Fac Or Not ?

[andy97 209]

 

 

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

 

you can get variable air mate so in barns and indoors can be turned down but at 80yrd you can stil take clean kills you can only stalk in so much it gives you the option to take the further shots instead of having to get under 50yrds also with hmr the noise wheras the air rifle is miles quieter any if your paperwork gets passed get a hmr or rf but the OP was sub 12 or fac air

Edited December 1, 2013 by andy97

[salop sniper 32]

I know what you say about the 100 plus yards on bunnies with the HMR, it is good but not needed when sub 70 yards you can still take bunnies with FAC air and most of us can get within 70 yards of a bunny.

 

HMR on fox, yes that's okay but it's sub 100yards and head shots only because of the calibre's limits, that is of cause providing your ticket is conditioned for the use of HMR on fox !

And when your out in the daytime with your HMR you can't take the corvids and squirrels from the trees, your reliant on them coming to the ground !

Your sub 12 isn't going be as strong in the wind, give the range of the FAC Air or hit the quarry as hard, 12ftlb will never be 30ftlb and yes I believe it does result in better kills with a bigger impact on the quarry.

 

ATB

 

Matt

[Elliott 436]

I know what you say about the 100 plus yards on bunnies with the HMR, it is good but not needed when sub 70 yards you can still take bunnies with FAC air and most of us can get within 70 yards of a bunny.

 

HMR on fox, yes that's okay but it's sub 100yards and head shots only because of the calibre's limits, that is of cause providing your ticket is conditioned for the use of HMR on fox !

And when your out in the daytime with your HMR you can't take the corvids and squirrels from the trees, your reliant on them coming to the ground !

Your sub 12 isn't going be as strong in the wind, give the range of the FAC Air or hit the quarry as hard, 12ftlb will never be 30ftlb and yes I believe it does result in better kills with a bigger impact on the quarry.

 

ATB

 

Matt

Crows in trees sounds like a good example of where FAC Air could come into it's own I suppose. I like blatting them at 150 yards on the flat moorland permissions I have.. one or two dead sheep for them to feed on

Edited December 1, 2013 by Elliott

[ChrisJones 7,975]

Pros and cons, like with any tool you have at your disposal.

 

If you really want one then why not?

 

They're a lot of fun.

 

I know an old timer that can do more with a ghillie suit, and an HW45 air pistol, than I could ever do, with anything I have!! Hounds for grounds!

[pianoman 3,587]

There is a sound response from therealchucknorris regarding a .22LR rimfire on your licence. Nothing beats a well sorted small calibre cartridge rifle and they cost a lot less, with less hassle than an FAC PCP air rifle which will require a filling bottle if you have a lot of rabbits to shoot in a single foray. A .22LR will be more cost effective and easier to use on a heavy rabbit population.

 

I have an FAC HW80 .22 that I have wondered about replacing with a .22LR or 17HMR. But, experience of hunting with it provides an air rifle that fills the gap between 12ft/lbs and an FAC cartridge rifle beautifully. I would not be without my HW80 FAC. It is incredibly accurate as the .22 pellet flies flat and faster than a sub-12/ft/lbs .22 rifle. It enables me to hit hard and fast at conventional airgun ranges without the risk of over-penetration shots going on for a mile further out. It is devastating on close range rats too.

 

But a .22LR Rimfire makes a lot of sense if you are serious about going FAC and there's a huge amount of vermin at all ranges to cull.

 

Just my thoughts on the subject.

Pianoman.

[TheRealChuckNorris 42]

I totally understand the benefits of an FAC air rifle and how you can hunt quarry in more confined areas than with a .22lr and with less chance of ricochet so I wouldn't argue that it doesn't have a place in the overall lineup for consideration.

 

I still feel that the lr option offers greater versatility (wider selection of manufacturer, gun style and action) and also I believe less affected by wind when hunting outdoors than a pellet. I also shoot on the range with some FAC air holders and the noise difference is negligible between the two with moderators in place, plus I can put as many rounds down range as I like without stopping to refill.

 

I love my S510 and have used that many a time down the farm but know that if I need more clout then I'd reach for the .22lr. The rounds don't really foul the moderator and if it needs cleaning it's a 30 second job. Now...you want to come over and clean my shotguns after a day on the clays then that's a dirty job!

 

Just looking on GunTrader (my go to place for pricing and availability) there are just 52 FAC air rifles available priced from £200 to £1495. In comparison there are 850 .22lrs priced from £40 to £2,500.

 

It'd be boring if we all shot the same and I get the OP was asking about non FAC / FAC air but given that the FAC application process is costly I think all the options should be considered before embarking on the journey.

Edited December 2, 2013 by TheRealChuckNorris

[mark williams 7,550]

Thank you all for the many avenues of thought.

I have listened to you all and fac air is all I`m interested in at this time but I did take on board the limitations of rimfires, ie shooting into trees,ricochet and your experiences etc etc.

I think I will lean towards staying as I am (for now) with a sub 12 ft/lb rifle as I love the field craft side of this type of shooting.

I have owned and still do- shotguns,but I always seem to reach for the HW 100 kt and Jack pyke hides as the waiting, stalking, practice,practice,practice, of my marksmanship gives me a real sense of satisfaction.

For now, sub 12 ft/lb, and the trapping side of things as I was correctly reminded - "why change when the game bags are filled"?

 

Thanks Guys.

[Craig83 52]

Everything has a place, every tool has it pros and cons.

 

I'm very privileged to have a good gun collection and everything has it's benefits.

 

I'd say go FAC thou it opens a whole new world