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'.![Frown](images/smilies/frown.png)
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'.