Every responsible airgunner in the UK should read and learn these

Airgun laws in the UK as they stand

• Owners of airguns MUST stop under 18’s gaining unauthorised access and will face a fine if they fail in this duty.
• To keep air rifles away from the wrong hands store them in a lockable cupboard or a gun cabinet. The keys must be kept away from the cabinet separately and in a secure place. If the cupboard does not have a lock you can use a secure locking device to attach the air rifle to the fabric of a building or a fixed feature.
• The airgun law is different in Scotland. There you need an Air Weapon Certificate or a visitor permit to use, possess, purchase or acquire an air rifle. (Read our guide to air rifles in Scotland.)
• Air rifles and ammunition must not be sold to anybody under 18. This is illegal.
• In Scotland the police have to visit gardens to judge them suitable for plinking. In England such checks are not required for garden airgunning.
• Those using air rifles should take careful note of boundaries. If an air pellet is fired that goes beyond the boundaries of any premises then an offence has been committed. (Read this useful article on garden airgunning and use of safe backstops.) This includes a supervising adult who allows a person under the age of 18 to use an air rifle for firing a pellet beyond the boundaries of any premises. (Read our guide to the best airgun pellets.)
• Airguns with a muzzle energy of more than 12ft/lbs can only be held on a firearm certificate. Read how to get an FAC for your air rifle here.
• It is a criminal offence to fire an air rifle / pistol pellet beyond the land where you have permission to shoot, unless the person holding the shooting rights of the neighbouring land has given you permission. Where someone under 14 is shooting, both the young person and the supervising adult can be prosecuted.
• You can shoot in places where you have been authorised by the landowner or person with the sporting rights and that you know precisely where the boundaries are.
• Whenever you are in a public place your rifle should be in a gun cover, unloaded and not cocked.

Air rifle range overseen at a village fete.

How old?

Q: Can my ex-husband buy an air rifle for our nine-year-old? Is it legal? My son seems a bit young for one.

A: It is against airgun laws for anyone under the age of 18 to buy or own an airgun or airgun ammunition, even if it is given as a gift. An adult aged 18 or over can, however, buy and own a legal-limit (sub12ft/lb) airgun and allow a child as young as your son to shoot under very close supervision on his or her own property or on land where they have permission to shoot.  Whilst you might think that this is buying an airgun for your son, in fact the airgun must be owned, kept and controlled by the parent.

The airgun should also be stored out of sight, away from pellets in a lockable cupboard. (Read our advice on the best gun cabinets here.) 

Children aged under 18 are allowed to use legal-limit airguns under adult supervision

The airgun supervisor must be at least 21 years old

Airgun laws at different ages

Under 14 years

• An air rifle can be used under supervision on private premises with permission from the occupier – normally the owner or tenant.
• The supervisor must be at least 21 years old.
• An air rifle or ammunition cannot be bought, hired or received as a gift, or shoot, without adult supervision.
• Parents or guardians who buy an air rifle for use by someone under 14 must exercise control over it at all times, even in the home or garden.

14-17 years

• An air rifle and ammunition can be borrowed
• You can use an air rifle, without supervision, on private premises where you have permission
• You cannot buy or hire an air rifle, or ammunition, or receive one as a gift.
• Your air rifle 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 rifle 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).

Although airgun shooting is very accessible you can still fall foul of the law if you don’t stick to the rules relating to their use and ownership.

18 years and above

• Those above the age of 18 can buy an air rifle and ammunition, which can be used wherever permission to shoot has been given.

What are reasonable precautions?

• Store your airgun out of sight and separately from pellets
• Use a robust, lockable cupboard and keep the keys separate and secure
• Always store your airgun inside a house rather than in an outbuilding, such as a garden shed
• Never store a cocked or loaded airgun
• When using your airgun, keep it under close supervision and never leave it unattended.

Owning an air rifle

You have a responsibility not to bring your sport into disrepute which means following airgun laws to the letter. Here’s what you need to know.

• 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 rifle 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 rifle – 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 airgu as though it were loaded.
• Never point an airgun at another person
• Never load an airgun 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 airgun down. Always safely discharge or unload and uncock it first
• Transport airguns in a gun slip. (Read our list of best air rifle cases.)
• 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.
• If you are shooting live quarry do not shoot beyond the bounds of your ability. (Read more about shooting rats with an air rifle.)

This article was originally published in 2014 and is kept updated with any changes to airgun laws  

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Bruce Potts advises

Air rifle or a rimfire

Q: I am thinking of buying an FAC-rated air rifle for pest control. Would this be better than a .22 rimfire?

A: I like FAC-rated air rifles for certain pest control duties. They offer a significantly higher energy rating over the legal standard 12ft/lb energy. While this does not increase the range potential, the higher velocity will flatten the trajectory so that a hit is more certain.

It also means that if you are shooting an airgun pellet at half the weight of a typical .22 rimfire, then ‘overkill’, by which I mean expansion on impact, is less. This also means it’s a bit safer to shoot around barns, equipment and so on, whereas a .22 rimfire would be prohibitive. But safety is still vital and correct backdrops mandatory.

Most pre-charge air rifles of 30ft/lb are about right, because at this rating the heavier air gun pellets are still accurate. Lighter ones tend to deform. You can achieve much higher 
energy figures but this means fewer shots per charge. I have used the Daystate .30 at 
100ft/lb, which is an effective pest control tool.

Q: I’m looking to buy a rifle for general pest control around the farmyard, anything from rats to rabbits and crows. I’m stuck with the dilemma of whether I should buy a .22 rimfire or an air rifle. Which one would be better?

A: If you are not a firearm certificate (FAC) holder, a decent sub-12 ft/lb air rifle is ideal for close-range vermin with well-placed shots, without the need to obtain a licence, gun safe and the hassle of renewals. On the other hand, if you already have an FAC, a .22 rimfire is a brilliant tool for shooting anything on the ground, including foxes. They are accurate and inexpensive to run. The downside is that shooting them skywards is extremely risky with their ability to travel long distances, making them unsuitable for shooting birds in trees. An FAC air rifle, however, is an excellent tool, although an initially expensive outlay compared to a rimfire. Some precharged air rifles on the market have the ability to vary the power, allowing them to be adjusted to suit the situation and might be better around the farm.

Mat Manning rounds up a selection of sub-£600 air rifles that are up to the task of tackling live quarry

The following are my pick of the best air rifles under £600, with models that I’ve been putting through their paces over recent months. They are in or around the entry-level price bracket, but still deliver solid build quality and dependable performance. (Prices correct at time of publishing.)

Best air rifles under £600

Weihrauch HW95K

Weihrauch HW95K £470 

Break-barrel airguns are about as simple as they come, but that doesn’t mean there has to be a compromise on quality or performance. The Weihrauch HW95K features the German gunkmaker’s signature high-quality engineering and is built to give years of good service with minimal maintenance.

I have owned one of these airguns for more than 10 years, and I rate it as one of the best off-the-peg break-barrels I have ever used. Weighing in at 3.5kg, and with quite a hefty cocking stroke (which engages an automatic safety catch), it is probably a bit too much of a handful for very young shooters. That said, this is a full-power airgun, and its weight does help to soak up its modest recoil.

The HW95K’s 97cm overall length makes it quite a compact spring gun, which is well-suited for use in a hide or inside farm buildings. The design of the beech stock has evolved slightly since my model, and the gun is now supplied with a very effective sound moderator, but it still boasts the excellent two-stage Rekord trigger unit, which has been setting the standard for airguns for decades. The HW95K is readily available in .177 and .22 calibres and also in .20 and .25 to special order. Definitely deserves its place on the list of best air rifles under £600.

Hämmerli Hunter Force 900 Combo

Hämmerli Hunter Force 900 Combo £274.95

This very competitively priced spring-powered airgun has a fixed barrel and underlever cocking. This eliminates the risk of accuracy declining as the barrel retainer wears, which can be a problem with cheaper break-barrel airguns.

Apart from being a very solid airgun fitted with fibre-optic open sights, the Hunter Force 900 Combo includes a scope and mounts, making it a very comprehensive package for well under £300. At 114cm long and weighing in at 4kg before you fit the scope, it is certainly an adult-sized airgun, but it doesn’t feel particularly cumbersome and is well suited to plinking and pest control over sensible ranges. Its beech stock is quite traditional in appearance and features neat panels of chequering on the fore-end and pistol grip.

This .177 calibre airgun has a very consistent muzzle energy of just over 11.5ft/lb, yet its long underlever provides sufficient leverage to keep the cocking stroke manageable. An automatic safety catch is set when the action is cocked and, although fairly basic, its two-stage trigger has a positive and predictable release.

The telescopic sight included in this package is surprisingly good. Its 6x magnification makes it a good all-rounder and, although parallax is fixed, it is set to cover typical airgun ranges from eight to 40m.

BSA Scorpion TS

BSA Scorpion TS £569

This offering from BSA proves that you don’t have to spend a huge amount of money to own a very good pre-charged airgun with serious pedigree. So I had to include it on my list of air rifles under £600.

The Scorpion TS incorporates features from BSA’s flagship air rifles into a no-frills model that sits in a tough ambidextrous synthetic stock, and the result is a robust, accurate and very well-engineered air rifle that can cover everything from toppling targets on the club range to serious pest control. The Scorpion TS is a comparatively compact 92cm long before you fit a sound moderator, and it tips the scales at just over 3.4kg without a scope, so it should be manageable for most shooters. Maximum fill pressure is 232 bar, which should return around 140 consistently powered shots at around 11.5ft/lb in either .177, .22 or .25 calibres.

The robust and accurate BSA Scorpion TS is as comfortable on the range as it is tackling pests

This airgun runs a 10-shot magazine, which is driven by a positive rear bolt action to deliver fast, fuss-free reloading. It is also equipped with an adjustable two-stage trigger and BSA’s famous cold hammer forged barrel, which is free-floating, choked, chambered and crowned. This barrel, which is threaded for sound moderator attachment, has a reputation for being very accurate and the Scorpion is capable of pellet-on-pellet accuracy at 25m.

The Pretensis airgun from Reximex features a crisp and predictable two-stage trigger

Reximex Pretensis £479

Made in Turkey, the Pretensis squeezes a lot of features into a very affordable package. The gun shown here is the walnut stock option but there are also some seriously eye-catching laminates in the range. A nice touch on the ambidextrous handle is its adjustable cheekpiece, which ensures good eye/scope alignment.

Overall length is 102cm, and unscoped weight is a comparatively modest 3.3kg. A single shot tray and two magazines are supplied; the .177 version holds 14 pellets while the .22 holds 12. The cocking and loading mechanism is driven by a very positive and reliable side-lever action. Maximum fill pressure is 250 bar and from that you can expect 150 full-power shots in .177 and 180 in .22 at full output. Power is adjustable and can be wound down to just 5ft/lb.

Reximex Pretensis

The two-stage trigger is crisp and predictable and, combined with consistent power output and a decent barrel, makes the Pretensis capable of single-hole grouping at 30m. A cleverly designed scope rail facilitates scope mounting via either Picatinny or dovetail mounts.

The JTS Airacuda Max offers good looks alongside a solid, accurate performance

JTS Airacuda Max £549

This pre-charged airgun has been on the scene for less than a year, but it has already won a loyal following thanks to its good looks and solid performance. It is 104cm long, weighs a substantial 3.8kg unscoped and its ambidextrous thumbhole stock incorporates a height- adjustable cheekpiece and some tidy chequering.

JTS Airacuda Max

The Airacuda’s 45cm barrel is fully shrouded. The shroud does provide some sound suppression and is also threaded for moderator attachment. Driven by a slick side-lever action, the magazine holds 12 pellets in .177 calibre and 10 in .22. Two magazines are supplied, along with a single-shot tray. The two-stage trigger is exceptionally good for this airgun’s price point, and the Airacuda Max also boasts a regulator, which is apparent by its very consistent power output. The one I tested was running at 11.8ft/lb with 9.6-gr QYS pellets and variation was within 6fps over a string of 10 shots — that’s better than some high-end airguns costing three times as much.

Maximum fill pressure is 220 bar, and from that you can expect more than 200 shots in .22 and almost as many in .177. Accuracy-wise, the Airacuda really impressed me by consistently printing ragged single-hole groups at 30m.

How airguns have changed

Airguns offer a great route into the world of fieldsports, and their development has come a very long way since they provided me with my introduction to shooting almost four decades ago.

Back in the 1980s, our standard test for air rifle performance was whether we could hit, and preferably punch through, a tin can at 20 paces. Nowadays, even entry-level airguns are capable of grouping pellets inside a 1in circle at 25m, and most models produce power very close to the 12ft/lb legal limit. That level of performance means they can confidently be used for the humane despatch of small pests over sensible ranges. (Take a look at our guide to choosing airgun pellets.)

Modern air rifles can cost several thousands of pounds, but you don’t have to spend a fortune to buy one that’s powerful and accurate enough to tackle rabbits, rats, pigeons and grey squirrels. As my list of air rifles under £600 shows, a few hundred pounds will buy you a reliable airgun that can deal with pests in the garden, around the farmyard, out on the open fields or in the woods. Owing to their self-contained powerplant, spring-powered air rifles tend to be the most affordable, but the price of recoil-less pre-charged airguns is now within the reach of most people — although you do need to factor in the additional cost of an air tank or stirrup pump to keep them topped up with compressed air.

Air rifles offer real versatility for pest control says Mat Manning

Follow the air rifle pest control rules and you can usefully rid an area of corvids, greys and rats. You’ll also find an air rifle a versatile ally, as it will often be able to go where you can’t use a shotgun. (Read our guide to the best air rifles under £600 suitable for live quarry.)

Control vermin effectively and you can rest assured that you are doing your bit to protect the local songbird population, who will be safer without predator pests around. (Read our advice on finding the best airgun pellets.)

Air rifle pest control is effective

Airguns are hushed and have limited power so they can be used in a confined space – like a garden – safely and more discreetly than a shotgun. Which makes them a useful and practical choice.  You’ll probably find yourself reaching for your air rifle frequently when confronted with a pest issue. (Read our piece on how to use an airgun for rat control.)

Discreet and effective

You can go about your air rifle pest control work unobtrusively and quietly without attracting unwanted attention if you fit a good sound moderator to a modern PCP air rifle.

A sound moderator makes your work unobtrusive if you are using an air rifle for pest control

Keeping the law

It is crucial that you ensure you have a safe backstop. If a pellet strays beyond your land you are breaking the law. An airgun pellet will rip through a panelled fence.  If the area you’re shooting just has hedging or flimsy panel fencing, set yourself up to take shots at a downward angle and safely into the ground. Or put a large concrete slab in place to use as a backstop.

However, if your boundary walls are constructed of stone or concrete they will stop an airgun pellet effectively, flattening the soft lead projective and sending it falling to the ground.

Getting quarry in the right place

The trick is to manoeuvre your quarry to a spot in front of such a backstop where the pest can be picked off without risk of ricochet.

A large concrete slab makes for a reliable backstop

Garden pests: it is always a good idea to shoot from an elevated position so that the ground acts as a backstop

You can make the area in front of your safe backstop almost irresistible to squirrels and rats by putting a handful of peanut or birdseed there. Use stale crumbs for magpies because they are a bit fussier and tend to prefer bird tables.

We keep hens in our garden and, apart from drawing in the odd rat, from time to time they also attract attention from magpies who like to sit in a nearby apple tree.

Obviously for reasons of safety I can’t aim at these corvids directly. 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.

If you don’t want the hassle of using cat food, small fishing pellets will keep rats still while you take aim

What about shooting pests in trees?

The safety of any shot with any gun has to be considered on its own merits. There are times when it wouldn’t be safe to shoot a sub-12ft/lb airgun up into trees and other times when it could be perfectly safe to make the same shot with a high-power airgun. The key thing is to know what is behind your target and whether there is a safe fallout zone for your pellet. That said, I believe the risk becomes too great when using airguns producing 50ft/lb or more and firing heavyweight pellets or slugs at high velocities. My usual preference when using an FAC-rated airgun for shooting pigeons, corvids or squirrels up in trees is 30ft/lb muzzle energy (relatively low by modern standards) with a 16-gr pellet. Although this set-up gives me more hitting power than a sub-12ft/lb airgun, the comparatively light pellets run out of steam much quicker than the heavyweight ammo often used with airguns churning out very high muzzle energy, making it far easier to work within a safe fallout zone.

How to get rats in an air rifle’s sights

I’ve used sweetcorn to attract rats when I was carrying out pest control for an angling club. The anglers told me the rats liked the sweetcorn they used for fishing baits so I used it to lure them to where I could take a safe shot. I accounted for several dozen large rats by night shooting with a scope-mounted lamp. Six years later the fishing lakes only have a couple of rats there now. Reports say that resident duck are flourishing as are a colony of water voles.

Vermin control for pheasant shoots

Rats, corvids and squirrels can seriously reduce the number of eggs and chicks produced by gamebirds. This is another area in which air rifle pest control plays a significant role.

Draw your quarry to where you want it so that you are near enough for a clean kill.  Use safe backstops when necessary. Use grain to coax rats out of their holes and decoys for crows and magpies.

Pheasant feeders usually act as magnets for grey squirrel activity but in late spring feeding ceases, which is frustrating as that is peak nesting season and the greys move their diet onto eggs.

I came up with a solution to this when 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 jumped the queue and ate the nuts first. 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.

The RWS Z Lang is a suitable round for squirrels and rats

Air rifle pest control 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

Again 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.

The self-contained power plant on spring powered air rifles is very convenient but cocking can be difficult for smaller shooters

Should you use a spring-powered or PCP airgun for pest control? What’s best?

Q: I’d like to buy an air rifle for controlling rabbits and grey squirrels in our garden but I don’t really want a pre-charged model because I can’t be bothered with the hassle and expense of using charging gear. I’ve been told that spring-powered airguns  are less accurate – are they suitable for humane pest control?

A: Spring-powered airguns aren’t necessarily less accurate than pre-charged models; they are just a little harder to shoot accurately.

The recoil caused by the motion of the spring and piston can cause quite a kick, which isn’t as easy to master as the comparatively dead action of a recoil-less pre-charged pneumatic.

That said, you should be able to shoot a decent spring-powered airgun very accurately with a little practice. The important thing is always to use the same hold and don’t squeeze the gun too tightly – allow the recoil to follow the same course every time and your pellet should always follow the same path to its target. Never try to rest a spring-powered gun on a hard surface such as a bench – the kick will make it bounce violently and pellets will stray off aim as a result.

Put in plenty of practice on paper targets and you will soon understand the performance of spring-powered air rifle pest control and get a measure of your own capabilities with it. Shoot within those self-imposed limitations and there is no reason why you shouldn’t be able to cleanly despatch rabbits and grey squirrels in the garden. (Take a look at our list of best air rifle targets for setting up a range at home.)

This article was originally published in 2014 and is kept updated. 

Mark Ripley wouldn't advise it and this is why

Humane killing of foxes

I was recently asked whether it was legal to shoot foxes with an air rifle. If so, would the air rifle kill the fox humanely?

Is it legal?

This is a question that causes a lot of controversy. Firstly, yes, it is legal, provided it does not cause undue suffering to the animal.

A centrefire rifle is the best option

Now on a more practical level, let’s be clear, an air rifle isn’t the ideal tool for shooting a fox in my mind and a centrefire rifle will always be the best option. However, there are many circumstances where a centrefire rifle can’t be used, and a smaller calibre firearm is called for. (Read what is the best rifle for shooting foxes.)

Here, I would favour the .22 rimfire or .17HMR for example. But what of the air rifle? Well, these days air rifles are not only precision tools, but they also come in some very high-power options (FAC) and in larger calibres. (Read more about FAC air rifles here.)

Just recently I found myself in the lambing field armed with an FAC air rifle in .25 calibre with a fox 50 yards away. The fox dropped on the spot never knowing what hit it with the little pellet placed in the right spot. Ultimately, an FAC air rifle at close range with a well-placed shot will humanely kill a fox. Although I know of people who regularly shoot foxes with an air rifle at very close range with sub 12ft/lb airguns, I wouldn’t recommend it. (Read more on how to use an air rifle for pest control.)

.17 HMR rifle or .22 LR?

The sound of the bullet whistling through the air for a split second before its impact was rather rewarding, as another rabbit was tumbled downrange. The last half-a-dozen bunnies at the far end of the green had become familiar with my tactics of walking alongside the high netting at the edge of the practice area to get to within .22 LR rimfire range and had taken to scarpering at the first sign of danger. (Read more on rimfires for rabbit control here.)

Now, however, I was surprising them, having set myself up on the clubhouse balcony some 200 yards away, with the supremely accurate .17 HMR. This was a tactic the bunnies hadn’t bargained for and I was taking out good numbers each time they broke cover. Every 20 minutes or so another would feel the coast was clear and be brave enough to hop out on to the lush green grass of the golf course — only to quickly fall victim to a well-placed shot.

Having previously owned a .17 HMR, I was already familiar with how effective it could be, but I hadn’t got on with the rifle itself. However, this latest offering, the Tikka T1x, was rekindling my love for the calibre with its flat shooting capabilities and tack-driving accuracy.

I’d armed myself with the Tikka as I was keen to compare the most popular two rimfire calibres, the .22 LR and the .17 HMR. There’s no doubt both have their pros and cons, and there are fans of both calibres, but with the increasing popularity of the .17 HMR, I was keen to see if the humble .22 LR still deserved a place in the gun safe. (Take a look at our list of the best gun safes.)

Cost of ammo

The first obvious factor to consider came early on when visiting C&H Weston in Brighton. It was one of the few shops close by that had any HMR ammunition in stock at that time and, on buying 100 rounds as well as some for the .22 LR, the cost difference was immediately apparent. The .17 HMR ammunition costs approximately three times that of the .22 LR.

Where the .17 HMR does come out on top against the .22 LR in terms of ammunition, though, is with ricochet. The .22 is renowned for bullets pinging off almost anything, then to be heard zinging off to goodness knows where. Yet the .17 HMR has a much lower risk, with the extremely fast and frangible bullets breaking up on almost anything they connect with. Incidentally, this does mean you need to make sure you have a clear flight path for a bullet, such as when shooting rabbits in the stubble or in foliage.

As another rabbit ventured on to the green, I again settled behind the rifle and took a head shot at a tad over 120 yards with little consideration for the distance. With the rifle zeroed at 100 yards, the bullet will need very little allowance out to 150 yards or so. (Read more on cartridges and calibres for pest control.)

Mark Ripley sets out to compare a .17HMR with a .22 LR for a bit of everyday pest control

This is a different story for the .22 LR firing a bullet over twice as heavy. The drop is a lot more pronounced and, zeroed at 50 yards, it will start to need some careful consideration once you get out to 75 or 80 yards.

The limit for subsonic ammunition is realistically about 100 yards for reliable accuracy. Here, though, is where the .22 LR has an ace up its sleeve. You can also use high-velocity ammunition in the .22 and stretch this out to more like the ranges the .17 HMR offers with good accuracy. The trade off here is that, like the HMR, you will still get a bit of a crack as the bullet breaks the sound barrier. The .22 LR subsonic ammunition is intentionally kept below the speed of sound to keep the shot as close as possible to silent, which is that calibre’s biggest advantage.

It’s also often stated that the .17 HMR is useless in the wind, and yes, if you don’t allow for it, you will most likely miss, especially as the ranges increase. However, this is also true of the .22 LR. It’s simply that usually you are shooting at distances of less than 70 yards, where the wind has less time to have an effect on the bullet’s flight path. If you were using a .17 HMR at .22 LR ranges, the odds are you probably wouldn’t notice much difference.

Rounds for both rifles are notably tiny

Drift

On the day I zeroed the HMR and checked zero on my own .22 LR — a now discontinued CZ 452 American — there was a crosswind of at least 10mph. Interestingly, at 50 yards, I had pretty much the same amount of horizontal drift with both rifles due to windage. Though this was only an observation at that time, rather than a conclusive test, it did make me wonder if it was much of a deciding factor between the two. I’m sure with some experience this could be allowed for.

Let’s not forget, this is a tiny rimfire bullet shooting out to 150 yards or more and not a centrefire, so you would expect it to get pushed around a bit in the wind; it’s a projectile, not a laser beam, after all.

Other than the extra cost of ammunition and perhaps a little extra meat damage due to its explosive nature, the only real drawback for me would be the noise. This isn’t likely to be an issue for the keeper looking for a ‘point and shoot’ rifle to keep in the truck for rabbits, squirrels, corvids or the odd closer-range fox on his rounds, but for pest control in sensitive areas this might be a problem.

In the past, I have done a few fox control jobs in urban areas, shooting them in gardens and parks. In such circumstances, the use of a near-silent .22 LR rifle is perfect with a sufficient backstop. On several occasions, I’ve despatched foxes in the gardens of terraced houses by shooting down into the garden from an upstairs window, at ranges of usually 20 or 30 yards, and using a bag or two of sand as a pre-baited backstop. The neighbours have been none the wiser to the entire event.

There’s also the argument that you can shoot more rabbits with a .22 LR because it’s so quiet it doesn’t scare off all the others, which to a degree is true. I’ve often shot several rabbits from a group using a .22 LR and this would have been less likely with the .17 HMR. I’d recently done the rounds on the golf course and shot several decent bags by simply quietly moving from one area to the next, discreetly assassinating one bunny after another as I went.

How do the rounds perform over long ranges once the respective rifles have been zeroed in?

Utmost stealth

On a recent outing, I’d also paired my .22 LR with a thermal night scope and it proved almost too easy to walk out to them in the complete darkness, accurately range them with its built-in laser rangefinder and quietly eliminate them with carefully aimed shots, using a little holdover on the further ones. All this was achieved with the utmost stealth.

When comparing the two calibres there is no real winner, with both having their place for certain jobs. Much like golf for that matter; a golfer has a bag of clubs and each has the ability to propel a ball around the course, yet each is better suited to one shot or another. \

Financially, you can’t separate rifles of either calibre — that boils down to the brands you choose. I prefer CZ and Tikka and both set you back around £700 to £750 – or slightly more if you’re a southpaw, like me.

Certainly, the .17 HMR is a serious tool for everyday pest control, but it can also be a grubby little round, so accuracy and reliability can quickly disappear if the rifle isn’t regularly cleaned.

The .22 LR, on the other hand, is very quiet, cheap on ammunition and seems to run faultlessly even if it’s completely neglected for months. Mine is, I’m ashamed to admit.

Would I buy a .17 HMR again? After using this one, yes, undoubtedly. I’d love to own another one. Would it replace my .22 LR? No, there are times when the .22 LR is the perfect tool for the job and no other calibre will do.

So it would seem that, for now at least, the trusty little .22 LR still has a place in every gun cabinet.

Having put both rimfires through their paces, Mark finds there is no real winner

Head to head

CZ 457 American

• Manufacturer CZ (Ceska Zbrojovka)
• Model 457 American (updated version of Mark’s 452)
• Calibre .22 LR
• Price £668.99
• Importer Sportsman Gun Centre

Tikka T1X MTR

• Manufacturer Tikka
• Model T1x MTR
• Calibre .17 HMR
• Price £750 (£800 for left-handed version)
• Importer GMK

The post .17 HMR rifle or .22 LR? Mark Ripley sets out to compare them for a bit of everyday pest control appeared first on ShootingUK.

Q: A while ago I took up rifle shooting and I’m now applying for my FAC and am looking to buy my first rifle but wondering what to get. What would you recommend? I’m looking to buy a .22 rimfire for rabbit shooting and looking at perhaps a Ruger 10/22. Would either of these be a good accurate first rifle?

First rifle choices

The Ruger 10/22 has been around for a long time now and has been very popular, especially in the US, with a large fan base and numerous aftermarket accesories and upgrades available. (Read our review of the Ruger 10/22 here.) These rifles are rather like Lego — you can build all kinds of variations of the same gun with all the different extras, rather like the popular Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22, which is another great fun semi-auto rimfire. (Read our review of  Smith & Wesson here.)

The CZ 466 mini sniper .22 rimfire shoots well, surprising rabbits that thought they were well out of range

Should you choose a semi-auto?

In honesty, semi-auto rifles, although great fun to shoot, can often suffer with reliability and accuracy issues over a standard bolt-action rifle. If you want a fast shooting, fun plinking and casual hunting rifle then by all means a semi-auto such as the 10/22 would be the way forward. (Read more on semi-autos here.)

If you’re looking for more precision, accuracy and reliability, then a bolt action rifle such as the Tikka T1X or one of the popular CZ models offer excellent value for money.

The Tikka T1X is a great option for a first rifle; it offers excellent value for money, with precision, accuracy and reliability. (You might like to read winter stalking kit – what to wear to deal with the weather.)

The post First rifle for rabbiting: what should you choose? appeared first on ShootingUK.

We’ve looked around for some cheap PCP air rifles that still do the job and we’ve found 10, starting at under £500 going up to a budget of £1000.

Once you’ve bought the airgun you’ll be able to enjoy relatively cheap and accurate shooting, whether you’re a target shooter or need to do some pest control. (Read shooting PCP air rifles on a budget.) There’s a joy from going recoilless, as you’ll discover.

Pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) rifles are popular because:

• They are inexpensive, easy to shoot and given a decent backstop you can even practice in the back garden. (Read more on garden airgunning here.)
• These cheap PCP air rifles are ideal for pest control and around a farmyard if you need to get rid of vermin without putting property or stock at risk.
• You don’t have to have a shotgun or firearm certificate to own a PCP air rifle (provided it is below the 12ft/lb) which all non FAC rifles are. PCP rifles use an external power source, air being supplied by a pump or diver’s tank to the built-in reservoir. (Read more on charging a PCP airgun.)
• The best PCP air rifles are consistent, accurate and have no recoil.
• Most come with removable magazines with 8 or 10 shots (depending on the calibre) making them ideal for ratting, rabbiting or effortless plinking at the range.
• PCP air guns are easier to shoot than break barrel (spring piston) rifles which do suffer from recoil and are therefore much harder to master.

Read more on the terminology of PCP airguns here.

Which calibre – 177 or 22?

Which calibre should you choose? The 177 calibre is recommended for general purpose as it offers faster and therefore flatter shooting, which makes it more forgiving when you’re estimating range. The high velocity and better penetration also makes the 177 more capable when despatching tougher quarry such as squirrels.

What about air pellets for PCP rifles?

The key factor is pellet placement. Accuracy is everything. It’s vital that quarry is despatched humanely and the faster, flatter 177 pellet simply makes that job easier. (Read our list of the best airgun pellets.) Airguns are fussy about pellets, so it’s worth experimenting until you find the one that works best for you.

You might like to read this advice on buying an air rifle second-hand.

Cheap PCP air rifles  for under £500

Gamo GX-40 £379

A no-nonsense, well-made PCP rifle. At 3.3kg and 960mm, the GX-40 is full-sized, although you will want to fit a silencer to the ½” UNF thread in place of the muzzle brake, especially if you plan to plink a few targets in the garden or go hunting.

Kral Puncher

Kral Puncher NP-03 £425

The Kral Puncher NP-03 comes with two magazines, a single-shot tray, fill probe and spare O-rings. The length is between 800mm and 880mm without a silencer, and unscoped weight is 2.6kg. Accuracy is superb, proving you don’t have to spend a fortune to get a good full-power PCP.

Hatsan Airmax

Hatsan Airmax £460

At 940mm long and nearly 5kg, the Airmax is a substantial bullpup. Yes it is weighty and you will probably want to fit a sling to it but if you shoot from a rested position, it is a pleasurable and rewarding rifle to shoot.

Hatsan AT44-10 £430

Hatsan AT44-10

One of the most popular PCPs on the market and it’s not hard to see why. Packed with features, like the elevation and fit adjustable butt pad, the pressure gauge, the dovetail for 11mm and 22mm dovetail rings all come in an airgun that costs under £500. The Quattro trigger is crisp and adjustable, which aids accuracy and the rifle also has a resettable and automatic safety catch. The gun is cocked and loaded with a lever mechanism, which prevents double-loading and has a ten shot magazine.

Gamo Phox £499

The Phox is tough to beat with its impressive accuracy and a mountain of extras for £499

All the features you’d expect from a modern PCP. The plastic stock, fit and finish isn’t quite the quality of its competitors but the overall design is very good for a rifle of this price. In terms of accuracy there are no complaints. There is an all-important safety alongside the trigger and a fill indicator at the end of the reservoir. It is a British-built rifle and it feels solid.

Available from McAvoy Guns. 

Gamo Venari £499

Built to withstand heavy use, the Gamo Venari features a tough synthetic stock with an adjustable cheek-piece. Keeping an eye on air reserves is easy, as there’s a pressure gauge at the front of the cylinder. It’s an adult-sized rifle, and weighs in at just over 3.5kg.

The Venari is an impressive gun for the money, and its recommended retail price includes some very useful extras.

Zbroia Hortitsia £499

Zbroia Hortitsia

Find a pellet the Hortitsia likes and it will land one on top of another at 30m, and it still groups tightly at 40m. Mat Manning favours the 330/180 carbine model, which measures a compact 89cm and weighs 3kg without a scope fitted. It’s small so as a result it’s a great gun for younger shooters but adults should also find it a good fit. Engineering and finish are very tidy and, although its design is not so traditional, the hardwood stock makes for a comfortable and balanced hold.

The Hortitsia boasts a straight-pull rear bolt action, which drives a pellet-friendly 12-shot magazine. The system makes for very fast reloading – it’s great fun on the plinking range and ensures quick follow-up shots in the field. Other features include two-stage trigger, manual safety catch, pressure gauge and shrouded barrel.

Walther Rotex RM8 UC £499

The UC comes supplied with a very effective sound moderator, and measures just 91cm with it fitted – take it off and, although a bit louder, the gun measures a really stubby 79cm. Tipping the scales at 3.8kg unscoped, it’s not a featherweight but the heft is testament to its solid build quality and it’s certainly not cumbersome.

Fast-reloading comes courtesy of an eight-shot magazine, which is driven by a side-bolt action that also sets the automatic safety catch. The UC has a very good two-stage trigger and, although compact, its buddy bottle holds a generous amount of air – you can expect around 160 shots from a 230bar fill. Remaining pressure is clearly displayed on a gauge on the underside of the stock.

You might also like to consider the Walther Rotex RM8 Varmint at £464.95.

Inexpensive PCP air rifles under £1000

If your budget will stretch a little, take a look at these.

Webley Raider 12 £527.99

This full-power multi-shot airgun has a 14-shot magazine in .177 calibre and 12-shot in .22, and is driven by a very reliable sidelever action. The safety catch is sensibly positioned well above the trigger blade towards the rear of the action, and the barrel sits within a sleek full-length shroud.

BSA Ultra XL £570

BSA Ultra XL

This fine carbine by BSA offers more shots per fill thanks to a slightly longer reservoir. However its compact dimension makes it ideal for shooting in the confines of a hide, or when ratting in a barn. Its cold hammer forged barrel is made by BSA in Birmingham and ensures great accuracy. The thumbhole stock comes with a riseable cheek piece, making eye to scope alignment perfect, which also ensures accuracy.

Weihrauch HW110 £650

Since being launched to the Weihrauch range, the HW110 has taken the airgun scene by storm and it’s not hard to see why. The competitive price combined with solid German engineering means this 10-shot rifle is great value for money. It’s two-stage match trigger, manual safety, integral pressure gauge and soft touch stock make it an ideal hunting companion. Being well balanced it doesn’t feel too heavy when you are carrying it in the field and the rifle comes on aim easily.

Air Arms S410 Carbine £719

S410 Carbine

This 10-shot rifle has been around for a good few years, which means it is tried and tested. The traditional bolt action is great fun to use, although you can inadvertently double load the rifle. The newer S510 model with its side-lever overcomes this problem, but will cost you a bit more money.  Should it belong on a list of cheap PCP air rifles? Well, the S410 is incredibly accurate and the British firm, Air Arms, make sure the rifle is built to last, so it’s an ideal investment. Pop a silencer on the end and you will soon get on top of a plague of rabbits.

Save money by taking out a subscription to your favourite fieldsports magazine here

This piece was originally published in 2017 and has been updated. 

The post Cheap PCP air rifles: from £379 to under £1000 appeared first on ShootingUK.

A firearms certificate air rifle – known as an FAC air rifle – is over 12 ftlb in power and so you will need to have an FAC certificate for it. (Read more on how to get an air rifle FAC certificate here.)

So why an FAC air rifle?

Let’s say your quarry is some squirrels or pigeons on the top of some tall trees. You’re too far away with a conventional air rifle. You absolutely can’t use a rimfire because a bullet shot upwards into a tree could kill somebody as it falls earthwards. You would deservedly lose your licence.

Rats can be shot with a sub-12 ft/lb air rifle at short distances but they are tough creatures. When the range is further 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 has a devastating effect on a rat population.

Read Airgun Shooter’s list of the best FAC air rifles here.

FAC air rifle features

• Quiet
• Relatively cheap to buy and run
• Accurate to 70 yards
• Can be safely used in places where a bigger gun would be risky (like inside barns and stables)
• Most police forces agree to requests to own one
• While an FAC air rifle will give you more power, only fieldcraft skills will ensure shooting success
• If you own an FAC air rifle you will need a firearms certificate which you have to renew every five years. (More on getting an FAC certificate for your air rifle here.)
• You will need a secure gun cabinet in which to store your high powered air rifle. (Read our list of the best gun cabinets.)
• A high-powered air rifle can be more fussy about pellets than a legal-limit air rifle. So it’s worth experimenting with a few.
• Some FAC air rifle shooters opt for heavier ammunition to improve pellet stability. However switching to heavier pellets brings the user back to the curvy downrange trajectory that makes legal-limit airguns so tricky to master.
• FAC air rifles can get through a lot of air. It’s worth investing in a scuba tank or your own airgun compressor.
• High-powered airguns can deliver clean kills at considerable range. The problem is that the target is just as small as it ever was, and it is a lot harder to hit now that it is so much further away. As with a 12ft/lb airgun, your maximum shooting range is governed by your ability to land the pellet on a very small mark.
• FAC-rated airguns perform a lot better in the wind than legal-limit
 models, which can easily have their pellets blown off the mark by an unexpected gust.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B1g-6_hB3pg/

FAC air rifle or rimfire?

So what should you get? There’s an argument for getting one of each. I have FAC air rifles in both .22 and .25, as well as a .17 HMR in my cabinets. Plus which, you can buy a second-hand FAC air rifle very reasonably. (Read this advice on buying a second-hand air rifle.)

Don’t be tempted to upgrade your current air rifle to an FAC spec – it will seriously devalue it.

If you’re already a conventional air rifle user and considering upgrading to something bigger you might be wondering which FAC air rifle to get. Or perhaps you have a centrefire rifle but need something less powerful on occasion.

Air rifle categories

Conventional air rifles

These can be spring, gas or air-powered and in the UK must legally be under 12 ft/lb of muzzle energy. They typically come in four calibres – .177; .20; .22 and .25.

A .22 BSA Superten runs at about 30 ft/lb

FAC air rifles

You can have any power level you want once you have an FAC licence for your air rifle. 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.

3. Rimfire rifles. The most common 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 rimfire laws in the UK are strange. You are allowed to own a .22 semi-automatic, such as the ever-popular Ruger 10/22, but you are not permitted to own a self-loading rifle in the smaller .17 calibre.

The CZ .17 HMR

Ammunition is available in the larger .22 calibre in a wide variety of formats, from solid to shot as well as in both sub-sonic and supersonic forms . However few people use anything but conventional one-piece lead bullets. The 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.

Read our list of the best air rifle pellets.

Loopy trajectory

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! 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, I don’t know why but it often spooks rabbits less than the quieter .22. However the ammunition is more expensive and sometimes harder to get hold of.

Read more here to decide what’s the best air rifle calibre for you. 

The .17 HMR often spooks rabbits less than the quieter .22

High powered air rifles can be pellet-fussy

A scuba tank wins over a stirrup pump when it comes to keeping air-hungry FAC airguns topped up

Shooting Times contributor Matt Manning comments: “After about a decade of shooting with FAC-powered airguns, I have settled on a .22-calibre gun turning out 28ft/lb. It gives a fairly smooth firing cycle and keeps muzzle velocity slow enough for me to be able to get away with standard 16-gr Air Arms Diabolo Field pellets. The setup prints tight groups at 50m while maintaining a reasonably flat trajectory.

“My self-imposed maximum range is 60m. That is shooting off a bipod 
in calm conditions, and the majority of the shots I take with it are at less than 40m, within what most experienced shooters regard as 
the ceiling for a legal-limit airgun. Though the limitations of accuracy (mostly on my part) mean the extra power doesn’t extend my effective range by a great deal, it puts more pests in the bag by offering me a wider choice of kill areas.

“I restrict myself to head shots when tackling live quarry with a sub-12ft/lb airgun, but my 28ft/lb gun will deliver clean kills with a strike to the heart/lung area. Shots that would have been left because my target’s brainbox was obstructed are now on if I can get a pellet to its heart or lungs. It is surprising what a difference that makes, especially in scenarios where a rimfire would be too much gun.”

This article was previously published in 2017 and has been updated.

The post Here’s why you should consider getting an FAC air rifle appeared first on ShootingUK.

On the hunt for something? We’ve rounded up some of the best airguns around. (Take a look at our list of best airgun pellets too.)

You might also look at our guide to buying an FAC licence for your air rifle.

PCP air rifles

1.Airmaks Katran 

Length: From 77.5cm

Weight: From 2.3kg

What it offers: Katran C/CB, Katran/B, Katran L/LB, Katran X/XB

Why you should buy it: AirMaks’ Katran is a high-end airgun that combines near-target rifle levels of adjustability with the practicality of a folding stock, making it a multi-role performer.

RRP: From £1,400

Read our Airmaks Katran B review here.

( Here’s our list of the best FAC rated air rifles. )

2.Brocock BRK Ghost Carbine

Length: 65.5 cm

Weight: 3.1 kg

What it offers: .177 and .22 calibres

Why you should buy it:  Brocock BRK’s Ghost Carbine is an accurate and highly manoeuvrable little bullpup that lends itself extremely well to roving hunts as well as range time.

RRP: From £1,400

3.Brocock BRK Ranger XR

Length: 60-68cm

Weight: 2.2 kg (without scope)

What it offers: .177 and .22 calibres

Why you should buy it: This little airgun is a big performer, being accurate, reliable and solidly constructed, and its folding stock means it will fit inside a shorter gun bag. Definitely earns its place on our list of the best airguns.

RRP: From £1,244

4.BSA R-12 CLX Pro

Length: 102cm

Weight: 3.78kg

What it offers: .177 and .22 calibres

Why you should buy it:  Features like the new regulator, magazine and sidelever action prove just how far BSA has taken the multi-shot concept forward on its new flagship PCP.

RRP:  From £1,215

BSA Guns 

5.BSA Ultra CLX 160 Commemorative Edition 

Length: 82cm

Weight: 2.6kg

What it offers: .177 and .22 calibres

Why you should buy it: This limited edition, sidelever-operated incarnation of the hugely successful Ultra manages to combine handsome aesthetics and high-end performance with a very competitive price tag.

RRP: £999

BSA Guns

6.Daystate Alpha Wolf

Length: 72.2cm

Weight: 3.35 kg (without scope)

What it offers: .177, .22, .25, .30

Why you should buy it:  Daystate has set a new standard for airgun advancement with an electronic rifle that blends looks, technology and performance to give it true supergun status.

RRP: £2,300

Daystate

7.Daystate Huntsman Revere Safari 

Length: 94cm

Weight: 2.9 kg (without scope

What it offers: .177 (tested), .22 and .25

Why you should buy it: The Huntsman Revere was already an excellent airgun, but the Safari edition handles better and boasts rugged good looks that make for a superior rifle.

RRP: £1,220

Read our full review on the Daystate Huntsman Revere Safari here.

8.FX Impact M3 Compact

Length: 50cm

Weight: 2.7kg

What it offers: .177, .22

Why you should buy it:  The Impact M3 builds on FX’s proven reputation for producing high-quality and adaptable airguns and will be the airgun of choice for many tuning enthusiasts.

RRP: £1,839

Sportsman Gun Centre

9.FX Wildcat MKIII BT

Why you should buy it: FX’s Wildcat has been subjected to rolling development, with the latest dual-regulated BT variant of the bullpup offering greater power, greater pressure and greater tunability.

RRP: £1,343.99

Sportsman Gun Centre

10.Gamo Venari

Length: 47cm

Weight: 3kg

What it offers: .177, .22

Why you should buy it: The Venari is a highly competent rifle in its own right, but adding a scope, moderator and bipod makes it an ideal PCP starter package.

RRP: £499

Gamo Guns 

11.Niksan Archero-S

Length: 103cm

Weight: 3.6kg

What it offers: 

Why you should buy it: Its semi-tactical synthetic stock and inexpensive price make the Archero a practical sporter that’s ideal for the rigours of the field, especially when shot prone.

RRP: £559

Read our full review on the Niksan Archero-S here.

12.Rapid Air Weapons HM 1000X

Length: TBA

Weight: TBA

What it offers: .177

Why you should buy it: Evolved from the iconic Theoben Rapid, this is the flagship model in the RAW range and offers the ultimate in build quality and precision.

RRP: £2,149

Countryway Gunshop 

13.Reximex Ixia Compact

Length: 70cm

Weight: TBA

What it offers: .177

Why you should buy it:  Its performance rivals that of more expensive alternatives with pellets flying through the same hole for as long as you want to keep pulling the trigger.

RRP: £920

Range Right 

14.Reximex Pretensis

Length: 109cm

Weight: TBA

What it offers: .22

Why you should buy it:  The Pretensis is a stylish, well-made and capable performer that offers excellent value for money.

RRP: £799.95

Range Right 

15.Walther Reign

Length: 68.5cm

Weight:2.5kg (without scope)

What it offers: .177, .22 and .25

Why you should buy it:  The Walther Reign is a superbly balanced, light and compact bullpup that can easily withstand being bashed about when hunting, while delivering blistering performance too.

RRP: £799.95

Read our full review of the Walther Reign here. 

16.Walther Rotex RM8 UC

Length: 79cm

Weight: 3.8kg (without scope)

What it offers:  .177 and .22

Why you should buy it:  Everything about the Rotex RM8 UC feels solid and substantial, so when it comes to rugged, affordable quality and performance, few air rifles can compete.

RRP: £539.95

Read our full review of the Walther Rotex RM8 UC here. 

17.Weihrauch HW100 BP

Length: 82.4cm

Weight: 3.7kg (without scope)

What it offers:  ,177 , .22

Why you should buy it:  Far more than just a bullpup, the HW100 BP is a carefully scaled-down version of one of the best multi-shot pre-charged airguns on the market.

RRP: £910

Read our full review of the Weihrauch HW100 BP here.

18.Weihrauch HW110 Laminate

Length: 89cm

Weight: 3.1kg (without scope)

What it offers: .177, .20 and .22

Why you should buy it: Weihrauch’s HW110 was already an excellent airgun with its black soft-touch stock, but the addition of an elegant laminate option has made it extra special.

RRP: £910

Read our full review of the Weihrauch HW110 Laminate here.

Springers and gas-rams

19.BSA GRT LIGHTNING XL SE

Length: 99cm

Weight: 3kg (without scope)

What it offers: .177, .22

Why you should buy it: Solid build quality, dependable performance, minimal maintenance and a sensible price tag make the GRT a great choice for fuss-free shooting without breaking the bank.

RRP: £349

Read our full review of the BSA GRT Lightning XL SE here.

20.Crosman Fire

What it offers: .22 

Why you should buy it: This durable but inexpensive rammer is ideal for those shooters who expect enough quality to reward good technique and send a few tin cans flying.

RRP: £179.99

Range Right 

21.Gamo Swarm Roadster Gen2

Length: 118cm

Weight: 2.6kg (without scope)

What it offers: .177, .22

Why you should buy it:  This rifle offers the convenience of a self-contained powerplant plus rapid reloading courtesy of a multi-shot magazine, and even comes with a scope and mounts.

RRP: £269

Read our full review on the Gamo Swarm Roadster Gen2 here.

22.Norica Hawk GRS

Length: 118cm

Weight: 3.2kg (without scope)

What it offers:  .177, .22

Why you should buy it: With one of the most striking features being its stock with a subtle green hue, the GRS strikes a balance between affordable simplicity and dependability.

RRP: £299

Read our full review on the Norica Hawk GRS here. ]

Last but not least on our list of the best airguns is

23.Weihrauch HW80 Luxus

Length: 113cm

Weight: 3.9kg (without scope

What it offers: .177, .22, .20, .25

Why you should buy it: Numerous updates have been made to this iconic spring gun’s internals over the years, and it’s now had a boost with a new ambidextrous stock.

RRP: £540

Read our review of the Weihrauch HW80 Luxus here.

This review on the best airguns was originally published in 2016 and has been updated. 

The post We pick out some of the best airguns around appeared first on ShootingUK.