Having read various posts on the subject of power levels and pellet weights, may I suggest that there is a very simple way to stop the potential situation of air-rifles being over the 12ft/lb limit.
12ft/lbs is the absolute UK legal limit. What I’d suggest is that all UK Air-rifle Target Shooting Organizations should introduce a voluntary Gentleman’s agreement of a lower limit of say 10 – 10.5 ft/lbs so that no combination of pellet weight, fill pressure and ambient temperature will put a competitor’s rifle over the 12ft/lbs legal limit.
If all competitors are working from a level playing field, then I don’t see any problems once everybody has adjusted to the new trajectories for their rifle at the slightly lower power level.
As regards hunting with an air-rifle, is a rabbit really going to be able to tell the difference between a 10.5ft/lb or 11.5ft/lb shot?
I really don’t understand the people who want to own an air-rifle that is on the cusp of being an FAC rated weapon. I have a .22 Theoben MFR which was running at 11ft/lbs when I bought it. I have not had any need to alter it and I don’t have any desire to convert it to FAC, (which is still low powered compared to my proper rifles), rather it is just nice to have a rifle that I can plink with virtually anywhere or use for vermin without the added constraints associated with an FAC rated rifle.
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