mark williams 7,550 Posted November 28, 2013 Report Share Posted November 28, 2013 Hi all, I`ve been toying with the thought of going to fac air for a while now and keep picking up on the remarks of - "not that much difference". About 12 months ago I went from 40 years of sub 12 ft/lbs springers in .22 cal to a HW 100 kt in 177 cal.There was a marked improvement in accuracy and full game bags at air rifle ranges as shot placement and trajectory in 177 proved lethal. I do wonder if an fac rifle in .22 cal and flat trajectory would be that much different to a sub 12 ft/lbs rifle in 177 cal using the "shot placement rule". Thank you for any advice/ thoughts . Quote Link to post
villaman 9,983 Posted November 28, 2013 Report Share Posted November 28, 2013 If you have full game bag with a sub 12 why go to all the Hassle with FAC 1 Quote Link to post
the big chief 3,099 Posted November 29, 2013 Report Share Posted November 29, 2013 Same as vm why bother if the game bag is full its just going to do the same job at the end of the day but just have more power I have always preferred sub 12 flb myself Quote Link to post
WoodsmanJim 160 Posted November 29, 2013 Report Share Posted November 29, 2013 I toy with the same question myself. I was a .22 man all my life, until i saw how much faster and flatter a.177 is. I use .177 now. My permission is a golf course, so lots of open flat-ish areas to stalk about with only a few light hedgerows of coppices of trees for cover. The rabbits have been lamped and poached so much they're VERY skittish and often it's very hard to get to withing 35/40 yards for a good shot. A nice FAC air rifle would give me a much longer effective range, could be .22 and still have the fast flat trajectory of a sub 12ft'lb .177. Which in my mind makes it the best of both worlds! The question for me is not sub12 or FAC, instead I'm asking myself FAC air or .22lr rimfire? (or both!) Jim Quote Link to post
andy97 209 Posted November 29, 2013 Report Share Posted November 29, 2013 you get more reach mate with fac better for game that wont stay there instead of 30-50 yrds n 50 being a very good shot you can reach ot to 80yrds eazy with the rapid i had 70-80yrds shots were everyday shots you can even reach out a bit further Quote Link to post
the big chief 3,099 Posted November 29, 2013 Report Share Posted November 29, 2013 NV gear will sort the lamp shy bit out and home builds are pretty cheap to do Quote Link to post
j j m 6,527 Posted November 29, 2013 Report Share Posted November 29, 2013 its not worth the hassel mate Quote Link to post
Craig83 52 Posted November 30, 2013 Report Share Posted November 30, 2013 Go FAC! I spent years with sub 12, banged FAC air on my ticket and now never looked back. Currently have a 30ft/lb Daystate MK4 IS and a 100ft/lb .303 Wolverine If you do go that way be sure to put all FAC calibre's I wish I'd put .25 and .20 on now Quote Link to post
TheRealChuckNorris 42 Posted November 30, 2013 Report Share Posted November 30, 2013 Worth considering that .22lr usually works out cheaper and more versatile when compared to FAC air. You'll be able to pick up a rifle from £50 upwards and ammo is very cheap. With an FAC rifle you'll spend a fair whack on the kit and usually have to carry an air tank to your permission to top up if you're taking a few shots. You may have more trouble shifting an FAC air rifle than the .22lr (as they're a bit more specialist) if you decide you don't get on with it leading to a financial loss or it sitting in your cabinet taking up a slot on your ticket for longer than anticipated. A good set up for a .22lr can be remarkably quiet and an excellent method for rabbit control. 2 Quote Link to post
The one 8,456 Posted November 30, 2013 Report Share Posted November 30, 2013 A fac rifles handy but for shooting in barns sheds etc it maybe just a bit too much power Quote Link to post
shotgun12 11 Posted November 30, 2013 Report Share Posted November 30, 2013 and you have to go though the crap of forms, Quote Link to post
Craig83 52 Posted December 1, 2013 Report Share Posted December 1, 2013 The paper work isn't all that, and mine was back in 3 weeks. Took a day to fill in the paper work and get it all signed Quote Link to post
Elliott 436 Posted December 1, 2013 Report Share Posted December 1, 2013 (edited) Must admit, I don't see much use for FAC air. My sub 12 HW100 was capable of dispatching rabbits at 50 yards and I don't believe the extra 10-20 yards of FAC air would be that much of an advantage. Beyond this range I'd either stalk closer or use a rimfire which is much less affected by the wind. It's for this reason I now have a sub 12 HW77K and a HMR Edited December 1, 2013 by Elliott Quote Link to post
salop sniper 32 Posted December 1, 2013 Report Share Posted December 1, 2013 Worth considering that .22lr usually works out cheaper and more versatile when compared to FAC . Have to disagree with this comment. Personally I find the FAC air more versatile, that's why it's my go to rifle and why I sold my rim-fires (HMR and .22lr) Anything FAC you have to be prepared to give up if you lose your ticket, so if the land owner sells and your without land your left high and dry facing selling up ! Benefits for me with FAC Air are: Extended range, with out the fall out range of a Rim-fire Quarry is put down harder with a real good impact Nice and quiet Bucks the wind far better Already have the charging gear Ammo: choice is huge, it's not restricted like other FAC ammo, the Mrs can pick me some up if needed. Land owners seem more open to an "air rifle" rather than a "bullet gun" as they call them. Cons of rim-fire: Restricted ammo choice Restricted qty to hold/purchase Big fall out range No skywards shots Noise or big chance of ricochet (land dependant) Separate storage fore ammo required Corrosive powder in mod's Land owners not so open to "bullet guns" Spent brass to account for, which at night in grass is a pain .22lr sub sonics are great but I found very poor groups with CB's and lower velocity stuff and the same with hyper-sonic. If your bagging plenty with your sub 12ftlb .177 I would stick to that unless you have the funds to do both ! Quote Link to post
Elliott 436 Posted December 1, 2013 Report Share Posted December 1, 2013 (edited) Worth considering that .22lr usually works out cheaper and more versatile when compared to FAC .Have to disagree with this comment. Personally I find the FAC air more versatile, that's why it's my go to rifle and why I sold my rim-fires (HMR and .22lr)Anything FAC you have to be prepared to give up if you lose your ticket, so if the land owner sells and your without land your left high and dry facing selling up ! Benefits for me with FAC Air are: Extended range, with out the fall out range of a Rim-fire Quarry is put down harder with a real good impact Nice and quiet Bucks the wind far better Already have the charging gear Ammo: choice is huge, it's not restricted like other FAC ammo, the Mrs can pick me some up if needed. Land owners seem more open to an "air rifle" rather than a "bullet gun" as they call them. Cons of rim-fire: Restricted ammo choice Restricted qty to hold/purchase Big fall out range No skywards shots Noise or big chance of ricochet (land dependant) Separate storage fore ammo required Corrosive powder in mod's Land owners not so open to "bullet guns" Spent brass to account for, which at night in grass is a pain .22lr sub sonics are great but I found very poor groups with CB's and lower velocity stuff and the same with hyper-sonic. If your bagging plenty with your sub 12ftlb .177 I would stick to that unless you have the funds to do both ! What do you find the advantages of FAC air over sub 12? Most of the things you have listed I can do with my sub 12 HW. You can't smack a rabbit at 150 yards or drop a fox like you can with my HMR though Edited December 1, 2013 by Elliott Quote Link to post
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