"Springer" Rifles???

[Lawdog]

Yesterday morning at the range a bunch(5 of them) of guys were sitting around drinking coffee discussing the merits of “springer” air rifles.  The main topic of the discussion was which type was the best for accuracy and power.  Barrel breaking, side lever or under lever?  I am curious to which is preferred by the posters here?  I like them all but they all seem to have good and bad points.  So state your case for your preferance and why ?  Small groups and tight lines to all.  Lawdog
 

P.S. - By the way these guys didn’t even own adult air rifles six months ago.

[PeterF.]

It seems like you get from "type" of springer to "brand" of springer pretty quick.  Your side-levers are pretty much the RWS 48/52/54 (and the Chinese clones); and your under-levers are  the Air Arms TX-200/Pro-Sport and HW-97.  And these tend to be used for fairly specific and different types of shooting; for instance, the RWSs are know for "magnum power", but aren't seen much in competition; while the Air Arms guns are leaders in field target shooting (less power, more accuracy).  There are break-barrel guns in just about every shooting category, but I still think rigid-barrel (under- and side-lever) guns are inherently more accurate because there's no "droop" factor.  Power seems to go to the side-levers (although there's a few high-powered break-barrels), but there's no design-inherent reason for that.   This is all just my semi-informed opinion.

[Johnny]

I prefare break-barrels becouse this design have some good points:

* Easy to swap barrel to another calibre
* Easy to replace barrel if damaged
* Easier to cock
* Looks sharp without a lever
* Lower weight

I do not belive in the downside of a supposed lower accuracy, becouse most high-quality springers shots better then the shooter anyway.

 :wink:

[S.S.]

I have never been able to keep a SCOPE zeroed
on a break action for more than a dozen or so shots.
Don't know why?
I now use a "PRECHARGED" model when I need a Scope.
I am starting to rely on air rifles for a lot of my shooting needs.
I want one of the .25 or .36 caliber jobs for a little bigger critters!!
I recently saw one that would fire 405 grain .45 caliber bullets
at an honest 580 fps. I don't know if it was custom or not though.
I am really amazed at the power of some of these things.

[Lawdog]

S.Sumner,

I have never been able to keep a SCOPE zeroed
on a break action for more than a dozen or so shots.
Don't know why?

I got to ask, What type and model scope/mounts were you using?  Springer air rifles(doesn't matter whether it is a barrel breaker, side lever or under lever) will mess up scopes quicker than a .375 H&H.  You HAVE to use top quality mounts and scopes approved for air rifle use.  I busted up a new Leupold with a Beeman .25 caliber Kodiak.  It broke during sight-in.  Small groups and tight lines to you.  Lawdog
 

[Deaf Smith]

Dennis Quackenbush. He makes 375, 40,45, and 50 caliber airrifles precharged and powerful enough for big game.

[mjfa]

I do own 5 spring guns, two sidelevers and three barrel breakers.
For short range accuracy I'll go with my sidelevers, Feinwerkbau 300S Match air rifle and Feinwerkbau 90S match air pistol.  For power and long range accuracy the HW80, Beeman R9 and Diana 45 in that order.  For any shooting activity I would prefer one of my PCP's over the springers.