Bought My First Airgun

I know nothing about the ruger impact but i do know the HW95 in .22 cal I own is a very accurate rifle out to 55yrds from experience. It is build very well and should last a very long time. I paid just over 350.00 for it.

Based on numerous non favorable online reviews and especially being a WALMART gun, I woud just return it and buy a better gun such as for instance in that price range you can't beat the German made Walther Terrus or Parrus for a super deal price $149 both are 177s from AofA which the Parrus is the bigger magnum version to shoot heavy pellets. I really believe that you will be much happier with either of them and they both have wood stocks, not plastic. There are other suggestions such as the RWS 34 which would be a competitor of the lower powered Terrus for $150 from Cabelas but I can't verify that because when I did a search on Cabelas they were much more than $150.00 which others who had posted here had stated.

IMHO springers in general which are made in Germany and England are the BEST there is no question about that.

I am going to post a question regarding a 22 caliber Nova Freedom or the Seneca Aspen which cost more than what the Ruger cost but that is what I would explore if you could afford to do so because it is a PCP with a pump built in which does not recoil as do spring guns which in turn make it very easy to shoot accurately with. It is in the price range of an HW 95 or Beeman R9. Had an R9, a tuned one fantastic springer and it would be an upgrade for me to buy a PCP with built in pump since it has no recoil and should be easier to shoot accurately. Have read the pumping takes very little effort so I have decided to explore it further and would be on the next to buy list. I got really tired cocking a tuned R9 all day long!

WV

I bought the Ruger Impact Max .22 and it is not very accurate. Open sights was more accurate than the scope that came with it. It shoots wild shots 1 out of 3 with the scope.

1" groups at 10yds with open sights.

2 1/2" groups at 15yds with the scope. Shot 50+ shots from a bench-rest and I'm convinced it isn't me but the scope and/or rifle.

Should I simply get a different scope?

Should I return this rifle and get a better one? If so, which one?

Looking for something that will last a long time with good care and be accurate in case I had to rely on it for food in a worst case scenario.

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There junk bring it back buy a gamo if you need a cheap sringer

Sorry to hear you're not happy-Have you tried different types/brands of pellets? Bench resting a powerful springer is not the best way to see what it can achieve, try resting the gun in your palm with your palm on the bag or rest and see if that helps. Try different degrees of tightness to your shoulder and try to be consistent while watching to see if a particular hold produces tighter groups. Yes it can be frustrating, but the magic hold may change your mind about the gun. Scopes are liable to shift on powerful springers, is your scope mounted securely with a pin to prevent it sliding back? You can check for scope movement by making a pencil mark on the scope and the compression tube to see if scope creep is happening. If your scope is suspect, go back to open sights until you start getting good groups, then try mounting the scope. Another thought-have you cleaned the bore? Often there is rust preventative in the bore which can impair accuracy.

I have no experience with that particular gun, so I can't comment on what to expect from it. When you mention 'reliable' and 'lifetime' the quality made German guns such as Weirauch/HW or RWS/Diana are both solid choices. You'll pay a bit more, but the results will be worth it in my opinion and experience, having started with cheap and ended up with quality. My Beeman R9 changed my life for the better-I unboxed it, mounted a scope, and proceeded to hit what I shot at and still do!

The ONLY Walmart gun that IMHO is close to being a decent springer/Ram type is the Gamo Swarm Maxxim they sell

That is because I know someone who locally bought one in 177 who had surprisingly given me favorable feedback

as well as an AEAC video review on one.

That is if I had absolutely no money to buy any better airgun from anyplace else and had a $200 Walmart Gift Card to spend.


WV

If I can disagree with the negative reviews on the Ruger Impact Max - mine has been very accurate. In fact so much so that I bought a 2nd one off ebay for cheap. I replaced the sear spring with a lighter weight spring and the trigger pull is 2 lbs now. Both are minute-of-squirrel out to 40 yards. The scope that comes with it will damage your eyes, throw it away immediately. I put a $30 Kruger 3-9x32mm scope on it and that helped tremendously. The open sights will work better than the piece of junk scope that came with it, for sure.

I have found the Impact Max to be hold sensitive and pellet picky, but not inordinately so. For hold, placing it on a bag at the balance point seems to work best for me, lightly shouldered. I'm not a great shot by any means, but the gun can hold 1" at 38 yards this way (both of them). For pellets, the H&N Terminators and Beeman Devastators are the most accurate for me (16.36gr, I think they are the same pellet). It also shoots the 18.13gr JSB fairly well and the Predator Polymags okay - but the Terminators/Devastators are the best.

Good luck! I might have a spare sear spring replacement if you want it.

I bought the Ruger Impact Max .22 and it is not very accurate. Open sights was more accurate than the scope that came with it. It shoots wild shots 1 out of 3 with the scope.

1" groups at 10yds with open sights.

2 1/2" groups at 15yds with the scope. Shot 50+ shots from a bench-rest and I'm convinced it isn't me but the scope and/or rifle.

Should I simply get a different scope?

Should I return this rifle and get a better one? If so, which one?

Looking for something that will last a long time with good care and be accurate in case I had to rely on it for food in a worst case scenario.

Click to expand...

There junk bring it back buy a gamo if you need a cheap sringer

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I would go with a Benjamin over a gamo when it comes to cheap spring/piston airguns. Thats just my opinion though. 

If its not stated some where then id insist on a return!

It is NOT a firearm. Return it saying it is DEFECTIVE and be FIRM about wanting your money back.

Ask for a manager and act really ANGRY about it.

Walt

I think the Nova Freedom or Seneca Aspen suggestion may be due to my enthusiasm about the 177 I have recently commented about. If you can just hold out in buying anything for now and just save up enough money to buy one then I would highly recommend getting it in 177 caliber. I highly doubt you will want to buy a springer after that or any other air rifle for that matter aside from another caliber to make a pair. I can only wish this gun had been available at the time when I bought my first airgun. I would have saved a lot of money in the airgun sport if I had only started with one.

I am seriously contemplating buying another one in 22 at the moment. Never in a million years would I have ever thought that I would be raving about anything made in CHINA. The Snow Peak P12 and Beeman P17 are two other CHINA made examples IMHO. The Snow Peak PP700s are also an excellent consideration and contemplation of mine.

My assessment and enthusiasm on these guns mentioned are not only based on price. I go for accuracy, function, and ease of use, non stress inducing and most importantly of all FUN TO SHOOT.

Believe me, I had my fair share of POShiz guns and those were the times that I would not be looking forward to going shooting nor to have fun and relax.


CA

I bought the Ruger Impact Max .22 and it is not very accurate. Open sights was more accurate than the scope that came with it. It shoots wild shots 1 out of 3 with the scope.

1" groups at 10yds with open sights.

2 1/2" groups at 15yds with the scope. Shot 50+ shots from a bench-rest and I'm convinced it isn't me but the scope and/or rifle.

Should I simply get a different scope?

Should I return this rifle and get a better one? If so, which one?

Looking for something that will last a long time with good care and be accurate in case I had to rely on it for food in a worst case scenario.

Click to expand...

While it could be defective, I really doubt it. Likely what you are dealing with is the learning curve in shooting a powerful spring air rifle. There is a learning process, and it is not easy. I would say shooting a spring rifle is about the hardest thing you can do, and after you master that you will be a better shooter.

With the scope, first of all the kit scopes are not the best in the world, and if you go with another scope be sure you get one that is rated for spring powered air guns....the scope could be letting you down.

This is the process I have done , rest it on a bag, rest the butt end of the rifle on another bag, get it steady. Touch the rifle as little as possible, let it jump around when it shoots....then after the shot, do your best to put the rifle on the bags in the EXACT SAME WAY as you did last time. If you move the bags the harmonics in the rifle will change and the shot will go in a different place.....if you get everything perfect you will know if the gun is the issue.

If you want a spring gun to start with get a low powered one for starters, somewhere in the 600-ish fps range. If you can't do this then be ready for a learning curve.

Someone else brought up pellets, this can make a huge....as in HUGE...difference in how the gun shoots. Even going from different head sizes can make a big difference. You are going to have to try different ammo. And going online is really the only way I know of to get ammo choice. go to straight shooters and get their sample pack, it is fantastic if you are just starting out and don't have a drawer full of different pellets. IMHO even the crosman pellets at walmart are not that fantastic....so that could be another issue.



All that said I doubt the gun is defective, as you get into this hobby if you keep going down this road, you will find there are a great many people that are very....lets say brand loyal, it makes chevy vs ford look like playground fights. These people are so biased they can't see past it and will bad mouth anything but their little brand....and nothing and I do mean NOTHING will change your mind.

Educate yourself on spring gun shooting, try different pellets, and I would bet you will get that gun shooting quarters at 25 yards in no time....it is just practice, like playing the guitar, you don't become ________ in a day....it takes lots of practice.

And be very suspicious of anyone suggesting something they have never even seen is defective and suggests you getting really mad about them not taking something back. There are many people on these boards that are very clueless at about everything, including laws.

Air rifles are firearms in a great many places and subject to the same laws, the retailer is likely very correct in saying they will not take it back and you need to send it back to Umerex for repair.

Thanks for the advice.

It's not that I thought the gun was defective, I just didn't like anything about it. The trigger pull was insanely difficult. The scope was poor. The velocity was below advertised. I tried the 3 different types of ammo from Walmart... but I know there are many other kinds.

Air rifles are not firearms in Arkansas. Air rifles are not firearms anywhere; though some laws may say otherwise.

I'll do some more looking around and seeing what's available. Dumb question here, even though that air rifle was gas piston, you say it is still a "springer" as in it has a spring?

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Gas piston guns recoil in a very similar way to springers-the shot cycle is a bit different between the two powerplants but the two-way recoil is still a factor making them just as much of a challenge to shoot well. They can also kill scopes not rated for spring-or gas piston guns.

Thanks for the advice.

It's not that I thought the gun was defective, I just didn't like anything about it. The trigger pull was insanely difficult. The scope was poor. The velocity was below advertised. I tried the 3 different types of ammo from Walmart... but I know there are many other kinds.

Air rifles are not firearms in Arkansas. Air rifles are not firearms anywhere; though some laws may say otherwise.

I'll do some more looking around and seeing what's available. Dumb question here, even though that air rifle was gas piston, you say it is still a "springer" as in it has a spring?

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youll quickly learn that most velocity claims are WAY over-inflated, and are usually with the lightest possible non lead pellet avalable (such as the pba ammo)



and if you could get the velocity up as high as the claim,you wouldnt be able to hit anything with it anyway,

as pellets arent designed to go supersonic,and accuracy goes completely out the window

glad you got a refund,