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Springer for Hunting ?

Going back many years, springer air rifles were the only type available and it did just fine for a very long time.

I think springers have only two distinct disadvantages against a PCP. PCP offers the ability to quickly retake a shot should you have the occasional miss. If you regularly miss then I think most would agree that further range time is needed out of respect for your quarry.

The other is noise. One crack of my TX and most of the bunnies are down their holes for 20 minutes. Not to mention the clicking of the anti bear-trap and latching the lever back in place.

Like most things, the "old" things still work, newer things just do it better in one way or another. They don't stop the old ways working.

If anything, those who can and do still hunt with Springers, due to their distinct disadvantages, make better all round hunters I think. Having to approach the shoot far more tactically, be significantly more accurate/skilled with something with recoil however slight and still account for quarry hearing probably every shot unless you're lucky enough to be able to shoot way downwind takes a lot more that pinging bunnies one after the other from a mounted PCP. It's almost cheating, but it IS way faster/easier/more convenient if you have a lot to get done in a short time
 
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Trying to cock a gun while remaining visually stealthy is harder with a springer, not to say it can't be done but it just takes more control and time.
The noise of some PCP's actions carries more than others so a springer needs to be well controlled to not do as @Captain_Saxa said and give you a half hour break between quarry.
My old Airsporter I could cock quietly (had to remember the catch) but it was hard to not wave the long barrel about at the same time.
 
i think you will find a brake barrel just the job even when a quick second shot is needed not because you have missed but because if your lamping and you get presented with more than one rabbit .I would also say i think a 22 is best for brake barrel a one gun man with a 22 springer could put the dinner on the table i used to use an webley xocet an i knew it inside out. it did the same job as a 177 regulated multi shot ultra just as good (the secret is to just have one gun but i dont know how )
 
The last lot of dinosaurs died out though mate .If accuracy is everything in hunting then why use a springer ,just saying .
 
I’ve been using an HW97 on a new ratting permission recently. First two times out with just a torch I got 8 then 7. Third time I borrowed a mate’s Pard 007 and got 10.

I’m shooting off a tripod which makes it a lot easier - just set it up so I can cock it whilst it’s clamped.

I’m hoping to pick up a new-to-me HW100 later on in the week. It’s going to be far easier! The perm is inundated with rats, so the PCP along with the Pard should make short work of them!

If I was to purchase a springer solely for hunting I’d probably go for a break barrel - just a bit easier to use at night, and also lighter weight!
 
squirreldropper said:
The last lot of dinosaurs died out though mate .If accuracy is everything in hunting then why use a springer ,just saying .
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Some people perhaps don't have the budget to run a PCP. Some might just prefer a springer. To each, his own.

As I said earlier, just because something newer and better came along, doesn't mean the old way has stopped working.
 
Yep I use my HW77K mainly on the rabbits as it's what I have
IMG_20221127_205112.webp
 
Gdog said:
@hairyarms is our resident springer hunter and he’s had a few different ones,he might be able to offer an insight 👍
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The only advice I can give is to use a decent springer and keep the mag fairly low (3 or 4x works for me) I also keep the range to under 30 yards.
I have owned decent PCP's in the past ( HW100 AA400 BSA Ultra ) but to be honest I never did much better than with my trusty springers.
Have a look through the hunting section for some of my old threads @Benny 👍
 
Captain_Saxa said:
Some people perhaps don't have the budget to run a PCP. Some might just prefer a springer. To each, his own.

As I said earlier, just because something newer and better came along, doesn't mean the old way has stopped working.
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Pcp budget rifles now same price as a decent springer mate so that dosnt stack up in reality .I was brought up with springers as I suspect many on here were too .Put a lot of stuff to bed with it but had I had a pcp I’d of done 3 times the amount .
Like you I’m a traditionalist until it comes to respect for quarry then accuracy ,consistency and no recoil comes to the fore .
Anyone consistently getting results with a springer has my respect but anyone just plodding on because it’s a cheap alternative dosnt .
 
Captain_Saxa said:
Going back many years, springer air rifles were the only type available and it did just fine for a very long time.

I think springers have only two distinct disadvantages against a PCP. PCP offers the ability to quickly retake a shot should you have the occasional miss. If you regularly miss then I think most would agree that further range time is needed out of respect for your quarry.

The other is noise. One crack of my TX and most of the bunnies are down their holes for 20 minutes. Not to mention the clicking of the anti bear-trap and latching the lever back in place.

Like most things, the "old" things still work, newer things just do it better in one way or another. They don't stop the old ways working.

If anything, those who can and do still hunt with Springers, due to their distinct disadvantages, make better all round hunters I think. Having to approach the shoot far more tactically, be significantly more accurate/skilled with something with recoil however slight and still account for quarry hearing probably every shot unless you're lucky enough to be able to shoot way downwind takes a lot more that pinging bunnies one after the other from a mounted PCP. It's almost cheating, but it IS way faster/easier/more convenient if you have a lot to get done in a short time
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I think mechanical noise, more than muzzle crack is a thing that may spook rabbits.

A couple of years ago, I entered a paddock with my hw95 and shot 5 rabbits one after the other, from the same spot
 
if a springer is not as accurate then you could check the crown ,use pellets that suit it ,debur and polish contacting points, including trigger fit a set of guides, learn to shoot it, i find hold it in to your sholder but not to tight and lay it on you other hand. you should not hunt unless you can hit your target you would not hunt with a pcp that did 3" groups its the same for springers .so i really dont see why a springer would be any less suitable
is there now a feeling springers are less accurate that pcp or is it if you cant get on with a springer its easier to shoot a pcp if its going down that route best use 177 as well

there are positives to a pcp they can be lighter & more compact and if you have any form of weakness/disability you dont have to worry about cocking effort
 
robs5230 said:
I think mechanical noise, more than muzzle crack is a thing that may spook rabbits.

A couple of years ago, I entered a paddock with my hw95 and shot 5 rabbits one after the other, from the same spot
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whats your chosen calibre for your 95 ?
 
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