Features of hunting with pneumatics: what to choose and who you can hunt

Air guns have many advantages over firearms. Air rifle hunting is great for beginners. Most use smooth-bore or rifled weapons. However, the cost of a shot from an air rifle is much cheaper and the rifle itself is much quieter. Professional and powerful air guns allow you to hunt large animals such as wild boar, elk and even bear. High-end rifles allow bullets to develop high speed, which is very convenient when shooting at fast-moving targets. However, this type of weapon is not universal. It can only be used for certain types of hunting.

Rifle selection

Since each type of pneumatics has its own characteristic features, a number of indicators must be taken into account when choosing. The law plays an important role here. If you don't have a high-powered weapon permit, you won't be able to use high-performance airguns.

To hunt wild boar, beaver, hare and others, you need a rifle with high muzzle energy. A great example is the Korean "Dragon Career Slayer". However, such pneumatics are prohibited by law in our country, so they can only be used abroad .

Career Dragon Slayer Air Rifle

Compression and spring-piston rifles are especially popular. They function in the cold season, which is very important for our climate. The most in demand are pneumatics from German and Spanish manufacturers. Compressor rifles are much more expensive, however, the demand for them is much higher. This is due to the technical characteristics of single and multiple inflation of compression pneumatic weapons.

A cheap option is pneumatics with a spring-piston system. Suitable for hunting pheasants, partridges, ducks, hazel grouse, crows and other birds, as well as small animals such as hare or beaver. However, this design has a drawback - after each shot you must manually reload the rifle.

Spring-piston pneumatics Storm-XT

Therefore, for wary game such as ducks or hares, it is necessary to take an accurate first shot. Otherwise, you will scare the animal away and it will be difficult to find. Moreover, spring-piston rifles allow hunting only at close range. Because of this, it is not recommended to go with such a weapon against wild boar and larger game, as it is quite dangerous.

One of the most popular brands of air guns is Pre-Charge Pneumatics or PCP. Many rifles from this manufacturer can fire up to 45 shots without reloading. In addition, they are very light and comfortable. True, their cost is significantly higher than alternative rifles. PCPs are designed for professional hunters.

Air rifle Pre Charge Pneumatic

Brands of hunting pneumatics of various calibers

When choosing which pneumatic to buy for hunting, you should pay attention to their main characteristics and brands:

1. Due to their high wear resistance, models from Spanish and German manufacturers are most in demand;
2. Compression (Figure 2) and spring-piston guns function well in the cold season, which is very important in our climate;
3. Compression ones are an order of magnitude more expensive and are in great demand, due to the possibility of single and multiple pumping of the air cylinder of a weapon;
4. Cheap options with a spring-piston system have a significant drawback in the form of the need for manual reloading and allow hunting only at close range.

Figure 2. Compression air rifles
The main calibers of air rifles we use for hunting are:

1. 177 - 4.5 mm - children's, bullet weight up to 1 gram;
2. 22 - 5.5 mm or 5.6 mm - papal, weight up to 2.5 grams;
3. 25 - 6.35 mm - old-fashioned, maximum weight up to 5 grams.

Larger calibers of pneumatics for hunting are less commonly used:

• 30 - 9 mm - a maximum bullet weight of 10 grams is allowed;
• 50 - 12.7 mm - the projectile weighs around 25 grams.

The main difficulty in their use is that it is extremely difficult to obtain permission for them, even in countries such as the UK and the USA.

Powerful pneumatics for hunting:

1. Allows you to shoot both large game and small and medium-sized animals;
2. It is inappropriate for shooting any species of birds - their carcasses will be torn apart by lethal force;
3. Bullets for fittings weigh up to 32 grams and, when fired, develop a speed of 200 m/s;
4. The muzzle energy produced by these pneumatic guns reaches 650 joules;
5. For the slaughter of small animals and wild boars, preference is given to bullets of 11-13mm;
6. Such weapons in our country require permission by law.

Although it is not easy to find products from these manufacturers here, powerful pneumatics for hunting are very popular.

Figure 3. Airforce Condor - PCP (top) and Sam Yang Big Bore 909s (bottom)

Popular powerful pneumatics (Figure 3):

1. The brainchild of the South Korean company Sam Yang Big Bore 909s;
2. Models of American origin AirForce Guns;
3. Designed for professionals - “Pre-Charge Pneumatics” or PCP.

As a rule, pneumatics for hunting without a license have low power characteristics. Those who prefer license-free fittings of 5.5 and 6.35 mm calibers should focus on models with pre-pumping (PCP) of domestic production. Foreign samples of the corresponding calibers require permission.

Pneumatics for hunting with a caliber of 6.35 mm have a number of disadvantages:

1. With it they hunt large birds, marmot, beaver and small boars at medium distances;
2. You should only shoot from it if you have a good silencer, in order to avoid concussion;
3. It has high air consumption and low accuracy statistics;
4. It is extremely difficult to understand which manufacturer’s bullet will fly out of the barrel and in which direction;
5. As the caliber increases, the cost of products designed for it increases; a 25-caliber assault rifle from some Korean company will cost at least 120,000 rubles.

However, we have a fairly good assortment of pneumatics for hunting with a caliber of 6.35 mm:

1. Foreign models HATSAN, FX ROYAL-500 and EVANIX, Wolf, Extreme, Condor;
2. Rifles of any domestic brands, with the exception of those produced at the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant - they have nothing to do with 25 caliber.

4.5 mm

Successful hunting with 4.5 mm pneumatics greatly depends not only on the brand and characteristics of the barrel used, but also on the quality of the bullets used. Weapons for the 177 caliber are considered the most common in the world, so finding a suitable rifle for fishing on the open market is not difficult.

Figure 4. 4.5 mm pneumatic options

Hunting with 4.5 mm pneumatics for small game is possible thanks to the following indicators:

1. The muzzle energy of representatives of this class ranges from 5 to 40 J;
2. But it is limited by the legislation of the Russian Federation to a permissible maximum of 25 J;
3. A standard bullet weighs about 0.5g, which provides a flight range of about 20 m;
4. Hunting shells are a little heavier, so they fly at a distance of 50-60m.

5.5 mm

Why the best pneumatic gun for hunting is 5.5 20 gauge:

1. It is universal in use, has an effective firing range of 100-120m;
2. The initial speed of a bullet fired from the nozzle reaches a speed of 270 m/s;
3. The muzzle energy of such pneumatic guns (Figure 5) is in the range of 7-65 J, the weight of a hunting bullet is 1-1.3 g.

Figure 5. Example of 5.55 mm pneumatics
The best 5.5 pneumatics for hunting are represented by the following brands:

1. Weihrauch HW is a German high-quality rifle with excellent build quality and components, and does not have open sights;
2. Steyr 110 is a model from an Austrian manufacturer, each hunter can draw his own conclusions about it, but it is not inferior in quality to the German;
3. CZ-200T (S) - Czech version of the pneumatic gun from the company Ceska Zbrojovka, compact with high accuracy of fire, but a small air reservoir, single-shot as standard, the additional drum magazine module is expensive;
4. Hooligun is a Russian single-shot rifle produced by the Kalibr company.

9 mm

Serial production of rifles of this caliber is established all over the world.

In our country they are not particularly popular due to the high price and the need for permission.

Foreign pneumatics for hunting 9 mm, used by Russian hunters:

1. Rifles from the Korean company EVANIX are most widespread (Figure 6);
2. Cheap versions of the BLIZZARD S-10 are available with a biathlon platoon;
3. The new JKHAN AIRRIFLE with walnut stock is made of high quality metal;
4. VINDY CITY are considered the best, they have a large volume of air in reserve and a comfortable pistol grip.

Figure 6. Regular EVANIX and VINDY CITY (below)
Domestic 9 mm pneumatics for hunting are not inferior in lethality to their foreign counterparts, although they cannot boast of a wide range.

Domestic pneumatics:

1. The huntsman with a wooden stock is considered the most powerful and beautiful;
2. The very strong and short LUPARA, with a length of only 70 cm, is equipped with an electronic hammer and a large air tank.

Powerful air gun

Pneumatics with high energy allow you to hunt both wild boars and small animals, such as a hare or a beaver. It is not recommended to use them for shooting birds, be it a crow, pheasant, duck or smaller ones such as partridge or hazel grouse, since the killing force will crush the carcass. Bullets for such rifles weigh up to 32 grams and, when fired, reach a speed of 200 m/s. The muzzle energy produced by such pneumatics reaches 650 joules.

Air rifle Sam Yang Big Bore 909

The most popular manufacturers of high-powered rifles are:

• South Korean;
• "Dragon Career Slayer"
• American.

They allow you to hunt not only ducks, partridges or hares, but also animals such as wolves, elk or deer. However, it is quite difficult to find rifles from these manufacturers in our country.

Hatsan

In Russia and the CIS countries, the sales leader is a magnum class pneumatic called “Hatsan 125”. It also has the status of the most powerful rifle on our market. It appeared in 2006 and quickly gained popularity due to a number of advantages. The rifle is a spring-piston type, cocking is carried out by breaking the barrel.

Air rifle Hatsan 125

Main characteristics of Hatsan 125 pneumatics:

• caliber 4.5 mm;
• length 125.5 cm;
• bullet exit speed from the barrel is 380 m/s;
• trunk length 51 cm;
• weight 3.6 kg;

When purchasing, you can choose the modification, material and color. True, for the legal use of such a rifle a mandatory permit is required. Therefore, before shooting hares or crows, you will have to obtain a license to use weapons.

Weapon world map

Hunting with air rifles is allowed in almost all countries of the world. The homeland of most manufacturers of powerful pneumatics is the UK, while the largest market for such products is in the USA.

It is worth paying attention to the best-selling rifles (Figure 8):

1. British Air-Arms S410 - it attracts with its low cost and pleasant appearance, but does not exclude breakdowns of the air tank, which cannot withstand a pressure of 300 atm. and higher;
2. Another Briton, Theoben, is distinguished by its technically competent assembly, but its high price and eerie visual appearance scare off potential buyers;
3. Koreans Shinshung - they make many modifications on one base, they have versions with a bolt action, Henry bracket, interchangeable tanks, calibers from 4.5 to 9 mm.

There is an opinion among people that in our country, hunting with air guns and the law are incompatible concepts. In fact, it is allowed to kill crows and predators on hunting grounds without special permission. You can see this for yourself by watching the video hunting with pneumatics 2022 in Russia.

The most popular type of pneumatic rifle is a small 4.5 mm caliber rifle with a power of 7.5 J. It can be easily purchased in any country and used for shooting birds and small game. The only requirement for it is to fire at the closest possible distance, no more than 50 m.

Hunting with air rifles, gun laws are different in every country in the world. In some states of America and Canada, most hunting rifles are available for sale, while in our country only certain bullets and calibers are allowed.

Pneumatic bullets

Particular attention should be paid to the selection of shells for the rifle. The wrong caliber will ruin the barrel, and using different bullet shapes can affect the catch in one direction or another. When shooting crows, pheasants and hazel grouse, shells with a sharp head are suitable. For beavers or wild boars, it is better to use expansion bullets. When hit, they increase in diameter, causing more damage to prey.

Expansive bullets for pneumatics

True, the selection is not always carried out based on hunting purposes. To simply drive away crows from the hunting grounds, flash-noise projectiles are suitable. In their center is a metal head, under which there is an explosive charge. When hit, they detonate. Such bullets have no stopping power, so you won’t even be able to kill a hazel grouse or partridge, not to mention a pheasant. However, they are excellent for overclocking and are used in low-power rifles that do not require a permit.

Stun bullets for pneumatics

Hemispherical bullets are suitable for long-range shooting. It is convenient to use such shells when hunting birds, such as hazel grouse and pheasant, as well as crows. Heavy bullets with this shape are also produced and are good for hunting beavers and large animals.

In general, it is worth paying special attention not only to the characteristics of pneumatics comparable to firearms, but also to its advantages. Unlike throwing weapons, they are much more powerful and can be used over long distances. Compared to firearms, we can distinguish the low noise of air rifles and the low cost of components. Therefore, every year hunting with air guns becomes more and more popular.

Hunting with air rifles: a serious hobby

The main purpose of pneumatic weapons in practice is hunting. If earlier air pistols and rifles were only suitable for not particularly accurate shooting at papers at a shooting range, now they are full-fledged weapons with which you can get fresh game as a trophy. Not every barrel can kill an animal - shooting accuracy, weapon power, penetrating ability and caliber are important. Hunting rifles can be divided into classes, depending on the type of animal that can be killed with this rifle.

Hunting with air guns

On the beaver

The beaver is a rather large animal, it has a thick skin and a large supply of subcutaneous fat, which cannot be penetrated with the smallest caliber. As ohota.by recommends, in order to hunt beaver, at least the so-called “papal” caliber is suitable. In order for the hunt to be lethal, you need to go out with a Vintorez sniper rifle, more on that later.

There are three main pneumatic hunting calibers:

• children - 4.5 mm;
• papal – 5.5 mm;
• grandfather's - 6.5 mm.

Ideally, the beaver should be shot in the sternum. If the bullet remained inside the animal and did not come out, piercing the ribs only in the front, then all the lethal energy of the bullet remained in it.

The Korean PCP pneumatic for hunting Career III300D (30,000 rubles) is used quite widely against beavers. Many people prefer to buy PCP 5.5 mm rifles without a license.

The speed of the bullet does not matter here, but its destructive power is what is needed.

Features of hunting with pneumatics: what to choose and who you can hunt

Hunting wild animals is one of the activities that has existed for thousands of years, almost since the advent of humanity itself. To this day, hunting remains effective for obtaining valuable animal skins or meat. Briefly speaking about hunting time, it is autumn. In the spring and summer, hunters prepare equipment, and in the fall they hunt with pneumatics for blackbirds, for example. However, some people are now misled into thinking that hunting is a very expensive activity that requires the purchase of firearms, ammunition, etc. Nowadays, hunting with air rifles is quite common.

Why with pneumatics and not firearms? Because pneumatics will cost much less than firearms and their ammunition. In recent years, hunting crows with air guns has become increasingly common. These animals are very smart, and therefore a hunter with many trophies of these birds is considered successful and knowledgeable in his business. In addition to ravens, pheasants are considered very valuable. Pheasant hunting with pneumatics is considered a highlight of this activity.

Types of hare hunting

What types of hare hunting can be practiced with pneumatics?

Of the popular ones, in my opinion, only one is “in uzerku” (behold - see). Labor-intensive, ineffective, low-harvest and short-lived, it lies in the fact that the hare, which has turned white for the season, with snow that has not yet fallen or suddenly melted, becomes noticeable against the background of the black trail. And he, instinctively frozen in immobility, can be removed with a targeted shot.

All other types are mainly associated with shooting at a moving target, very quickly and with a change in direction. And even when hunting “in the uzerka”, in most cases the scythe manages to get out of place and you have to hit it while moving. That is why hunting for it is carried out exclusively with shotguns, and not with rifled weapons. Even with a relatively simple “hijacking” shot, there is practically no chance of hitting a hare with a bullet.

I don’t consider the option of shooting from a car, which the animals are not afraid of and will let close, since this is no longer ordinary poaching, but something worse...

The most realistic approach seems to be hunting from ambush on the bait. This is what foreign hunters practice, including rabbit hunters. In our country and in countries with a similar climate, it is traditionally held in winter, towards the end of the season, when hares in search of food go to haystacks, silos, gardens and the outskirts of villages.

There are two options.

First: during the day, following the tracks, find a feeding area and organize a camouflaged hiding place 20 meters from it. The difficulties in the absence of suitable terrain elements or structures are easy to imagine.

The second is simpler, but takes more time: prepare food in advance - the same hay, grain, bread, tree branches, better than fruit trees; white hare, as forest dwellers, prefer branch food. In this case, you yourself choose a place that can already be decorated comfortably, for example, a barn standing on the outskirts. Then you organize a feeding area at the optimal distance from it for an accurate and lethal shot and, again following the tracks, make sure that it is visited regularly. At the same time, you will do a good deed for the animals, since in any case you will get much less than you will save from starvation.

Hunting is carried out on moonlit nights. Moreover, the best option would be when the moon shines on you as the hare approaches. In this case, the shadow of the animal will lie in front of it, and the silhouette will become clearly visible against the background of snow. That, in fact, is all the secrets; the rest should be intuitively clear even to a beginner. Appropriate shooting training is implied. Among the trivial additions: clothing must be appropriate for the weather and the long waiting time; you should not drink, smoke or sing songs.

For a rifle hunter, this information would be enough. But even a firearm shows a dependence of ballistics on temperature; pneumatics, where the working fluid is compressed air, are even more vulnerable. Especially with pre-pumping (PCP) and spring-piston, equipped with “gas” springs. Conventional rifles are less susceptible to this, but they are susceptible to shrinkage of the steel mainspring if kept cocked for hours. You can calculate the corrections for your bullets using a ballistic calculator, but it is better to shoot the rifle live in cold weather of 10-12 degrees. Moreover, for a “cold barrel” (in our case, a compressor), that is, for the first shot.

We leave the weapon outside to freeze for at least half an hour, then load it and wait another ten minutes. We shoot from a rest at a paper target at a working distance, which you, of course, already know. Using handwheels we introduce corrections. We load the rifle again and after half an hour of waiting we fire a control shot. If necessary, turn the drums again. If there are too many “clicks”, additional shooting will be needed. I would not hunt with air at temperatures below -10-12 degrees.

In general, winter is a somewhat extreme time for pneumatics, so autumn would be the best option. Hare hunting opens in September , but here the advantage is given to local residents, who usually know the hunting sites, such as abandoned gardens. In the absence of clearly visible tracks in the snow, it will be difficult for a visiting hunter to identify them, although with some experience it is quite possible. Here it is better to turn to the “natives” for help, who will also be pleased with the reduction in the number of animals causing damage to fruit and berry plantings.

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Principle of operation

A shot from an air gun is fired by the fact that the bullet leaves the barrel under the influence of strong pressure created by air or some kind of gas. There are two methods for creating such pressure, and therefore there are two types of air rifles.

The operating principle of the first ones - spring-piston ones - is quite simple. The hunter cocks a spring, which hits the piston, which in turn creates pressure in the rifle.

The design of the second - compression rifles - is a little more complicated, but the same piston is present here too. However, there are two pistons, and they are presented in the form of a pump. Using these pistons, the hunter pumps in the required amount of air, which creates the required pressure for a shot. Goose hunting with pneumatics, for example, is carried out with weapons with a caliber of 6.35 or more.

What does the legislation say about hunting with air guns?

There is an opinion that it is impossible to engage in this type of activity in Russia with pneumatics. This is an incorrect statement. There is even a separate article allowing the shooting of crows or stray dogs with pneumatic weapons. Hunting with an air rifle is permitted on the territory of the Russian Federation if you have a hunter's license, as well as a weapons permit.

However, it is worth mentioning that you do not need a permit for pneumatic weapons whose power is below 7.5 Joules, but you will not be able to hunt with such a tool. But from 7.5 Joules to 25 Joules a weapons permit is already required. In addition to these regulations, there is also a rule that hunting with air guns is prohibited at a distance closer than 200 m to the nearest populated area.

Advantages and disadvantages

Many even experienced hunters still prefer to hunt with firearms.

But, for example, duck hunting with pneumatics has its advantages:

1. You do not need a permit to use air guns when hunting ducks.
2. The cost of ammunition for air rifles is much lower than for firearms.
3. If you purchase a silencer, this will make the weapon completely silent. And this is the main rule when hunting.
4. The percentage of hunting success will directly depend not so much on the performance of the weapon, but on the skill of the hunter himself.
5. The use of pneumatic weapons does not harm the environment, like a lead bullet from a firearm.
6. When using air guns, the excitement of hunting is completely preserved.

Of the negative aspects of such a hunt, one can only indirectly highlight that pneumatic guns have a shorter range and it will be more difficult to hit, since when fired from such a weapon, only one bullet flies out, unlike shot from a firearm, for example.

How to choose pneumatics for hunting

When selecting a suitable air gun for hunting, you must first of all pay attention to its power.

Dragoon Career Slayer

One of the most powerful air rifles that can even be used for hunting large animals. The technical characteristics of this rifle were originally designed for small game. The weight of the instrument is 4 kg, and its caliber is 12.7 mm. However, abroad they are increasingly beginning to use this pneumatic even for hunting wild boars or bears. Shooting smaller game is not difficult at all.

RSR pneumatics

Air rifles of this type are considered the most suitable for hunting. They are capable of firing up to 45 shots per pumping. However, a significant disadvantage of such weapons will be their high cost.

Sam Yang Big Bore 909s

This air gun is somewhat weaker than the types mentioned above, however, its power is enough for hunting wolves or foxes. The caliber of this weapon is 11.5 mm, and its bullet speed is 220 m/s. With these parameters, the power of the equipment is 250 Joules.

AirForce Condor

A rifle from the Magnum family, which was produced by American manufacturers, is a sign for the whole world. The power of the weapon is 100 Joules, and the initial speed of the bullet is 380 m/s. With such technical parameters and spectacular appearance, the weapon has become popular among hunters all over the world.

Pneumatics for hunting duck, hare, pheasant, crow, etc.

Pneumatics for hunting are in great demand among many people who like to chase game in the forests. Unlike other weapons, hunting pneumatics are sold without permits, which must be obtained from the relevant authorities. Thus, air guns for hunting are a more profitable purchase option today. The caliber of airgun bullets for hunting is usually 4.5 mm. Air rifles are very popular because they are well suited for novice hunters. It is not often that air pistols are purchased for hunting. This is explained by the fact that their initial bullet speed is 2-2.5 times lower than that of rifles, so you are unlikely to be able to hit a fast-moving target. Despite this, they are still used for certain types of hunting. It should be noted that today many stores sell good guns at affordable prices, which makes hunting a favorite pastime for many people. However, for a good hunt, and most importantly, for an excellent result, you will need to choose the appropriate weapon.

Hunting pneumatics are selected for specific needs. For example, hunting a fox or a wild boar forces you to be extremely careful and use powerful weapons. For such hunting, air rifles are perfect, the initial speed of which reaches 300 or more meters per second. In this case, you can be sure that the victim himself will not attack you. The main thing that is required of you is to hit a wild boar, fox or other animal, hunting for which requires good skills and high concentration. It is not recommended to go hunting for such animals unless you have undergone training. It is best to practice before hunting, hone all kinds of techniques and work on targets. Regarding targets, I would like to add that now you can buy a model of almost any animal and train on it as much as you need. After this, you can safely go hunting. Pneumatics for hunting are always selected individually, so you can choose rifles from different manufacturers: Umarex, Diana, Crosman and many others. For example, the Diana 34 Classic Professional is considered the best airgun with a modern combination of design and technical power. This model is very popular among many hunters.

Hunting pneumatics are used more often in pursuit of other animals and birds. Hunting a partridge or a hare requires maximum shot accuracy from you. In addition, it is not so easy to approach them at close range, because they are very cowardly animals and at the slightest danger they run away headlong. But many experienced hunters know what a delicious lunch they can make. It is for this purpose that special optics are placed on air guns for hunting. From long distances you can shoot your “fast” victim and get a good solder. Sights, like many other devices, are available at points of sale of any hunting pneumatics. They are not too expensive, as they might seem at first glance, plus with their help you can hit any game much easier.

Pneumatics for hunting are often used for catching birds. Pheasant or duck hunting is carried out only in the few forests and swamps where they are found, but pistols can also be used for them. Pneumatics for hunting of this class are purchased less often for these purposes, but they can be used without problems. In this case, revolvers are more suitable, the initial speed of bullets is in the range of 170-190 meters per second. For ducks, of course, it is better to use rifles. You can also choose airguns for bird hunting from manufacturers such as Umarex and Crosman. Air pistols from these manufacturers have an ideal price-quality ratio. Very often we hear about fashionable crow hunting. But it is carried out only for fun, so almost any weapon is chosen for it. Pneumatics for such hunting can be selected individually for each person or according to general recommendations. In all other cases, you need to choose an air gun for each individual type of hunting.

What type of airgun is best for hunting?

Caliber selection

In order to decide on the caliber, you need to understand what power is and what that caliber has to do with it. The power of a weapon is the totality of the initial energy of the bullet that it picks up in the barrel, and which depends on the caliber and pressure in the barrel. It is this totality that has received the definition of weapon power and is measured in Joules.

Hunters use weapons with the following caliber:

1. The most common, but also the weakest bullets are 4.5 mm caliber. The optimal distance for hunting with such a weapon is from 55 to 60 m, and animals that are suitable as targets are small animals and birds weighing no more than 1.5 kg. The shot power reaches 40 Joules with a bullet weight of 0.48 grams.
2. The next most commonly used caliber is 5.5 mm. The power of a weapon with this caliber reaches 75 Joules with a bullet weight of 0.88 grams. The optimal distance for a shot is up to 70 m. The most suitable is considered to be hunting with pneumatics for a hare or an animal weighing up to 4 kg.
3. A more powerful caliber that is suitable for hunting foxes or wolves is 6.35 mm. The optimal distance for hunting is the same as that of a 5.5 mm caliber, but the power of the weapon reaches 110 Joules.
4. One of the most powerful calibers is 9 mm. The power of a shot from such a weapon and this caliber is 300 Joules. This is enough to hunt game weighing about 80 kg.

The advantages of the PCP over other hunting systems are undeniable, even when it comes to 4.5 caliber and small game. These are compactness, light weight, and the ability to effectively reduce the noise from a shot, which is especially important when catching a shy trophy. Nevertheless, spring-piston pneumatics are still “in service”, and in our ranks there are many hunters who give preference to them. Why is that? The financial side of the issue clearly has nothing to do with it: we are talking about rather expensive rifles, or about those budget PPPs, the amount of investment in the modification of which is sometimes double or triple their original cost. In my opinion, there are two real reasons. First: a clear awareness that the subjective difficulty of accurately shooting at a decent distance from a high-quality “spring” is an easily overcome factor with some persistence, and accordingly, regular practice and, as a result, getting used to the “tool.” Second: specific hunting conditions, when the disadvantages of this system - comparative heaviness, bulkiness and noise - are not so significant as to cancel out its advantages, including ease of setup, safety and the absence of the need for additional devices. But there is one more thing: it’s interesting to shoot from the PPP. Precisely because it’s not easy.
Being a long-time supporter of good “springs,” I propose to organize a kind of club for IFR lovers on this topic, and share my experience in the practical use of this system while hunting.

Some old myths about PPP.

1. “A powerful PPP has a strong recoil, so it is difficult to hit a small target from it at a distance of more than ... -” (10, 20, 15 meters - it all depends on the myth-maker’s imagination).

Objection. The recoil is that of a powerful firearm. A good PPP, even a magnum, has no recoil. There is a short bidirectional impulse that should not radically affect the shooting result. If this happens, the problem is not in the rifle, but in the shooter’s lack of practice, and as a result of getting used to the weapon. In addition, the “recoil” of an expensive PPP is felt rather weakly due to the optimal spring energy and well-calculated ergonomics. Example - Vayrauhi-97K and 77, Diana-52, Air Armsy. This impulse in itself is not an objective drawback - just as, for example, no RSR would be saved by its absence if its SK stroke was 60 mm and the trigger force was 7 kg.

2. “A powerful SPP is a killer of sights, and the good thing about PCP is that even optics that cost 2 thousand rubles live on it.”

Objection. IFR kills cheap optics. It is not capable of killing an expensive one, that is, a high-quality one, designed for the real recoil of a firearm. And with a rifle price of 18, 25 or more tr. It makes sense to install only this one. In addition, it is not very wise to purchase a good PCP for even more money and attach a sight to it with cloudy “exciting” lenses and vague mechanisms costing 2 thousand rubles, in order to then “poodle” and spoil your vision for the sake of knowing that it will live on it forever. Also, adherents of this myth should pay attention to the amount of lubricant in the compressor and the condition of the cuff and bypass seal, because the problem, as most often happens, may not be in the reel.

3. “PPI is insanely hard.”

Objection. This is not true. Heavy, but not crazy. 4.5 - 5 kg. Together with the sight, it is not very heavy for an adult man of normal physical development. A good firearm “rifle” can weigh more, but so far there are no known cases of death from fatigue when using it for active hunting, including while running. In addition, the relatively large weight for the PPP is more of a plus than a minus.

4. “PPP fractures are worse than cups because they are less accurate.”

Objection. This is not true - the design of the turning point locking unit itself is no worse than the “fixed” one. There is only one condition: the knot must be executed correctly. The hinge should not play, and the breech with a reliable lock should “hang” on the elastic bypass seal. The turning points of the “average” Dian and Vayraukhs are made exactly this way.

5. “The PPP is long, very long. Therefore, it is inconvenient to hunt with her.”

Objection and question. Inconvenient, excuse me, where? If we consider hunting only the so-called. “autocaroshling”, then probably yes. But neither the foreign nor the domestic manufacturer of PPPs, when developing them, in principle, took into account the features and nuances of all our national types of pneumatic hooliganism. When there is no need to shoot secretly from behind the lowered side windows or carry a rifle under a hollow raincoat, from time to time making the body movements of a vain exhibitionist, there is no particular need for compactness, so this is a purely local case. By the way, let’s not forget that full-size PCPs also exist in nature, but no one labels them as “dunty.”

Personally, for quite a long time I selected an SPP for my tasks: sit-down hunting at distances from 50 to 70 m, and in the end I settled on the excellent Diana-31 Panther rifle. For me now this is almost optimal. The main target is a thrush at 45-50 m. Having modified it a little (by making the butt heavier and installing the cheekpiece), I successfully and regularly use it to catch this rather small and fidgety game, and in very difficult conditions. This is the wind shaking the branches, backlight, an angle of 24-30 degrees to the horizon, the impossibility of a comfortable body position during the shot and the need to make it as quickly as possible. By the way, my vision is -7, I shoot with glasses. Sight (for now) Leepers 3-9x40, magnification 9. I use a JSB 0.67 g bullet.

(Update from September 2013 - I have now switched to Air Arms TX200NS and Taxo SS. The rifle is identical in terms of performance characteristics to the D-31, the scope is significantly higher level than the Leepers, I use the same bullets, and I note that the proportion of the ratio of successes and failures is the same, that KMK confirms the truth of the statement: the most important gasket of a rifle is not inside it, but outside it: between it and the ground).

Towards the end of the first message of the topic, there are some private facts and photos.

My “trophy” birch: those same 45-50 m.

TP = TP: the blackbird was sitting sideways.

I always aim for the blackbird in the middle of the carcass, and if it sits with its chest or back to me, a broken spine is by no means uncommon.

Just a photo.

A small clarification: there are absolutely no attempts at bragging here. And not only because this is not typical for me in principle. And not even because that is not the purpose of this topic. There’s simply nothing to boast about here: 50 m is by no means a super distance for good IFR, the capabilities of which often exceed the capabilities of the shooter. Including mine, very average. The rest is just practice, accessible to everyone: with the gradual merging of these two conditions, the result will not be long in coming. (At longer distances, my record so far is 72 m for a blackbird. In the summer of 2012, I had 5 such blackbirds, purely killed, that is, outright on the carcass, of which 3; and 2 wounded birds, which I had to pick up).

So, if anyone is interested in the topic of hunting with IFR, welcome to the “club”.

Note. Only one request: write in the topic strictly in accordance with the rules of the section. About your hunt - in accordance with the “internal barometer”, the same one that every hunting lover is obliged to use, clearly aware of what is permissible and what is not: both in practice and on the forum. I think you understand me.

Bullet selection

When choosing a bullet for an air gun, you need to be extremely careful and understand that in addition to high power, you need high accuracy of the shot, since there is only one shot. Due to this condition, it is best to purchase heavier bullets for hunting. On the territory of the Russian Federation you can freely buy 4.5, 5.5 and 6.35mm bullets. However, 5.5 and 6.35 mm bullets are considered the most suitable for hunting.

Another important factor in choosing a bullet is its shape. Pointed bullets fly inaccurately, and the firing range from such a bullet is no more than 20 m. The shape of a bullet with a flat tip is also not suitable, since the stability is too low due to high air resistance during flight.

Among domestic manufacturers, “Shmel” and “Gamo” are considered bad bullets. They have low hit accuracy.

The best bullets with a large radius are Beemen, RWS, H&h.

Pneumatic gun for fox

An airgun with which you can safely go after a fox or someone larger should have a caliber of 6.35 mm. If it’s 5.5, you’ll have to shoot in the head; the body of that caliber won’t be enough. Initial speed – preferably 300 m/s. Having a pneumatic gun with these parameters and good accuracy, you can kill a roe deer or a beaver with a shot to the head.

If we talk about the type of pneumatic, then multi-charging is primarily important for a hunter. This means that the ideal type would be PCP - pre-pumped models that have a magazine of up to 12 bullets and fire up to 70 shots from one pumping of the tank.

With pneumatics on a duck

Hunting tactics

You can use rubber ducks by placing them along the edges of rivers or canals and wait for the real life to react to them. But, as practice shows, few people do this. Most often, it is enough to simply walk around all the banks of rivers, large puddles or canals. It is best to do this in the spring, since at this time the mating games of ducks begin. At this time, birds allow people closer than usual.

In addition, you need to remember the places where ducks were last seen and return to these places several times in one day. In addition, it is worth paying attention to the thick horizontal branches of trees that grow right next to a lake or river. Ducks are quite capable of sitting on fairly wide branches of these trees.

How to properly aim at a swimming duck

It would seem that hitting a slowly swimming duck would be easy, but it is not. In this position, a large number of feathers form a dense layer, which is quite difficult to penetrate with an air gun.

A few rules for those who hunt a swimming duck for the first time:

1. In order to hit the animal with the first shot, you need to aim slightly below the game.
2. If the object of the hunt is sitting quietly on the shore, then you need to aim exactly at the middle of the body.
3. If a duck swims with its head towards the hunter, under no circumstances should you shoot in the chest. These animals have very dense skin, down and feathers.
4. The best place to shoot a swimming duck is from the back or side.

How to properly aim at a flying duck

To hit a flying duck you will need a lot more experience, because this object is in motion. In order to increase your chances of hitting the animal, you need to shoot a little further than the body of the duck itself. This is explained by the same movement and the fact that several seconds will pass between the shot and the moment when the bullet reaches its destination.

For a more accurate shot, it is necessary to take into account the flight speed of the bird, the speed of the bullet and the distance between the hunter and the prey. It is recommended to aim at the animal's head.

How to make hunting more effective

The first thing you need to do to increase the amount of game you receive is to discover its location. This will help you accurately choose a place for an ambush from where it will be convenient to fire. It is worth considering that the ambush site should be downwind relative to the location of the ducks.

If you plan to hunt not from the shore, but from a boat, then it is necessary to firmly settle the boat or drive it into the reeds so that it does not wobble when fired. In order to achieve an even greater effect, you can pre-build a small shelter on the shore that will blend into the surrounding landscape. Firing from such cover will greatly increase the amount of loot.

Hunting with 4.5 mm air rifle

If you are really interested, read and write below!

WOLF [VT]

Alex_T

Alex.A

Alex.A and his “Career” 9 mm.

You can also shoot 5.5 caliber heavy bullets. Due to their smaller caliber, they have greater penetration. Anyone who has picked up a pneumatic gun, especially a powerful one, needs to understand one thing. What you have in your hands is not a child’s fart (as 99% of firearms believe), but a serious hunting weapon - very accurate, allowing you to kill game at a considerable distance not by the number of hits, but by quality, i.e. shoot only at the killing spots (head, heart, spine ). And remember that when shooting at close range (there have been and will be such cases, when zeroing at 50 meters at 0 at 6-7 meters the bullet will hit 3-5 cm lower. Be sure to shoot at such a distance so that you don’t regret it later about a missed opportunity!

And it is necessary to observe all the same safety rules as when handling firearms.
In general, it turned out that hunting with air guns is a fascinating activity. The animals and you have equal chances. Although, come on, without any competition, the smoothbore rules! PS I am not a GURU and everything that is written is my experience and my view on hunting with air rifles. May differ from other views. This is why this topic was created to exchange experiences and knowledge. Everything that is described and written concerns mostly forest areas. In fact, it is not suitable for steppes, mountains, and deserts. Different conditions, different distances, different hunting. Here they describe the capabilities of small-caliber weapons. Who is interested in reading and comparing, go here: https://forum.guns.ru/forummessage/2/396550.html Opportunities of 22 Lr for hunting
https://forum.guns.ru/forummessage/2/535389.html
If there is what to say, show, ask - write, post, argue.
Just on topic. Now a few words on the topic. I had many screws in different calibers. And now it is available at 5.5., 6.35., 9., 12.7. I have no experience of hunting with 9 and 12.7, so I can’t say anything about them. I advise others to do the same - DO NOT WRITE GUESSES IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A CALIBER AND HAVE NO EXPERIENCE IN USING IT.

Now at 4.5., 5.5 and 6.35.

The hunt was successful, but they had gone through .45 and .50 and larger calibers a long time ago and their experience is not comparable to ours. I think what we are discussing can be easily traced from the gallery and weapons photographed next to the trophies; for those who understand and know the models, it will immediately become clear what caliber was used in this or that hunt. I will definitely try to check what the 12.7 is capable of, although there are a lot of photos with this weapon that can be assessed anyway. And it is from these assessments that I will proceed when choosing the first trophies.

arbalet-airgun

I’ll say right away that the article will be regularly updated. Moreover, for now there is clearly a dominance of Americans here :)) - this needs to be corrected! It is clear that in a country where you can freely purchase a 1000-joule 50-caliber air gun (pictured below), there is an abundance of interesting materials on the topic. And in many countries, particularly Asian ones, pneumatics, with the exception of Airsoft, are actually completely prohibited for citizens. Russian weapons legislation in this part is almost identical to German, Belarusian, Kazakh, and, say, differs from Ukrainian in that the criterion for restrictions is muzzle energy, and not speed indicators. But nothing - and we have a lot of exciting and surprising things. However, now see for yourself.

TOP 10 air rifles according to Americans

The American publication “Hard Air Magazine” made money from a survey conducted back in 2022 on the popularity of air rifles. Its results turned out to be quite interesting. So, in the graph below we have an overseas selection of the TOP 10.

In 1st place, unexpectedly, was “ Nova Freedom ” from China, more precisely, from Macau, a special administrative region of the People’s Republic of China (see “Air sniper rifles - a godsend for fans of “tactical weapons”). This is a PCP rifle with a built-in (!) pump similar to that used in multi-compression samples. Apparently, we are talking about “PNEUPUMP PCP with built-in pump”, only under the name localized for the USA:

The next most popular was the “ Diana Outlaw ,” which, frankly speaking, is not a particularly notable model (see the corresponding chapter of the article “New models of air guns”).

the Diana Stormrider , which took 8th place in the TOP 10 - a super-budget PCP rifle by German standards, costing about the same as the 125th Hatsan!

Well, at least it’s clear where the legs come from...

In 3rd place we see “ FX Impact ”:

A rather complex Swedish rifle in design with the ability to quickly replace barrels (and a couple more parts) in calibers from 4.5 to 7.62 mm. The price is appropriate, in domestic stores for 200 thousand rubles. By the way, quite recently a very interesting modification “Impact MKII” appeared, released for the 20th anniversary of the company.

So far we have been talking exclusively about new products. But the 4th and 7th places were taken, respectively, by two well-deserved and somewhere even ancient :)) German models and the most magnificent spring-piston “ HW97K ” (pictured). There are no questions here and cannot be - “Varya”, however!

5th place was taken by the “ UMAREX Gauntlet ”, presented at SHOT Show 2022 and, apparently, still not reaching the Russian consumer, again a rifle with pre-pumping, of which, as we see, there is still an absolute majority in the ranking.

It’s hard to say what’s so special about it, but for some reason the Americans liked it.

In 6th place - we think it’s well deserved! — spring-piston multi-charge magnum “ Gamo Swarm Maxxim ”, better known to us as “ Gamo Replay X Maxxim ”.

It was he who laid the foundation for a whole series of Spanish 10-chargers, which literally filled all the company’s model ranges (see “Gamo multi-shot air rifles”). Here everything is clear - of course, patriarch, founder of the dynasty :)).

The 9th step of the podium was taken by the only gas rifle in the TOP 10, “ Sig Sauer MCX ” (pictured).

It turned out to be so interesting and successful both in design and quality of execution (though not in price) that the company recently released its first pre-pumped rifle, the MCX Virtus PCP, based on it.

Finally, the TOP 10 is again completed by the creation of Spanish gunsmiths - “ Gamo Coyote ”.

An absolutely unremarkable PCP rifle “based on” samples of the British BSA (now owned by Gamo). In Russia, and not only, from the moment of its release, practically no one was interested in it, therefore the Spaniards presented the shooting public first with the “HPA Tactical“, and then with the heavy-duty large-caliber models of the Big Bor class of the TS series.

Shooting at 400 meters with a Jaeger 6.35 mm air rifle

This video is from my friend and colleague. Not so long ago, he had an extremely productive weekend - the previous personal record of the 2019 season in shooting at a 305-meter distance fell literally in a day. Moreover, the increase, without exaggeration, was colossal. Frankly speaking, for firearms (except for high-precision and other similar disciplines), 400 meters is far from a dream.

If we do not take into account the level of Ruslan’s shooting training, which once again demonstrates the importance of introducing weapons from childhood, then we should dwell on a couple of technical points.

First of all, on the rifle itself, because not every PCP, even in 6.35 mm caliber, is simply physically capable of this. « Horhe

—
Jaeger “, despite the name, is a purely domestic product produced by the Russian Arms Company (ROK).
But it’s better to ask the owner himself, who, I think, will not refuse advice. You can also get acquainted with the story of the designer of this model - Dmitry Torkhov: Now - a few words about the sight. It is quite different from the vast majority of airgunners used - note the reticle, which allows you to make corrections over a very wide range of distances without touching the handwheels. Moreover, this is far from “Swarovski” :)), but a fairly budget 12x50 Pilad with an SNR mesh (also, by the way, a domestic development, author - K.Yu. Gromov). I will also note that even with it Ruslan had to shoot almost at the limit of the scale, having previously turned the vertical correction drum to the maximum.

PS Well, for those who are interested, they can easily find on YouTube a video from the author with scenes of hunting with 6.35 mm pneumatics. With your permission, I will not present these videos here.

"Guinness Book of Records": the farthest shot from a pneumatic gun

After winning the Airgun Depot Long Ranger Challenge, Michigander Chris Thurik became interested in whether there is a section dedicated to pneumatics in the Guinness Book of Records? It turned out - yes! And this record is as much as 100 (!) meters.

For a person who usually shoots tennis balls at distances of no closer than 300 yards, and in November 2017, who reached the 600-yard mark, this was a shock. We think that domestic airgunners would also remain perplexed (see, for example, the previous chapter about the Jaeger rifle or our post “Pneumatic shooting at 490 meters.”

Naturally, everything turned out to be not so simple: to set a new record it was necessary to shoot from a .177 caliber rifle (4.5 mm), with light bullets no more than 7.7 grains, that is, “half a gram,” at a 6.25-inch target. Plus strict requirements for the organization, in particular, the composition of the panel of judges. Plus a complete ban on optics and the use of any devices such as a rangefinder or weather station.

In general, the previous record has fallen, the new one is officially 136.16 meters, or 150 yards. This was a year ago, but Chris decided to share his feelings and experiences just the other day.

A drop of pneumatics in a sea of ​​firearms: hard trouble is the beginning!

When Justin Jacobson founded in 2016, he could not ignore the significant risks. At least for purely political and geographical reasons.

Just imagine a country where in the majority of federal subjects there is a Stand-your-ground law - a law that allows you to shoot, damn, an asshole (including an unarmed one!) who poses a threat not only to his loved one, but also to third parties. Moreover, in many states, not only in your home or car, but also in public places. But even among this splendor, five leaders stand out, literally heavenly places for firearms owners: naturally, Arizona, then Kentucky, Alaska, Vermont and... Utah. The Great and Terrible Texas is a little behind solely because of the fairly high cost of a license - as much as $140 (data from five years ago).

And so this all-stern Mormon walks into a store, on the facade of which the words “Guns” and “Rifles” are clearly visible, shrugs his shoulders in bewilderment, remembering his arsenal, and leaves... Well, this probably happened, especially at first. But Justin, as can be seen in the photo, did not lose heart, and now responsibly assures that almost every day there are more and more visitors and, accordingly, buyers.

Many people actually look in out of pure curiosity, but once they fall into the right hands of the owner and managers, they learn a lot of new things about air guns and can no longer resist the 50-caliber “toy” :)). And for children who are not yet able to cope even with small things, pneumatics, including gas cylinders for explosive balls, as it turns out, are absolutely beautiful!

Let us note that Utah Airguns itself (there is also a commercial Internet portal) is the largest retail store specializing in airguns in the States today - more than 1,100 square meters. There is also a shooting range, which is far from entertaining, where you can try out a potential purchase live or shoot an already purchased sample. More recently, an “airsoft corner” has also been opened here. It doesn’t look very presentable yet, but the beginning of diversification has been made.

The enterprise does not bring any super-profits, and, most likely, it will not, but for a true “airguns” fan, Justin Jacobson, this does not seem to be the main thing. At least in comparison with the possibility of promoting your old hobby. And the efforts of such enthusiasts are really bearing fruit - now the United States is experiencing a surge of interest in pneumatic weapons, including hunting ones (read the corresponding chapter of our article “Large-caliber pneumatics: what can we expect in Russia?”).

Airguns: Texas Specifics

In the previous chapter, we talked about, the owner of which took a great risk by opening such a “toy establishment” in one of the most gun-liberal states - even more liberal than Texas! Speaking of Texas...

Most recently, the 2019 Texas Airgun Show ended there. And the specifics of the legendary state could not but affect the essence of this event. It was by no means dominated by new products, especially since the largest American one (now Velocity Outdoor, see “Where Crosman pneumatics are made”) was absent here.

On the podium were various kinds of rarities, lovingly restored with one’s own hands, rare samples, like the “Gamo 126 single stroke” (has anyone heard of this?), and homemade weapons, again copying capsule, or even flintlock, devices of past years and centuries. Well, yes, everyone born under the Lone Star instinctively prefers the “Peacemaker” or “Remington 1875” to some super-innovative “brick” from Glock :)).

True, there was one more item of special interest - products (see “Pneumatic Jihad-mobile” and its weapons”). Firstly, they were positioned as the most powerful in the world (of course!), and secondly, this line goes under the general name “Texan”, that is... “Texan” (pictured).

And even though the “Texans” still do not hold the record for power in the world of pneumatics (“Umarex Hammer”: the most powerful air rifle on the planet”), the general degree of patriotism of the Texans cannot but cause admiration!

Air rifles and pistols from the master RICCI

Not so long ago, our colleague Dmitry Isupov suggested the idea of ​​​​creating a certain selection of reviews of the original works of domestic airgunners. When entering the topic of homemade weapons in general and specifically pneumatics, it almost immediately became clear that with a responsible approach this would be an attempt to embrace the immensity. Even the products of one author can amount to more than one article. So let's start small and, after prayer, give a photo review of at least some of the creations of the RICCI master.

One of the first PCP pistols “OSA-2” presented to the public (2011)

Now - a quote from the author's description: “The size of the iron is 340 mm, the size with a handle is 390 mm, while the barrel has a length of 205 mm, cal 4.5. Beech tree, today will be put in linseed oil and forgotten for a week. There is a magazine for 10 shots, there is an air release, there is a separate - piece-by-piece platoon, an integrated moder, with an elastic band it only zips, and there is a bunch more, in short, look, scold whoever doesn’t like it.”

Bullpup carbine "OSA-1" (2011)

“Osa” has matured and grown into a bullpup, tank 04 liters, rolling pin 410 mm, weight 2 kg 800 grams, length 56 cm, speed is fast, the pile is heaped, the magazine holds 10 bunches, the moder is integrated, the shape has not yet been invented for the staple, the safety is turned off by turning release key."

And this is the bullpup “Wasp-3” (2012)

Quote again: “weight 3 kg, length with moder 82 cm, without 73 cm, made as usual in my style, a lot of duralumin, little wood, papal caliber, good speeds, I’ll show you a lot.”

Unfortunately, the author removed from YouTube the video about the most gorgeous PCP pistol with a broken barrel “Bombus”. However, I will still try to expand on the topic at least a little.

So, another “Bombus”, only this time “Volcanic” (2014)

“I was persuaded to create this device, since the project was interesting in terms of implementation, I didn’t break down for long and this pistol was born. Its length is 46 cm, weight is 1 kg 200 g. The pistol is equipped with an in-line magazine for five shots; reloading is carried out with a bracket in the form of a bar that covers the trigger. Anyone who wants can find a firearm analogue on the Internet, pistol caliber 357. Well, according to tradition, heaps of heap speeds are allowed.”

In general, the line of “Bombuses” alone can amaze the imagination: Bombus Apidae military Bombus Van Helsing Bombus volcanic Bombus volcanic is the younger brother. Bombus volcanic is the middle brother. Bombus Winchester. Bombus derringer. Bombus pistol maxi. Bombus self-loading...

You look at them and are taken aback: how is it that these essentially works of art also shoot! And it’s very good... In Texas they would definitely appreciate it :)).

Oh, the great many-sided SPA!

Having discovered a fairly wide selection of air rifles under unfamiliar names on the Argentine commercial weapons portal “Todo Caza” (example in the photo), we were frankly inspired. Well, it turns out that among the countries producing pneumatics on this continent there is not only Brazil with its “Magtek”! As it turned out, we rejoiced too early...

Chinese trade expansion has not bypassed South America. Todo Caza is the official distributor of Fox AirGuns (not to be confused with the Swedish FX AirGuns). Only this is not a company, but a brand under which Artemis Airgun products are sold in those parts. In turn, the latter is also just a brand, under which, for example, Ukrainian fans of pneumatics know the products of SPA (Shaoxing Snowpeak Air Gun Factory) from China. By the way, the original trademark is also widely used there.

In Russia, these products are sold either as “ZR-Arms” or under the “STRIKE” brand, which was introduced by . Yes, yes, the same one that is already quite well known among us for budget optical devices - from rangefinders to sights and binoculars.

In general, colleagues, the devil will break his leg here, and it’s difficult to do without a competent guide. Fortunately, ZR-Arms, in addition to everything else, also has, so to speak, regional representatives covering almost all Russian federal subjects plus Kazakhstan. One of them is our friend Alexey Maslov, much better known in “pneumatic” circles as Leks78. We think he will not refuse consultation on this subject.

How to shoot special arrows from powerful pneumatics

with “ Air Bolt ” - special ammunition for PCP-rifles of the “Big Bore” class in the article “Arrows for pneumatics”. Only one point remained unclear: even the diameter of the 50-caliber bore is unlikely to allow inserting an arrow with feathers. At least the one shown in the company illustrations. And indeed, this is so. But the rifles actually shoot! How this happens - watch the video.

Pneumatic varminting as a business

Airgunner under the nickname “hunting.uk” is by no means a poacher, blatantly exceeding production limits and even boasting about it publicly. By the way, the number of trophies in this photo is far from a record for one night - in his selection there are much more impressive photographs.

We are talking about a completely legal business, which involves the destruction of pests at the request of farmers, for whom rabbits breeding like rabbits :)) are a real scourge. By the way, “hunting.uk” receives two pounds for each long-eared animal caught. Moreover, he rents (sells) the carcasses to a familiar butcher.

The main tool used is a BSA ultra limited edition PCP rifle of 4.5 mm caliber. It’s difficult to call this genuine varminting, since a rabbit is far from a marmot (and not a hare, by the way) and there’s no need to talk about long shooting distances.

But here is the opinion of my friend, known in the “pneumatic community” as Vladimir Vladimir: “The fact remains a fact, but with a competent choice of distance for a wisely selected biological target, and without fail - with the necessary hunting experience, a 4.5 mm caliber can be quite effective and quite affordable in relation to the price of larger calibers.”

That's right, that's how it is! At least when it comes to rabbit hunting.

For those interested in the topic, I can also suggest the articles “Air rifles for hunting,” “Hunting with pneumatics for hare and duck” and “Varminting with pneumatics.”

Attention: if handled carelessly, even a 4.5 mm air rifle can pose a threat to the life and health of others (for details, see the article “Bow, crossbow, pneumatics: fakes, injuries, crime...”). Be careful.

PS Let me emphasize once again that the article will be regularly updated.