Author Topic: advice needed.... (Read 1578 times)

Frog123 · « **on:** February 20, 2003, 07:19:46 PM »

What would be a good entry level air rifle to start with? My primary interest is to have something with the ability to harvest squirrels and other small game with. Any comments or suggestions appreciated...

Frog

Questor · « **Reply #1 on:** February 21, 2003, 03:49:05 AM »

I think the best place to start for that application is the 22 rimfire. Is there some compelling reason why you have to use an air gun?

Larry Gibson · « **Reply #2 on:** February 21, 2003, 04:19:43 AM »

Frog123

"the ability to harvest squirrels and other small game with" is not "entry level" with an air rifle. It requires the "top end" performance level air rifles. If you are serious and not trolling inquire further.

Larry Gibson

JJHACK · « **Reply #3 on:** February 21, 2003, 06:00:40 AM »

Your only option for under 200 bucks with scope and mounts is a Sheridan pneumatic. NO CO2 will work well because they are very temp sensitive in cold weather.

To do better then the 200 bucks you would have into a Sheridan and scope you would be into the 400-500 dollar range with a rifle that will take some time to understand and learn to shoot well.

The Cheap Spring powered rifles you see for 150-200 bucks are not going to be as good as the Sheridan and much more difficult to shoot well. I would recommend you go to the www.straightshooters.com site and look through their gun list. They are the premier Air rifle dealer in the USA and have all the good stuff.

One important thing to realize is that this Adult Airgun stuff is not cheap. I have a gas piston rifle with a custom made walnut stock and a 4-16 power scope that has cost me about 1000.00 bucks and is more complex to shoot then the Sheridan for 1/5th the price! The advantage is more power easier to charge and extremely accurate once mastered.

It's a big leap to do the Adult Airgun thing. I can easily have a .22 ruger rimfire which will work to 80 yards with a breeze for less then 1/2 the price of my air rifle. Good luck

Lawdog · « **Reply #4 on:** February 21, 2003, 10:49:36 AM »

Frog123,

JJ has pretty well covered the issue about "Adult Airguns" but I don't agree about the Sheridan pneumatic. The power fluctuation you get with any pump up air rifle makes them less accurate than either spring or gas piston types. And JJ is right about the prices, a really good adult air rifle will set you back what you will spend on a new centerfire rifle. Another place you might check is with the manufactures, many have returns, seconds and such that come with warranty but at a big savings. I got my Beeman Crow Magnum IV off the Beeman Used and return site. Mine was a "Blem" but still with scope and all I still got over a $1,000 tied up in mine. Lawdog

JJHACK · « **Reply #5 on:** February 21, 2003, 12:44:02 PM »

The variable power in the Sheridan will make things screwy if your not paying attention, I agree. Pump too fast or too often and or let the gun sit long after being pumped and accuracy will change. However I have lit a blue tip match with mine using peep sights at ten meters! So the potential is there.

One other interesting thing at least for me. If I hunt and total the game I shoot starting today for the rest of my life I will not put a dent in what I have killed as a kid with that sheridan rifle. I would guess I have killed many hundreds of rabbits, muskrats, norway rats, pigeons, quail, pheasants, ducks, crows at least several fox, raccoons, woodchucks and the list could go on and on. There are so many things I would not even post about that I did with that gun as a youth. I attribute 99% of my current skills as a marksman to that rifle alone. When your 4 and a half foot tall at 12 years old and it takes 10 very hard pumps to make one shot, your learning real quick to make each one count!

I doubt there is a better gun in the whole world for youth marksmanship then the old Sheridan or benjamin rifles!

22MK1 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 05, 2003, 11:22:25 PM »

Quote from: JJHACK

The variable power in the Sheridan will make things screwy if your not paying attention, I agree. Pump too fast or too often and or let the gun sit long after being pumped and accuracy will change. However I have lit a blue tip match with mine using peep sights at ten meters! So the potential is there.

One other interesting thing at least for me. If I hunt and total the game I shoot starting today for the rest of my life I will not put a dent in what I have killed as a kid with that sheridan rifle. I would guess I have killed many hundreds of rabbits, muskrats, norway rats, pigeons, quail, pheasants, ducks, crows at least several fox, raccoons, woodchucks and the list could go on and on. There are so many things I would not even post about that I did with that gun as a youth. I attribute 99% of my current skills as a marksman to that rifle alone. When your 4 and a half foot tall at 12 years old and it takes 10 very hard pumps to make one shot, your learning real quick to make each one count!

I doubt there is a better gun in the whole world for youth marksmanship then the old Sheridan or benjamin rifles!

You should check out a Steroid Billet tuned Benjamin 392from Mac-1 if you want to see what one can do these days($220). With heavy (21Gr) Dae Sung pellets, they put out a lot more energy than you're going to get from any spring piston gun under $1,500 if you want a self contained power plant.
http://www.mac1airgun.com/steriodags.html