Advice required for appointment with squirrel

[KTM950 0]

Hi,

 

New boy here. Having not shot air rifles for 30 years, I find I am in need of help and advice! Ended up here after watching Vermin Hunters TV so Si and Dave if your reading.....

 

1. Rifle choice - Initially I thought a simple and cost effective second hand outfit so springer or gas ram. After reviewing many posts I have narrowed choice to

 

- AA TX200 MK 3 or HC or pro sport

- Weihrauch HW97

- Weihrauch HW90

 

All in .22

 

Great to see UK manufactured rifles! would like to support UK business if they are good enough - sad to see Theoben close their doors or they would have been on the list.

 

Questions

 

Reasonable choice?

 

Any advantage /disadvantage in springers versus gas ram?

 

What should you look for, beware of when buying a second hand gun?

 

WIth regard to scopes I have no idea (other than getting cracked around the eye by an SLR scope when 15! - all thought it was a great laugh!) so is this sort of thing any good?

 

- Hawke Eclipse 3 -12x 50mm IR Mil Dot AO

 

I have not tried any yet - But do not want to appear a total numpty - The range of scopes both in terms of features and price seems vast.

Any recommendations welcome - a short list of types to try would be good. The wife is a bird watcher and has Hawke Frontier ED binoculars. They offer outstanding VFM/performance - equaling for her purposes much more expensive brands like Swarovski and Leica don't know if this holds true in the scope business?

 

The use of this kit will be target shooting at local club to achieve competency and then (only when competent) I have an appointment with some squirrels which after 20 years of pest free bliss seem to have taken up residency locally and visit my garden to destroy my cob nut harvest, devastate the songbird nests, dig holes, damage fruit trees etc.

 

Also a friend of mine runs a carp fishery and says he is over run with rats this year with many fishermen complaining - so I would be welcome to help in pest control.

 

I have not set a budget but was hoping to get set up with twelve month old or younger gear for around £300 - Is both my choice of kit for purpose intended and budget reasonable?

 

As I say any advice welcome!

 

Thanks

 

Ian

[robwelsh 354]

The airguns you have narrowed it down to are the best,well made springers out there. Also the Hawke range are good scopes for the money. The three iv had have been clear,well made ans always hold their zero. The mtc mamba lite I have just bought too..and the reticle ans scope itself is awesome.

Although gas ram have less recoil supposedly,than a Springer..I find the recoil harder to live with an prefer spring gun, so try both.atb

[pianoman 3,587]

As Rob says, your rifle choices are perfect for your shooting ambitions. Scopes are largely a thing of personal choice with regards to reticles. Hawke are probably the most popular make. Their current Panorama series makes a great scope for an air rifle. Others love their MTC Mambas. I love Bushnell Legend and an old Scopechief 4-14x50mm scope I have; and Simmons Whitetail Classics with simple 30-30 reticles but, they are awesome for keeping a pin-sharp zero all day and through changing temperatures.

 

I prefer spring rifles to gas rams. Nothing wrong with either. It's just what I'm used to. Both are as accurate as eachother. You can leave a gas ram cocked for hours without harm to the unit. But then, I keep my spring rifles cocked and ready for hours on hunting forays and never yet have found any problems to the rifles caused by this.

 

You are definitely on the right track with your rifle choices

 

All the best.

Pianoman

[KTM950 0]

Thanks for the friendly and helpful advice guys!