Air Gun Home :: View topic - New member in northern IL, coming back to airguns

Smaug · Member

As a kid in the 80s, I shot airguns. My dad had a Daisy pump model we shot in the basement in a homemade pellet trap.

Later, I got my own Crosman 760 Pumpmaster. My brother had the 66 Powermaster. My grandpa gave me a Daisy CO2 model, the largish smoothbore BB model that had to be cocked under the fore-end for every shot.

Since then, I got into firearms. I love them. But they sure are restricted and expensive to shoot compared to airguns!

I'd like to get back to basics, but maybe have a bit nicer airgun than I had as a youth.

I'm shopping now, and would appreciate some advice on a rifle, probably .177 caliber, in the $100-300 range. Some of the guys in the Rifles sub-forum over at thefiringline are suggesting I have to spend $450 on a Beeman R9 to get anything decent. If I have to spend that much, I'll probably just skip it altogether. I've already got a couple of .22 firearms, and $450 buys a LOT of 22LR ammo!

I saw a Ruger Airhawk at my local Bass Pro and was attracted to it because I know their firearms are good. But then a guy at thefiringline said they're low quality. Pyramydair has a video review on it that seems to suggest it is a good gun.

I think what I'm looking for is a break-barrel rifle, 900-1000 FPS with lead pellets, accurate, durable, low maintenance, and hopefully well under $300. Have you experts here got any recommendations for me?

While I do the research and wait for opinions, I'll probably take out the old Powermaster for some plinking fun.

Glad to be a part of this fine place!

Slavia · Moderator

Welcome to the forum!

The Diana RWS 34 family of rifles fits your criteria. I don't own one, but the people that do seem to like them.

The Crosman break barrel guns are much cheaper, but they can be good guns - except for the triggers. If you go that route figure on another $40 for a trigger upgrade (installation is really simple). I own two of these, and am happy with them. O.K., so I modified them a little, but they're good enough to merit the effort.

Some general points about "springers":
1. Figure on 500-1000 rounds to break them in.
2. It's common for an airgun to have a preference regarding pellets.
3. Learn the "artillery hold." There is bi-directional recoil and vibration to contend with, so hold the gun as lightly as possible and let it rock in your arms. A death grip will reduce your accuracy.

Jr. Squirreler · Veteran Member

Welcome.

For a Cheap, Accurate rifle, you could look into the Trail Series, or if you live in a Residential area, something a little more low power, like the Crosman Venom Dusk.

The Venom Dusk, Is lightweight, accurate, and shoots just about any pellet well.

The Trail shoots Lead pellets 1200 Fps, producing about 20 FPE!!

Whats great about both of these air rifles, is that they are both powered by Nitro Piston Technology. Therefore, You have less the noise, and dont have to worry about damaging the Spring. Smile

Smaug · Member

How does the Nitro technology work? Crosman's literature makes it sound like magic. Less noise sounds great though!

What does FPE stand for, ft-lbs. of energy?

I'm pretty handy mechnically, so I think I could do a trigger upgrade if I had to.

I do live in a residential area, maybe a little too residential to use an airgun here. Maybe an American Classic, I could get away with, if I was stealthy, hehehe.

Slavia · Moderator

Smaug · Member

I just read a whole lot more on pyramydair.com, and I'm starting to learn the differences between the $100, $200, $400, and $600 guns. On one hand, education is always good. On the other, it can be expensive too.

I'm starting to think break-barrels are an inherently bad design. The barrel's always moving around with relation to the scope.

I'm liking the Diana 48 and 52 series now. I guess I can head over to the air rifle sub forum now and see you there.