Advice wanted

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Madratter

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Hi all, hope you’re all keeping well.
I’m currently on my journey to my first ticket. The question is do I get a 22lr or fac air. I keep reading on other forums that 22lr ammo is seriously inconsistent, the vast majority of the shooting I do is over land for rabbits and squirrels. The only lr experience I have is what I’ve gained at my club with a relatively short 25yard indoor range so you pretty much expect a tight group in any case.. I’ve been shooting sub 12 air for nearly 40years and am after shooting from a little farther out as I’m not as stealthy as I used to be..I will no doubt put in for both on my application anyway but after some help on where to put the bulk of my budget when/ if the time comes.. thanks in advance ..
 
Put in for both. Air would be far safer for squirrels, but you're going to go through air a lot quicker with FAC though. So big numbers of rabbits would be better with 22lr.

I've ended up with an Impact M3 .25, and a Tikka T1X. Both second hand and the pair have cost me £900 total including moderators.
 
Madratter said:
Hi all, hope you’re all keeping well.
I’m currently on my journey to my first ticket. The question is do I get a 22lr or fac air. I keep reading on other forums that 22lr ammo is seriously inconsistent, the vast majority of the shooting I do is over land for rabbits and squirrels. The only lr experience I have is what I’ve gained at my club with a relatively short 25yard indoor range so you pretty much expect a tight group in any case.. I’ve been shooting sub 12 air for nearly 40years and am after shooting from a little farther out as I’m not as stealthy as I used to be..I will no doubt put in for both on my application anyway but after some help on where to put the bulk of my budget when/ if the time comes.. thanks in advance ..
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Apply for both, on my first application I applied for 4x rifles and got all 4, as long as you have good reason for each….

I.e…. I want a .22 FAC Air for vermin control as it’s better for closer shots than a 22LR and safer as I can reduce the power as appropriate & I would like a .25 FAC air for too for the same reason but I want it in .25 as it will be better for when the wind is gustier etc…. I would also like a 22LR for when im out in the field for the rabbits where there is no air source so my air rifles would not be suitable & I would also like another 22LR dedicated as a night time shooting rifle, this way I don’t have to keep swapping over scopes & re-zeroing etc etc….

You get the idea 👍 personally I find FAC air more accurate than 22LR, my FX Impact M4 can also outperform a 22LR in almost every way.
 
ThePerfectionist said:
Apply for both, on my first application I applied for 4x rifles and got all 4, as long as you have good reason for each….

I.e…. I want a .22 FAC Air for vermin control as it’s better for closer shots than a 22LR and safer as I can reduce the power as appropriate & I would like a .25 FAC air for too for the same reason but I want it in .25 as it will be better for when the wind is gustier etc…. I would also like a 22LR for when im out in the field for the rabbits where there is no air source so my air rifles would not be suitable & I would also like another 22LR dedicated as a night time shooting rifle, this way I don’t have to keep swapping over scopes & re-zeroing etc etc….

You get the idea 👍 personally I find FAC air more accurate than 22LR, my FX Impact M4 can also outperform a 22LR in almost every way.
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M4 sniper is on my wish list, but so is a cz457.. choices choices… thanks
 
.22lr are not generally inconsistent. Like pellets, find ones that suit your rifle and stick with them.

Advantages, you’ll never run out of air. Disadvantages a lot more expensive than pellets. And FAC air rifles fall out of bed price wise
 
Good choices.. lucky you. Not jealous at all… hopefully so will I. Right at the beginning stages of the application process so I feel like I’m waiting to hung, it’s gonna be a long few months…
 
Madratter said:
Hi all, hope you’re all keeping well.
I’m currently on my journey to my first ticket. The question is do I get a 22lr or fac air. I keep reading on other forums that 22lr ammo is seriously inconsistent, the vast majority of the shooting I do is over land for rabbits and squirrels. The only lr experience I have is what I’ve gained at my club with a relatively short 25yard indoor range so you pretty much expect a tight group in any case.. I’ve been shooting sub 12 air for nearly 40years and am after shooting from a little farther out as I’m not as stealthy as I used to be..I will no doubt put in for both on my application anyway but after some help on where to put the bulk of my budget when/ if the time comes.. thanks in advance ..
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People who say .22rf are no good are lacking in facts ! Cheap ammo gives cheap results ! a decent shooter / good rifle and some proper ammo and at 50 yards you should achieve bullet on bullet with a scope .
Get some Lapua, SK , or other premium ammo into a good rifle and 100 yards should keep to the bull . Folks are shooting 800 plus in comps now .
 
If it's safe on your permission 22lr subs .
All day every day . Wicked things.
If you have time energy and money to waste and a compressor and like tuning things and fixing things go fac air .
If you like making stuff dead efficiently and silently with something that will out last you 22lr.
I have 2 x fac air 29& 50 lb ish ,1 x 22lr ,1 X hmr
Hmr does 90 % of rabbits at night. 30 -130 yards bang dead. Fac air gardens and buildings .
22lr when it's safe brutal. Click .. THWAAACK
Moose to mouse .
I wouldn't have fac air if the 22lr wasn't too much gun and the associated ricochet risks.
It's a delight to use comfortably sub inch at 60 yards bit out of fashion these days and particularly on air rifle forums. There is a reason it's the most used calibre in the world.
See how many my fac air rifle is leaking broken who or how to fix it threads there are compared to
My cz 22lr has stopped working threads . about
1000/1 . Tools Vs toys .
Eley subs or sellier belliot .
For pestering hmr is king . 87 rabbits in two evenings.
Longest 142 yards. Mon and Tues this week.
Nothing else I have would have done it . .223 too expensive loud and powerful.
Most of your answer depends exactly on your ground and targets.
 
I know many people who use LR on the Squirrels and although I have the calibres mentioned I always use Air, mainly because there is less likely a chance of damaging the trees. After all, they are a crop and I wouldn’t like to upset the largest landowner in my county
 
As suggested, go both both on your ticket. You always have the option to change later on, but at least you have the option. For rabbits, the 22lr but for squirells the FAC would probably be the better option as mentioned
 
Another vote for both!

What you will find heading into our world is that power will no longer be a limitation (if granted of course!), what becomes the issue is
“Have you enough terminal energy to achieve what it is you are trying to achieve?”
Then apply for caliber that will be the tool you need.
 
And another vote for both, I picked up a cracking used Anschutz 1417 .22lr with scope and two mags for under £300 a super little rifle.
I use this mainly for the rabbits. The FAC Impact mainly on Squirrels but I also use it on rabbits on perms where I feel it's safer to use than the .22lr
 
cscottmcqueen said:
As suggested, go both both on your ticket. You always have the option to change later on, but at least you have the option. For rabbits, the 22lr but for squirells the FAC would probably be the better option as mentioned
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You will also have the lightweight 22lr printing silent good 100 ft lb groups @ 60 yards when your FAC air is
Back at the shop
In bits
Leaking
Out of air
Back at the shop
Being fixed
Being tuned
Blown a seal
Playing up .
Broken
If Casio made guns .
Do you want to tell the time or own a Rolex .?
Screenshot_20260402-223629.Chrome.webp
 
Only a raving lunatic would shoot at a squirrel in a tree with a 22 rimfire.. I read a story many years ago where someone that should have had more sense [an off duty squaddie] had shot at a crow on a farm roof. The bullet struck, and killed, a young girl of about 10 who was sitting on her horse on another farm about a mile away..
 
Oldtime said:
Only a raving lunatic would shoot at a squirrel in a tree with a 22 rimfire.. I read a story many years ago where someone that should have had more sense [an off duty squaddie] had shot at a crow on a farm roof. The bullet struck, and killed, a young girl of about 10 who was sitting on her horse on another farm about a mile away..
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I've, in my 59 years on Earth, shot more squirrels out of trees w/a .22 LR, than you can shake a stick at ...be selective & use the tree as a backstop, or pass on the shot...
I'm perfectly sane.
 
chouchin66 said:
I've, in my 59 years on Earth, shot more squirrels out of trees w/a .22 LR, than you can shake a stick at ...be selective & use the tree as a backstop, or pass on the shot...
I'm perfectly sane.
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This is exactly why we have good gun control in the UK compared to the US. You wouldn’t be permitted a firearms license saying that to an FEO officer over here. No need for me to comment any further on this matter….

All I can say is I’m disappointed reading your comment.
 
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