Need a quiet air rifle

[35Remington]

Shooting air rifles is legal where I live, but I want to do it without bothering my neighbors. Any recommendations would be welcome. My budget is ~$100 and I'll be shooting squirrels and blackbirds at no farther than 40 yards.

[woodchukhntr]

I would suggest a break-barrel spring-air rifle.  There are a lot of choices in the low price range.  There is some noise, but it is different from the pump-up and CO2 guns and doesn't sound threatening to neighbors (in my opinion).  Look on Craig's list in your area for a good used one.

[35Remington]

I would suggest a break-barrel spring-air rifle.  There are a lot of choices in the low price range.  There is some noise, but it is different from the pump-up and CO2 guns and doesn't sound threatening to neighbors (in my opinion).  Look on Craig's list in your area for a good used one.

Thanks for the tip. I will start looking online. Are there a couple of brands that you prefer that I could use as a starting point?

[mcwoodduck]

Most of the spring air rifles are quiet, well quiet enough for hunting.
I have taken many pests and small game with my GAMO hunter.  I bought mine whrn I thought I was headed to PA and was not sure if I was going to be able to find a range and got it for back yard shooting.
It took me a little while to find the pellets that worked best with my rifle.  Buy a bunch and shoot them all for smallest group.
Gamo makes whisper models with a siliencer on the front.
I have not shot one.
 

[35Remington]

Do any of these seem like good deals?


http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/spo/2915167969.html
http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/mat/2913554293.html
http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/spo/2919044156.html

[woodchukhntr]

The Gamo Shadow with the scope should work very well for you.  Plenty of power there!  I've got a older Gamo that I bought for $50 that shoots well in my cellar range.  When I return home from Florida next week I'll take it out and give it a try outside at various ranges.  It's not a 1000fps gun, but that's OK, I've a RWS 34 in .22 for the real serious shooting.

[35Remington]

Can anyone comment on the Crosman RepeatAir 1077 CO₂? I know the craftsmanship is likely lower than Gamo's offerings, but for $79 new at Academy, and with a 12 shot mag, I'm starting to think it might be better suited for backyard pest control. 

[Victor3]

 The 1077 is very inaccurate (at least the one I shot was) and the quality is barely above disposable. Being CO2, it's not all that quiet either.
 
 The Gamo rifles from Craig's list you posted are pretty powerful... and loud. Also, every Gamo I've owned or fired has had a lousy trigger.
 
 I have a few <$100 medium-powered, quiet, accurate, chinese spring rifles that are good for small game but none of them are on the market anymore. I did have what appears to have been a previous model of this rifle (but with sights and different stock) that was pretty darn good for the money. Not loud (I had a .22). It's a pretty good copy of the RWS 34. I may buy one. Never had a gun with a bamboo stock before. 
 
http://www.archerairguns.com/Xisico-XS25SFB-Air-Rifle-p/xisicoxs25sfb.htm
 
 Archer is a great outfit that stands behind what it sells, so that's a plus.
 
 

[35Remington]

Thanks, Victor3. I will look into that.

Was at Academy yesterday, and decided to try out the Winchester 1028WS. It was the only thing they had in stock at the $99 level.

Damn, this thing is loud. I'm not sure it's going to work for me.

[Victor3]

 Keep in mind that many springers come heavily lubed from the factory. Initially, some of the lube in the compression chamber will burn upon firing, causing a "diesel effect" that can increase the report. Eventually the excess lube will burn off (this can take many shots, depending upon how much lube is in the chamber), and the gun will often quiet down some.
 
 You might consider a Crosman 1322 with shoulder stock. I'd recommend the 1377 (177 cal version of the same gun) except for the fact that the loading trough in the reciever is way too large for 177 pellets and jams them up when you push the bolt home.    It's not too loud if you don't pump it up to 10. Not really enough power for squirrels, but it's fine for small birds...
 
http://www.pyramydair.com/s/m/Crosman_1322_Air_Pistol_Black/2657
 
http://www.amazon.com/Crosman-1377-Custom-Shoulder-Stock/dp/B001BR1NE8
 
 I've had one for 30 years...
 

[35Remington]

Victor3, you clearly have a lot of experience with air rifles. Thanks for your input thus far. I am definitely experiencing the diesel effect with the Winchester that I bought at Academy. It's a pretty sweet rifle, but I think it's more gun than I need.

I'm going to try the Crosman 1077 and see if it will achieve my objectives before I buy something online that will be more difficult to return.

That Xisico looks pretty unique. If I ever decide to start collecting airguns, I might have to pick one of those up.

[S.S.]

try  Archer Airguns QB78 in .22. caliber

http://www.archerairguns.com/QB78-Deluxe-Chinese-Air-Rifle-p/ibqb78d.htm

[35Remington]

So it's been a month and a half, and I thought I'd come back and update this post.

The Crosman 1077 was cool because it had a 12 shot magazine that would fire as fast as you could pull the trigger. The downside was that it ate through CO2 cartridges faster than green grass through a goose. I returned it.

I ended up with a Crosman 1377 for $53 from Amazon. $150 more bought me a longer barrel, muzzle brake, shoulder stock, and a trigger tune. An old 4x15 scope off my Daisy Powerline 880 topped it off. I did not experience the pellet loading issues another poster mentioned.

It's mouse-fart quiet, and easily shoots dime sized groups from 10 yards.

[Dand]

That modded pistol looks cool and sounds great.  For accuracy and quiet in a springer you may need to spend more than $100 - I recommend and love my  Beeman R7 in .177. But its not a 40 yard squirrel gun.  I've taken a couple grouse at about 10 yards with head shots.  One I hit a couple times in the wings and the pellets bounced off; the bird stayed put until I could see and hit it in the head. I haven't hunted with it much since I got a BSA Super Sport Springer in 22. I've taken a few grouse with it out to 30 yards maybe.  But it is pretty sharp in its report and people will know you are shooting. I'd like even more power really for hunting rabbits.  My son just got a Benjamin Nitro All weather in 22. Its more quiet than my BSA but still fairly sharp sound. It was marginal taking a smallish porcupine at about 25- 30 feet.

[jlwilliams]

  Nice airgun.
 
   Lots of people prefer the springers for a lot of reasons.  I know I like them.  The pump ups have got a little overlooked in the last few years.  They have the advantage of power adjustability.  If you want a quiet shot with just enough punch to tip over a dixy cup, you got it.  You want enough to pop a starling a little firther out, pump it right up.  The only down side to a pump up, in my opinion, is that when you want to plink for a while you end up pumping more than shooting, but that's the trade off.  For a back yard varminter, pump up is a good platform. 
 
  I think you did pretty well and got what you need in the right price range. 

[35Remington]

It was marginal taking a smallish porcupine at about 25- 30 feet.

Agreed with the need for more FPE when stalking larger prey.  I don't want any of my kills to be "marginal."  To me, that equates to suffering, and I'd much prefer a clean, quick harvest.


I've not yet added my thanks to the posters above for sending me in the right direction.  Without their suggestions, I would never have ended up with this fun new toy.

[Dand]

One other really good source for pellet gun info is Straight Shooters Precision.  They sell springers and PCP guns but they have very extensive write-ups of the products they sell including their own testing results.  They also host a chat room where many aspects of pellet gun shooting are discussed. I've learned a ton from them.

[rdlange]

Glad you found your gun.  I'm also a crosman fan.  Check out this site for more kool things to do to your shooter...


http://www.network54.com/Index/12861