Air Rifles

Sage

Being from the Peoples Republic of New York and cannot find any .22 ammo at all anymore, want to buy a nice accurate air rifle. What should I be looking at ? Can I get anything decent for around two hundred dollars ?

md1634

try a Gamo from pyramid air.

beantownshootah

Pyramid air is one of the biggest internet dealers (if not the biggest) and they have good prices and selection.

As to "good and accurate", I guess that depends on what you mean by "good" and what you mean by "accurate".

No, you can't buy any kind of competitive match-quality air rifle for $200. Even the cheapest entry level Daisy "Avanti" guns start at about $300.

But if you just want a good backyard plinker/squirrel killer, there are any number of pellet rifles in that price range that are pretty good.

Take a look at the RWS model 34. Its an entry level German made gun. It won't have any bells and whistles on it, but its got a good trigger, good barrel, all wood and steel, relatively powerful, smooth action, and you can find a used/refurbished one at your $200 price point if you look around.

k.stanonik

Depends on what type your looking for. CO2, pump, break action.
I have a older Sheridan Blue Streak form the 70's that is great,
after several company change of hands they are still in production and be bought in your price range.

hslaterpryce

In my experience I would advise you stay away from the "break barrel" cocking mechanisms.

I would recommend, at the lower end, a Browning single pump cocking type at ~$200. A little heavy but accurate. At the higher level I don't think you can beat a RWS side cocking model. But you are talking, new, $400 plus.

I never had luck (with accuracy) with the Gamo models - even the high end ones and they all had the break barrel cocking system.

Good luck in your search!

asop

I also have a "Sheridan" from the 50's!!! Had it overhauled twice and it's a real shooter. Will go thru a 2X4 and is accurate as ever JFYI[;)]

JimmyJack

I bought a RWS and love it. Heavy, but does it shoot!

SoreShoulder

The more powerful spring piston rifles require a technique different from firearms. You can shoot a pump or a PCP about the same as any rifle and get good results although the follow through obviously gets much more important due to the long barrel time.

Sage

Thanks to everyone who replied to my questions. Looking real hard at RWSs, will probably spend a little more than originaly planned but isn't that always the way it goes. BUT the local Wally World has tons of pellets!!!

Radar

My RWS model 34 sucks with any ammo match or otherwise.I bought a model 34 for my father in law to controll pests and was very very inpressed with how well it shot,so i ordered one for myself and it shot like crap so i send it back to a factory auth. repair center and when i got it back it was no better than before.I still enjoy shooting his gun and it will still put all pellets in one jagged hole at 15 yards. Mine just sits in the basement,maybe i will use it for a stake in the garden sometime.

SoreShoulder

pyramidair.com has a blog which had a few entries on tuning spring guns for accuracy.

Some spring guns shoot best with a special tar like grease on the spring. There could also be the wrong lube leading to detonation, which never seems to happen consistently and screws up ballistic uniformity.

There's a bunch of stuff to tune with those. It could also be that the older gun had a weakened mainspring which tends to tame vibration. They are pushing the limits of those things.