Tips for first time air rifle owner of Ataman M2 .357 Caliber Air Rifle?

[ardaneo]

I'd like community input on essential accessories, maintenance gear, repair parts, best pellets, and anything else you'd tell someone new to air rifles. I’m assuming that parts will become increasingly long-term unavailable due to socio-economic conditions in the next weeks to months (stated: 9-17-2022).

What else would you like a noob to know about owning air guns, especially higher end air guns and accessories? My main reason for purchasing was to have a “fun” gun with a lot of uniqueness but also potential for use in a survivalist style emergency.

I got a little overexcited and impulsively purchased the following equipment. I’d appreciate any kind of feedback, even a "yay" or "nay" about any of this equipment. I’m especially ignorant when it comes to when it comes to the tank and compressor.

I'm hopeful your advice can help the next future air gun enthusiast. Thanks.

Air Rifle​

1) Ataman M2 .375 Caliber Bullpup Air Rifle (Black Synthetic). Sale Price: $899 Baker Airguns

Silencer​

2) Donnie FL Ronnin with Ataman M2R .357 M18x1 adapter A27 $263 DonnieFL

Tank​

3) Tuxing Carbon Fiber Air Tank 3L, CE Approved, 30 Cu Ft / 4500 PSI, for PCP Paintball Scuba（Empty Bottle）$219 Amazon

• Owfeel M18x1.5 DIN Valve Scuba Adapter with Gauge, Pcp Scuba Tank Valve 4500psi Working Pressure with 22-inch-Long Black Hose for Air Tank, PCP Air Rifle, Paintball, and HPA Tank (M18x1.5 Threads) $54 Amazon

• Maddog Paintball Airsoft Fill Whip Hose Extension 4500 Psi PCP - 36 inch Stainless Steel Charging System $22 Amazon

Compressor and Pump​

4) Tuxing 4500Psi Pcp Air Compressor, Built-in Two Stage Filtration Water-Oil Separator Filter, Auto-stop Version $739 (before -20% discount coupon) Amazon

• Royal Purple Synthetic Compressor Oil (1 Quart) $27 Amazon

5) Air Venturi MK5 Pump with external moisture filter $250 Pyramid Air

Other and Tacticool​

6) Hoppe's No. 9 Cleaning Kit with Aluminum Rod, .38/.357 Caliber, 9mm Pistol $13.99 Amazon

7) Galatian QE III .177 $350 (closeout) Hatsan website (never fired. Leak in air tank likely due to debris from unlubricated o-rings on the venturi adapter.)

8) Streamlight 88066 Pro Tac Rail Mount 1000 Lumen $100 Amazon

Optics​

9) Sig Sauer SOR52001 Romeo5 1x20mm Compact 2 Moa Red Dot Sight, Black $124 Amazon

*I’ve since seen this same model at a local Fleet Farm for $99 in store sale or $109 online.

10) Sniper NT 4-16X50 AOGL Hunting Scope Glass, Etched Reticle $150 Amazon

11) ACOG 4x32 BAC Black Riflescope $1002 Fleet Farm (Sale price. Not yet purchased).

Bipod​

12) CvLife 6-9 inches bipod. Picatinny with adapter $20 Amazon

Pellets​

13) Skirted Pellets

• .35 Vortex Strike pellets 82g $13 Amazon
• 13) JBS .35 Domed 77.62g

14) Specialty Slugs $17-35 Amazon

• Nielson Specialty Slug .35 93gr $29 Amazon
• Piprox Nielsen specialty (hollow) .357 79g $29 Amazon
• Predator Polymag .35 81.01g $22 Amazon (sale)
• SHTFandGO Impact .357 $39 Amazon
• Benjamin .357 extreme 145g Bullet by Nosler $17 Amazon (sale price)

*Edit: I would have bought the Ataman M2R carabine from Brian.in.MI on this site for $1200 but, sadly, i couldn't find the link or remember the website before i found another M2R on Baker Airguns. Brian's carabine is a real beauty. https://www.airgunnation.com/threads/for-sale-ataman-35-cal-m2r-tact-carbine.1273446/

 

[Gerry52]

On your cleaning kit. I would avoid using solvent & I very rarely run bronze brushes through my barrels. I've got some stiff NYLON brushes that I use if ever needed. My guns only need cleaning once a year but only if accuracy drops off. It's worked for me but there will probably be differing opinions. I've always liked the Ataman guns. The .357 must be a MONSTER! Good luck. Btw, I found those STRIKE pellets to be absolute garbage (their original Vortex were much better). You'll probably have better luck with the JSB.

 

[Scotay42]

Polymags and jsb for pellets. Slugs, nsa and flannigans 163g hps on ebay fly excellent. Make sure your scope has solid mildots or moa (whichever you prefer) you will need a 40-50yd zero and use drop charts for further shots. Avoid anything petrolem based. Rubber and silicone safe products are best, for any orings that may be used.

 

[Scotay42]

I'd like community input on essential accessories, maintenance gear, repair parts, best pellets, and anything else you'd tell someone new to air rifles. I’m assuming that parts will become increasingly long-term unavailable due to socio-economic conditions in the next weeks to months (stated: 9-17-2022).

What else would you like a noob to know about owning air guns, especially higher end air guns and accessories? My main reason for purchasing was to have a “fun” gun with a lot of uniqueness but also potential for use in a survivalist style emergency.

I got a little overexcited and impulsively purchased the following equipment. I’d appreciate any kind of feedback, even a "yay" or "nay" about any of this equipment. I’m especially ignorant when it comes to when it comes to the tank and compressor.

I'm hopeful your advice can help the next future air gun enthusiast. Thanks.

Air Rifle​

1) Ataman M2 .375 Caliber Bullpup Air Rifle (Black Synthetic). Sale Price: $899 Baker Airguns

Silencer​

2) Donnie FL Ronnin with Ataman M2R .357 M18x1 adapter A27 $263 DonnieFL

Tank​

3) Tuxing Carbon Fiber Air Tank 3L, CE Approved, 30 Cu Ft / 4500 PSI, for PCP Paintball Scuba（Empty Bottle）$219 Amazon

• Owfeel M18x1.5 DIN Valve Scuba Adapter with Gauge, Pcp Scuba Tank Valve 4500psi Working Pressure with 22-inch-Long Black Hose for Air Tank, PCP Air Rifle, Paintball, and HPA Tank (M18x1.5 Threads) $54 Amazon

• Maddog Paintball Airsoft Fill Whip Hose Extension 4500 Psi PCP - 36 inch Stainless Steel Charging System $22 Amazon

Compressor and Pump​

4) Tuxing 4500Psi Pcp Air Compressor, Built-in Two Stage Filtration Water-Oil Separator Filter, Auto-stop Version $739 (before -20% discount coupon) Amazon

• Royal Purple Synthetic Compressor Oil (1 Quart) $27 Amazon

5) Air Venturi MK5 Pump with external moisture filter $250 Pyramid Air

Other and Tacticool​

6) Hoppe's No. 9 Cleaning Kit with Aluminum Rod, .38/.357 Caliber, 9mm Pistol $13.99 Amazon

7) Galatian QE III .177 $350 (closeout) Hatsan website (never fired. Leak in air tank likely due to debris from unlubricated o-rings on the venturi adapter.)

8) Streamlight 88066 Pro Tac Rail Mount 1000 Lumen $100 Amazon

Optics​

9) Sig Sauer SOR52001 Romeo5 1x20mm Compact 2 Moa Red Dot Sight, Black $124 Amazon

*I’ve since seen this same model at a local Fleet Farm for $99 in store sale or $109 online.

10) Sniper NT 4-16X50 AOGL Hunting Scope Glass, Etched Reticle $150 Amazon

11) ACOG 4x32 BAC Black Riflescope $1002 Fleet Farm (Sale price. Not yet purchased).

Bipod​

12) CvLife 6-9 inches bipod. Picatinny with adapter $20 Amazon

Pellets​

13) Skirted Pellets

• .35 Vortex Strike pellets 82g $13 Amazon
• 13) JBS .35 Domed 77.62g

14) Specialty Slugs $17-35 Amazon

• Nielson Specialty Slug .35 93gr $29 Amazon
• Piprox Nielsen specialty (hollow) .357 79g $29 Amazon
• Predator Polymag .35 81.01g $22 Amazon (sale)
• SHTFandGO Impact .357 $39 Amazon
• Benjamin .357 extreme 145g Bullet by Nosler $17 Amazon (sale price)

*Edit: I would have bought the Ataman M2R carabine from Brian.in.MI on this site for $1200 but, sadly, i couldn't find the link or remember the website before i found another M2R on Baker Airguns. Brian's carabine is a real beauty. https://www.airgunnation.com/threads/for-sale-ataman-35-cal-m2r-tact-carbine.1273446/

Bullpup is the way to go, love a bullpup. My current air fam. I have had my eye on an ataman or another bulldog for a while now. Great choice.

 

[ardaneo]

On your cleaning kit. I would avoid using solvent & I very rarely run bronze brushes through my barrels. I've got some stiff NYLON brushes that I use if ever needed. My guns only need cleaning once a year but only if accuracy drops off. It's worked for me but there will probably be differing opinions. I've always liked the Ataman guns. The .357 must be a MONSTER! Good luck. Btw, I found those STRIKE pellets to be absolute garbage (their original Vortex were much better). You'll probably have better luck with the JSB.

Thanks for the advice. I looked more carefully at the cleaning kit after reading your posting to see what was included and realized the barrel cleaning gear was strictly for pistols, the kit was wrongly advertised as being for "air rifles". I also went back to pyramid air, mainly just to show love to an air gun centric vendor, and bought the limit of 8 tins of JSB.

 

[ardaneo]

Polymags and jsb for pellets. Slugs, nsa and flannigans 163g hps on ebay fly excellent. Make sure your scope has solid mildots or moa (whichever you prefer) you will need a 40-50yd zero and use drop charts for further shots. Avoid anything petrolem based. Rubber and silicone safe products are best, for any orings that may be used.

Thanks a bunch for the reminder to avoid petrolium products. i'm so accustomed to slathering an m16 with clp that i don't think to question the logic of such things on gasket bearing items. the tips on slugs are great. it's too early to be sure but it looks like the SHTFandGO Impact .357 $39 Amazon won't chamber in this gun. too bad, they look like incredible slugs. the manufacturer went through the trouble of adding a rubber gasket to the base of the slugs. i don't know that it makes a difference but that looks like it would be a pain in the butt from a manufacturing perspective.

i'll have to look into drop charts. they are unfamiliar to me although the basic concept sounds pretty simple.

 

[ardaneo]

Bullpup is the way to go, love a bullpup. My current air fam. I have had my eye on an ataman or another bulldog for a while now. Great choice.

View attachment 290447

Do you think the Holosun HS510C Circle Dot Sight w/HM3X Magnifier Combo is a suitable optic for the bullpup?

my friends talked me out of getting an acog for it. "overkill" on the optics. yet i don't mind a little bit of overkill on optics as they are transferrable to more common rifle types and seem to retain value really well. although i'm not sure of the idea or maximum magnification for the m2r, i'm gearing toward 3x magnification as an aid to an approximately 150 yard max practical shooting range with potential for closer range and more rapid engagements with possible medium sized forest predators.

Holosun HS510C 3x Circle Dot Sight w/HM3X Magnifier Combo HS510C+HM3X Combo, Color: Black w/ Free Shipping

Shop Holosun HS510C 3x Circle Dot Sight w/HM3X Magnifier Combo | 4.8 Star Rating on 58 Reviews for Holosun HS510C 3x Circle Dot Sight w/HM3X Magnifier Combo Best Rated + Free Shipping...

www.opticsplanet.com

https://www.opticsplanet.com/review...-circle-dot-sight-w-hm3x-magnifier-combo.html

 

[ardaneo]

Quick update: the m2r bullpup from Baker Airguns came with a DonnyFL Ronin and M2R adapter and a 2nd magazine all for $899. Unless i'm missing something, it's hard for me to believe Baker can sell "new" guns this cheaply.

 

[Scotay42]

If you get a chroograph or know your average speed, you can use the chairgun app, and cross reference with 2 different range shots and see how well it matches their data. Ebay has the flanigans slugs, 163g hps are short enough to fit about any mag. Between those and nsa for best slug for the money.

 

[Scotay42]

Quick update: the m2r bullpup from Baker Airguns came with a DonnyFL Ronin and M2R adapter and a 2nd magazine all for $899. Unless i'm missing something, it's hard for me to believe Baker can sell "new" guns this cheaply.

That is a steal. Probably not new,maybe refurbished.

 

[Trucker3573]

Sounds pretty good other than don’t use the hoppes solvent get some ballistol. If you can send the hill hand pump back I would. Just get a 50 dollar China pump. It will work just as well and it is only a backup anyway. A chronograph is an utter must. Sounds like you are ready to have fun.

 

[Removed]

One of the most critical things overlooked is a chronograph and rangefinder.