The Potting Shed

mrutty · 2 Star Club Joined: 19 Jun 2006 Posts: 827

Need a new air rifle for when we move. Figured out that I'll get a BSA Lightening XL as they are nice, simple and good value, but damn it they have bought out another option.

I can have either:

Deben Hawke Nite-Eye 3-9x50 scope illuminated mil-dot reticle for night shooting, big light gathering 50mm lense and fingertip adjustable turrets

or

Hawke Nite-Eye 3-10x44 scope illuminated 30/30 reticle for night shooting with 11 brightness settings, and fingertip adjustable turrets

Now clearly the 50 gives more light in to the scope just because it's bigger but the 44 has extra magnification. I'm thinking that given I shoot between 30 and 40 paces that the 50 is the one to go for but the 44 is cheaper and a brand new winter offer. I'm also thinking that the mil dot is more useful with the way I prefer to shoot.

Cabbagepatch · Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2006 4:17 pm Post subject:

hmm, we need Lloyd here.

I shall go and find him. Maybe some time....................

But, he will be here!!!

lloyd · 5 Star Club Joined: 17 Jun 2006 Posts: 3315

Ok...I reckon go with the 44 and extra magnification because experience tells me that as the light fails and the scope goes dark, you simply zoom down the magnification to let more light get captured for the reticule. Whats more important is the vital stats of the weapon. If you are after bunnies, I prefer .177 to .22. It gives deeper target penetration, greater internal damage (if under 12 foot pound legal limit)and projectile velocity is much quicker giving less startle time.

If poss, do the pre charged pneumatic option rather than pump up or break barrel. Greater consistency and faster easier use in the field.

lloyd · 5 Star Club Joined: 17 Jun 2006 Posts: 3315

On second thoughts, maybe I've just fallen into your trap. 3 to 10 is good, but you want the largest objective lens you can afford for light capture. The reticule is illuminated anyway, so you want a big lens for dawn and dusk or night shooting. If using non FAC rated weapons, 25 yards is the recommended maximum range allowing for windage etc. Greater risks of injury to the target prey.

mrutty · 2 Star Club Joined: 19 Jun 2006 Posts: 827

Yeah I'd talked myself back to 50mm.

Will stay .22 because.

1) I think the hit is better on .22 at the sort of ranges I try to get to
2) If pen power is an issue I'll try one of the new poly tips
3) If I get a FAC one I'll want to use .22 piledrivers to get max hit at 30lb

Have to say suprised myself last Friday as I shot my little gun with different pellets and boy was they a difference in performance. Had some points that were really cr*p, my 'normal' (read the cheap ones Ade got me) ball ones hit much harder and pen much further. On the .22 I was fixing for my father I had a different result with the points flying striaghter and deeper than balls (same as the Lightning XL I was using in the summer). A Webley I was using could have been firing anywhere as I never got the pellet to coe out the barrel the sae way twice. Shocked

Might try some poly tips to see if my little .177 could become a pigeon gun. Nice whilst looking for roosters and not heavy.

muntjac · Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2006 8:54 pm Post subject:

using both air rifle and .22 rim and centrefire up to 240 can i reccomend this site .excellent sevice
and they have great kit

http://www.scottcountry.co.uk/index.asp

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