Air Rifles

Forgive my ignorance to the topic, I always thought that certain parts of Europe were lenient on gun laws. I though a more or less black market existed of unregistered guns that floated around. I recently bought a nice CZ 452 trainer .22LR for $350, what a sweet rifle !
 
Hornady said:
Hi,

I've been in to airgunning for a long time and have owned quite a few very good rifles.
If you want a quality rifle you should go with Diana(RWS), Weihrauch or Air Arms.
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:thumbup: The first I ever shot was a scoped-up Diana that a friend loaned me to clean some pigeons out of a barn. I loved it, would have bought one but I think the price tag before scope was $400-500.

So I bought a Gamo Shadow, 1000/fps. It's a tack driver, I've never been unhappy with it and it's a whole lot less expensive. I use it to keep rodents away from the house (largest was a small woodchuck). I'd prefer to use a .22 but don't want to get the neighbors cranked up. My Gamo has no surpressor, it sounds like a pneumatic nail gun going off, nobody thinks twice about it.

I would like to buy one of the new ones with suppressor.

I don't consider it to be a starter, that was my old Red Ryder Daisy BB gun :D It doesn't bother me a bit that the Gamo is made in Spain, other than I would rather have Made In USA. I liked the Ruger until someone just said it was made in China. I've seen a Beeman in Walmart that looked to be of Chinese heritage.

Can someone explain why most of these air rifles seem to have such a low-profile trigger guard?
 
onado2000 said:
Forgive my ignorance to the topic, I always thought that certain parts of Europe were lenient on gun laws. I though a more or less black market existed of unregistered guns that floated around. I recently bought a nice CZ 452 trainer .22LR for $350, what a sweet rifle !
Click to expand...

I think you hit the nail on the head when you said "black market" and "unregistered". I should imagine that possession of such a gun will give you serious jail time wherever you are in Europe (places like Kosovo and Albania excepted!).

I do think that air rifles have their place, particularly rat and small bird control in cow sheds and other farm buildings, they're less dangerous and don't upset livestock. Having said that of course they have serious limitations, price not been the least. I got my Air Arms 2nd hand for £420, fair enough its had a lot of custom work done to it but for that price I could of (if I was licensed, something that I'll apply for in the next year or two) bought a couple of cheap shotguns!
 
I would go with this model. I use it now for pest control. It is heavy and sturdy and very powerful.

It is a .177 but has stopped groundhogs and skunks in there tracks.


I am no longer sure of the exact model but it is out of the Beeman sportsmans series.

Notice my backup...If I ever make a bad shot I attack with it

287ojts.jpg
 
Coldwood said:
:thumbup: The first I ever shot was a scoped-up Diana that a friend loaned me to clean some pigeons out of a barn. I loved it, would have bought one but I think the price tag before scope was $400-500.

So I bought a Gamo Shadow, 1000/fps. It's a tack driver, I've never been unhappy with it and it's a whole lot less expensive. I use it to keep rodents away from the house (largest was a small woodchuck). I'd prefer to use a .22 but don't want to get the neighbors cranked up. My Gamo has no surpressor, it sounds like a pneumatic nail gun going off, nobody thinks twice about it.

I would like to buy one of the new ones with suppressor.

I don't consider it to be a starter, that was my old Red Ryder Daisy BB gun :D It doesn't bother me a bit that the Gamo is made in Spain, other than I would rather have Made In USA. I liked the Ruger until someone just said it was made in China. I've seen a Beeman in Walmart that looked to be of Chinese heritage.

Can someone explain why most of these air rifles seem to have such a low-profile trigger guard?
Click to expand...

Interesting question, I've never read any comments in the UK air rifle magazines about that. Perhaps Spanish air gun shooters don't need to wear gloves so often? My English made gun has a big finger guard.

IMGP1123.jpg

(not the greatest picture!)
 
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onado2000 said:
Forgive my ignorance to the topic, I always thought that certain parts of Europe were lenient on gun laws. I though a more or less black market existed of unregistered guns that floated around. I recently bought a nice CZ 452 trainer .22LR for $350, what a sweet rifle !
Click to expand...

Nah, man the gun laws in this country are just plain stupid. Basically, you're not allowed to own any firearm unless you are LEO. Handguns like Glocks and such are strictly forbidden. (Don't ask me how I got mine :D ) Self defense weapons (pistols with rubber bullets) are permitted to some extent but using them under any circumstances is forbidden. For example, if a guy attacks you with a knife and you shoot him in self defense that means trouble.....for you. Hunting rifles are allowed but you have to be part of a hunting club and eves so it's very difficult to obtain a permit (sometimes the taxes exceed the price of a decent rifle). Owning and carrying an unregistered weapon is a crime (about 5 years in jail). Air rifles are somewhat more at hand, you still need a permit but that can be obtained with only half a ton of paperwork:D That's why I always say you are very lucky people for having the possibility to own and carry weapons.
 
I sold some air rifles this summer. I had a guy come in and want something quieter than his gamo. He said it was a 1200fps 177 and that it was way too loud. I asked him if he was shooting gamos new PBA pellets and he said yes. I told him you dont need a new gun, just standard ammo. an extra 200FPS is not worth getting the cops called on ya by the neighbors.

Personally, If I have to use a pellet gun, it's going to be a .22. I've had too many rats and birds run or fly away after getting shot. The top .22 air rifles only shoot around 750FPS but that's plenty considering how much bigger the pellet is. For instance I shot a grackle from about 20 yards with a 650FPS .177 and he jumped up and slowly flew away (probably bled out later). Later that day I shot another one (same distance) with a 550fps .22 and it completely flattened him.

Whatever you go with, make sure it's a .22

PS, If you're not worried about it, get a single shot bolt action .22 rimfire rifle (you can find these cheaper than most high power air rifles) which will accept LR, L, or short rounds, and use CCI .22 Short CB rounds. Those suckers are more accurate and quieter than any of my pellet guns and throw a 29gr .22 cal bullet downrange at 710 FPS. Be careful though, I shot those through a bench seat about 1 and 1/2 inches thick. Make sure whatever you shoot is on the ground.
 
Yorkshire Boy said:
Interesting question, I've never read any comments in the UK air rifle magazines about that. Perhaps Spanish air gun shooters don't need to wear gloves so often? My English made gun has a big finger guard.

IMGP1123.jpg

(not the greatest picture!)
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Now that is a beautiful rifle, obviously very high quality :thumbup: I think we might be talking about two different things here, the difference between backyard plinking for vermin and high end hunting rifles.
 
RWS makes fantastic air rifles. I had a model 36 that I used for years, killed hundreds of pesky critters for my parents and neighbors with it. It was rated for 1000 fps and was extremely accurate. My best shot was a crow that was well past 50 yards.

"Junk in junk out", so buy quality and you will be better off. I would buy a Beeman or RWS for a pest control air rifle. Be sure to buy quality airgun specific scope mounts, and an airgun specific scope made by a quality manufacturer.

Oh....You don't want an air rifle that is 1200 fps. When projectiles pass the sound barrier, they tend to veer off a bit. 800-1000fps will be just fine. Same with caliber, you don't need a .22. .177 does fine when you place it properly.
 
Coldwood said:
Now that is a beautiful rifle, obviously very high quality :thumbup: I think we might be talking about two different things here, the difference between backyard plinking for vermin and high end hunting rifles.
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That's a very nice thing to say, but believe it or not that type of gun is only mid range in the UK. There are some English air guns that cost triple the amount! Mind you, you'd only get the best of them if you were a serious competition shooter or held a FAC license.

I do know that the man who owned the gun before me shot geese with it and killed them with head shots.

Even though we have very draconian gun laws compared to the USA, Britain surprisingly still wins a lot of shooting medals (across all disciplines) at the Olympics, that's not bad for such a tiny nation of shooters.
 
Yorkshire Boy said:
That's a very nice thing to say, but believe it or not that type of gun is only mid range in the UK. There are some English air guns that cost triple the amount! Mind you, you'd only get the best of them if you were a serious competition shooter or held a FAC license.

I do know that the man who owned the gun before me shot geese with it and killed them with head shots.

Even though we have very draconian gun laws compared to the USA, Britain surprisingly still wins a lot of shooting medals (across all disciplines) at the Olympics, that's not bad for such a tiny nation of shooters.
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There's the difference, here in northern New York everybody is into big bore high-power rifles for deer and bear; shotguns for birds, .22 for small game, or the new .177 cartridge. An air rifle is an anomaly for the most part, and competition grade are rare indeed.
 
lukacsmihaly said:
Howdy folks! I'm thinkin' of gettin' myself one, got some rats and rabbits to shoot. Any ideas? I want something with 1200 + fps, .22 caliber, break barrel, no CO2.

P.S. Fell free to post pics of hot chicks and such, but PLEASE LEAVE THE BACON OUT! I'm sick of it! :D
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First off, I'm not sure there is a break barrel gun that could actually deliver that. Advertising figures are BS.

Secondly, you really don't want it to.
Airgun pellets are designed for subsonic flight.
If you overdrive them they tumble and your groupings go from one hole to shotgun pattern.

One other thing to keep in mind, that's easy to miss if you go the mail-order route is magnum springers are heavy. ~10 pounds without scope. Just somehting to keep in mind as you figure out what sort of rig you want.

Also, go hang out here:
http://www.network54.com/Forum/79537/
 
Don't focus on power too much.. Focus on consistent headshots :cool: ..

airguns01.jpg


Weihrauch HW97K.. :thumbup:
(+ a Röhm Twinmaster Combat)

That'll do the job..
 
Get an RWS Diana 350 Magnum break barrel. If you spend a little more and get it tuned, it will be the sweetest powerful shooter. I own a RWS Diana 34 and though it is 900 fps after tune, it gets the job done every time even in .177. It loves to eat the Predator pellets with the red polymer tip.

If you are ok with an under-lever, then the HW77K is a good option!

In PCPs, Crosman's Benjamin Marauder is 10 shot repeater which generates 1100 fps+ and comes with a neat price tag of $499.

 
maverick3981 said:
Get an RWS Diana 350 Magnum break barrel. If you spend a little more and get it tuned, it will be the sweetest powerful shooter. I own a RWS Diana 34 and though it is 900 fps after tune, it gets the job done every time even in .177. It loves to eat the Predator pellets with the red polymer tip.

If you are ok with an under-lever, then the HW77K is a good option!

In PCPs, Crosman's Benjamin Marauder is 10 shot repeater which generates 1100 fps+ and comes with a neat price tag of $499.

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I second your opinions except for the one about getting a Diana 350 Magnum.
Your own rifle, the Diana 34 is much better.

For PCP's I think tou would even be cheaper off with a Crosman Benjamin Discovery ;)
 
The advertised velocities are usually derived by using the really light pellets. i have chronoed my air guns and the only one that was on per advertising is my rws model 48 in 25 . i cannot find my written results but I believe that one was around 750 fps. Most 1000 fPS guns run in the 800FPs range in my experience. My favorite is my model 48 in 22 . shoots a little flatter than the 25.
Rat Pack #222
 
Thanks guys, you're really helpful. I think I'll go with the Weichrauch. Now I need your expertise on scopes for these guns.
 
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