Winchester 1000X

[Flash]

All I can say is WOW! I always associated air rifles with the Red Rider(my first) and the Crossman 760(my second). I had shot the Sheridans but they all fell under the same category to me. Until recently, I had no practical use for an air rifle but a family of Opossum changed all that. It seems that I dispatched the Mom back in the spring after cornering her in my garage and I reluctantly did it with my Buck Mark Camper. Being in a residential area, firearm discharge would get me 90 days and no hunting license next year. Anyway, to combat these defiant little snarling b@st@rds, I decided to go the air rifle route. I read up on them, visited all the discount department stores and figured that 500 to 700 fps would cost be a couple of hundred $'s. Then, I came across a Winchester, with a blistering 1,000 fps for a little over a hundred bucks. Whew, with an old steel tube Weaver K4, it groups inside a dime at 25 yards. I might actually take it squirell hunting this year. God help the pest that steps foot in my back yard or lands in my trees. :grin:

[Lawdog]

Flash,

Congratulations on your new air rifle.  I got my oldest daughter one to replace the Gamo 880 she wore out.  Personally, I believe the Winchester 1000X is the better rifle.  She has used it to knock off three raccoons that were trying to get into her rabbit shed plus you can't find a gopher or a mole on her property.  Birds pretty much stay away from her garden too.  She uses wad cutter type pellets for birds and hollow point pellets(Beeman Crow Magnum's) for the larger animals.  For the money you spent I believe you made a good buy and don't let anyone tell you other wise.  Just remember that it takes upwards 500 rounds before your 1000X will settle down accuracy wise.  Until then the accuracy just keeps getting better.  Welcome to the world of Adult Air Rifles.  Lawdog

[Flash]

Thanks Lawdog. The only problem that I have with the gun and would probably have with others is the front sight ghost in the scope. The sight is huge and the rear sight is right in position to prevent a large objective from being used. I had intentions of using at least a 40mm scope but I can't find rings tall enough. Do you have any suggestions? What scopes do you use or anyone else reading this thread. A BSA variable is fine for this application and quite inexpensive but the darn thing won't fit on the rifle. I had thought about removing the rear sight all together but haven't decided yet. Do you think the accuracy of my rifle will actually get better? I thought a dime size group at 25 yards was pretty good. What kind of cleaning frequency is needed for these barrels? It's obvious that gas cutting doesn't play a part here but the pellets must smear at 1,000 fps and leave a deposit. Any feedback is apreciated.

[Lawdog]

Flash,

I mounted the scope that was on my daughter's Gamo 880.  An older Bushnell 3-9x 32mm with AO.  It came as part of the combo deal on my Beeman Crow Magnum IV.  I know about the ghost halo from the front sight but when hunting neither my daughter or I really notice it.  The best advice I can give you about a scope is to make sure the scope is air rifle approved and that the mounts/rings are heavy duty.  Magnum power springer air rifles are harder on scopes than a .375 H&H magnum.  It's the double recoil that does them in.  It's normal for accuracy to improve on air rifles when first breaking them in.  Cleaning wise let me say I don't recommend the use of felt pellets for cleaning, NOT in magnum power air rifles.  I pass a lightly oiled patch down the barrel after every box/can of pellets(if I remember to do so).  Point of interest.  My daughter killed a young bobcat with a head shot two nights ago when it was caught in her rabbit shed.  It had managed to get into a cage and kill one of her $80.00 Angora rabbits.  Range was about 25 feet.  Lawdog