Airgun shooting is enjoying a huge surge in popularity and newcomers are spoilt for choice when it comes to accurate and reliable air rifle accessories. Unfortunately, though, too many air rifle shooters are failing to get the best from their equipment by overlooking a few basic points. Many of these…
Air rifles
Airgunning in the cold
It might be cold out there but many of the pest species we can control with airguns are much easier to pinpoint during the winter – so airgunning in the cold will probably bring the results you are looking for. Dress warmly, take the right kit and you’ll have a…
10 of the best targets for setting up an air rifle range at home
So we’re faced with staying at home for another four weeks. However, if you follow some straightforward rules you could set up an air rifle shooting range at home with these air rifle targets. If you’ve got a garden with a range of above 20m then you’ve enough room. Stay safe…
Should I buy a spring-powered airgun or a PCP?
Choosing the right airgun isn’t an easy decision. Once you’ve decided on your budget you will have to think about the power source and it’s this that most buyers usually have the most difficulty over. Years ago the only option was a spring-powered airgun but in the last 15-20 years…
Why are super high-powered air rifles growing in popularity? Mat Manning finds out more.
Mat Manning heads to the range with a super-high-power air rifle to see how it compares with his usual fare
Can I set up an air pistol target range in my garden?
Would an air pistol target range at home be legal? Q: I would like to set up a simple air pistol target range in my garage. It is a secure brick garage adjoining my house but it is only a few feet up my drive from the public road and…
Air rifle ranges open around the country – why they’re a great idea and where you can go right now
Garden airgunning is all very entertaining and good practice – but you need to have a decent sized garden for it. The alternative is to go to an air rifle range. We’ve picked out some around the country that welcome newcomers, offer tuition, competitions and a way to meet fellow…
Want to get better at shooting an air rifle? Continued target practice is crucial and this is why
Getting good at shooting an air rifle is only half the battle. Staying good is the other half and it does not happen by chance – it requires constant attention. As well as getting to know your combo, hunters need to maintain a motor/muscle memory in order to get the…
Air rifle questions we’re often asked
Q: Do I need a licence for an air rifle? If you live in England or Wales and have an air rifle with a muzzle energy level of 12 ft lb or less or an air pistol with a muzzle energy of 6 ft lb or less you don’t…
Have you got an old air rifle from the 80s and 90s tucked away? It could be worth more than you expect!
Shooting Times recently received a letter from a reader saying: “I found my 25-year old air rifle in my shed and want to dispose of it. If I try to break it up, can I put it in the skip?”. Contributor Graham Downing advised him not to put the air…
How to use an air rifle to clear pheasant pens of rats
One evening that really sticks in my mind is a ratting session with my friend Kev Hawker in February. As the pheasant season had drawn to a close, we were allowed to shoot inside the release pens on a local estate and the early signs suggested that we were in…
Airguns and summer squirrel shooting
Squirrel shooting with an air rifle can be very tricky over the summer months. The trees are covered with dense foliage which makes your quarry almost invisible in the treetops. Lure of the pheasant feeder The colder months are an easier time for squirrel shooting with an air rifle. Hungry…
177 or .22, .25 or above… which air rifle calibre should you pick and why?
It’s a question I’m asked fairly often about air rifles. “What’s the best calibre air rifle?” What’s the winner in .177 vs .22? Calibre isn’t everything I shoot pretty much everything from sub 12 air rifle up to fairly hefty centrefires. The secret to success is to pick the right…
What’s the maximum distance you can hunt with a legal-limit air rifle?
One question I get asked all the time is what are the distances for hunting with a legal-limit air rifle (sub-12ft/lb). How far away can the quarry be and what is the maximum range to achieve a clean kill? To be frank there is no straight answer to the question.…
Powerful air rifles that don’t need a firearms licence
Which is the most powerful air rifle under the legal limit? Legal limit airguns (air rifles that are under the 12ft/lbs power limit) are the easiest and cheapest way to get into shooting. These types of rifles do not require a licence (except in Scotland) and after the initial expense…
Shooting crows with rifles
Crow shooting isn't just for those who possess a shotgun. Bruce Potts investigates the relative merits of centrefires and rimfires for a safe and humane despatch
Here’s why you should consider getting an FAC air rifle
A firearms certificate air rifle – known as an FAC air rifle – is over 12 ftlb in power meaning that the owner needs to have a Firearms Certificate to own one. If you’re already a conventional air rifle user and considering upgrading to something bigger you might be wondering…
Which are the best air rifles for shooting rabbits?
Air rifles: I was rabbiting recently with a .177 air rifle, but I couldn’t hit anything. Is this calibre powerful enough? Could you offer advice on the perfect air rifle for rabbits?
How to use an air rifle for pest control
What do you do when grey squirrels, rats and corvids are robbing nests of eggs? You get out the airgun - and you lay in wait, as Mat Manning explains