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Airgunning :
**New Zealand Airgunning**
This is my rifle. I find it has more than adequate power for all air rifle small game, and, if hit in the head, Possums (see bottom of page). In New Zealand, common air rifle game is basically the same as anywhere else. Rabbits and Hares, Magpies, Rats, Mynors, and illegally Quail, although we mostly use shotguns for these. I have currently got a Tasco 4X32 scope on it, which is faring well (and withstanding the recoil). I recently shot a possum with the rifle and it was surprisingly effective, slowing it with the first shot and knocking it stone dead with a closely followed head shot. Sometimes .22LR rifles don't even take possums entirely, so this wasn't bad!!
The SM 1000 air rifle generates just over 16ft/lbs of energy, giving adequate energy for rabbits, squirrels and birds out to 60 yds, although maximum range would be 55 yds,as even the largest airgun game becomes hard to hit at this sort of range!! It still has 5.3ft/lbs @ 50Yds, and 4ft/lbs @ 63Yds.(a rabbit if you can hit 'em.) This is using H&N Diablo sports, weighing 7.6gr, and with a muzzle velocity of 980 fps.Energy could be held better with a pellet weighing a bit more.
*Airgun Pellets*
Airgun Links:
Airgun pellets are best selected for your gun through trial and error. If you are hunting or target shooting , you need pellets that ARE accurate in your rifle, and produce adequate groups at the ranges you are shooting at. If you are just plinking however, the cheaper pellets may be the better option.
If you do both hunting and target shooting, you may need two different types of pellet (still both accurate in your rifle).If you would like to use the same pellet fior both, go for a mid to heavyweight pellet, preferably dome headed. I have found dome head pellets quite effective on Magpie, possums etc., while also being very accurate.Reccomended pellets are ones like Crosman premiers, RWS domed pellets, H&N Diablos.......just try a whole lot until you find the right one. I am currently using H&N Diablo sports in my SM 1000, as I find them more accurate, consistent and of stronger build than others I have tried such as Gamo Hunter domed pellets.They weigh about 7.6gr .
Barnes Pneumatic Super Power Airguns
Printable Airgun Targets
This is a fine example of a New Zealand possum . They weigh about 5-7kg, and they're found on country roads and bush/forest (especially native).You can get them with Air Rifles if they are hit in the head or lungs, but anywhere else and you're wasting your time. Sometimes you don't even kill them with two or three .22LR rifle rounds to the body!!!! There are about 70-80 million in N.Z., which gives you plenty to shoot all year round.You are free to take them with any weapon, as they are considered probably the country's main pest, causing major damage to New Zealand native trees. We usually go spotlighting from a car, with one person spotting and one ready with a rifle to jump out and take the on - road ones.Heaps of fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!
leighton_hood@yahoo.com
