Author Topic: Rimfire to Replace Airgun? (Read 1014 times)

Wise Master · « **on:** March 09, 2004, 09:08:12 AM »

I live in a house with a small backyard with neighbors on both sides. I have been using airguns without a problem but I noticed for the price of an airgun I could have two rimfires. I found a cartridge called a Super Aguila for only slightly more than what I am paying for pellets. These have a velocity around 600 fps and weigh 20 grains. I have heard that they can even be used indoors. They weigh only 5 grains more than a pellet and go 200 fps slower than my airgun which gives them less energy. I have also read that they are quieter than an airgun. My biggest concern is noise level because I don't want to bother my neighbors. My reason for wanting to switch to a rimfire is so I won't have to cock the spring and manually load a pellet for each shot. Do you think this setup would be a safe alternative to an airgun?
Thanks

PA-Joe · « **Reply #1 on:** March 09, 2004, 09:12:29 AM »

CCI and others also make CB caps. These are either 22LR of 22short with no powder (only the primer). You could also use these. A basic savage or marlin single shot is all you need. They do not work in clip feed guns.

Wise Master · « **Reply #2 on:** March 09, 2004, 09:58:31 AM »

I was planning to get a 10/22 because of the availability of parts and add-ons. I have heard people say that these cartridges work well in a 10/22 clip if you work the bolt manually. Would a setup like this be as safe as my airgun for backyard shooting?
Thanks

Lawdog · « **Reply #3 on:** March 09, 2004, 10:01:48 AM »

Wise Master,

While I have used the sub-sonic rim fire cartridges and CB caps both do shoot(carry) farther than any adult magnum power air rifle. Remember that if the neighbors find out you are shooting a rim fire rifle it will be perceived worse then you shooting a pellet gun. For me getting rid of pests and target shooting where neighbors are concerned I will stick with my air rifles. I mean you ARE just shooting a pellet gun. Lawdog

Lawdog · « **Reply #4 on:** March 09, 2004, 10:14:57 AM »

Wise Master,

While the sub-sonic loads like the Aguila will work in the rotary magazine of the 10/22(I have 5 of them) the CB cap will not work. Also the Aguila at times will not cycle the action. A number of times I have had to eject the fired case manually. Lawdog

Wise Master · « **Reply #5 on:** March 09, 2004, 10:40:14 AM »

The aguila weighs 20 grains and goes 500 fps for 11 fpe.

My r9 shoots a 13 grain crow magnum pellet at 660 fps for 13 fpe.

The aguila is also quieter too. All that my neighbors care about is the noise because I don't shoot when they are outside and I have a good backstop.

WD45 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 10, 2004, 01:48:33 AM »

Just to echo law dog a little.... It kind of depends a little on what kind of neighbors you have and exactly how close they are. Some city dwellers tend to freak a little at the sight of someone outside shooting even JUST an air rifle , especially if they have kids and you dont really know your neighbors well. Another thing to consider , does your city have any restrictions or laws on firing guns within its city limits ? The police could care less about an air rifle but if they show up on your front door due to being called by some CONCERNED neighbor about the guy ouside with the gun and you have that rimfire in your hand could result in who knows what even though you were only shooting CB caps.
you may want to stick with your air rifle.... or move to the country :grin:
Just a little food for thought

S.S. · « **Reply #7 on:** March 10, 2004, 06:52:35 AM »

According to what Info I have gathered,
the 20 grain Colibri from Aguila is only moving about
325 fps out of my 18 inch barrel !
the Super Colibri clocks about 450 FPS.
The CCI CB caps (Both Short and long)
send a 29 grain bullet at just a bit over
700 fps. All of the above mentioned rounds
will bounce around like ping pong balls so
I would not use them in a residential area.

Wise Master · « **Reply #8 on:** March 10, 2004, 12:55:58 PM »

Ok thanks for the input, sounds like I better just stick to airguns.

MSP Ret · « **Reply #9 on:** March 17, 2004, 03:10:42 PM »

We had a squirrel problem with them eating all the bird feed my wife puts out and chewing up the birdfeeders (they are also chewing up the trim and rake boards on my friends tool shed). I have used the Super Colibris with great success. 200+ less of the little vermin in and about the back yard, most succumbed to single head shots and not a single complaint from a neighbor. Of course several of my neighbors are assisting in reducing the "menace" also. The Super Colibris are quieter than my friends air gun, not as quiet as the regular Colibris but the velocity deference of the "Supers" over the regulars is an asset when on a "numbers reduction" assignment. Buy some and try them, out to about 15-18 yards they are deadly, and quiet!!! Just use common sense and be sure you have a safe backstop. I think "Cheaper than Dirt" has the "Super Colibris" on sale for $12.95 for a brick of 500. If you don't like them for this intended purpose then take a kid out shooting with them or shoot them in your cellar into a cardboard box stuffed loosely with old rags or newspaper....<><.... :grin:

PaladinX13 · « **Reply #10 on:** April 23, 2004, 05:48:31 AM »

Quote from: Wise Master

Ok thanks for the input, sounds like I better just stick to airguns.

WM, I was in your exact same situation... in retrospect I would not have spent as much money on airguns as I did. Once you move to rimfires you might never turn back!

For your purposes, you want a bolt action rifle. I'd suggest a CZ 452 with a long barrel, but there's a wide selection. A Super Aguila round will be virtually silent out of a long barrel and pretty quiet even out of a "short" 18in barrel (definitely more quiet than a pnuematic air gun or magnum spring air gun).

With accurate placement, Super Aguila can take down squirrels... unfortunately I don't have a rifle that likes that round for accuracy... I get "Minute of Soda Can" if you know what I mean (but that's good enough for squirrels with in 30 yards). The main pleasure is quiet indoor plinking without the annoyance of pumping, cocking, or single loading pellets.

If I need accuracy or a bit more "oomph" I'll use CB Caps. They're very accuate in my CZ 452 Varmint and are about as loud or quieter than my Steroid 392 on full pumps. The 392 has a "sharper" crack to its sound while the CB Cap has a deeper "boom" to it (again, both are very quiet and- used to dispatch an occasional pest- your neighbors will not notice or complain unless they're looking right at you). Heck, if your neighbors don't know about guns and- for whatever reason- bother you, you can always just say you were shooting an air rifle... they're likely not to know the difference.

For quiet rounds, a bolt action rifle will cycle and eject flawlessly and faster than a semi-auto where you have to manually cycle the bolt. You could use a pump or lever action alternatively, but, IMO they don't scope as well and levers in .22 can cost quite a bit more and are more mechanically complex/prone to jams.

Anyways, get a bolt action rifle and I believe you won't regret it. People like us love shooting but are hamstrung by the law and social stigma (neighbors) so we've been enjoying air guns... but rimfires simply let you enjoy what you actually like- shooting- more.

jskd82 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 27, 2004, 10:56:49 AM »

I had the same thought as you because i went and bought an RWS model 34 airgun combo and paid $300 for it but after shooting it a few 100 times i got tired of cocking the damn thing so i thought that hey i could buy 2 .22's for the price i paid for the stupid airgun, so i packed it up and shipped it back and ordered myself a .22 Lr and a .22 Mag and i haven't recieved them yet but i will get them tomorrow. I made the mistake of getting the airgun because it was so high powered i thought it would go far and would allow me to shoot stuff like larger bird at a far distance but i was wrong cause the damn theing was accurate only up to maybe 50 yds. And as far as your residential are goes i'd say go with the aguila's i don't think your neighbors would know the difference between you shooting the airgun or the .22 plus you can always go elsewhere with different bullets and shoot even a farther range and thats what i like about the .22 is a whole variety of bullets and NO COCKING :shock: Happy Shooting either way you go :grin: .
-Jason-