Friend of mine is looking to replace his worn out air rifle. He is thinking of another lever-cocking type rifle, but a bit better quality. I have a RWS52, but don't know if he wants to spend that much. Maybe $200 at the most. Probably .177. Uses it for squirrels/birds in his backyard/farm. Might try and talk him into a .22. He will probably put a scope on it. We are getting older, ya know.
What do your recommend, and where to buy them? Thanks
Sheridan blue streak. Mine was my grandfather's. It worked well for many years for him and took hundreds of squirrels. After I inherited it and retrieved it from storage, I had the seals replaced and it has worked like new since 2007 for me too. I have a .20 cal, but it comes in .177 and .22 as well.
Amazon.com sells them. I don't know best prices. A quick search should find that. I'd expect around $160-180.
KE4GWE - - - - - - Colt 1860, it just feels right.
Pyramid Air is the place to go for airgun stuff.lots of good choices. The benjamin 397 is nice but awkward to scope.the rws 34 chicom copies marketed by ruger are nice guns and aftermarket parts readily available. Flying Dragon airguns sells than as the b25 for a good price.free shipping and fast service too.
Your mother was a hamster, and your father smelt of elderberries
Try and find one with the gas ram in it. I have a Crosman Nitro Venom and it is quite accurate, hard hitting and easy to mount a scope on. The gas spring makes cocking a little easier, also. The Ruger is ok, but I have heard very good things about the Remington Express too.
The RWS 34 is hands down the best rifle in this class. A good used one will be in the budget. The 177 is the best choice for a spring gun especially one in this price range.
RWS 34. A bit over his budget, but the quality and accuracy are there. Mine is .22 and gets better every time I shoot it, which is 4-7 times a week. In the long run, he'll regret anything less if he opts for a break barrel springer.
Benjamin 392 or 397 . Need a scope mount I have a Leapers Gen 5 3x9 (bit heavy)
that mount puts it over budget. It looks like the scope it way too high with that set up. How is it to cheek and shoot?
Your mother was a hamster, and your father smelt of elderberries
i can recommend the stoeger x10 .177!!
a reliable tack driver at 30 yards. kills grouse and rabbits easy with crosman hollow domes.
trigger upgrades are also available.
Last edited by .30-06 fan; 02-09-2015 at 08:36 PM.
The lazy do not roast any game... but the diligent feed on the riches of the HUNT!! Proverbs 12:27
+1 for the Sheridan, Mine is a 1973, that I rebuilt two years ago. With a 4x scope it takes out starlings out at 20 yards No problem.
Mine is the Silver Streak, a few extra bucks, compared to the blued version
I have sworn on the altar of GOD eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.Thomas Jefferson
" Any law that is NOT constitutional is not a law" James Madison
+1 on the RWS 34. I have a number of air rifles including a Benj Nitro Piston, but the classic 34's are much nicer to shoot.
Just put my cheap crosman quest back together tonite with a new aftermarket spring and seals. Shoots better than new.
Springers are very simple and easy to repair and upgrade.
rws 34 classic w/ t/06 trigger, accurate and powerful
Another vote for the RWS 34. Mine (actually mine is a Diana 36, same gun different name) is .22 and it is my "go to" air rifle.
When it's time to fight, you fight like you are the third monkey on the ramp to Noah's Ark.... and brother, it's STARTING TO RAIN!!
Know nothing about air guns but need something to practise off hand with a scope? How light is the trigger on the RWS 34?
The RWS 34 has an excellent adjustable trigger. Mine came from the factory just right, (about 2.5lb). And another plug for Pyramid Air, sign up for their newsletter, I think they give a discount for that, and pay attention to their holiday deal ads, (usually about 10% off+free shipping on orders over $150.00). The RWS 34 ain't fancy, just a solid accurate gun that will last for generations. Oh, and get at least one "Pellet Pen" while you're at it. A nifty device about the size of a pen you pre-load with pellets to load and seat pellets in your gun, they're about $10.00 ea. No fumbling with pellets from the can, simply inject one directly into the chamber, it's like a quick loader.Originally Posted by kokomokid
The RWS 34 is the standard for all other break barrel pellet rifles, you could say it's the Model-70 of pellet rifles. Using a "gentle" rest, (my left fist) to rest the forearm against the summer kitchen corner, it'll typically shoot 1-1.5" 10 shot groups at 25yds using a scope set at 5X. No pellet sorting or weighing, just wally world Crosman .22 Premier Hollow Points, the RWS Super Domes do a little better, but cost a lot more.
Last edited by Ithaca Gunner; 02-14-2015 at 07:04 PM.
Chinese QB78 from Archer for $99 is a steal and add the $37 tune up kit and it is a great little rifle. They are about as customizable as any airgun I know of. 2 stage triggers, repeater options, pre-charged pneumatic cylinders, oversized bolts, 177 and 22 barrels, etc. They are a Crossman design that the Chinese have done a near perfect job of cloning.
Reloading Data Project - (in retirement)
http://sourceforge.net/projects/reloadersrfrnce/
the QB 78 is a good one.In the cold weather the C02 is an issue though.
Your mother was a hamster, and your father smelt of elderberries
Look into a fully tuned XS46U from Mike at Flying Dragon Air Rifles. He does them up right, I think the out the door price on a full tuned .22 is $225 and that's with your choice of spring or gas ram.
This gun is accurate because the barrel is integral to the receiver of the gun, it has an underlever that cocks it. Across most back yards groups with $8/tin walmart crosman pellets will be all inside a dime. He will enjoy shooting this rifle as it easily outshoots most of us old fellas.
This one is mine, with a Leaper's UTG etched glass reticle scope and a compensated base:
Got a .22 .30 .32 .357 .38 .40 .41 .44 .45 .480 or .500 S&W cylinder that needs throats honed? 9mm, 10mm/40S&W, 45 ACP pistol barrel that won't "plunk" your handloads? 480 Ruger or 475 Linebaugh cylinder that needs the "step" reamed to 6° 30min chamfer? Click here to send me a PM You can also find me on Facebook Click Here.
Another vote for the Crosman Nitro Venom. Great air rifle for under 200 Dollars. Accurate and powerful.
A gun is like a parachute: If you need one and don't have one, you won't be needing one again.
Posting Permissions
| BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
| BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
| BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
| C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
| HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
| PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
| LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
| GC | Gas Check |
Reply With Quote
DougGuy