Airgun advice?

I am considering getting one for vermin control as rats are moving in near our chicken coop, and we have children around.
We live rurally in an isolated spot with no direct neighbours.

I have not used an airgun since I was a kid when we had a break-barrel rifle and a crappy pistol of some sort. Now there are all these CO2 and "hot air" and who knows what.

It seems we are still using classic .177 and .22 but also steel BB, not really sure on the benefits of BB Vs pellets?

Any general advice? My gut is I want a powerful .22 pistol so I can shoot a rat from far enough away it isn't spooked. I've seen prices vary wildly but not really sure what you get for the money other than aesthetics. Can you get a multi-shot gun?

Finally... I am not a gun nut but where we live we are in-between two very poor, pretty rough villages and by contrast we're obviously a wealthy house by comparison. Given the current situation I can imagine an increase in casual crime as police are diverted elsewhere - I have seen reports of increased vandalism already. If the **** really hits the fan and people are panicking, I'd pick my house as a good target for looting We have chickens and will grow vegetables.
So... I am really not thinking this is a factor nor am I in favour of it... but if it's a choice of protecting my family from an intruder... what's the deal?

air guns are considered firearms ( I think all) but once you get over a certain limit you need a certificate so research the limit.
Most retailers would say on their website.
A mate had a Brocock before they became illegal and used it for rats.
I have a 22 pistol but don't fancy being able to kill a rat before it sees me and runs

There are also .25 pistols

There are pistol/rifle combos that would be better for distance

that's all I know

Yeah I saw there is a legal limit for normal use but no idea in practice if it matters. I don't (think) I want to go getting a gun license.

And I believe you are correct, the police consider all such guns to be firearms. If you walk down the road with an air pistol it is (legally) like a real gun etc.

Yeah this is to be expected in states which allow guns. TBH if I was in such an area I would probably own one though I would make sure to be fully trained.

If nothing else it's a fun thing to kill(!) some time if you're stuck home with a range

For an air weapon to be excluded from needing a firearms cert, its energy must be under 12ft/lbs. That's not very helpful, but any gun from a respected seller will meet this.

Good evening.

OK I live in Scotland and am a member of an Air Rifle / Pistol club and also shoot a Rifle at an approved Firearms range.

1/. if you live in England, you can purchase, hold and shoot an Air Rifle, as above so long as the air rifle is less than 12Ft / Lbs you DO NOT require to apply for a [FAC] Fire Arms Certificate.
2/. For pest control, look at a [PCP] Pre Charged Pneumatic rifle[not a Pistol]-- Rifles are in the correct hands and with practice very, very, very accurate, it is possible to knock over a rat at 30 / 40 / 50 yards so long as you can see it, the modern Scopes are exceptionally good
3/. Yes there are many "Multi-Shot" Rifles, a magazine can hold 10 pellets, re-load is simply cocking the weapon.
4/. Modern .22 are becoming very accurate, .177 is the predominant choise because the trajectory of pellet in flight is flatter than a .22
5/. Have a look at using a "Sound Attenuator" [ A Silencer] but "Silencers are Illegal under the Firearms act, Attenuators almost, but not quite make the air weapon all but silent? i have been standing next to a shooter with one fitted and the noise ony just perceptible, this allows you to knock off several rats without scaring them all off with the report of the air rifle discharge.

So where to start?? if you can contact the nearest Air Rifle club to you, after contact pop along and get them to "Introduce" you to the variations of such air rifles as are on the range, these things have developed out of sight since your old break barrel.

If you live in Scotland [deep breath] you MUST apply for the granting by police Firearms of an Air Weapon License, even for the Sub 12 Ft /Lbs air rifles, These rules will at some point be rolled out to England as well, but Brexit and Corona got in the way.

Ken

d000hg said:

protecting my family from an intruder... what's the deal?

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I suppose you could ask them to stand still while you use your air gun to hit them on the head.

d000hg said:

but if it's a choice of protecting my family from an intruder... what's the deal?

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Anything between max 5 years, for a "Firearms" conviction to well, you name it for "Murder"

Air weapons, even sub 12Ft / Lbs can and do KILL a person???

d000hg said:

I am considering getting one for vermin control as rats are moving in near our chicken coop, and we have children around.
We live rurally in an isolated spot with no direct neighbours.

I have not used an airgun since I was a kid when we had a break-barrel rifle and a crappy pistol of some sort. Now there are all these CO2 and "hot air" and who knows what.

It seems we are still using classic .177 and .22 but also steel BB, not really sure on the benefits of BB Vs pellets?

Any general advice? My gut is I want a powerful .22 pistol so I can shoot a rat from far enough away it isn't spooked. I've seen prices vary wildly but not really sure what you get for the money other than aesthetics. Can you get a multi-shot gun?

Finally... I am not a gun nut but where we live we are in-between two very poor, pretty rough villages and by contrast we're obviously a wealthy house by comparison. Given the current situation I can imagine an increase in casual crime as police are diverted elsewhere - I have seen reports of increased vandalism already. If the **** really hits the fan and people are panicking, I'd pick my house as a good target for looting We have chickens and will grow vegetables.
So... I am really not thinking this is a factor nor am I in favour of it... but if it's a choice of protecting my family from an intruder... what's the deal?

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Used to be able to get steel tipped plastic pellets for killing vermin, hit a pidgeon at about 200m and killed it , lucky shot maybe , but not for the pidgeon.

foxhole said:

Used to be able to get steel tipped plastic pellets for killing vermin, hit a pidgeon at about 200m and killed it , lucky shot maybe , but not for the pidgeon.

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Prometheus pellets I remember them ....they would go through an old fashion steel dustbin ! But sometimes get stuck in the barrel

sparkymarka said:

But sometimes get stuck in the barrel

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Never seen these used on a "competition shoot" problem is as posted they can twist and jamb, then if you fail to notice it you have a traffic jamb in the barrel ?? not good!!

Also sometimes the plastic skirt becomes badly deformed in the barrel and the pellet does not go within a mile of where you were expecting?

Finally because of the above the residue in the barrel can be nasty?

Ken.

These where in the 80,s they came in a square black plastic box ....that brings back memories , quite expensive as well!

A modern variant is i believe still available, anything to make a buck [but not shoot it?]

Didn’t know that ....they seemed to just disappear...any way do you know much about older air rifles ? As I’ve got a Diana model 52 side loader ...is worth much these days ?