Looking for Air Rifle Recommendation

Depends on what you want it for. Most come in .177, or .25

Small game hunting, plinking, or target shooting (from backyard fun to Olympic Class).

What's your use and what is your budget? ($50, $300 or ?) You want it scoped?
 
I have shot various models of Beeman and liked them well enough, was a dealer for many years. I think if I was looking for a new air rifle today tho I would give serious consideration to some of the Gamo models, especially for hunting applications such as squirrel and rabbit. With velocities of 1600fps in .177 and 1300 in .22 they are some of the hardest hitting piston airguns made. Of course you can buy airguns for hunting larger game as well with options for 9mm, 45 and up to 50 caliber available in pre-charged pneumatic.
 
H2OCutter said:
Check these guys out http://straightshooters.com
I go along with the Beeman HW 97 but in .20.
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What he said. I got a Beeman R7 from them. It is a sweet little rifle. The trigger on it shames the triggers on most firearms out there. You do need to be a little careful with your selections. Don't automatically assume if it says "Beeman" on it its a good product. They also have a pot metal and plastic line that's not worth buying.
 
Gamo gets those ultra high velocities by using alloy pellets.
They cost more and are lighter weight, than lead.
A lot of people don't feel you get anymore hitting power with a lighter pellet, even if it is going faster.
Plus, they have a terrible reputation for accuracy.
 
My personal experience with the Gamo Raptors has been excellent with pine squirrels easily taken at 50 yards with head shots. What I like about them is the reduced drop at longer ranges and for me in a Gamo CFX accuracy is excellent. But even if you go with lead you are still looking at 1250 in the Hunter Extreme.
 
Absintheur said:
My personal experience with the Gamo Raptors has been excellent with pine squirrels easily taken at 50 yards with head shots. What I like about them is the reduced drop at longer ranges and for me in a Gamo CFX accuracy is excellent. But even if you go with lead you are still looking at 1250 in the Hunter Extreme.
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According to testing done on the Hunter Extreme it will NOT reach anywhere close to the advertised velocity with the alloy pellets. Here is a link of a test and it shows the true FPS figures.
http://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2007/08/gamo-hunter-extreme-part-2-velocity.html
 
I have a Slavia 631 that has had custom trigger work done (it's about 8-10 oz.) . It is a beautiful shooter. At 10m, even with the cheap China made Daisy pellets they sell in the Wal-Mart sporting goods department, I can produce great groups with the factory iron sights- which are very nice. I only shoot it offhand, and i bet they would improve even more with a bench/rest. I have heard that accuracy can be bettered with with a diopter sight- I have been thinking about buying one and giving it a try (I love shooting with peep sights). It's not a velocity rocket, but it is built like a tank and is more than accurate enough.
 
Absintheur said:
...With velocities of 1600fps in .177 and 1300 in .22 they are some of the hardest hitting piston airguns made.....
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I understand there's a lot of noise associated with these rounds going supersonic. Uffda is a pretty serious air gun user, and I recently asked him a bunch of questions on this subject. He recommended that I stick with subsonic rounds for backyard plinking.
 
jill jackson said:
Gamo gets those ultra high velocities by using alloy pellets.
They cost more and are lighter weight, than lead.
A lot of people don't feel you get anymore hitting power with a lighter pellet, even if it is going faster.
Plus, they have a terrible reputation for accuracy.
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The listed velocity for most air guns is that from using the alloy pellets.

As for Gamo, I have read lots of very positive reviews of their guns, both for power, quality, and accuracy. For the price, there doesn't appear to be a better gun out there.

Good review: http://www.airgundepot.com/gamo-airguns-review.html
 
Mountainman38 said:
The listed velocity for most air guns is that from using the alloy pellets.

As for Gamo, I have read lots of very positive reviews of their guns, both for power, quality, and accuracy. For the price, there doesn't appear to be a better gun out there.

Good review: http://www.airgundepot.com/gamo-airguns-review.html
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Some Gamos are OK, I don't think they compare with RWS even for the price difference.
What I was saying is when they Chronographed the Hunter Extreme it didn't come close to the velocity they claim for it, so the top RWS that are even cheaper and easier to cock, with better triggers would do at least as well as the Hunter Extreme in reality. (plus shooting those lightweight pellets in a spring piston gun is hard on the piston)
This link shows the Hunter is seriously overrated in velocity, even with the alloy it was well short of 1650fps
http://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2007/08/gamo-hunter-extreme-part-2-velocity.html

BTW the listed velocity for most air rifles is not from using alloy pellets. That is a Gamo thing and they are the ones that use them a lot. RWS and other companies do not list velocity with anything other than a light weight lead pellet. Even if Gamo does make it a common practice to list with alloy they still point out that it is with alloy and list the lead as well, other companies don't even bother with the alloy.
 
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I love my RWS model 48. Great for just shooting around the yard or small game hunting. Accurate as hell. I'll post some pics! I shoot RWS Superdomes or 10.5 Crosman Domed.
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Eh?
 
Don't look for the highest velocity, it doesn't make the rifle more powerful, just less accurate. After it breaks the speed of sound ~1000fps it starts to become less accurate. Mostly the slower it goes between 800 and 900 the harder it hits if youre using heavier pellets. I use between 9 & 10.5 grain.
 
Those big powerful spring piston rifles need the heavy weight, too.
It helps keeps the piston speed down so it doesn't wear out as fast.
 
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