Airgun Obsessions of The 70s

[MartynB]

When I hunted alot in the early 1980's, always a head shot, if I couldn't get a head shot I would wait or let it go

[Mark Palmer]

As a pre teen in the late 70's .22 ruled as far as we were concerned, the Airsporter was lusted after because it was so 'powerful' (a pig to cock and a dreadful slammy shot cycle, so it had to be powerful!!) , the Webley mk3 that my mates dad had was the most accurate gun I shot back then, and nice and smooth to shoot, I didnt have the strength to cock one back then (I was only 9 or 10), open sights ruled and pellets were often bought a couple of hundred at a time from a jar at the local newsagent (weighed out in the same scales as the sweets and fruit n veg) and came in a paper bag, if we were flush and could scrape together enough for a box full, they were usually Bulldogs or Marksman , accurate was hitting a tate n lyle syrup tin at 15 to 20 yards free hand! Care free times

[AC all day]

Anyone mentioned square springs??

[foby75]

Superb original post!

Spot on and much of that resonated into the early 80s for me born in 1970 but obsessed with air weaponry/all weaponry!

[Elwellaxe]

Good post this one, hope it runs for while, I had ascended to firearms by then but have come back to airguns since ammo prices & reloading components have gone crazy, now I know what I've been missing.
Elwellaxe.

[Powderfinger]

Big objective lenses (possibly more of an eighties thing) to let more light in. Affordable night vision for hunters and the nuances of depth of field for target shooters have replaced the big lenses.

.22 was the same calibre as the most popular firearms so it had to be better. .177 was for effete Continentals. Bigger was usually considered better in the seventies (industries, engines, movies, LPs were doubles or even triples, hair, hems of your jeans and…other things).

Everyone knew of someones brother who had a superpowered airgun that could shoot through both sides of a metal dustbin. Truth be told it was most likely doing about ten foot pounds.

[rapidresponse1]

always tried for head shots in the 70s with my springer

[MrGreengrass]

Accuracy, quality power, sturdy mounts .
My obsession still remains from then.
Have recently bought a nr mint FWB 124, 11.5 ftlb
I fitted it with a Sportsmatch op adj mount and a Bushnell Legend.
Running on either QYS 9.56 domed or JSB Exact.
Seriously good performance still ,out of a 40+yr old gun.
The 124's are still the business, especially when they were fitted with the 300S barrels...and now ..the really good ammo...wow.

[Shed tuner]

Accuracy, quality power, sturdy mounts .
My obsession still remains from then.
Have recently bought a nr mint FWB 124, 11.5 ftlb
I fitted it with a Sportsmatch op adj mount and a Bushnell Legend.
Running on either QYS 9.56 domed or JSB Exact.
Seriously good performance still ,out of a 40+yr old gun.
The 124's are still the business, especially when they were fitted with the 300S barrels...and now ..the really good ammo...wow.

yup, those guns were way ahead of their time...

[MartynB]

Big objective lenses

Optima Moonlighter