Getting out of Air Rifles

[EagleEyes]

So I am toying with moving away from air rifles.
After spending a good amount of money I am getting frustrated with the results. Love the challenge but wow, I get beaten every time. Frustrating to say the least.
Went top of the line but even that, FX, has let me down, too much tweaking.
Someone want to talk me off the ledge?

 

[Franklink]

I'd suggest you try a gun that is meant to be shot, not tinkered with, before you completely abandon air rifles. Some guys really enjoy the tinkering and add-ons and constantly reconfiguring. FX has built their brand and created a market around that. Nothing wrong with it, just a different way to spend time and money messing with guns. The other extreme are the guys that enjoy spending their time shooting, and their money on more pellets.

Tinker vs shoot.

Research something like a RAW or a Veteran or Daystate or even AGT or Cricket or etc.

 

[bamavet55]

led

So I am toying with moving away from air rifles.
After spending a good amount of money I am getting frustrated with the results. Love the challenge but wow, I get beaten every time. Frustrating to say the least.
Went top of the line but even that, FX, has let me down, too much tweaking.
Someone want to talk me off the ledge?

What other air rifles have you tried, besides the FX (Impact)? FYI: One can purchase an FX Impact, never touch the factory settings and have a fine and accuracy pellet rifle. No tweaking necessary. The modularity is optional.

 

[Gerry52]

Try the FX Royale/Boss/Bobcat platform! Straight out of the box lasers. No tinkering, adjusting, no fuss, no muss, virtually zero maintenance. It's not the MANUFACTURER, it's probably the PLATFORM you'd decided on that's the cause of your frustration. It's hard to find a negative comment about R/B/B platform if all you're looking for is a dead-on accurate pellet gun (the Original Smooth Twist barrels DON'T do slugs).

 

[maxtrouble]

Have you tried a good springer lately? I was burnt out on PCP's and started shooting springers for a change. Oooh boy! I had forgotten how fun a springer can be. All you need is a good springer, a tin of pellets and some tin cans to have some fun.

Here is a good article on one of the best springers around, the HW30S. I suggest picking one of these up from Krale. If you don't like the rifle, PM and I will take it off your hands.

Weihrauch HW30S Test Review .177 Caliber - Hard Air Magazine

This HW30S test review looks at an air rifle that's been available for many years. In fact, it's best to describe it as a classic breakbarrel

hardairmagazine.com

 

[hawkeye69]

You can still by guns that you simply take out of the box and shoot. They won't give you as much flexibility over power, pellet and/or slug selection. But that isn't important everyone.

 

[dizzums]

probably just expecting too much man .. its easy to get caught up in internet fantasy land where everything 'has to be' full high end competition lol .. that crap aint real unless you dedicate everything to it .. a conservative midrange gun and plinking chicken eggs off fence posts at 80, thats more realistic without breaking out in hives and pulling your hair out coz you cant hit a dime at 400 like the fake youtube superhero does lol ... ive shot all kinds of guns for over 50 years now and hey, if i can hit a shotgunshell at 50 its a dam good day heheh .. what pcp 'cant' do that? .. not many that wont .. so lighten up, who needs competition level accuracy for everyday shooting life, i certainly dont .. thats what the net does though.. makes people feel inadequate ...

 

[Kgphotos]

I’ll second the springer suggestion. If you want a simple pick it up and go shoot rifle then an HW30 or HW50 would make a great choice. I love mine and sometimes it’s nice to leave the pcp rifles in the safe to just relax and enjoy some simple shooting.
Kenny

 

[jps2486]

What kind of competition are you shooting? Some guns do well in one form and not in others. Everyone seems to think FX will beat the pants off of everthing else, but only in some areas. If you shoot FT, then the top shooters I know use RAWs, Thomas, Daystates, Air Arms, and Steyr. If short range BR like 25M, RAW and Thomas does well. FXs do well at long ranges because the owners screw around with all the knobs to get heavy slugs to shoot at 100 yards and up. I don't believe there is one gun that does it all. Your marksmanship skills may vary too.

 

[Mrmetals]

I found myself having a lot more fun with airguns when I did 2 things. First was to figure out what I considered to be fun to do. Then do it with no expectations at all. Just have fun shooting. Second was to stop taking myself (and the sport) so seriously. I started this to relax and enjoy. Not to stress out cuz my groups were not consistent and I didn't have the latest and greatest. And I would much, much rather be shooting than tuning. That's where the Evol comes in. Allthough, my last 2 "hunting" trips through the woods just turned into fantastic scenic hikes. And I couldn't have been happier. Just do what makes you smile.

 

[beerthief]

I agree with others here , get a HW 30 . I say HW30 because they are accurate and easy to shoot . $ 270? at Krale $40 shipping and a heck of a rifle.
I shoot my springer or SSP ''s a lot more than my Daystate Pulsar Saxon . I also would recommend you keep your current PcP 's at least 6 months just in case .

 

[Kelh]

So I am toying with moving away from air rifles.
After spending a good amount of money I am getting frustrated with the results. Love the challenge but wow, I get beaten every time. Frustrating to say the least.
Went top of the line but even that, FX, has let me down, too much tweaking.
Someone want to talk me off the ledge?

You have to find a weapon you are most comfortable with, and get a lot of practice. But I feel it likely has to do with your aim.

 

[igolfat8]

If you look at the thread below you will see mostly Joe Average shooters and I think it gives you an honest and fair expectation of what an average shooter can expect from several different air guns. As you extend the range, past 30 Yards you would likely see larger groups, which this thread doesn’t show.

30-Yard Challenge

Getting tired of shooting groups? Try this game out. You shoot all 24 bulls once at 30 yards. Next, eliminate your two lowest pairs. Then, add up your score, with a Max of 200. My best target using my Vet Long is below, as is the target I used. It would be a really great shooter who could get a...

www.airgunnation.com

I've shot this challenge with several different air guns with scores from 196-200. My $300 Avenger will shoot 198 scores very consistently. My RAW will shoot a perfect 200 score for a mere $1600 more money. Is it worth $1600 for 2 points? That is best answered in the eye of the beholder. I don’t compete with airguns but I might some day but my competition expectations are low because I shoot for pure enjoyment and realize airguns have shortcomings in the wind, which is our number one enemy.

Are you shooting in windy conditions? Perhaps the wind is your enemy and your wind reading skills may need to be honed?

 

[EagleEyes]

What other air rifles have you tried, besides the FX (Impact)? FYI: One can purchase an FX Impact, never touch the factory settings and have a fine and accuracy pellet rifle. No tweaking necessary. The modularity is optional.

I have the M3 and I've not tinkered with it except get the barrel tuning shroud, helped, but still frustrated.

 

[EagleEyes]

I found myself having a lot more fun with airguns when I did 2 things. First was to figure out what I considered to be fun to do. Then do it with no expectations at all. Just have fun shooting. Second was to stop taking myself (and the sport) so seriously. I started this to relax and enjoy. Not to stress out cuz my groups were not consistent and I didn't have the latest and greatest. And I would much, much rather be shooting than tuning. That's where the Evol comes in. Allthough, my last 2 "hunting" trips through the woods just turned into fantastic scenic hikes. And I couldn't have been happier. Just do what makes you smile.

Thanks, I am no OCD when it comes to air guns but after spending what I did on the FX one has certain expectations on performance. If it takes that much tinkering it isn't worth it.
On calm days it's pretty good and on windy days RAW;s beat the pants out of it.
Had a friend sell his Impact and Maverick over the RAW.

 

[EagleEyes]

If you look at the thread below you will see mostly Joe Average shooters and I think it gives you an honest and fair expectation of what an average shooter can expect from several different air guns. As you extend the range, past 30 Yards you would likely see larger groups, which this thread doesn’t show.

30-Yard Challenge

Getting tired of shooting groups? Try this game out. You shoot all 24 bulls once at 30 yards. Next, eliminate your two lowest pairs. Then, add up your score, with a Max of 200. My best target using my Vet Long is below, as is the target I used. It would be a really great shooter who could get a...

www.airgunnation.com

I've shot this challenge with several different air guns with scores from 196-200. My $300 Avenger will shoot 198 scores very consistently. My RAW will shoot a perfect 200 score for a mere $1600 more money. Is it worth $1600 for 2 points? That is best answered in the eye of the beholder. I don’t compete with airguns but I might some day but my competition expectations are low because I shoot for pure enjoyment and realize airguns have shortcomings in the wind, which is our number one enemy.

Are you shooting in windy conditions? Perhaps the wind is your enemy and your wind reading skills may need to be honed?

Problem is I don't consider myself an average shooter. On 22LR with 500 max points I come in top 5 out of 30+ and between 498 to 496. And I shoot a CZ457 not a Voodoo or Anschutz, by comparison I should be at least top half but not the case in air rifle.
At first it was the challenge but now I think I enjoy rimfire and centerfire more?

 

[douger]

good guns no need for all the tweaking like some do with just hammer springs you can take a real shooter and turn it to poop

 

[Removed]

Keep in mind that some brands tend to prey on those that psychologically can't leave things alone. Plenty of guns on the market that shoot well straight from the box, no reason to get frustrated....just change brands and have fun.

 

[igolfat8]

I get it. I too shoot .22 ARA and find that discipline far less challenging but still frustrating with those darn and unexplained .22 fliers. Air gun shooting has helped improve my wind reading skills for ARA but I still get similar unexplained fliers with pellets too.

As others have mentioned there are other airguns that shoot great out of the box. I have two RAWs and they shoot very accurately out of the box but still get fliers with RAWs too.

In .22LR you are shooting 40 grain bullets and they move far less in the wind. A light .177 and .22 pellet are 1/3 to 1/2 the weight and the same amount of wind has at least twice the effect on the distance the wind moves pellets. Is that increased wind drift part of your frustration? It is for me but I try to keep it all in context.

 

[d3vnull]

I'll take a different approach. If it is no fun then don't do it. If it is just issues with the rifle, and you do enjoy it when everything is working then get a different rifle. No one can decide it for you.