Completely new to the sport and looking to purchase first gun

Good morning everyone!

If you would of told me that an airgun could hunt pigs and deer about a month ago, I would've laughed and been skeptical. Today, I am really intrigued and want to get into this sport. I am completely new to this sport and am looking to get my first gun. Actually my wife is buying me one for my 40th birthday in July but I need to find the one I want. I live in upper Michigan so I do not have access to any real dealer close. I have been doing some research and I believe I want a FX brand gun. I have been looking at the FX Impact M3 and the Maverick. For a new guy, what do you recommend? Also, what online dealers do you recommend if you have done business with? I see a lot about Utah Air guns and Pyramid Air. 

I plan to use the gun for of course target shooting but also want to take down Whitetail Deer. So what caliber is the best for that? I have been thinking about .25 or .30. 

Please any help or info would be great! 

Thanks in advance,
Birddogcof

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Neither .25 or 30 are sufficient for deer unless using something like a DAQ .308 etc.. However .25 and .30 can work very well on wild pigs. I have a .25 and .30 that I would trust have the FPE all day for a pig.

In Michigan, I am 99% sure you can only hunt whitetail deer with airguns in .35 or above, so the Maverick and Impact in .25 or .30 are out for that purpose. I would also be extremely concerned about the energy output of those two guns as far as ethically taking big game is concerned. The Impact is available in .357, but I don't know how prolific those are.

For general target shooting and/or small game hunting, it's hard to go wrong with either caliber IMO. I am personally partial to the .25 since the 34gr JSB Heavy MKII's do better in the wind than the .30's. The .25 should also use less air.

@birddogcof Your state laws should explain the minimum required caliber and energy or velocity to hunt game with airguns. That will likely dictate or guide your purchasing decision. I contacted another member from your state who hunts deer, so hopefully he will chime in with accurate information for you in that regard.

As for where to shop, check out the vendors in the rolling banner at the top of the page (click to red circle with the white plus sign to expand the list of vendors/sponsors) as well as the vendors in the larger changing banner above it. All are Airgun Nation (AGN) sponsors and legitimate sources to purchase your supplies from. In addition to a PCP (pre-charged pneumatic) airgun it is prudent to factor in the cost of your air supply to charge your gun. That can be a high pressure air (HPA) compressor, a SCBA tank (to be filled at a dive shop or possibly a friendly fire station), or a hand pump (probably the least desirable method). It may also be helpful to let us know what your budget is for a gun or a gun, scope, air supply, other needed accessories, and ammo to practice and hunt with. Good luck in your search and welcome to the AGN forums. 

edit: The following link is a good resource for airgun hunting laws. What I like about the information presented in the link is that it provides a decent overview of hunting regulations (by state) regarding airguns and it links users to the state agencies that oversee hunting laws and enforcement in the listed states https://www.pyramydair.com/airgun-map/

While I am no expert on hunting (only have taken ground squirrels so far, and am researching a gun for a buddy who has coyote issues) everything I have read points me to .357 and bigger for deer - unless you are a true expert with the gun where you might get away with a high power .30 or .25. If local hunting regulations allow it.

Unfortunately you are also faced with another little conundrum - A gun with the power and energy for humanely taking deer won't be all that much fun for target shooting in your back yard. It will likely be loud, expensive to shoot, get relatively few shots per fill, and have 'target' levels of accuracy (as opposed to 'bullseye' levels of accuracy). 

We all want the one air gun which 'does it all' when we start out - these danged things are expensive! But in the end you will likely find yourself better off with specialized tools.

As far as where to purchase, there are a lot of shops who support AGN and those are the places to buy. I've had purchases through AoA, UA, Baker, Pyramyd, Georgia Airguns, Palm Beach, New England, etc. and they have all be excellent shops. As I'm sure some of the new sponsor shops will be - because if not they will be called out by members of this forum. In the end, though, it is pretty easy to support those entities who support us through their connections with AGN.

Welcome, and good luck with your first airgun(s).

EDIT: I think that a full size Maverick in .25 cal might be a better 'first airgun' for folks, with a little less adjustability to deal with as compared to an Impact. It makes great power with its larger plenum size, and .25 cal ammo is relatively inexpensive to shoot. Plus you get precision for target work. But also don't overlook some of the fine guns coming out of the Eastern European manufacturers, which I have only fairly recently 'discovered'. A great first gun for you might be something like a full size Uragan in .25 cal. And with the Uragan 2 being on the horizon for release, the older Uragans are available at bargain prices. Especially considering Charlie Frear's (Georgia Airguns) recent post regarding his overstock close-out pricing. And through Charlie you will be receiving a gun where he has taken the time to set it up nicely for your personal specifications.

I'm not aware of any air guns powerful enough to take deer and economical for target shoot. But if you have a plentiful supply of air and can afford the ammo take A look at the Airforce Texan .357. I have a Texan and they are great! I don't think the fx .357 is powerful enough to take deer unless you are close within 50 yards. 

Check out up north airguner on YouTube he uses a Texan to hunt dear in Michigan 

Yeah, if you're serious about hunting deer with an airgun I don't think an FX Mk3 in .35 is a good idea at this point in time.

I have one and it's pretty much maxed out shooting JSB 81gr pellets at around 870fps. At least as 'maxed out' as I want to take it. First reg 175, second reg 150, hammer within a few clicks of all its got. Until the new power mods and slug liners come out and the gun is shooting heavy .35 slugs in the 900s I don't think it's a serious contender for whitetail deer.

Aside from that, it's a big heavy beast of a gun. Mine set up with 700cc bottle, 800mm barrel with Ronin moderator and Element Titan scope measures 44 inches long and weighs 11.6 lbs. Not something I'd want to carry through the brush all day. Maybe on a bench in a blind. I don't even seriously consider shooting offhand with it.

If you're a serious airgunner and want to take a deer with an airgun that's one thing. But if you're a serious deerhunter thinking about using an airgun I'd really reconsider. It's a big commitment of funds and time with a bit of a learning curve to get to the point of responsibly taking big game.

If you want an M3 personally I would go with a .22 for backyard plinking and small posting. That would take care of most small game you want to take. As for the deer......you will need a dedicated platform for that. Check the local laws to make sure you can use an airgun first off, and then what size caliber and slug is required.

Of course can't forget about a pump or compressor. As filling a bigbore for deer hunting is going to take a ton of air to shoot regularly. 



Here you go man from the Michigan DNR handbook.

Can I hunt with an airbow? 
No. It is unlawful to hunt using an airbow during any season for any species in 
Michigan. 
Can I hunt with an air gun?
Pneumatic guns, or “air guns,” are considered firearms for hunting purposes. 
Pneumatic guns must meet firearm requirements for season, species hunted and 
zone you are hunting in. 



A .35-caliber or larger air rifle or pistol charged only from an external, high compression power source.

I'm in up north mi.. it's 35cal and up for deer if u need any help feel free to message me 

I recommend Charles at Georgia Airguns, very nice retailer and extremely helpful. If you are serious about hunting deer with an air rifle I would recommend an Airforce Texan in .45 caliber. They have a Texan LSS that puts out over 500 fpe and is short enough to carry in the woods. A decent 3-12x32 hunting scope will be needed. Optisan or Athlon are great optics. You are going to need a lot of air! Get a compressor and a tank! I recommend Omega chargers, they last a long time, mine has over 50 hours on it.

https://www.airforceairguns.com/The-Texan-LSS-by-AirForce-Airguns-s/186.htm

In what universe is a 500fpe Airforce Texan a good first airgun? They get what, 3-5 shots per fill? I think we're setting this guy up for frustration, not to mention his wife, when she discovers he has to spend 3x the cost of his birthday present on the accessories needed just to use it.

I'm sorry, but IMHO getting into airguns because you want to hunt whitetail deer is putting the cart before the horse.

Birddog,

If you decide to go with an AGN Technology product (Uragan,) do yourself a favor and price check Krales Company (Netherlands.) I recently purchased a .25 Uragan Standard and saved $230 over Talon Tunes pricing, even after shipping and $66 import duty fee. Head to website, click USA customer in upper right corner, then check pricing. Krales is offering .25 Uragan Standard for less than $1,300. Georgia Airguns is offering same for $1500. Searching "Krales," utilizing the AGN SEARCH section, will prove helpful in using Krales. WM

Yes, we go into this sport looking for the one do-it-all gun. 

I too tried that. But I failed miserably!

Birddog,

This is a hobby, as well as an addiction, a slippery slope, for sure. Having enjoyed shooting my whole life, this hobby allows for precision backyard target work, that doesn't upset neighbors, as well as accurate, long range pest control. Starting in January 2021, I now have, and completely enjoy, the following; Gen One Umarex Gauntlet .25, FX Wildcat MK3 .30 Sniper, FX Impact M3 .25 Bronze Sniper, Taipan Veterans in standard .22 and Long .25 and an AGT Uragan Standard .25. I keep all aired up with a Yong Heng compressor, having started by hand-pumping the Gauntlet. Along with fellow enthusiasts on AGN, I find this hobby rewarding and fulfilling, kind of think you might, too. WM

I think you're looking for 2 guns. For deer any of the texan models will serve you well. For an everyday shooter I'd suggest anything from fx dreamline. Very affordable guns. I've got a flashpup I bought used and it's been trouble free for a couple years now. A other part of this to consider is an air source. Big bore guns take a ton of air as does daily shooting . I'd start with an air source and a daily shooter then if still interested get into the big bore guns. Big bores are a good time to shoot but ammo and air are costly.

Here's my PERSONAL suggestion. For some "Newbies" the adjustability & sensitivity of the newer Impacts & Mavs & the, literally, thousands of different combinations of power, hammer tension (& whatever else can be adjusted) get them in "over their heads"! You're a virgin to this sport & don't have any idea what's really involved. My suggestion is to take a look at FX's Smooth Twist platform. Royale 400 & 500 (.22 & .25 caliber) Boss (.30) & Bobcat (.22-.30). These Smooth Twist barrels WILL NOT shoot slugs but they're arguably the finest pellet barrels EVER!!! It's simply amazing what an accurate pellet rifle can do. You don't hear much about them anymore because the newer "bells & whistles" guns are what's actively marketed. These are classically styled rifles (except for the Bobcat) but we who own them know they're some of the best FX ever made. SUPERBLY accurate, reliable, repeatable & virtually maintenance free (had to clean my barrel ONCE last year! ) Learn on something easy to deal with (Dreamlines are great too) & see if you want continue this endeavor. Airguns ARE NOT powder burners & the learning curve is a whole different ball game. So is the peripheral equipment needed. There's WAAAAAY more involved than shooting deer. I'd be happy to talk to you & give you MY perspective if you'd like. Send me a Private Message (PM) & I'll send you my #. You might THINK you have an idea what airgunning is all about but, believe me, you don't. The guys on the forum here are FANTASTIC about helping out but the hundreds of opinions & suggestions can muddy the waters. This is a large undertaking. Ask a LOT of questions. We've all been there & for the most part, no question is too stupid. Best of luck to you. Reach out anytime! 

Gerry 

Welcome to the rabbit hole. While you are doing your research look into daystate as a target and small game option. The revere and the red wolf are excellent as are the entire line.

also I have had excellent service from Airguns of Arizona. No matter what you choose enjoy the journey and know that the airgun community is wholly supportive of you. Oh yea and kiss your savings account goodbye.