Air rifle questions?

[TrxR]

Anyone here into shooting .22cal air rifle benchrest? If so how do they group compared to a .22lr? How many shots do the air tanks last?

How do they compare to a rimfire cost wise?

Thanks

 

[mongo chicago]

Used to shoot air for winter practice for high power rifle. I think the range was
33 ft. Side cockers are the most accurate. Air tanks get inconsistent as volume goes down. Things may have improved somewhat since I had mine.

 

[dantiff2]

I have a really cheap 22 cal pcp and it shoots in the 1 to 1-1/2 inch range at 100 yards. Does that compare to a good LR? 50 yards is half inch and less (10 shots) if the wind is calm I don’t have a regulated gun so if I keep the pressure in the sweet spot I can get 35 shots before a refill.
Dan

 

[TRSR8]

Anyone here into shooting .22cal air rifle benchrest? If so how do they group compared to a .22lr? How many shots do the air tanks last?

How do they compare to a rimfire cost wise?

Thanks

Well that’s a broad question with many variables.
the best high end Airgun BR rifles run straight off a bottle, shoot groups, in good conditions, about like good 22’s, often shoot swaged slugs made in custom dies, not pellets, and run $5000-$6000. Check Thomas air guns, good factory options typically run $1500-$3000.

 

[JEFFPPC]

My Diana 54 in .22 spring gun shoots under a 1/4 at 25 yards. My under lever TX200 shoots under .1 at 25 yards. In no conditions the . 177 is close an inch at 50 yds. In mild conditions the 54, in .22, is around .5 at 50 yards. The spring guns will teach you bench manners like nothing else. The top line rifles are 575.00 to 800.00 range. For outdoors the .22 is what you want. .03 cents a shot. No reloading and almost no cleaning. Pcps tie you to an air sourcewhich I have no interest in but they can rival the best rimfires......or better if you have deep pockets.

 

[dantiff2]

FX Panthera 600 Airgun | Utah Airguns

FX Panthera 600mm Airgun is unlike any previous FX Airguns rifle. It is a dedicated slug rifle, purpose-built with precision competition in mind.

utahairguns.com

 

[bsekf]

My M-Rod Field and Target will outshoot most 22rf out to 50 yards, past that, with wind, the operator gets erratic. F&T is moderated and I get 30+ accurate shots.

 

[Intell]

I have a cheaper Benjamin PCP 22 cal that shoots well for the price, I’ve taken crows out to 60 yds with it, past 75 it blows around a bit to much to hit small critters consistently . its unregulated but has a large tank and a 12 round mag. Probably 35 shots before it starts dropping.
My best one is an FX Dreamline in 25 cal, 16 round mag. This cat is a hammer, regulated and shoots small. Nothing under 75 yds is a challenge for it.
It handles the wind a little better than the 22. I can take crows pretty consistently at 80yds with it.
It will almost make it through a 2x4 at 20 yds.
I went 4 for 4 this am on black birds between 75 and 80 yds.
Air guns are addictive

 

[Tacoma]

I have 4 FX PCP rifles and a couple of Benjamin's. IMHO, as long as you take the time to pick a decent quality REGULATED ( and adjustable) PCP and then take the time to tune it to a good pellet, they can be one hole accurate to 50 yds ( and sub MOA out to 100). The rifles themselves will vary from giving you 30-100+ shots per tank. Cost wise, the rifles are comparable to a like quality .22 powder burner. Say $500-$2000. That said, you will need a 4500 psi capable tank and a place to get it filled or your own compressor. That's another $300-$1000. There is way to much to this stuff to cover here but I can tell you a good PCP air gun is fun and super interesting once you go down that rabbit hole. hth

 

[bsekf]

I agree, but the rabbit hole is deep, dark and expensive.

Understand there is a learning curve with "springers", maybe like a flintlock?

 

[dgeesaman]

Springers do have a learning curve. They recoil both forward and backward before the pellet leaves the barrel, so hard rests (even sand bags) tend to shoot inconsistently. There is usually a way to hold them in terms of hand placement and grip effort that causes the point of aim to stay on target, it up to you to experiment until you find it. A loose hold tends to work best.

For pcps there are many answers. Here’s one:

 

[diyj98]

I've never had problems with getting good groups with spring guns off sandbags. The problem I found was that the point of impact between resting solidly on sandbags vs offhand or resting on my hands while using a tree/fencepost/etc. while hunting was drastically different. That's why I use rest the "artillery hold" for zeroing hunting spring guns.

 

[JEFFPPC]

Here are some 50 yd groups I shot this morning off sand bags just like I would shoot a powder burner. I switched vehicles and forget my flags so my body was the flag, not a great option. I had lt to right and then a tailwind to guess at. Diana 54 spring gun in .22. 760 fps with 15.89 gr pellets.

 

[dantiff2]

Anything sub moa at 50 yards with a springer is very impressive!!

 

[JEFFPPC]

I've never had problems with getting good groups with spring guns off sandbags. The problem I found was that the point of impact between resting solidly on sandbags vs offhand or resting on my hands while using a tree/fencepost/etc. while hunting was drastically different. That's why I use rest the "artillery hold" for zeroing hunting spring guns.

You have a point. I have found my tendency at first was to want to grip the gun if I was using an improvised rest and snug it to my shoulder. I have found out if I hold the gun very lose with light shoulder pressure I can do pretty well as the starlings and other vermin have found out. I have to resist holding it tight like I do shooting offhand with a PB. I avoid shooting off any hard surface, ever, with any gun. Your wallet will work well as in improvised front bag,lol. Which leads to this......A few years back hunting groundhogs I had to use my wallet as above. Leaving the next morning with the wife for a weekend trip.....yep, wallet was 30 miles away laying in a field. Fortunately it was only a few miles off our route. I still hear about it.

 

[Mikemontminy]

I just picked up a new FX Panthera which I’m planning on using as a slug gun at 100 yards and beyond. I’m breaking it in shooting heavy .25 cal JSB pellets. The barrel liner is made for slugs but still shoots heavy pellets pretty good. These groups were shot at 50 yards testing three different pellets.

 

[dgeesaman]

Wow those groups are outstanding.

How many shots do you get between fills?

 

[Mikemontminy]

Haven’t counted the number of shots per fill yet. The low shot of bottom middle row is where the pressure dropped below regulator pressure and me not watching the gauge but the flags instead . I also shoot a FX impact M3 which groups pellets the same or better. The M3 gets about 70 shots per fill. The Panthera about 40 shots with a much smaller bottle. I haven’t played around with sorting pellets yet. These are shot right out of the tin.

 

[Mikemontminy]

For comparison this is what my FX Impact M3 does at 50 yards with a JSB 25.39 grain pellet at 900 f.p.s.