Cocking Effort

Is it a crossbow? That seems excessive.

I have a buddy with a hatsan 25 cal. it takes more than that to cock it I told him to throw it in the river . It takes the fun out of shooting let alone to be steady after just a few times of doing it . Forgot the model sorry edit : it also starts to hurt your hand !

Not a deal breaker in the least for me, Pretty low on my list actually. To me it’s just the ‘requirement’ of shooting a particular airgun. 

I have a ProSport .22, whose cocking effort is supposed to be 36 lbs. I have a slightly softer spring, but have never found the cocking effort in the least troublesome, including w/ the standard spring. In fact, I enjoy the feel and sound of the mechanism. Though I have two pcps, I do like the independence of a springer.

The short armed Lelya is a bit of work.

Deal breaker, of course not.



Mike

Cocking? We don’t need no stinkin cocking! Steyr Hunting 5 auto baby!!!

HAD an umarex break barrel that took two hands and a grunt.

I briefly owned a Diana 460 Magnum purchased through Amazon - the cocking effort was a shock to me, i'm 63 and in relatively good health, but it was just too much effort for me, especially with that small diameter and slick cocking arm - 

I have arthritis in my shoulders. My springers must be fairly easy to cock, 12 ft-lbs or so for a quality springer seems to be the sweet spot. An underlever is easier because I can get a better angle on it. Reaching way up there to cock a break barrel is more difficult. I'm interested in the ASP20 for longer range shooting but don't know if I can cock it maybe 50 times or so in a single shooting session.

I'm beyond 60 as well and have a Diana 460 and Hatsan 125. They take a bit of effort to cock but too much? Not in the least. It's all relative-shoot what you can enjoy.

I regularly get together with a couple of friends to plink with our springers and it doesn't take long before the high power guns are put aside in favor for the easier cocking ones. Its hard to hold a steady aim after cocking a 35+ pound cocking rifle a couple of dozen times.

My FWB 124 and my buddies HW30S both cock at under 20 pounds and are the favorites in the group for extended shooting sessions.

When I was young it didn't matter. Now, over 70, both cocking effort and weight are a big consideration. My arsenal now is a TalonSS, an R7, a Crosman 2289G, and a custom 1377 that I built. I almost never pump the Crosmans over six pumps, use them for mice and sparrows inside buildings. I do miss the HW55, R8, HW98, etc.

i'm over 75 and my stable of springers are:

RX Beeman

HW90

RWS 52 & 54

sure...I have to back off after shooting a bit but I enjoy the benefits of the magnum.

Closer to 80 than 70! My 2 easiest cocking guns are the Rutten Mach 1 and the Rutten Airstar (electric cocking LOL). 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3e9JizlWzs.&nbsp

If you're contemplating buying, match the gun to the intended purpose.

A gun that's hard to cock with an OEM spring often earns you a harsh shot cycle. If you're target shooting/plinking for the day a less powerful gun is much more pleasant to shoot, easier to shoot accurately and your scope will likely give you less fits.

Otherwise, only you can answer your own question. I've seen little wiry guys cock a gas piston gun like it was an R7 and big guys struggle to cock an R1. 

I have no trouble cocking and shooting heavy break barrel guns, I usually just choose not to.

I’m almost 70 now with of course all the attendant arthritis and shoulder issues that can come down on you at this age so cocking effort is paramount for me. I’ve currently got my eye on the great Weihrauch HW30S in .177, which from the due diligence I’ve done, cocks at a very easy 18 pounds. For a 25-30 yard backyard beer can bouncer, I think this would be a good choice for me...

You are absolutely right about the HW30s, It will be perfect for your purposes. I have similar wants and needs from my airguns... the 30 fits the bill.

Bob