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Posted: 11/11/2002 3:45:52 PM EDT
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I have been thinking of getting an air rifle in order to work on my shooting positions, trigger control, etc. So I am not looking for a competition rifle, but one that has decent accuracy and will let me work on shooting fundamentals. I know nothing about air rifles. In the Cabela's catalog, they have ones made by RWS and Gamo, which range in price from $90 to $580. Can anyone recommend a brand and model? .17 or .22? Thanks. |
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I bought a Gamo Hunter 890S a couple of years ago, trigger absolutely sucks but I manage to keep the yard varmints in line with it. Even killed a crow with it first day of crow season this year. I would avoid the Gamo though unless you like long creepy inconsistent triggers. |
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Beeman air rifles and pistols are excellent quality. I've used many brands in 30+ years of airgunning and Beeman products are the best I have ever owned or shot. Start with something like an R7 or R9. Mail order your air guns and save yourself a good bit of money. It is unlikely your neighborhood gun shop owner is knowledgable about air guns anyway. Pomona Air Guns is hard to beat for prices and shipping. http://www.pomona-airguns.com/beeman_air_guns.htm |
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I recently bought a Daisy Avanti pneumatic 853 and am pretty happy with it. Likes: -Low noise -low velocity-- great for indoor shooting -very good if cheaply made sights-- disc rear aperture -Fixed barrel supposedly "Lothar Walther" whatever that means -good accuracy (in my book anyway -decently made and crafted -Price is $180, which seems high but the sights and accuracy are built in to the price Dislikes - trigger is an abomination; at least it's not too heavy. The only trigger that I have shot that is worse is the Kel Tec. Shot it for the first time outside this week on the coast. The .177 pellet starting at a MV of approx 500 fps ran out of gas quickly. Great for plinking and target shooting at close range though, and since it starts out slow, you can shoot it indoors with nothing more for a backstop than a cardboard box filled with a couple of magazines. I don't have any experience with the spring guns ala Beeman and Gamo. |
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I bought a Gamo Shadow 1000 (1000 FPS) about 5 months ago for $140. It is a friggin awesome gun. The reason for the purchase was to eliminate wabbits from my garden. The fiber optic sights make missing a target very difficult. No matter what brand you pick I suggest a barrel break model. I now have an indoor range in my basement and am teaching the wife how to shoot. Funny thing is that my wife is a member of PETA. When there is a rabbit in the garden I tell her so and that I am getting the gun. If she can go outside and chase the rabbit away before I take aim, she can spare a life. Although my wife is a dedicated PETA member and animal lover, we no longer have a rabbit problem. IMPORTANT NOTE: Do not treat the air rifle with any less respect than one that uses bullets. When I went to a local sporting goods store I didn't check to see if it (Gamo Shadow) was loaded like I do will ALL other guns. The only one they had left was the demo and I really wanted it. When the guy was putting it back in the box I asked him to point it at the floor and pull the trigger. He did one better and took it to their indoor range. It fired but there was not a projectile present. He was visibly embarrassed and upset because he too seemed to have the utmost respect for 'real' guns but I think we both learned a lesson that day. I didn't take that one due to the amount of time it was charged but I found another store that had several in stock. |
I have a BSA SuperSport, which I really like, but the Beeman trigger is far superior. My buddy has a R7. It is quiet, accurate and easy to cock. The R9 has a more punch for pest control, but my favorite is the R7. I say stick with the .177cal. Ammo is everywhere, and the selection of pellet choices will make you dizzy. Crossman Premier pellets are the only ones I ever use. Very accurate. |
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