is 12ftlbs enough?

From England, 63 posts

Over the past months I have been looking for a pcp air rifle, but due to a severe lack of money (isn’t that always the way!) have been unable to purchase one.
recently I have read and been told that an air rifle is simply not a humane way to kill a rabbit, and have been told to get a .22 rimfire.
this coupled with the fact that my rifle (a gamo hunter 440) failed to kill a rabbit with a neck shot at 20m's, has left me wondering weather a .22 rimfire would be the best option.
I am nearing my 18th and am well aware of the legal implications involving guns so must ask; is it worth the hassle of getting a rimfire, if so which or is an fac air rifle a better option.
I would be grateful for any input
cheers

From Ipswich, 3298 posts

22. rimfire i have done some rabbit shooting with these. They are well up to the task of killing rabbits at up to 100 yards. i found that the rimfire has over 2000FtlBs of power! but at 100 yards its just not as fun as creeping up to 30 yards from the rabbit and accualy being a good eneught shot to get the rabbit.
If you decide to get a 22. rimfire then a bolt action you can get second hand for about £150 thats a reasonable magazine fed bolt action rifle.
But The hasle of getting a fire arms licence is very annoying. i was myself thinking of buying a 22. rimfire but have decided to stick to my trusty air gun. You cannot shoot any type of bird with a 22. only rabbits, rats, and squirrels and obviously hairs and foxes. maybe you should try another air rifle save up to get a pcp and mainly just work on your shooting skills.

Hope this helps.

From England, 63 posts

yeah cheers
the only problem i can see with a rimfire is the hassle of an fac and trying to obtain permission to shoot on land.
i think i will stick to an air rifle
i am looking at an aa s400 in .177 is this capable of dispatching a rabbit?
cheers

From Ipswich, 3298 posts

air arms S400 a great gun. in .177 is very capable of dispaching a rabbit and has eavan more accuracy over long distances. but you might find that you have to hit your quarry in the exact right place for a clinical kill. dont get me wrong .177 is a great hunting caliber but .22 still has my vote for the stopping power.

95 posts

12 ftlbs is plenty. Even at 30m the average retained energy will be about 8 ftlbs.

And you only need 3 ftlb to knock over a rabbit with a well placed head shot.

Not much difference between the calibres either.

From Bournemouth, 5 posts

Fully agree with groundsman, 3flbs is all that is required. Have a friend who I witnessed downing a rabbit at 70yds with my tuned feinwerkbau 124 sport .177, but .22 is definitely better, you don't need a rimfire for rabbits (maybe a little more practice) myself and Nigel Penn (Ripley XL9) regularly bring a dozen or so rabbits back without trouble. And as mentioned before stalking them is much more fun than shooting them at 100yds, even the dry mouth is exciting anticipation.

From Central Scotland, 7 posts

I agree.I have shot many bunnies this summer up here in Scotland with my AAS400 .177 classic and most of the kills were humane head shots with no fuss for the rabbit.I notice sometimes rabbits have the habit of moving their heads at exactly the right nano second and a shot may stray onto the cheek or neck.Being able to dispatch it by hand is useful or another shot at close range is another option.I have access 45 miles from home to shoot pests at an uncles estate but i found with landowners close to home,asking to use their land for target practice first is a good way to introduce yourself and show good,proper shooting before you shoot any pests on his estate.12fpe in my opinion is more than enough as long as you don't take scud missile shots from 99yds and make people and rabbits angry.Happy hunting.

From Mankato, MN, 4129 posts

I used 9 ftlbs .177 as a kid, but at very close range and not always 100% first shot kill. I have a 20 ftlbs .22 springer, but not as accurate as pcp. I couldn't afford a pcp so I bought a .22 Daisy 22SG multi pump that runs almost 12 ftlbs. If you get within 30 yrds it's fine using a scope with head shots. Most of the time I can stalk upto 10 to 20 yrds and had no problems.

4 tips new air rifle.

1. Clean the barrel when you get a new air rifle.

2. Find the pellet that gives you the accuracy and peformance you need.

3. If you use a scope set the px to what you need. If fixed check out the reparallaxing a fixed parallaxed scope. If I use open sights, then I cut my distace in half.

4. Practice before you hunt.

From Ipswich, 3298 posts

Wow, cant believe I said 2000 ftlbs I was an idiot ... They actually have around 200 ft/lbs at most. Alot of the rounds that are normally used have just under 100 ft.lbs to around 120.

12ft/lbs however, is perfectly adequate for killing rabbits out to 40 yards. Just make sure you and the rifle are accurate eneugh, this means practice, practice, practice.. the right pellets and even more practice.

From Mankato, MN, 4129 posts

I was going to say 2000 ftlbs...little more than I get out of my .22LR. But I wanted t see if you caught it or not. Looks like you did.