Rifle selection help.

[concretesnail]

Morning all.

I'm looking for a littlw advice regards a solid entry bolt action springer for my dad.

It's an odd request, in that I'm an older player, although life has prevented me from playing recently, but have solid kit that I've run for years but I'm a little.out of touch as to rifs that are available now.

My father has a rat problem in his garden and he has borrowed my vsr to use to discourage the rats. He has been having much more success with it than with his airpistol as the rifle configuration means he can hold and brace it mitigate his central tremors. As I mentioned has has enjoyed my vsr (upgraded and tuned) but now he would like his own rather than use mine, plus I'd like it back at some point.

Being out of the market for so long I'd like to know if there are things I should avoid, historically I wouldn't be looking at say ares bolt actions for example.

Things that have peaked a little interest I'm him would be the tac41 sport or sport lite. although I'd tend to look at tm or tm clones then fettle I think he'd rather have an out the box that's not budget busting but good enough over say the 30m of his garden.
Ive always wanted consistency over outright range and I'd be looking for it here too. So advice to help.me steer him from potential pitfalls of marketing hype, groomed figures or such like would be much appreciated.

 

[The_Lord_Poncho]

To be honest,you will fall foul of the wildlife and countryside act with that plan. Nothing discourages the rats more than them being dead- you need a cheap .22 air rifle for the task- much more accurate effective, and will not cause unnecessary suffering. Shot from the upper windows of his house, you will have a safe backstop in that the garden itself will likely form this (or create your own from paving slabs behind their usual haunt if you really need to). If he has tremors etc,then a cheap PCP will be the way to go- a springer can't be shot accurately off a bipod, but a PCP could be proped up on a window sill and be rock steady for him.

 

[Diemaco]

I agree, airsoft is not suitable for pest control. An actual air rifle is the way to go. This is also likely to be a cheaper, as well as more effective solution (especially if you look at second hand options).

 

[Tackle]

Forget the gun, he needs a puddy tat........

 

[concretesnail]

Thanks for the replies folks. I did suggest that an air rifle might be the way to go but he doesn't want to kill them or stop feeding the birds.

@Tackle the cat they have is old codger now at eighteen years and with him having lost the dog recently I don't think inhave the heart to suggest an animal right now.

 

[Rickwales]

Chilli powder down the holes can be successful if you know where they live. It's worked for me in the past.

 

[Hatchet]

To be honest,you will fall foul of the wildlife and countryside act with that plan. Nothing discourages the rats more than them being dead- you need a cheap .22 air rifle for the task- much more accurate effective, and will not cause unnecessary suffering. Shot from the upper windows of his house, you will have a safe backstop in that the garden itself will likely form this (or create your own from paving slabs behind their usual haunt if you really need to). If he has tremors etc,then a cheap PCP will be the way to go- a springer can't be shot accurately off a bipod, but a PCP could be proped up on a window sill and be rock steady for him.

Click to shrink...

Also Animal Welfare Act 2006.

As people have said, this isn't the right tool for the job. You're either just going to injure them badly or blind them and have them suffering. Suggestion would be either kill them outright with an air rifle or see if there's any way to disuade them (remove food source, sonic deterents, etc). With air rifle you can also always practice in advance with those metal targets to be sure of getting clean hits.

If that's not an option then I guess professional pest control.

@concretesnail - you said your father doesn't want to kill them, might be worth pointing out that's likely a more humane option than Airsoft.