Any one have an air rifle? Would like some opinions or any information about them. Thanks Jerry
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AIR RIFLE
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TJm15.38
Member
I have a Sheridan 5mm pump and a RWS 90, both of which are broke. I've had to resort to a 24" barrel Revelation .22 single shot rifle using CCI quiet .22lr to take care of the backyard pests.
I shoot muzzle loaders most of the time, a couple years back I decided to build a flintlock from one of Kibler's Southern Mountain Rifle kits. I committed to master the flintlock after winning the annual top shooter with a percussion rifle. I knew I would have to burn through at least a pound of priming powder to finally master a flintlock. The problem with a flintlock is the delay between trigger pull/pan ignition/and subsequent main powder charge going off. Good flintlock shooters can tune the action to get a real fast ignition but there is still that delay. I got to the point where I didn't really see the flash, only heard the boing of the frizzen being knocked out of the way by the cock and flint. A guy that knew more about flintlocks than anyone I knew told me the closest thing to a flintlock for delay is a spring loaded air rifle. He told which model to look for and as luck would have it another friend likes to rebuild them and had one for sale. Look for a quality rifle if you have the cash, mine is a Weihrauch, in .177. They are quality firearms and you need to find out what size pellet works best, they are all different. I had a set of International sights left over from a .22 project that got a scope and mounted them on this rifle. I like to throw a few spent shotgun shells on the berm of the 25yd pistol range and chase them around when I get tired of tearing small holes in a target. In the winter I stay up on my off hand shooting while using it in my big shop outside. I made a bullet trap out of some plywood like a box with a couple layers of a type of clay used by guys in the electrical trade when they need to plug up a hole in a wall with conduit, it has a fancy name like "duct seal" but stops those pellets cold with no chance for a ricochet.
I grew up with a bb gun like most kids, advanced to a pellet gun, this thing is no bb gun. It is a seriously accurate firearm, inside twenty five yards anything I can see I can hit, over and over.
That friend of mine that rebuilds them will spend an hour or so a couple times a month, usually brings in a target with the centers tore out. A spring loaded air rifle is harder on a quality scope than a 300 Win Mag, it has to do with the action of the spring. You have to use a special scope on a spring loaded air rifle.
I grew up with a bb gun like most kids, advanced to a pellet gun, this thing is no bb gun. It is a seriously accurate firearm, inside twenty five yards anything I can see I can hit, over and over.
That friend of mine that rebuilds them will spend an hour or so a couple times a month, usually brings in a target with the centers tore out. A spring loaded air rifle is harder on a quality scope than a 300 Win Mag, it has to do with the action of the spring. You have to use a special scope on a spring loaded air rifle.
robvious
Member
Well now, you need to get yerself an antique air rifle, like this:
"... a ball reservoir air gun by Bate of London. It has an 80 bore 36 inch Spanish form sighted barrel.."
Here's a Rock Island Auction vid from last year, with Dr. Robert D. Beeman (of Beeman air guns)
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eb_4-YvECgo[/ame]
Kinman, if you get an antique, get a Giradoni. A repeater with a barrel mounted gravity fed magazine. If it was good enough for Lewis and Clark...
I'm looking at air guns.....
I've about settled on a Gamo Swarm Maxxim 10x Gen 2. .22 cal. Gas piston spring. If anybody has any experience here, I'd like to hear it.
I've about settled on a Gamo Swarm Maxxim 10x Gen 2. .22 cal. Gas piston spring. If anybody has any experience here, I'd like to hear it.
kamloops67
Member
Had a gamo pistol years ago , super accurate and enough power to destroy a squirrel ethically
No experience with newer offerings though
No experience with newer offerings though
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Have had the standard Benjamin pump up 22 rifle for over 40 years. Had it overhauled couple years ago and is fine.
I bought a Sheridan 5mm pump some 40 to 50 years ago and it still works fine. Haven't had it out for a couple of years. Maybe I need it to get it out. My first air rifle was a Daisy Red Rider lever BB gun when I was a pre teen.
Rodan
SWCA Member
I recently bought a Umarex Notos for pest control on our property. I had not played with airguns in decades and have been pretty impressed with the current state of the art.
The Notos is a pre-charged compressed air rifle, .22 cal that shoots ~700fps. Pre-charged adds the complexity of needing a compressor (which cost more than the gun!), but it can sit around loaded, charged and ready to go for extended periods. Has an internal regulator so shots are consistent throughout the fill. Also much quieter than spring air, plus the Notos has a built in suppressor (not regulated on airguns), making it even quieter. I would say it's about the same sound level as a staple gun. It's also plenty accurate.
Umarex Notos
The Notos is a pre-charged compressed air rifle, .22 cal that shoots ~700fps. Pre-charged adds the complexity of needing a compressor (which cost more than the gun!), but it can sit around loaded, charged and ready to go for extended periods. Has an internal regulator so shots are consistent throughout the fill. Also much quieter than spring air, plus the Notos has a built in suppressor (not regulated on airguns), making it even quieter. I would say it's about the same sound level as a staple gun. It's also plenty accurate.
Umarex Notos
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I recall reading back when that the break barrel spring guns have "issues" if left cocked. You're apparently supposed to cock/load them just before shooting and not leave them cocked.
Out moldering in the qarage is an ancient Crossman pump up. You could tailor the power to the immediate need. I believe I'd go with a Benjamin pump up.
Out moldering in the qarage is an ancient Crossman pump up. You could tailor the power to the immediate need. I believe I'd go with a Benjamin pump up.
High up in the space between floor joists I have my Sheridan Silver Streak from the late 1950s. Been there since 2003. I also have two original boxes of the hard to get pellets of that era. One of these days I ought to check it out!
Ivan the Butcher
Member
In the Mid 90's I picked up a Anshutz 220/225 Air rifle. This is a old (say late 60'/early 70's) target rifle with a full bull barrel. These are a single side cock action and use spring pressure to launch the .177" pellet. At around 650+/- fps they maintain a very constant velocity, which does away with most of the vertical spread in a group. While the same diameter as a BB, never use BBs as the will wipe out the refiling in most target guns! Sights were an accessory and cost extra ($225-450!!) so if the iron sights are missing plan on scope use!
Ivan
Ivan
The 'gas piston' guns don't have the problems with 'spring set' , etc.
If your going for something that is twelve year old proof, find yourself an old Benjamin Pump in .177, I never had the money for pellets and rolled b.b.s down the barrel which made a good snap shooter out of me.
I know about early air rifles and know a guy that builds them. Too finicky and I'm a muzzle loader. I have been impressed by large caliber air rifles and shot a .50 cal that produced 3" groups at 100yds. There is a guy that comes down to the rifle range with a pellet gun and an air compressor to fill up its cylinder. I suppose you could get used to it but that air compressor hammering away is a bit irritating, we are a shooting club and that is his shooting system, so be it. His rifle is accurate but I'm more inclined to shoot a .22 and find air rifles fit a niche and for me its a rather small one...they are neat. My son's father in law bought a CO2 powered single action army model that is a blast to knock cans off the fence with but I got bored after a short time.
Incidently, I find no reason to keep the thing cocked or charged and have had zero issues with it in any way, never use b.b.s is good advice. If you pay for a high end air rifle, you are paying for a precision device, treat it as such. The best pellets on the market are made by H&N Sport, my rifle likes their Field Target Trophy.
I know about early air rifles and know a guy that builds them. Too finicky and I'm a muzzle loader. I have been impressed by large caliber air rifles and shot a .50 cal that produced 3" groups at 100yds. There is a guy that comes down to the rifle range with a pellet gun and an air compressor to fill up its cylinder. I suppose you could get used to it but that air compressor hammering away is a bit irritating, we are a shooting club and that is his shooting system, so be it. His rifle is accurate but I'm more inclined to shoot a .22 and find air rifles fit a niche and for me its a rather small one...they are neat. My son's father in law bought a CO2 powered single action army model that is a blast to knock cans off the fence with but I got bored after a short time.
Incidently, I find no reason to keep the thing cocked or charged and have had zero issues with it in any way, never use b.b.s is good advice. If you pay for a high end air rifle, you are paying for a precision device, treat it as such. The best pellets on the market are made by H&N Sport, my rifle likes their Field Target Trophy.
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robvious
Member
I had and have a Gamo. back when they were known as El Gamo.. break barrel in 177... could group 5 shots on a dime at about 10 yards in my basement when I was a kid.. got it trading newspapers for a month with one of my route customers... he shot birds out of his cherry tree in his front yard... wife made him sell it, because when he missed he hit the neighbors house.. lol... great pellet gun...
venomballistics
Member
Quackenbush Air Guns
I see some have touched on the general PCP type airguns. But for those looking for the next level.....
I see some have touched on the general PCP type airguns. But for those looking for the next level.....
