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what is the best airgun for the money????

Wow, that's a widely arguable point. Can you be more specific? Max price? Intended use?

.177?
.22?
Spring piston? (break barrel, side cocking)
Gas ram?
Multi pumper?
PCP? (Pre Charged Pneumatic)
Co2?

Lots of choices do decide from.
Just curious, are you planning on scoping it?

i want to get a spring loaded one that travels around 1000fps. i want to try and get one for under $300

For the price range, you're looking at these. Just to name a few.

http://www.pyramydair.com/cgi-bin/model.pl?model_id=1497
http://www.pyramydair.com/p/RWS-34-Panther-Striker-Combo.shtml
http://www.pyramydair.com/p/RWS-34-Breakbarrel-Rifle-Striker-Combo.shtml

I've owned these rifles before and they have good power. If you've never owned a springer before it takes practice to get accurate. And try different pellets, not the ones you want to shoot, but the ones the gun wants to shoot. Try Beeman FTS, JSB Exacts, and Crosman Premiers. (Not the cheap ones at Wally World either) Every barrel is different and the gun will shoot 1 to 2 types of pellets accuratly. And the pointed pellets aren't very accurate, dome pellets are. Good luck in your choice.

The RWS are very nice rifles for the money. The trigger is the weak point on these and cheaper rifles. The fit and finish will leave something to be desired also. For an extra $100 you can get into the Beemans - R7 (600fps) or R9 (900fps) and have a wonderful, extremely accuate rifle you can be proud of and will last through you and the next generation of air gunners.

Pyramid air has a huge selection of airguns, and also has many reviews of the various models.

Once you have experienced the Record trigger, it's hard to go back to the standard airgun trigger found on cheaper model. However, you get what you pay for and some have a hard time ponying up the $500+ for a nice air rifle when the same amount will get you a decent used centerfire. This is why the better airguns come from countries that restrict the ownership of 'real' guns.

I recently asked about a sub-$250 airgun, and the RWS 34 came up as well. The cheapest R9 I could find was $425

http://www.airgunsbbguns.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=BEE1039&click=2

The Cheapest R7 $356

http://www.airgunsbbguns.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=BEE1107&click=2

BTW, the R7 and R9 are also nice and light. Most people don;t realize that a large percentage of adult spring guns are in the 10 pound range. The R7 is a feathery 6 pounds or so, and the R9 is only about 7 or 8. The RWS 34 is about the same as the R9 weight wise.

It pays to look at the specs, particularly weight and cocking effort, just to know what you are in for.

Air Arms TX200HC is on my wish list. Everything I have read about them has been good. You can get it with a walnut stock that is really sharp. I bought a couple of RWS 34s. The 34s are really sensitive about how they are held and they do take some practice shooting off the bench. Not quite as sensitive freehand. The 34s are good guns but I still want the TX200.

http://www.pyramydair.com/p/air-arms-tx-200-hc-air-rifle-hunter-carbine.shtml

http://www.air-arms.co.uk/products_prosport.html

Are you planning to use it for hunting, or for target practice?

The sheridan 20 cal pumps are great hunting guns for the money. For target practice, a good springer is hard to beat. I've had a beeman R7 for over 25 years.

I'll let you know in about a week how the Mike Melick Tuned BAM B26 copy of the R9 does. If it does as well as everyone says it should be great. I would also seriously consider a Beeman R7 or a HW50 in the moderate power catagory especially if you can buy used.

I have a BAM XS-B28 on the way. I finally shot one and was really impressed. It's been getting rave reviews and with scope falls under your $300 limit.

Here's a review: http://www.airgunsbbguns.com/Articles.asp?ID=164

RWS 34 is a work horse. I have had mine for 15 years.

You'll get a lot of answers to this. As someone suggested, it depends on what you are looking for. power, accuracy, build/longevity, looks, power/cocking type...

I like springers. In that group, I like magnum springers. in a magnum I generally like a .22. I think there are a few good choices under $300 (Someone suggested a TX200, which I do not believe can be found for under $300).

* The TF89 is powerful, accurate, and very nice in the .22. The .177 is a bit rougher. However, you can get either for $119, have it tuned for $150, and still have a few bucks for a scope.

* Walther Force 1000 is same as above but with a lesser stock, and you can get them for like $70 as a refurb. You'd want to get it tuned...and you'd have more left over for a decent scope.

* The TF87 is a pretty awesome underlever for $190. Leaves you with a good amount for a decent scope. The one I shot didn't need a tune -- it was nice out of the box.

* If you can accept refurbs, airgundepot has a bunch of RWS variants running between $199 and $299. RWS 48, RWS 350...Power would be a strong point here, and some say the internals will last longer. Some mentioned the RWS34, another nice choice with some headroom for a scope.

* My current favorite rifle, which is just a bit out of your range, is the Cometa Fusion Star. I was lucky enough to get one from a tuner that he barely used...so it was tuned and hardly used for under $300. However, they go for $350 new. I don't know if they are as nice untuned, but that is worth the extra if you can afford it -- unless you get lucky and find a tuned used one like I did. Then again, not everyone might share my enthusiasm. I think it is amazingly accurate -- I shot several sets of the best groupings in my life off-hand at 10 yards... .0375. Just plugged one bull after the next, so tight I thought I was misfiring!

There are more excellent deals out there. but you'll want to shoot a few guns to really know what is important to you, and what makes a rifle 'the best' for you.

I would look at the Benjamin Discovery PCP air rifle from Mac 1.
I have the Benjamin Marauder and its very accurate and powerful.
RS

Funny this topic. To this day the best "bang" for the buck is a 1960's used Sheridan.

Solid walnut, and brass construction, with todays pellets in .20 cal it will go over 800fps, and there is not likely a more accurate airgun made for a "plinker or hunter. Not sure anyone is gonna need more accuracy then being able to shoot flys off a picket fence at 20 yards.

It's self contained so no scuba tank, and it has zero recoil so there is no learning curve to figure as there is with a springer.

I've gone down the road of the springer. I have spent more money on repairs to them then I have for the whole Sheridan rifle. I have had a Sheridan rifle since 1963 and have had the packing for the valves refurbished one time fo 15 dollars and it took me 30 minutes to do it myself.

I have no way of knowing how many pellets this thing has shot, but as a kid I could go through a box of 500 in a week during the summer and often many more then that. My Pro Elite Springer and the Beeman with the Gas Ram both had failures in the power system. The Air Arms Pro Elite was 240.00 to fix which is what I paid for it. and the R3 ( I think it was a gas ram) was well over 100 without the shipping.

I had a PCP that never broke, but the nagging tank to pack around was a nightmare for me. It was at that time I felt like the best overall airgun was still the 50 year old Sheridan. Man I killed a lotta stuff with that rifle!

I second JJ. I found a used Sheridan rocker for around $75.00 (if I remember correctly). Very accurate, and more than powerful enough. I have scope mounts for it, but am not sure I want to do that as I also have a R7, mainly for use with a scope. I like them both. The Sheridan is a little noisier, but both are accurate and very handy.

Just bought my first .20 springer...a Beeman R9. Nice but will never replace the Sheridans...

I am hoping that Benjamin brings out their Marauder in .20...but you still have to have a bicycle pump around...

Bob

What about triggers?

Some I've tried have the worst triggers ever.

My FWB 124, R9, and R7 triggers leave me nothing to want...

Good to know.

Thanks.

The Weihrauchs, Beemans, and Air Arms will have a much better trigger out of the box than the Gamos, Chinese and the cheaper makes. These can be made better, but, with taking the trigger apart and have work done to them. Right now the Record triggers from Weihrauchs are the triggers to have, althought the To1 from RWS aren't bad either but are the older model guns.

Old adage you get what you pay for applies. An AG w/good trigger will run 275-400, you can spend less but sacrifice shooting smoothness, sometimes accuracy, finish, trigger quality, etc. IMHO.

The BAM B26 has a very good copy of the Rekord trigger

I was at a swap meet and fun shoot this weekend and had a chance to shoot a Marauder. For the money this gun is great. It is a 10 shot repeater and is in a nice stock. Very accurate and a match grade trigger. This rifle sells for $399.00 at AOA. It has an internal shroud and is very quiet. It comes in .177, .22 and .25. The .22 is rated at 1000 fps. It uses air or CO2.

Back about 11 years ago I moved into town, had a big yard backing on to a river and missed hunting out the back door. Lots of crows and grackels led me to a gun shop for a pellet gun the owner was old guy that new a thing or two and tried to get me to buy a sheridan I ended up with a model 34. My only compaint with the 34 is being a springer it's alot louder than the pneumatics like the sheridan. The trigger on my 34 is very good and it's held up well even putting down some big city coons ramaging in the trash with head shots not bad for a .177 anyway.

The 34 is hard to beat for the money. The older ones had the T01 trigger which is a very good trigger. The newer ones have the T05 which is an ok trigger but does not compare with T01 in my opinion. I understand they are coming out with a new T06 that is suppose to be the best trigger yet.

Gamo CFX

I listed a 1949-1963 Thumb Safety Sheridan in the Classifieds.

Apparently there have been some cost cutting changes to the gamo line of air rifles,making them less of a bargain IMO.

The crosman and benji Nitro piston rifles seem like good values.

Daisy Red Ryder

I bought a QB78 for my Dad for Father"s Day. He has a few bird boxes and likes to borrow one of mine to keep the sparrows at bay.
I've checked the sight in and it shoots pretty dang good and has a pretty nice trigger.
Quite a gun for the price,IMO
http://www.archerairguns.com/QB78-Deluxe-Chinese-Air-Rifle-p/ibqb78d.htm

You'll put your eye OUT!

how long do you want it to last? I have a 30+year old Beeman R1 that is in very good condition and still shoots very very well, I'd say thats been a pretty good gun for the money

It's a "get what you pay for" situation. Most of the German guns will provide a lifetime (or two) of shooting enjoyment, have superb accuracy, and an obvious attention to fit and finish---------but you pay for it. IMO, they're still the "best for the money," so long as you are willing to save up for a little while. If you're impatient and need a Walmart airgun fix, then go ahead. They may suit your needs just fine, but they're more "expensive," for what you'll be buying IMO.

As others have mentioned the older Benjamin/Sheridan Blue Streak is also a very good bargain in today's market. I've got my dad's 5mm (.20cal)which is around 50yrs old, has beautiful walnut, a Williams peep, and is quite accurate with quality match pellets. I don't haunt Gun Broker, but that seems to be the best place for finding them.

I have one of those as well.....

Have had it for many, many years, but from what I remember it was pretty inexpensive.

Sorry I didn't see this before but the Sheridan's I have for the most part have great triggers... A couple are a little heavy but little takeup...

The trigger on the R9 is excellent.

Bob