Air Gun Regrets

[NoSteppy]

When I first got into air guns, one of the first guns I got was a Gamo Whisper G2 in .22 (spring-piston). After learning more about air guns, I made the automatic assumption that gas-piston guns must be better in every way than spring-pistons. I sold the G2 and bought a gas piston gun, only to find it was less accurate. I can't find another G2 in .22.

 

[addertooth]

Consider a TX200 or an HW97, as long as you are thinking about a springer. 

I have seen some classical spring air guns (non gas piston) which were well tuned and had an amazingly smooth shot cycle. 

What kind of accuracy are you looking for at 25 yards?

 

[EMrider]

When I first got into air guns, one of the first guns I got was a Gamo Whisper G2 in .22 (spring-piston). After learning more about air guns, I made the automatic assumption that gas-piston guns must be better in every way than spring-pistons. I sold the G2 and bought a gas piston gun, only to find it was less accurate. I can't find another G2 in .22.

I did exactly the same thing. Spent way too much on a gas piston Gamo Whisper. I am sure the marketing folks at Gamo had a good laugh when they named it the “Whisper”. It was over powered, loud and not accurate. 

Next bought a German gun with a steel spring and never looked back. A 12fpe hw97k in .177 has been my favorite. Very pleasant to shoot and it rivals my PCPs for accuracy out to 25 yards.



R

 

[Stefanjan]

Bought a crosman phantom as my first adult air rifle. Horribly inacurate mule kicking window rattling springer. It has grown on ke and after 2000 plus shots Im starting to tame it but now that Im into PCPs it doesnt get shot much anymore. 

 

[Cizur]

My first purchase was a Gamo Hornet Maxxim .22 with the IGT (Inert Gas Technology) piston.

Although my accuracy was bad at first (mostly to blame on the terrible scope that came with the gun), I've been doing GREAT with it as of late. The trick for me was a good Leapers / UTG scope and a fair amount of trigger pulls and pellet testing. I knew the gun had potential, I just had to commit to it and find the match it wanted.

For whatever reason, the gun absolutely LOVES Predator GTO's and H&N Barracuda Greens. Both exceptionally light pellets for a 22 cal (11.75 & 12 grains). I will say it does not like basic 14.3 grain domed Crosman Premiers. I have yet to try anything heavy through the gun though...

I'm not going to bash on gas pistons. I own one, a cheap one, and its very fun to shoot, with great accuracy and mild recoil.

 

[Scrufhunter]

i bought one of those swiss arms springers.. i eventually gave it away to a friend. It vibrated like crazy, couldnt ever get it to group.. I replaced it with a Crosman NP in 177. Ive shot the crap out of it over the past 4-5 years...Its in need of a rebuild, not sure if i will ever get to it now that I have PCP's. I have one of those Gamo Viper Express with the NP conversion. Its a cool gun, reload the shells with #8 or some BB's and use it around the house..Load up some salt and shoot some bugs, or drop a pellet in... I really regret buying one of those NP Trail pistols, what a hunk of junk.. its pretty useless the trigger pull is about 600ibs and 3 miles long.. I also regret my purchase of the my crosman shockwave in 22. Its LOP is for kindergarteners..I dunno it seemed every bird I hit with it bounced off the pellet or something, had to many fly aways.....I gave that one away aswell 

 

[Guest]

The quills on a bird's feathers can be surprisingly tough! Shot placement in the head or neck where the smaller feathers are should help?