co2 or spring

[chrisnbish 0]

buying a new air rifle and i am stuck weather to go for a co2 powered smk rifle or a spring BSA lightning

 

what do you guys think thanks

[ftm 3,357]

co2 would be my choice mate

[vizlauk 1,568]

I would say it depends of the use of the gun, is it for hunting or target plinking, if hunting I would go co2 (not smk by my own choice), plinking/target then a springer

[gurtwurz 792]

or alternately, use the same money to get a second hand weirauch HW80k- built like tanks, accurate as you like and great for all kinds of shooting, apart from maybe in a vehicle cos theyre quite long still.

 

cheers, wurz

[chrisnbish 0]

or alternately, use the same money to get a second hand weirauch HW80k- built like tanks, accurate as you like and great for all kinds of shooting, apart from maybe in a vehicle cos theyre quite long still.

 

cheers, wurz

 

thanks ive done some research and i think that is what i will do

[Rake aboot 4,935]

co2 smk,,,crap! lol

 

spend the cash on a big stick,,it`ll be more use

[77 si 21]

Descent springer all the way.

[matt_hooks 188]

CO2 rifles are not really hunting tools in the way that a good springer is. I'd definitely go for a second hand, good quality springer over either of the options, though the Lightning is a good little tool.

[ftm 3,357]

have to disagree with matts comment about co2 not being a good hunting tool .try a poll then on the best rifle to control vermin and im pretty confident co2 will come out top .mind you the weirach is a great rifle

[matt_hooks 188]

I am willing to bet that more game/vermin has been taken with springers than any other type of air rifle.

 

CO2 has a few major flaws which limit it's effectiveness for hunting. Firstly cold weather performance is seriously reduced. Secondly, rapid fire will cause a drastic reduction in power very quickly as the expanding gases cause the cylinder temperature (and hence pressure) to drop. Thirdly the shot count tends to be relatively low per cylinder, and the cost is high, whereas with a springer you pay for the rifle, and the only consumable is then pellets.

[b53hunt 15]

f**k c02 its not good at all and get a springer or if youve got the cash get a pcp youll never look back atb

[andyfr1968 772]

Springer all the way, mate, especially if it's going to be your main gun

 

Co2 does have it's uses (I use it...) but as an all year round hunting tool it's limitations far out weigh it's advantages of being small, light, compact and very quiet with a mod fitted but the ballache that goes with it, cost of Co2 soon mounts up, general shitty quality of most of the guns, no use at all when it gets cold, unpredictable shot count etc...

 

As has been said above, get a decent used springer, any HW, Air Arms, Diana or older UK built Webley (don't buy a Lightning, they're shite!! ) will do you just fine and last forever if looked after.

 

Cheers

Edited June 5, 2011 by andyfr1968

[pianoman 3,587]

Best Co2 rifle I have seen in recent times is the UMAREX 850 AIRMAGNUM bolt action rifle. It absolutely knocks that cheapo SMK Co2 rifle into a cocked hat, looks like a great fun-gun and a decent plinker but, as a serious hunting arm? No! There'll be enough poke to despatch a rabbit at 25 metres or so, maybe a little more, but the levels of accuracy are questionable for an effective hunting rifle.

 

At the other end, I have an FAC Weihrauch HW80 .22 carbine that is the fastest, most accurate air rifle this side of a rimfire; and a sub 12ft/lb HW77 and both can accurately rip a tin beer can apart at over metres with no problem. And so too can my friends' HW90 Gas ram rifles. They shoot sub 12ft/lb .20 and .177.

 

There's no magic formula, no mythical alchemy, just practised handling and skillfully accurate shooting with rifles well up to the job.

 

Forget the Lightning. BSA's today are built by Gamo and they just are not the great spring rifles they once were. But nor do you need to spend serious money on a brand new Weihrauch. There are some great second hand bargains of HW80s, 95Ks' and HW77 and HW97's out there.

 

Beats the hell out of me why lads will go spend good money on cheap crap when there's so much good second hand stuff from Air Arms, Weihrauch and Diana, for less money in some cases.

 

Simon.

[andyfr1968 772]

Paul only paid £150 for his 90, Simon and that was with a very nice Jap built Nikko scope and a decent mod

[pianoman 3,587]

One Hundred and fifty quid for that rifle Andy; with scope? Now there's a bargain. No wonder Paul's chuffed with it. That HW80K of mine cost me a lot less than £50 as a sorry-state clunker that was a trade in. A bit of TLC and a re-blue and it belts along!

 

Simon