New airgun hunter on this forum

[louisvanhovell]

Dear hunters,

My name is Louis van Hovell, I am nineteen years old and I live in the Netherlands. Although I haven't got my hunting license yet, I love going out in the fields with my BSA Spitfire .177, a simple but very nice and effective air rilfe. It has got various magpies, crows, rooks, rabbits and pigeons on its name, and with an energy of 16 ft/lbs, it will drop quarry easily up to 50 meters. Because of the higher risk of bad shots, and the fact that getting close to your quarry is part of the sport, I try not to shoot further than 50 meters.

This rifle is a precharged pneumatic; after filling its 60 cc air reservoir with a pump or a diver's bottle, it will give you about 30 good shots. Because I don't want to carry a pump or a diver's bottle when I'm in the fields, I have bought myself a portable 400 cc Theoben buddy bottle, which is made for the Rapid/MFR range. When I need to refill, I simply screw the buddy bottle onto my rifle, giving me approximately 3 fills (90 shots) - more than enough for any hunting day!

The scope is a 3-9x40 Hawke Sport HD. It's perfect for shooting during the day, but at dusk, you would need x50. I have also fitted a Weihrauch silencer, which makes my rifle very silent. To finish it off, there is an attachment for a bipod. Shooting with a bipod means great accuracy!

Here's a photo of my BSA:



Although I'm quite satisfied with it, a Theoben Rapid MK1, MK2 or MFR is one of my biggest wishes. These rifles are pieces of quality, they have a good magazine system and I even think that they look nice! So Santa Claus: if you're reading, you now know what I would like to find in my chimney on christams eve!

What rifle(s) have you got?

Cheers!

Louis

[PaulinKansas]

I have a spring pneumatic air pistol from Walmart. It was $40 and I used it last year to shoot about 50 pigeons that were in a building.

A few months ago I bought a .177 break open spring pneumatic chinese made 900 fps rifle. It was only $20

[Swift]

Welcome Louis! I'm not heavily into airguns but did spend a few buck and got a Beeman R9 in 177 a few years back.

I use it on nuisance birds from the front and back porch. I haven't scoped it yet, maybe someday.

Again Welcome! And nice lookin setup ya got there!

[louisvanhovell]

Thanks to both of you for your reactions!

Swift: that Beeman R9 of yours is a very good gun by the way. It's built like a tank - real German quality. Sometimes, I miss the lively feeling of a springer in my hands. A pneumatic rifle is very accurate and easy to shoot, but it doesn't give you the thrill of shooting a springer!

I can't wait to hunt with my BSA next week. I'll be celebrating christmas in a little house in a huge forest, in which there are plenty crows and magpies to shoot!

In one year, I will hopefully get my hunting license. Then I might be able to talk to you about the serious stuff!

Cheers,

Louis