Help, you air gun guys.....

[rwsmith]

I used to have a pump-up Crossman .22 pellet gun but it disappeared. Some relative, I think.

I'm looking to expand into another pellet rifle, but I want to go up a notch. I've looked into PCP rifles (almost got a Beeman) but I think I'm about sold on a break barrel, gas piston job which I think for a little plinking/target shooting would be just fine for me. I'm down to a few choices but I'm wide open to suggestions. Somethings that I don't care about would be a scope (take it or leave it, ideal would be to co-witness), walnut stock (synthetic is fine). 'Repeater' isn't that important(since you have to cock everytime anyway)



Gamo Swarm Maxxim 10x Gen2 .22 10 rnd repeater, 2-stage trigger with a scope. Sound reduction About 900fps w/ lead pellets $189

Hatsan Model 135 Vortex QE .22 No scope but has mounts, 2 stage adjustable trigger, Walnut stock, recoil pad, sound reduction 1000 fps(?) $300

Hatsan model 95 Vortex QE .22 With scope, 2 stage adjustable trigger. Sound reduction. 800 fps $175

Gamo Swarm Viper With scope, 2 stage trigger, synthetic stock, recoil pad, sound reduction, repeater 900 (?) fps $249

UPDATE: I just watched some videos and the repeat on the Gamo guns works pretty well. It's a round magazine that goes in the top and stays out of the way.

PS: Oh, BTW. I'm on a budget so I'm leaning toward the Gamo Swarm Maxxim.

 

[holo]

Look up the HW rifle line from Germany. High quality. This is a Beeman made by HW.

 

[Aggie1906]

I have the Hatsan 95, and think it is fine. I wound up with the springer, not gas just because a refurb deal turned up. Do put some effort into the scope decision. Plenty of grunt for vermin and critters with .22.

 

[6string]

Look up the HW rifle line from Germany. High quality. This is a Beeman made by HW.

The classic German made air rifles are great. They will last many lifetimes with little more needed than springs or seals. And that is after thousands and thousands of shots. They are well engineered so an informed owner can do his own maintenance.
After WWII, German gunmakers were prohibited from making guns. Some of the best designers went to work making airguns, and they really "knocked it out of the ballpark".

Look for: Feinwerkbau, Diana, RWS, Weihrauch, or Beeman's made by these companies. You can find these used at great prices on eBay, airgun nation, etc. In fact, I believe the new stuff can't touch these classics.
Besides the break-open springer designs, look for the next step up: the side lever cocker. The barrels are fixed to the action, along with the sights.
Most, if not all, of these are discontinued. They would simply be too expensive in today's airgun market, which is ruled by the low-end, bottom dollar third world imports. Searching for a nice used one is the very best deal in airguns today.

The Hassan Vortex looks like a cheap copy of the Diana break-open action. But, I'm biased against "Made in Turkey". Gamo has always been on the low end of the European makers. They don't stand up well to the test of time and have always had a cheap feel, with way too much plastic in them.
It seems this new stuff all has some "gotcha" plastic part that, when it breaks, you're outta luck. Usually it happens once the model is discontinued and all the spare parts are gone because everyone else that bought one had theirs break before yours!

One of my best friends has a Feinwerkbau 300s, and he has shot over 800,000 documented shots out of it. An occasional replacement of the mainspring and seals is all it needs to keep going and going.

I shoot more air pistol than air rifle. Just for fun, I've attached a couple of photos showing 10 shot off-hand (one handed) groups fired at 10 meters. First is a German FWB 80, second is a Pardini K60 (CO2). The FWB was made in the 1980s, the Pardini in the 1990s.

 

[Dziadzi#1]

New Air Rifle..

Take a look at the Diana Chaser. I just picked one up at an air gun show. Mine is .177, but it is also available in .22. Cal. It is rather strange looking, but it is very accurate. It is a CO2 gun but the cartridges last longer than other CO2 guns that I have had.

Air Gun Depot Diana Chaser CO2 Pistol/Rifle Review | Airgun Depot is selling them at @ v$129.99 for a kit that allows the owner to make it into either a pistol or rifle.

I am using it in its rifle configuration and it will shoot 1/4” groups at 10 yards with a 2x scope. It also has a sound moderator (silencer) that is very effective.

 

[smoothshooter]

Be aware that there is a world of difference between the old Beeman marked guns, and the Beeman’s imported affer Robert Beeman and his wife sold the company years ago. The Beeman marked guns were invariably top-notch German and Japanese-made rifles and scopes.
Some other importer later bought the Beeman brand name, and started importing guns from China and other third world countries and quality suffered accordingly.

 

[Dvus]

I wholeheartedly agree with 6string on looking for a Feinwerkbau, RWS or Diana on the used market! I have a couple of these and the quality of materials and craftsmanship is far above anything you can find in production now. They are built like fine firearms.

 

[Krogen]

Be aware that there is a world of difference between the old Beeman marked guns, and the Beeman’s imported affer Robert Beeman and his wife sold the company years ago. The Beeman marked guns were invariably top-notch German and Japanese-made rifles and scopes.
Some other importer later bought the Beeman brand name, and started importing guns from China and other third world countries and quality suffered accordingly.

I have one of those "Beeman" airguns. Cheap is what attracted me and cheap is what I got. It was a waste of money. Live and learn!

 

[diyj98]

I’m not a big fan of the Chinese and Spanish air guns. I’m also not sold on the gas ram guns. I’m not sure how the affordable gas rams will hold up over time. The RWS 34 is a fairly affordable German made gun that performs great. Mine isn’t quite as refined as my more expensive air guns, but it’s a workhorse.

You can often find bargains in used air guns, be be aware that they can be damaged by dry firing and you may end up with a used gun that needs work.

 

[Jebus35745]

Bought a used RWS Diana break barrel, plenty accurate. It’s a pre 34, I think a model 24 in .177. Put a red dot on it for the grandkids. Kinda heavy for them so I use camera tri-pod for steadiness. Load it, put it on the tri-pod and let them grab it.

No CO2 or newer compressed air for me, just cock and shoot. The air pistol is a Daisy 777. Both Spring air, Larry

 

[desmobob]

I have a good assortment of "springer" air rifles and my favorites are Weirauch (HW) models and the equivalent Beeman models (not the cheap Beemans).

I have a few Hatsans. When you get a good one, they are a very good value, but you might not always get a good one.

I have an RWS Diana that I also wouldn't hesitate to recommend. Same goes for a beautiful Air Arms competition rifle I have from England.

If you get a nice Weirauch or RWS air rifle, it will be so much superior than what you had previously, it will take you to another level of enjoying the air rifle hobby.

These springers only need one pump before each shot and are extremely accurate. A few of mine use gas rams instead of springs; one (HW90 .22) even allows adjusting the pressure in the ram for controlling power or fine-tuning accuracy.

 

[Farmer17]

I spent a lot of time researching pellet rifles before I got my RWS M34 .22 several years ago and am quite happy. Many airgun experts say it's the bare minimum amount of money you should spend to get a quality air rifle that can be serviced if needed and will last a lifetime. Most air rifles today are Chinese junk that are basically "throw aways" if anything goes wrong. Airguns of Arizona currently have them on sale for about $255 and mine is very accurate and has a great trigger and I highly recommend them.

 

[nodpete]

I agree with those recommending the German brands. I have a Diana 34 in .22 cal and it is a dead on shooter. I had an FWB 124 .177 and it was probably the best shooter I've ever owned. If you look at PCP's you can't go wrong with a Benjamin Maurader. I have it in .25 cal and it is perfect for pest control if you live near someone. It is very quiet and hard hitting. They are easy to work on and you can adjust the power you want. Only trouble with PCP's is the cost. As suggested in other responses, you're better off spending a little over your budget and get a quality rifle. Take a look on airgun sites such as GTA (Gateway to Airguns) and look in the 'for sale' section. There are some really good deals there. And it's probably the best airgun site on the web. Some very knowledgable folks over there. Good luck !

 

[Greyman50]

Have an old Benjamin that’s been overhauled, shoots just fine.

 

[Eric300]

European or UK made air rifles are the way to go. But you're going to shell out some coin for a good one regardless of whether it's a PCP, Break-Barrel, or Under-Lever and Side-Cocker springers. Then there's Multi-Pump Pneumatics (nothing too fancy in that category of air rifles). If you're looking for a 'Springer', an Under-Lever or Side-Cocker is the way to go because the barrel never moves when cocking/shooting. Springers are a little tricky to shoot because you don't hold them like a centerfire rifle (research 'artillery hold'). I've owned plenty of higher quality springer (as well as 'homeowner grade') air rifles over the years. One of these days I'll get a PCP. You get what you pay for in terms of quality and accuracy. It all depends on what you want and how much you want to spend.

Oh yeah, and if you plan on scoping a springer make sure you get a scope that's rated for one.

I keep a Gamo Black Cat in my barn for pests, but for fun, accurate target shooting I have an Air Arms Pro Sport Under-Lever.

Crosman Power Master 760 (circa 1960s)

 

[cmansguns]

Ruger & Daisy heck of a deal on a budget

With a house full of kids we always had a ton of fun with a simple target stand in the backyard, and a 22 LR bullet trap for the Daisy .177 Powerline (CO2) BB pistol. Daisy 415 Model, these days about $35.00 from Midway.

The Ruger Air Hawk is just a ton-of-fun, break barrel, pretty hefty spring, labelled 490 fps with.177 pellets. The fiber optic open sights are really great and we have popped nuisance squirrels with the one shot at about 75 yards with very good accuracy. The 4x 32 scope is like the OP says...take it or leave it.

Very good all around fun for training, breathing, trigger control, fun on cans, spinners, dirty bird splatter (the kids love these). The current going price is about $140 at Tractor Supply.

We have had ours for years and like said a ton of fun and even OK indoors on a rainy day.

The Daisy is pictured with my S & W M&P 2.0 Compact for size comparison.

 

[wood714]

I bought a $200 Gamo 22 pellet rifle last year to shoot armadillos after a house was built next door to me. I used a SBR 10/22 suppressed before that.

Got one from around 65 foot a couple nights ago. This is the second time I've ever shot one where it flopped around a few times painting my fence, then died legs up about 10 foot from where I shot it. Usually they run off.

The Gamo is too big, I'd like to find something smaller.

 

[rickyt]

As a youngster I had many air rifles/pistols ,Webley, Milbro, BSA. We bought them second hand very cheaply. The Airsporter range bacame very popular. I have 2 now, an Umarex and a Airsporter. The Umarex is a co2 8 shot rifle and the other, a .22 springer.