I am interestd in discussing and hearing from you longtime airgun users and get your input on:

1) I want to explore buying a new world air rifle that I can bench shoot and take out hunting without being crippled by an air bottle that is empty after a few shots at a crow and a pop bottle cap and and and...suggestions how to get best of both worlds?

2) whats the smallest caliber you would recommend for being able to enjoy both worlds?

3) I am no rich man, this is a gun to fill a niche in my collection that I can shoot economically after I have justified the expense of the $500 gun.

4) Makes, models, calibers, styles, enlighten me, I havent been anywhere near a "new school" air rifle in...40 yrs, hands on. I have read quite a bit in t he last month though.

5) Miscellaneous?

ok, lets simplify it.

if you could recommend an air rifle that you would spend your money on, what would it be, what caliber, air, break, pump, tell me what you would be most comfortable spending your money on? how much would it cost me?

Given a $500 budget, I'd opt for a .22 cal. HW95 at $315 and buy a decent scope/mount.
This really isn't a "new school" airgun, but an excellent quality gun with a great trigger and enough power in .22 to hunt small game.

+1
My HW95 is .177 but squirrels and house sparrows are my largest quarry.

I would highly recommend the Nikon Pro Staff EFR scope (air rifle approved) for under $150. I've got some other air rifle scopes with mil-dots but the glass isn't in the same league as the nikon.

Beeman R-9. If you shoot rodents with it get a .22 cal. I recommend buying it from straightshooters.com Those Nikon Prostaff EFR's are great, what I have on my R-9.

Would agree with the Beeman R9 also, but if money is an issue, the HW95 is the same gun (slight cosmetic differences) but $150 less. Can't go wrong with either one IMO.

I'll have to go along with the rest on this recommendation as well. 177 vs 22 would depend upon the game I was going after. I've use an R9 and an old FWB 124 in 177 to kill quite a few squirrels over the years. I'd avoid the cheap Spanish and Chinese made guns unless that's all your budget would allow.

Most serious airgun hunters use PCP guns these days, but they're over your budget and require a $200 pump or scuba tank. That leaves you with springers, like the other guys mentioned. Been years since I killed anything with an airgun, but .22s are killers, even at 600fps.

Be sure that any scope you get is airgun rated. A powerful springer can kill an ordinary scope with vibration and reverse recoil. You also may need an angled scope rail to compensate for barrel droop.

Check recommendations on the Pyramyd Air site, then buy wherever the best price is. Amazon carries a bunch of stuff and if you get their store card, you can spread your payments out interest-free.

HW 95 .22, Your Great Grandchildren will thank you.

Benjamin Marauder in .177 with synthetic stock plus a Hill MKIV pump.

A DIY tune can get you 50+ shots per fill.

timely thread. I'm looking for a new air rifle and scope. Good recommendation on the Nikon EFR. Any others worth looking at?