Airguns as preps

I have really been eyeballing an Umarex Gauntlet in .22. May go ahead and pick one up this year.

DW

 

A survival / self sufficiency gun battery should include at least a .117 and a .22 air rifle, together with spare parts and ammo.

As has been previously mentioned they are useful for hunting small game, and varminting, with the added advantage of a lower discharge signature than for firearms, which reduces the risk of attracting unwanted attention.

Another benefit is in being an economical means of providing basic weapon training as preparation for firearms familiarisation.

Air rifles vary considerably in expense, complexity and capability....evaluate your needs and budget accordingly.

Air pistols should also be considered...for much the same reasons already mentioned.

 

How do you feel about paint ball guns as part of your prep?

In a world filled with cameras I can see a usefulness to having some.

 

Marking a potential problem has its advantages, however, accuracy is equally important.
I have paintball and airsoft guns as well, especially if you have someone to play with.
If you have no combat experience you can't possibly appreciate the work involved.
I'll be the first to tell you I am no good it.
But also the first to tell you it's loads of fun with the right people. And you learn volumes,(if you can set your EGO aside)

 

Not only are airguns useful for hunting small game, but they can be especially useful for target practice and training!

 

Well in the US .177 is freaking everywhere.

 

I have several CO2 guns that are copies of real fire arm your almost can't tell the difference till you get a really close look at them.
I realize that CO2 are frail but they are fun to play with till they die. about half of them are BB guns, some fully automatic,(steel storm)
I will never own the real guns these represent, so it's like having a collection of classics you can play with. 27 of them.
I have curtailed my expenditures on these toys, though I tempt my self from time to time.
My fun is shooting aluminum and steel cans, they are so reactionary and vulnerable.
In practical terms 400FPS can take out a rabbit @ 100' , though most fo the critters I kill are rats and mice lately.

 

Ive really thoght about getting one of those high powered air guns ,, PCP airguns i believe is what they're called. But , id have to drop 500 to a grand or better for one. That's a lot of cash to drop on an airgun ,, then I believe you've got to buy the pump ,, it may be worth it after you get one and use it ,,, but to start out with,, it's hard to jump on it right away.

 

My brother bought 2 PCP guns and an air compressor for them, the compressor cost as much as one of the guns.
Of the two guns he got the .25 cal is quieter than the .45 cal, Benjamine marauders.
In 177 or .22 the PCP's only advantage is repeater capability and or power adjustment. the velocity is no different than a break barrel in those calibers. The other advantage is that in the cold CO2 falls off right away and compressed air does not.
PCPs advantage is larger calibers that can be used for hunting big game.

 

45 cal air rifle at 1K Y

Stupid presenter on this rifle

 

A lot
In a PCP rifle, a reservoir is filled with air under high pressure by some external means. The two most popular compressing techniques are by means of a special hand-operated pump or a scuba tank. By either of these means, it's possible to achieve a pressure as high as 3,000-3,600 psi

 

at $500, a lot more than a low end .308....

 

I need schooling on this subject. Haven’t used air guns in over 40 years and am not up to date. I did purchase a Benjamin 397PA in .177 and added a Williams peep sight. Load development is required but with all the cheap pellets out there I am not sure which ones to start with. My son had good luck using those gold pellets that come in the plastic bullet.
My uses are off hand shooting practice, and small game.

Thanks in advance
Jim

 

I ordered a Hatsan 95 earlier today. I ordered it in 25 caliber. My feet and legs are keeping me from getting out much but I sit in the garage and snipe nuisance squirrels out of the garden with an air rifle if nothing else .

 

Need to discuss night sights like the ATN,Most of these critters will run from a white light.
Green or thermal is the way to go !

 

I'm actually waiting on my Texan SS 308. I figure with it ,, I can bag me a deer ,, and my smaller calibers will bag my rabbits and tree rats .

 

I have seen hunt videos using 45 and 50 cal air rifles, they go straight through a pig. Ballisticlly it's about like shooting them with a standard pressure 45colt loaded with a heavy bullet.

The 30 cal air rifles only crank out the ft•lb equal to that of a 22lr. It would be about like shooting a deer with a 32ACP carbine.

 

The chart I looked at put a 40 gr ,, 1100fps @ 107 fpe ,,which is a basic 22 round..
And a 65gr , @1100fps at around 175fpe.

But ,, I could upgrade to the .457 . But , on another note,, we don't have many real big dear around here anyway,, so that might help a little as well.