RWS 350 Magnum .22cal

[duxman]

Anyone shooting the RWS 350 Magnum in the .22 cal. ? How do you like it?I've been shootin the old crossman pump for years and it's time to move up. I want something for squirrel hunting and to teach the kids marksmanship. Also want something that I can whack starlings off the blue birdhouses and rabbits in the garden. I've also been looking at the R9 goldfinger. Appreciate the help.

[Dand]

Don't have one but just from the power ratings I would think it is way too much for marksmanship training for kids - try an R7, HW30 or light power springer for training.  

For hunting I read that the RWS 350 is excellent - especially in .22.  Proabably way too much for starlings - especially if your neighbors don't like the crack of gunfire - the power of this gun is likely to produce a prettly loud report.

[duxman]

What about the kick out of these rifles. I have never shot one. Is it compariable to a .22 long rifle? Everyone mentions the kick. I guess I don't know what to expect. I really want something to whack squirrels. I'm sure you know they are a pretty tough critter. It would seem to me that the .22 is the better choice. What about the .20 cal. Is it the best of both worlds between the .177 and the .22 ? Thanks for the help.

[Lawdog]

duxman,

The recoil of magnum springer type air rifles is way more noticeable than that of a .22lr.  The RWS 350 is one of the more powerful springer rifles out there.  Unless you get the best possible scope rated for spring type air rifles it will bust one up your scope short time.  I too would not choose the 350 for training kids with.  Way to powerful and way to noisy.  The cocking effort alone will take it out of the ranks of kid training tools.  For hunting now you're talking about a air rifle that will take a tom turkey at over 50 yards.  Personally I would get a RWS 92 or like I did for my grandkids a Beeman GT600 and cut the stock down to fit them.  Lawdog

[Dand]

Spring guns have a lot of recoil.  Even my R7 if held realy tight will produce a noticeable recoil snap.  In addition, if I understand it right, the spring snaps forward then recoils backward.  Its this back and forth action that tears up scopes that can take the recoil of a .375 H&H.  Its important to get a scope that is rated for light, medium or strong spring ar rifles.  Also, most air gun enthusiasts go for scopes with paralax [sp?] adjustment to very short distances (10yds) and since the trajectory of pellets is pretty arched compard to supersonic firearms bullets.  

There are a bunch of mild spring guns for marksmanship training including some Chinese guns.  A gun I'm considering for training my boys is a Crosman CO2 single shot. I plan to be supervising them, and with CO2 we wouldn't have the pumping or cocking distraction of other types of rifles.  I see reviews that give good marks to the competing Chinese versions of the Crosman too (QB 78).  I think all these guns can be got on line for $75 to $120.

[cwallis]

I  am searching for a high quality airgun for the first time, and, as yourself,  have many years experience with the crosman pump ups (766 and 2100, same thing).  Just today, I went to a local gunstore to view some airguns and the guy let me fire a few in the store at a pellet trap.  The first one he let me try out was the 350 magnum in .177.  I would have to say that breaking the barrel to cock that thing is definately not for kids to learn with.  The report was not any louder than my crosman, but the kick was similar to my AR15.  Not too sharp, but definately more pronounced than my remington .22lr.

[duxman]

I'm looking for something with better accuracy to hunt with. I spent some time today with my son shooting the crosman 66. Great for shooting with the kids but really not a good hunting gun. I have knocked off my share of fox squirrels and starlings with it but it is not the most accurate gun. I'm still debating and I've narrowed down my choices to the RWS 350 .22 cal, Beeman R-9 .20 cal, and the Kodiak in a .22. They all look like great guns. I also need to keep saving my pennies. I never realized just how many different Airguns there are. Too many choices.

[Lawdog]

duxman,

Let me add to your dilemma in choosing an air rifle for hunting.  Check out the gas piston models like the RX and Crow Magnum models from Beeman and also the PCP rifles like the Beeman Super 12 or the Theoban's Rapid 12/250, etc., etc..  Gas piston models won't take a set like a springer model can under hunting conditions.  The PCP models like I name have the advantage of holding a revolving magazine that holds 12 pellets.  Shots are as quick as working the bolt and shooting again.  Just though I would throw a monkey wrench into your shopping.  It's almost as fun looking for a new air rifle as it is shooting one.  Lawdog
 

[duxman]

Thanks Lawdog! I really like the Crow Magnum. I found one and picked it up. What a sweet gun. Little too rich for me right now. What about the PCP's. I really know nothing about them. I only remember the CO2 cartridges as a kid. My crossman always killed more birds than the kid with the weak CO2 cartridge gun. I lived with that crossman by my side.
I see different methods of charging (hand pumps? Scuba Tanks?) Is this a hastle? It would seem that the PCP might be more reliable (fewer moving parts,springs ect). What can you tell me. I've never shot nor seen a PCP rifle.

[Lawdog]

duxman,

I got my Crow Magnum from Beeman off the "Blem" list.  Mine has a very small blemish in the finish on the stock behind the action.  Saved 30% on it off the list price.  PCP air guns are available from a number of manufactures.  All use a cylinder of some type to hold the compressed air.  Some have cylinders that can be taken off and new ones reinstalled, some have to be recharged on the rifle and the cylinder is part of the rifle.  My Rapid 12/250 and the wife's Super 12(both made by Theoban in England) use 400cc rechargeable cylinders(bottles if you will) that I can recharge in the field from a scuba tank or by hand pump(pain in the butt as far as I'm concerned).  Plus we always carry a spare cylinders when hunting.  Getting the scuba tank filled will cost as little as a couple of bucks $7.50, depending on the size of the tank.  I recharge my own scuba tanks and cylinders at home with a pump I bought from a dive shop that was going out of business over on the coast.  Depending on the rifle and the caliber you can get expect to get from 10 to 50 shots before having to change cylinders or recharge the rifle.  My wife gets 30 full power shots from her Super 12(.20) before changing cylinders and I change after every 20 in my Rapid 12/250(.25).  If you get a chance try one out and, if you are like me, they will sell themselves.  Lawdog

[klorbekld]

I have a winchester 1000x that I'm parting with, the trigger blade has been stoned smooth by a gunsmith and the relief spring was removed to lighten the pull. It also has a recoil scope stop, a bushnell 4x32 rimfire scope, a beeman muzzel break, and is about half broke in, about 1000 rounds though it, the rifle is only a month old and in about 95 percent condition, will part for 140.00 that includes shipping. Everything you need for a nice hard hitting entry springer, all the mods done, just have to figure the pellets for the application. Domes are great for target, I use crow magnums or super h points for hunting small game. convictedaccused@juno.com for pics.
or anyone else interested.....