Smk b2 air rifles

[Digger]

Geordie-Rob

Your logic seems good to me.

Remember that low cost air rifles, although capable of taking rabbits, require you to get quite close in. Say in the region of 30 meters max.

More expensive guns will extend that range to 40 meters or even 50 meters, provided you have the shooting skills to match.

It is worthwhile purchasing a 4x telescopic sight to fit the B2. There are plenty of low cost ones on e-bay, just make sure that you buy one that is springer air gun rated as the recoil on springers quickly destroys sights that are not constructed for them. Such a TS and correct Artillary Hold on the rifle will help you get greatest accuracy.
Do not throw away the Iron sights, they are good, durable back ups.

There's lots of debate on the merits of .177 vs .22 I personally prefer .22 for hunting. I've just looked at the specs on the SMK web site (Its looks a great gun for the money, just go and get one, you can't go too far wrong for £39.99) anyway, the .177 is rated at 600 feet/ second and the .22 @ 450ft/second. With this in mind the .177 has probably got the edge as it'll be easier to fire accurately at range. Remember that the heavier .22 pellet with all its greater knock down capability is useless if that pellet fails to hit what you were aiming at. Also the faster .177 pellet has a better chance of reaching Mr Bunny before he hears the bang and ducks.

Because of the short range you will have to shoot from, this will force you to learn good field craft to avoid spooking the bunnies. This will be frustrating at first, but is an essential. Once you learn it and can take rabbits with air power, you may well see this method of hunting to be preferable, particularly in a post SHTF scenario, when you want to keep your activities discreet.

The Tackle shop may let you shoot before you buy, but they are unlikely to have a range, and the gun will be brand new, so you'll probably not learn much from the exercise.