Quietest, and most accurate

Accuracy with a springer takes a lot of practice, especially with hold. With PCP's it's usually on the shooter for pin point accuracy. If your budget allows, I would go the PCP route, much more enjoyable shooting and accuracy wise as well as a more quiet report with a moderator.

like.2.fly said:

Is there a big difference in sound level between various PCP's? Which ones are considered among the most quiet?

Click to expand...

Daystate electro guns such as the Air wolf, Red wolfs, Alpha & Delta Wolfs.
These rifles operate with extremely low valve dwell but at high pressure making them shockingly low noise.

There are many others that with a large enough LDC/Moderator can be puff quiet as well.

This can be a VERY contentious question

like.2.fly said:

Is there a big difference in sound level between various PCP's? Which ones are considered among the most quiet?

Click to expand...

Yes there is, ones with a baffeled shroud combined with a moderator that has baffels are going to be really silent. Not all PCP's come that way. I have a Taiapn Veteran 2 that has a baffeled shroud with an add on moderator that makes it very quiet. AGT, Taipan, FX and some others come with shrouds and or moderators that make their report on the quiet side. Smaller calibers will be more quiet than larger calibers.

I have a number of PCPs as well as springers. Good marksmanship needs to be developed and practiced regardless of what you shoot. I disagree with many who say you need to hold a springer a certain way (artillery hold) to get them to shoot well. I never use that and my springers are exceedingly accurate as long as I am consistent the way I hold it and align the sights. Again, practice, practice. Fortunately for new shooters like you there are good shooting rifles in each category that won't break the bank. PCPs are easier to shoot, but as you say, you need all the support equipment that goes along with those. If you don't want to go that route, but just dip your toe in the airgun waters, buy a good quality springer, and not a cheap one. Any HW model is a good choice. For around $400 you can get an HW30 or HW50. If you want more power, then for $100 more get an HW95. A Diana 34 has a good reputation as well. These shoot pretty well out of the box, but later, you many want to improve their behavior or change power levels with a spring kit/tune. If you have any mechanical skills you can do it yourself. There are also plenty of Youtube videos describing how to do this. Don't get sucked into the magnum idea. A good accurate rifle shooting 12 to 20 fpe will do what you are intending.

Also, there are good used rifles on the market as well. Check the classifieds on this forum and what the dealers have availble. AOA has a good selection and they test each rifle before shipping to you. Happy shooting.

like.2.fly...... you just got the best advice you can get, and you got it from ranchibi and motorhead

My Marauder field target is accurate and quiet,you can get it ,a good scope and a compressor for about $1000 .I shot springers for decades before getting a PCP,since you have experience in shooting, there is nothing wrong going that route, an HW30 or R-7 are the way to go .Check them out
I do not think it is a good idea to spent too much money when starting out unless you have the money to do so,I say this because you may be just as happy spending less $$$$

Marauder, quiet, enough power for what you want.

HW95, good power, fairly quiet with an LDC.

Those are two of my favorites.

My quietest, with moderator, .25 Niksan Ozark and .25 AirForce Condor.

The Condor action is louder than the Ozark. Mostly due to upgrades.

I've tried several different moderators on both rifles and Reximex Silent Force and STO Falx (medium) seem the quietest.

Both are quite accurate, the nod going to the Condor especially at longer range.

Power wise, no contest, due to upgrades the Condor.

The Ozark-W is the more classic looking. Mine is a Ozark-TW a mix of a tactical butt and wood stock.

Condor $750 new
Ozark $400 new

Ozark-TW was conveniently on the tripod.

Check out FX Royale line (IF you can find one). I have the walnut Royale 500 (.25). Classic styling, incredibly smooth & accurate, QUIET & LOW maintenance! Taken hundreds, if not thousands of squirrels & rabbits with it. Mentioning your budget might help narrow it down. I'm a PCP guy 100% but when going that route you must consider an air source. SCBA tank(s) and/or compressor should be taken into the equation. Hand pumps get old quickly & saps the joy of it. There are some great straight out of the box shooters that you might want to research. I own guns that don't require tweaking or fiddling for them to perform great (& I intend to keep it that way). You didn't state your location. There might be airgunners near you who'd let you try some out. A lot of us enjoy doing that.

As others have stated, you really can't go wrong a Marauder as a first PCP. Inexpensive and reliable. If sound is an issue it can be suppressed.

FWIW I have springers too. There is far less paraphernalia w springers so subsequently it's less expensive and simpler if that's what you're after. Honestly it is sometimes, so that's why I have one. The flipside is that PCPs offer a different level of performance, can be more fun and aren't as harsh to shoot.

Get both...

like.2.fly said:

I've been shooting and hunting all my life, but never with airguns. Do you advise starting with a simple break barrel rifle, or jumping right into PCP with all the related paraphernalia?

Main use would be for general plinking and target shooting, marksmanship training, perhaps some small pest control and light hunting. I'm not a competitive shooter, but accuracy is important and would like to be able to consistently achieve 1" groups at 30 - 50 yards with practice. I prefer classic looking rifles over the modern chassis/bullpup/AR styles. I also need back yard friendly noise levels, and this might be the most important thing. It needs to be as QUIET as possible. Cost isn't the biggest concern, but is a factor. I know break barrels are simpler and cheaper. But what is the quietest and most accurate without making a huge commitment?

Click to expand...

Dive right into pcp, you will enjoy it. Accuracy and consistency will increase the more you spend, but you can get into it on the cheap too. Get a compressor and rifle. Most barrels are threaded to accept a moderator if you are concerned about noise. I have a few guns that are internally baffled as well, those are completely silent with a moderator attached.

like.2.fly said:

I've been shooting and hunting all my life, but never with airguns. Do you advise starting with a simple break barrel rifle, or jumping right into PCP with all the related paraphernalia?

Main use would be for general plinking and target shooting, marksmanship training, perhaps some small pest control and light hunting. I'm not a competitive shooter, but accuracy is important and would like to be able to consistently achieve 1" groups at 30 - 50 yards with practice. I prefer classic looking rifles over the modern chassis/bullpup/AR styles. I also need back yard friendly noise levels, and this might be the most important thing. It needs to be as QUIET as possible. Cost isn't the biggest concern, but is a factor. I know break barrels are simpler and cheaper. But what is the quietest and most accurate without making a huge commitment?

Click to expand...

All good advice so far ,,,, confused yet? I've had a Marauder, yes quiet & accurate . Handle like you're holding a 2, no a 3x4 ! I have a BSA R TEN , beautiful, accurate & quiet. Used to be a 4 figure gun that went down to 3 figures ( I bought it then) , I believe it's been replaced w/ R 12. Now have 3 AirMaks Katrans, 4
figure guns also but on sale at UA ( moving sale) ,EXCELLENT gun ,quiet, great trigger ,chassis type gun. Yes ,you'll need a compressor , or tank, or hand pump.
Yes , I have them all( and multiples of some). I have one springer, but if you go that route , HW something ( #'s) is a no brainier. OH & welcome to the [ stampeding] herd !

IMHO - Skip springers and go directly to PCP. It is a very smooth transition from rimfire to PCP. Better accuracy too. I spent many $$$ on Fine German Springers over the last 40 years and even my most modest PCPs will out shoot and out power them all. Fire away...I don't care.

LOL, no reason to fire away. Everyone has an opinion.
I need both springers and pcp.

Daystate Revere. It is a classic, sporter style design, accurate, good trigger, as quiet as most with a moderator. It might cost more than you want, but if you like the sport, you will have a long-lasting, high quality rifle. If you decide it's not for you, sell it and take your loss as the cost of giving it a try, no free lunches. As usual, Motorhead is absolutely on point regarding the Daystate electronic rifles. I have a Red Wolf and, depending on power level selected, it is truly quiet. That said, I'm not sure that an electronic rifle is the best way to begin, as they are different in set up and maintenance. My Red Wolf may be the most accurate air rifle I have owned, but I seem to never shoot it, and may sell it. It has been a totally reliable platform, but it's just different. There are many good choices for you, but so much depends on personal preference, recommendations are difficult.

My Revere in .177 sounds like a spitball from a straw . Crazy quiet and accurate.

like.2.fly said:

I prefer classic looking rifles over the modern chassis/bullpup/AR styles. I also need back yard friendly noise levels, and this might be the most important thing. It needs to be as QUIET as possible.

Click to expand...

In my newbie opinion.... look no further than the Benjamin Marauder "Field & Target" (regulated) with Lothar barrel. Not that I'm biased or anything! But I did do my homework before buying. Mine: