opinion on two air rifles

[Freezer]

    I want an air rifle for back yard target pratice.  I'm not a compation shooter but believe a hunter can't pratice too much unless you shoot a tooth rattling, bone crushing magnum that will make you cringe and flinch every time you pull the trigger.
   Big five has a sale on two air rifles and I'd like your opinion on them and what kind of accuracy I should expect.  Both are break action 1000fps and the Crosman advertises a two stage adjustable trigger.  I like a crisp lite trigger, is the Gamo adjustable or is it set correctly from the factory?  No hunting rifle is!

1)  Crosman "Quest 1000" Single Shot break action reg. 149.99  Sale $99
2)  Gamo "Big Cat 1200"                                       reg. 249.99  Sale $129

[airgunandy]

Freezer,

"A tooth rattling, bone crushing magnum that will make you cringe and flinch every time you pull the trigger."?

Magnums are magnums whether they are powder burners or spring-piston guns.
High-power springers like these usually require a different hold than any other gun as they have a foreword and back recoil due to the spring going off. They are also harder on scopes than magnum centerfires because of the reverse recoil. And since airguns have a longer lock time than a firearm you have to have good follow through or you will not get good accuracy. I had a Gamo Shadow 1000 (similar to the Big Cat). Lousy trigger and lots of vibration and hard to shoot straight. I had to really focus to use it and still not much good with it. I gave it to my Dad and he seems to have had better luck figuring it out. He can get quarter-sized groups at 25 yards using Gamo Rocket pellets. Pumping can be a pain, but I can shoot my old Crosman pumper a lot better than I could that Gamo. My son also has a Shadow 1000. We compete at 30 yds to see who can hit a 4" steel plate. He refuses to use a scope, preferring open sights but he always seems to have trouble keeping his sights sighted in. For me, 8 pumps on my old 66 Powermaster with Simons 4 power can ding it nearly every time.
The Gamo has an adjustable trigger, but usually you can't tell much difference.
The Quest is a Chinese made copy of the Gamo, right down to the crappy trigger. There are aftermarket upgrades for the trigger that work in both the Gamo and the Crosman. Also Crosman seems to have better customer service than Gamo.

Hope this is of some help to you.

[Freezer]

    Yes that helped allot.  I didn't know these were springers.  I was warned about them on earlier posts.
     I think practicing too much with a magnum will cause the average shooter to flinch thus negating any practice you may get.  In the real world a flinch will cause a miss or wounded game.  By the same token I don't want a springer because you have to change your hold and the reason I want an air gun is for off hand shooting pratice in my back yard.  I live in a city and don't get to the range as often as I'd like. 

[airgunandy]

I can't get to the range as much as I like either. That's what is so nice about airguns. Trigger time in your own backyard.
Low power springers (500 to 600fps or so) are nice and easy for the backyard. I have a few of them, but find I like pumpers too.
Got an old Crosman 66 Powermaster that shoots great. Also been doing some mods to Crosman 760's. Low-bucks backyard fun.
Here's one of my customized 760's....

[njanear]

That is one nice looking 760!   

[Ahab]

I have a Crossman pumper and the Gamo Shadow 1000. The Gamo needed a little trigger work and the barrel cleaned very carefully but will shoot into a quarter at 25 yrds for most shooters. I prefer it to the pumper.