Need info about RWS model 48

[Bushman]

I inherited a Benjamin Sheridan air rifle a couple of years back.  Am just getting around to playing with it.  This is great fun but I realize I want to use one of these to hunt with.  Am contemplating a RWS model 48 in 25 cal.   Is there anybody out there that hunts with one of these ?    And how do you like it.   Is the caliber good enough for coons ?   Thanks for the info in advance.

[Lawdog]

Bushman,

Coons are tough customers for any air rifle.  We(my son, daughter and I) have all killed coons with our air rifles but keep the range short.  Under 25 yards is a nice round figure.  My son uses a .25 caliber although it's a Beeman Crow Magnum and this may sound funny but the best penetrating pellet in his air rifle is the .25 round lead ball you can get from Beeman.  My daughter did kill a buster of a boar coon, weighted over 25 lbs. on her
rabbit scales that stop at 25 lbs., with a body shot using a .177 Crow Magnum pellet but the range was only about 35 feet.  Raccoons are always trying to raid her show rabbit shed so she uses a air rifle to keep the danger down of having a bullet go thru a coon and killing a $100.00 bunny.  To constantly kill coons cleanly I would stick with a .22 rim fire unless the you really need to use something else.  Lawdog

[feyxla]

You lucky fellas in the good ol' U S of A can use very high power air rifles.
while in the uk we can only use up to 12 feet /pound.

With 12 ft/lb we merrily dispatch rabbits at 35-40 yards so with all the Xtra power you guys can have, I dont see a problem with a coon @ 50 - 80 yards with .177 cal (killing power not accuracy).

Mainly UK airgun hunters use .22 cal and still get good range with 12ft/lb.
some guns available to you can go to 80+ ft/lb.

Look to get a high powered PCP gun (pre charged pneumatic), Career 707 or Air arms s410 are good choices. no recoil/multi shoot/no noise.
Look to go .22cal or higher extra power rifle and you will get coon kills 60-80yards+

Note: If you ever want to shoot at a range (target shooting) .25cal is a no no. unless you have lots of power.
You will end up with pellets that you have to arc at any great distance and will be more affected by windage