Best air rifle for the money.

Discussion in 'Firearms' started by fortunateson, Feb 14, 2010.


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  1. fortunateson

    fortunateson I hate Illinois Nazis!

    Wife was looking for a Christmas gift for me so I told her to pick up the Crossman air rifle I saw at WallyWorld for ~100.00 so that I could do some backyard plinking.

    Not too crazy about it. I'm shooting 5" groups at ~40 yds with 3 out of 5. The other two being flyers. And that's with the best ammo I've come across and a 3-9x scope.
    If it were my 10/22 I'd be doing less than an inch on a bad day.

    So what if I return it and throw another $100 - $150 at the project?
    Can I get something that will group better and at least allow me to shoot a squirrel or two somewhere down the road?
     
  2. RightHand

    RightHand Been There, Done That RIP 4/15/21 Moderator Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 5, 2015
  3. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    FWIW, I have a GAMO that makes picking off a small veggie can from 60 feet (20 yards) boringly easy; if I miss one of 20, it's a bad day. Call it 2X2.5 inches close enough. That translates to about what you are getting. 40 yard plinking with an air rifle is stretching. Have you benched it?

    Using GAMO match, 7.71 grain, I haven't tried the high speed stuff.

    You could do a search on the site for posts by RicDoug. He's an air rifle nut that hasn't posted recently.
     
  4. dragonfly

    dragonfly Monkey+++

    I paid $120.00 for the Crosman, "benjamin" .22
    Could not return it...Store will NOT take it back, period.
    Crosman never answered my emails to return it...
    It is/was a POS right out of the box! It will not hold any pressure,and it's accuracy is like a spitball fired with 4" piece of pvc pipe!
    JUNK.
     
  5. pcc

    pcc Monkey+

    You should be able to get a good RWS or Beeman for the amount you're talking about. I've had beemans, theobens and now have a RWS, all were/are excellent rifles. That theoben was death on squirrels, I still kick myself for selling it.
     
  6. Brokor

    Brokor Live Free or Cry Moderator Site Supporter+++ Founding Member

    I was looking at a bunch at Cabela's, and they have some nice ones in stock. Let me see if I can remember some specs for you.

    1st, we have the "Whisper":
    A newly designed muzzle end on the Whisper decreases sound by approximately 52% without sacrificing performance or accuracy. It shoots PBA ammo at 1,200 fps (50 rounds included) and comes equipped with both Truglo® sights and a 3-9x40mm scope (mount included). The synthetic stock is textured on the grip and has an ambidextrous cheekpiece. Rubber recoil pad.
    Cocking effort: 30 lbs.
    Overall length: 45-3/4".
    Weight: 6.8 lbs.
    To get maximum results from the sound reducing features of the Whisper models, lead pellets should be used. The included PBA ammo will result in higher speeds and will be quieter than when fired from standard models. However, it will still produce a cracking sound due to to the pellet traveling at supersonic speeds in .177 caliber. $257.99 -LINK-

    The best deal currently (pretty good one too) Whisper Deluxe:
    This sharp-looking, sharpshooting air rifle incorporates state-of-the-art muzzle porting and noise-baffling technology to make it one of the quietest air rifles you can buy. A spring piston break-barrel action zips .177-caliber PBA Raptor pellets along at 1,200 fps. (50 rounds included). The 3-9x40mm scope has a duplex reticle and a single-piece scope mount is included. Auto cocking safety, manual trigger safety. Two-stage adjustable trigger.
    Cocking effort: 30 lbs.
    Overall length: 43.3".
    Weight: 7.25 lbs.
    PRICE: $199.99 (down from 314.99)
    -LINK-


    I guess you have to play with some "upper echelon" models to appreciate the PBA ammo and all that the air rifle has to offer. Cabela's has a lot of other air rifles also. I just found these two the most impressive for the money. Oh, and just for fun...I don't think air rifles get much better than THIS. :)
     
  7. dragonfly

    dragonfly Monkey+++

    I had 2 as a kid, the "Slavia 618" and a Russian "T-3" training rifle. Best I ever saw or have owned! Both were in .177 caliber and accuracy beyond belief at ranges more like those of a decent .22!
    Wish I could find one like either of those today!
     
  8. vegasrandall

    vegasrandall Monkey+++

    check the beeman web site.they sell some used high buck air rifles
     
  9. Hispeedal2

    Hispeedal2 Nay Sayer

    Uh.... I would say a Benjamin/Sheridan 390 series. I like the wood and metal.

    I like the idea of a .22 cal but you really have to have some velocity behind it. I bought a little .22 Chinese spring piston gun here off the local market. It's a tack driver. Problem is that it lacks the velocity and penetration. We had a bit of a pigeon problem in the rafters of our little warehouse (home). All I was able to achieve was a plume of feathers as the pigeon flew off. It's a good deterrent I suppose.

    Of course, .177 pellets will be easier to find about anywhere. Penetration and velocity are better in must multi-pump models. If only I had a dime for every bird I shot as a kid. I used to kill squirrels and rabbits without much problem. You have to be close, though.

    There are several sites online for guys that like to mod air rifles. Not really my cup of tea but they can probably give you more answers.

    As a side note, I think a good pellet and seal repair kit is a good piece of kid to keep around. It's quiet and ammo is cheap. There are a few articles online about making your own ammo. The lead has to be softer than what we might use for casting/ swaging bullets (wheel weights) but the process is identical. With a good stockpile of lead, a pellet gun could pot a lot of meat.

    Good luck
     
  10. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    Upper echelon? How about this -
    Google Image Result for http://www.usfw.com/bee1161trans.gif
    A bit out of my budget, even if the price was listed.

    Or this, for a mere 2700 frns
    Feinwerkbau-FWB Feinwerkbau 603 Match. Air rifles - PyramydAir.com

    In all seriousness, I get a kick out of pellet guns, and I do NOT mean recoil. Excellent way to keep in practice in the basement or off the deck with the basics when the snow on the ground makes it unpleasant at the range.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 5, 2015
  11. Brokor

    Brokor Live Free or Cry Moderator Site Supporter+++ Founding Member

    LOL! That's not upper echelon Ghrit...that's SUPREME MATCH!!! Yes, nice air rifles indeed. ;)
     
  12. Quigley_Sharps

    Quigley_Sharps The Badministrator Administrator Founding Member

    I have a Sheridan Blue Streak 5mm, love it, hit's hard.
    I am goign to a have a mold made to cast my own pellets to use if we ever run out of gun powder, also looking at a big bore air rifle in the 45 or 50 caliber.
     
    VisuTrac likes this.
  13. dragonfly

    dragonfly Monkey+++

    A friend of mine has a "Sheridan" in 5mm, and it's darn good, even though it must be 30+ or more years old by now! I mean the guy is older than me, and has had it since he was about 25 or so...guess that really makes it an oldie but a goodie!
    Especially since he just turned 65!
     
  14. Quigley_Sharps

    Quigley_Sharps The Badministrator Administrator Founding Member

    I always leave one pump in it weather I storing it for years or one day, never had a air rifle fail in the seal dept.
     
  15. fortunateson

    fortunateson I hate Illinois Nazis!

    Everyone: Thanks for all the advice.

    Walmart now has in their possession a nicely broken-in, terribly inaccurate Crosman.

    Now to do a bit of shopping.
     
  16. k26560

    k26560 Monkey+

    I was given a slavia 618 air riffle it seems to have compression but I can't figure out how to load it. Maybe I'm wrong but I'm thinking that there has got to be another way besides dropping the amo down the barrel. any help would be helpful.
     
  17. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 5, 2015
  18. E.L.

    E.L. Moderator of Lead Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    Why use pellets when CB Caps are so quiet? Actually I ha e a couple of pellet guns and grew up shooting a Benjamin. It was deadly.
     
  19. pcc

    pcc Monkey+

    This is true, the theoben crow magnum I had was louder than cb caps and and about the same as standard subsonic ammo. If you have already have a .22 those are great options to buying an air rifle. IF you can find the ammo.
     
  20. fortunateson

    fortunateson I hate Illinois Nazis!

    Pellets: 500 for $4
    CBs: 100 for $7.50

    Think about it the next time you put away some ammo.

    Also, I'm in the 'burbs where you can't discharge a firearm legally.
     
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