Air Rifles
- Thread starter ncpatriot
- Start date
To do what? Not being a smart ass. Target shooting low power guns are much more pleasurable and easier to shoot accurately but may not be as good at pesting.
Generally speaking I suggest avoiding anything at the Local Largemart and going for either a Diana 34 or HW30S. Might stretch the budget a little but it is for a HUGE difference in quality and trigger.
I would take a stock HW30S over a stock Ruger 10/22 all day, every day and twice on Sunday. I think for a fun target gun they are phenomenal.
Don't get hung up on power 700fps is MORE then enough and will make for much more pleasurable shooting. Remember we have the luxury of easy access to firearms so there is generally no need to get a magnum powered air rifle and frankly you are better off with pre charged pneumatics if you want big power and range in an air gun, but those are big bucks all said and done (generally speaking)
I have numerous .177 and .22 air guns. Honestly I would go .177 as it shoots flatter and gives you a wider range of ammo choices. (Yes pellet choice matters.....a lot)
Generally speaking I suggest avoiding anything at the Local Largemart and going for either a Diana 34 or HW30S. Might stretch the budget a little but it is for a HUGE difference in quality and trigger.
I would take a stock HW30S over a stock Ruger 10/22 all day, every day and twice on Sunday. I think for a fun target gun they are phenomenal.
Don't get hung up on power 700fps is MORE then enough and will make for much more pleasurable shooting. Remember we have the luxury of easy access to firearms so there is generally no need to get a magnum powered air rifle and frankly you are better off with pre charged pneumatics if you want big power and range in an air gun, but those are big bucks all said and done (generally speaking)
I have numerous .177 and .22 air guns. Honestly I would go .177 as it shoots flatter and gives you a wider range of ammo choices. (Yes pellet choice matters.....a lot)
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There are lots of good ones here in all price ranges:
http://www.pyramydair.com
I've been happy with my Stoeger X 10
http://www.pyramydair.com
I've been happy with my Stoeger X 10
PatientWolf
New member
My dad had one as well as a silver streak with open sights. Both in 5mm. One nice feature is tha ability to vary the velocity with the number of pumps.
My father cut down one of the stocks so we could shoot from a young age and I guess I started at about half the age of 4 with this gun in the basement shooting off a rolled up sleeping bag.
I have no idea how many rounds my brothers, sisters and I put through them nor how many gophers they took, but the number is substantial.
He still has them today.
2ndsojourn
New member
I just bought a Gamo model something or other at Cabela's a couple months ago. 1350 fps, 10 round magazine & scope on sale for $179. I'm sure there are others that are better but this fit the bill for my use just fine.
Edit: Oops...I just saw you want 22 cal. - mine's 177.
2nd edit: fps
Edit: Oops...I just saw you want 22 cal. - mine's 177.
2nd edit: fps
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Yup
I have a Gamo from Cabelas forget the exact model and I am not where I can look at it atm. However 22cal 1050 fps with 4x scope was 199.00 on sale reg is like 249iirc. You may have to up the budget to get a quality 22 cal break barrel with over 1000 fps
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Model12Win
Moderator
Remington break barrel, good as any.
2ndsojourn
New member
sixgun, thanks for the heads up. I fixed that to fps.
Recoil spring
New member
I had .22's for many years.
Starting in the 1980's I preferred .22 caliber for my pellet guns, had some .177 too. Believed that the .22's had more killing power, learned that was not so much the truth. Did some shots through phone books, and yah, the .22 has a slightly greater shock effect in the holes. If you are going for mammals they say go .22 or .25, .177 for birds. But I have shot my share of medium sized mammals, and large birds finding the .22 wanting.
About 7 years ago I noticed I was missing too much with the .22's I still had, did some research and at longer distances the .22 has quite a rainbow trajectory, switched to the flatter shooting .177, accuracy hits went way up. Unfortunately the .177 has a history of literally punching through pest birds, not all the time, but sometimes, the birds fly away and then die 50 yards distance or so, so you think you are missing.
The sound on a .22 is louder, the slug is bigger and tends to be more easily seen on the ground.
I currently have a multi-pump Daisy 901 ($60.00 new) and an RWS 34 bought 7 years ago, around $240.00 new back then. Both in .177. The ammo is much cheaper for .177 too.
I periodically think of getting a .22 air gun for variety, but not sure what I would use it for now.
Starting in the 1980's I preferred .22 caliber for my pellet guns, had some .177 too. Believed that the .22's had more killing power, learned that was not so much the truth. Did some shots through phone books, and yah, the .22 has a slightly greater shock effect in the holes. If you are going for mammals they say go .22 or .25, .177 for birds. But I have shot my share of medium sized mammals, and large birds finding the .22 wanting.
About 7 years ago I noticed I was missing too much with the .22's I still had, did some research and at longer distances the .22 has quite a rainbow trajectory, switched to the flatter shooting .177, accuracy hits went way up. Unfortunately the .177 has a history of literally punching through pest birds, not all the time, but sometimes, the birds fly away and then die 50 yards distance or so, so you think you are missing.
The sound on a .22 is louder, the slug is bigger and tends to be more easily seen on the ground.
I currently have a multi-pump Daisy 901 ($60.00 new) and an RWS 34 bought 7 years ago, around $240.00 new back then. Both in .177. The ammo is much cheaper for .177 too.
I periodically think of getting a .22 air gun for variety, but not sure what I would use it for now.
ammo.crafter
New member
puff
I have a Webly-Scott that is extremely accurate. Depends what your intentions are for the rifle.
This gun most likely retails around $325.00. Here are the specs:
WEBRPAT177 [PY-2584-5124]
Superior air power!
Caliber 0.177" (4.5mm)
Max Velocity 1250 fps
Stock Walnut
Grip Right
Color Brown
I have a Webly-Scott that is extremely accurate. Depends what your intentions are for the rifle.
This gun most likely retails around $325.00. Here are the specs:
WEBRPAT177 [PY-2584-5124]
Superior air power!
Caliber 0.177" (4.5mm)
Max Velocity 1250 fps
Stock Walnut
Grip Right
Color Brown
straightShot
New member
I went to Camp Perry a year ago and bought a used Daisy M853 from the CMP that I use for target practice. It was $100. I looked over four or five on the rack and picked the one that had the length and color that I liked best.
http://thecmp.org/cmp_sales/rifle_sales/air-rifles/sporter-air-rifles/
http://thecmp.org/cmp_sales/rifle_sales/air-rifles/sporter-air-rifles/
I have killed more animals with my Sheridan 20 cal and Benjamin 22 caliber than any other guns I own. We talk bout survival rifles here but I think I could supply myself with more edible food with an air rifle than any other gun I own. It may not be big game but I bet I could find more of it. You just can't be real picky.
I have 2 air rifles. One is an old .22 pump up Benjamin, the other is a .177 FWB spring gun. With the same velocity the .22 hits much harder, as in kills much faster(bushy tail tree rats). The 177 actually has about 50 fps more than the .22. If you plan to hunt with it get the .22.