Hey guys I’m new here but have been following for a while. I want to get into this as it sounds fun. I shoot regularly but want an air gun so I can shoot a little more. I am not looking to break the bank just getting started maybe 400 bucks or something. One of my wants/needs is something quiet as I will be shooting near neighbors. Not really close but I don’t want to piss them off lol. I will also consider shooting the occasional squirrel on the farm. Any help is appreciated thank you
Another newbie question/help
- Thread starter crtlndbb
- Start date
How far max are you shooting? Are you looking for a specific platform? PCP vs Springers?
I shoot in a medium size yard, no problem with neighbors when I shoot the Springers. $400 give or take can get you into a good quality Spring gun in .177, can even have a silencer for a bit more.
I shoot in a medium size yard, no problem with neighbors when I shoot the Springers. $400 give or take can get you into a good quality Spring gun in .177, can even have a silencer for a bit more.
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Probably shoot out to about 30 yards at home. When I’m on the farm I can shoot an unlimited distance. I think I will probably want to start with a springer. And a quiet one if possible.
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You will get several recommendations for HW and Diana rifles. There are reasons for that.
They have been making essentially the same rifles as long as I have been in this sport, a long time. They have earned a well deserved reputation for quality and reliability, the guns are easily worked on, parts are readily available.
The triggers are very good, the Rekord trigger on the HWs is one of the best available.
There is extensive aftermarket support if you like to tinker.
They don't cost much more than the box store alternatives, and you get a gun you can hand down to your grandkids.
They hold their value.
They have been making essentially the same rifles as long as I have been in this sport, a long time. They have earned a well deserved reputation for quality and reliability, the guns are easily worked on, parts are readily available.
The triggers are very good, the Rekord trigger on the HWs is one of the best available.
There is extensive aftermarket support if you like to tinker.
They don't cost much more than the box store alternatives, and you get a gun you can hand down to your grandkids.
They hold their value.
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You will probably do well to research the HW95 in .177. They Make a little mechanical noise, but should be backyard friendly, specially if you are not in a cookie cutter neighborhood and have a little elbow room. For even more quiet, you can add an adapter from DonnyFL and a moderator like a Koi or a Tanto. There are those that will tell you that it will not make a difference on a Springer, I notice a difference on my guns. It will not take the mechanical noise away, but will tame the bark a bit, unless it's not an issue for you in the first place. .177 will drop squirrels, chipmunks, mice, rabbit, and birds at 30 yards no problem.
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I will take a look at these suggestions. Thank you all for the feedback. I am excited to get into this.
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I suggest you first go and shoot an HW95 or Beeman R9 to determine if it's back yard friendly enough for your neighbors. Mine isn't. There's definitely enough pop for my neighbors to know I'm shooting something outside. A lower power HW30s is really very quiet for stealthy covert backyard shooting but it's somewhat low on power. Maybe 20-25 yards max for squirrels with it. You need a low powered spring gun if you want to be neighborly friendly or a PCP with a silencer. YO!
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Can you have a silencer on a spring gun? We are on 1 acre lots with no one behind us. I have a good feeling the sound of a pellet gun would be ok. I am new to this so maybe they are louder than I think.
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Yes you can have a silencer on a spring gun but it will only quiet it down just a little. I have a HW97 same power as the HW95 or Beeman R9 with a long HW silencer on it and it's not at all silent. My neighbors still can hear me shooting. If it were any of my RWS Diana spring guns they would most definitely call the cops. YO!
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So do you think I should look into a pcp gun instead of a spring. It just seems like the cost will be a lot more because of the tank needed. Thanks
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No tank required just some good old fashioned elbow grease to pump. $39.50 pump $60.00 filter. $165 Benjamin maximus 22 or 177 caliber with 25% off AGN discount. $60 TKO thread on silencer. Plus a decent scope and mounts. Few bucks for some hex screws for trigger mod. YO!
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So that’s seems like a lot cheaper. I’m assuming that is a pretty decent gun? I will have to look at that one. I appreciate all the help. I never realized there were so many choices with Airguns. I can’t believe it took me this long to try to get started.
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Here’s a link to Steve’s review of this gun.
https://youtu.be/_-kEO1nm8Rw
It includes decibel measurements. While his readings will probably not really tell you how loud the gun is, you should compare that to other guns, including PCPs. The report out of the barrel will be silenced very effectively by a moderator, regardless of it being a PCP or a Springer. The problem is with the inherent mechanical noise Springers produce, you can’t silence that, but it can be reduced with not too much effort by tuning it.
There are guns like the Walther LGV (I own 2 of them) that are pretty quiet even without a moderator. It is even quieter with a moderator added, the barrel comes threaded to boot. It’s a very accurate gun, but heavy.
Bare in mind that a $400 Springers is already a higher end gun. The HW line bring one of the better triggers available. A $400 PCP, while it could meet your needs, is an entry level gun. Different points of view are neither right or wrong, you will just need to figure out what works for you.
Hit the search function up there and do a little reading. There’s plenty of info available.
https://youtu.be/_-kEO1nm8Rw
It includes decibel measurements. While his readings will probably not really tell you how loud the gun is, you should compare that to other guns, including PCPs. The report out of the barrel will be silenced very effectively by a moderator, regardless of it being a PCP or a Springer. The problem is with the inherent mechanical noise Springers produce, you can’t silence that, but it can be reduced with not too much effort by tuning it.
There are guns like the Walther LGV (I own 2 of them) that are pretty quiet even without a moderator. It is even quieter with a moderator added, the barrel comes threaded to boot. It’s a very accurate gun, but heavy.
Bare in mind that a $400 Springers is already a higher end gun. The HW line bring one of the better triggers available. A $400 PCP, while it could meet your needs, is an entry level gun. Different points of view are neither right or wrong, you will just need to figure out what works for you.
Hit the search function up there and do a little reading. There’s plenty of info available.
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Hope you don't piss your neighbors off. They can be real pricks and call the cops every time they hear you shoot. Now I can shoot at 3am outside with my PCP candle lit in front of a pellet trap at 50 yards away filled with duct seal. No one hears anything at 3am outside and I have close nosey prick neighbors. YO!
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Me? Nope, I don’t shoot my Springers at 0300, I shoot my PCPs at that time, not that I do that often. No issues with my neighbors even with the PT Cricket in .25, just a thud. But during the day, any of my airgun’s report or mechanical noise, including my Spring guns, is negligible and drowned out by ambient noise in general. I’m only on 0.5 acre or less. Even hitting metal targets is negligible during the day. But that’s just my experience.
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Where should I shop to use the discount codes you are talking about? I will be doing some more research. Lots of stuff to learn
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Intensity you got really cool neighbors! Some of us aren't so lucky...There's little to no wind ideally 3am compared to during the daytime hours. Wish it were much earlier but to test for 50 yard groups I prefer calm windless conditions. I can achieve 1/4" or better groups more consistently at that time and a real plus that it's quiet enough to shoot during that time as to not to alert any neighbors. The discount should be AGN25 or NATION25 something to that effect I couldn't find the Crosman banner up on top someone correct me if im wrong. Be sure to order Friday morning to get free shipping on Fridays. YO!
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Another plus is at 3am there's absolutely zero distraction or noise and for me it's much easier to concentrate when shooting. I shoot the candle flame out when I'm done shooting. YO!
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