Which .22 sub 12ft lb pcp rifle to buy ?

[Hftmelton]

Hi.

There's actually nothing wrong with the rifle that you have for rabbits.

Is it simply down to the weight of your Rotex that's pushing you toward buying another rifle?

If it is, as has already been suggested a rifle sling may be a simple solution.

If you're going for a .22 because you believe, or have been told that a sub 12ft/lb .177 air rifle isn't sufficiently powerful to cleanly kill a rabbit at realistic ranges then I can reassure you that it is, as I've killed many rabbits with my .177 air rifles.

Whether you use sub 12ft/lb .177 or .22 you have to take head shots to ensure humane kills, and either calibre is suitable.

Accuracy is the most important issue, you have to be able to consistently hit a target the size of a £1 coin which is around the size of a rabbit's brain, and you shouldn't push your ranges beyond the distance that you can confidently achieve this.

I try to shoot prone from a bipod as much as possible as this enhances accuracy greatly.

Yes, .22 does hit harder down range, but range estimation is more critical with its loopier trajectory.

.177 flies flatter and still carries enough energy to kill cleanly.

If it is the weight issue that's critical for you, then of the rifles you listed the only one I have experience of is the BSA Ultra.

I have owned one in .177 calibre for about six years and it's my go to gun in sub 12ft/lb. it's light, short, and very accurate, and if you get it regulated it gives you loads more shots over the standard rifle.

That's it ...im getting £1 grouping at 60yards at . Im quiet a good shooting at paper targets but not seem too be getting kill shots, ive only just started with quarry , so purchased a range finder to help judge range as im not very good at it ,and just upgraded to jsb heavy. 177

[gsxrman]

That's it ...im getting £1 grouping at 60yards at . Im quiet a good shooting at paper targets but not seem too be getting kill shots, ive only just started with quarry , so purchased a range finder to help judge range as im not very good at it ,and just upgraded to jsb heavy. 177

Decent scope should help with range finding, either with Parallax or the HFT style. Hunting is massively different to paper punching, unstable ground with differing hold and stances. Learn the site, where the warrens are and distance from your proposed ambush points. Reduce range for now.
Learn your trajectory at differing ranges and how the wind affects your chosen ammo. Heavies are good, I used Bisley Magnums a lot but also shot a lot with 7.9 grain Premiers. Accuracy is paramount. Practice in the field not bench rested at paper. Sounds gross but the eyeball is a perfect target if presented.

[Steyr]

You seem to considering long range hunting with a sub 12 FPE rifle in .22 rifle and are not good at range reading.

It is one thing to plant a £1 coin group at 60 yards from a bench and totally different to do so at any target you can conceivably miss and wound. Personally, my max hunting range is a 5 pence peice group or the trigger ain't squeezed.

A .22 has a much loopier trajectory which may become more pronounced with the weight and BC of the pellet used.

Not to mention weather influences on the day pushing the pellet left or right or falling short or over your perceived POI

In sub 12 FPE and especially if you find it tricky to range by eye, the flatter trajectory of a..177 calibre may make a difference between a connecting shot over a wounding or miss shot.

I would say that there are people who have the skill to plant at 60 yards but they are few and far between and would not advocate everyone starts taking shots outside ones skill set especially at a blink or a pulse.

Maybe review you skill, range and equipment decisions when its live quarry.

Your user name suggests you are into HFT and thats a goodcway to become a better shot as it allows you to shhot at distance that tests you but that does not injure quarry if you F it up.

I would suggest getting closer and improving your poi and drop ratio before you go distance shooting. And sub 12 imho isnt the right cal for longer shots. It is doable but not if your cutting your teeth.

[sandyman1963]

Same from me none of your selection of rifles. Look at second rifles for example a BSA R10 or Air Arms most RFDs have second hand ones in and usually offer a limited warranty for a couple of months buying of the net is not is not ideal as there are scammers about.

As to reading range just practice and practice some more. It’s easy when shooting at targets I know a lad who is amazing a target work but at field work he is about as useful as a chocolate frog. The last thing you want is to wound an animal what you shoot may be classed as pests but no matter what suffer. Use range finder go out into the field stick so,e markers out record the distance and shoot them and repeat it will help.

Also stop shooting animals until you a confident of a kill shot as you have said you are not getting kill shots.

[Steyr]

Map your perms and mark distances to places you see quarry from.

I have a Note 8 so I can take pics and annotate the distances from one point to another.

Another good app is what3words.... accurate to a 3m x 3m square.

[gtfreight]

There is no real need for a big shot count if you're hunting. If I ever started hunting again I would be looking at a multi-shot Ultra or an S200 and get a multi shot adapter for it.
If you need more shots (I'm presuming you're travelling to your permission by car) I would suggest taking a bottle with you and returning to your car for a top up but an Ultra will drop 30 rabbits from 1 fill which will weigh a lot more than a heavy gun.
Good luck with your search.

[the bish]

an Ultra will drop 30 rabbits from 1 fill

Get an Ultra regulated and you'll get far more shots.

My .177 Ultra is Tench Regged, and gives around a hundred shots from a 250 bar fill.

[Moss74]

That's it ...im getting £1 grouping at 60yards at . Im quiet a good shooting at paper targets but not seem too be getting kill shots, ive only just started with quarry , so purchased a range finder to help judge range as im not very good at it ,and just upgraded to jsb heavy. 177

If you're quite new to hunting a good way to get a feel for it is view the quarry through the uncocked rifle and take a mock shot, I know it sounds daft and doesn't put anything in the bag but the jump from targets to rabbits and the nerves can kick in,
Even if you don't feel jumpy it takes the pressure off, you get time to think about it, when you pull the trigger you know if you were on it.
Then start cocking the rifle,
A quid at 60yards is good shooting (and a long way!) So you obviously have the eye for it, it worked for me.
Stick with it bud happy hunting Martin

[Steyr]

If you're quite new to hunting a good way to get a feel for it is view the quarry through the uncocked rifle and take a mock shot, I know it sounds daft and doesn't put anything in the bag but the jump from targets to rabbits and the nerves can kick in,
Even if you don't feel jumpy it takes the pressure off, you get time to think about it, when you pull the trigger you know if you were on it.
Then start cocking the rifle,
A quid at 60yards is good shooting (and a long way!) So you obviously have the eye for it, it worked for me.
Stick with it bud happy hunting Martin

See post 12. Hitting targets but not quarry. 69 yard shots is going beyond.

[Moss74]

See post 12. Hitting targets but not quarry. 69 yard shots is going beyond.

I agree with you there Steyr,
I didn't mean to imply in my post shots at that range were acceptable at quarry
Just wanted to offer some encouragement to someone that's starting out.