100 yards and beyond…?

[Luis Leon]

I love my airguns for the practical to me, sub 60 yards pesting/plinking opportunities I may encounter… That said, I understand that there are a select few, who through due diligence and many, many rounds downrange. May achieve consistent 5 shot, 1 MOA groups at 100 yards, whether with pellets or slugs… And have kills on film to prove it… That said it is not the norm for the majority. And it is incongruous to why the majority come to airguns in the first place. I understand that many willl justifiably push the limits of what airguns, particularly PCPs can do. But to what end? To duplicate the ballistics of a .22 rimfire or .22 rimfire magnum? Heck, if you have the space to unleash that much power? Why not simply use a powder burner? For me? Personally, where airguns shine is in their traditional roles as short range target, plinking, pesting, hunting guns… For the average Joe, expecting to send 5 or 10 shot, 1 MOA groups at 100 yards, or even 50 yards? Is simply unrealistic… Mucho hype of late in the over 100 yards ranges, but very, very few will achieve those results… Within their practical parameters, airgun simply shine… So why try and turn them into powder burner equivalents? The purpose of this post is to sincerely query those who see it otherwise. And to maybe temper the expectations of those new to the game/hobby…

 

[Pumacarl]

...but the practical limits are moving up. Let's face it, the people coming to this forum, or others, are not the average, and they are not going for that. Like you said there is plenty of video evidence, if not personal, that it (moa groups @100y) is happening more and more. To all those who scream "CHERRY PICKED!" I would say that they are building up to a couple of bushels at this point. It's there for anyone that wants it. We are spending enough money and time on these things, why settle for shooting in front of your feet? Besides, like I have told you before, the distant practice helps your shooting up close too, but not so much the other way around. Nobody is saying to anybody that you have to shoot far but I certainly wouldn't talk anybody out of exploring and expanding their capabilities either. And I certainly would never temper expectations either, what fun is that? These airguns are amazing! They still amaze me. I haven't introduced one firearm guy that wasn't at least impressed by the accuracy, even if they didn't want to get into it all.

 

[Solo1]

I love my airguns for the practical to me, sub 60 yards pesting/plinking opportunities I may encounter… That said, I understand that there are a select few, who through due diligence and many, many rounds downrange. May achieve consistent 5 shot, 1 MOA groups at 100 yards, whether with pellets or slugs… And have kills on film to prove it… That said it is not the norm for the majority. And it is incongruous to why the majority come to airguns in the first place. I understand that many willl justifiably push the limits of what airguns, particularly PCPs can do. But to what end? To duplicate the ballistics of a .22 rimfire or .22 rimfire magnum? Heck, if you have the space to unleash that much power? Why not simply use a powder burner? For me? Personally, where airguns shine is in their traditional roles as short range target, plinking, pesting, hunting guns… For the average Joe, expecting to send 5 or 10 shot, 1 MOA groups at 100 yards, or even 50 yards? Is simply unrealistic… Mucho hype of late in the over 100 yards ranges, but very, very few will achieve those results… Within their practical parameters, airgun simply shine… So why try and turn them into powder burner equivalents? The purpose of this post is to sincerely query those who see it otherwise. And to maybe temper the expectations of those new to the game/hobby…

Personally i just love the challenge of trying to achieve perfection in my target shooting, which is a totally unachievable goal. But I persist anyway. To me there is nothing better than shooting a1/4” group with my ft gun @ 50 yds or sub 1” group @ 100 yds with my hp ghost! As for hunting I don’t hunt much anymore but yea 50 yds is probably as far as id shoot a squirrel and i don’t kill them just cause they are there. I kill them to eat.

 

[Pumacarl]

I do use my airguns to pest, but I wouldn't call it hunting, just handling another problem. I like my airguns because they are fun and accurate for what they are, which for me means less powerful than a .22 rimfire, or under 100 or so fpe. I don't want them to be more, or even equal, but I want them to be as accurate. That's it. The only interesting gun is an accurate one, and I would add to that, a quiet one.

I would add that you don't need an airgun with more than 50fpe or that costs over $500 to shoot over a 100y accurately, you just need to want to learn how. I encourage everyone to take up the challenge to make it happen. The information is out there, no one is going to spoon feed it to you, but you can find it. I find it to be a whole lot more fun, most of the time, than buying accuracy. Different strokes, and all that, do what you want, or don't do what you don't want, just have your version of fun with it and tune out everything else.

 

[MountainSportAirguns]

Keep in mind the majority of videos you see of long range kills don't include all the misses and wounded animals. Setting examples for realistic expectations has been kinda lost... people buy these expensive kits and are then sometimes disappointed not being able to achieve the same unbelievable results. I do think the advancements in barrels, slugs etc, have raised the bar in being able to achieve more consistent results. I've still yet to see any particular magic airgun that can turn anyone into a professional shooter. Lol Its lots of practice, being confident and knowing what you and your airgun are capable of....and knowing what's simply unreasonable expectations.

 

[pan60]

well I have said it before and would love to say it slowly but its not what you want to hear so it wont matter but I will say it again although it doesnt apply to all it does for me as well as many others some of wich I know.
a firearms can draw attention that a air gun docent I do a massive amount of best controle I do want want the hassles of the attention as well in some setting it isnt legal to use a fire are but I have no issue with air guns.
for me it is just that simple I got into airguns because it was a nnede tool.
and on a side note a council member ask me if I could take care of some coyotes pledging his place since fire arms are legal
so yes ma I want the air and the power! lot of F-in power : )

 

[Farmplinker2]

Taking advantage of ignorance. Maybe most shots in a particular area are >50 yards. I'd use a .22 LR or Mag, but maybe you can't use firearms. Being able to say "It's an airgun" would be useful. Especially suppressed so people don't hear how loud it is and get an idea of how powerful.

 

[Danman]

Well, about those powder burners... the famous Matt D just posted a 600Y shot on a balloon with his new M4. What the video doesn't show was all his setup time, trial and error, any prior misses, etc. He shoots (if I recall) a boat tail slug and hits the balloon. He then states that some Airguns/Ammo is surpassing Rimfires(ballistically), and I believe that to be true. Shooting a nice tight group @25Y never gets old, but to connect long range is a rush. My pest bird records are: TX 200 - 75Y, S510 - 85Y, Ghost - 98Y. All were holdovers that i guessed at, 1 shot & 1 hit. It made me smile a ton, and it justified the money these guns demand. Practical ranges are where the pests are at and which each gun is zeroed for... from 30 to 50Y. The maximum Airgun range that interests me is about 125Yards. Anything farther and I'll move in closer.

 

[pan60]

LOL I always try to move in closer.

 

[CTAirgunner]

A lot of these long distance shooting videos are simply shooting on targets, where ethics really aren't something to be thought about aside from whats my backstop.

A year and a half ago it was very easy for me to go out and print sub moa groups at 100-115 yards each and every time I went out shooting, with very little groups not being MOA or less.... why? because I sent thousands of pellets down range practicing to do so. As @Pumacarl said, practicing the long distance shooting will indeed make you a better "short" distance shooter.

One of the most fun moments in airgunning for me was being at a range littered with powder burners , including my buddy I was shooting with who was being my spotter and sending 30 gr .22 zans into a wiffle ball 7 out of 10 shots (of course after getting on target with help of my spotter) at 265 yards with a rifle I "built". If someone were to deter me away from that I would have never felt that joy, that rush that @Danman mentioned....did I have to take a good HANDFUL of "sighters" to get on that wiffle ball? I did, but it was still a feat no less once I was there.

The other joy was competing at the North East Airgun Classic, 1st shot at 200 yards out of my Panthera shooting 33gr zan in .22 , dead center on the Sasquatch after punching stuff into strelok, I WAS ECSTATIC!

I think telling a bunch of people that shooting sub MOA at 100, 50, 75 or even 25 yards is unrealistic is just putting down someones drive to achieve such results.

I don't even want to get into the hunting aspect of it because that brings in a lot of other factors that have to do more with the person IMO than the equipment so the only thing I will say is, my skills and past equipment I have had would have limited me to 100 yards or less if I was hunting any sort of game. I am not a hunter and have only been out small pesting where everything was sub 85 yards so I can't really comment.

 

[Danman]

A lot of these long distance shooting videos are simply shooting on targets, where ethics really aren't something to be thought about aside from whats my backstop.

A year and a half ago it was very easy for me to go out and print sub moa groups at 100-115 yards each and every time I went out shooting, with very little groups not being MOA or less.... why? because I sent thousands of pellets down range practicing to do so. As @Pumacarl said, practicing the long distance shooting will indeed make you a better "short" distance shooter.

One of the most fun moments in airgunning for me was being at a range littered with powder burners , including my buddy I was shooting with who was being my spotter and sending 30 gr .22 zans into a wiffle ball 7 out of 10 shots (of course after getting on target with help of my spotter) at 265 yards with a rifle I "built". If someone were to deter me away from that I would have never felt that joy, that rush that @Danman mentioned....did I have to take a good HANDFUL of "sighters" to get on that wiffle ball? I did, but it was still a feat no less once I was there.

The other joy was competing at the North East Airgun Classic, 1st shot at 200 yards out of my Panthera shooting 33gr zan in .22 , dead center on the Sasquatch after punching stuff into strelok, I WAS ECSTATIC!

I think telling a bunch of people that shooting sub MOA at 100, 50, 75 or even 25 yards is unrealistic is just putting down someones drive to achieve such results.

I don't even want to get into the hunting aspect of it because that brings in a lot of other factors that have to do more with the person IMO than the equipment so the only thing I will say is, my skills and past equipment I have had would have limited me to 100 yards or less if I was hunting any sort of game. I am not a hunter and have only been out small pesting where everything was sub 85 yards so I can't really comment.

Well said.
Hunting and ethics is a whole other thing and we've battled back and forth on that one too
Busted out my S510 this past Sunday and shot 2 pest birds, setting up camp in my yard. First one was offhand @25 and I only wounded it. He bailed to the nearest tree to figure out what happened and I dropped him, this time supported on my deck railing. Second was 43Yards off the back deck rail, he was gone in about 3 seconds. Had it been a 100Y + shot and I wounded him, there would almost be no chance I could have gotten him with a second shot. My be-all end-all plan with my Ghost is .22 Slugs and slugs only out of it. Then? Attempting to show-up my brother with his .22LR and Hmr! It's amazing what airguns can do.

 

[FL22]

I’ll keep this simple, I purchased my Taipan for target shooting at 100+y all the time eventually.

I am starting to get bored shooting it at 50 yards right now.

What’s holding me back right now is time and myself (laziness setting up the table, dragging everything out which is a terrible excuse, cause my range is in the front yard lol). Also bought another Airgun.

 

[CTAirgunner]

I’ll keep this simple, I purchased my Taipan for target shooting at 100+y all the time eventually.

I am starting to get bored shooting it at 50 yards right now.

What’s holding me back right now is time and myself (laziness setting up the table, dragging everything out which is a terrible excuse, cause my range is in the front yard lol). Also bought another Airgun.

I bought the Caldwell stable table lite I think its called, weather proof, I spray the hinge points with WD40 to keep moisture at bay, and leave it tucked away outside, BUTTTTTTTTT yes airgunning does have its fair share of toting around air tanks, ammo, etc. So , that is a valid excuse hahaha.

 

[Grunt64]

Keep in mind the majority of videos you see of long range kills don't include all the misses and wounded animals. Setting examples for realistic expectations has been kinda lost... people buy these expensive kits and are then sometimes disappointed not being able to achieve the same unbelievable results. I do think the advancements in barrels, slugs etc, have raised the bar in being able to achieve more consistent results. I've still yet to see any particular magic airgun that can turn anyone into a professional shooter. Lol Its lots of practice, being confident and knowing what you and your airgun are capable of....and knowing what's simply unreasonable expectations.

There may not be any so called 'magic Airgun ' but there are digital scopes when program with the correct ballistics,from hitting steel to putting down critters like your a pro [DNT Zulus HD 5-20x LRF] is one of those scopes.

 

[CTAirgunner]

There may not be any so called 'magic Airgun ' but there are digital scopes when program with the correct ballistics,from hitting steel to putting down critters like your a pro [DNT Zulus HD 5-20x LRF] is one of those scopes.

Sure the LRF capabilities are quick and easy to use now but that doesn't mean the human behind the scope is still capable of making the shot on a "critter", there are many other variables besides just hold-overs.

 

[PapaT]

I love my airguns for the practical to me, sub 60 yards pesting/plinking opportunities I may encounter… That said, I understand that there are a select few, who through due diligence and many, many rounds downrange. May achieve consistent 5 shot, 1 MOA groups at 100 yards, whether with pellets or slugs… And have kills on film to prove it… That said it is not the norm for the majority. And it is incongruous to why the majority come to airguns in the first place. I understand that many willl justifiably push the limits of what airguns, particularly PCPs can do. But to what end? To duplicate the ballistics of a .22 rimfire or .22 rimfire magnum? Heck, if you have the space to unleash that much power? Why not simply use a powder burner? For me? Personally, where airguns shine is in their traditional roles as short range target, plinking, pesting, hunting guns… For the average Joe, expecting to send 5 or 10 shot, 1 MOA groups at 100 yards, or even 50 yards? Is simply unrealistic… Mucho hype of late in the over 100 yards ranges, but very, very few will achieve those results… Within their practical parameters, airgun simply shine… So why try and turn them into powder burner equivalents? The purpose of this post is to sincerely query those who see it otherwise. And to maybe temper the expectations of those new to the game/hobby…

Disclaimer: He isn't shooting 100+ yards in the video.

Many have already said it, but I don't think the average Joe is the one grabbing an airgun and trying to replicate firearm operations, or 100+ yard groups. Practical range for any weapon varies on intended purpose, practical range for hunting is different than "can I hit this inanimate object". That being said, I think that the why for many is summed up in this video, as the principles still apply regardless of goal distance.

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2nd disclaimer: Extreme field target, extreme distance shooters are more like ultramarathon runners. Their reasons/goal are far different than the majority.

Just a pair of pennies from this Papa.

 

[FL22]

I bought the Caldwell stable table lite I think its called, weather proof, I spray the hinge points with WD40 to keep moisture at bay, and leave it tucked away outside, BUTTTTTTTTT yes airgunning does have its fair share of toting around air tanks, ammo, etc. So , that is a valid excuse hahaha.

I purchased a folding leg table from Lowe’s, probably not the best choice for shooting, it has a lot of movement but I was concerned about all the “shooting tables” I looked at.

They seemed to lack the requisite structural fortitude for a man of my stature. No, I didn’t want to find myself folded up in one with my Airgun .

 

[Dogowski]

Well, about those powder burners... the famous Matt D just posted a 600Y shot on a balloon with his new M4. What the video doesn't show was all his setup time, trial and error, any prior misses, etc. He shoots (if I recall) a boat tail slug and hits the balloon. He then states that some Airguns/Ammo is surpassing Rimfires(ballistically), and I believe that to be true. Shooting a nice tight group @25Y never gets old, but to connect long range is a rush. My pest bird records are: TX 200 - 75Y, S510 - 85Y, Ghost - 98Y. All were holdovers that i guessed at, 1 shot & 1 hit. It made me smile a ton, and it justified the money these guns demand. Practical ranges are where the pests are at and which each gun is zeroed for... from 30 to 50Y. The maximum Airgun range that interests me is about 125Yards. Anything farther and I'll move in closer.

I saw Matt Dubbers video on youtube of him shooting the balloon at 600 yards. I wonder how many shots he actually took to hit it? Amazing either way.

 

[Luis Leon]

well I have said it before and would love to say it slowly but its not what you want to hear so it wont matter but I will say it again although it doesnt apply to all it does for me as well as many others some of wich I know.
a firearms can draw attention that a air gun docent I do a massive amount of best controle I do want want the hassles of the attention as well in some setting it isnt legal to use a fire are but I have no issue with air guns.
for me it is just that simple I got into airguns because it was a nnede tool.
and on a side note a council member ask me if I could take care of some coyotes pledging his place since fire arms are legal
so yes ma I want the air and the power! lot of F-in power : )

“Say it slowly”? Am not speaking to “legality” simply power levels, and expectations… It’s understood that big power can be had with PCPs. But that calls for a system to provide the HPA necessary for the endeavor.

A lot of these long distance shooting videos are simply shooting on targets, where ethics really aren't something to be thought about aside from whats my backstop.

A year and a half ago it was very easy for me to go out and print sub moa groups at 100-115 yards each and every time I went out shooting, with very little groups not being MOA or less.... why? because I sent thousands of pellets down range practicing to do so. As @Pumacarl said, practicing the long distance shooting will indeed make you a better "short" distance shooter.

One of the most fun moments in airgunning for me was being at a range littered with powder burners , including my buddy I was shooting with who was being my spotter and sending 30 gr .22 zans into a wiffle ball 7 out of 10 shots (of course after getting on target with help of my spotter) at 265 yards with a rifle I "built". If someone were to deter me away from that I would have never felt that joy, that rush that @Danman mentioned....did I have to take a good HANDFUL of "sighters" to get on that wiffle ball? I did, but it was still a feat no less once I was there.

The other joy was competing at the North East Airgun Classic, 1st shot at 200 yards out of my Panthera shooting 33gr zan in .22 , dead center on the Sasquatch after punching stuff into strelok, I WAS ECSTATIC!

I think telling a bunch of people that shooting sub MOA at 100, 50, 75 or even 25 yards is unrealistic is just putting down someones drive to achieve such results.

I don't even want to get into the hunting aspect of it because that brings in a lot of other factors that have to do more with the person IMO than the equipment so the only thing I will say is, my skills and past equipment I have had would have limited me to 100 yards or less if I was hunting any sort of game. I am not a hunter and have only been out small pesting where everything was sub 85 yards so I can't really comment.

“I think telling a bunch of people that shooting sub MOA at 100, 50, 75 or even 25 yards is unrealistic is just putting down someones drive to achieve such results.”

Where did I “put down” anyones’ drive to “achieve”? Please point it out so that I may make amends…

Well said.
Hunting and ethics is a whole other thing and we've battled back and forth on that one too
Busted out my S510 this past Sunday and shot 2 pest birds, setting up camp in my yard. First one was offhand @25 and I only wounded it. He bailed to the nearest tree to figure out what happened and I dropped him, this time supported on my deck railing. Second was 43Yards off the back deck rail, he was gone in about 3 seconds. Had it been a 100Y + shot and I wounded him, there would almost be no chance I could have gotten him with a second shot. My be-all end-all plan with my Ghost is .22 Slugs and slugs only out of it. Then? Attempting to show-up my brother with his .22LR and Hmr! It's amazing what airguns can do.

This threads isn’t about…

“Hunting and ethics is a whole other thing and we've battled back and forth on that one too”

Heck, I plink cans out to 102 yards regularly in my backyard with my Atomics, Pathfinder and Ghost XR. Simply for the effing fun of it… When going after pest critters, sub 60 yards? High confidence pesting and many, many dead critters to prove the point… With any of the three…

 

[pan60]

I love my airguns

me twoooo

Heck, if you have the space to unleash that much power? Why not simply use a powder burner?

this is what my comment was addressing
you clearly ask

Why not simply use a powder burner?

for me and many it isnt or may not be possible at times that simple as a result I want the power : )