What Gun To Get On Fac

[s horsfield 7]

i am going to have a go at geting my fac when my shotgun is up for renewal early next year, I was woundering if anyone can recomend a gun for me. i already have BSA HORNET in 22 that can go to about 15 foot pound ,but it is showing its age now, so if anyone knows of a desent make and modelso i can look into it that would be helpful. cheers Ian

[Acuspell 329]

Any number of modern rifles will push out big numbers.

The Daystate Air Ranger in .22 will do a sensible 40ft-lbs, and 80ft-lbs in .25 - also the Air Wolf but I am not convinced about the longevity of electric triggers and battery operated safety switchs in the field!

 

FX - they do several high powered models (spares and servicing can be tricky)

S-16 is a favourite to butcher and take into the 30s in .22 - not the most reliable thing to land yourself with.

 

My suggestion would be to go for a Theoben Rapid, you can pick up an FAC one in .22, pushing between 30ft-lbs and 45ft-lbs depending on what it was set for - easily tuned and fettled to run sweeter. I have a friend who made Rapid .22 run at 1458fps with Crossman Premiers - just to prove it was possible! Most set the Rapid for around 40ft-lbs, running AA fields 18gn or Bisley Magnums at 21gn and the velocity around the 950fps mark. This gives good shot count, incredible accuracy and not too loud - run faster you use exponentially more air and the noise becomes intolerable - that 1458 fps rifle was louder than a .22 rimfire without a silencer!

[moxy 617]

I will second the above and say a rapid, On FAC they are handy money and in no shortage.

I tend to run mine around the mid twentys and it suits me well for the type of shooting I do/land I cover. and also conserves the shot count a little more as opposed to running it in the high thirtys.

 

I wouldn't get too much into pellet types until you get a FAC air rifle. As the same old story goes every barrel is different.

No offence Acuspell but just because the velocity output with a certain pellet can be potentially 900-1000fps, certainly don't mean its going to be accurate at range.

I have tried loads of pellet types and weights in my rapid and have found (as have most ) that it can be horses for courses. And my barrel will not entertain bis mags. Some pellets are only accurate up to 40 yds whereas others of the same weight may do a little further.

It can get complicated

 

But hey!! thats the fun I guess

[RAPID7LIAM 7]

I've had .22 mk1 rapid in fac running around 30fpe but just got myself a mk2 rapid in .20 last week and love it, haven't tried the heavier .20 pellets yet but is deadly up to 60yrds with 11.3gr ftt's I had lying about, should be just as accurate out to 70/80 with the right heavier pellet. Liam.

[delswal 3,819]

rapid 7 all the time every time

[Craig Fosse 286]

I would like moxy's comment if he wasn't a blooming mod haha!

 

Horsfield for my ten pence, do your research mate, its a huge topic and a lot of different areas to consider, getting an FAC air rifle is just the start, like moxy said, pellet choice is just a start, from where I'm at its all about finding the best power for your needs...but just remember one thing.....do not place power instead of accuracy. Some people may like 20 shots, but that's dependent on the shooting...alot of people forget the zeroing, / check elevation shots that we all do out in the field (although I don't condone shooting at trees or anything like that as its just as bad as polluting the atmosphere) ...with all these your shot count slowly goes down, and ends up to you going back to the car to fill up.

 

P.s I am indeed no pro at FAC air rifles but I am looking into it and have done alot of reading.

Edited September 27, 2013 by Craig Fosse

[moxy 617]

Thanks for the comment craig but I have to add in acuspells defence, he wasn't being derogatory and im pretty sure he knows his onions.

 

Simply for myself, number crunching aint my thing and its all well and good to loose yourself in chrono readings but as you rightly say craig if it isn't hitting where it should at the sharp end, then again the numbers mean didly squat.

 

It is so hard to advise whats for the best. Feck!! I have lost days pouring over a box full of pellets, a chrono and the WP of dive cylinders along with a set of alan keys.

The mind boggles sometimes.

 

[Wildling 520]

Can I just throw a spanner in the works here and say what exactly is the reason for choosing FAC Air over FAC Rim Fire ?

 

For a start .22 Rim Fire rifles are a lot cheaper have a hell of a lot less to go wrong with them and don't require charging every 20-30 shots and are unbeatable at knocking down small vermin at decent ranges.

Don't get me wrong I'm not knocking Air, far from it as it has it's place in the Sub-12 flavour around barns and livestock and I personally own a couple.

But for the hassle of going FAC Air you may as well go the whole way and apply for FAC Rim or above.

 

Of course thats my opinion.

[moxy 617]

As like many others, my FAC air is one of the first I reach for out the cabinet.

 

Some of the environments I shoot a LR is a big no no but the FAC air is the tool.

 

Noise can be a factor too, moderator or not, I often work on horse land and again a LR is a no no.

 

FAC has its place and I don't disagree in what your saying WFE, but it all depends on what type of shooting your going to be doing? or again!! The tool for the job

 

[Wildling 520]

It just seems a waste to me when Air rifles cost so much more and the fact that if you decide to give up you ticket your not allowed to lower the FPS setting for the rifle.

 

I see you point around livestock though.

[iana 25]

You also need to remember whatever you buy is on your ticket and if you don't get on with what you've brought you can just sell it and buy another. You will need to sell one then send off for a one to one variation and depending on your area could take weeks/months.

[Craig Fosse 286]

I'm completely with the plus sides of FAC over here compared to rim, my laws over here although quite specialist require a £160 fee just for checking the land is ok for rim not to mention getting it in your ticket and the hassle that is, FAC air exactly what moxy says, has its place in areas where a rim doesn't, again like moxy i do a lot of pest control near horses, and I don't need a lot more power than an sub 12ft/lb but I shoot a lot of cockreals and pheasants and I find I get a lot if runners that end up in the next field still flapping due to nerves, FAC is a better choice I'm looking into as long as the Accuracy is there to allow more shock resulting in stone dead rather than nerves dead so to speak.

 

 

I would just like to apologise I meant the OP not accuspell, I don't know why I wrote that down, his comments about accuracy and ft/lb was what I was trying to add to not condone, must have still been in my brain when I was writing before!

Edited September 27, 2013 by Craig Fosse