I am looking for a decent quality air rifle to practice with in my back yard, but with lower velocity than what I am generally seeing. Single pump, fixed barrel would be best, but a break barrel is fine. Everything I see 1000 fps or more with lead pellets, I would like something slower and definitely quieter if you know of something.

Thanks!

Weihrauch HW30s or Beeman r7 (same rifle in different trim)are never a mistake. You will get about 630 -650 fps depending on pellet in .177.

That would be my first choice by a rather large margin.

Figure $315.00 for the Weihrauch, and 375.00 or so for the Beeman version.

Thanks for the response, I just found an article talking about this very subject. While these look great, is there anything out there cheaper, or is it just the law of supply and demand that the lower powered guns will now be more expensive due to the fact that the mass manufacture lies in high power?

Well unfortunately it seems everyone wants high power, so yes the high volume production goes there.

This is one that PyramydAir.com recomends, and its does look like it may be a good choice, although I have no experience with it;

http://www.pyramydair.com/s/m/Air_Venturi_Bronco_air_rifle/2013

I have bought rifles from them, but not that one. But it does look promising.

Another option is to detune a high powered rifle.

I detuned my Gamo 440 by just replacing the rear spring guide with a shorter homemade one, and that makes a wonderful shooting rifle. Just kept cutting it shorter while shooting over my chrony until I averaged 625-630 fps.

You would need to make a spring compressor to safely disassemble the powerplant which isn't too hard if your halfway handy.

And once its detuned the spring is relaxed enough that a spring compressor is no longer needed on mine.

Awesome, thank you for this. This might do the trick. Also found a Stoeger x5 that might work. Any experience with these?

No ,no experience with Stoeger rifles

The Daisy Avanti 853 fits the bill. It's a 10 meter rifle and is quite accurate. My son has one. Great for punching paper at short range and very quite. Not recommended for anything with fur on it tho. Just not powerful enough.

http://www.daisy.com/node/107

You can find them for $299

Bronco and HW30s in 177. The Bronco is slightly easier to cock and it has a slightly smaller stock but it's not in the same class as the HW30s. While the Bronco shoots well the HW30 shoots great. You get a lot of value with the Bronco but the HW30 is the one you keep and hand down. You pays your money and you takes your choice.

The pump up Benjamin 397 17 Cal and 392 22 Cal rifles are made by Crosman . Use 3 or 4 pumps for target shooting and 8 pumps for shooting small game and birds out to about 35 yards. The pump up rifles do not have the recoil like the spring powered air rifles.

The two rifles I can recomend are the R7 as mentioned, and the Benjamin pump air rifle. I've had my R7 for 30 years and asside from replacing the piston when it dried out, it's been a reliable and accurate rifle that I've shot 1000's of pellets out of.

The Benjamin is a 22 that was my dad's rifle as a boy. I don't know how old he was when he got it, but it's likely over 70 years old. We did have the seals replaced about 30 years ago. It's not as accurate as the R7, but has the flexibility of being pumped a few times for plinking and practice, or pumped 7-10 times for hunting.

The less expensive springers are generally not going to last anywhere near as long and have plastic parts that are going to wear out or break.

I suggest an RWS .177 M34. I have had mine, a carbine, for a bit over twenty years and it has been a great relatively inexpensive firearm. I also have a M48, a .22, of the same vintage and it has delivered as well.

Anyone can buy a Daisy target rifle from the CMP that will shoot awesome with the sights it came with.

http://www.odcmp.com/Sales/airrifles.htm

The USED Daisy 853. Thank me later.

In a spring piston I would recommend the R7 or HW30 also if you can swing the extra $$. Their Record triggers are the best I've used on a springer and will come closest to duplicating your powder burners. The pneumatics, like the pump up Benjamin and Crosmans, are also good if you don't mind the extra pump or two on the handle. They offer they added benefit of variable power but are slightly louder compared to the sringers.

It's hard to beat the cost/value/versatility of a Benjamin pump.

It's a dandy low powered rifle. Just 50 fps faster than the HW30 with CPHP 7.9gr pellets and slightly louder. I would classify it as backyard friendly. Cocks very easily and has a pretty good trigger (but not as good as the HW30). Cost is $90. I use mine with just the iron sights and it's a lot of fun at the 10 meter distance.

+1

I just got a Xisico XS12, .177 from Flying Dragon, for My granddaughter. 535 fps with 7 gr. pellets. Shoots good. Will take a squirrel @ 30 yds.. about $87, untuned.

http://www.airgun-supply.com/baikal_izh-61_177_caliber_5_shot_repeater_target_air_rifle.html

Easy cocking, repeater, light trigger, well made and as cool as it looks.

How much are you looking to spend?

I have a Weihrauch 55SM which is a break barrel target rifle, not of the weight and ergonomics of a higher end rifle, sort of a step up from the HW30 and HW50. Could serve as a field rifle too. Mine has been overhauled and tuned with all synthetic seals, so none of the problems with the old leather seals. Essentially maintenance free. It has a really sweet Rekord trigger.

I'd consider selling it.

Edit: Just noticed the OP is over a year old.

Paul

The R7 is worth the extra $. It is a rifle you will enjoy for the rest of your life and probably someone else's also.