Pest control, PCP recommendations (no FX please)

[Ozman]

Advice wanted. 

Located in Australia, I need a regulated PCP airgun for rabbit control on 5 acres, but please, no FX recommendations*

Here are my requirements:


• Caliber .22 or .25 (preferably 22)
• Capable of 900-1000 fps
• Regulated pressure (consistent shooting)
• Accurate to 100-120m/yards
• As few O-rings as possible
• Rugged, durable design
• Reputation for reliability
• Reputation for barrel accuracy (Lothar Walther?)
• I do not need the ability to swap out barrels and change calibers
• I do not need a magazine, single shot acceptable. Magazine would be nice though.
• I do not need high shot capacity (i.e. a big air reservoir) Will be hand pumping.

Recommendations please!

* FX airguns seem to have little or no quality control ex factory. I've read hundreds of owner accounts of problems on various forums, and even seen two dealers (now 3, including AoA) refuse to sell them because of the the return rate.  I just don't need or want the drama in my life.

[BackStop]

• Advice wanted. 
  
  Located in Australia, I need a regulated PCP airgun for rabbit control on 5 acres, but please, no FX recommendations*
  
  Here are my requirements:
  
  
• Caliber .22 or .25 (preferably 22)
• Capable of 900-1000 fps
• Regulated pressure (consistent shooting)
• Accurate to 100-120m/yards
• As few O-rings as possible
• Rugged, durable design
• Reputation for reliability
• Reputation for barrel accuracy (Lothar Walther?)
• I do not need the ability to swap out barrels and change calibers
• I do not need a magazine, single shot acceptable. Magazine would be nice though.
• I do not need high shot capacity (i.e. a big air reservoir) Will be hand pumping.

Recommendations please!

* FX airguns seem to have little or no quality control ex factory. I've read hundreds of owner accounts of problems on various forums, and even seen two dealers (now 3, including AoA) refuse to sell them because of the the return rate.  I just don't need or want the drama in my life.

Nova Freedom or Seneca Aspen in .177 or .22.

No need for regulator as the pump is built into the gun.

I own a Freedom in .177 and will buy another one.

Enough said...

[Ozman]

Nova Freedom or Seneca Aspen in .177 or .22.

Thanks. AFAIK those are not available in Australia.

I've just now spotted an interesting gun, the AirForce Condor. This seems to have everything I need except the regulator. Maybe I can live without a regulator? But I do need some replicability when I shoot so that impact point is predictable ....

[BackStop]

Nova Freedom or Seneca Aspen in .177 or .22.

Thanks. AFAIK those are not available in Australia.

I've just now spotted an interesting gun, the AirForce Condor. This seems to have everything I need except the regulator. Maybe I can live without a regulator? But I do need some replicability when I shoot so that impact point is predictable ....

American Tactical won't ship to Australia?   Amazon won't ship to Australia?   Pyramidair won't ship to Australia?

Really?  I had no idea...

[Arch_E]

Advice wanted. 

Located in Australia, I need a regulated PCP airgun for rabbit control on 5 acres, but please, no FX recommendations*

Here are my requirements:


• Caliber .22 or .25 (preferably 22)
• Capable of 900-1000 fps
• Regulated pressure (consistent shooting)
• Accurate to 100-120m/yards
• As few O-rings as possible
• Rugged, durable design
• Reputation for reliability
• Reputation for barrel accuracy (Lothar Walther?)
• I do not need the ability to swap out barrels and change calibers
• I do not need a magazine, single shot acceptable. Magazine would be nice though.
• I do not need high shot capacity (i.e. a big air reservoir) Will be hand pumping.

Recommendations please!

* FX airguns seem to have little or no quality control ex factory. I've read hundreds of owner accounts of problems on various forums, and even seen two dealers (now 3, including AoA) refuse to sell them because of the the return rate.  I just don't need or want the drama in my life.

Hey Mike,

Great post. Give everyone some time to think it over. I'm a springer shooter, so no input from me--especially at the 100-120+ range that you're looking for. 

Head over to the hunting gate and watch some of the videos with long distance shooting. I'm amazed at guns + scopes that can kill pests (small and large) at 160+ yards.

Also, there are some great deals on used guns (if it's legal down under to buy that way). Some of the folks here are masters at maintaining their guns then upgrading to the newer stuff; or, they are retiring some of the herd and sharing the wealth at reasonable prices. Typically, anyone here with posts numbering into the 1,000s+ has vetted themselves within the community. A PM can get you started. Also, use a PM to ask a member about his/her experience with a gun that interests you.

Lastly, there are just as many right choices as wrong ones! Let your needs, wants, and preferences guide you. If you buy a gun that barely reaches 100 yards when you need 120-160+, then you've bought your first gun but not the last.

Here are some categories to consider, as you go forward:

Loudness. Is this a factor for people or for the prey? I've gotten second shots at squirrels simply because my .177 is only a medium loud gun.
Weight!!!! This matters a great deal to me; but you may not have off-hand challenges due to lower back problems. As as general rule, 7.5 lbs + a 1lb-ish scope is much easier to off-hand shoot than a
                10-11 lb kit!!!!! AMHIKT   
FPS.          I don't know PCPs; but should the ballistics be similar...higher FPS will introduce breaking the sound barrier, generating destabilization of the pellet, and create a bit a havoc with heavier
                calibers and heavier pellets. However, I'm not sure this applies to the PCP world as it does for the rest of us. No disrespect intended. So, don't choose higher FPS just cause you can!
Pellets.      Maker, shape, grain weight, etc. really matter!!!! .177 and .22 have a much larger assortment of pellet choices; .20 and .25 have far fewer but the ones available are recommended here by
                others as really good. (Got this stored away for my first .20 and .25 down the line (way down the line).
Quality.     I believe that you get what you pay for, though some of it is merely cosmetic. The way I handle and clean my Weihrauchs is much more thorough than my Crosman. However, I can shoot
                nearly as well with my lowly Crosman as with my Frauleins (only took me five months to say that) 
Fill ups.     No idea! Read and ask others taken by the Darkside.


Hope this helps (even if not from a PCP-er).

Keep us posted,

Archie

[SteveP-52]

Knowing what brands are available to you down under would go a ways towards recommending something that will fit your wants/needs.

[45Bravo]

Is the Airforce airgun line available there?

While not regulated, they are consistent shooters.
They Have only 2 o rings in the gun and a 3rd one in The valve that is attached to the 500cc tank.

And it will still function with 2 of them missing (but at a lower velocity. )

They are accurate with Lothar Walther barrels.

They are called a utility airgun, by Airforce.

There is a reason many governmental agencies use them for pest control.

[Franklink]

Taipan Veteran, if they're available to you.

I've owned four PCPs (3 now). One is a very specific-use field target gun, but the Veteran does everything the other 3 can (did in the case of the one I sold) and then some.

Amazing triggers, amazing accuracy, very robustly built. I just load and shoot mine, no tinkering necessary (other than the hammer spring power adjust, which is yet another nice feature). I bought it around October last year and I've shot seven tins of pellets through it with absolutely zero problems. 100+ yard shots are not a problem. Mines in .22. Comes with two magazines and a single shot tray. It is my primary pest popper.

Owning an airgun named the Taipan and living where you do would be kinda fun too. You could tell people your Taipan killed it.

[Verminstalker]

If you tinker with your air rifles, you could try a Hatsan BT65. You can install a Huma or Lane reg in it and they definitely have the power you are looking for. Not very many O-rings, they usually don't have air leak issues, accuracy from all the ones I have has been very good with JSB and H&N pellets. They are sometimes a little rough when new but smooth out nicely after it's been cleaned and shot for awhile.

[Ozman]

American Tactical won't ship to Australia?   Amazon won't ship to Australia?   Pyramidair won't ship to Australia?
Really?  I had no idea...

Unfortunately, pellet guns are considered fully fledged firearms here and cannot be imported by individuals. It has to come through a dealer.

Head over to the hunting gate and watch some of the videos with long distance shooting. I'm amazed at guns + scopes that can kill pests (small and large) at 160+ yards.

Great suggestion, thanks!

Also, there are some great deals on used guns (if it's legal down under to buy that way).

I've decided not to go "used" on this. I'm treating myself to a new gun

Loudness. Is this a factor for people or for the prey? I've gotten second shots at squirrels simply because my .177 is only a medium loud gun.

Silencers are illegal here. I know, ridiculous!

Weight!!!! This matters a great deal to me; but you may not have off-hand challenges due to lower back problems.

Not for me. I can see the whole 5 acres from one spot, and won't be hauling it around much.

Knowing what brands are available to you down under would go a ways towards recommending something that will fit your wants/needs.

Hmm. That's a hard one. The way I check if something is available here is by Googling "[rifle brand name] site:.au" e.g. "Daisy site:.au" (lose the quotation marks)
That tells Google only to report Australian hits for that term.

(BTW, I am American who has moved here permanently, long story)

Is the Airforce airgun line available there?
While not regulated, they are consistent shooters.
They Have only 2 o rings in the gun and a 3rd one in The valve that is attached to the 500cc tank.
And it will still function with 2 of them missing (but at a lower velocity. )
They are accurate with Lothar Walther barrels.
They are called a utility airgun, by Airforce.
There is a reason many governmental agencies use them for pest control.

Yes they are available here, and that was some excellent information, thank you!

Taipan Veteran, if they're available to you.

Sadly not, although we do have the actual Taipan snake here, the most venomous in the world!

If you tinker with your air rifles, you could try a Hatsan BT65. You can install a Huma or Lane reg in it and they definitely have the power you are looking for. Not very many O-rings, they usually don't have air leak issues, accuracy from all the ones I have has been very good with JSB and H&N pellets. They are sometimes a little rough when new but smooth out nicely after it's been cleaned and shot for awhile.

Thanks, Hatsans are available here. I will look into this

[Dairyboy]

How about a RAW or Daystate Redwolf? I mean depending on your budget which I never saw these would be a real treat!

[Ozman]

How about a RAW or Daystate Redwolf? I mean depending on your budget which I never saw these would be a real treat!

Yes, I have considered them. Very spendy, but if nothing else suits that's the way I'll go. Thanks for the recommendation

[Dbez1]

+1 for Taipan Veteran Long or regular. Built like a tank and accurate out of the box.

[wimpanzee]

+1 for a taipan. It's my most reliable, most accurate, and easy to shoot gun!

Second suggestion would be a brocock bantam maybe!

[mpbby]

Having consistent accuracy at 100-120 yards, what would you shoot with your brand new rifle when the rabbits are done?

[Bryan Heimann]

Probably not gonna be easy to get, and is priced pretty high, but I think an American Air Arms Evol would be perfect.  Barrels are threaded in, instead of using setscrews and orings.  Still probably gona have oring on the bolt and in other areas required for sealing the gun, but it's pretty hard to beat a tensioned threaded barrel for rugged reliability.  I don't understand why there are not more rifles available like that.

[YEMX]

Weird question, apologies if I missed it, but if longer ranges are your goal, why do you prefer a .22?  A .25 would be better suited and retain more energy down range.  Not saying one caliber or the other is wrong- just wondering about the .22 preference.   

Condors are nice, highly adaptable guns...  You can add a regulator down the road, but I've never shot a regulated one, and I'm not sure how adding said reg would/wouldn't affect LOP.   

[Taso1000]

How about a Weihrauch HW100?

Aceros De Hispania and Krale Schietsport carry them in different variations:

https://www.aceros-de-hispania.com/airguns-competition-pcp.asp?product=carabina-weihrauch-hw100-s-fsb

https://www.krale.shop/en/weihrauch-hw100-s.html

Thanks,

Taso

[Outback]

Mike
The Hatsan  BT65 comes to the UK as 12ft/lbs rifle they are designed as a 40 + ft/lbs rifle I don't know if you have a ft/lbs restriction in OZ but in .22 / .25 with a good scope they would suit you . Huma in Holland ship regs worldwide and no problem fitting them . I have a .22 with a FAC self tuned reg fitted and running 40ft/lb , anything you need to know shout out .

[K.O.]

100-200 yards... in the real world I think that is .257 100-150 fpe+ slug territory... jmho...