Choosing can be confusing

[Star1pup]

I'm still trying to decide which air rifle to buy to hunt squirrels where a .22 firearm might go too far.  I have looked in the Cabela's catalog and the Gamo 220, Benjamin pump up and the RM (Not RWS) that they show for less than $200 with a scope are very affordable.  Since my last air rifle, which I still have, was a Crosman 160 (?) Co2 I am not up on the latest technology.  I also have a pistol from the same era and I think it's a 150.  They are in my reloading room and not near the computer or i could check the model numbers.  Both shoot hard and accurate, but the gas leaks out and once the power falls off you have to keep shooting until you can unscrew the cap and release the cylinder.  They also will not accept a scope and I need the optic help.

I got these guns over 50 years ago and they still shoot!  But what should I buy now?

[rocky_taco]

Are you looking for a barrel cocker or a PCP? 

For a barrel cocking gun, I'd go with a Theoben Eliminator.

For a PCP, I'd go Daystate, Theoben, or BSA.

Here's a link to a couple places that have them.
http://www.airgunsofarizona.com/
http://www.pomona-airguns.com/

[badcompnee]

The Benjamin 392 will work for you and you can get one on the crosman site ( http://www.crosman.com/site/listing/1286 ) with a scope for a bit over $200.  And if you just want to plink you don't have to cock it as much as you need for hunting....a great  fun plinker.  If you want to go with a break barrel (spring) a RWS 34 in .22 would be more then enough to hunt samll game with.  You can get that here ( http://www.pyramydair.com/cgi-bin/model.pl?model_id=402 ) and if you look around their site you can find a 10% off coupon code that will give you around $20 off the price which brings you down less then $195.  You can pick up a scope on that site as well and also use the 10% off everything you puy including pellets.  The last choice is a PCP (pre-charged - compressed air) which you need to put in the gun by either a scuba tank/adaptor or a handpump that goes to the pressures you need to charge one of these.  A good pcp to start with is something like the AA 400C - will give you about 25fpe in .22 - will shoot about 30-40 shots before needing recharging and it is very very accurate.  But don't forget the pump or scuba tank - time you're all done here you're probably around $800 or so. 

[Star1pup]

I bought a Benjamin .22 pumper and went overboard for their limited edition model.  Haven't had a lot of time to shoot it yet, but the few shots I took sure were accurate.