Break barrel rifle..?

[gloria_mundi 0]

What is it? What's it for? And why does it seem to be cheaper/less expensive(see here: http://francislovel.com/gunList.php?filter=ar)? Does one need a licence? Are any capable of killing rabbits with one headshot?

 

Thank you for lessening my ignorance

[rossy08 33]

hi there the link takes you to a main page ith lots of guns on it, whats the make and model of the gun your after knowing about?

 

Andy

[matt_hooks 188]

Some break barrel rifles are hunting power, others aren't.

 

Basically you have two main types of air rifle. Spring powered and precharged

 

A Spring powered air weapon(I include gas ram types in the spring category) is where the gun has it's own power source on-board, which has to be "charged" (cocked) usually for each shot.

 

A precharged (often known as PCP, which is short for Pre Charged Pneumatic, where the rifle is as the name suggest precharged with the means of producing several shots, normally with a reservoir of air, though also CO2 capsules can be used.

 

Spring powered includes several subtypes, the main ones being under(or side)lever and break barrel. This reflects the manner in which the energy is stored in the spring. In an under lever, there is a separate lever which is used to tension the spring, whereas in a break barrel the barrel doubles up as the cocking lever.

 

Spring rifles come in all shapes and sizes, from very low powered plinking types, right up to full legal limit power (12 ft.lb's muzzle energy) hunting tools (and even beyond into FAC territory). The springer has several advantages, in that it is cheaper to purchase, and contains it's own power source, unlike the PCP where an external means of charging the air cylinder is required, either an expensive high pressure stirrup pump, or an even more expensive (and heavy) divers air cylinder. Basically with a springer and a tin of pellets, you can wander off into the countryside and shoot all day long.

 

The springer also has some significant disadvantages. They are generally more difficult to shoot accurately, as the spring movement causes a fair degree of recoil. Because of this recoil, you need to practice, practice and then practice a bit more before you consider going out to shoot anything living. Also the action can be quite noisy, which can be a big disadvantage when you are hunting at close range. Most peopl reckon that about 30 yards is a good air rifle range. There are some who shoot further, it's all down to the ability of the shooter to put the pellet in the humane kill zone at the chosen range.

 

A break barrel is sometimes considered inherently less accurate than a side/under lever, as each time you cock it you "break" the barrel, and in older rifles they didn't always line up in exactly the same place each time when closed. Modern break barrels if well maintained are less likely to suffer from alignment problems however.

 

Precharged rifles in general are closer to the legal limit, and there are not the "cheap" options available, as you require a fair degree of quality to make a reservoir to contain compressed air at upwards of 200 BAR. This is the main reason that they are more expensive to buy than the springers. Also as noted above you will need to buy either a charging pump or a bottle to charge it with air. These aren't cheap. A decent second hand pump will set you back £60 plus (new they are £100 plus). A divers bottle will cost you the same, or more. They are also heavy to carry about, which can limit a days hunting as the onboard air reservoir normally holds enough for between 30 and 50 full power shots.

 

A PCP is generally easier to shoot accurately, as they have negligible recoil. They can also be completely silent with a decent sound moderator on them, as they have very few moving parts.

 

A spring rifle can be perfectly capable of taking the UK pest species, for example rabbits, rats, feral pigeon, crows and a few others. A legal limit rifle with someone who knows what they're doing is a great pest control tool where live firing weapons are unsafe, and it's also a great personal challenge to get close enough to take quarry with the air rifle, it certainly makes you think, and improves your fieldcraft no end.

 

Sorry for the length of that, it started as a simple reply, and just kept growing. The simple answer is yes, if you buy the right break barrel it's more than capable of taking rabbits with a headshot at sensible ranges. I hope some of that makes sense. Oh, and welcome to the forum!

[Phantom 631]

As mentioned, what rifle are you talking about?

 

There are very few rifles these days that are not hunting rifles (even down to sub 6's if you can get within range)

 

As I mentioned in another thread of your, YOU WILL need a permit/license as you are in Northern Ireland

 

There is NO getting away from it

 

as I advised, earlier, approach your local constabulary if you intend to shoot vermin on "Family Land" I can not see there being a problem for you at all

 

Phantom