good solid hunting setup

[panman]

What kind of air gun do you gents recomend?I would like to take coons and such.Also the complete set up.Im geting the air gun flu bad,no cure in site.pan.

[dave]

Kind of a broad question...Do you have a particular budget, what is the preferred power-CO2, air, spring?

[panman]

Sorry,spring,400.00.pan.

[Lawdog]

panman,

First there is no cure for the air power bug.  Every rifle or pistol bought is just a temporary fix until the next purchase.  Raccoons and such sized animals are tough.  You would be amazed at the amount of punishment they can and do absorb.  I have taken many with my air rifles and the larger calibers, .20 would be the minimum with the .22 and .25 calibers being preferred.  Is your stated limit of $400.00 include items like scope, mount and such?  If it does then this will drop you down to around $200.00- $250.00 for just the rifle but there are still a number of rifles, scope and mounts that will suit your purpose.  Lawdog
 

[panman]

Thank you lawdog,the 400.00$ price tag is not writen in stone,but i dont want to go much higher than 3-350 for the gun unless the quality and power are worth it.thanks again.pan

[panman]

Lawdog i noticed in another post that you liked the beeman kodiac.What is the price of one and a good scope?.From what i read it should fit the bill ,thanks,and feel free to add any others,or any pos.or neg.Thanks again, pan.  Almost forgot,.25 cal.

[Lawdog]

panman,

In a .25 caliber there are many good air rifles to choose from.  The Beeman Kodiak is a good one but to save a few bucks go with the Webley Patriot.  The Webley Patriot is the Beeman Kodiak.  They are one and the same.  For any that want to dispute this argue this with Webley as they are the ones that will tell you that.  Another good rifle in .25 caliber is the RWS 48, 52 and 54.  These are side cockers but they are very accurate and hard hitting.  After this level they start getting kind of expensive.  I am not going to tell you what I paid for my Theoben Rapid 12/250(a .25 PCP).  There are many good .25 caliber rifles out there it all depends on your wallet and what it will stand.  I am a big fan of the .25 Pellet rifle.  Accurate, powerful which makes for a great small game rifle.  It will also drop a 23 lb. Turkey in it’s tracks at 45 yards with a solid body hit.  Lawdog
 

[Mauser]

Pan:

I'm very new to "good" air rifles so take my comments with a grain of salt but I recently bought a Webley Tomahawk and I couldn't be happier.  Its in 22 caliber and shoots Beeman FTSs through the same hole @ 15 yards.  I chronographed the pellets @ exactly 800 Fps at the muzzle for over 20 ft/lbs of energy. The rifle doesn't make too much noise and it isn't very hard to cock.  With good shots (always the goal) it ought to "do" a raccoon.  The rifle was $379.00

Incidently, I put a Swift 3-9x40 scope on it.  Its a very solid, bright scope for about $135.00.  The mounts were about $40.00.

I know this is above your budget, but for raccoon or similar animals (requiring a fairly substantial weapon) you're probably going to have to go above $400.00 for a rifle, scope, and a mount.  This is assuming you want a scope.

I've been into firearms for all of my adult life and have held a lot of nice guns (and owned a few) and I'm impressed with the finish and quality of these air guns.  I've gotten hooked particularly because I can use them around my house.

[mjfa]

Webley Xocet  .25 cal @ 620 fps  $238
Webley Stingray  .25 cal @ 620 fps  $295
Webley Tomahawk  .25 cal @ 720 fps  $381
Webley Patriot  .25 cal @ 820 fps  $465
Weirauch HW-90  .25 cal @ 790 fps  $553  (Theoben Gas Ram system)

[panman]

Thanks for all the help guys.I guess i have to save a few bucks, and get a WebleyPatriot.I know that coons are hard to kill and thats why i figured that if i could drop one, the gun i choose would be enough for whatever i needed to shoot.I to, have hunted and shot all my life and have had a lot of real nice guns in many different cal.I just never messed with air guns before, at least since i was a kid.Back then all ya had was red rider,  boy things sure have changed!!.Ill get back to ya and let ya know how things turn out.Ya havnt heard the last of me,im hooked!!.pan.

[Lawdog]

panman,

My daughter raises show quality rabbits.  We're talking $100.00 plus value each and every year she(and I when they were keeping the rabbits at our place) has to kill marauding raccoons trying to get into the cages to get at the young a number of times every year(7 just this year alone).  Can’t use rimfires because of the danger of hitting an expensive rabbit in another cage.  It was for this reason I bought my first air rifle in 1991 from Beeman.  Trying to pump up a Sheridan didn’t work.  The raccoons would hear the handle slap against the cylinder and be gone before you could get a shot.  I told the salesman I wanted the most powerful pellet rifle they had in the store and he recommended the Kodiak in .25 caliber.  They didn’t have a Crow Magnum at the time or I would have bought it.  But like I said before I wish I knew then what I know now because I would have bought the Webley Patriot and save myself enough to have paid for the mounts and scope.  Lawdog
 

[mjfa]

The .22 is the most popular hunting caliber amongst airgunners.  You have more pellets and rifle options available in this caliber.  And quite a bunch will exceed the fpe of the .25 guns available.  Visit the different airgun dealers on the web to get a picture of what is available, some of them have very descriptive information along with pictures and tests of their products.  Shure you'll be able to make a better informed decision.  You may try www.straightshooters.com   www.pyramydair.com   www.compasseco.com

Good Luck

[mjfa]

Beeman Kodiak .25 cal  28 fpe  $510  Springer
RWS 350           .22 cal  24 fpe  $370  Springer
BSA Tech-Star   .22 cal  35 fpe  $370  PCP
Sumatra 2500    .22 cal  54 fpe  $389  PCP
Career III 300   .22 cal  54 fpe  $397  PCP
Talon                .22 cal  35 fpe  $440  PCP