Author Topic: Which rifle for hunting? (Read 1028 times)

Dan877 · « **on:** November 01, 2005, 11:44:41 AM »

I'm interested in giving squirrel hunting with an air rifle a try. I've hunted them with .22's for over 20 years but now want to try an air rifle.

I'm looking for something under $200. I've been doing some researching on options and right now I am looking at either a GAMO Shadow or Hunter or Beeman S1000 or S1.

Believeing that Winchester wouldn't put there name on a piece of junk I bought a Winchester .22 cal air rifle but it turned out I was way wrong. The trigger has to be at least 8 pounds, maybe 10. The pull is so heavy that there is no way to shoot it accurately, period. So I'm trying to be more careful this time and find out more about what I'm getting.

I've read posts that the GAMO's are junky, and some that say they are great. I like the fact that their spec's say they have a trigger that adjusts down to 2lbs. The Beeman spec says two stage adjustable but doesn't say what range of adjustment. Does anyone know?

Can anyone offer suggestions or ideas? I'm not settled on any brand yet, so I'd love to hear comments from other hunters.

Thanks
Dan

Lawdog · « **Reply #1 on:** November 01, 2005, 01:34:14 PM »

Dan877,

First let me Welcome you to Graybeard Outdoors.

The best forum on the net for hunters/shooters going today.

Now to your questions. Forget Gamo rifles. One their trigger isn't that adjustable and they have way too much plastic in vital areas to be reliable. Two Gamo doesn't honor the warrantee that they supply with their products. I have been around the horn with Gamo over their products and their so-called warrantee. Gamo can not be trusted, PERIOD.

The Beeman S1000 or S1 is nothing but the Sportsman series manufactured in China by BAM industries(as far as I can find out). Not a company I trust.

Yeah the old Winchester 1000 had a hard trigger. It was able to be honed(this is what I had to have done for the one I bought my oldest Daughter a few years ago) but if you were not sure of what you were doing it is a job better left to a smith. The good news about the Winchester is they came out with a newer model that supposedly has an improved trigger. At least according to the people at Daisy itÂ’s improved. To check it out go to http://www.airgundepot.com/winchester-air-rifles-1000sb.html.

With a budget of $200.00 check out the Models 25, 97 or 99M from Compasseco. Inc. at http://www.compasseco.com/shop/products.html?maingroup=Tech%20Force%20Air%20Guns&secondgroup=Air%20Rifles. The 25, 97 and 99M are three models that I have bought and trust to perform the way they advertised. I personally prefer the 99M in .22 caliber(the caliber I recommend for small game hunting - it's what I use for Turkey hunting here in California). The Model 99M has the power, accuracy and at $135.96 is hard to beat. Lawdog

Dan877 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 02, 2005, 03:15:29 AM »

Glad to join GBO, looks like a great place to visit.

GAMO, That's what I had read in most negative posts, they won't honor their warranty. Seems that if you get a good GAMO then they're great guns, if you get a bad one then they're really bad. My luck is always that I get the bad one.

BEEMAN, I didn't know much about them, other than I thought they had a good reputation. From looking at their web site the S1 isn't available any more. Either it's been replaced by the S1000 or just renamed. The list some S1's on their "factory reconditioned" page, do you know if the S1 better than the S1000?

To say the pull on the Winchester is hard is almost an understatement. A 73 year old friend wanted to try airgun hunting too, so he ordered one at the same time I ordered mine. The pull on his is so heavy that he physically can not shoot it. I gave his a try, I'd bet it has at least a 12 pound trigger. I've honed the trigger on many of my .22's so it's not something I'm afraid to try. Do you know where there is information on disassembling and honing the Winchester trigger? The gun is pretty much useless as it is so even if I flub the hone job it's not going to matter.

Thanks
Dan

dave · « **Reply #3 on:** November 02, 2005, 01:17:39 PM »

Both the Beeman S-1 and the GS series guns are made in Spain by Norica. The S-1 is a bit different from the 1000. The trigger on the S-1 is pretty good, better than most and certainly the best on just about any gun in its price range. The trigger on the 1000 isn't so great. The S-1 has decent power, but has a lot of recoil. Its not a bad gun by any means, but theres better for the money. Take a look at the RWS 93/94, they are pretty close to what you are looking for.

Dan877 · « **Reply #4 on:** November 03, 2005, 02:46:14 AM »

Thanks for the recommendations. In the mean time I found a web site with instructions on how to improve the trigger on my Winchester. I pulled it apart last night and made all the improvements listed, plus a couple of my own, and now it's actually really good, in the 3 pound range, crisp with just a little bit of take up. Everything I've read about the Winchesters says that if you can get the trigger fixed they're very accurate. I'm going to give it a try this weekend before I decide if I want to purchase something else.

Thanks all
Dan

jamaldog87 · « **Reply #5 on:** November 03, 2005, 11:28:24 AM »

i like the daisy PowerLine TargetPro 953 in 177,Model 22SG in 22, the crosman Quest 1000 or Classic 2100 and B3-1 Underlever Cocking in .22 Cal ,B4-2 Underlever Airgun .177 Cal. from www.southsummit.com. one of those should get it done! i have use the B4-2 on rabbits out to 40 yards and kill them.