Introducing myself - asking for advice on a new airgun while I'm at it.

[3Crows]

There is wood:



(Custom Air SL breech, AGR SSG and hybrid tube, Tim Hill valve and some other stuff, .25 caliber, runs around 56 to 60 fpe on a Bell curve)

And then there is nice wood:



Prefer synthetic and stainless wherever possible for weight and durability.

The Zelos is China. The M-Rod is still USA made, simpler to work on, uses off the shelf O-rings, parts easy to get even post Gamo and the two Umarex rifles I have had leaked badly and were very poorly built and quite rough, maybe the Zelos is better. I would not start out with a China gun due to QC being poor. But the Notos and Zelos do look like a nice rifle on my screen anyways. In person, hmmmm.

 

[RickH]

Welcome to the rabbit hole. I didn’t see any suggestions I would disagree with, lots of very good advice. I’ll add one though, the Gauntlet 2 in .25 caliber. No wood furniture and a bit bigger and heavier but mine is quite good out to about 60 yards though I haven’t done much with it past that. I’m the same age as you and can handle it without a problem. I have others with some nice wood, less weight and so on but from a practical point of view this one will get the job done.

Rick H.

 

[Racer88]

With a gun like the Umarex Zelos out there, I'm not sure why the recommendation for a maruader keeps coming up.

Well... one reason.... The OP said....

I also prefer guns that look traditional, not like an AR15 or some weapon used by the space invaders.

The zelos is regulated and much more relevent

My Marauder is regulated. But, yes... the base model is unregulated.

My firt PCP was a marauder and it was a turd that never shot in the same place twice

Last week... 5-shot groups at 25 yards. Not bad.

 

[ngapls]

I'm Glad you love your wood marouder, but unlass your a buff 65, a marauder is a 81/2 to 9 pound gunwithout a scope. It is not MADE in America, it is ASSEMBLED in America using chinese content. Sometimes us old guys need to roll with changes. If you love driving a 1973 VW Bug, that's on you, but as a modern car, they suck. You might get a good marauder, but talking superior about quality control is BS. The Zelos has much better quality control today than any chinese airgun made more than 5yrs ago. A better choice than any of these is the near new BSA R10 for 480.00 shipped in the member classifieds. Lighter way more beautiful and probably more reliably accurate. I got on for my son for his 16th b-day and it is one of the nicest shooting guns in my collection of 50+ guns including FX, RTI, Kalibre, BRK, AGT, and AirMaks. Sorry not obey the maruader authority, but it was a great choice 20yrs ago, mediocre choice at best now.

 

[3Crows]

Some people are just not going to buy China stuff any more than we have to. And the Marauder is USA made. And none of Umarex is. And some do not want an assault rifle looking device. Europe guns, excluding Turkey, I cannot wait to afford one, China guns, no thanks.

 

[ngapls]

There is no no better choice, https://www.airgunnation.com/threads/various-rifles-to-part-with.1334012/
This was a 1400.00 a few years back

 

[ngapls]

The marauder is ASSEMBLED in the USA with foreign content. Crossman/Benjaman is owned by a huge multibillion dollar, multinational holding firm, just like many other famous American made products- like Colman and Daisy. Most are made in china, some are assembled in the states. A BMW 3, is a German car assembled in America, not an American made car. Yes, the Marauder was 70-80% made in USA 20yrs ago, but the .22 barrels were always made in china, the .25 barrels were made by Green Mountain in the USA believe. I think all barrels are made in china now. BSA R10 SE for the win.

 

[Avator]

It would be difficult to name a handful of airguns made and assembled 100% in America. I ain't talking models, I'm talking brands. Heck, you might even struggle to name one. Mind you, I said 100% right down to the last screw not being imported.
That goes for just about everything we use in our everyday lives.

 

[jdscott3]

Hello and welcome to the forum. For your intended uses I would highly suggest a 22Cal, but a decent 177Cal will also work great for starlings.

As you mentioned sound being a first priority you will want to find something with a functional shroud, and the ability to add a moderator if you want even more sound mitigation. Some pcps are super duper loud, louder than a 22lr in some cases. For example the Barra listed above or an FX DRS looks like they have a shroud but they really dont. Not much sound mitigation from such designs since the rifles are effectively a bare muzzle instead of redirecting air into a shroud.

The Taipan Veteran Gen 1 can be had used for about $900 used and they are wicked accurate and mouse far quiet. You can get them in nice wood stocks, but they are bullpups so you might not like the looks, but I bet you get over it quick after shooting one.

Put your time in here and you will get access to the classifieds and there are some wonderful sellers here offering some amazing pcps at great prices. I would keep an eye out for a nice FX Crown or Dreamline, Taipan Veteran Gen 1, AA 500/510, Daystate Huntsman, etc.

If you decide you want to try a compressor, the GX CS3 is the best for the money in my opinion.

Thanks for advice I’ll look into a Veteran, one thing I don’t want to do is to overlook a great system just for the looks.

 

[igolfat8]

Thanks for advice I’ll look into a Veteran, one thing I don’t want to do is to overlook a great system just for the looks.

You rarely see Veterans in the classifieds and what you DON'T SEE for sale there speaks volumes about them. If they do come up for sale that are usually snatched up quickly by those of us who appreciate them. Just look at how many brand Xs you see for sale over and over and there are reasons why.

 

[cavedweller]

I'm 65 and retired, I just did a little research and the PCP guns have me excited. As a kid I pretty much wore out a Crosman 1400 (or was it a 1100?). I used that gun almost daily (when it was not freezing out) for pigeons, starlings, crows and even a large dumpster raccoon. My kids finally killed that old gun, the seals are blown, now it sits in a corner because I'm too attached to it to throw it away.

My son had a break open Benjaman that I never really liked. It was heavy, noisy, and the kick was strange to me, and I just never bonded to that gun. I live in a city and my back yard is hidden so I can safely shoot about 75" towards a 10' tall concrete retaining. Sound is the biggest issue and from what I have read today, many of the new PCPs are pretty quiet. I didn't even know these guns existed when I woke up this AM, now after reading an article about them, I'm excited and really want to get one. As far as a price point, I want a good gun but I don't want to spend large amounts of money on something that makes my groups just a little better. I like guns that are fairly simple, and I also prefer guns that look traditional, not like an AR15 or some weapon used by the space invaders. What I also need is advice on how much to spend, I'm thinking between $500 and $1000. As far as why I'm getting one, I will be killing starlings, maybe an old sick chicken and some rats. I also will enjoy punching holes in paper at about 25 yards. Please let me know your ideas, if all these PCPs look like a black space invader gun, so be it, what's most important to me it that it has a good safety, that it's well made, and that it has reasonably good accuracy. Owe on another point, I live close to the ocean with a dive store not 2 miles from me so I'm pretty sure I can find a used tank and a place to fill it.

A nice marauder in .22 check out Airgun-Revisions.

 

[JimD]

I know you indicated a preference for a traditional rifle but if you get a chance to try a bullpup I would. It might not do anything for you but once I tried one I got 4 more.

For backyard shooting I see real advantages to a 177. I've killed the most squirrels with my P35-177 (20+). I have lost none with a well placed shot (I lost one I shot in the rear end, I couldn't find it). It does not kill quite as quickly with body shots as a 22 or 25 but a shot in the chest only results in a few steps typically and 10-20 feet at most. The big advantage is it does not make as much noise, doesn't need refilled as often, and does not carry nearly as far. For targets, it does get blown around by the wind more adding some challenge. It seems like some think they need a cannon these days but a little 177 can do the job.

I have had small issues with my Chinese built airguns but I had bigger issues with my eastern European built bullpup. Accuracy is about the same but at the moment my Chinese airguns are shooting better. I am not suggesting those who have had negative experiences are making anything up but they come with a warranty and I have heard several good experiences with the way Stoeger honors theirs. Their normal response to even minor issues is to ship out a new gun apparently. Everybody is free to buy what they want but I don't think quality is a reason to be afraid of Chinese airguns. I don't know what the quality was even 5 years ago before I got one but recent quality has been good. I am not suggesting my eastern European airgun is not better machined and doesn't feel better in some ways, just that my Chinese airguns work very well.

If we switch to the scopes most of our guns wear, essentially every scope that costs less than $1000 is at least assembled in China. Most have Chinese lenses. Pretty expensive to try to totally avoid Chinese products.

 

[jdscott3]

And looks like a traditional "real rifle." Real wood! My first (and so far only) real air rifle:

View attachment 590932

So far, it's been quite good. I got the "Field & Target" edition, which is a "regulated" model and comes with an upgraded Lothar-Walther barrel. Paid $780 for it at Pyramid. Of course, the scope, fill tank, extra magazines, assortment of pellets to try, etc.... were an additional expense. More about it in the link in my signature.

View attachment 590933

 

[jdscott3]

With a gun like the Umarex Zelos out there, I'm not sure why the recommendation for a maruader keeps coming up. The Zelos is superior in every way. The current maruaders a assembled in the states but almost all parts are made in china, so the made in America part is dead. The zelos is regulated and much more relevent, lighter, and cheaper easier to adjust to boot. My first PCP in 2011 was a marauder and it was a turd that never shot in the same place twice I tried all the tricks from the maruader forums nothing helped. I still have it to remind me not to buy another. Get a GX pump in your budget and a Zelos. AIR is the key to PCP enjoyment. If you have a source for air, the choice is still the Zelos.

Thanks for the rec. I like when people have a strong opinion on things. I'll check out the Zelos

 

[jdscott3]

Your wants/requisites are basic enough that even many econo-PCPs can fulfill them; even something like this-

10 Pellet .22Cal PCP Pellet Gun Air Rifle High Power Airgun for Hunting

P-Force Rifle Pinty's 10-Pellet PCP Air Rifle is the perfect partner for precision shooting and small game hunting. Fire 5.5 mm .22 caliber pellets at speeds of up to 800 fps, ensuring you hit your target every time. The 225 cc air reservoir, filled to 3600 psi, provides up to 80 shots per fill...

pintydevices.com

Having been an airgunner for seventy years myself, I've deeply explored somewhere between 600-1000 airguns of all kinds; enough to document my airgunning experiences in five books. I mention that to lend perspective(s) to my OPINIONS.

I also am a traditionalist im many/most ways, including wooden stocks. And having had more than my share of wunder-PCPs, including bullpups and plastic furnitured, I'm very attracted to the little .22 PCP above. Pertinent points to your post-

1) I've owned, tested and modified about a half-dozen Crosman 1400s. They're great, and can be resealed to perform as new. See the attachment below.
2) Springers worthwhile for your purposes will not be as accurate in human hands. That difference will not only be immediately obvious to a good shooter, but for all intents and purposes insurmountable.
3) Any experienced shooter will be somewhere between impressed and blown away from their very first shots with a good PCP.
4) That impression doesn't fade much as one progresses up the PCP food-chain.
5) I've been at the top of the PCP food-chain for decades, yet am still very attracted to the little PCP above.
6) Last point, again for perspective on my OPINIONS. Take it for what(ever) it's worth-

View attachment 591008


View attachment 591009
Hi Ron and thanks for taking the time to reply to my post. The 1400 was my first real gun and I shot that gun so many times that it's hard to really believe. Every button up shirt I owned as a teen had a small tear in it from getting in the cocking mechanism when I was in a hurry to pump that baby. I think it needs more that seals, I may send it away to get it rebuilt. I would love to shoot it again. As far as you recommendation on the Pinty, thanks. It does look like my kind of gun, the low price kind of scares me though. Is the Pinty very loud?, can you put a silencer on it? Thanks again, Jim Scott

 

[jdscott3]

I'm Glad you love your wood marouder, but unlass your a buff 65, a marauder is a 81/2 to 9 pound gunwithout a scope. It is not MADE in America, it is ASSEMBLED in America using chinese content. Sometimes us old guys need to roll with changes. If you love driving a 1973 VW Bug, that's on you, but as a modern car, they suck. You might get a good marauder, but talking superior about quality control is BS. The Zelos has much better quality control today than any chinese airgun made more than 5yrs ago. A better choice than any of these is the near new BSA R10 for 480.00 shipped in the member classifieds. Lighter way more beautiful and probably more reliably accurate. I got on for my son for his 16th b-day and it is one of the nicest shooting guns in my collection of 50+ guns including FX, RTI, Kalibre, BRK, AGT, and AirMaks. Sorry not obey the maruader authority, but it was a great choice 20yrs ago, mediocre choice at best now.

Thanks, I did notice a couple guys had problems with the Marauders. I'll stay away from them.

 

[jdscott3]

There is no no better choice, https://www.airgunnation.com/threads/various-rifles-to-part-with.1334012/
This was a 1400.00 a few years back

When I click on this I get some error messages, I guess you need to be active in the forum for awhile before you can see classifieds right???

 

[Ratzy]

When I click on this I get some error messages, I guess you need to be active in the forum for awhile before you can see classifieds right???

Yes, 10/10, messages / days active.

The seller has a BSA R10 SE for $480.
A good rifle and a good price.
Very accurate and the classic British design. I have a few older British rifles and they are well made and just gorgeous.

Starting out I'd stick to guns like the Karma EQ or Zelos new rather than used. That gives you a warranty to fall back on. More popular guns so a lot more information here for tuning, modification and maintenance. Once you grasp the basics most poppet valve guns are easy to maintain. But get the basics down first.

There are some very good guns in the classifieds but you never know how well it has been maintained and how much it has been shot.

I buy almost all my guns used and I almost always have to do maintenence after I receive the gun. Classifieds purchases been better than Gunbroker purchases but that has more to do with age of the rifle.

 

[Racer88]

Thanks, I did notice a couple guys had problems with the Marauders. I'll stay away from them.

That's interesting. I researched the **** out of it and did not come across any reported problems with the Marauder. In fact it was unanimously good reports. Except just now with the poster above who obviously doesn't like them.

Of course my experience is "N=1," as scientists / researchers say. But I am quite happy with my regulated Marauder with the Lothar barrel. No problems at all. As a "first" air rifle, the Marauder gets very high and nearly universal praise. And with my experience over the last few months, I see why.

The good thing is there are a LOT of air rifles to choose from at all price points. The bad thing is that such a wide range of choices can be intimidating and cause "paralysis by analysis."

Get what you like, of course. Then get another! Though, for now, the Marauder is definitely satisfying my "need" for an air rifle among my "powder burner" collection.

PS... Don't forget to factor in the costs of all the "accoutrements" needed for a PCP air rifle. It adds up quickly!

PPS... A target from this weekend. 5-shot groups at 25 and 50 yards.

 

[fborchers]

I have been shooting air rifles in competitions when I was a teenager. Now I started to get back into Air Guns when I was 55 and wow that air gun world changed. The technology, speed , power and accuracy Nodaway's is simply amazing. I started with one Umarex and 9 month later I have 5 rifles i call my own.
I got a Umarex Notos, Umarex Komplett and Hatsan Jet1 & 2 and a Hatsan Factor BP 357 Big Bore. I love them all, but they have all different applications. Now I'm looking for a nice gun to hunt with and I think the Airforce Texan SS in 457 may be the next one......