Looking for some advice on an air-rifle

[texasboy112]

I sure could use some advice, I’ve been looking to buy a quality air-rifle/scope combo and hear so much pro and con (which can be a good thing).  I’ve (kind of) settled on the Gamo Hunter Extreme .177 (but I’m open to other suggestions).  I also hear, from some reviews, that the scopes (on the combos) are not the best, if this is true what would be a decent quality scope for this type of rife.  Any advice on the rife and scope is greatly appreciated.  My main concern (obviously) is the power, reliability and accuracy of the rife.  Thanks for your help…

[mcwoodduck]

I have one.
I purchased it from Cabela's a few years ago when i thought I was moving to PA from CA and was shooting a lot.
Well it came with a BSA 4-12X40 AO scope that was designed for either rimfire or centerfire and the recoil off of air rifle killed the scope.
I replaced it with a Bushnell 3-9 X 40? air rifle scope and have not been happier.
It also took a while for me to find the load my rifle really liked.  It turned out to be the RWS target 9.3 grains.  Other pellets work but I would have a flyer out of a rest.  And the gold gamo pellets work well too they hit about and inch high at 20 yards.  So when shooting past that I use them on crows.
The rifle has killed a bunch of rats, ground squirrels, mice, Rabbits, a couple of crows, a few ghophers, a bunch of soda cans, army men, and strike anywhere matches.

[Graybeard]

My Gamo .177 came with a BSA 2-7 with AO and it is holding up fine. POI doesn't change and it's plenty clear and bright enough for all uses I've put it too.

[securitysix]

I have one.
I purchased it from Cabela's a few years ago when i thought I was moving to PA from CA and was shooting a lot.
Well it came with a BSA 4-12X40 AO scope that was designed for either rimfire or centerfire and the recoil off of air rifle killed the scope.

According to the customer service rep I contacted at BSA, ALL of their optics are air gun rated.  If yours broke under air gun recoil, you should contact BSA.

[mcwoodduck]

Thanks,
I just tossed it about a year ago.  i am really happy with the Bushnell for a few reasons.
For a while I was shooting the pellet rifle 20 to 30 times a day.
Heck it even went with me to the Range, now it has been replaced with the Cz 452 Lux as my go everywhere gun.

[lamerabbit]

I would spend the extra money and buy a rws 34, but that's your choice.  Scopes on piston airguns are kind of funky.  When all piston rifles are new they tend to shake and rattle a whole lot more than they will after 500 rounds or so.  If you buy the combo, remove the scope for the first 500 round and it will be a lot less likely to fail!

Just my two cents

Jim

[mcwoodduck]

Everytime I want an RWS pellet rifle I look at the price tag and end up going home with another 22LR instead.
The last one was a tube fed gun so I can shoot CB's out of it and be able to reload easier.

[lamerabbit]

Every time I buy a new 22 rifle, or at least new to me, I end up selling it because I have only had two or three that would keep up with my airrifles.............

I should add that I have had almost every type of rimfire rifle from anschutz to remington and few can stand up to my airguns at 50 yards.....  That is as long as the wind isn't blowing.

When you buy an air rifle you are also buying the power plant, so good one's cost a lot, and great one's cost an arm and a leg!

Jim

[Casull]

Every time I buy a new 22 rifle, or at least new to me, I end up selling it because I have only had two or three that would keep up with my airrifles.............

LOL   

[JPShelton]

Every time I buy a new 22 rifle, or at least new to me, I end up selling it because I have only had two or three that would keep up with my airrifles.............

LOL   

It's only "LOL" to those who haven't shot a .20 R-1 at 50 yards on a relatively calm day.

I haven't seen many rimfire firearms that would keep up with one, either.

-JP

[Victor3]

 I'd buy a scope separately so you can pick out exactly what you like.

 Gamo rifles look very nice and many are happy with them, but the deal breaker for me has been the crummy triggers all seem to share. Also, I've heard that factory parts can't be purchased from Gamo in the US, so that's something to think about if you like to fix your own stuff.

 I've had a pile of air rifles over the years both cheap and expensive. The only new-bought ones I've had for many years without having to fiddle with and/or upgrade are my HW (or Beeman models of same) and RWS ones. Always happy with the triggers (especially on the HW's), accuracy, fit & finish. Never had a part other than springs/seals need replacing, and those are perishable parts that eventually have to be changed out on any spring gun.

 However, the cost of even mid-priced German spring guns today are pretty dang astronomicable if you ask me. I'd still bite the bullet and get another if I were in the market though...

[mcwoodduck]

Oh not questioning the accuracy of the air rifles.  I am sure your .20 R1 will out run most of my 22's.
What I end up using my air rifle for is either taking Crows out of trees or ghophers as they try to fix their hole I messed up with the garden hose.  Talk about back yard sniping.  It rivals what I have seen for Leopard hunting with the shot needed of Croc or Hippo.
The tube fed guns with either the CB's or the Aquilla Colibre are used on pests like Rats that a quick second shot could be needed or wanted for a second or more of the little buggers.
The bird feeder at night is a good bait.
My Gamo has not needed parts as of yet.  Other than  cracked trigger guard.
Once you get used to the trigger they are not too bad.  I use this with target pellets to kill ghophers that dig up the lawn.
Head shots are about all you get.

[upsmissedagain]

 My $.02 worth. I have my share of Gamo's.My favorite is my CFX reman. Shots RWS Superdoms across my Master Chrony @ 920.2 fps 10 shot average.Cost $135.00 with a good one piece scope mount and a OK scope.  Installed a GTR III trigger for $38.00 and it's a tack driver.Kills critters of all kinds with reliability.Look for a deal on Factory Reman's. as they are usually good shooters and supper buys.
                                                   Jim Butler/upsmissedagain

[dwalk]

if you want really good performance with a no scope killing feature, go PCP/HPA...NO recoil...ANY scope may be used.

however, be prepared to be equipped with a totally different support system; an air supply source. and, the noise they usually make upon discharge is not much less than most rimfires. but in most applications "moderators" are available (where legal). the Gamo Whisper is one such 'springer with a factory installed "moderator" that's available.

i have an Airforce Talon .22 with a shroud that the hammer makes more noise than the report.

you'll need either a hand pump or SCUBA/SCBA refill capability=$$$$$$ outlay in the beginning. oh, you may purchase a HPA compressor, too, but that's getting into the four figures for the initial purchase.

most PCP are avilable in up to .25 cal and even larger in many custom applications, but i feel once above the .25 cal, why not just go to a rimfire or small bore centerfire?

i use the SCUBA and have a handpump as a backup.

springers are cheaper, for the biggest part but most PCP's take up where the springers leave off...my AF Talon will deliver a 14.3 grain pellet at 900 FPS (and... that's not on a high power setting) . that's what a "magnum" .177 will deliver a 8.0 grain pellet at...i have two 'magnum' springers and have chronoed them in comparison.

[JPShelton]

I'd buy a scope separately so you can pick out exactly what you like.

Sound advice.  That is exactly what I would do, because I am probably more particular about the scope than the rifle it is mounted to.

 

Gamo rifles look very nice and many are happy with them, but the deal breaker for me has been the crummy triggers all seem to share.

A fellow named Bob Werner in North Carolina markets a cure for that crummy Gamo trigger, and it works.  I used to shoot a Gamo Shadow 1000 and installation of Mr. Werner's trigger blade totally transformed the gun.

Also, I've heard that factory parts can't be purchased from Gamo in the US, so that's something to think about if you like to fix your own stuff.

Since the horrid trigger can be addressed, this whole factory parts support deal is the deal breaker for me in continuing to shoot Gamo springers.  Springs and mainseals are wear items on rifles of this type that will need periodic replacment.  This is especially true if you shoot them frequently.  With my R-9's, a phone call to Beeman and a few bucks has new springs and seals headed my way, and I can replace them myself fairly easily.

 

I've had a pile of air rifles over the years both cheap and expensive. The only new-bought ones I've had for many years without having to fiddle with and/or upgrade are my HW (or Beeman models of same) and RWS ones. Always happy with the triggers (especially on the HW's), accuracy, fit & finish. Never had a part other than springs/seals need replacing, and those are perishable parts that eventually have to be changed out on any spring gun.

My experience since I got into the adult airgun hobby back in the early 80s has been similar, except I've never actually owned an RWS / Diana product.  I've shot plenty of them, but they don't do for me what an R -Series Beeman does.

 

However, the cost of even mid-priced German spring guns today are pretty dang astronomicable if you ask me. I'd still bite the bullet and get another if I were in the market though...

And that is exactly what I would do, too.  I'd either buy a brand new .20 R-9 or, barring that if for some reason they cease production, importation, or both, scour the Internet in search of a well loved "pre-owned" one.  But since I've got one, it isn't too likely that I'll be needing another.  With the R- series Beemans, at least in my experience, there is no "coulda woulda shoulda" involved in the ownership experience.  Only complete satisfaction.

-JP

[JPShelton]

Oh not questioning the accuracy of the air rifles.  I am sure your .20 R1 will out run most of my 22's.

Yeah, I know....  It wasn't you.  It was the poster after you.  That's who I quoted. 

There are some dismally inaccurate and usually cheap spring piston air rifles on the market.  Thankfully, you can still buy R-Series Beemans and Theoben "Gas Spring" rifles on that same market, so there's no excuse for having to settle for something unsatisfactory. 

And for those of you who would say, "Well, sure, JP.....  But I can't afford an R-9," my response would be that if you can save up for a Hatsan, you can keep right on saving until you can afford to buy something that will survive high volume shooting over the long haul and something that will, with reasonable care and periodic mainspring and seal replacement, provide complete satisfaction and no small measure of pride of ownership for the whole of your life.

But hey, I spend more on in a year on the lead that I send out the bores of my Beemans than the cost of the rifles themselves, so I can easily justify their puchase. For me, the cost of my airgun hobby isn't in the hardware, but in the ammo.  No different than powderburners in that regard, to me.

-JP

[mcwoodduck]

JP,
A few years ago I stared to get ready for an Elk hunt.
And my Pellet rifle was part of my training.
I would take a 4 mile walk in the mornings with a 9 pound weight bar to simulate my rifle and a back pak weighed to all the gear, and heavy clothes I wear while hunting.  you would e suprised at how much weight you really carry with all the stuff, boots, water, and clothes.
Once I got back from the Daily walk I would drop off the bar and pull out the Pellet rifle to practice shooting after excersize and would snap off 4 to 5 rounds a day from each position.
I like your statement of the spending more on lead than you did on the rifle.  Where and how do you shoot your Pellet rifle?  Match, mini sniping, pest varmint control, or other?

[Casull]

It's only "LOL" to those who haven't shot a .20 R-1 at 50 yards on a relatively calm day.

I haven't seen many rimfire firearms that would keep up with one, either.

You wouldn't be comparing $200 rimfires with $800 air rifles, are you?  Or using cheap rimfire ammo?