The Pikers Pit

I am looking to buy my very 1st gun and want some advice.
Where and what to buy?
.22 or .177?
All I know is after a few goes that I want a pcp if thats what they are called?
What I intend is to use it for paper punching and some of the s**t arsed pigeons!

Cheers, Alan

.177 for targets, smaller groups and cheaper pellets. If shooting a lot look at getting a bottle for charging, trusted brands Weihrauch, Air Arms, some BSAs etc Go to a good shop and see what you like.

Wonder what your neighbours will think

delboy wrote: ↑Sun Jun 11 2023 15:48 -

Wonder what your neighbours will think

They might think he'd be better off with a 243

I would think that some of them buy them waterside bungalows to enjoy the wildlife not shoot it

Steve Le maitre wrote: ↑Sun Jun 11 2023 20:07 -

delboy wrote: ↑Sun Jun 11 2023 15:48 -

Wonder what your neighbours will think

They might think he'd be better off with a 243

Nice little 20g hushpower with subsonic cartridges
Perfect for those pesky pigeons

delboy wrote: ↑Sun Jun 11 2023 20:40 -

I would think that some of them buy them waterside bungalows to enjoy the wildlife not shoot it

It's a Mad World Del !

Edward.P.A.C wrote: ↑Sun Jun 11 2023 21:01 -

Steve Le maitre wrote: ↑Sun Jun 11 2023 20:07 -

delboy wrote: ↑Sun Jun 11 2023 15:48 -

Wonder what your neighbours will think

They might think he'd be better off with a 243

Nice little 20g hushpower with subsonic cartridges
Perfect for those pesky pigeons

That's all wrong, I say extend the range out a bit with 40g but stick with subs, that way even those shi* a**e* pigeons up at Aunty Jackys sisters brothers boy 4 bungalows up won't be safe

delboy wrote: ↑Sun Jun 11 2023 20:40 -

I would think that some of them buy them waterside bungalows to enjoy the wildlife not shoot it

Not many of us that live within the tree enjoy the pigeons, boy!

Cheers, Alan

Steve Le maitre wrote: ↑Sun Jun 11 2023 21:44 -

Edward.P.A.C wrote: ↑Sun Jun 11 2023 21:01 -

Steve Le maitre wrote: ↑Sun Jun 11 2023 20:07 -

delboy wrote: ↑Sun Jun 11 2023 15:48 -

Wonder what your neighbours will think

They might think he'd be better off with a 243

Nice little 20g hushpower with subsonic cartridges
Perfect for those pesky pigeons

That's all wrong, I say extend the range out a bit with 40g but stick with subs, that way even those shi* a**e* pigeons up at Aunty Jackys sisters brothers boy 4 bungalows up won't be safe

Hushpower 20 bore tractor boy. don’t need the extra range.
The little f*****s don’t know they’ve been hit

Edward.P.A.C wrote: ↑Mon Jun 12 2023 17:42 -

Steve Le maitre wrote: ↑Sun Jun 11 2023 21:44 -

Edward.P.A.C wrote: ↑Sun Jun 11 2023 21:01 -

Steve Le maitre wrote: ↑Sun Jun 11 2023 20:07 -

delboy wrote: ↑Sun Jun 11 2023 15:48 -

Wonder what your neighbours will think

They might think he'd be better off with a 243

Nice little 20g hushpower with subsonic cartridges
Perfect for those pesky pigeons

That's all wrong, I say extend the range out a bit with 40g but stick with subs, that way even those shi* a**e* pigeons up at Aunty Jackys sisters brothers boy 4 bungalows up won't be safe

Hushpower 20 bore tractor boy. don’t need the extra range.
The little f*****s don’t know they’ve been hit

Got to be a 223 with 57grain hollow points, the pigeons just go puff like little talcum powder bombs

Brian Springthorpe wrote: ↑Mon Jun 12 2023 21:22 -

Got to be a 223 with 57grain hollow points, the pigeons just go puff like little talcum powder bombs

Well that’s no use !! I’m rather partial to a pigeon breast or 6…….
I’m not shooting them for the fun of it, I shoot clays for that.

Now, rats and tree rats. That’s a different story

Edward.P.A.C wrote: ↑Tue Jun 13 2023 04:55 -

Brian Springthorpe wrote: ↑Mon Jun 12 2023 21:22 -

Got to be a 223 with 57grain hollow points, the pigeons just go puff like little talcum powder bombs

Well that’s no use !! I’m rather partial to a pigeon breast or 6…….
I’m not shooting them for the fun of it, I shoot clays for that.

Now, rats and tree rats. That’s a different story

I was reffering to ferals agreed woodies are too nice to waste

cookiesdaughtersdad wrote: ↑Sun Jun 11 2023 14:05 -

I am looking to buy my very 1st gun and want some advice.
Where and what to buy?
.22 or .177?
All I know is after a few goes that I want a pcp if thats what they are called?
What I intend is to use it for paper punching and some of the s**t arsed pigeons!

Cheers, Alan

It really is a personal choice with calibre I prefer 177 as its flatter and accurate and will still dispatch all legal airgun quarry.
Make of gun is really dependant on what you want to spend , a pcp can vary from 295 to over 2 grand. Best thing to do is go to a good gunshop that has a good selection pick them up and see how they fit

Thanks for the replies!
Can you charge them straight from a compressor?

Cheers, Alan

No. The pressures required for a pcp are much higher.
Most garage compressors (diy & professional 3 phase) have a max pressure of around 10 bar.
Have a look at this: www.theairguncentre.com/blog/guide-to-pumps-and-bottles
If you intend to shoot a lot then the dive bottle is your best option.

Also worth a quick read: www.shootinguk.co.uk/guns/gun-maintenan ... oid-132946

Just make sure you have somewhere that can fill your bottle, a Dive centre, airgun range.

Or it's a lot of pumping with a airgun stirrup pump.

Apart from gun shops pay a visit to an airgun range people like showing off their rifles and others may let you shoulder the rifle or even better still take a shot or two. Plus you'll get some good advice.
Regards

Martin

Everyone can recommend their preference, but it's a very personal thing.
I love the Brocock compatto 177, but my mate hates it with a passion and would choose his air arms s410 carbine every time.

The best thing to do is go to a few gun shops and shoulder a few different options, one will stand out to you.

paintman wrote: ↑Wed Jun 14 2023 11:18 -

No. The pressures required for a pcp are much higher.
Most garage compressors (diy & professional 3 phase) have a max pressure of around 10 bar.
Have a look at this: www.theairguncentre.com/blog/guide-to-pumps-and-bottles
If you intend to shoot a lot then the dive bottle is your best option.

Also worth a quick read: www.shootinguk.co.uk/guns/gun-maintenan ... oid-132946

There are compressors available specifically for filling pcp guns , I have one

Which one have you got, what's its performance like & have you had any issues with it?

paintman wrote: ↑Wed Jun 14 2023 22:01 -

Which one have you got, what's its performance like & have you had any issues with it?

I got the Toauto 4500psi , took a punt on one off Fleebay for 189 at the time, I’ve had it for 2 years maybe a little more and it’s worked flawlessly, I fill up both my Brocock Commander sub 12 and my FAC impact using it in 240 v mode, never tried it on 110 as I also have a divers bottle which fill guns up faster, it won’t fill air cylinders though

Thank you.

air arms s 200 .....light weight and very accurate and will easily dispatch woodies and the normal pests .....lovely gun to shoot .

mines a mark 1 so can be tweaked if wanted .....i prefer not to mess about with my guns ......

I'd go second hand for a first time buy.

BSA ultra multi, the original version can be picked up relatively cheaply (I have one) and they're as accurate as they come.

As said, Air Ams 200 are great guns again quite affordable s/h. If you want new and affordable with basic but decent quality, check out the Gamo maxxim! Not a pcp but a multi shot!

I'd go for a multishot magazine model whatever you get, you usually get more rounds in a .177 mag because of the smaller cal' but I prefer .22 for that bit more stopping power, '177 are for target shooting IMHO but will still take out "fair" game.

Check out AAR on air on youtube, he's as enthusiastic as they come and he reviews guns from both ends of the expense spectrum, there's loads for you to look at.

I just enjoy WATCHING them.

Fair game to me is usually what ends up on the table!

delboy wrote: ↑Sun Jun 18 2023 08:06 -

DSCF3787.JPG I just enjoy WATCHING them.

My wife loves the robins , blackbirds and sparrows that come into our garden to feed on the stuff she’s put out but cannot stand the woodies that consume the majority of it if she’s not keeping an eye out . Can be eating a meal or watching tv but will crazily leap up and run over to bang on the window as though she’s demented. Tried to encourage me to get an air pistol to sort them !

Taylorgilder wrote: ↑Sun Jun 18 2023 08:32 -

delboy wrote: ↑Sun Jun 18 2023 08:06 -

DSCF3787.JPG I just enjoy WATCHING them.

My wife loves the robins , blackbirds and sparrows that come into our garden to feed on the stuff she’s put out but cannot stand the woodies that consume the majority of it if she’s not keeping an eye out . Can be eating a meal or watching tv but will crazily leap up and run over to bang on the window as though she’s demented. Tried to encourage me to get an air pistol to sort them !

Turn them into the meal, job done

Taylorgilder wrote: ↑Sun Jun 18 2023 08:32 -

delboy wrote: ↑Sun Jun 18 2023 08:06 -

DSCF3787.JPG I just enjoy WATCHING them.

My wife loves the robins , blackbirds and sparrows that come into our garden to feed on the stuff she’s put out but cannot stand the woodies that consume the majority of it if she’s not keeping an eye out . Can be eating a meal or watching tv but will crazily leap up and run over to bang on the window as though she’s demented. Tried to encourage me to get an air pistol to sort them !

I dont like the magpies or jays that come, but I am not going to shoot them.....................I must be lucky as I sit in my garden at some point most days and just watch the wildlife doing what they do, it is probably why I started fishing in the first place a million years ago, when I was young I always thought all fisherman had a love of the countryside and wildlife...........how wrong was I.