FAC airgun advice

[3175darren 1,100]

Can I ask if anyone has any advice on FAC airguns , I am towing with the idea of getting one, I have no issue with justifying one.

Do most makers do a FAC option ? I are they worth the hassle ie the variation fiasco? Are they worth buying second hand ? What’s the pitfalls with them ? What’s the best calibre? can you pick them up second hand ? I notice there aren’t many for sale, any advice is greatly appreciated.  ( before I make a decision)

[philpot 4,974]

I have been shooting fac air for about 7 years now and I can tell you they are very underated. I have a .22 FX Wildcat at present and an FX Impact .25 before that and both are superb with the .25 being nothing short of awsome taking rabbits out to 125mt (lasered) using pellets as it was not a slug barrel so shudder to think what the slug would perform like. 

Are they worth the variation HELL YES and don't let anyone tell you otherwise and those that do usually have never owned one.  My .25 was just as good as my rimfire and with the later barrel or slug liner, people are shooting rabbits out to 200mt but my eyes are too bloody old for that.

Rapid have had fac .22 rifles for years and after owning one, they are very good but old technology and heavy, the market leader is FX, expensive........ yes, worth the money.....yes but that is down to your preference and pocket. If you are anywhere near me, you are welcome to come and have a session with my Wildcat.

Phil

[3175darren 1,100]

On 21/08/2024 at 15:56, philpot said:

I have been shooting fac air for about 7 years now and I can tell you they are very underated. I have a .22 FX Wildcat at present and an FX Impact .25 before that and both are superb with the .25 being nothing short of awsome taking rabbits out to 125mt (lasered) using pellets as it was not a slug barrel so shudder to think what the slug would perform like. 

Are they worth the variation HELL YES and don't let anyone tell you otherwise and those that do usually have never owned one.  My .25 was just as good as my rimfire and with the later barrel or slug liner, people are shooting rabbits out to 200mt but my eyes are too bloody old for that.

Rapid have had fac .22 rifles for years and after owning one, they are very good but old technology and heavy, the market leader is FX, expensive........ yes, worth the money.....yes but that is down to your preference and pocket. If you are anywhere near me, you are welcome to come and have a session with my Wildcat.

Phil

Thanks for that Phil , can I ask what do you think is the best calibre for them ?

[philpot 4,974]

Both .22 and .25 are superb but we all like different things but for me the .25 is far better however for that cal you need a good air tank such as the Impact, Crown , Maveric or Wildcat BT to offer the shot count. As an example my Impact gave me 90 shots per fill which was very useful when ratting as we could take 60 a night and pigeon shooting at times.  I  think my Wildcat in .22 give around 60 shots per fill and in .25 that drops to 30 shots per fill whereas the BT version in .25 is back up to 60 shots per fill.  

So yoou need to have a think about what you really want and how it will fit in with your shooting.  If you are near North Lincolnshire, you are welcome to come and try mine.

Phil

[3175darren 1,100]

5 hours ago, philpot said:

Both .22 and .25 are superb but we all like different things but for me the .25 is far better however for that cal you need a good air tank such as the Impact, Crown , Maveric or Wildcat BT to offer the shot count. As an example my Impact gave me 90 shots per fill which was very useful when ratting as we could take 60 a night and pigeon shooting at times.  I  think my Wildcat in .22 give around 60 shots per fill and in .25 that drops to 30 shots per fill whereas the BT version in .25 is back up to 60 shots per fill.  

So yoou need to have a think about what you really want and how it will fit in with your shooting.  If you are near North Lincolnshire, you are welcome to come and try mine.

Phil

Thanks for that Phil, that’s really helpful , I may drop you a message next time I’m down at Reedness , but I do think I am going to be buying one at some point, any info on the HW100 in FAC ?

[philpot 4,974]

7 hours ago, 3175darren said:

Thanks for that Phil, that’s really helpful , I may drop you a message next time I’m down at Reedness , but I do think I am going to be buying one at some point, any info on the HW100 in FAC ?

Hw are not regarded as very good fac gun in pcp, we do have a couple of seriously good springer shooters, one of which loves his hw80 in fac but generally very few people buy them in pcp and they do not make a .25 cal gun.

[philpot 4,974]

On 23/08/2024 at 17:23, 3175darren said:

Thanks for that Phil, that’s really helpful , I may drop you a message next time I’m down at Reedness , but I do think I am going to be buying one at some point, any info on the HW100 in FAC ?

By the way, where is Reedness

 

 

[pianoman 3,587]

On 24/08/2024 at 01:17, philpot said:

Hw are not regarded as very good fac gun in pcp, we do have a couple of seriously good springer shooters, one of which loves his hw80 in fac but generally very few people buy them in pcp and they do not make a .25 cal gun.

One of those chaps might be me Phil?

I expect a chap these days would go for a PCP on ticket nowadays. But I am a lifelong dedicated spring rifle shooter and that means I shoot a beautiful HW80 .22 I've owned on ticket since buying the rifle new in 1998.

It was professionally tuned by a now defunct RFD and runs at 18ft/lbs. It also had the breech transfer port reamed out by a thousandth fraction of a whisker. This delivers the power to the pellet with no piston bounce and gives a beautiful smooth firing cycle. She doesn't bark or over-recoil which ruins many an high powered springer.

The HW80 is a perfect rifle for this level performance and hits like a hammer at usual airgun ranges of about 20 to 50 metres. The need for an FAC spring rifle was a practical one for me. I wanted the reliability of a quality spring rifle with precise accuracy and the power to hit a rabbit's head faster than it could react and bolt our of the way of an oncoming sub-12ft/lb pellet. 

My HW80 .22 is a proven effective and humane vermin hunter for 26 years now and she's my absolute favourite for rats, long range 50+ meter rabbits and wood pigeon. There has yet to be a PCP I would take over this German spring powered legend anyday. But I've been shooting springers all my life and, while I have a superbly custom regulated Daystate Huntsman Regal .177 in my collection, it's my HW80 l love being out in all weathers with. 

All the best with whatever you choose Darren. But I'll hold my HW80 .22 against anyone's PCP supergun. 

Pianoman 

[3175darren 1,100]

On 10/09/2024 at 22:43, pianoman said:

One of those chaps might be me Phil?

I expect a chap these days would go for a PCP on ticket nowadays. But I am a lifelong dedicated spring rifle shooter and that means I shoot a beautiful HW80 .22 I've owned on ticket since buying the rifle new in 1998.

It was professionally tuned by a now defunct RFD and runs at 18ft/lbs. It also had the breech transfer port reamed out by a thousandth fraction of a whisker. This delivers the power to the pellet with no piston bounce and gives a beautiful smooth firing cycle. She doesn't bark or over-recoil which ruins many an high powered springer.

The HW80 is a perfect rifle for this level performance and hits like a hammer at usual airgun ranges of about 20 to 50 metres. The need for an FAC spring rifle was a practical one for me. I wanted the reliability of a quality spring rifle with precise accuracy and the power to hit a rabbit's head faster than it could react and bolt our of the way of an oncoming sub-12ft/lb pellet. 

My HW80 .22 is a proven effective and humane vermin hunter for 26 years now and she's my absolute favourite for rats, long range 50+ meter rabbits and wood pigeon. There has yet to be a PCP I would take over this German spring powered legend anyday. But I've been shooting springers all my life and, while I have a superbly custom regulated Daystate Huntsman Regal .177 in my collection, it's my HW80 l love being out in all weathers with. 

All the best with whatever you choose Darren. But I'll hold my HW80 .22 against anyone's PCP supergun. 

Pianoman 

Thanks piano man for your advice, I have never come across a springer on FAC , and I never would have thought they would be that smooth shooting, as some springers under 12 ft ld , can jump badly, I have a couple here that I really like to shoot, and are very accurate, but they are Sub 12ft ,

I suppose it sits with the quality of the gun, and how well it has been tuned , more food for thought.

[philpot 4,974]

On 10/09/2024 at 22:43, pianoman said:

One of those chaps might be me Phil?

I expect a chap these days would go for a PCP on ticket nowadays. But I am a lifelong dedicated spring rifle shooter and that means I shoot a beautiful HW80 .22 I've owned on ticket since buying the rifle new in 1998.

It was professionally tuned by a now defunct RFD and runs at 18ft/lbs. It also had the breech transfer port reamed out by a thousandth fraction of a whisker. This delivers the power to the pellet with no piston bounce and gives a beautiful smooth firing cycle. She doesn't bark or over-recoil which ruins many an high powered springer.

The HW80 is a perfect rifle for this level performance and hits like a hammer at usual airgun ranges of about 20 to 50 metres. The need for an FAC spring rifle was a practical one for me. I wanted the reliability of a quality spring rifle with precise accuracy and the power to hit a rabbit's head faster than it could react and bolt our of the way of an oncoming sub-12ft/lb pellet. 

My HW80 .22 is a proven effective and humane vermin hunter for 26 years now and she's my absolute favourite for rats, long range 50+ meter rabbits and wood pigeon. There has yet to be a PCP I would take over this German spring powered legend anyday. But I've been shooting springers all my life and, while I have a superbly custom regulated Daystate Huntsman Regal .177 in my collection, it's my HW80 l love being out in all weathers with. 

All the best with whatever you choose Darren. But I'll hold my HW80 .22 against anyone's PCP supergun. 

Pianoman 

Yes Simon you are the man I referred to with a springer fac and I can tell you Darren, to see Simon use a springer is a sight to behold. One day at his house we were tinkering with a AA TX200 HC that I had bought and was getting nowhere fast and bear in mind it was a dedicated right handed gun with a curved over comb, Simon is a lefty but nevertheless he put three pellets on top of the one he used as a target at 35mt and when I say on top of eachother I mean exactly on top...................pissed me off no end as I was rubbish until one of our members sorted it so even I was able to produce small groups.  If you go for a springer fac.................Simon is without doubt the man to talk to.  

It is about time we saw more of you on here Simon, I hope you are keeping well old friend.

Phil

[Mmamonster 33]

I have to fac air guns, .22 and .25

If you are near to me you are more than welcome to come shooting with me see how they perform. ( Stoke  )

Atb

Mart 

[3175darren 1,100]

On 13/09/2024 at 16:20, philpot said:

Yes Simon you are the man I referred to with a springer fac and I can tell you Darren, to see Simon use a springer is a sight to behold. One day at his house we were tinkering with a AA TX200 HC that I had bought and was getting nowhere fast and bear in mind it was a dedicated right handed gun with a curved over comb, Simon is a lefty but nevertheless he put three pellets on top of the one he used as a target at 35mt and when I say on top of eachother I mean exactly on top...................pissed me off no end as I was rubbish until one of our members sorted it so even I was able to produce small groups.  If you go for a springer fac.................Simon is without doubt the man to talk to.  

It is about time we saw more of you on here Simon, I hope you are keeping well old friend.

Phil

Good to hear, another lefty , I struggle with modern airguns most are right handed, not ambidextrous.