I'd love to get a nice airgun for plinking, rats, and maybe short range coons. <$400


Most of what I see at the box stores look absolutely retarded. Are there any decent air rifles that actually look like a rifle and not a tactical pretzel?

Thinking I'm not wanting a pcp gun. Probably a spring or pump.

.22 or .25 cal?

The old Olympic air rifles look like real rifles and are ACCURATE. I love my Walther LGR and they can occasionally be found for $400. But, they're 177s, if thats a dealbreaker.

I guess it isn't a deal breaker, but I'd think the 22's and 25's would be much better killers? Especially with coons.

I'll google them up. Thanks!

slm9s- Those look nice, but very much a target gun. Looking for more of a sporter/carry gun.

In a pump, look for a nice Sheridan Blue or Silver Streak. No longer made so used is the only source. For a springer, don't fall for the high velocity Chinese junk. I would highly recommend the Weihrauch HW50S or HW95 in your price range.

These guys have a good price right now on the HW95
http://www.airgunsofarizona.com/Weihrauch.htm

.25's kill way better.

Mine replaces my .22lr around the place homestead now.

Countless animals taken with it.



http://www.crosman.com/airguns/air-rifles/marauder-rifle-synthetic-stock

Incorporated barrel sleeve silencer makes it REALLY quiet.

If you don't mind pumping, the modern versions (Benjamin 392 and 397) are still made and are good affordable rifle.

In your price range a German spring gun like the Beman R7 and R9 would be good choices and much better quality than the Chinese and Spanish stuff. Although I admit to having a Chinese Nitro gun and it's really a decent plinker, just not the quality of my German guns.

I agree with you rockinbbar, I have one just like yours. Super accurate and a killer for sure. However, with an air supply (tank or pump) it's beyond what the OP is looking for.
"<$400. Thinking I'm not wanting a pcp gun. Probably a spring or pump."

But if ya want an airgun to kill critters, it's in a class by itself.

My advice,from learning the hard(and expensive)way,is to go ahead and buy a .25 marauder.With an Air Force pump and 1400 premier pellets you are looking at slightly under 800$ from
Pyramid air.A lot of $$$,but I have way more than that in the several Beeman and RWS springers that I will never shoot again.Sell some other gun that you never use to raise the $$$-the Marauder is the most fun gun I have ever owned,and I have dozens!There is absolutely NO comparison to a springer!

The extra $ puts the Marauder so much in the lead for what a lesser airgun will do, that I am totally convinced it's more than worth it.

I wouldn't trade my Marauder for 3 $400 lesser air rifles.

I totally agree.I was consistantly shooting .380 brass off the top of the 50 yard frames the other day,plus killed a crow at 85 lasered yards.I have a pile of .22 rimfires and shot rimfire competition in several states for several years-The .25 marauder is as accurate as any sporter I own out to 50 yards.

This.

Mine.

Per OP, used springers could be your ticket to grins....

HW95

Asking Price: $330

Yeah, grins for the seller. Airguns of Arizona sells them new for $300. Very nice rifle if you're going for a springer. I would say the best available in that price range.

Anyone have one the Benjamin "Nitro Piston" rifles? My coworker bought one this week and really likes it.

http://www.crosman.com/benjamin-trail-np2-hardwood-22

"Benjamin Trail break barrel air rifles are the first to feature the all new Nitro Piston™ 2 system featuring an upgraded powerplant and all-new, enhanced Clean Break Trigger (CBT™).

The new Trail guns shoot 15% faster and deliver more energy with double the effective shooting range of the original Trail series. All in a smoother-shooting gun with less vibration, less recoil, and up to a 10-pound reduction in cocking force."

I have a nitro trail. Put an aftermarket trigger and have shot a bunch of different .22 pellets through it trying to get real consistent accuracy. My brother has the nitro trail in .25 that seems to hold a better group.

Bought a .25 marauder and pump. The benjamin trail sits in the corner and gathers dust.

The Marauder looks pretty bad azz. Pricey though!

How many shots on a full tank? Can you adjust discharge pressure?

Is there a good airgun Web site with active classifieds?

I get 16 with mine. (.25) Then next 8 start to drop off a bit.

Don't let us talk you out of getting an air gun because you dont want to spend the $800 or so the first pcp setup will cost.

A nitro trail is way better than no air gun. They are fun to just send pellets down range with and are reasonably accurate.

good luck in your search

Another option that's closer to your budget is the Benjamin Discovery. You can get the rifle and pump combo under $400 if you shop around. While it's not a repeater and doesn't have a shrouded barrel like the Marauder, it is an easy to shoot PCP capable of good velocity in .22.

http://www.pyramydair.com/s/m/Benjamin_Discovery_Rifle_Pump/1534

My Maurader is pretty slow-820 fps with 25.39 gr.JSB pellets,and I get at least 30 good shots before I pump it up.I may get more but I don't want to pump any more than I have to-kind of like knives-the best way to keep them sharp is to not let them get dull.I could crank it up to 920 easily but would only get 12-18 good shots,and 1/2" less drop at 50 yards.Probably the best website is Network54.com.

You can get a Benjamin (Sheridan) 392 (.22) or 397 (.177) at Academy and a lot of other places for less than $200. They have iron sights, and a receiver sight is available, or you can mount a scope if you want. Blacked brass barrel, wood stock - looks just like the one they've been making since who knows when. I remember seeing friends shooting them 60 years ago, and I'll bet the same guns are still in action if they were cared for.

Springers lose power in cold weather, which is just when coon hunting is done. Great for target shooting, less so for cold weather hunting.

One of the things I like about the 392/397 is weight. It weighs about 5.5 lb, less than my Marlin .44 and .22 lever rifles. Some of those big guns weigh 10 lb, which is OK for a .458 Winchester or a target rifle, but not on a coon hunt.

And you won't be embarrassed to carry a 392.

had the opportunity to send about 300 pellets down range from a benjamin nitro genesis. it is a secong generation of the nitro piston. i must say that is would make a good starter rifle. My earlier comment was concerning the nitro trail and it is not as nice ergonomically or operationally as the newer ones. Not as accurate as my marauder, but a hell of a lot of fun to shoot - can't hardly move my right arm from cocking so many times in 2 days.