Thread: Air rifle advice

Originally Posted by Inder

Hi All,

Good Advice on the thread. If you are looking for a springer then one can not go wrong with HW77/97 or TX200HC/MKIII. Both quality airguns.

I have a question regarding importing. Is it allowed to import an air gun from abroad? I tried finding on net but not much information is available.

-Inder

I see what you mean.

If you happen to have a firearms licence in your home country you might be able to get a “visitor firearms licence” and a correso ding import permit as if the springer airgun was a firearm.

The two departments you will need to clear it with ate customs and the police. In principle, once you are here in NZ and have the spring airgun, you would be allowed to keep it, just as if youd bought it in NZ. Customs on their web site point you to the police website but you might be able to get more specific advice if you can figure out a phone number yo call and can afford to wait onthe line to get someone who can give advice on airguns.

You could also make a post on the forum asking for contact details of a lawyer specialising in firearms matters (there are a couple) and get in touch.

It will probably be quite straightforward.

There is a "RC bearing" mod that can be done to some Stoeger triggers, google it to see if it works for yours.

I have a cheap ruger Hawk thing I got from guncity for like 160 bux, no scope just open sights. Noticed bunny's getting out of hand at work so got there early before anyone turned up. Was surprised how accurate it is, shot placed well kills them good too. Knocked of 6 in 20 minutes and another 4 at smoko while having me coffee.

I made a couple of rollers ages ago.
Put one in my slug gun (didnt do much other some yard plinking and cant remember the model, it's been a while), but it did help.
If I can find them you can have one if it suits

My 2 cents of air rifles and what to get

.177 cal. Ignore most of the marketing around .177cal air rifles doing well over 1100fps But if this is your choice, buy heavy pellets of 9.5+ grains to drop the speed to well under 1100fps, buy doing this you will have a more accurate grouping and more energy behind the pellet for those far shots.

.22 is still the overall best all rounder caliber to get for bunny busting and possum control.

.25cal is my favorite, I use a Hatsan 125 sniper, ballistic calculated scope turret and is excellent accuracy with furthest kill shot on a hare at 80m so far to date.

.30cal available from the Hatsan range is very accurate with huge take down power, but the .25 will give you a better range.

Break barrels regardless of make and model will require maintenance, some brands more than others. The most importance is your scope and rings - don't skimp on quality on the scope mounts and make sure every 50 shots that they are tight. Second most important, is the breech bolt that the barrel pivots on is always tight - this is where a lot of the un-accuracy (is this a word?) comes from. I have often had to shim the breech on break barrels to remove the lateral movement when the shot cycle happens. Never ever dry fire an airrifle - I have seen a staff at GunCity dry fire a air rifle - they should have been sacked!

Learn the Artillery hold - see Youtube for this.

On a lot of new air rifles like Gammo and BSA (new BSA's are just rebranded Gammos with different stocks on many of their models) with the polymer barrel shrouds, the actual steel barrel beneath the polymer is not very strong and the barrels are easily bent!

There also has been a shift with manufactures making lighter weight air rifles, heavier rifles and wooden stocks actually make it more accurate to shoot. BSA's with Gammo running gear but with the wooden BSA stocks will outshoot the Gammo for accuracy because they are heavier. light + high power rifles kick like a wounded bull and are terrible to master.

You also want to spend some money on different pellets for see what your rifle actually likes to shoot, also dont skimp on quality pellets, H&N and JSB are two of the best brands, once you have decided on the best pellet for your rifle, don't change it.

light weight and PBA pellets - dont even bother...!