Because there is no such thing as perfection! There is no one gun that is perfect for everything
Well, technically, the Diana Mod.2 .177 pistol was my Dad's so it's been in the family for longer than I can remember, the Daisy 722 .22 pistol was an uncle's now mine, the LG 527 .22 rifle was my first Airgun and is currently at some relatives home to deal with rabbits. All of these came about before a wrist injury stopped me from shooting for about 16 years.
Now working in a gun shop for the last 10 1/2 years doesn't help and taking up shooting again to help out with my relative's rabbit problem (and get over a breakup) was also due to a tax rebate. First new gun after my return was my Webley Longbow Special Edition .22. I bought an Airmagnum for ratting (plastic stock to scratch up). A taste of HFT led to buying an S200. A few niggling things about it (fiddly small pellet tray and low shot count amongst other things) led to me recently buying an S400 Carbine and I'm happy with that....... For the time being.
Oh, and the Colt Tactical for a bit of IPAS.
Customised AA S400 Carbine
Ros beef, go home! www.buxtedshootingclub.co.uk SiHFT winners 2008 2009 2010
Because there is no such thing as perfection! There is no one gun that is perfect for everything
I have 3 outfits at the moment and in the process of sorting out 2 more 1 for the wife and 1 for the daughter as they've just started shooting
And as there getting new guns I'm having a new 1 because it's only fair
.
When I started shooting I always said I would only have one air-rifle as I only shoot HFT and don't need any more.....
well, I've now got 3.
My Mk4 is my HFT rifle.
My recently aquired hw77 is for a bit of springer fun, learning to tune/modify it, the occasional recoiling HFT.
and
My X2 merlyn was my previous competition rifle but it's one of the original ones (not the current merlyn) with a lovely stock and the MFC, and I just can't bring myself to get rid of it even though I don't use it much.
so I now don't need any more than 3.....
although I do find the idea of having an antique rifle appealing.
so, that's 4. I don't need any more than 4.....
mind you, there's always the.....
(you can see where this is going )
Daystate Mk4, Daystate X2 Merlyn, Weihrauch HW77k, Weihrauch HW35E, Benelli Kite
I've got 2 rifles but i have absolutley no doubt i'll collect more along the way, i think for me i'm just being a tart, i see something thats nice and want it, just because its nice, its the same with my fishing gear....i have everything i need but i go to the tackle shop and see a nice new pair of barbel rods and think "hmmmm...well i have had the others over 6 months now!" and buy them. funny though cos i never end up selling the old ones "just in case"
Weihrauch HW95k 177 - Bsa 3-9x40 Mildot
Daystate Airwolf 177 - Hawke Nite eye 6-24x50 SR12
At the moment I have stopped on three rifles and a pistol. If I were to buy another gun it would be a .177 PCP of some description. Thank goodness it's not likely I'll be getting a FAC in the near future as that would mean a whole new set of combos to look into!
I think each calibre has it's place in shooting and if funds allow it's just nice to have a little collection that can be tailored to each need. Having said that one rifle could do all jobs as well with a bit more effort and practice.
Steve.
Why lots of guns?
A backup gun.
Guns/scopes for various conditions (short range, long range, day, night, nightvision).
A variety of calibres for different tasks (.177, .20, .22, .25).
A variety of powerplants (spring, gasram, PCP).
A variety of stock shapes (e.g. sporter, thumbhole).
For conducting experiments.
To lend to newbies (are you reading, Stu? ).
Current tally is roughly:
4x HW100 variants.
1x Theoben Rapid.
3x Theoben Evolution variants.
1x Theoben SLR98.
7x Air Arms TXHC variants.
.
Is that All !!!!!!!
A backup gun.
Guns/scopes for various conditions (short range, long range, day, night, nightvision).
A variety of calibres for different tasks (.177, .20, .22, .25).
A variety of powerplants (spring, gasram, PCP).
A variety of stock shapes (e.g. sporter, thumbhole).
For conducting experiments.
To lend to newbies (are you reading, Stu? ).
Current tally is roughly:
4x HW100 variants.
1x Theoben Rapid.
3x Theoben Evolution variants.
1x Theoben SLR98.
7x Air Arms TXHC variants.[/QUOTE]
This is a picture taken when I had six HW100's.
Two of the three full-length HW's were sold a while ago; they had been earmarked for experiments into internal improvements and anti-tamper, but I decided that I didn't have the time to pursue the projects and I prefer the carbine versions.
But I do miss the full-length .177 that I sold........not that I'd use it much, since I have two "special" .177K's.
.
Yep, I may have got away with the springer after the first PCP on these grounds, but I now have 3 pcps, 5 springers (1 bought for nostalgic reasons and 1 rescued from the crusher) and 4 pistols.....
And if I could afford a verminator....I would have one after the HW35 has been to VMach
I'm a maggot in another life you know
a different outfit for a different type of shooting
Fluffy...
You forgot
Specialist plinking rig to include
Blue bottle rig
Snail rig
Cowpat rig (any old hunting rifle should fit this bill if the quarry has legged it)
Long range horse pooh rig (as above)
Short range horse pooh rig (anything in the amateur calibre...I shoot .177)
James bond and general tactical squad on kiddie boys toy rig (anything stealth, s16, take down or pistol...and yes I own several...shamelessly)
Now dont forget the ghillie suit for those tricky snails boys (too bloody hot for the ghillie suit at the momenat anyway)
I'm a maggot in another life you know
It's `horses for courses'. I have several guns for different uses. They are:
Daystate Air Ranger, .177 HFT Open class
BSA Scorpion, .22 HFT .22 class
Air Arms TX200, .177 HFT Springer class
Air Arms S400, .177 FT
SMK QB78DL, .22 Back garden `plinking'
Beeman 400E, .177 (Pistol) Back garden `plinking'
And last,but not least.... a B2 (My first air rifle that got me into the sport. I would NEVER get rid of it).
Excuse is the wrong word to use. None of us have to 'excuse' our conduct unless by purchasing another air rifle/motor cycle/fishing gear/cameras/lenses etc, they prejudice the finances of their families. The word that best describes that sort of person is 'idiot'.
Moving on, air rifles are very like cameras in my mind. Provided you can easily afford it the ideal is to have a different rifles for different purposes. Precharge backed up by self contained and so on. Also my choice is very different if I have a FAC or not.
If all my shooting gear was stolen or destroyed I think I would like the following air rifles..
1. FAC precharged hunting rifle-almost certainly a .25 regulated Rapid.
2. Back up FAC hunting self contained rifle-a .22 HW80.
3.Club/competition .177 precharge-choice is very wide.
4.Club/competition self contained-probably a .177 tuned HW97 or AA TX something like that.
If I didn't have a FAC I think I would pick a .20 Rapid/HW80 back up for hunting and the same .177 target rifles as detailed above.
Only one rifle? Really difficult and I'm glad I don't have to limit myself in that way.
If I did? OK, .20 HW80.
'It may be that your sole purpose in life is to serve as a warning to others'.