Bullpup Recommendation For Ratting
I need to find an airgun which will be better suited for my rat shooting. The airgun I am using now is a Hatsan AT44 10 in .22 caliber. For my night sight I am using an ATN X-Sight digital unit. It weighs 2.3 lbs and does a very good job of providing the clarity and illumination for me shooting rats. The problem is that the rig with bipod weighs in at about 11 plus pounds. The balance with the heavy night sight has literally given me some back spasms holding it up and scanning for rats. That is why I believe the bull pup configuration would be better in keeping the weight closer in to my body and causing less strain. Below are some features I would like to have in a bullpup. Your advice on a quality rifle with respect to other opinions would be appreciated.
Not In Order of Importance
• Adjustable power ( I really don’t need more than 20 fpe for shooting rats)
• Weaver or picatinny rail (the ATN Sight uses this style mount and already sits high above the bore. I don’t want to use additional rail adaptors)
• 50 shots or more on a fill. ( I don’t want to be having to walk back to the car in the dark to be filling the air tank)
• Ability to switch bolt side or a bullpup with a bolt forward location. (I am right handed but have a left dominant eye and therefore shoot left handed. Bullpups with bolts or cocking levers right and far aft would be a problem for a lefty like me)
• Ambidextrous stock
• Rifle weight in the 6 to 7 pound range or less.
• Overall rifle length around 30” or less
• A magazine that doesn’t stick above and within the scope rail to interfere with the Night Sight one piece mount. Usually not a problem with bullpups.
• Ability to attach sling swivels
• Includes shroud or moderator
• Ability to get parts, do user adjustments and perform maintenance. Although I have not done a lot in this area.
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Viewing 7 replies - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)
My Mutant Shorty 22 cal I use for ratting.
Not sure about getting parts just yet but it meets just about everything else the OP wants.
But if interested make sure to ask if it comes with the upgrade barrel.
I’m sure you can get 50+ shot on a fill tune to 20 fpe with JSB 16g.
Mines is tune to shoot JSB 18g @ 820 fps fill to 230 bar down to 115 bar I’m getting 3-12 shot mags = 36 shots.
If I fill to 250 bar I getting 4-mags = 48 shots.
Love to shoot the Shorty with it’s OAL just under 2 feet !
It’s very out of box quiet, supper compact with a very short stroke cocking action.
Easy to load drop in mag system is joyful !
Extremely well crafted parts with an unmatched trigger group like no other.
Sweet to adjust and feels extremely consistent with every shot taken, mines is set to 7 oz pull.
~ Greg, dang rats are smart !
I got a big pit about two miles from the house, I have been thinking about starting a compost pile in the pit. I am sure that rats will come.
The big rats I have shot around the barn run like crazy when I shine a red light on them? Is there a different color light for rats?
Oh, and my bull Pup marauder gen II 25 will be my rat gun,
I am on pins and needles ready for my bull pup kit to come in,
toss it in the jeep, throw the foot ball size bottle in , (lay it down nice and easy) check out the bait, cool plan, I think,
Wife thinking , What the shit, :butkick: :butkick: :butkick: :butkick:
Mike
For sub 12 fpe I can get my cricket 177 to shoot extremely queit. And the shot count is infinite for all practical purposes.
I have to say though that the Vulcan is a lot louder then a cricket. When I rat I really like the quietness of my cricket
I think most Bullpups discussed here satisfies most your needs. For your energy goal you should be looking for 177 or 22. You can get over 100 shots per fill for less than 20 fpe setting.
The one requirement on switching the bolt though would give the advantage for the Vulcan.
Only the Vulcan meets all of those needs.
Viewing 7 replies - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)
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Hey guys thanks for the replies. I am just getting back to this post because after a couple days I didn’t think I would get any responses. I had almost thought I would get the FX Wildcat in .22 caliber. Its’ the right size, is regulated and has the cocking lever forward. Even though the cocking lever can’t be switched to the left side I surmised I can hold the rifle to my shoulder and hold the pistol grip to maintain control while cocking. It is regulated and puts out about 30 fpe which is more than I need and gets about 60 shots per fill. I don’t know how easy it would be to adjust the fpe down and get a few more shots. There was another rifle I was looking at and have decided to order it instead. That is the FX Verminator Mk2. while not a bullpup it has the features that will fill my needs. It is compact at 30″ long, weighs about 6.4 lbs and gets well over a hundred shots per fill. It also has the three position power wheel that changes the transfer port size for repeatable power levels. And I think it puts out about 12, 17 and 24 fpe per setting. That should make it very easy and versatile to change power levels and get more shots per fill. I know it has a high cheek rest sort of like the Air Force rifles but that should work well with my ATN NV sight which sits up high anyway. With some weaver riser rails I should be able to go from the NV sight to regular optics in a flash. AOA says they are hoping to get them in early to mid December so the wait should not be long. Bill