30+ FPE Springer or Pumper?

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mtnGhost

mtnGhost

Member
Dec 15, 2018
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Defected from the PNW, United States
EDIT: Let's keep this conversation dialed in for springers & pumpers only!!!!

I'm looking for recommendations on a springer or pumper that I can hunt with:

  • Something with solid knock down power in .22cal (possibly .20).. no less than ~23FPE in .22
  • Supreme accuracy (capable of shooting the tits off a squirrel at 75y minimum) 
  • Lighter weight preferred (not interested in bench rifles)
  • I need to be able to pack it easily for the mountains 
  • I could possibly sacrifice some power for compactness
  • Budget is a non-issue
  • Reliability and/or self-serviceability is a must
  • Needs to have the ability to mount an optic

I saw the Walther Parrus. Looks powerful, but man is it LONG. Also read about reliability issues. Is there anything else with this kind of power out there? 

Random thoughts - I'm kind of listing after something German or British, high quality is desired. I dislike laminate stocks. 

Hope that stirs up some ideas!
 
The RWS 48 types,the Diana 54-56 The newer Walther LGV types....all somewhat heavy,all very accurate and powerful.

I think 30# is a lot.....HW97 ,R9.....compact.. then you be going to a PCP air pistol....there is about 4 good ones plus they can made into carbines.....Prod,1720.....

My English Tomahawk was about 24# power wise...big but not heavy...hard to get now.

Those powerful springers weigh in at about 8+lbs.....

Light ain't right when talking powerful springers....

The fun for me is "stalking".....is what you may have to do....
 
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I'm looking for recommendations on a springer or pumper that I can hunt with:

  • Something with solid knock down power in .22cal (possibly .20).. no less than ~23FPE in .22
  • Supreme accuracy (capable of shooting the tits off a squirrel at 75y minimum) 
  • Lighter weight preferred (not interested in bench rifles)
  • I need to be able to pack it easily for the mountains 
  • I could possibly sacrifice some power for compactness
  • Budget is a non-issue
  • Reliability and/or self-serviceability is a must
  • Needs to have the ability to mount an optic

I saw the Walther Parrus. Looks powerful, but man is it LONG. Also read about reliability issues. Is there anything else with this kind of power out there? 

Random thoughts - I'm kind of listing after something German or British, high quality is desired. I dislike laminate stocks. 

Hope that stirs up some ideas!
Click to expand...

Man, my asp20 fulfills almost all of this. Not sure it's easily packable....
 
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Any springer that will make that kind of power blows your lightweight/compact criteria out of the water. The few that DO make that kind of power are easy 9-10lb rifles and that's unscoped and somewhere in the 44+ inch length range.

If you'd like to check a few of them out for yourself and actually see the spec's, go look at something like the HW90 from Weihrauch or the Diana 54 and 56 rifles and see what I mean. British? UK Webley Patriot if you can find one.

The only pumper that will make that kind of power is the ATI Nova Freedom which is a PCP but has the hand pump built in and even that one is 8 pounds unscoped and 43 inches. Did a quick search and didn't find one but specs are here:

https://www.americantactical.us/5690/detail.html


 
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I don't hunt with air guns but based on what I hear from others that do you don't need all that power for small game. The magnum springers will give more power but you pay the price in accuracy. People that hunt with air rifles put the emphasis on accuracy plus the magnum springers are harder on scopes. Some places like the UK have restrictions on power levels for air guns but hunters still do very well.

I think for your needs you would do well with a quality mid level powered springer. I'd suggest checking out the Weihrauch line of spring guns. They make great stuff and you won't be disappointed. Their rifles will also meet your weight criteria.

I don't use pump up guns but a think you would be better off with the springers.
 
Upvote 0
Any springer that will make that kind of power blows your lightweight/compact criteria out of the water. The few that DO make that kind of power are easy 9-10lb rifles and that's unscoped and somewhere in the 44+ inch length range.

If you'd like to check a few of them out for yourself and actually see the spec's, go look at something like the HW90 from Weihrauch or the Diana 54 and 56 rifles and see what I mean. British? UK Webley Patriot if you can find one.

The only pumper that will make that kind of power is the ATI Nova Freedom which is a PCP but has the hand pump built in and even that one is 8 pounds unscoped and 43 inches. Did a quick search and didn't find one but specs are here:

https://www.americantactical.us/5690/detail.html

Click to expand...

Hard pass on the nova freedom unless leaks become a fad. Hw90 is a good idea. I was thinking the hw80 but the hw90 would be a better choice. Anything else is meh in that power range. Still, the hw90 is a 20ftlb rifle now 23 and above. You could go a .30 cal Hatsan Carnivore. I'm not a Hatsan fan as I've had a blurry history with them, but my friend @septicdeath has some affinity for them and you could ask him about the .30 Hatsans he has. Those things produce a lot of energy , especially downrange, I think 34ftlbs at muzzle. Just trying to think outside the box. Power and compactness is not a thing for springers. 



If it was just me, an Hw95 as standard or HW35E would be all I need for birds and small game. Very accurate, light, and quality. Immense power? No. 


 
Upvote 0
Any springer that will make that kind of power blows your lightweight/compact criteria out of the water. The few that DO make that kind of power are easy 9-10lb rifles and that's unscoped and somewhere in the 44+ inch length range.

If you'd like to check a few of them out for yourself and actually see the spec's, go look at something like the HW90 from Weihrauch or the Diana 54 and 56 rifles and see what I mean. British? UK Webley Patriot if you can find one.

The only pumper that will make that kind of power is the ATI Nova Freedom which is a PCP but has the hand pump built in and even that one is 8 pounds unscoped and 43 inches. Did a quick search and didn't find one but specs are here:

https://www.americantactical.us/5690/detail.html

Click to expand...

Hard pass on the nova freedom unless leaks become a fad. Hw90 is a good idea. I was thinking the hw80 but the hw90 would be a better choice. Anything else is meh in that power range. Still, the hw90 is a 20ftlb rifle now 23 and above. You could go a .30 cal Hatsan Carnivore. I'm not a Hatsan fan as I've had a blurry history with them, but my friend @septicdeath has some affinity for them and you could ask him about the .30 Hatsans he has. Those things produce a lot of energy , especially downrange, I think 34ftlbs at muzzle. Just trying to think outside the box. Power and compactness is not a thing for springers. 



If it was just me, an Hw95 as standard or HW35E would be all I need for birds and small game. Very accurate, light, and quality. Immense power? No. 

Click to expand...

The Freedom only popped in my head because he mentioned power and pumper. Bottom line is the springer he wants doesn't exist. The few springers out there that do make that kind of power means bigger springs, bigger piston, bigger compression tube and all that just piles up the weight and that's before you slap a stock on it. Even the Hatty 130S .30 cal is a 9 1/2 pound rifle unscoped and almost 4 feet long so definitely not compact and not a lot of ammo choices in .30.

Maybe the better question to ask is what exactly the OP wants to hunt with said springer and then try to recommend something from there????
 
Upvote 0
Any springer that will make that kind of power blows your lightweight/compact criteria out of the water. The few that DO make that kind of power are easy 9-10lb rifles and that's unscoped and somewhere in the 44+ inch length range.

If you'd like to check a few of them out for yourself and actually see the spec's, go look at something like the HW90 from Weihrauch or the Diana 54 and 56 rifles and see what I mean. British? UK Webley Patriot if you can find one.

The only pumper that will make that kind of power is the ATI Nova Freedom which is a PCP but has the hand pump built in and even that one is 8 pounds unscoped and 43 inches. Did a quick search and didn't find one but specs are here:

https://www.americantactical.us/5690/detail.html

Click to expand...

Hard pass on the nova freedom unless leaks become a fad. Hw90 is a good idea. I was thinking the hw80 but the hw90 would be a better choice. Anything else is meh in that power range. Still, the hw90 is a 20ftlb rifle now 23 and above. You could go a .30 cal Hatsan Carnivore. I'm not a Hatsan fan as I've had a blurry history with them, but my friend @septicdeath has some affinity for them and you could ask him about the .30 Hatsans he has. Those things produce a lot of energy , especially downrange, I think 34ftlbs at muzzle. Just trying to think outside the box. Power and compactness is not a thing for springers. 



If it was just me, an Hw95 as standard or HW35E would be all I need for birds and small game. Very accurate, light, and quality. Immense power? No. 

Click to expand...

The Freedom only popped in my head because he mentioned power and pumper. Bottom line is the springer he wants doesn't exist. The few springers out there that do make that kind of power means bigger springs, bigger piston, bigger compression tube and all that just piles up the weight and that's before you slap a stock on it. Even the Hatty 130S .30 cal is a 9 1/2 pound rifle unscoped and almost 4 feet long so definitely not compact and not a lot of ammo choices in .30.

Maybe the better question to ask is what exactly the OP wants to hunt with said springer and then try to recommend something from there????
Click to expand...

Agreed. 
 
Upvote 0
The FX Indy would have to be found used but it is a bullpup that meets more of your requirements. 

In the original post, you mentioned squirrels. Do you plan on hunting larger animals? What distances are you expecting? I am all for airguns but they may not be best in every circumstance. Can you use a powder gun in your intended environment? A .22lr shooting CB or subsonic ammo can be found that meets virtually all your stated desires and likely much cheaper.
 
Upvote 0
The FX Indy would have to be found used but it is a bullpup that meets more of your requirements. 

In the original post, you mentioned squirrels. Do you plan on hunting larger animals? What distances are you expecting? I am all for airguns but they may not be best in every circumstance. Can you use a powder gun in your intended environment? A .22lr shooting CB or subsonic ammo can be found that meets virtually all your stated desires and likely much cheaper.
Click to expand...

I was afraid that this thread would attempt to digress lol, I'm not looking for general PCP or powder recommendations (hence I posted in this specific sub-forum). My goal for this thread was to gather feedback from the community on current or vintage springers / pumpers capable of 23-30FPE in those calibers. I know there are some low-end Gamo and Hatsan rifles that put out insane power, but I figured there had to be higher-quality options that come relatively close.

The Indy has been on my radar for some time. There was a .30 listed some time ago that I considered, but I would rather go .22.

I was hoping to avoid specific details to keep this non-PCP convo on the rails, but I would add that I'm fine with a rifle weighing ~9lbs unscoped. Here's the thing, I can already break down and pack a Hill hand pump that weights a little over 6lbs in all. I have two Leshiy .22 cal (single shot), the longer one is 5.8lbs scoped (NX8 1-8) and the shorter one is ~5.2lbs with an Aimpoint T-2 + 6x magnifier. It's a pain in the ass setting up and breaking down that pump, and I had already screwed up the one of my Hill Mk4's in the field. 

I've always wanted a decent springer in a traditional / classic chassis.

I've got a Walther Parrus in .22. It's powerful, but lightweight it is not. It's also pushing 47"ish. You could comfortably carry it with a sling but you won't be tossing it in a backpack.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that thing looked pretty long, but they're making some great power from what I've read.

RWS 350 in 22cal and Vortek tune kit will get you 24-26 foot pounds. Some have even said 27 foot pounds. 

HW90 in 22 or 25 will get you at least 23-24 foot pounds. More if you pump it up. 

RWS 48. I have had 3 and they all shoot 21-22 foot pounds. The new tune kits might increase some, but not much.
Click to expand...

Great feedback! I have to rule out the RWS 350 due to the length (48" is just too long for my pack). I could barely squeeze 44" in my pack when I tested earlier this evening, but anything beyond that couldn't fit unfortunately. 
 
Upvote 0
The FX Indy would have to be found used but it is a bullpup that meets more of your requirements. 

In the original post, you mentioned squirrels. Do you plan on hunting larger animals? What distances are you expecting? I am all for airguns but they may not be best in every circumstance. Can you use a powder gun in your intended environment? A .22lr shooting CB or subsonic ammo can be found that meets virtually all your stated desires and likely much cheaper.
Click to expand...

I was afraid that this thread would attempt to digress lol, I'm not looking for general PCP or powder recommendations (hence I posted in this specific sub-forum). My goal for this thread was to gather feedback from the community on current or vintage springers / pumpers capable of 23-30FPE in those calibers. I know there are some low-end Gamo and Hatsan rifles that put out insane power, but I figured there had to be higher-quality options that come relatively close.

The Indy has been on my radar for some time. There was a .30 listed some time ago that I considered, but I would rather go .22.

I was hoping to avoid specific details to keep this non-PCP convo on the rails, but I would add that I'm fine with a rifle weighing ~9lbs unscoped. Here's the thing, I can already break down and pack a Hill hand pump that weights a little over 6lbs in all. I have two Leshiy .22 cal (single shot), the longer one is 5.8lbs scoped (NX8 1-8) and the shorter one is ~5.2lbs with an Aimpoint T-2 + 6x magnifier. It's a pain in the ass setting up and breaking down that pump, and I had already screwed up the one of my Hill Mk4's in the field. 

I've always wanted a decent springer in a traditional / classic chassis.

I've got a Walther Parrus in .22. It's powerful, but lightweight it is not. It's also pushing 47"ish. You could comfortably carry it with a sling but you won't be tossing it in a backpack.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that thing looked pretty long, but they're making some great power from what I've read.

RWS 350 in 22cal and Vortek tune kit will get you 24-26 foot pounds. Some have even said 27 foot pounds. 

HW90 in 22 or 25 will get you at least 23-24 foot pounds. More if you pump it up. 

RWS 48. I have had 3 and they all shoot 21-22 foot pounds. The new tune kits might increase some, but not much.
Click to expand...

Great feedback! I have to rule out the RWS 350 due to the length (48" is just too long for my pack). I could barely squeeze 44" in my pack when I tested earlier this evening, but anything beyond that couldn't fit unfortunately.
Click to expand...

I think my sig gets ruled out at around 45"
 
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