Help selecting a rifle for my brother

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mikeysp

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Nov 22, 2017
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Greetings, I am looking for a pellet rifle for my brother.

Purpose: My brother uses a mini 14 at work and needs to practice in his back yard to improve marksmanship skills.

Important:
1. Is reliable out of the box. Don't want to be dealing with jams and malfunctions. Reliably shoot several thousand rounds without problems.
2. Capable of consistent 1/2" group at 10m.
3 Prefer $50-$150 price range. Flexible, IF can't be accomplished in stated budget.
4. Rear peep sight and front post sight similar to M16/M4 rifles. (picture below).
5. Adjustable sights so it can be zeroed effectively.

Helpful Notes:
1. The mini 14 has sights very similar to an M4. 
2. Since the only purpose of the rifle is improving his marksmanship skills at 10m, FPS is immaterial.
3. Since the trigger pull on a mini 14 is around 5.5lbs and creeps, an excellent trigger pull is NOT needed. 
4. I do not want a fiber optic front post; however, if there are budget after market sights that can replace the factory sights, that would be acceptable.
5. While I am very desirous to find peep/post sights for him, if this is not possible in my price point, a front post without a rear peep would be the next best choice. 

Currently I have only been able to find a $200+ Daisy 753S that would meet my criteria... except for budget. It is way overkill on the accuracy requirement. I noticed the 953 and thought to add the aftermarket peep sight and post, but they aren't made anymore.

I have searched for half a day and have not had much success. So, I am very grateful for any advice you folks may offer.

-Mike

3c7a97af0623ef311dfc3443235fc8e5.jpg

 
Thanks for your recommendations, 

The M14 would be great if it wasn't troubled by jamming. Reviews were not all that great on other web pages. Honestly, while the look and feel of a mini would have been great, I just want accurate, peep site, front post, reliable. Since the mini 14 is a standard stock rifle, I will probably no go for the M4 Tactical pistol grip recommended. Still looking like the Daisy 753S at this point. 

Any other ideas?
 
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John, the M853 is exactly what I am looking for. Unfortunately I am not a member. I do have the proof of firearms experience (retired mil) part covered.

I was ready to just spring for the extra cost of a 753s; however, I think the set of front sight inserts is made up of all donuts (no post). If I don't resolve this sooner, I will contact Daisy to see if their is a post insert available.

Another alternative that came to mind was adding an after market 11mm dovetail peep sight to a Diana clone; but, I can't seem to find a clone with a front sight post. Fiber optic front sights that cover the target seem to dominate.

Thanks, 

-Mike
 
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If you get him either the 853 or 753 you will also be setting him up for competitive 10m air rifle shooting. They are VERY accurate. Great way to get him involved in both sports.
I recently talked a few of our high power competitors into practicing with airguns in the garage during the winter, when they came back this year they finished 1,2,3 and everyone was asking how they did it.....

Now they like shooting high power but LOVE shooting 10m air rifle. BTW the targets are tiny, like the period on your keyboard tiny! It's HARD!!!
 
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Thank you, I spoke with him and he said I can pull the trigger on the purchase of the 753 if it will work; however, it has donut front sight inserts apparently. If I can find a front post insert for the 753, I will get that for him. If I cant find a post insert for the 753, I will look for the 853 which is not longer made. If I can find a used one and it has a post front vs fiber optic, I will get it.

My third choice may be a benjamin 397 with an after market peep sight. I prefer the match grade accuracy of the first two though.

What do you think of the AR2078 by beeman? 
 
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"mikeysp"Thank you for the advice; however, the Sig MPX and MCX 30 do not appear to be very accurate with 1" groups at 10M. While I do not need one hole for a five shot group, I would like ti to be about .5" group or smaller.
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Ok Mike, gotcha. Didn't realize #2 was so important. 

Myself, I would never associate a match grade bolt action Olympic style 10m air gun with a mini-14. 

It don't think it takes a match grade rifle to improve marksmanship, it takes practice. Normally my kids will shoot an entire 1250 crosman carton in a day when we are at the ranch (I made a 300 round Sig speed loader). Most of us wouldn't shoot that much from an Olympic style bolt gun all year. 

My 3 kids marksmanship grew exponentially when I got the MPX but we normally shoot 5"-15" bucket lids at 50 yards. My Boy Scout scored the absolute highest on his rifle shooting merit badge marksmanship test that his instructor had witnessed all year. I attribute his marksmanship gains to the Sig. 

Maybe it's time I get a 10m gun to see what all you guys are wowing about. 
 
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Mike703, sunds like your son made shooting as natural as breathing from doing it so much. This is very helpful to overcome the other factors of shooting under pressure. In my brothers case, he doesn't have the time for massive amount of shooting, so I have prescribed him with the following diet: every time he gets home from the gym (4 times a week) shoot 10 rounds for accuracy for the next two months. On his last month (3rd) before he qualifies again, I will change his target to scaled human shillouette (same as he uses at work) so he can learn to visualize center mass (easier on a bulls eye), and create some drills for him that will push his speed into the equation. I also told him to do all the extra shooting he feels up to doing as lot's of shooting will be good for him.

When you are looking at getting ACCURATE, it is very helpful to have a gun that doesn't make the mistakes. Additionally, when you have limited time, dependability is huge as you do not want to spend time on clearing jams. 

I was in Army Spec Ops for most of my career, which is why he asked me to help him after he picked up a piece of junk at Walmart that only brought him grief.

His qual at work is quite stressful for him as he has barely qualified the last couple times. His MMS has been the problem. 

I have finally identified the gun. The CMP sells well refurbed M853 Daisy air guns for about $105 + shipping. It is more accurate than Dave needs, but that is not a problem. Has a standard rifle stock like his mini-14, and if the trigger is not modified will be about 4lbs single stage with creep, which is close to the mini.

Thank you very much for your responses everyone. Now to order that CMP M853. 

-Mike
 
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Is he a prison guard?
I had a 953, it was plenty accurate at 10m. But a Walther barrel would still be an improvement.
Go with a used 753 or 853, if you can find one in the budget. 

One thing you might consider is that this might start him down the rabbit hole of airgunning. Maybe something that shoots a bit harder wouldn't be so bad after all. He could practice at longer ranges or maybe even use it for pesting at some point.

The trick is the budget, but a Stoeger would be well within it. They're solid break-barrels with reasonable power, nice synthetic stocks and good accuracy. Enough juice to put down the errant raccoon, as well. Or to plink tin cans at 30 yards. Something like that would balance a bit more like a Mini14, as well.
 
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"mikeysp"Mike703, sunds like your son made shooting as natural as breathing from doing it so much. This is very helpful to overcome the other factors of shooting under pressure. In my brothers case, he doesn't have the time for massive amount of shooting, so I have prescribed him with the following diet: every time he gets home from the gym (4 times a week) shoot 10 rounds for accuracy for the next two months. On his last month (3rd) before he qualifies again, I will change his target to scaled human shillouette (same as he uses at work) so he can learn to visualize center mass (easier on a bulls eye), and create some drills for him that will push his speed into the equation. I also told him to do all the extra shooting he feels up to doing as lot's of shooting will be good for him.

When you are looking at getting ACCURATE, it is very helpful to have a gun that doesn't make the mistakes. Additionally, when you have limited time, dependability is huge as you do not want to spend time on clearing jams. 

I was in Army Spec Ops for most of my career, which is why he asked me to help him after he picked up a piece of junk at Walmart that only brought him grief.

His qual at work is quite stressful for him as he has barely qualified the last couple times. His MMS has been the problem. 

I have finally identified the gun. The CMP sells well refurbed M853 Daisy air guns for about $105 + shipping. It is more accurate than Dave needs, but that is not a problem. Has a standard rifle stock like his mini-14, and if the trigger is not modified will be about 4lbs single stage with creep, which is close to the mini.

Thank you very much for your responses everyone. Now to order that CMP M853. 

-Mike
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Mike,

Congrats on the new gun. Your brother is lucky to have you and you seem like the big brother most of us need. May your prescription and new air gun do the trick!
 
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