First Air Rifle

[Coues106]

Hello everyone, new to the forum and I had a quick question that probably has no correct answer. After living through 10 years of rimfire shortage the last 13 years I’m wanting to get into airgunning to I can keep shooting without worrying about running out of ammo. While I’ve had air rifles in the past, it’s always just been your $100 cabelas Gamo or Benjamin break barrels that test my patience with their inaccuracy. My question for you folks is what is the best air rifle for the money given these criteria:

-I have about a $400 budget with some wiggle room if I absolutely need it.

-I want to get an air rifle in .22 caliber (.177 if there’s a clear winner only in that caliber)

-I want it to be as accurate as possible as next to hunting this will be a target shooter

-I would prefer to have irons as that’s mostly what I shoot for the challenge of it

-rate of fire is no biggy. I also like the idea of some kind of manually cocked rifle due to the ability to just get out without worrying about tank fill.

let me know what you guys suggest. I look forward to your responses! 

 

[JohnL57]

HW 95/Beeman R9. I have a .22 R9, lots of folks prefer the .177. There one on AOA's used board right now-

https://www.airgunsofarizona.com/usedguns.html/weihrauch-hw95-luxus-.177-%E2%80%93-used/

They have nice triggers, great stocks and accurate barrels-need I say more?

 

[fusion]

If your hunting squirrel sized game, you can't go wrong with an HW95 in .177. I've had mine for over 20 years and its been great. A Vortek kit makes it really nice too. I have it set up for 12 ftlbs and its really nice to shoot.

 

[djna]

I 2nd what JohnL57 said, that’s a good deal on a very Nice Rifle. I just got the Beeman R9 ( same gun essentially) in .177. For your 1st quality Springer - this would be one of your best choices.

 

[Coues106]

Thanks for all the information! If I can ask some follow up questions:

1. What kind of lethally, accurate range can I get out of this?

2. Where I’ve had bad experiences with accuracy with less expensive break barrels, what makes these different?

3. What do I gain by spending the extra money to get an RWS 54? These caught my eye and the lack of need for the artillery hold has me interested as I can shoot it more like a conventional rifle.

 

[JohnL57]

#1 Depends on you-how comfortable are you at a given distance and how good a shot are you? With practice, 35-40 yards would be reasonable IMO.

#2 The Weihrauch guns are quite a bit higher build quality than the cheapies, and they just work! Use decent pellets, and practice-figure out how to hold the gun for the tightest groups. I fooled around with cheap guns for a year, finally caved and got the R9, wisest thing I've done in a while, LOL! I just scoped it and proceeded to hit pretty much anything I aimed at.

# 3 The 54 is an easy gun to shoot well-from a rest! They are pretty heavy guns for carrying around and shooting offhand. The sidelever cocking and loading is slower to reload if you need a quick follow-up shot hunting. They are also somewhat hard on scopes.

 

[djna]

I just got my R9 - I haven’t put it through it’s paces yet, others can comment on it better than me. Most of my Springer shooting outside is around 25-40 yards & I mostly hunt & pest myself. I don’t think the R9 / HW95 would have any trouble with those ranges. So far I only shot my R9 open sights in my basement range just under 10 yards & I was happy with its accuracy & know once scoped I can do better. I got a RWS 54 in .22 earlier this winter off a member of AGN - & will say it’s accurate out to 50 yards easily.
The 54 is heavier than the R9 for sure, so if you were going through woods hunting the R9 might be better choice. I personally don’t think either gun is hard to cock, but the 54 takes a little more effort. Another well known downside to the 54 is it can kills scopes, so far mine hasn’t yet though. I can tell you either gun you choose, it won’t be your last, you’ll start buying more like rest of us lol.

 

[dizzums]

i went through trying to rid my yard of squirrels and rabbits with a break barrel and an R9 is one of the last ones i bought .. i 'gave' it away after i got a marauder that what i thought of it myself .. and a marauder pistol is fine .. i would suggest a marauder pistol and a cheap 50$ pump off amazon to start with ... the prod will be 'positively' lethal on anything up to meduim bunny size out to 40 and mine shoots under 1/2" out of the box no mods ..

 

[Ripper]

If you want something that is accurate and easy to shoot, get you a medium powered HW rifle.(Weirauch) As already mentioned the quality is way better than a Gamo.RWS Are good rifles too But I like the Weirauch Better. You will notice the difference soon as you take it out of the box and look it over. Then when you shoot it, you will really see the difference.

 

[Coues106]

Excellent information. Just a few follow up questions then. Since it was asked, I consider myself a very good shot and enjoy 100 yards with my CZ .22’s. With irons I can usually shoot 1.5” groups at 100 yards with an accurate rifle. As I continue to think about the requirements I’ve placed on this rifle, the best way to sum it up would be this: if I am an average-above average marksman, can I consistently kill squirrels at 75-85 yards with the HW95/R9? Does .177 or .22 make a difference in this situation?

 

[djna]

I think that’s stretching the limits of the power plant of the R9 / HW95 - For 75-85 yards your more suited for a PCP or rimfire. I’m not saying it’s not possible, but at those ranges that’s when I put down the Springer and grab a PCP or firearm. 

 

[Micro]

if I am an average-above average marksman, can I consistently kill squirrels at 75-85 yards with the HW95/R9? Does .177 or .22 make a difference in this situation?

NO! IMO the R9 is not even a 50 yard gun - max 35 yards - the 54 is a different animal; more weight and power. These guns are for shooting pellets and they don't come close to mild 22lr target ammo meant for 50 yards. Few people can hit squirrels consistently at 100 yards with a 22lr under field conditions there are just too many variables and why would you, squirrels can be approached much closer.

Look at the specs here: http://www.straightshooters.com/beeman-r9-.22-beech.html

 

[DutchMike]

Hunting and target?

RWS (Diana) 48 or 52 in .22. These are exactly the same as the 54, except the 54 has sliding frame to counter the recoil, and its much heavier - too heavy. 52 is just a different stock and these are out of production. 
alternatively go for beeman r1 / weihrauch hw80.

You will not be disappointed with both, and their a good investment, it is not throw-away stuff like many other other brands.