View Full Version : Which Pellet Gun?????????
darin
07-04-2011, 04:41 AM
A friend was letting me borrow his pellet gun while he was on vacation, but it's time for me to get my own. It's mostly for shooting chipmunks and gofers, and eventually for target practice for my son. I really don't want to spend more than about $150, but don't know if the one's I see in that price range are decent enough? I see all kinds at Cabelas, BPS and Gander. But don't really know much about them. The one I am borrowing has a scope and as far as I can tell, he has it sited in pretty good. I think I would want to get one with a scope, as well.
I know a fella who says the Gamo's and Remmington's and the like are no good (the one I am borrowing is a Gamo). He says to get anything "German" and I'll be okay... I know he also recommended Walther and RWS air rifles...
I saw a Beeman that was 1000 fps at Walmart for 98 bucks. It had the .22 and .177 barrels with it. I would love a little guidance if anyone would care to help out?????
Thanks!
Shellback
07-04-2011, 05:20 AM
You'll shoot your eye out!:smirk:
darin
07-04-2011, 05:31 AM
"You'll shoot your eye out!" I was wondering how long it would take!!! hahahahahah
What about this one? http://www.cabelas.com/product/Gamo-Socom-Carbine-Air-Rifle/1201458.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch%2F%3FN%3D%26No%3D20 %26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3Dair%2Brifle%26Ntx%3Dm ode%252Bmatchall%26WTz_l%3DHeader%253BSearch-All%2BProducts%26WTz_st%3D%26WTz_stype%3DSP%26form _state%3DsearchForm%26search%3Dair%2Brifle&Ntt=air+rifle&WTz_l=Header%3BSearch-All+Products
Then I saw one with the "gas cylinder" for more consistent cocking and supposedly much quieter???? So many choices!!
Shellback
07-04-2011, 05:59 AM
That looks like a nice unit, and $110 off, which puts it in your price range.
I wonder how many readers have NOT seen the movie of the earlier quote?
REW
darin
07-04-2011, 08:08 AM
When the Mrs. and I were dating in college, we started watching that movie one night, and decided we would drink everytime someone said, "Ralphy." That was 21 years ago and we still do it today over Christmas!
hommer23
07-04-2011, 08:28 AM
Rws in a .177 or .22 is the best choice. I have both cals and the 177 is great for small game out to about 70 yards. I have tried other brands and the springs do not last very long and they start shooting all over the place. Also when you put a scope on it make sure it is for a spring gun or you will break the cross hairs in less than 100 shots from the recoil going forward. You should be able to get a RWS for around 150.00 and up but it will last for your grand kids to shoot, mine is about 20yrs old and still shoots the same as it did when it was new.
rdbalmer
07-04-2011, 09:23 AM
I have got one of the Gamo $150 .177 cal. and i can say I am not exactly thrilled with it. It does shoot hard ( supposed to be 1100 fps. I don't have a chronograph so I can't confirm it.) The trigger pull is quite a bit harder than I believe it needs to be but I don't know how to adjust it or if you can. I think that is contributing to the accuracy, which I'm not very impressed with. I have a BMS air rifle scope on it which is a pretty decent scope for an air rifle scope... adjustable objective, 3x9 variable. I found that for me to get the best groups I had to hold the gun the exact same way every shot or my groups were lousy. It must have alot to do with the forward recoiling mentioned in the prior post. My son has the youth model Gamo with a scope also and I must say his is more accurate than mine. I think his is supposed to shoot 800 fps. Maybe that contributes to the accuracy. I have not shot any other brands so I don't know one way or another about them.
darin
07-04-2011, 10:37 AM
How about this one? A little more than I initially wanted to spend, but it sounds like I it would last a quite abit longer than a Gamo. I also don't know much about scopes (obviously) so I don't know if this scope would be adequate or not. I haven't found any RWS for less than this one WITH a scope.
http://www.airgunsofarizona.com/rws.html?gclid=CI3wu_OL6KkCFUvCKgodPGaUYw
darin
07-04-2011, 03:39 PM
I've gotten for Chipmunks today with the Gamo. Doesn't seem too bad, but I really don't have anything to compare it to. Will the RWS be night and day compared to the Gamo? It's 8lbs... is that considered heavy for a pellet gun?
Phil T
07-04-2011, 06:18 PM
A big disadvantage to the high velocity air guns is the cocking effort. I chose accuracy over velocity and spent about twice your budget on Beeman R7. My garage is long enough for a 10 meter range, and after a week's practice, golf tees are broken about 50% of the time, offhand.
darin
07-04-2011, 07:11 PM
Wow! I just ordered the one from the link I attached up above. I think the RWS sounds like a great gun, but I just can't go over the budget at this point. I'm hoping that will be a decent enough gun for the time being. Anyone else use that gun?
I have a RWS rifle. I think I've had more fun with this thing than almost any toy I've ever owned. I've had it about 15+ years with no problems.I live in town so a .22 is a no no. This is a no no in most cities also so be careful and you will have a ball with it.
Suzuki
07-05-2011, 10:25 AM
Do they still sell Sheridan's? Mine rocks. It will take any small game.
darin
07-15-2011, 05:47 AM
Well I got that Socom and like it a lot. I've gotten a few varmint with it. But I'm having trouble dialing in the scope. Any pointers or tips for really getting it dialed in?
#1 is don't use the heavy pellets, they go all over the place. I use the regular weight pointed ones and they work great. Remember you don't have a lot of distance so don't try to dial it more than you're going to shoot, they don't have consistant/straight ballistics. Mine's sighted at about 15 yards because that's far enough for what I do with it. I'm assuming you are at or above 1000 fps.
eriksat1
07-15-2011, 07:18 AM
I also have a Benjamin / Sheridan Blue Streak 6 pumps, shoots .22 cal pellets, very accurate and will take down a full size rabbit.
As far as scopes go you need a scope built just for air pellet guns, regular rifle scopes won't work good. Something about the reverse recoil of a air gun.
http://www.lasc.us/rangingshotrifleairgunscopes.htm
An air rifle scope is special because it can withstand the unique vibration and double recoil of an air rifle. NEVER PUT A FIREARM SCOPE ON AN AIR RIFLE.
Further North
07-15-2011, 08:17 AM
Yes on the scope - must be a pellet gun specific scope, regular ones will not last long.
In the time honored tradition of internet forums world wide, here's a too-late recommendation for a solution that is more than you wanted to spend, isn't even in the same category and only focuses on one of your stated problems. :rotfl:
When dealing with varmints out to 100 yards, nothing even comes close to a .17 HMR rimfire rifle with a good scope. $400 gets you in the game, and they are wickedly effective...
Further North- you are 100% correct, however, cities frown on them. I 100 yards I could hit 5 houses.
Fish_Heads
07-15-2011, 08:40 PM
Well I got that Socom and like it a lot. I've gotten a few varmint with it. But I'm having trouble dialing in the scope. Any pointers or tips for really getting it dialed in?
Lots of info & great prices & customer service here:
http://www.pyramydair.com/
My son bought a Gamo combo last December at a local outfitter, & the scope that came with the combo lasted about 20 shots. We bought a Leepers "Bug Buster" air gun scope from pyramid air & my son knocks out the chipmunks & pigeons from our yard with ease now. Did spend about 1/2 of what we paid for the gun on the replacement scope, but wow what a difference.
Fish
slambone
07-15-2011, 09:56 PM
Sheridan has been super for 24 years. Probably close to 5000 pellets through it. Shoots chipmunks (head) from 15 yds- quite a few less in stone walls, downspouts, wood racks and utility boxes these days. 5 pumps enough in the neighborhood. Scoped. Like the heavier, larger caliber pellets. Dumped a squirrel at 40+ with lucky holdover. Oiled a few times, shoots. Don't know if quality is comparable today.
darin
07-16-2011, 06:38 AM
Thanks for all the help! The scope that came w the gun is holding up so far. I've shot about 300 rounds. I am using the Crossman Destroyer pellets b/c that's just what I happened to buy (label said it was for small animals, etc. - what do I know? Haha) I'll replace the scope when it breaks.
My friend said to draw an X on a paper plate and set it up about 15-20 yards away, put the gun on a table or something so it doesn't move, and start shooting. I'm just not sure about making the adjustments on the scope.