Vetmx said:

This is how most of us learned. I knew I was buying unfinished furniture going in. So I expected problems. What gets me fired up as an OldVet is when a guy either saves or demolishes his credit card for a hype gun and has problems. But like I said earlier, on the internet we don’t know how many problems are self induced.

The guy bought a black gun from Midway. I’ll take an educated guess he’s a firearm guy. Probably a Lego AR15 guy. Lord knows what he did to it. But I still won’t buy or recommend a Hatsan.

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Better rifles for the same or less money are numerous. Not so 5-6 years ago. So yeah, Hatsan is not to be recommended.

Reximex Throne 2 and Meta Premium
Snowpeak M60b and Max 1
Umarex Zelos, Notos, Gauntlet
Niksan Ozark and Elf
Kuzey k600 and k900
Barra 250z
AEA Challenger 2
And plenty of others.

And the used market, thanks to incremental upgrades every 6-12 months, is booming. Love those people that absolutely must have the latest and greatest.

I just just put a new piston in my Yong Heng after several years of fairly light use (cost about $20). I use it to refill a 45 minute Scott tank about once a month on average. It's working better now so I hope to get a few more years from it. For a tank filler, I think a Yong Heng is still a good buy. But it is noisy and it takes up some space. I've added cooling so I can refill the bottle in a single run and stay less than 65 C. Usually less than 60 C.

But to directly fill guns I vastly prefer my GX CS2. It is only about 15 lbs and very compact. I added a 18V to 12V step down converter and battery dock setup so I can power it with my Milwaukee tool batteries. Or 120V with the transformer that came with it or with my vehicle. Very versatile. I added the GX filter too but it is still compact and light. I filled my P35-25 from zero a couple times today (regulator needed changed and will probably get set down further tomorrow). I didn't fill it all the way (since I may bleed it off anyway) but it only took about 5 minutes. With the CS2 in the kitchen I can still watch TV in the next room but I have to turn it up some. No way I want the Yong Heng that close while I try to hear anything.

I like the idea of the GX CS4 but it seems like GX is down playing what it can do now that they have a GX CS5. I have no doubt the CS5 is more powerful and a better idea if you mainly want to fill good sized bottles often. But it seems like a CS4 can do this too at a greatly reduced pace. For at least twice the money I am not sure the CS5 is in my future if the YH dies. But I don't really need to fill guns quicker and if the CS4 is overtaxed with bottles I kind of don't see it's role. Owners seem to trust it with bottles and if I ultimately go that way I will too.

Oshosi said:

So, better stay with pellets, atomics/ hades are your suggestion.
Regarding the rifle, any advice on which one could work better for iguanas? I know the Notos is very popular but the Beeman looks promising, and at a lower cost.

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No experience with the Berman, but the ntotos has taken everything from 4" to 5' out to 40yds. Bigger ones took more shots though.

If you can get yourself an akela that would have more than enough power to take down any iguana you want. The .177 will shoot slugs and the .22s wont but they are more than accurate and powerful enough. You can find them at airgunrevisions.com

daddypaddy said:

akela taught me not to look down on .177 as how i remember them when i was a kid. my friend has a ghost .22 and mora .22 that i got to shoot.. insane. airguns are in a different world nowadays.

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Yours isn't stock though, my stock notos pushed 14.3gr cp at 730fps, the huben 25cc plenum plus bottle bumped it to 765fps.

cavedweller said:

Not so fast.., as many guns can group at 25 yards but will begin to open up there after. To me, Ultimate podium potential is in a 1/2” or less group at 55 yards but of course the shooter has to be capable of this on the course, not just the bench. As for glass, 16x is the great equalizer and even a $4000. Scope can’t do anything special when ranging at 16x. I know this because I’ve invested enough money and time into scopes to test it first hand.

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My quarter size group analogy at 25 yards is a bare minimum that I feel you need to shoot field target. Anything better is better. But if it is all over the place at 25 yards. Get another gun.

Ratzy said:

Yes, but there is a significant base whose primary usage is the classifieds. They deserve as much attention as the general user.

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No they don't. They need to monitor airguns.net or one of the many other sales only sites. JMHO no distain on differing opinions.

Thank you for your service

Texasproud84 said:

Air Force has been one I been researching on. Didn’t know about the outlet though. Have to check into that. I like the ability to upgrade as I go. I seen prices of some of these being upwards of 5k. I don’t even have a rimfire that costs that much. I know I’m gonna get what I pay for, but if I can start out 1-2k and grow as my interest in this hobby grows I’d be a lot happier than if I dive all in an not enjoy it then I’ll have a larger investment just sitting.

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.25 is $752 on the Outlet
New they are $792
You want the 24" barrel on the condor.
The 19" on the Talon or CondorSS is good but the 24" is great.
The 12" on the TalonSS and others is a bit anemic.

If you want a monster the .257 or .308 Texans are $1007 on the Outlet.
Ammo is a bit more expensive but they will drop a boar at 100 yards easy. 34" barrel so they are Long.

Upgrades are a breeze, heavy hammer, heavy spring, high flow tophat, Huben Power Cricket Max-ATH regulator and carbon fiber bottle. All about $500-600

I can add all of those to a gun in less than 30 minutes and up the power 25% and up the shot count about the same.

Www.trajectron.com
Www.hubenpower.com

rayroz said:

Have soft hands ,

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Lol

Mycapt65 said:

i shot my 77 this morning and my Laminate 30 this afternoon until I couldn't take the heat no more.

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Hw77 , and HW .30.

JimD said:

You are welcome to spend your money any way you want. My armadillo experience is limited to one I killed with my P35-22. The first shot was in the middle of it's body. It did not die immediately but it wasn't going anywhere. Another couple shots and it wasn't moving. This was from about 20 yards. The first shot went through it. My P35-22 prefers 21 grain H&N pellets and shoots them about 825 fps, about 32 fpe. A Stoeger Bullshark is about the same gun. If you prefer long guns to bullpups, the Stoeger Scout is a carbine and the Ranger is a longer gun. These guns come in 25 too but you won't get a ton more power. Probably low 40s. It's possible to get more but it takes a lot of work. A bigger hole helps, however.

The advantage of these guns is they are reliable, reasonably powerful, accurate, and compartively inexpensive. Airgun Revisions only asks $319 for the Scout, for instance. With an Amazon Handpump you are in for less than $500 before you add a scope. A Hawke Vantage is an inexpensive but good quality scope in my experience. A GX CS2 is $250 and you won't have to hand pump. The Stoeger Bullshark would be about $100 more than the Scout. A Ranger has a longer barrel so it would make a little more fpe. I have 3 P35s, and one bullshark and the worst high score on the 30 yard challenge for these guns is a 197. The 22 gave me a 200. My $1400 Caiman X is no more accurate than these sub $500 airguns. I'm not saying there are no advantages to spending more, I am just saying you can get an accurate and powerful enough airgun for a lot less. I am 100% confident you can kill all the armadillos in your back yard from your porch with one of these SPA made airguns. And throughly enjoy doing it.

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Obviously the less I can spend and still not get bored the better. I definitely don’t wanna spend 6k that I see some of these rifles going for. Not a fan of the bullpup looks. Most desirable is carbine length/look. Want something that I can upgrade/ tinker/ rebuild myself. Handy when it comes to these kinds of things. Something that is upgradeable over time as to not get bored. If I can get in sub 1k do what I want and have the ability to grow it I’m even more stoked! I’m a father of 3 so extra money for the kids is a good thing. School shopping season is here. I’m gonna look into those that you mentioned. Thanks for the advice

Maintenance for multi-pump guns includes dribbling significant amounts of oils (eg. Pelgunoil) into the pump workings. All that oil eventually goes somewhere: through the valve and out the barrel, lubing all it encounters and reducing wear, both real and imagined.

As far as BBs that engage the rifling, most steel BBs are smaller than .177, like 0.172 or 0.173 and will not touch both lands on either side of the diameter at once. Marksman brand BBs are a little bigger, closer to 0.177 and will either ride down the lands or jam the barrel. In my limited experience, they will pass a Daisy 8XX barrel but get stuck in a Crosman 7XX barrel. If you try them, I'd sugges to drop one down the barrel and see if it shows up at the breechl; if not, then shake or fire it back out again.
There exists softer lead BBs that will engage rifling: Gamo has/had some, I see some on eBay and Amazon; there may be more, say from reloading supply places.

But really, it's OK to say _you_ shoot BBs from a Daisy, we won't judge ;-)

This listing has been renewed

Gerry52 said:

There are D to P spring loaded adapters that fit in the "jaws" of scope rings. UTG makes some. Cheap & effective. They'll work with "see through" type (& all type of) rings.View attachment 579263

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Ended up getting this: Monstrum Dovetail (11 mm / 3/8 inch) Scope Rings | 1 inch Diameter
High profile - can see thru to iron(?) sights easily. I was trying to mount a laser scope with a picatinny interface, but this works great.

Me friends a optical physicist,he tells his company is working on a lens that can help blind people see,they have the lens,but it is how to hook it up to the brain is the problem. Anyhow,that is what a number one optical company is working on.
Cane poles have their place,when using a bobber.

Jezter6 said:

I guess a good question for the thread is where exactly the arms race is in regards to score.

Is it in the 50+ trying to get the win?
Is it in the mid pack looking to get to the 50?
Or is it in the lower level trying to be relevant?

Fwiw my wife is a 38-40 shooter...with a $200 scope that works pretty darn nice. Maybe a nicer one will help a little, but I doubt a sightron moves her to 48.

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Agree as I’ve been there

Iowa Airgunner said:

My rule is you must hit a quarter every time at 25 yards for a gun to be suitable for field target.
After 25 yards the scope begins to matters and by 55 yards the scope matters even more.

And actually that’s the arms race.
Take a 2000 dollar gun and shoot with a 2000 dollar scope. Then try it with a 200 dollar scope.

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Not so fast.., as many guns can group at 25 yards but will begin to open up there after. To me, Ultimate podium potential is in a 1/2” or less group at 55 yards but of course the shooter has to be capable of this on the course, not just the bench. As for glass, 16x is the great equalizer and even a $4000. Scope can’t do anything special when ranging at 16x. I know this because I’ve invested enough money and time into scopes to test it first hand.

i shot my 77 this morning and my Laminate 30 this afternoon until I couldn't take the heat no more.

The difference between an etched glass reticle and a big hunk of wire is stunning.
The wire crosshairs cover the kill zone at 50 yards.

Anybody have a cross reference size for these O-rings. Or a up to date supplier?

You are welcome to spend your money any way you want. My armadillo experience is limited to one I killed with my P35-22. The first shot was in the middle of it's body. It did not die immediately but it wasn't going anywhere. Another couple shots and it wasn't moving. This was from about 20 yards. The first shot went through it. My P35-22 prefers 21 grain H&N pellets and shoots them about 825 fps, about 32 fpe. A Stoeger Bullshark is about the same gun. If you prefer long guns to bullpups, the Stoeger Scout is a carbine and the Ranger is a longer gun. These guns come in 25 too but you won't get a ton more power. Probably low 40s. It's possible to get more but it takes a lot of work. A bigger hole helps, however.

The advantage of these guns is they are reliable, reasonably powerful, accurate, and compartively inexpensive. Airgun Revisions only asks $319 for the Scout, for instance. With an Amazon Handpump you are in for less than $500 before you add a scope. A Hawke Vantage is an inexpensive but good quality scope in my experience. A GX CS2 is $250 and you won't have to hand pump. The Stoeger Bullshark would be about $100 more than the Scout. A Ranger has a longer barrel so it would make a little more fpe. I have 3 P35s, and one bullshark and the worst high score on the 30 yard challenge for these guns is a 197. The 22 gave me a 200. My $1400 Caiman X is no more accurate than these sub $500 airguns. I'm not saying there are no advantages to spending more, I am just saying you can get an accurate and powerful enough airgun for a lot less. I am 100% confident you can kill all the armadillos in your back yard from your porch with one of these SPA made airguns. And throughly enjoy doing it.

Have soft hands ,

Got my lefty breech last night and cut it down this morning. Shot it to re-zero the sight. After this I changed grip on the Twinmaster Action for a while.

Texasproud84 said:

but if I can start out 1-2k and grow as my interest in this hobby grows I’d be a lot happier than if I dive all in an not enjoy it then I’ll have a larger investment just sitting.

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That should be very doable. Like you, I wanted to get something nice but not go crazy... and see if I like it.

I'm new to the hobby and after a lot of research settled on a Benjamin Marauder (regulated with Lothar barrel) in .22 (unregulated also available in .25). Very happy with it. It's a bit of a heavy rifle (with real wood stock). Shoots great. The rifle was $780. But then I added a nice scope for another $480. Scope rings for $60 Got a portable fill tank ($430)... an assortment of pellets.... and in the end.... about $2100 for the whole shebang!

Of course, you can also spend a fair bit less and still get some nice stuff and have fun with it (and take out the 'dillos). There are plenty of experts here to help guide you. I'm not really an expert with my experience limited to just the one air rifle, so far.

My "journey" is chronicled in a thread linked in my signature below.

Good luck and have fun!

PS... the "SynRod" (synthetic stock instead of wood) is also available with the Lothar barrel in .25:

This listing has been renewed