Airgun Recommendation

[Tracker]

I have been an avid rimfire hunter for years.  I have now decided to take the airgun plunge.  I am looking for an above average accurate gun capable of shooting squirrels and similar size game.  I know the Beeman R1 is a good option and the price range is ok.  What other options should I consider?

[james]

I too am looking Tracker and waiting for your responses. I am considering the RWS 34 which is a little less than $200 and the Crosman Discovery which will be about $300 with the pump.  My old sparrow gun bit the dust and I'm afraid a .22 rimfire will tear up the blue bird houses. Maybe someone will give us some ideas and sources.   

[woodchukhntr]

RWS 36.  Mine shoots Crosman round hd. pelleta at 900+ fps.  I've made 1-shot kills on woodchucks.

[Graybeard]

Don't assume you need to pay big money to get an accurate air rifle. My Gamo only cost a bit less than $200 with the scope. It stays sighted in and hits what I aim at. I've killed a pile of cowbirds, grackles and squirrels with it plus some field mice and chipmunks raiding the gardens. You can get plenty of air gun for $200 or so these days.

[kmbrown]

I love my Beeman R9 in .20 cal.  Accurate, hard hitting and very well made.  Shoots Beeman FTS pellets at about 770fps and kills squirrels like a bolt of lightning.  If you are looking for something to kill small game I would seriously consider .20 or .22cal over .177.  A little lower velocity but more reliable kill IMO.  I've got a old Beeman C1 carbine in .177.  With a Theoben gas ram installed it does a little over 900fps with RWS super point pellets but doesn't drop squirrels with nearly the authority as the R9.

[Cheesehead]

I have been considering a Gamo Whisper. I have almost always owned an air rifle.

Cheese

[Tracker]

So what is the difference between the R1 and R9.

[kmbrown]

About $200.  The R1 is a bigger, more powerful gun.  It's available in .177,.20, and .22 cal.  Also if you wanted to customize it there are more parts for the R1( such as gas rams,etc).  Check out Straightshooters.com.  They offer a complete description of both.  Beeman R series rifles are not cheap but they are very high quality guns that are built to last a lifetime.  They also have a trigger that will rival the best centerfire rifle.  You'll never regret the purchase one one over a cheaper model.

[mcwoodduck]

I have a 200 gamo 880 hunter That I have added a Bushnell air rifle scope.  Killed the rifle scope it came with.
But mine is really accurate with the right pellets.  I went through a bunch of different pellets to get the ones that would print well.  You would be suprised at what 2 lousy grains will do.  But now the rifle is great and has taken a few squirrels and a bunch of rabbits.  I limit my shots to 35 yards or less.

[mcwoodduck]

OH, Go to Cabela's www.cabelas.com and in the search engine type air rifle.  They have some really good reconditioned gun for cheap as well as a big selection.  personally I would stay away from the ones that go over 1000 FPS.  the 1200 FPS guns break the sound barrier, still quiet, but when the pellet comes back under the sound barrier they tend to tumble.  Not bad if your shooting a fixed 50' range but a problem for hunting.

[Tracker]

Thanks for the tip good info to know.  By the way what is a gas ram.  Sorry to sound stupid.

[woodchukhntr]

A gas ram is a gas spring, which uses nitrogen which is compressed inside a cylinder when the gun is cocked, and drives a piston forward when the trigger is pulled.  It works on the same principle as gas shock absorbers and the gas springs that hold up the rear deck on a car.

[ironglowjr]

i have a beeman rs2 i bought from walmart , came w/ scope for about 125. i have killed everything from squrril, crow, opossom, and i even got a coon @ about 35 yrds. it also came with an extra barrel so you have a .177 and a .22 cal air gun in 1 for 125 cant beat it ....

[blhof]

I picked up a Gamo 22 smoothbore at auction for 1/2 what a new one cost and the seller threw in a load of expensive pellets and a scope.  It's surprisingly accurate to about 30yds with pellets and shoots the shot cartridges well to 10yds.  The shot carts are expensive, but i'm working on reloading them; just haven't found the right combo to get factory pattern yet.  Have 3 rabbits and several doves in the freezer.  Those heavy hollow point sure drop doves and rabbit better than the cheap flatheads.  I actually dropped 2 starling with one shot cartridge.