Looking for advice

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mwarden62009

Member
Nov 19, 2020
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Ontario, Canada
Hi,



I'm new to the forums and am looking to get my first air rifle to see if i like the sport and want to jump into it more. I am looking between the Gamo Varmint 1250fps in .177 vs the Crosman Nitro Venom 1200fps in .177. I will be looking to dispatch small game such as rats, squirrels and problematic birds that keep causing damage to my property and house. I live in Canada and have a valid firearms license witch make it legal for me to use and poses one of this power rating. The reason I have looked at these 2 are they are both about the $200 give or take a few dollars.



Would anyone that has used or know of these models give me some good advice on the 2 rifles aside from the 50fps difference and the Nitro Piston vs the Spring Piston? I would like to know about reliability and accuracy mostly. I would consider other rifles if you have recommendations that would be in the same price point CAD.



Thanks in advance for your advise!!!
 
Generally speaking, these “high” speed “high” power rifles are not worth the purchase. Pellets de stabilize at those higher speeds and the guns jump quite a bit, so accuracy suffers a lot. Inevitably you either hate airguns, or realize you need a better quality gun. Now a good gun can be $250ish to $600 plus. So you end up spending way more than just saving up a bit and getting a decent gun to begin with.

I’m a big fan of the Weihrauchs. Check out the HW95. Also, hit up the search feature up there and do some reading. Lots of answers already available. 
 
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@mwarden62009 you should’ve chase speed, and I plan to back the regulator down on my Leshiy 2 for pellet stability reasons, 960 FPS for a 10.34 grain JSB is too fast, and supposedly this is the pellet for the leshiy 2. So far seems okay, but again, wouldn’t mind having it cruising around 900-920 FPS .

you might keep an eye out in the AGN classifieds for a used Weihrauchs / Beeman.
 
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Thank you Blackpaw for the feed back. I have been recommended Weilhrauchs before. They seem to have a very good reputation. The dealer in Canada is all sole out and because these are classified a firearm in Canada, getting them across the border is a real pain unless you are a business. I have been told about the Benjamin Maximus PCP before as well. Any idea weather these are worth it. Can get them for around $239.
 
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Thanks. I will look at it a bit closer. I am using a buddies Crosman Phantom .22 at the moment rated for 495fps. I find inside 40-50 ft it is accurate. Over 50ft you cant get a good group at all. My initial thought was that the gun was under powered for the size of the pellet. Thats why i Looked at a .177 with higher rating in hopes that matched with a good heavier grain would offer a more stable flight and better accuracy with the knock down at the end up to 100ft.
 
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Hi Glem Chally,



I am hoping to get a more stable flight with the power at the end when matched with a good heavier pellet. I hope this would mean I am on a good track by looking at it this way and not trying to get supper fast speeds. I would use my Henry Lever .22 if I wanted it to be fast. LOL just lookign for something safe in the backyard that wont cause damage if a ricochet was to happen.
 
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Do not get fooled by high speed advertisements regarding airguns. It is a way to fool unexperianced byers to choose theire products based on speed. We have all fallen for it, me included many years ago bying a powerfull springer. I would look at an old video by Ted bier, where he shows what negative effect of to high speed can have on a pellet. Even he use a PCP in his case, it is true for springers also, if you try to push a light pellet to fast https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFou_4VqLBY. 
 
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Hi Tor47,



My thought was if I got something that was a bit stronger that the 495fps stuff that with a well matched heavier pellet I would achieve a more stable and accurate flight patch good for hunting some pests around the property. I will have a look at the video link you posted too. But I am not sold on the super fast stuff and the money they charge for them. I have just seen my buddies .22 at 495fps have consistent accuracy issues beyond 50 feet. Would you think that this is the right way to be looking at it, or am I still missing something in the formula for a good accurate pest controller. Or would a PCP at the 500fps mark be good enough because you are not breaking open the barrel?
 
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No question, PCPs give much easier accuracy than springers (spring or inert gas power does not really make a difference). No recoil means you don't need to worry about your scope becoming roadkill in a hurry either.

If you want to go for light to carry, quality build and great 50 yd accuracy at a reasonable price, go for the Gamo Urban or the Kral Puncher each in .22. The Gamo has one of the most ergonomic synthetic thumbhole stocks available. The Kral has the choice between a well-made S or a very nice walnut. Search for the reviews on this forum, Pyramydair and Hardairmagazine (I find the latter to be way too harsh on the Kral). Both guns are unregulated thus simpler.

By the way, I would not go for the gun-pump combo. More expensive usually than getting the Urban for 300-some and the separate pump for another 30 or so. Enjoy the browsing & reading!🐦


 
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Hi Parrotculler,



Thank you for the input. I am looking to more or less handle squirrel, rats and birds that are causing damage around the property. Maybe hunt rabbit too. For bigger stuff like racoon and so on... I have .22LR and .22WMR in the cabinet already. In PCP, would one at the 50fps rating do the job? My buddy is eyeing the Benjamin Maximus and the price here north the border isn't too bad on those. But I am going to have a peak at the Gamo Urban and the Kral Puncher as well to see what the price is on them up here. 
 
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Everything I have heard about the Gamo Urban is good & would be my choice if I was on a tight PCP budget. I actually bought one, but had to return it because the package came damaged & was missing the probe. You will need a hand pump as well. Can probably get a cheap one from Fleabay. 

Check your local laws. I can’t fathom them classifying a Weihrauch break barrel as firearm but not a Gamo that is advertised as shooting over 1200fps. 
 
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I had a Crossman nitro piston that I bought brand new and while I was signing it in, the pellets started dropping lower on the target and finally they started just barely making it out of the barrel. So after about 30 shots it lost all its power. The Piston probably leaked all the gas out of it.If you’re going to go with the break barrel I would go with Weihrauch.But far as a lower-priced PCP Air rifle, a Benjamin Maximus is pretty good for the price. I have one I bought three years ago with no problems at all. .
 
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Hi Intenseaty22,



I have checked local laws. In Canada anything that fire a projectile faster than 500fps in legally classified a firearm regardless of weather it is powered by powder or air. It sucks, but I have my license and don't need to worry about being found in possession of one. Thanks for the input on the Gamo Urban!! I was originally looking at the Gamo Varmint 1250fps available at Cabelas for $179. But I have a feeling that I may not really enjoy that model.
 
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Hi Ripper,



Out to what range does your Maximus stay consistent? Also, are you using the .22 or the .177 version and at full strength or the detuned version?
Click to expand...

Mine is 17 caliber. You might want to go with the 22 caliber. I’ve only shot mine out to 35 yards and it will hold a 3/8 Group at that distance. But that’s not with a rock solid rest either.Mine is not detuned.
 
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