-velocity ammunition in, just in case a fox walks by, so I shot some through the HW66.
The best groups came from the RWS High Velocity with a velocity of 1,248fps for 107ft/lb energy, and accuracy at 50 yards was 0.65in and less than an inch at 100 yards. The Federal 31-gr high-velocity loads shot 0.75in groups for 1,389fps and 133ft/lb energy.

Spinners are great for practice at differing ranges to judge bullet drop because they are instantly reactive, and audible as well as visual, compared with paper targets. In the field you rarely have a steady rest as off the bench, so practice on spinners with a suitable backdrop from real shooting positions is excellent.

A pigeon was the first to fall to the HW66 and Winchester 42 gr Max combination

Conclusion

The Weihrauch CW66 .22LR is one of the best-kept secrets in the shooting world, but it should not be. Shooters always tend to gravitate towards the norm but look further afield and you will find some cracking alternatives to the standard rimfire rifles purchased here in Britain.
Personally speaking I think it is a little gem of a rimfire, superbly made, incredibly accurate and well-priced – in fact I bought the test gun and this will be my son’s first rimfire. It is a straight 18 out of 20 gun for all features.

Accuracy: Superb. It is a Weihrauch, what do you expect?

Handling: Perfect balance and hold.

Trigger: Match grade for field use

Stock: Very practical design and stable, but no sling swivel studs

Score 90/100

If you're an airgunner you need to behave responsibly, safely and legally. Here's what the law says.

The current airgun law

Under-18’s must be prevented from gaining unauthorised access to airguns, or the owner will be liable to a fine. Store the air weapon in a lockable cupboard – keeping the keys separate and secure. Alternatively a locking device can be used to attach the air rifle to the fabric of the building or a fixed feature.
In Scotland, you need an Air Weapon Certificate or a visitor permit to use, possess, purchase or acquire an air weapon.
It is illegal to sell an air weapon or ammunition to a person under 18 years of age.
It is an offence for any person to use an air weapon for firing a pellet beyond the boundaries of any premises. This includes a supervising adult who allows a person under the age of 18 to use an air weapon for firing a pellet beyond the boundaries of any premises.
Airguns with a muzzle energy of more than 12ft/lbs can only be held on a firearm certificate (FAC)

At what age can you use an air gun?

Under 14 years

You can use an air weapon under supervision on private premises with permission from the occupier – normally the owner or tenant.
The person who supervises you must be at least 21 years old.
You cannot buy, hire or receive an air weapon or its ammunition as a gift, or shoot, without adult supervision.
Parents or guardians who buy an air weapon for use by someone under 14 must exercise control over it at all times, even in the home or garden.

14-17 years

You can borrow an air weapon and ammunition
You can use an air weapon, without supervision, on private premises where you have permission
You cannot buy or hire an air weapon, or ammunition, or receive one as a gift.
Your air weapon and ammunition must be bought and looked after by someone over 18 – normally your parent, guardian or some other responsible adult.
You cannot have an air weapon in a public place unless you are supervised by somebody aged 21 or over, and you have a reasonable excuse to do so (for example, while on the way to a shooting ground).

18 years and above

If you are 18 years or older there are no restrictions on buying an air weapon and ammunition, and you can use them wherever you have permission to shoot

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Security rules for responsible airgunners

Keep your airgun under close supervision at all times and to never leave it unattended. Where you have no option but to put your air weapon down for short periods, unload it and gather up all the ammunition.
Prevent anyone under the age of 18 from gaining unauthorised access to your air weapon – which might mean attaching it to a fixed object using a security cord or similar device, or locking it out of sight in a car.
Always treat an air weapon as though it were loaded.
Never point an air weapon at another person
Never load an air weapon until it is ready to be fired
Never fire an air rifle unless the shot is safe (make sure a backstop or pellet catcher is used and nobody is nearby who could be in danger).
Never rely on a safety catch to make the air rifle secure
Never put a loaded air weapon down. Always safely discharge or unload and uncock it first
Transport air weapons in a gun slip
Never store an air rifle loaded
Store air rifles out of sight and away from pellets
Store air rifles inside a house rather than in a garden shed
Endeavour to make a stored air rifle incapable of being fired.