Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Air Guns What to look for in a guality pellet gun

I would like to buy a nice pellet gun to shoot behind my house. Which ones offer the most bang for the buck ? I dont have to have the best but i want accurate and dependable ,what are my options?
Thanks

Co2?
Pumper?
Springer?
PCP?
.177?
.20?
.22?

As you can see, you got to make a choice. Another helpful insight would be, what kind of shooting are you going to do?

Plinking?
Target?
Pest control?

Do you wnat to scope it?

good customer service and warranty = RWS airguns

If you're not hunting, you don't need hyper velocity. I've had a Beeman R7 for over 25 years, it would likely fit the bill for what you are after.

I may shoot some small rats or birds,how many FPS would i need to do the job? I would like to be able to make 50 yard shots,is that too far for an airgun? Im thinking i want .177 caliber . I also like the break barrel single shot or the ones with a cocking lever under the barrel.Does the beeman r7 offer what i want?

I just ordered a RWS M34 springer in .177..should arrive tomorrow and I have high expectations.

This is my first airgun, and I read a lot of reviews and talked to an air gun "Loonie" for help in my decision. I'm hoping it works out well. I really didn't want to spend a ton but wanted a decent gun to start.

I think you will like the M34 - I have owned 2 and enjoyed them both. They are not the Beeman r-9 quality but are very durable and accurate. Just remember to hold them loosely and let them move at the shot and you should have dime size groups at 25 yards easily.

.177 will get the job done on small animals and birds...but buy a good quality high velocity one that has a good reputation for accuracy.

There are tons on great springers in the break barrel design but not as many under-levers. I have a Beeman R9 in .20 and I could not ask for more from an airgun...

Beeman R9
RWS 34 (there are lots of variations)
RWS 350
Beeman HW77 Carbine (under-lever)
RWS 460 (under-lever)

Go over to Pyramid Air Guns or Airguns of Az to have a looksee...

Bob

Bob

I got a new cabelas book today,how do you rate these air guns?
remington summit /really nice wood stock,1,000 FPS,scope 3-9x40 $199.
beeman ss 1000 /wood stock,4x32 scope 1,000 FPS $129.
ruger airhawk /wood stock,1,000 FPS,4x32 scope $109.
or should i keep looking?

Over the years, I have tried alamost evey type of "adult" air rifle.

If you are just srarting out- get something GOOD to learn on.

Spend an extra $100 and GET a HW-30s in .177 (same gun as the Beeman R-7).They run about $299 from several airgun dealers.

They are HEIRLOOM quality and EXTREMELY accurate and easy to shoot. They also cock easily. They have NO equal as an informal target spring gun. Out to 40yards, they also make good hunting guns on appropriate sized game

Speed is about 625 FPS with a 7.9g pellet. That may not sound like much but that is more than enough killing power for a .177- which is all about pellet placement anyway.

A truly accurate gun like that will teach you more about air gunning more quickly than any of the cheap and nasty speed demon guns - which are much harder to cock and even harder to shoot consistently.

I would definitely get one as a first Airgun over the RWS-34 which is a good gun- but harder to shoot well..

Every serious airgunner should own at least ONE Beeman R-7 or HW -30s.

They are THAT good.

I have a Beeman R-1 177 Cal, Beeman GS 1000 .22 Cal and a Sheridan Blue Streak .20 caliber . The limiting factors are accuracy,pellet energy, and the pore BC of pellets. I limit my shots to about 35 yards with my rifles sited in at 30 yards. The pellets ft/sec drops off quit a lot past 40 yards for shooting at 50 yards. The three rifles will put down a cottentail rabbit at 35 Yds. Every barrel is a bit different so I have tested various brands ,shapes, and weights of pellets when shooting off a bench rest to determine which pellet was the more accurate in each rifle. Do a googel serch for pellet guns to find air gun stores.

Those guns are all made in China to a price point. As others have said, you are better off with a German made RWS or Beeman. I too recommend saving up for an HW30 or a Beeman R7. You will be happier in the long run. A Sheridan is also nice but the first two are more accurate.

The R7 is a great target rifle, but my experience is that it is a crippler on birds, not a killer. I'd look for a rifle capable of ~1000 fps w/ .177's if you want to kill small game. The 22's don't need the same velocity as the pellet is much heavier.

If you're going to scope the barrel I would expect an underlever or sidelever would be more accurate, as the barrel is solidly alligned with the action. On a breakbarrel you have the possibility of the barrel not aligning 100% with the action shot to shot, so that could provide inacuracy. I used my R7 w/ irons, so that wasn't a problem.

I think you'll have to spend upwards of $400 w/o scope to get a quality spring piston air rifle, but as mentioned, it'll last you a lifetime and most importantly make you a better shot with all rifles.

I have had an RWS (1000 FPS- not sure on model), An R7, and a Sheridan Rocker- .20

For just plain fun and accurate shooting I would buy the R7 again. I have killed cottontail rabbits with it, and squirels.

The Sheridan has more punch to it and is a quality gun.

Not much to comment on the RWS- side cocking lever, I don't own it anymore. It was decent quality but was big and heavy. I much prefer the R7. If I wanted more power it would be the R9.

http://www.airguns.net/general.php
http://www.straightshooters.com/documents/generalpelletairguninfo.html

Start here, read and enjoy.

+1 on an R7 or HW30, you'll never regret the slight cost, and will end up buying one in the future to replace your XXX 1000+FPS "super- hyped-blaster" from Cabelas or Wallyworld anyway.

You have to be careful not pay attention to the advertised pellet velocity claims and to avoid Chinese airguns which are crap.

Do you really need 50 yards? or would 15 be OK. You good do fine with a crossmen 760 pump. They are cheap and can easily take care of rats and small birds at 15 yards.

Yup, ALL manufacturers will lie about how many FPS their guns will shoot, not just the Chinese, it's called "the bottom line". They know that if the average Joe see's how fast their gun shoots, people will buy, and it works. To bad the average Joe dosen't know this. They use the lightest pellet and will put the chronographer right at the muzzel to generate those B.S. numbers. It's not even close in real world use, trust me I've tried, even though I know better, just wanted to see for myself and have a good laugh.

I agree with the others when they say get a HW30/R7, it's worth the money. Granted I don't own one,(I do own a few Weihrauch/Beeman guns) but I've shot a very nicely tuned R7. Trust me, it's worth the money and you'll be able to pass it on to your kids one day.

Junk.

All Chinese guns, with scopes that won't last past 500 shots. If that.
That's why those combo's are so cheap, and they have a very harsh firing cycle
with a 2 ton trigger pull. The trigger sear can be polished up some for a acceptable pull
but it will need a good tune to get rid of all that twang and vibration. Those guns are teeth rattlers.
As the saying goes,"you get what you pay for".

I have a crosman nitro venom and it is a real kmock down air rifle. I will take anything including rabbits at 20 yards. It came with a nice 3x9 scope that works great. It's a gas piston so you can let it set without losing pressure. Check them out. Tom