Now THIS is an air rifle

[Chuck]

Apart from a few design mods that is:

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/201 ... world.html

Behold the Girandoni air rifle, a 20 round high capacity tubular magazine and air reservoir which fired at roughly the same velocity as a modern .45 ACP. It can punch straight through a 2x4 at 100 yards.

Invented by Tyrollean Bartholomaus Girandoni around 1779, this revolutionary rifle is four feet long and weighs a manly 10 pounds. It's semi-automatic rate of fire and, for the period, its immense firepower reserve made it a fearsome thing to contemplate in battle. No appreciable bang, no smoke and at least 20 rounds before its punch began to diminish.

[Sandgroper]

Apart from a few design mods that is:

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/201 ... world.html

Behold the Girandoni air rifle, a 20 round high capacity tubular magazine and air reservoir which fired at roughly the same velocity as a modern .45 ACP. It can punch straight through a 2x4 at 100 yards.

Invented by Tyrollean Bartholomaus Girandoni around 1779, this revolutionary rifle is four feet long and weighs a manly 10 pounds. It's semi-automatic rate of fire and, for the period, its immense firepower reserve made it a fearsome thing to contemplate in battle. No appreciable bang, no smoke and at least 20 rounds before its punch began to diminish.

Small fry - try a 50 cal one! http://gunsmagazine.com/dragon-slayer-air-rifle/

[Chapuis]

They were considered unsporting in Napoleonic times and snipers using such rifles in times of war were hanged.

[Chuck]

SG yes - but it is hardly the same is it....

[$harp$hooter]

The Americans love their power levels! I can;t see a use for such power but it's fun to engineer it that way none-the-less

[CDM5]

I've been thinking about an FAC air rifle.
Bunnies like to sit at the bottom of the garden and the range of a 12lbs/ft air rifle is in their field of view.
I highly doubt the land would be cleared for .22LR (3 acres of hilly garden) but would I have a better chance with FAC air?

[dromia]

I've been playing with one of those Sumatra six shot, underlever, PCP, FAC, 75 ft/lbs, air rifles and have been impressed with its accuracy and easy of use. They definitely have their place in vermin control, the Sumatra has a variable power level which makes it target friendly down the club as well.

It looks ugly, a bit like an over and under shotgun and it points like one as well.

[Chuck]

4harp$shooter

The Americans love their power levels! I can;t see a use for such power but it's fun to engineer it that way none-the-less

It's not about "use" or "need" it's about ability to have if they so wish. And quite right too.

I would assume there are some small and not so small hunting applications - and quieter than a real gun. I don't hunt so only guessing.

Hatsan for example make a range of fairly powerful air rifles that can be bought OTC in Turkey, unlike here where an FAC is required.

http://www.hatsan.com.tr/PCP_BT65_SB-W.asp

Had a break barrel one for a while, a .22 - 34ft/lbs using the right pellet. You got arms like Popeye cocking it though.