Need Help Finding the Right Air Rifle for Target Practice

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KnowNothing

Member
Jul 8, 2019
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California, United States
First of all, I made a big mistake when I purchased a Swiss Air TG-1 Break Barrel Rifle. I tried tonight to cock the thing, and finally got it to click on the fourth try. This tells me I am not strong enough to continuously have to cock and load one of these break barrel rifles. 

So I need to find something else that I can at least use for my back yard target practice. All I need is a low power rifle that shoots in the range of about 500 fps a .177 pellet.. I'd love to be able to mount the type of sights that are used on the very expensive target rifles used in 10 meter competition in the Olympics.

The problem is I cannot afford one of those fancy air rifles that are used in the Olympics, and all the various support equipment needed to make it possible to shoot them.

So that probably leaves very few rifles to choose from, since I cannot use PCP or Springer type rifles.

Anyone have a clue as to what might fit my needs. I will give you my personal specs just in case that will help. First of all, I am 69 years young, and with age, have lost some strength, though I can still dead lift about 200 pounds. I just cannot translate that into cocking a springer rifle. I am six feet two inches tall, and have longer arms than the average person. Not quite gorilla arms though. :) And no, no hairy knuckles. :) Another strength problem I have are my fingers which are arthritic. I have a Crossman CR357 air pistol that I have to cock the hammer on in order to be able to properly squeeze the trigger. It would be nice to be able to adjust a trigger that will allow me to squeeze it, instead of having to brute strength.

I've noted that Daisy makes a basic competition rifle for about $260, which is cocked. But I do not know how much strength is required to cock one. And it is possible that this rifle is too short for me to use properly.

I hope someone has some idea. If not, then I have a lot of stuff I will be selling soon, because I can't use it
 
Hmmm, have you looked at some of the old 10m spring guns. RWS 75 or a FWB 300s are fairly easy to cock with a great trigger. There are some other single stroke pneumatics that are very high quality too.

On the PCP end of things there are many Airguns that can have match sights attached of that is what you are looking for. The Daisy 599 as well as the Air Arms s200 come to mind quickly.

What is your price range including accessories that you want to stay within?
 
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Check out the Beeman AR2078A from Pyramyd air. It is a Co2 rifle, so easy to cock. The single pump Daisy should be a good option too, it is used for training school kids, and they can pump it while wrapped up the the sling laying prone. The Daisy 880 should be available at your local Wal Mart and they go on sale for $40 or so periodically, they are easy to pump and will only need 3 or 4 pumps per shot for what you want to do.
 
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COA, What is easy for most people to cock, I am betting is not easy for me. If you are at all familiar with the Swiss Air TG-1, then you know it is a bear to cock. I never realized just how awkward it would be to cock a springer rifle, as everyone doing reviews made it look so easy. Now I know they probably had muscle on their muscles in order to do that.

I did find the Daisy 599, and it is really a beautiful piece of art. It is PCP, and I just do not know how I would put air into it, as my budget does not include an air compressor, and all the various pieces you need to buy in order to mate it up to the rifle. I know, based on what people have said about the hand pumps that I would not last very long pumping up the gun manually. And the electric air pump is nearly $800. So I am priced out or pooped out depending on what I would use. 

I think my getting back into shooting is a lost cause because of the cost, and the fact I do not have the physical hand strength I used to. Guess I will just quit, and give everything I have accumulated to a friend,
 
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c_m_shooter, Can you tell me just what you have to purchase to get a fully operational Beeman AR2078A It mentions it requires two 12 gram CO2 cartridges. I cannot determine if these are included. It also mentions that you need a fill tank and apparently some kind of adapter hose with connectors. Needless to say I am at a loss to figure out how much extra stuff needs to be purchased to get the rifle operational. On top of that, it seems you still need a place to fill up the fill tanks you have. I'm not sure that in the end run, it costs any less than a regular PCP rifle with accessories.

I'm going to write AirgunDepot to see what they say about what is needed, and if this particular rifle is suitable for 10 meter target shooting.
 
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for the rifle a Hammerli 850

i'll tell you a pistol like an old S&W 78 or 79 would be fine single shot might no work, then how about a Diana chaser pistol or the kit

in the kit you get a pistol and a rifle barrel you could get some mags price is right of course it has a shoulder stock very light weight 

the Diana 75's and the FWB 300's are great rifle but they are not light, I know the 75's are easy to cock but that is for me

now the 850 could have diopter sights added but you need some parts and that is more money

a Daisy 853 or 853c could work but I have found the loading of pellets is not easy for fat fingers or maybe fingers that aren't working as they once did

and I know you would like to get this right the first time

so i'll keep thinking about it

in the mean time take care

mike
 
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CM, Thanks I looked at the specs for the Beeman, and found it violates the, I think it is called, "Muzzle Velocity", that 10 meter competition requiress, that being around 500 fps. Te Beeman is a nice rifle, but I am trying to shoot within the limits of the rules, even if I am only shooting in my own back yard.

I did some more searching on the net, and found Amazon selling an Avanti 753 Match Grade Elite Competition Rifle for $280. I got the last one. This is still needing some muscle to cock, as it is a lever cocking type. But I don't think it requires anything like the muscle required for the TG-1. Anyone interested in the TG-1 at half price plus shipping?
 
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Dan, I was making my comment above based on what i saw, when it came to rifles available online. Those were the top end rifles that cost $1500 or more. All of them show somewhere between 460--520, or about an average of 500.

The Beeman product write up mentions that it is a Biathlon rifle, and has a velocity of about 670-680. I really do like the Beeman though. If I really get hooked on target practice, I probably will purchase the Beeman. Always nice to have a backup rifle.

My own preference, regardless of what is allowed, is to stay on the low end since I am shooting in my back yard, and do not want something punching through my back stop. When I purchased the TG-1, I failed to look at the FPS rating. Supposedly it is around 1400, but most reported that it was closer to 1100, or even less
 
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Amazon got the Daisy Avanti 753 Match Grade Elite Competition Rifle to me in two days. I believe that because the price was so good, this is something someone sent back. I couldn't find any problems with the rifle, other than the instructions are missing.

The rifle is pretty much self explanatory. The sights were easy enough to install. The adjustable butt plate inserts (3) that came with the rifle are a bit ugly when installed. I just needed one to feel comfortable supporting the rifle. One of those inserts is a bit warped, so that may be the reason for the return. Who cares when all you need is one. The front sight inserts (five of them) are easy to remove and install. The one already in place seems to be the perfect one for my eyes, though I won't know until I actually get outside in good light, and see just how the target appears.

Other than the butt plate inserts, this is a pretty nice looking rifle. I still cannot figure out if the butt and side panels are wood, or very good plastic imitations.

The cocking mechanism seems very easy to move. I did not fully cock it because I do not want to break something by dry firing it like I did with my TG-1. Thank goodness the TG-1 seems OK. But the Avanti cocking mechanism, through about 3/4's full movement is silky smooth. I do believe that a young person should be able to perform this task, which means GEE!. I should also. I will find out tomorrow morning when I shoot just one pellet as a test. I am not ready quite yet for using the rifle. I still have work to do on the full sized back stop.

Right now I am firing my Crossman CR357 pistol at shorter ranges, as I am trying to figure out how to dial in the sights on that. I finally realized that there is no way for me to accurately dial in the sights when I am standing, and holding it with both hands. My hands/arms are not a very steady platform. So tomorrow I will use a table and something to prop the barrel on so I have a steady aim. That should allow me to make the necessary adjustments to get a dead center hit. Then I know if I miss the center of the target while standing, it is just my fault, not the sights. Will use this same method to sight in the Avanti.

So far I have enjoyed my short outings in the back yard, firing off 20 rounds. Only problem is that it rained a few days ago, and that has brought out the gnats/flies. It's nearly impossible to concentrate when you are getting eaten alive.

So far, without firing the Avanti, I am extremely pleased. It may not be the highest quality, but then, it is a lot better than the TG-1 in both looks and function. The only advantage the TG-1 may have is better hitting power, if yo are shooting at a solid target.

Thanks for Everyone taking the time to talk me through the various options, and pretty much force me to do more research. It allowed me to get what I think will be a good first target rifle. If my enjoyment continues, later on I can think of one of those fancy PCP setups.

CaleyAnn


 
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Good to her your posts becoming more positive. I agree that dry firing should be fine, except that you can't guarantee there is no pellet in the chamber now. A reasonable backstop is needed. We have all shot these using a cardboard box full of old newspapers, magazines or even rags as a trap. Enjoy your trigger time, and when you are sighting in you move the rear sight in the direction you want the pellet to go.
 
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CM, I check the barrel to ensure there wasn't an obstruction. That's easy enough if you use the cleaning rod.

Since I have a two person consensus that a dry fire is OK, I went ahead and cocked the rifle. I now know that moving the lever up is the easy part. When I tried using the same force to return the lever, I met a lot of resistance. I figured that I just had to be a bit more forceful, and it returned fairly easily. It still is a lot easier than the TG-1; about twice as easy.
 
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Weather good this morning. I took the Avanti out for just that one shot. It hit about 3.5 inches down and half an inch to the right of target center. So I will have to dedicate one morning to zeroing in the sights. But I am happy. It is a lot easier to handle than a pistol.

Speaking of pistol. I shot 36 rounds through my Crossman CR357. The first 5 shots I used to zero in, shooting just one shot, then making adjustments. Then I shot the remaining 7 shots, and was still all over the place. But it wasn't my sights this time. On the next 12 shots I got progressively closer to dead center, finally realizing that I was not holding the pistol in a comfortable position. The last 12 shots, as far as I can ascertain, ripped out the center of the target. All of this was at 20 feet. I'm feeling confidant that I can eventually move back to 33 feet, and still hit within five inches of the center. My eyes aren't good enough to shoot like the young people.

I actually enjoyed the session. I sure will be glad when the gnats/flies die out for the season. The make sighting a target difficult, as then keep going for my eyes.
 
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I didn't get out this morning with the Avanti. I chickened out, not wanting to brave the gnats and flies that swarm this time of year. I have some good welts on me where they touched me. Seems I am allergic to whatever their bodies leave when they touch my skin. Or maybe it is from them biting me. I am one of those rare people who cannot feel pain. One reason why I didn't have any pain following my open heart surgery this past June. Told the doctors I don't need pain medication, which puzzled them.
 
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