new member from England

Welcome

G'day Brian, (std Kiwi welcome)

Nice to have you here. I was in the UK in 2019 and was amazed at the selection of airguns you have available compared to us.

I haven't been onto any rat shooting, but would like to when the opportunity arises. I have done a bit of rabbit shooting and really appreciate seeing sub 12 shooters getting results.

Paul.

Those squirrel look like the perfect size air rifle target.
We have the same issue with non native spiecies. Possums be the closest looking to a squirrel, yet much heavier, bigger, tough as nails not flighty or particually fast in trees.
Usually night shot. Catch the eye shine with torch and biggest issue is getting a clear shot. They don't move quite often, just sit there looking at you.
Rabbits and hares plenty of here. I tend to walk around shooting them, but having said that watching a few of the videos of nz shooters with nv and pcp sitting still and shooting, I'm probly doing it the wrong way as they have a much higher kill rate than me stalking around with a red light.
We have a huge problem with pest birds here. Most brought out from England in the early days of settlement. Starlings, sparrows, finches of various sorts, black birds also mynas, magpies, crows to name a few.
Also have quail, pheasant but they are game birds and have seasons. Also various Australian birds that are escaped pets. Rosella, sulfur crested cockatoo, gallahs, and even things like kukabura in certain areas.
Rats which I'm just getting into shooting and would be keen to hear your tactics for them as I'm not having great success yet.
Cats, ferrets etc very cunning creatures. I've shot a few cats but once they become aware of you hunting them I use traps as main way of catching them and air rifle if happen to see them. Ferrets never managed to shoot one. Hardest of creatures to find and have a very elusive looping movement and I find very hard to shoot on the move.
Couple guys here have taken wallaby (another aussie import) goat with air rifles. I've only shot them with 22lr so can't comment on hunting them with air rifle but hopefully they will fill you in on that.
Our air gun market, for makes and brands and supplies would be absolutely abysmal compared to England.
We don't have the 12fpe law so springers and pump air rifles can get to a reasonable fpe, but any pcp rifle requires a fal. Don't need a fal for a Pcp pistol though from what I understand. Go figure.

Welcome

Hi Brian. Welcome aboard. Think it will be a two way thing. Always keen to see how the English are doing it too. That 12fpe rule makes for some pretty awsome shooters.
So what are shooting? Do you get out for much hunting.
Keen to here some of you experiance and what the scene is like over there at moment.
As for what it's like here fire away with the things you are curious about, be someone on site who can fill ya in.