RABBIT SHOOTING WITH AN AIRGUN - GET OUT THERE

Vermin control, be that largely rabbits, rats, or squirrels, must still rank as one of the most affordable and accessible forms of shooting still available in the UK today. However, choosing the right kit and using it correctly can still be a baffling prospect, due to the ever-increasing array of calibres and kit on offer to entice you in!
My advice is to really look at what species you have, then assess the terrain and distances you intend to shoot at. You should then buy your kit accordingly, assuming you have the relevant licenses, permissions etc. Rabbits are the order of the day and after 40+ years of shooting, hunting them remains my favourite shooting activity.
I think that the challenge of shooting a rabbit with an air rifle is far more enjoyable and skilful than using a rimfire, as you must tune your mind, fieldcraft, and kit to shoot at no more than 50 yards maximum. That means getting up close and personal, which really sharpens one’s skills and choice of kit. You may be using the latest PCP, a classic springer, or even a budget gun, but the truth is, practice is the key.

Kit
Rabbits do not require any high-tech equipment to shoot, and often the best sport is had when using a classic air rifle. I love springers, and I get more enjoyment from bagging some rabbits while using my Venom Arms custom Weihrauch, than I do with a £2000 PCP. Ranges are short, less than 30 yards for a headshot, and you will require good marksmanship and fieldcraft. Saying that, clinical shots with guns like the latest Air Arms, FX, or Daystate, do truthfully extend the range to 50 yards.
I have had some of my best rabbiting trips when using a classic springer, as that one pellet in the barrel definitely concentrates the mind when it comes to aiming well and not fluffing the shot! But that’s just me, nostalgia means a lot these days. Learning to shoot a springer like a Weihrauch HW80, HW77, HW30, or an Air Arms TX200 or Pro Sport, will make you a better shot, as it starts a new shooter or seasoned ‘know it all’ down the correct path when it comes to trigger pressure, correct hold, and follow through.
Of course, PCPs are a common choice, and I have to say I’d go for the classic Daystate Huntsman, Venom Bullpup, or the Falcon FN12,16 or 19 models. But modern pre-charged rifles like the excellent Weihrauch HW110T, Air Arms S410, or S510, are at the pinnacle of air rifle design, and they offer excellent accuracy and handling in the field. Don’t forget the FX rifles that are a game changer, with their smooth bore technology barrels, that provide accuracy that allows shots at ranges one could only dream of in the past!

Ammo and calibres
You can have the best air rifle in the world, but if you feed it cheap pellets, then you are asking for trouble.
Calibre choice is key, as each one has its own merits for rabbits. The 12 ft/lbs .177, .20, and .22 calibres retain good velocity levels out to 30 yards, but the .25 has a 20-25 yard limit in my view. The .177 (4.5mm) is the lightest and smallest of our calibres, with pellet weights ranging from 7.0 to 11-grains. The .177’s real advantage over the larger .22, primarily due to its higher velocity, is its flatter trajectory. At beyond 30 yards, the faster shooting .177 wins on trajectory compared to the slower, bigger .22, with the .20 close behind.  At 45 yards, the .22 trajectory falls away fast. With a 30 yard zero, the .177 is only -1.3” low, whilst a .22 pellet at the same energy figure is -2.8” low. At 45 yards, it is double the drop of the faster .177, so -4.4” as opposed to -2.2”. The .20 slips in rather nicely with a drop of only -2.7” at 45 yards, so not that far behind the .22. 
However, that little .177 pellet has a smaller cross-sectional area than say a .22 pellet (which is nearly 60% greater), and is more inclined to penetrate further, which can be good, but means it does not impart as much striking energy as the larger .22 pellet would. The .20 (5mm), my favourite, offers a blend of good velocity coupled with a ballistic coefficient that retains energy down range, and so hits hard like a .22 pellet. Pellet weights range from 9.0 to 15.5-grains, which transcends the heavier .177, and many of the .22 pellets. This means that you can have the same weight pellet as say a .22, but in a smaller diameter, longer pellet. A typical 11.4-grain pellet can travel at 680 fps, whilst a heavier 14.3-grain pellet can be pushed at 610 fps. At 12 ft/lbs, there isn’t a marked advantage over a .22 pellet, and the .20 only really comes alive in FAC-rated airguns at over 875 fps.
The .22 (5.5mm) has always been the hunter’s first choice, and for good reason. Pellet weights vary from 12.0 to 21.0-grains and deliver good energy down range. Typically, a 14.3-grain pellet travels at 600 fps, whilst 21-grain heavies lumber along at less than 500 fps when shot from a spring-powered gun. The heavier pellets thus have a curved trajectory, which is the disadvantage of the .22 calibre at longer ranges. These pellets are more efficient in pre-charged guns.
The .25 (6.3mm) has always been a ‘rat buster’, due to its very large and heavy pellets travelling at relatively low velocities, meaning it’s not really a rabbit calibre. Pellet weights vary from 19.0 to 31-grains. As with many of the other calibres, it can be transformed when shot in an FAC-rated gun at 30-40 ft/lbs.
The .30 cal pellet is rather specialist. Typically, a JSB 50-grain pellet will have a velocity of 950 fps and 100 ft/lbs of energy. The 44.75-grain JSBs move faster and are my favourite. FX has really stepped up to the FAC plate, as their .22, .25, and even the .30 and .35 cals, are legendary when it comes to accuracy and retained energy down range.

Scopes and mods
A good moderator is essential on a pre-charged airgun, as the muzzle crack is pronounced. You don’t need to spend hundreds, as a Parker Hale-type for £30 does the job admirably. I would go for lightness on a PCP, but for a springer, a nice all-metal mod helps dampen the barrel harmonics for consistent accuracy. Donny FL produces some excellent mods for FAC-rated guns.
Scopes are such a personal thing, and the choice is huge. I go for quality over fancy features, as rabbits are pretty much nocturnal, so you need good-quality optics for twilight shooting. As a general rule, the more you pay the better the optics, but an illuminated reticle is very handy, as is side-mounted parallax adjustment, which helps to achieve pin-sharp images at all ranges. I really like the Hawke Vantage and Airmax scopes for their clear lenses and excellent reticles. I also like the Leupold VX1 or VX2 series of scopes. Element scopes are also good, and if you want the best, the new Zeiss S3 LRP is the ultimate. The rabbits won’t care what you use, just make sure it is reliable, especially if you want to adjust the elevation/windage for a shot.
At the end of the day, it is well worth practising on targets at your typical rabbit ranges, and at different angles/inclinations, so you know the trajectory of your chosen rifle/pellet combination.

Conclusions
Just a brief overview, as there are so many choices on offer today, but you should be happy with the rifle, scope, and pellet combination you choose out to 30 yards. I would suggest going to one of the many airgun ranges that have sprung up around the country, asking for advice and trying out kit that suits you and your pocket. Next, spend time studying your shoot, and learn the rabbit’s habits so that you can plan your strategy for a humane hunt.