New to the site, pretty new to airguns.
I have a Winchester 1977XS multi pump air rifle I got awhile back to plink with the kids. At 50ft (yes FEET, lol), it's putting 5 shot groups of about 1.5 inches. I realize this is a 50 dollar rifle and the Crosman Premier pellets I'm using aren't match grade, but I want better accuracy than this.
So, I'm searching for a new rifle. This is where I could use some help. The world of air rifles has changed and I don't know quality from crap.
My criteria:
- $300 to $400 is my price range. Would love a PCP, but I can't spend the money for a compressor, etc right now. The Seneca Aspen would be perfect if it were high quality, but the pump seems to fail too often according to reviews.
- Accuracy is key. I plan to have a good scope on whatever I buy and will use this for squirrels and target shooting out to 30-40 yards. School me on realistic expectations. Can I get half inch groups at that distance in my price range?
- Would prefer something that takes a magazine and I don't have to load one pellet at a time into the breech.
- Would prefer .22 cal.
- Is "low maintenance" a thing, or will I be replacing seals, etc on pretty much any rifle I get? If maintenance is inevitable, I'd prefer it to be an easy rifle to work on.
- Format? PCP is out because of cost. Multipumps seem to be the "cheap stuff" and unlikely to give the accuracy I want. Springers and gas piston seem to have recoil. Does the recoil make them less accurate? Do break barrels suffer from barrel droop over time -- or from not locking closed tightly enough to keep the same point of impact consistently?
- Would prefer something with a suppressor built into the barrel to keep it backyard friendly. I will be shooting it 90% of the time on my property on a 25 yd range.
I'm leaning towards a fixed barrel underlever cocking rifle because of my price range and the concerns I have about other designs. Would appreciate any input or suggestions, especially if my concerns (like break barrels eventually having droop or losing accuracy over time) are unfounded.
I have a Winchester 1977XS multi pump air rifle I got awhile back to plink with the kids. At 50ft (yes FEET, lol), it's putting 5 shot groups of about 1.5 inches. I realize this is a 50 dollar rifle and the Crosman Premier pellets I'm using aren't match grade, but I want better accuracy than this.
So, I'm searching for a new rifle. This is where I could use some help. The world of air rifles has changed and I don't know quality from crap.
My criteria:
- $300 to $400 is my price range. Would love a PCP, but I can't spend the money for a compressor, etc right now. The Seneca Aspen would be perfect if it were high quality, but the pump seems to fail too often according to reviews.
- Accuracy is key. I plan to have a good scope on whatever I buy and will use this for squirrels and target shooting out to 30-40 yards. School me on realistic expectations. Can I get half inch groups at that distance in my price range?
- Would prefer something that takes a magazine and I don't have to load one pellet at a time into the breech.
- Would prefer .22 cal.
- Is "low maintenance" a thing, or will I be replacing seals, etc on pretty much any rifle I get? If maintenance is inevitable, I'd prefer it to be an easy rifle to work on.
- Format? PCP is out because of cost. Multipumps seem to be the "cheap stuff" and unlikely to give the accuracy I want. Springers and gas piston seem to have recoil. Does the recoil make them less accurate? Do break barrels suffer from barrel droop over time -- or from not locking closed tightly enough to keep the same point of impact consistently?
- Would prefer something with a suppressor built into the barrel to keep it backyard friendly. I will be shooting it 90% of the time on my property on a 25 yd range.
I'm leaning towards a fixed barrel underlever cocking rifle because of my price range and the concerns I have about other designs. Would appreciate any input or suggestions, especially if my concerns (like break barrels eventually having droop or losing accuracy over time) are unfounded.
