Air Arms S510

[snailcrusher]

Hi,
     I am considering purchasing the Air Arms S510 .22cal.  I have a rabbit problem and it will be used solely for hunting.
     This will be my very first air rifle (Of any type).  Previously I was practicing with my neighbors Ruger Air Hawk and destroyed three scopes.  Being fed up with the recoil of a spring piston, I considered getting a  Nitro Piston/Gas Ram, but being lured by the hope of zero recoil, I have resolved to get a PCP.
     I would like your opinion as to whether it is a good choice for hunting.  Is it highly accurate?  Trouble free? (I am not experienced in making repairs.)  Which version of the S510 do you suggest?  The Xtra FAC, the Carbine, etc?  Do you recommend something else?
     Lastly, it is nearly winter where I live and the rabbits are mostly gone.  They won't be back till spring.  So I can wait.  Do the retailers have holiday or end of year sales?
     Once again I want to thank everyone who has helped me with all of my posts.  Your experience and wisdom has taught me a lot.  Thank You, Daniel

[Remo]

I own the .177 S410 XTRA FAC.  Fine rifle, super accurate, very reliable.  Having said all that, since you say this is going to be your first PCP be advised that the investment can be considerable.  The rifle deserves a quality scope, and there is fill equipment to consider.  There may be other rifles that can serve your purposes more economically.

How much do you care to spend for the whole plunge into the darkside?

Eric

[Nathan]

Eric makes a good point about the cost. Besides the rifle, you will need a scope and a way to fill the gun, either a tank or a hand pump. If you want to go for a tank, make sure there is a local source of air that will fill your tank. Some places may not agree to fill your tank. Research that part first before buying any tanks. A hand pump removes that problem, but they can be a work out if you shoot a lot. A Air Arms 510 will set you back a grand or so, plus optics, tank or pump. You'll be looking at $1300 minimum. For 1/2 that much you could buy a high quality springer and good optics. What ranges are you looking at shooting the rabbits? Are your neighbors close or is noise a concern? Remember you don't need a super magnum to kill rabbits. A medium power springer will work nicely and is easier on scopes too.

Nathan

[Remo]

One more thought.  If airguns is a lifelong hobby, then these costs can be amortized over that lifetime.  My Beeman P-1 was the first quality airgun I  bought and, in 1987 the retail price of $240 seemed like a lot of cash.  I've owned that pistol now for 25 years!!  I reckon I got a bargain.

Eric

[snailcrusher]

Hi,
To answer some of the questions.
Neighbors are not a problem.  I live on six arces and can barely see my neighbors.  Noise is not a great problem when you consider the sounds of chainsaws, roosters, barking dogs, and tractors.  I would prefer a quiet rifle so I can pick off one rabbit without spooking the others.
I would like to get accurate kill shots at 150-200 feet.  It is very difficult to get closer than 100 feet to rabbits.  They have big ears to hear you coming and can feel the vibration of your feet through the ground.
I live on a farm/ranch and it is a lot of work.  I see an Air Rifle as a tool to do a job.  I don't want to spend my time trying to sneak up on rabbits.  I want to eliminate them as fast and easy as possible.
If I miss or only wound them they will disappear into the Brush.  So I need something that will give me a single kill shot at 150-200 feet.
After borrowing my neighbors Ruger Air Hawk, I am very sour on Spring Pistons.  It destroyed three scopes and was only accurate with open sights to about 50 feet.  I spent a lot of time trying to get it to shoot straight.
I checked with a local scuba shop and they sell used Scuba Tanks with current Hydo and Visual for $100.  They don't have issues with refills since they deal with Paintball Players.
EBay sells a Charging Adapter for about $34.00  Here is the link.
   
http://www.ebay.com/itm/G7-Scuba-Fill-Station-Detachable-36-Stainless-High-Pressure-Air-Fill-Whip-/120945280107?_trksid=p4340.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222002%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D11%26meid%3D2760317975827249330%26pid%3D100011%26prg%3D1005%26rk%3D2%26sd%3D120991321237%26

Is it a good Charging Adapter?
The major air gun websites sell the S510 for about $999.99.  Add in a $100 Scuba tank and a Charging Adapter the total comes to about $1,135.00.  This is a lot more than I originally planed to spend, but if it gets the job done I'll be happy.
As to scopes, what would you recommend?
Thank You, Daniel

[Remo]

What size/pressure tank are you going to get?  There's a lot of difference between 3,000 psi, 3300 psi and your budget doesn't even consider a 4500 psi CF tank.  My AA S410 takes a full fill at 2900 psi.  How many fills do you think you'll get out of a 3,000 psi scuba tank?  Is that important to you?  Are you sure that the adapter you're looking at will fit the S510 fill adapter.  If it's like mine, the "T" kind,  you also need a male foster fitting.

Eric

[Backyardsniper1]

I have the Xtra Fac 410 .22. Great rifle adjustable power,and a ldc can be added if need be. It's very capable for what you want it for. To down your cost look used from someone with good feedback or boi. If you would prefer rear bolt action to side lever you could get one in the 600-700 range and probably with a few extras.
For your filling unless someone has fitted it with a qf adaptor you will need a setup for the banjo adaptor. You can take a took at what I'm talking about on sites showcasing the AA line.

[squirrelnator]

Just thought I would throw this out there a ,25 Mrod with JSBS would be my choice for POPin BUnnies NO you dont need a ,25 but the Mrod is quiter the ,25 will put the smack down and it will shoot Polymags out of the magazine. I used this combo to take lots of rabbits over a couple years and loved it. Tune to 850 or so you will get 24 good shots out to 50 and 18 or so out to 70. I did not have one lost bunny no matter were in the vitals I hit em,

[1nmartin]

If your looking to get started in PCPs the Benjamin Discovery with the pump would be an option. I know its not near the quality as an AA but its light, and accurate. A decent scope can be got for under a hundred bucks. The disco is loud but it gets the job done.

I got my disco and pump from walmart for just under 360 dollars. 80 for a scope. And I'm hitting 1 inch steel targets all day at 65 yards.

Just my 2 cents.

[yoshi800]

Are you using airgun rated scopes?

You can get coupon codes for pyramyd air - sign up for their email mailing list

[Remo]

Don't need to worry about eating the scope, its a PCP = no recoil.

Eric

[jimmie lee]

IN my opinion you stated your needs clearly and would benefit from .22-.25 PCP. It's a tool for you and it doesn't do to scrimp on tools. You get what you pay for so the decision is yours to make now. Good luck and let us know what you end up with.

[only1harry]

Most Scuba tanks are 3K psi, some are 3300.  With an 80cu.ft 3k Scuba, you will only get about three (3) 2900psi fills if they fill it properly and slowly to 3-3,050psi.  Usually they fill it a little too fast and hand it over to you "warm" (to the touch).  The next day the air in your Scuba has cooled off, and the pressure in it is down to 2700-2800psi.  To do it right, the Dive shop needs to keep your tank overnight and top it off to its full pressure the next day. 
You really need a 4500psi tank to keep filling your gun to 2900-3k psi, or have your own shoebox compressor to refill your 3K Scuba tank(s).  If you do not have a shop around that can fill to 4,500psi,  you might want to consider a Disco that takes 2k psi fills, or a Marauder which you can get away with 2,500-2600psi fills and maybe 14 power shots.  Either gun has enough power to take out rabbits at 50yds and beyond, but in general the Marauder .25 is usually more accurate at that distance and would have more knockdown power than the Air Arms or Disco. 

But if you can get a 4500 tank and have a shop that can fill to that pressure, by all means get the AA 510!

Harry