I don't get the gun weight thing???

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coop709

coop709

Member
Nov 13, 2015
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Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States
Ok, I don't understand why guys go and spend $700 on a gun like a TX 200 then lower the power to 12 ft lbs. If I am going to carry that kind of weight, I will get the benefit of the power. I have two R1's. That platform would be useless to me at 12 ft lbs. After you add a large scope, the gun is over 11 pounds. At over 18 ft lbs of power, the extra heft helps. If I just wanted 12 ft lbs, I would tune an HW 50 and be able to tote it around all day. I don't understand how they even sell "magnum" platforms in Europe. The gun is more expensive, heavier, and harder to handle, but puts out the same power as this medium weight gun next to it. Its a no-brainer. There must be something that I don't get. I am not a power freak at all. I want my magnum guns to shoot a medium weight pellet at 850 to 900 fps. I also very much appreciate my HW 30, its an all-day shooter and the perfect gun to bring to the backyard cookout, but if it was 11 pounds and shot 600 fps, I would find another option.
 
It would seem to me that you don't have a lot of experience with formal target shooting where weight is a good thing, but power not so much. When a moderate weight spring rifle is tuned down it generally becomes much easier and pleasant to shoot. The potential precision of the rifle may be improved as well, and certainly the shooter's.

In the U.K. a lot of small game is taken with the 12 ft-lb limit with good success. As Americans we tend to have an attitude that bigger, faster, and more power are good things. There is also the idea that cleaner kills are made with heavier and faster projectiles. This is not always the case. The only real advantage that the heavier and slightly faster pellet gets you is a bit flatter trajectory and a bit less wind drift.

As one who grew up doing a fair amount of formal target shooting, I tend to prefer rifles with a bit more weight. As an example, my highpower across the course match rifle weighs in at 14 pounds unloaded. My Armada that I've made to try to duplicate that rifle weighs about 13 pounds. I do not find them to be all that heavy, but very stable. 
 
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Guys buy the tx 200 because they are great springers and they usually shoot better around 12 fpe than 18 - 20 fpe. So guys will tune them down slightly for the better shot cycle. People like different things. I wouldnt buy a 12 pound bulpup pcp but I really liked my TX200 even tho its heavy. Some guys would buy that heavy pup but never want the tx200. 
 
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There are a few good articles on how/why the TX200 is often "detuned". Will try to find them.

As I recall the theory is that at some point AA increased swept volume of the TX200 line to try and "catch up" with more modern powerhouses, by increasing the piston stroke and spring rate, in the process some if the TX200's inherent smoothness was forsaken. Some tuners go so far as shortening the newer gun's stroke during the "recalibration", eliminating the lion's share of the "twang", which often brings more consistent results where "tiny" groups are concerned.

 
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"coop709"Ok, I don't understand why guys go and spend $700 on a gun like a TX 200 then lower the power to 12 ft lbs. If I am going to carry that kind of weight, I will get the benefit of the power. I have two R1's. That platform would be useless to me at 12 ft lbs. After you add a large scope, the gun is over 11 pounds. At over 18 ft lbs of power, the extra heft helps. If I just wanted 12 ft lbs, I would tune an HW 50 and be able to tote it around all day. I don't understand how they even sell "magnum" platforms in Europe. The gun is more expensive, heavier, and harder to handle, but puts out the same power as this medium weight gun next to it. Its a no-brainer. There must be something that I don't get. I am not a power freak at all. I want my magnum guns to shoot a medium weight pellet at 850 to 900 fps. I also very much appreciate my HW 30, its an all-day shooter and the perfect gun to bring to the backyard cookout, but if it was 11 pounds and shot 600 fps, I would find another option.
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Whats even more confusing is why you would carry a springer in the first place. hahahahaha.
 
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The less equipment you have, the less there is to carry. The less equipment you have, the less there is to go wrong. After my TX200 and HW90 were stolen, in Phoenix, I had to choose a new gun. Each year I spend 3 months in the backwoods and I wanted an airgun that didn't require additional equipment and a multitude of tools should it need to be repaired. The TX200 is one of the simplest airguns to repair and it is very durable. The spring can be changed quickly and easily with no more than two allen wrenches. I've taken animals as small as mice and as large as grey fox at distances from 5yards to 50yards. I've taken birds as small as dove and as large as turkey at distances from 10 yards to 75 yards. It is a heavy gun but it's also top quality, deadly accurate and consistent. I'm sure that you could tune down a crosman magnum and still not achieve the accuracy and consistency of the TX200.
 
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As far as carrying a springer, I am constantly amazed by the simplicity. I have no intention to go to the "dark side." I love my springers, I am not a TX 200 guy. I went with the Pro Sport, and with a full power vortek kit, it is amazing. I still prefer the "built like a tank" design of the HW line. My bottom line is that, if I were going to go with a gun in the area of 12 ft lbs, I would not do it in a 10 lb package. It is sometimes a pleasure to shoot a low powered gun, but I expect that to come with low weight when talking about a field gun.
 
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"gamyrick"The less equipment you have, the less there is to carry. The less equipment you have, the less there is to go wrong. After my TX200 and HW90 were stolen, in Phoenix, I had to choose a new gun. Each year I spend 3 months in the backwoods and I wanted an airgun that didn't require additional equipment and a multitude of tools should it need to be repaired. The TX200 is one of the simplest airguns to repair and it is very durable. The spring can be changed quickly and easily with no more than two allen wrenches. I've taken animals as small as mice and as large as grey fox at distances from 5yards to 50yards. I've taken birds as small as dove and as large as turkey at distances from 10 yards to 75 yards. It is a heavy gun but it's also top quality, deadly accurate and consistent. I'm sure that you could tune down a crosman magnum and still not achieve the accuracy and consistency of the TX200.
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Yes. And yes. I'm really falling in love with mine. Took the dog out squirrel hunting today. Really just wanted to get the pup some exercise. Since I'm still breaking in the TX we took the Wildcat. It's such a good hunter but it just does not satisfy like the springer. It won't be long till I take it to the woods. I live in the woods. The dog just loves to hunt squirrels. He's very good at it. He can spot a squirrel over a hundred yards away. He's taught me a lot about squirrels. He finds them not in trees but on the ground. He sniffs their little trails on the ground and figures out which tree they are in. I let him eat one as a reward. lol

Don't think I've ever shown my dog, Rio, here. He's a Texas Lacy. Most call them Blue Lacy's but they do come in other colors. He takes squirrel hunting very seriously.


 
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I'm largely a springer shooter and I really enjoy hunting with my springers. There is something special about walking the woods or fields with my R1k or pro sport. The technology is 50+ years old, but can still get the job done. I've taken many rabbits, tree squirrels, ground squirrels, dove and quail.

That said, all of my hunting springers are in .177 cal and setup at 12-12.5fpe. The reason is simple. Accuracy. I've tested my accuracy at various power levels (up to 18fpe) and 12fpe or thereabouts is the sweet spot IMHO. I can achieve PCP type accuracy at 12fpe. That is also plenty of power for small game out to 35-40 yards. At higher power levels I was simply less confident in my ability to place the shot. 

The weight is no big deal. I have a sling on all my hunting springers.

R
 
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