Pretty interesting that at 100 yards it’s still doing 5ft lbs
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the Daily hi thread
Is there much point in increasing to FAC air rifle power?
- Thread starter deadeyejon
- Start date
Pretty interesting that at 100 yards it’s still doing 5ft lbs
MikeyB
Member Extraordinaire
That’s what the table says. I video’d a golf ball being whacked at 100 yards (you can see the LRF distance in the top center of the picture) and it’s clearly receiving a fair old thump.
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3595wilk
Member Extraordinaire
FAC air definitely has it's place in pest control. It may have it's place in recreational shooting too; but I don't really do that, so don't feel qualified to comment.
In terms of field usage, I am a big believer in picking the right tool for the job - and have different rifles/calibres for specific purposes.
Bit like what @william bonny said in a previous post, lots of debate around 22RF/FAC air....I think both have their place and will be favoured based upon personal circumstances.
With that in mind, I don't see FAC air as a replacement for RF, but definitely complements it for my particular uses. I'm sure others will think differently too.
Definitely the equivalent of the .22/.177 debate.. ....which is why I chose .20 for sub 12
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In terms of field usage, I am a big believer in picking the right tool for the job - and have different rifles/calibres for specific purposes.
Bit like what @william bonny said in a previous post, lots of debate around 22RF/FAC air....I think both have their place and will be favoured based upon personal circumstances.
With that in mind, I don't see FAC air as a replacement for RF, but definitely complements it for my particular uses. I'm sure others will think differently too.
Definitely the equivalent of the .22/.177 debate.. ....which is why I chose .20 for sub 12
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There is somewhat of a catch-22. (Or a catch .177, whatever you prefer).
Largely, slugs are more accurate over longer ranges due to their BC, BUT, the increased surface area that contacts the barrel requires more FPS (and subsequently, more power).
If you could achieve slug-levels of longer distance accuracy, without the requirement to increase velocity, and therefore stay sub-12 it would be ideal for a majority of shooters who want the distance but don't need the power.
Largely, slugs are more accurate over longer ranges due to their BC, BUT, the increased surface area that contacts the barrel requires more FPS (and subsequently, more power).
If you could achieve slug-levels of longer distance accuracy, without the requirement to increase velocity, and therefore stay sub-12 it would be ideal for a majority of shooters who want the distance but don't need the power.
You can have a sub12 on your FAC , at least one member on here has his sub12 on FAC due to the " CAPABLE" wording of the Firearms Act .
He possibly sees it as insurance that he will always be legal power wise if tested for any reason .
I can easily put my HW80 back to sub12 if I wanted to.
He possibly sees it as insurance that he will always be legal power wise if tested for any reason .
I can easily put my HW80 back to sub12 if I wanted to.
Just out of interest, if you were to reduce the ME to sub 12, would the same restrictions apply as to where you could use the rifle? Am I right in thinking that with the sec.1 rifles, the shooting ground has to be approved by the FEO?
I guess it’s different in Scotland though as you’re generally unable to shoot even sub 12 rifles in your back yard?
Section 1 rules would still apply as its a section 1 firearm.
If they have a closed FAC then they need the Police to assess the land.
If you have what people call an open FAC, the shooter assess the land . I could shoot my .22lr in my garden if I deem it safe but the Police may not . If it goes wrong then I'm in the poop. I would not be shooting my .22lr in the garden anyway as its not safe .
Almost all FAC airgun owners get an open cert.
I won't shoot the HW80 in the garden either. I won't even shoot my sub12 in the garden as I don't have the landlords authority to do so plus its not safe to do so. Too many gardens back onto mine and no safe backstop as there is low walls.
My FEO would have declined my garden door sub12 . He asked if I shoot in the garden and I said No. Only ever shot my airgun in the shed into a 4 inch block of wood doing a chrono test . I know do testing at a friends land as its safer.
Shooting airguns in your garden in Scotland is allowed , it's even listed as a good reason for applying for an AWC but you must have a shooting area deemed suitable and many don't.
Many in England and Wales who shoot airguns in their garden will not be deemed safe but they still do so.
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Tricky-Dicky
Member Extraordinaire
Don't see the point for me as I don't hunt and the only benefit would be a flatter trajectory to make my 150 yard shots a bit easier but that would defeat the point.
Interesting. Thanks Paul.
You're welcome .
There is pest controllers who will shoot section 1 in your garden if its safe to do so but I wont do it as there is other methods that can be used especially in built up areas.
There was a story a number of years back about a pest controller shooting a .22lr from a house window into a garden for foxes .He and others would inform the Police they were going to be shooting just encase there was reports of a gunman hanging out of a window with a rifle.
I have shot my .22lr in my brother in laws garden but he lives on farmland so its different to living in a housing estate .
With no power limit I keep my .177s around 12 fpe as it's flat shooting enough and powerful enough while being quiet and air efficient. For .22 I go higher and for .25 even higher, the actual power/velocity depends on what the gun is used. I only have one .22 pellet gun at the moment and that shoots at 14 fpe for medium range pest control (12 fpe was a bit too low power for my needs). One .25 pellet gun and that's at 45 fpe for 100M BR. I've tried those guns at much higher power levels but they didn't work quite as well for what I want.
Many people get obsessed about power, I went tuning my .357 Evanix from 120 fpe to 240 fpe at one point breaking many parts in the journey while making it less accurate and less pleasant to shoot. That gun is now .257 caliber at 160 fpe which is quite perfect for the 100m and 200m bench rest that it is used for. The same goes for my .45 Evanix, I had it running at 300 fpe for our silhouette league but that much was really not needed to knock them down and the recoil made is less accurate so now I have it shooting around 240 fpe. Long rant but what I want to say is to think what's the reasonable minimum power you need and use that, it's better in the long run than too much power.
Many people get obsessed about power, I went tuning my .357 Evanix from 120 fpe to 240 fpe at one point breaking many parts in the journey while making it less accurate and less pleasant to shoot. That gun is now .257 caliber at 160 fpe which is quite perfect for the 100m and 200m bench rest that it is used for. The same goes for my .45 Evanix, I had it running at 300 fpe for our silhouette league but that much was really not needed to knock them down and the recoil made is less accurate so now I have it shooting around 240 fpe. Long rant but what I want to say is to think what's the reasonable minimum power you need and use that, it's better in the long run than too much power.
I like .177 for the reasonable trajectory, but an 18grn .22 pellet at the same speed would of course be a better ratting rifle. I've been thinking of one as I have a spare slot for lever action .357 which I'm not going to use.
FPoole
Member Extraordinaire
FAC springers are a bit harder to shoot accurately. I think ya'll would love a nice TX200 in .177, shooting 8.44 Exacts at about 900 fps. To me, that would be reasonable and no need for FAC. I did have a .22 Pro Elite with 22 ft lbs and it was a bit lively. Didn't stop me being accurate with it. It would also drop a very large male racoon, without even a twitch. Shot placement is critical on those.
Fac air in .22 or .25 is more humain than sub 12 .177 much more impact and physical damage. As a dedicated sub 12 .177 shooter i found that some head shot rabbits still ran a short distance with a pretty accurate shot. I found that so little damage was made it was hard to find the entry point, also most shots went straight thro. You may be able to put shots thro the same hole at 50yds at the range off the bench with minimal support ie bag or similar. However in the real world trying to hold an unrested rifle shooting from a kneeling position in the light wind its very unlikely that your shots will be perfect. .22 at 35 ft lb or .25 at 45 ftlb is instant lights out and the smarter adult rabbits can be humainly despatched at considerably farther ranges. Wind effect is much less of a concern at the heavier weights and much faster velocities. I have not had one runner in the 2.5 years I have shot fac air so far, I always do head shots. Another big plus is a richot with fac air is ulikely to be lethal at a mile unlike a rimfire bullet however awareness of back stops are still vital.
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It is generally regarded as more by luck than design though. There is a popular opinion that it was, in part, to protect the British industry from foreign imports such as the Benjamin and Sheridan pumpers which were capable of higher power. The FAC power level was set at the level at which British springers of the time would just about achieve.