Other What would you buy as a intro setup to using a break barrel?

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Heimann

Heimann

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Feb 8, 2024
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I have a budget of 500 or so , I wouldn't really mind going over if it was worth it. I'm pretty much new to shooting/airguns as a whole, I'v done a load of research over the past few days but honestly I just can't make up my mind so it seemed only right to ask here for some very experienced opinions.

Ideally would like something with a scope, or a recommendation of a gun+scope combo!
Will mostly be used for plinking around in my backyard and hunting squirrel/rabbits once I feel confident.
Something not insanely loud would be awesome as I wouldn't like to be a nuisance to my neighbors.

Thank you so much for your time if you leave a response & I apologize if things like this are asked often... its just so hard to pull the trigger on something when you have no frame of reference for what's actually worth it in the hobby!


EDIT:After reading the input here and watching some more content I decided on ordering a R9 in .22 with a UTG bugbuster 3-12x32 scope (I only saw positive reviews and it was pretty budget friendly so I can always grab something else nicer down the road if I get hooked) along with quite a few different pellets I have seen people recommend/shoot well (H&N FTT in 5.55 & 5.53, H&N Terminators, RWS Meisterkugeln standard, and some Crossman premiers in dome & hollowpoint)
 
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Great question,R-7=HW-30 or Beeman R-9=HW95...These rifles are lighter and easier to cock and very accurate.
Some will say HW50, not me, mine is too touchy, my HW97 is great but heavier than the others I listed.
As of now, I am getting British-made air rifles, the problem is some of the great British springers are no longer made in England so I have to buy used, the Air Arms TX-200 is a great one, but now costs $200 more than the German springers.
So for me the Beeman R-7 , which I purchased in 1981 remains the easiest to shoot accurately springer, with the Beemnan .20 R-9 just as accurate at longer distances. Mine are of the older vintage which I think are better than the newer ones.
 
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I’d also recommend an R7/HW30 (they are basically the same rifle with different brands) in .177. This will make a wonderful plinking rifle. If you want something a bit stronger for hunting then an HW50 is a great choice. I’m not saying the HW30 can’t hunt; just that the 50 gives you a bit more power. Pair either one of those with a Hawke Airmax scope and you will have a great combo.
Kenny
 
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Well I set myself up with HW50S in .177 caliber. A German air rifle from Krale.Very accurate. $350 + shipping. It's an easy handling ,easy cocking, flat shooting, 750fps or maybe more, break-barrel springer. Comes with open sights. It likes shooting H&N FTT pellets. I put a Hawke AMX 2-7X32 scope $250, I prefer it's reticle. And BKL Double Strap rings $50.,,,Now the R7 ($400 from Pyramyd Air is basically its twin sister and many people buy UTG scopes. They have a following here and they cost less than Hawkes. And Sports Match scope rings, around $45. Don't go cheap on the rings. You need good rings on a springer. So your looking at around $500-$600 ? I think these rifles are a solid 6-7 pound,perfectly sized sporting air arm. Oh,,,And the triggers are AWSOME. Everybody who own them love them.
 
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Another vote for the HW30/R7. I own a pair of the R7 badged versions in .177 and .20. Both wear Hawke Airmax 3-9x40 AMX scopes. Great all day plinking rifles at 7-8fpe and will easily take small pests aka squirrels and rabbits once you get yourself settled into the rifle. Don't think you could go wrong with the HW95/Beeman R9 either. I own both and they very good target/pesting rifles and about twice the power of the HW30/R7.
Don't own an HW50 and can't honestly speak for them, but they're a hair bigger and power wise fall in between the 30 and 95 at 11-12 fpe. Read enough here and you'll find they're very highly spoken of.
Best of luck deciding and keep us posted. Also wouldn't worry about second guessing whatever you decide to buy since once bitten, you'll want more....lol.
 
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You guys are far too sensible recommending an HW30/R7, a HW50 or an HW95/R9 to start with. These guns spoil people and they end up enjoying their time shooting...

Whatever happened to getting a Hyper-Ultra-Super-Uber-Magnum with sloppy machining, poor materials and an extremely loose spring guide in .177cal along with some .03gr pellets that fly at Mach-WhiskyTangoFoxtrot, scare the entire neighborhood then you realize you have no idea where it went, all for less than $199.99? Oh, right... Those guns aren't exactly great. Wish someone told me that when I got started 😢😮😉
 
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I'd recommend an HW95/R9 if you plan on hunting/pest control with it or shooting out to 60 yards or an HW30/R7 if you just want a rifle for plinking and target shooting within 40 yards. While the HW30/R7 does have enough power to shoot rats and rabbits and you can shoot out to 50 yards and beyond with it, the HW95/R9 will do both significantly better. The HW30/R7 is smaller, lighter and easier to cock though so is better suited for children, smaller women and the elderly, so if that's you or you might be plinking with people for whom this applies it's a good choice.

Either one is a great choice however and they're still two of my own favorite rifles despite owning several high end airguns. HW rifles are known for having some of the best, if not the best triggers you can get and delivering superb accuracy right out of the box. The only thing I'd ding them for is the modernistic looking beech stocks they use. They're perfectly functional and not absolutely fugly, but it would have been such a simple matter to use a traditionally styled stock like they had done in the past.

I've got a 4-16x44 Accushot on my own HW95 and I'm pretty happy with that combination. I had the 3-9x40 Weihrauch scope that came with it as a combination and I thought that was adequate, but not ideal.

On my R7 I've got an older 4-12x scope that I feel is pretty well suited to it. It's a smaller rifle and I personally want a more lightweight scope on it than I would put on the HW95.

There are other good rifles out there within your price range, but I don't think there's anything out there better than the HW's unless you spend significantly more.
 
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SteveP-52 said:
Another vote for the HW30/R7. I own a pair of the R7 badged versions in .177 and .20. Both wear Hawke Airmax 3-9x40 AMX scopes. Great all day plinking rifles at 7-8fpe and will easily take small pests aka squirrels and rabbits once you get yourself settled into the rifle. Don't think you could go wrong with the HW95/Beeman R9 either. I own both and they very good target/pesting rifles and about twice the power of the HW30/R7.
Don't own an HW50 and can't honestly speak for them, but they're a hair bigger and power wise fall in between the 30 and 95 at 11-12 fpe. Read enough here and you'll find they're very highly spoken of.
Best of luck deciding and keep us posted. Also wouldn't worry about second guessing whatever you decide to buy since once bitten, you'll want more....lol.
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Sawney Bean said:
I'd recommend an HW95/R9 if you plan on hunting/pest control with it or shooting out to 60 yards or an HW30/R7 if you just want a rifle for plinking and target shooting within 40 yards. While the HW30/R7 does have enough power to shoot rats and rabbits and you can shoot out to 50 yards and beyond with it, the HW95/R9 will do both significantly better. The HW30/R7 is smaller, lighter and easier to cock though so is better suited for children, smaller women and the elderly, so if that's you or you might be plinking with people for whom this applies it's a good choice.

Either one is a great choice however and they're still two of my own favorite rifles despite owning several high end airguns. HW rifles are known for having some of the best, if not the best triggers you can get and delivering superb accuracy right out of the box. The only thing I'd ding them for is the modernistic looking beech stocks they use. They're perfectly functional and not absolutely fugly, but it would have been such a simple matter to use a traditionally styled stock like they had done in the past.

I've got a 4-16x44 Accushot on my own HW95 and I'm pretty happy with that combination. I had the 3-9x40 Weihrauch scope that came with it as a combination and I thought that was adequate, but not ideal.

On my R7 I've got an older 4-12x scope that I feel is pretty well suited to it. It's a smaller rifle and I personally want a more lightweight scope on it than I would put on the HW95.

There are other good rifles out there within your price range, but I don't think there's anything out there better than the HW's unless you spend significantly more.
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Thank you! After reading the input here and watching some more content I decided on ordering a R9 in .22 with a UTG bugbuster 3-12x32 scope (I only saw positive reviews and it was pretty budget friendly so I can always grab something else nicer down the road if I get hooked) along with quite a few different pellets I have seen people recommend/shoot well (H&N FTT in 5.55 & 5.53, H&N Terminators, RWS Meisterkugeln standard, and some Crossman premiers in dome & hollowpoint)
 
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My suggestion is a HW95L .22 which it looks like you have already selected. I have found this rifle to be very accurate and at 84 sometimes I can shoot MOA with mine at 25 yards BUT not always. I use the H&N FTT 14.66 gr 5.53 mm pellets which seem to give the best groups. Here is 5 at 25 from a table with Caldwell bags.
8eBypd3l.jpg
 
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Motorhead said:
Yup .. ANY of the HW rifles is a great place to start.
Do understand the LOWER powered models will be easier to shoot accurately over the higher power .... And/Or, heavier models will go in the same trend being heavier generally more accurate than lighter.
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glad I'm not the only one who is of the opinion heavier gun easier to shoot accurately.
 
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Just Zack 2 said:
You guys are far too sensible recommending an HW30/R7, a HW50 or an HW95/R9 to start with. These guns spoil people and they end up enjoying their time shooting...

Whatever happened to getting a Hyper-Ultra-Super-Uber-Magnum with sloppy machining, poor materials and an extremely loose spring guide in .177cal along with some .03gr pellets that fly at Mach-WhiskyTangoFoxtrot, scare the entire neighborhood then you realize you have no idea where it went, all for less than $199.99? Oh, right... Those guns aren't exactly great. Wish someone told me that when I got started 😢😮😉
Click to expand...
I have a few of those too....lol. They're the rifles I used to learn how to take things apart and tweak and modify to make them shoot better. Got a couple it was all a waste of time on but the bulk of them responded well and turned into good shooters.
I recommended the rifles I did so the gentleman wouldn't get frustrated like many do when a gun won't shoot well and they want to quit. Suggest something good first and then down the line suggest something less expensive to tinker with and learn the insides of.
There's a method to my madness :p:p:p
 
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Great choice on the R9. I bought mine in .177 because .22 was hard to find at the time, then when the factory barrel with muzzle brake in .22 became available I converted mine to .22. One thing to watch out for on a brand new R9 is that they don't always lube them properly at the factory (too much grease in front of the piston) and this can cause detonations (dieseling) and ruin the seal. Also, they sometimes come with a lot of gunk in the barrel, so give the barrel a good cleaning before you start shooting it. Because I had not realized the seal was damaged, and was not getting good accuracy or consistent velocities, I installed a a Vortec PG4 kit and seal. This eliminated the twang I was getting, smoothed out the shot cycle, and immediately gave higher more consistent velocities, and better accuracy, but also made the gun more hold sensitive. But, don't be too quick to jump on the faster velocity band wagon, many find stock works better, and some even cut a coil or two off the spring and get a very gentle, easy to cock, super accurate experience. Welcome to the addiction:)
 
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