school me on air rifles

[James Morse]

What is most accurate air gun at a given distance, whatever is considered max distance for that question? i.e. 50 ft, 100 ft, 200 ft, whatever. Also I mean ones that are probably not the very high end where you are likely getting marginal more accuracy for a ton more money, but I guess that would be part of the answer too. Thanks.

 

[Shran]

I have a Gamo single shot break action pellet rifle. Pretty happy with it, it'll almost take a rabbit's head off at close range. So, plenty of power for small pests.

Distance of your shot is going to be pretty important... mine is lethal at 100+ ft but its accuracy goes to shit right around 50-75ft. I would also highly recommend getting one with iron sights. Scope is useless in the evening.

 

[scotts90ranger]

trajectory gets a bit loopy around 50 yards generally so you have to know distance and stuff to be accurate...

Accuracy is tough, it involves the shooter and the gun, break barrels generally need to be held differently to shoot accurately and consistency is everything... and it's kinda luck of the draw on if the gun is accurate so you never really know...

 

[James Morse]

what do you mean 'held differently'?
Beeman R9 looks nice
larger ammo gets expensive quickly but .50 cal must be a beast
when I ask about accuracy assume bench rest for that question
Baikal pistols, can you get them, any good?
Ruger 10/22 looks ok
thanks

 

[pjtoledo]

leaning toward this one. a pump is needed, no big deal.
it isn't regulated but I'm only concerned with the first shot.
no recoil so I can safely mount the night vision scope.

Benjamin Maruader BP2264S
it's a lot cheaper at Wally World

https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/benjamin-marauder-22-pcp-synthetic-stock-air-rifle?searchTerm=bp2264s

 

[Roert42]

I’m surprised Wally World sells pellet guns.

 

[scotts90ranger]

Walmart carries all sorts of stuff on their website that they wouldn't in stores...

You really can't go wrong with a Marauder (assuming, the link didn't work quite right...), I've had one for 10 years... hand pumping is doable, that's all I've had the whole time I've had it, for pesting it's fine but would get really old target shooting or plinking... years ago I got a chronograph and verified my .22 marauder at the settings it's at is getting 850fps at first at least and POI seems fairly consistent to about 1500psi which is about 50 shots... if yo do get one look up taking out the "lawyer spring" if memory serves, I got a refurb and it was already gone... and the Bstaley mod which is just some O rings in front of the hammer...

The marauder is probably quieter and has a longer track record and a choked barrel and all but I would take a look at THIS GUY, I have it in .177 and it's neat, taken out several pest birds around the house... I was shooting black walnuts out of the tree a few months ago... for a first go at a PCP either would be good, just because it's capable of being filled to almost 4500psi it doesn't have to be...

For a hand pump, the cheapie's (at least some of them) are fine apparently, I started with a Benjamin pump but it gave out due to corrosion on the chrome in an important place that was tearing O rings...

By held different, look up "artillery hold" and I bet you don't find anyone talking about anything but spring piston pellet guns... with the dual direction recoil it's apparently best to let them float in front instead of being held firm like you would anything else... then you get to guns like the R9 and apparently they shoot better than the $100 specials...

The lookalike guns aren't for serious work, they're pretty much all just for plinking, sure they'll work for some things but not in the same league...

 

[pjtoledo]

the rabbit hole is getting deeper.
being quieter is a major concern, the neighbors are very close.

 

[scotts90ranger]

The Marauder is quieter stock, unless the pellet wizzes by their ear or you hit something next to them you can take multiple shots... or so the doves that I took like 4 shots at lead me to believe...

I was happy with my Marauder for a long time, messing around on forums and getting emails from pyramid air and airgun depot I get suckered in here and there... then there was the lot of BB/pellet guns I found on craigslist for $250 that I made $400 off of and still have half of them... I have too many, but it's hard to let them go... or pass up a good deal... picked up a .25 gen 2 marauder like you're looking at with a scuba tank for $450...

 

[James Morse]

It sure is a rabbit hole. Seems to me first you decide, what are you going to do with it - for me, target/plinking. Then, what's best for that (probably .177 or .22). Then, do you want to cock it every time or no. Which might be dictated by what you can afford. Also will you need to do any upgrades and how much does that cost (like trigger mech/guard). Bigger calibers cost a lot more for ammo. Looks like for my purposes you can get out for probably around 300 and have something that shoots real well. Cocking might get old quick, then, you need to think more like 600 plus whatever you are pumping it with. CO2 is ok, I've had them, but probably not my first choice. Cosmetics can come into it - I like a wood stock, and that will limit you if you insist on it. Obviously for other people with different purposes there are different solutions... yeah, a rabbit hole, but I think some sense can come out of it. I suppose looking for used is an option depending what shape it's in. Oh, yeah, and the noise, that's a factor, depending on the situation. Almost need a chart. My gut says Gamo or Marauder, latter preferred if you can afford it. Funny, these guns cost as much or more than 'real' ones, eh?

 

[Fast Eddie]

Does 'regulated' mean what I think it does?? "Regulated PCP Air Rifle"

 

[scotts90ranger]

By regulated it means there is a regulator on the outlet of the pressure chamber so the valve containing the air for the next shot is the same every time until the pressure on the tank side is close to the regulators setpoint... without a regulator the velocity can vary (not always logically...) with pressure. Not a government regulation

It all goes with the normal target shooting that happens with pellet guns, they're all .177 at 5 or 10 meters and people go for ragged holes...

For just plinking, .177 is where it's at for options, .22 pellets are easier to pick up with less dexterity from what I've heard from the older guys on the forums...

 

[James Morse]

https://www.airgunsofarizona.com/precharged-pcp/daystate-huntsman-revere-regulated/

This looks like a nice one, if you were rich. Don't know rep of Daystate.

 

[Shran]

If you want quiet, I would stay away from the Gamo I got. I neglected to mention that it is a .177 caliber. But it is LOUD. Not quite typical .22LR loud but close. If I'm shooting rabbits in the yard I usually cap them with a little Crosman pellet pistol... still has plenty of power after 4-5 pumps and a lot less noisy.

 

[James Morse]

This looks maybe not horrible. I like wood stocks. https://www.ebay.com/itm/294670273674?hash=item449bb78c8a:g:BnQAAOSwnbhgdZFI
They have overhead carriers but I was thinking, if I have the platform for the dog in back, can't air gun go inside there? If it's not a firearm, it's not concealing... right? Could just keep it there, along with my metal detector and maybe collapsible fish rod, then always have something to do.
I see the advantages of these air guns. You could have a stock of ammo for -way- less than actual gun, but some pack a wallop equal to a 9mm, unless I'm reading something wrong. Might want to have some extra seals or whatever wears on it.
Do you have to clean barrel?