I know there are bound to be some air gun aficionados out there. I'm looking for recommendations for a nice air rifle, suitable to share, for a father and 8 year old son. Mostly targets, but the occasional small game not out of the question. Something good quality, but not elaborate. Under $400, but, naturally, the cheaper the better. A friend of mine wants to teach his son to shoot (Yaaay!!!)and just wants something that can be depended upon to shoot accurately (and quietly, since he lives in Wash D.C). I know more than the average guy about guns, but I don't know anything about air guns. the last one I owned was almost 50 years ago and was one of those pump up jobs. I think it was a Crosman and remember that it did a pretty good job. Would a detachable scope be out of the question in this price range? Good websites with info an decent prices also appreciated. Thanks in advance for any info.
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Waay OT....Air guns
- Thread starter ichor
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Bronco
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Hi ichor. I'm sure this thread will be moved to the "Gadgets and Gear" forum in the Community section shortly, but in the meantime you might like to peruse the following thread already in progress there:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=231112
It focuses on some of the higher end offerings, but does include links that could be helpful to you. RWS is a pretty solid choice well within your stated price range, and there are likely even some of the lower end Beemans that could fit the budget. Both are quality products, readily available, can be serviced with a minimum of hassle, and, best of all, are extremely accurate.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=231112
It focuses on some of the higher end offerings, but does include links that could be helpful to you. RWS is a pretty solid choice well within your stated price range, and there are likely even some of the lower end Beemans that could fit the budget. Both are quality products, readily available, can be serviced with a minimum of hassle, and, best of all, are extremely accurate.
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I dont know about prices in the US but over here you could get an Air Arms TX200 for a little less money than that and its reaconed to be one of the best spring powered sporting rifles around...
I dont own one unfortunately so I cant offer a personal opinion. Its underlever design means you dont have to go with a nasty break barrel...
I dont own one unfortunately so I cant offer a personal opinion. Its underlever design means you dont have to go with a nasty break barrel...
Look at the Beeman R-7 break barrel springer air-rifle.
Here's a review:
Beeman R7 at Straight Shooters
It is completely self-contained - the Rekord is one of the very best triggers on any sporting air-rifle - the power level is low enough to shoot sweetly - but just powerful enough for backyard pest control (<25 yards - if you go for more power the guns become harder to cock and shoot).
Get the .177cal version as there are plenty of pellets for that caliber (it's a better choice than the .20cal, which is more obscure).
It's priced about the mid-$200's.
But you really should ask this on a forum where people suffer from Airgunitis:
Airgun Forum
Here's a review:
Beeman R7 at Straight Shooters
It is completely self-contained - the Rekord is one of the very best triggers on any sporting air-rifle - the power level is low enough to shoot sweetly - but just powerful enough for backyard pest control (<25 yards - if you go for more power the guns become harder to cock and shoot).
Get the .177cal version as there are plenty of pellets for that caliber (it's a better choice than the .20cal, which is more obscure).
It's priced about the mid-$200's.
But you really should ask this on a forum where people suffer from Airgunitis:
Airgun Forum
I'm an airgun nut also so maybe I can help.
Checkout this site to read about air guns.......
http://www.airguns.net/
This should get you started fairly well.
On another note......
I'd suggest before you buy any airgun that you
check the local laws where you intend to shoot the
air gun. I'd did here where I live and got a real
shock!! Unlike when I was a kid in the 50's air
guns are now considered dangerous weapons in the
small town (Pop. 2700),where I live
That ment I'd had to take my son's to a shooting
range 20 miles away to teach them to shoot
No more backyard plinking which is a load of
sh!t
After acouple of years the guns just sat idle due
the cost & hassle to drive to the range so I sold
them to a farmer friend to shoot pidgons with.
Checkout this site to read about air guns.......
http://www.airguns.net/
This should get you started fairly well.
On another note......
I'd suggest before you buy any airgun that you
check the local laws where you intend to shoot the
air gun. I'd did here where I live and got a real
shock!! Unlike when I was a kid in the 50's air
guns are now considered dangerous weapons in the
small town (Pop. 2700),where I live
That ment I'd had to take my son's to a shooting
range 20 miles away to teach them to shoot
No more backyard plinking which is a load of
sh!t
After acouple of years the guns just sat idle due
the cost & hassle to drive to the range so I sold
them to a farmer friend to shoot pidgons with.
http://www.network54.com/Hide/Forum/79537
http://www.straightshooters.com/chat/
Two of many forums out there..... I have had a few of hw line for twenty years. The beeman R-7 is a tough to beat rifle to be shared by adult and child- Mine were the next size up. You can't really go wrong with them. A quality air rifle is a great bang for your buck so to speak and valuble for teaching,practice,fun and pest control. I would not get rid of mine. get one and I bet you get more!
http://www.straightshooters.com/chat/
Two of many forums out there..... I have had a few of hw line for twenty years. The beeman R-7 is a tough to beat rifle to be shared by adult and child- Mine were the next size up. You can't really go wrong with them. A quality air rifle is a great bang for your buck so to speak and valuble for teaching,practice,fun and pest control. I would not get rid of mine. get one and I bet you get more!
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I have one bad motha of a pellet rifle from China. Cherry wood stock with a rubber pad on the butt, because for a pellet rifle, it has a fair amount of kick. Single shot, requires one "pump" (a lever on the bottom is cocked back, the chamer is loaded, then the lever is returned into place), fires 1100 feet per second (FPS). The gun is also available in .22 cal, which is what I have, and that fires at 900 FPS. When the lever is pulled it both cocks a spring and pumps air into a chamber. The rifle is verry accurate. I bought it for $192, but I can't remember if that was with or without shipping. Either way, less than $400.
I have no idea what brand this thing is, it just says "Shangi China" with a bunch of Chinese characters. My friend has a similar pellet rifle, which inspired me to get this one. I just did a search for "Chinese pellet rifle", and after searching through a bunch of crap, I found the rifle and it's name. I did a new search for the proper name, and found a bunch of sites about the company. They make a lot of very nice BB guns, and I bought their most powerful rifle. I'll try to dig up some links for you.
I have no idea what brand this thing is, it just says "Shangi China" with a bunch of Chinese characters. My friend has a similar pellet rifle, which inspired me to get this one. I just did a search for "Chinese pellet rifle", and after searching through a bunch of crap, I found the rifle and it's name. I did a new search for the proper name, and found a bunch of sites about the company. They make a lot of very nice BB guns, and I bought their most powerful rifle. I'll try to dig up some links for you.
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Oh, I found what I was looking for. Since I remembered the stats it made shorter work of searching for the thing. The model I have is the Pioneer TF-99 Magnum. Here's a link.
Edit: I just remembered something else. The gun weighs 9.92 pounds, and the lever would probably be difficult for an eight-year-old to pull back. Mayhap this isn't the perfect BB gun for your situation, but I stand by it's quality.
MelancholyMutt
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Spring compression air rifles require a fair amount of "hold through" for accuracy...
phneumatic and co2 rifles are closest in behavior to a firearm and would thus be most enjoyable and easy to train with.
phneumatic and co2 rifles are closest in behavior to a firearm and would thus be most enjoyable and easy to train with.
At the speed of sound which is approx 1,080fps - the pellet will make a crack as it breaks the "sound barrier".
It is also not good to shoot at/near the speed of sound since the sonic boom will catch up to the slowing pellet and upset its path - therefore accuracy.
Most top FT (Field Target) Unlimited class shooters shoot somewhere between 800-900fps muzzle velocity as a good compromise/optimum velocity.
Most springer airguns are quieter by their nature than any pneumatic airgun (pump-up, pre-charged pneumatic [PCP], or CO2)
co2 guns like the Crosman are nice - but they tend to have not so good/heavy triggers that lowers the pleasure of shooting them. An advantage of co2 is that the parent can limit access to the co2 bulbs so that the the kid cannot shoot without supervision - (but one can do that to the entire gun for any other air-gun.....)
Crosman Model 1760 .177cal co2 air-rifle
700fps MV about ~7.5 ftlb muzzle energy - low priced about $75
[WARNING - I have the 2260 - the .22cal version of the 1760, and mine has a very long reach/stretch for the trigger and I have long fingers - so might not suit smaller hands)
The Crosman 1760 is comparable to the Beeman R7 (recommended above, and still my top suggestion) this tested @ 683fps with 6.9gr pellets - about ~7.15 ftlb muzzle energy with a single cocking stroke.
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Airguns are similar to knives, in that you pretty much get what you pay for. Case in point; I thought I was slick a month or two ago, when I "Found" a"Bargain" at a local thrift shop. Brand new Chinese made single pump .177 cal airgun. Looks just like the Beeman. 
Anyway, it was only $25. I knew better than to expect much, but somehow thought I would get some use out of it. Fast forward to last weekend. I noticed a rabbit and his family having a field day out in my freshly planted garden, and they were doing a lot of damage. Chewing tomato plants and pepper plants nearly off at the stem. Maybe I am politically incorrect, but I took offense and attempted to take action.
My garden is a very short distance from my bedroom window(maybe 25-30 ft max), and I had a natural barrel rest. The little sucker was sitting broadside, and I couldn't hit him! I fired rifle expert in the Marine Corps(yeah, I know, a long time ago), so I have a little knowledge of how to shoot. That rabbit sat there long enough for me to cock and reload at least 8-10 times, and I couldnt get a pellet close enough to even make him jump! I couldn't believe it! I ended up running out into the garden frustrated, in order to get him to leave. Pretty sure he was laughing as he trotted off.
Anyway, it was only $25. I knew better than to expect much, but somehow thought I would get some use out of it. Fast forward to last weekend. I noticed a rabbit and his family having a field day out in my freshly planted garden, and they were doing a lot of damage. Chewing tomato plants and pepper plants nearly off at the stem. Maybe I am politically incorrect, but I took offense and attempted to take action.
My garden is a very short distance from my bedroom window(maybe 25-30 ft max), and I had a natural barrel rest. The little sucker was sitting broadside, and I couldn't hit him! I fired rifle expert in the Marine Corps(yeah, I know, a long time ago), so I have a little knowledge of how to shoot. That rabbit sat there long enough for me to cock and reload at least 8-10 times, and I couldnt get a pellet close enough to even make him jump! I couldn't believe it! I ended up running out into the garden frustrated, in order to get him to leave. Pretty sure he was laughing as he trotted off.
Originally posted by Danbo
Brand new Chinese made single pump .177 cal airgun. Looks just like the Beeman.
<snip>
My garden is a very short distance from my bedroom window(maybe 25-30 ft max), and I had a natural barrel rest. The little sucker was sitting broadside, and I couldn't hit him! I fired rifle expert in the Marine Corps(yeah, I know, a long time ago), so I have a little knowledge of how to shoot. That rabbit sat there long enough for me to cock and reload at least 8-10 times, and I couldnt get a pellet close enough to even make him jump! I couldn't believe it! I ended up running out into the garden frustrated, in order to get him to leave. Pretty sure he was laughing as he trotted off.
I do note you are an expert marksman - so I am not trying to teach you to suck eggs, and I mean absolutely no disrepect.
A (single pump) Springer air-rifle has a unique two way recoil (which is really spring/piston bounce) and the way they are shot accurately is to allow the airgun to recoil naturally with a relaxed consistent hold - it's called by airgunners - "Hold Sensitivity".
Contrary to what one might think -
one can almost guarantee poor accuracy/groups by deliberately resting the barrel on some hard solid object/surface - or holding the gun too tightly and restricting its natural movement.
Here's a great article on Hold Sensitivity by Russ Best one of the foremost experts on airguns:
Airgun - Hold Sensitivity
Hope this helps.
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I must have put about a million BBs and pellets through my old Daisy. It had a BB resevoir or you could load pellets in one at a time. At back yard distances I could tear a ragged hole in a piece of paper. With ten pumps you could also put three BBs in the barrel and get the World's Least Powerful Shotgun. But the WLPS would still knock a water filled can over with some authority. I think it just broke the sound barrier, it made a pretty good crack. Later I also got a Crossman with a wood stock (the Daisy had a plastic stock) that cocked by breaking down the barrel (like a side by side). It looked nicer but it was a lot heavier, had a heavier trigger and didn't push the pellets as fast. And it fired ONLY pellets. Being able to fire the much cheaper BBs was a nice option. Both were dove-tailed for a scope. Even with one BB the Daisy would split a water filled can wide open, the Crossman wouldn't. I think the Daisy was only $30 or $40 (15-20 years ago), the Crossman was $65-70 (15 years ago). The lightweight Daisy would be good for a kid, plastic stock looked like wood but resisted scratching and it wouldn't tire out little arms. Also, would you want to give an expensive gun to a kid? Just my two bits. YMMV
Frank
Frank
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A few years back I bought a Vostok .177 pellet gun. The Idea was for my Son to be interduced to fire arms and gain a respect for safety and such. I coached him for a bit and occasionally fired the thing myself. After a few weeks I was astonished at how accurate this thing was. I figured that it being a Russian piece of equipment that it would fall short in any accuracy contests. C to C has been as little as .20" with three rounds. slightly more for five rounds (.24") The best all time shoot was 9 rounds @ .24" with that pesky flyer 
The build quality of the steel is exceptional and rivals some of the more expensive Beemans. The wood however is pure orange crate I thought of restocking the thing but bedded it with epoxy. It is alot more consistant now and the yappy dog next door is oddly more quiet now :footinmou
The build quality of the steel is exceptional and rivals some of the more expensive Beemans. The wood however is pure orange crate I thought of restocking the thing but bedded it with epoxy. It is alot more consistant now and the yappy dog next door is oddly more quiet now :footinmouSorry to disillusion you -
I don't think an old multi-pump pneumatic airgun can break the sound barrier with its pellet velocity.
The crack is due to the sudden release of compressed air -
not a sonic crack/boom.
That's why most pneumatic (that's multi-pump, co2 and the newer Pre-Charged Pneumatics [PCP]) will sound louder than a springer of equal or similar power levels.
If your old WLPS was breaking the sound barrier this would put the muzzle velocity at a minimum of 1,080fps (speed of sound) and even shooting the lightest of all commercially available .177cal pellet @ 6.9gr this is generating close to 18 ftlb muzzle energy -
that's h*ll of a powerful airgun for a "toy"
This kind of level has only been reached with the advent of the PCP air-rifle which are much more expensive and require charging equipment that's more than the cost of many regular airguns.