New guy looking for hunting rifle advice

Also NONE of my HW springers including custom tuned ones can consistently hit a nickel 100% of the time at 50 yards, believe me I already tried many many times over the years in my quest for the most accurate 50 yard springer and I think I am a decent shot because I can do it with my Nova Freedom off of my knee or off sticks with the RWS 54s secondly most of the time but not 100% based on a $750 complete budget.

I have a Thomas FT which is no question out of the budget that can do it 100% of the time from my knee or off of sticks and I no longer shoot it after getting my 177 Nova Freedom because I don't need to lug a tank into the field anymore.

There are others that can do it but are out of the $750 complete package budget point.


CA

Thanks for the NEGATIVE RED BALL whoever did it. I am mearly stating my first hand experience for recommendations based on the budget and appropriate tool suggest for the task at hand. I wish I had some helpful suggestions when I bought my first airgun. It would have saved me a lot of grief and money in the process so I wouldn't have to find out first hand for myself.

CA

It sounds like some of us are a bit tired from the turkey, So let me try and explain what's going on here.

Most of us want to recommend a nice PCP rifle and there are some really nice ones hitting the $350~500 range right now and a few Black Friday deals slightly below $300. The gun isn't even the issue. A generalization is that a $300 PCP will always out shoot a sub-$700 springer. at 50 yards.

The issue is that air fill sources are still a little un-defined. There are excellent commercial units out of both your and my price range. Then there are $250 basic Chinese models with no quality control that are brilliant when they work out of the box. There are also Chinese copies of the Chinese copies. Most work out of the box but many don't. If you have enough mechanical skill to re-build a motorcycle engine, these might be for you.

The new generation of compressors are 12v dual power units and have some actual engineering in them and service centers for when things happen. I don't know enough to recommend a brand, but I'm going to call this $550 and they sell and service them in the US at Pyramid, Airgun Depot and AOA.

There are some very high quality 4500 psi hand pumps on the usual auction sites. Go pump your bicycle pump for 15 minutes and let us know if you still feel froggy. (Average 3 pumps per pellet.)

Springers are currently my thing, because I don't have a pump at home.

Springers traditionally come in 2 flavors, accurate or powerful, but rarely both. German and possibly some first world European models are accurate at mild power levels (HW50, RWS34) and laser accurate at low (12 FPE) power.

The Chinese, Chinglish and Spanish stuff is powerful but varies in accuracy between acceptable and a random shotgun pattern. There are a few exceptions and even a new American SIG with Japanese machining out there. With Crosman and Gamo you get the barrel lottery. That means it either transforms into a good shooter or it sprays randomly. There is no way to tell the difference until you try every good pellet and shoot 700 break-in shots. Big power in a springer means it's hold sensitive and very pellet picky.

Thanks for the NEGATIVE RED BALL whoever did it. I am mearly stating my first hand experience for recommendations based on the budget and appropriate tool suggest for the task at hand. I wish I had some helpful suggestions when I bought my first airgun. It would have saved me a lot of grief and money in the process so I wouldn't have to find out first hand for myself.

CA

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Hey Coldair, I wasn’t suggesting that you were wrong, I just wanted to put another option out there for the OP, that’s all. Certainly didn’t intend to offend. The negative didn’t come from me!

At Dpenrod: im gonna be lazy too, and wont read thru all previous answers. Your new, on a budget, and may not want to commit to the hobby/ calling. Just shoot, keep it simple. My advise is look for quality springer and scope: Diana / RWS 52 in .22 with a nice scope on it (i would sugges t a second hand rimfire leupold) dont get it in .177, cause .22 will be more easily manageble. Gun is still light enough and powerfull enough to hunt with with, and its a quality gun that will never fail, but if the spring fails you can fix it easily yourself, and if you get bored with it you can sell it for decent money. But you wont cause its a gun that you want to hang on to cause its simple, fun and will give a good feelingabout it....

Mike

Also NONE of my HW springers including custom tuned ones can consistently hit a nickel 100% of the time at 50 yards, believe me I already tried many many times over the years in my quest for the most accurate 50 yard springer and I think I am a decent shot because I can do it with my Nova Freedom off of my knee or off sticks with the RWS 54s secondly most of the time but not 100% based on a $750 complete budget.

I have a Thomas FT which is no question out of the budget that can do it 100% of the time from my knee or off of sticks and I no longer shoot it after getting my 177 Nova Freedom because I don't need to lug a tank into the field anymore.

There are others that can do it but are out of the $750 complete package budget point.


CA

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My AA TX200 mk3 Easily killed house sparrows out to 60 yds. I never shot springers prior to owning that TX 200 and only shot pcp rifles. I didnt have any trouble taking out small targets at 50 - 60 yds with it.

dpenrod there are many springers that will give you that kind of accuracy. You are the only one who knows if you are a decent shot and if you are capable of humanely taking small game like house sparrows. You have to be the one who decides if you should take a 50 yd shot or 20 yd shot on the target based on your ability. Dont let the comments about springers not being accurate enough to do it deter you from looking at the quality springers on the market. The quality springers on the market known for accuracy will do it as long as you can do your part.

Hatsan Flash QE .22 or .25. Plenty of FPE, FPS, accuracy, n light in the field. $299 @ Pyramyd Air or chk the Hatsan site for deals. You'll need pump, scope, n high rise mounts. With your budget , I'm sure you'll have more than enough with the buy three get one free deal tin of pellets from Pyramid air. H&N FTT work just as well as the Crosman Premier Hollow Points from Walmart @ half the price. PM me if you want more in depth on the Flash.

Jon86

Also NONE of my HW springers including custom tuned ones can consistently hit a nickel 100% of the time at 50 yards, believe me I already tried many many times over the years in my quest for the most accurate 50 yard springer and I think I am a decent shot because I can do it with my Nova Freedom off of my knee or off sticks with the RWS 54s secondly most of the time but not 100% based on a $750 complete budget.

I have a Thomas FT which is no question out of the budget that can do it 100% of the time from my knee or off of sticks and I no longer shoot it after getting my 177 Nova Freedom because I don't need to lug a tank into the field anymore.

There are others that can do it but are out of the $750 complete package budget point.


CA

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My AA TX200 mk3 Easily killed house sparrows out to 60 yds. I never shot springers prior to owning that TX 200 and only shot pcp rifles. I didnt have any trouble taking out small targets at 50 - 60 yds with it.

dpenrod there are many springers that will give you that kind of accuracy. You are the only one who knows if you are a decent shot and if you are capable of humanely taking small game like house sparrows. You have to be the one who decides if you should take a 50 yd shot or 20 yd shot on the target based on your ability. Dont let the comments about springers not being accurate enough to do it deter you from looking at the quality springers on the market. The quality springers on the market known for accuracy will do it as long as you can do your part.

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+1 GREEN BALL FOR YOU LDP for being a fantastic shot!

CA

Good tread right here, but I am ignorant to a red ball. What the heck is that? I can tell it’s not a good thing, but I’d like to know, in case I ever get thrown one, I’ll be ready with my catchers mitt

I’d like to contribute to this tread. But I want to make it clear I have a quarter of the experience compared to most when it comes to PCP’s and pcp shooting. I’ve only been into the pcp thing a year and a month this month, but I’ve been into Airguns all my life, particularly break barrels. I thought I owned the best of the best with original, Santa Rosa Beeman in an R10 deluxe in 177 and the RX1 in 20 cal. Both with the now gone marksman scopes. I would say shooting at a target off hand, at say 40 yards, I’m gonna hit that golf ball sized target 7 out of eight times. If I shoot another ten, the ratio will drop to around five out of five. I say that cause these beeman guns are heavy, especially the RX. 

When I got into pcp guns, like most, a Marauder was my first in 25 cal. That thing is light, compared to a high quality RX. It is so accurate, with no recoil like the RX does. The golf ball, 9 out of ten for sure.



i guess I just want the OP to understand what comes with owning what, especially if he goes for top tier gas ram guns with the walnut stocks. They’ll do the job, but to shoot a break barrel well comes mastery. A PCP is so forgiving when it comes to that, but, pcp guns come with a cost- a higher dollar cost. Not talking so much about the cost of the gun, especially with the nice entry level PCP’s hitting the market, but it’s all the associated Knick knacks. BSPP fittings, fill hoses, worrying about air filtration, pumps, compressors, tanks, regulators, rebuild kits, silicone oil only, all that stuff adds up. What I’ve found too, and we all joke about it- there is no dark side with a break barrel. Only with PCP guns. It is an addicting hobby that is sure to dent your pocketbook. Just sayin, be ready for that. I thought reloading centerfire cartridges was an expensive hobby. This takes the cake.

Good tread right here, but I am ignorant to a red ball. What the heck is that? I can tell it’s not a good thing, but I’d like to know, in case I ever get thrown one, I’ll be ready with my catchers mitt

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Click on your own profle photo then click on the word accuracy below your picture. You have 5 green balls from members who appreciated your posts or suggesstions. So far you don't have any NEGATIVE RED BALLS from people who felt disrespected or thought you were irate or perhaps they were just plain jealous of what you have.



CA

Thanks for the NEGATIVE RED BALL whoever did it. I am mearly stating my first hand experience for recommendations based on the budget and appropriate tool suggest for the task at hand. I wish I had some helpful suggestions when I bought my first airgun. It would have saved me a lot of grief and money in the process so I wouldn't have to find out first hand for myself.

CA

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Hey Coldair, I wasn’t suggesting that you were wrong, I just wanted to put another option out there for the OP, that’s all. Certainly didn’t intend to offend. The negative didn’t come from me!

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It wasn't specifically directed at you. Since it DIDN'T come from you.

I'll give you a GREEN BALL +1 just for it NOT being from YOU and

coming forward and having the BALLS to mentioning it. 


CA

Good tread right here, but I am ignorant to a red ball. What the heck is that? I can tell it’s not a good thing, but I’d like to know, in case I ever get thrown one, I’ll be ready with my catchers mitt

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A RED BALL is like someone DELIBERATLY DINGING YOUR BRAND NEW CAR while youre away from it because in most cases you DON'T KNOW who did it.


CA

I would say shooting at a target off hand, at say 40 yards, I’m gonna hit that golf ball sized target 7 out of eight times. If I shoot another ten, the ratio will drop to around five out of five. I say that cause these beeman guns are heavy, especially the RX.

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My hats off to you, that is some incredible off hand shooting for a spring gun for sure.

The UTG should be fine for starters and I suggest you enjoy it for now and buy good adjustable mounts such as the 2 piece Sportsmatch adjustable rings to fit your UTG scope tube either 1 inch or 30mm. You don't need quick release rings for this gun I would just mount it in the adjustable mounts and leave it on the gun and don't mess with it. Buy from PA along with JSB 8.44s and 10.34s and Air Arms 8.44s and 10.34s at least one tin of each for a total of four. It is good insurance in case of barrel droop which often leads to frustration by not being able to zero the scope in come cases.

If there is a spend $150 and get free shipping deal and 10%off Airgun Nation promo then I suggest you use them at Pyramid Air.

The 177 Air Venturi Pellet Pen with pellet seater is a neat tool and I would buy 2 of them if I were you makes loading the magazines easier just load 20 pellets in each so you have 40 in both.

I would enjoy the gun for a while first before venturing out and adding to the collection just yet...

CA

So, you can do what I did.- Start off with cheap, get frustrated with lower end PCPs first. Spend tonnes $ trying to deck one out, then realize that it was all a waste of time and $ because high end pcps are just better in ever area and worth every penny of the price you pay . You will never know the difference until you been burned/frustrated/disappointed/and broke over a substandard gun or two that no longer works and you cant sell.

Im not dropping manufacturing names on this thread, but please feel free to PM for more info if you don't want to make the same mistakes.