i need an all around springer.

Hard to beat Weihrauch for accuracy. 

Hard to beat an underlever GAMO for accuracy... Gamo CFR I paid 160 for and maybe a tad extra on tuning equipment and parts I remember when I shot 1.5 inches at 50 and was freaking out thinking it was bad...

Of coarse it does have bed days where it shoots half inch groups at 20 yards for a couple groups but then I figure it out and it settles down. 

Ok I lied. I meant to say half in to THREE QUARTER of an inch in bad days. It’s actually closer to 3/4 when it’s not happy. I just looked at some old groups. I keep them all. 

Don't under-estimate a cheap gun.



Gamo "Varmint". 10-point holes all day long at 20+ yards for under 100 dollars.



And with about 18fpe at the muzzle, should be able to take out small critters cleanly up to that distance.

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Time for you to try the Ten Dimes challenge.

https://www.airgunnation.com/topic/ten-dimes-challenge-changed/

Hmm, $500 for a gun and an optic which is a general purpose gun.

I'd look really hard at some of the break barrel rifles at your price point. There are nice starter combo rifles like the Diana Model 34 striker package at PA. It is a fine, accurate rifle that ticks off all your boxes including price point. With that platform you could afford a slightly better optic than with some of the $400.00 rifles I might suggest.

I have never heard anyone complain about the Model 34 in .177 on this forum. It is a great little rifle, not to heavy and like I said accurate. Then later if you really want to get into FTT you can pick up a TX200 or similar.

Just my two.

Hmm, $500 for a gun and an optic which is a general purpose gun.

I'd look really hard at some of the break barrel rifles at your price point. There are nice starter combo rifles like the Diana Model 34 striker package at PA. It is a fine, accurate rifle that ticks off all your boxes including price point. With that platform you could afford a slightly better optic than with some of the $400.00 rifles I might suggest.

I have never heard anyone complain about the Model 34 in .177 on this forum. It is a great little rifle, not to heavy and like I said accurate. Then later if you really want to get into FTT you can pick up a TX200 or similar.

Just my two.

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+1 agree D34 .177 + Hawke AirMax 4X12 would be right around your price point. In the right hands and a little TLC, this rig will fill all your requirements. Starlings @ 50yards are not safe with mine.

Do you like to carry a rifle that weighs over 10 lbs with scope in the field? If not, HW95 in .177.. Most FT scopes are a little heavy as well. I like a 2x7-40 for hunting . Over 6x can be a hindrance regarding target acquisition. Depending on what you are hunting. Sounds like target shooting is your least concern..7x is selling a target rifle short. If the government keeps handing out welfare checks you can also get a heavy underlever for target . And a 12x scope. Even higher x for silhouette.

The rest of the world is mad because their governments didn't give out welfare bonuses and Americans depleted the world's new airgun inventory.. Lol! Isn't America great?

As usual I will offer a little different option.

I would look for a used RWS/Diana 54 or 56. 

They are heavy but they don't require you to master the artillery hold since the action is on a sled. They are also terrific hunting guns since you can attach a bipod. They are a side lever instead of an under lever or break barrel.

They have more than enough power for hunting and are as accurate as any of the others mentioned here.

They seem to be sold out everywhere but you can probably find something on the classifieds here.

Let us know what you decide on and how it works out for you.

Woow, verte Nice group pal, you try mame groups to 30-40 yds ?

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Thanks! I only have about 25-yards here. I'm on the lookout for a local place I can get at least 100-yards, but haven't followed-through with that yet.

That group was with a Gamo Varmint (about $90 new)I sold a couple months ago. Now using a Gamo Silent Cat (about $150 new). As you can imagine, the "Cat" is at least as accurate. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDJg2a8VkZ4

My new Gamo Swarm Magnum gen2 .22 (about $300 new, I'm moving up in the world lol.) will be here tomorrow.

I might just have to take a drive this weekend and see if I can find that sweet spot.

For hunting, breakbarrels may be preferable because underlevers add about a pound without adding power. I find anything over 7+ pounds is not comfortable. I stick with an HW95 or lighter. For the HW95 I would go with .22. For the lighter guns it would be .177. I try to keep the working pellet speed between 700 and 850 fps. Much faster and they enter the transitional supersonic region, losing stability and shedding velocity at a rapid pace. Slower is OK. You might consider the sound level. There are some amusing youtube videos of English rabbit hunters expressing frustation at springer noise which frightens rabbits away. 

IMO brother...a HW95. Affordable! Lineage! Accurate! Light weight! Easy to work on! To me, it is a "all around" rifle.