* What does F.A.C. mean?
F.A.C. stands for Fire Arms Certificate. A F.A.C. (usually printed as FAC) is required in the UK for airguns over the 12 ft. lbs. of energy since anything over that limit is considered a firearm. FAC in the South Africa is only relevant in that you know that a FAC airgun is not limited to 12 ft. lbs. or energy.
* What's better - precharged pneumatic (PCP) or spring guns?
Spring gun versus PCP, well I think one thing to point out is there are spring guns and spring guns. If you buy a cheap and cheerful springer do not expect it to be some magnificent piece of kit. If you want a decent spring gun then you need to look at the likes of Weihrauch, Air Arms, RWS, BSA and Theoben (gas ram rather than metallic spring, but they recoil when you fire them). These are pretty much the best of the current factory spring guns.
If you get a good quality spring gun and learn how to shoot it properly then you will shoot a pcp far better, spring guns demand a precise and consistent technique and will not tolerate any sloppiness, something that pcp's will do (which can actually lead to a deterioration in your technique).
In terms of quietness, yes the spring gun will be slightly noisier, it has a lot going on at the point of firing, and all the mechanics are right next to your ear. Tune the action and add a good silencer and the spring gun can be made a lot quieter.
If you try and force high power out of a spring gun causing harsh recoil or use cheap rubbish scopes then a scope failure is a possibility. Put a decent quality scope on a good springer and they are fine.
PCP's because of the lack of needing to compress the air at the moment of firing don't feature the recoil of a spring gun, all they have is a striker hitting a valve stem to release air from the reservoir as a result there is less mechanical noise but much more muzzle blast. Use a decent silencer and they are very quiet
PCP's are capable of going to higher power than spring guns, and in a much lighter and compact package.
PCP'sare easier to shoot and you can get away with using cheap crap scopes if you feel the need to.
The only downside to PCP is the need for charging kit, which increase the initial financial outlay when purchasing them.
* Is a fixed barrel airgun more accurate than a break barrel?
A fixed barrel airgun will give slightly better groups than a break barrel gun. This is because the relationship between the barrel and scope doesn't change with each shot. A break barrel moves the barrel with each shot so it isn't in the exact same place with each shot. However, todays modern break barrels rifles are typically so well made that the differences are very small. With a high quality airgun, the average shooter will never see a difference between the two types.
* How do you rangefind with a scope??
Range finding with a scope consists of adjusting the objective on the scope until the target is in perfect focus. The distance is then read from the objective bell. Most shooters don't rely on the factory yardage marking on the scopes. They calibrate their scopes by actually focusing on targets at fixed intervals, say every 5 yards, then mark that distance on the scope objective bell.
* How do you determine which pellet is right for an airgun?
The only way to determine which pellet is right for an airgun is to shoot a variety of pellets through it and see which one shoots the best. Ten meter match shooters typically use wadcutter pellets while most Field Target shooter use domed pellets and hunters will used either domed, pointed or hollow point pellets. Most pellets can be bought on the web for a better price than directly from the manufacturer.
* Which pellet weight is best?
The is no definite answer here. A lot has to do with personal preference and what you plan to use the pellet for; hunting, plinking or formal target shooting. It also has a lot to do with the velocity of the airgun you shoot. Lower power airguns may want a lighter pellet so that the downrange trajectory is less. However with a lighter pellet you will have to deal with more wind drift. Heavier pellets will lessen the wind effect but will have more drop at longer ranges than a light pellet shot at a given velocity. Another factor is energy retention. A light pellet won't retain as much energy as a heavy pellet at a given distance and velocity. If the pellet is used for target shooting this doesn't matter much but for pest control or hunting energy at the target makes a big difference. This also is a factor in what caliber of pellet you choose.
* What caliber of airgun is best?
The is no definite answer here. A lot has to do with personal preference and what you plan to use the airgun for; hunting, pest control, plinking or formal target shooting. Generally, most target shooters and plinkers opt for the .177 caliber. A lot of shooters select .20 for pest control and hunting. However .177 can be used for hunting and pest control as well. Generally speaking, larger calibers retain downrange energy better so they impart more energy onto the target.
* How do I focus the scope reticle to my eye?
The focus adjustment on a scope is much like the adjustment an eye doctor uses when they test your eyes for glasses. Turning the eye piece will strengthen or weaken the "prescription".
Follow the steps below to adjust your scope.
1. Loosen the eyepiece lock ring (if applicable).
2. Rotate the eyepiece in the negative direction (check your scopes owners manual, typically counter clockwise).
3. Look Through the scope toward the sky, or at a white wall about 10' away. Rotate the eyepiece clockwise until the reticle appears sharp and black at a quick glance . Do not look through the scope as you turn the eyepiece, as your eye will adjust to the out-of-focus condition. Glancing through the scope will immediately reveal the reticle as distinctive and black when it is properly focused.
4. Lock the eyepiece in place by tightening the lock ring.
* What's the differences between an airgun scope and firearm rifle scope?
Spring-Piston airguns generate heavy recoil and vibration in both the forward and rearward directions. Most rimfire and centerfire riflescopes are made to withstand only the rearward recoil of these types of rifles. Airgun scopes are made to withstand heavy bi-direction recoil and vibration. They typically also have parallax adjustment that allow closer focus. Typically these adjustments will allow focusing down to 10 yards. Recoil is typically not a problem with pnuematic airguns.
* What causes accuracy problems in an airgun?
1. Loose stock screws (particularly on spring guns). Clean all screws with alcohol and use a bit of Threadlocker Loctite on the threads before reinstalling. Periodically check for tightness.
2. Loose barrel pivot bolt. Periodically check for tightness.
3. Loose iron sights or scope. Periodically check for tightness.
4. A dirty barrel. Clean the bore periodically.
5. Incorrect pellet type. Test several pellet types for accuracy. Use the most accurate pellet in your gun.
6. Poor shooting technique. Practice, Practice, Practice!
7. Inconsistant hold of the airgun. Practice, Practice, Practice!
