Pellet rifles - springers vs nitrogen piston ????

B

Bo T

Joined
Feb 12, 2011
Messages
2,520
After reading a previous thread I checked out pellet rifles on the net.

Some prefer a 'springer' while advertising on the net suggests that a 'nitrogen piston' is better and lasts longer. Is the nitrogen piston system better? What are the tradeoffs? How many rounds before the spring or piston needs to be replaced?

One complaint with a barrel cock system was barrel droop or loosening which would throw off point of aim to point of impact. Are there any side cock springers or nitrogen piston rifles that would give 25 fpe? If so, what are they?

TIA
 
I have used this spring .22 pellet rifle http://www.pyramydair.com/s/m/Walther_Talon_Magnum/1490 100's of times and have taken birds,field mice and other little animals with it. It is kind of over kill for things like that though as I think it would puncture even a human skull,on one side of course. I am pretty sure it get's at least 25fpe. I have taken pieces off of birds I have hit with it.
 
Oh and I never needed to replace the spring or anything like that. Also it does seem that it does throw off the point of impact a tiny bit when fired .
 
I have a RWS model 48 that is a side cocker. I don't know how much energy it provides but I think it is approaching what they call a magnum. I have a .177 caliber but kind of wish I had gone with a .22. Especially on more powerful guns the pellet is heavier, so its slower, and you don't have to worry about it going super sonic as much which can cause the light pellet to tumble. Also, you can glue a bullet primer to a .22 caliber and make an exploding pellet :)

I actually haven't heard of a nitrogen piston but I assume it just uses compressed nitrogen so you would have to find a place to get bottles filled and wouldn't be able to shoot when empty. Just an FYI, springers use a piston as well. Springers can also be different to shoot since the spring is released and takes a fraction of a second for the pellet to start moving and travel down the barrel. The gun starts to recoil before the pellet leaves the barrel so you have to hold the rifle still longer than a firearm to be accurate. Also, a springer has recoil both backwards and forwards so you if you get a scope you need one made for a springer because it will trash a firearm scope that is only designed for backward recoil.

And there are springer guns that have been in use for a really long time and still going strong. If you don't store one cocked the spring should last as long as you. The piston also shouldn't wear much and the only thing you might have to replace is the seal and I would expect that to last 20 years or more if you occasionally lube it. I'm not saying a nitrogen powered is bad, just what little I know about the springers. If you have a constant power source you might be able to shoot semi auto instead of a single shot which could be fun. I will have to look them up and see what they are. I think if you get a quality springer it will be something you hand down to your kids if you take care of it. They can be a lot of fun in the back yard if you have the room. Good luck choosing.
 
Just picked up a Beeman RS2 (.22 @ 800fps) and it's great for the price tag.
Quiet, accurate, easy to cock, and I don't even notice the recoil.
Kinda heavy for an air rifle, but it hits like a heavyweight too.
I HATE filling tanks for paintball...much less backyard plinking.
 
Bo T said:
One complaint with a barrel cock system was barrel droop or loosening which would throw off point of aim to point of impact. Are there any side cock springers or nitrogen piston rifles that would give 25 fpe? If so, what are they?

TIA
Click to expand...

That is pure nonsense. (That's my G rated opinion :D) I have seen Beeman R7s with well over 100,000 shots that are still tight. You will read many such comments written by people who have never even shot one. :rolleyes:

I suggest that you check out this site and read their reviews. They know what they are talking about.

http://www.straightshooters.com/
 
It's my undestanding that a nitrogen piston does not require refilling, it's simply a piston that you are compressing similar to the way you would a spring to power the gun. For what it's worth during my research on this same subject I found that the nitrogen piston guns were quieter but significantly more expensive in most case.
 
I've looked into nitro pistons recently. It seems the cheapest option is the Crosman Titan, which has fairly good reviews. I recently picked up a Benjamin 392 at a flea market and it has quickly become one of my favorites.
 
There are a couple of Youtube reviews of nitropiston weapons up as well. New to me as well; a relatively recent technology. SOUNDS like a good idea; lighter, smoother.... I worry about the long-term reliability... Seals tend to fail or leak, after all.
 
For competition you want to go with the air pressured so you are not experiencing muscle fatigue after the 20th shot, and for plinking spring should be fine and cheaper.
 
Davor said:
For competition you want to go with the air pressured so you are not experiencing muscle fatigue after the 20th shot, and for plinking spring should be fine and cheaper.
Click to expand...


I made the mistake of buying a PCP air rifle when I moved to AZ. It sounded real good until I tried to fill the tank with a manual pump*. After about 20 minutes of vigorous pumping I almost had a heart attack and only had the pressure up to 30 BAR. Since 175 BAR was required, I realized that I wasn't going to be able to shoot this rifle. If there is a SCUBA shop in your area, they can fill your tank, but SCUBA is not common in my part of AZ. There are now rifles that can use air or CO2. At least you could get your tank filled at a paint ball shop.

Also, check the prices of PCP rifles. The better ones are pretty expensive and you need some way to keep the pressure up in the tank.


*An electric pump was $1200 at the time.
 
One of the claimed advantages to a Nitro-piston is that it won't shift zero after being cocked for a while, as in a hunting situation.
Uplander
 
I didn't realize the nitro-piston didn't require refilling... The compressed nitrogen comes from???
 
Hunt - the nitro piston is a self contained unit. Think of it as a sort of shock absorber. When you cock it you compress the nitrogen within thus building potential energy.

Check out gatewaytoairguns.org - best forum on the net.
 
Ohhhhh, ok.
Thanks for clarifying.
So what's the overall consensus on the best cocking mechanism for the money?
---Are the lower-end, nitro-piston air rifles as effective and reliable as the spring-piston rifles in a similar price range?
 
Thanks for the input. The Walther Talon Magnum looks impressive. The nitro-piston works by compressing a gas charged container as opposed to compressing a spring. I've used 2 springers - my daisy lever BB gun when I was young and a friends target (side cock) rifle a couple of decades ago so I am not up to speed an any recent innovations. The advertisements for the nitro-piston seem 'to good to be true' so I am leery.
I'm off to check the RWS side cock. Any further information is appreciated.
 
The Walther Talon Magnum is exactly what my wife and I are looking to get next month (PyramidAir). Moved to a great property here in Louisiana, but have an overabundance of possums. That .22 pellet rifle will just fill the bill, and yes we are torn between the springer for $200, or the piston upgrade for $300. Decisions decisions, deci.....
 
The diana (rws) 48 to 54 series is great. My favorite is my 54 in .22 cal. I seem to like it more than my 48 in .25 cal. Probably just the nicer stock.
 
Of all the pellet guns mentioned, the RWS 48, 52, and 54 are the best by far. IMHO. The 48 system is hard to beat.
 
I have a RWS 34 but have used the Diana 48 as well. Both are amazing guns and in 22 cal you are well equipped to take games the size of possums. I prefer the break barrels because of the ease of loading in the field and the lighter weight. They are as accurate as a side lever if u do ur job right.

The springers get a tad smooth after a break-in period. I find the nitro pistons hard to cock and their is no break in for them.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top