what vintage rifle

[DEAN C.]

I have no doubt that a good condition A/Sporter or Webley Mk3 could take out vermin with a head shot at 30 yards - I was referring the claim in the book that that an A/Sporter could kill a rabbit at 60 yards.
As I have a large garden, backing onto fields, I will use my Mk3 with open sights/AirSporter Mk4 with 4x32 teles for the closer ranges, up to 20 yards, but the new(ish) Weihrauch 35k for longer shots.

Bru

Sounds sensible to me.
I have owned most of the guns discussed, but the better ones for vermin are probably not necessarily the ones I would collect.

But when I go to the cabinet to clear some rabbits, it is usually my AA 410 carbine I would pick up now through choice.

Oh Muskett, your Pro sport is well thank you and looking very pretty.

[magnummike]

Pre 198O's It would have to be a Hw35 and you might as well have a looker so a 35E . Have had and still have Airsporters and Mercury's etc and have a soft spot for older BSA's but the 35's are like an old Roller and the BSA's are like a Cortina . Nothing wrong with Cortinas but Rollers are better

[DEAN C.]

Pre 198O's It would have to be a Hw35 and you might as well have a looker so a 35E . Have had and still have Airsporters and Mercury's etc and have a soft spot for older BSA's but the 35's are like an old Roller and the BSA's are like a Cortina . Nothing wrong with Cortinas but Rollers are better

I agree with you completely regarding guns, but I would rather have a nice 'Lotus' Cortina than a Roller.

[edbear2]

Pre 198O's It would have to be a Hw35 and you might as well have a looker so a 35E . Have had and still have Airsporters and Mercury's etc and have a soft spot for older BSA's but the 35's are like an old Roller and the BSA's are like a Cortina . Nothing wrong with Cortinas but Rollers are better

A well sorted Merc S (or MK3 Mercury) would be my personal choice over a 35E any day as IMHO they are a nicer looking, better handling gun. The HW has a better trigger, but these later BSA's with the adjustable jaws can be fettled to have a very usable trigger, can be made to go very well, and good ones are just as accurate as the HW.

ATB, Ed

[I. J.]

A well sorted Merc S (or MK3 Mercury) would be my personal choice over a 35E any day as IMHO they are a nicer looking, better handling gun. The HW has a better trigger, but these later BSA's with the adjustable jaws can be fettled to have a very usable trigger, can be made to go very well, and good ones are just as accurate as the HW.

ATB, Ed

Good points. One thing that persuades me more towards the HW is the BSA scope rail. Shallow, to far forward (due to the curved trigger block) and no arrestor stud facility (without drilling the trigger block and fitting BSA plate ). Specialist o/p mounts are needed from Sportsmatch or Apel.

ATB
Ian

[fatttmannn]

If you want something a bit different, how about an Hammerli sideleaver. Mines a model 2 in .177, not powerful but accurate has a match rifle.

[I. J.]

If you want something a bit different, how about an Hammerli sideleaver. Mines a model 2 in .177, not powerful but accurate has a match rifle.

Andy Mac (AMAC), a fellow club member and friend, did an article on my Hammerli side lever in the December issue of Airgunner. He liked it.

[Hsing-ee]

Andy Mac (AMAC), a fellow club member and friend, did an article on my Hammerli side lever in the December issue of Airgunner. He liked it.

The Hammerli is one of the few extremely accurate tap-loaders. However, it won't make more than 9 fpe without putting a 'strong' HW77 spring in it which takes from its mild nature. A stronger spring puts pressure on the narrow stamped-steel sear, which can wear AND is unobtainable as a spare, and on the stamped-steel cocking lever which due to its design can start to bend at the pivot end.

As one or two of us have remarked, the only way to go is an HW35. Or possibly an HW50 (old school) with tune up. I know a late Mercury or Mercury-S can do well, but they need a good deal of fettling, and for the average shooter the trigger mechanism on the HW just makes it easier to get good hunting accuracy.

[Triumph]

Thx for all of the replies.....its an HW 35 then...and a Webley service rifle to play with.

[fozzy45]

I would certainly recommend a HW77K which I would assume has been mentioned.