Posted on 05/04/2017 7:11:39 AM PDT by marktwain
One of the hits at the NRA Annual Meeting in Atlanta was the Pyramid Air gun range. It was set up in one of the meeting rooms one level up and not far from the NRA exhibit hall.
While I was there, empty spaces on the firing line were filled very quickly.
There were 10 stations on line and roughly twice as many air guns available as there were shooting stations.
There were young, old, male, female, all sorts of shooters on the line. They seemed to exhibit the same expressions: Intense concentration followed by big grins.
A wide variety of air guns were available, from high dollar target guns, imitation historical guns such as the Mauser 98 and the Colt Single Action, to dedicated hunting guns and general purpose air guns.
The targets were reaction targets, spinners, knock overs, items that did not need to have anyone go down range to reset them.
Every shooter had an NRA volunteer/safety officer to coach them and monitor their performance on the line. The level of coach expertise was substantial.
Air guns saw an immense increase in interest during the past four years. The .22 rimfire bubble drove up rimfire ammunition prices while reducing ammunition availability for many shooters. Large numbers of shooters discovered the advantages of modern air rifles. They are cheap to shoot, quiet, and can be fired nearly anywhere. Good quality air rifles are more than adequate for most small game
(Excerpt) Read more at ammoland.com ...
I was one of those who gave up on 22lr and bought a $100 air rifle at Walmart.
I am astonished at the accuracy and hitting power in that rifle. The 22 pellets are definitely excellent for hunting small game.
I probably will be in the market for a more expensive one this year as it is really pleasant to shoot in the back yard anytime I want.
The new guns are NOT your father’s pellet guns from his childhood.
I have several airguns (in addition to powder weapons), as I live in an area where “discharge of firearms” is verboten, despite the fact that the area is zoned rural (Washington state, y’know). Needed for vermin control (mostly raccoons).
Unfortunately, airguns are insufficient for the bigger vermin...Bambi rats, which are out-breeding their food supply and not population controlled because people think they are “cute”.
Supposedly, coyotes have found their way over the bridge and onto the island, but they have not, as yet, made any noticeable dent in the deer population. I guess pet cats and dogs are tastier and easier prey.
Interestingly enough, bow hunting IS legal here, but Robin Hood I am not.
I give you the Pioneer Airbow.
Benjamin makes a high powered air rifle (about .38 Special class) and a high powered arrow gun (about twice as powerful as a common compound bow) shoots a 24 inch arrow with broadhead at 450 fps!
Can take all big game to 75 yards, easily.
http://www.crosman.com/connect/introducing-the-benjamin-pioneer-airbow/
Good thought.
The Pioneer Airbow is a serious weapon.
GMTA
Interesting trivia....the Lewis and Clark expedition carried a high powered airgun on their trek to the West Coast (I don't recall the caliber, but it tossed a damned big chunk of lead).
It was the Girardoni air rifle. Caliber was .46.
Power about like a .38 S & W, (not the .38 Special, which is more powerful).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girandoni_air_rifle
Yeah, my curiosity bump got stimulated too. The article I found said the caliber was .51, but I won't quibble over 0.05 inches. One datum I did pick up was that the magazine capacity was 20 shots, with the reservoir charge good for 35.
All my airguns are one-shot spring air, with the exception of a CO2 bb pistol, which I use for accelerating the departure of the Bambi rats out of my flower-beds.
Gamo now has a 10 shot break action repeater. Looks like a great hunting gun.
http://www.pyramydair.com/s/m/Gamo_Swarm_Maxxim_Multi_shot_Air_Rifle/4310
I bought a Beeman R7 from Pyramid Air not too long ago.
Good company, nice German-made spring air rifle.
I'd love to own a quality PCP but the cost of the rifle and the necessary accessories are out of my price range right now.
You can't beat the quality and craftsmanship of the European PCP's, they put the Chinese crap to shame. I currently have a Beeman Kodiak, .22 cal break barrel which is extremely accurate but due to it's noise and where I live, I don't like shooting the rabbits and junk birds such as starlings.
My first PCP wish list is the Daystate Regal.....What a beautiful rifle.
With that being said, I love watching YouTube channels on air rifles and my two favorites are these
AirgunGearShow
Ted's HoldOver
Love my Beeman, just wish it had more power to stop the groundhogs - they’re just too big.
Very nice. Thank you.
I bagged a Coatimundi in Panama with a Beeman C-1. It was a good quality break open in .177.
First shot punched a hole in the lungs and heart (broke a rib on the way in), second shot penetrated the skull to reach the brain (it did not know it was dead yet).
Pretty good sized animal. Harder to reach the vitals on a groundhog, I would think.
If I had been carrying a .22 rimfire at the time, it would have been preferable.
I use a .22 cal Benjamin "Nitro Piston" air rifle to dispatch groundhogs. The scope it comes with is quality. I prefer to shoot them in the upper chest at or just below the shoulders when they're sitting up. They sometimes drop to the shot, rarely run far. I Use traditional lead pellets.
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