Help, I need a powerful .22 springer for <$350.

[ace22]

Hello, I have been researching for a week or so and pretty much narrowed down my choices to these rifles:

Tech Force 99M
RWS 94 (discontinued?)
RWS 48
RWS 350M

I am unsure of which one to get.  I know the Tech Force 99M is among the cheapest but is obviously not the quality of RWS and has a poor warranty.  I need this rifle to last.  But it's price!

I like the RWS 94 but I have heard it is now discontinued.  Is that true?? WHY?  Seems like it is a killer bargain, and powerful enough even though I know RWS overrates their velocity claims.

As for my premium picks, I prefer the side cocking of the 48 but have only heard great things about the 350's power and feel.  If I decided to go premium, I dont even know which of those 2 I would get!

Please help, I would like to order this ASAP.  I wouldnt mind eventually owning all 4 guns, but I'm looking for the best value/power/performance at this time.  Will be used for hunting the majority of the time.

Any additional suggestions to my lineup?  

Any opinions of what I should get and why?

Thanks a ton,

Ace22

[ace22]

Well thanks for all the replies, I went with the RWS 350M in .22.  I hope I made a good choice.  I think I would prefer to buy the 48/94 in .177

Happy Holidays.

Ace22

[AirCajun]

Ace 22

I have the RWS 94 in .17 and so does my son.  Both are extremely accurate and smoth shooters out of the box.  We were shooting pennies at 25 yards yesterday with CPL's and shooting respectable groops at 40 yards (some about and inch ctc.)  I have put a tin through mine.  I have not cronied yet but the 94 has a  very good reputation for good power.  I have been told that the RWS 94 has been discontinued in .22.  I would like to have one in .22 too.  

I ordered a 350M in August.  Got it in October and it was busted up pretty bad - very poorly packaged.  Sent it back and am still waiting for the replacement to be sent.  I was told that they are back ordered.  It is a LONG gun and seemed a bit heavy.  Hope yours comes in soon and is in great shape.  I am looking forward to getting mine.  I think it will do a number on crows and tree rats.

Regards,

Jim

[Lawdog]

Well thanks for all the replies, I went with the RWS 350M in .22.  I hope I made a good choice.  I think I would prefer to buy the 48/94 in .177

Happy Holidays.

Ace22

My son in-law shoots a RWS 350M in .22.  Very powerful, accuracy is good and the rifle is well made.  Reason for getting a .22 is due to California regulations that require at least a .20 caliber for the taking of Turkeys.  I don't care for barrel cockers as the under lever and side cockers tend to be more accurate.  My Tech Force 99M is a bit more accurate than the son in-law's 350M.  Take a word of advice.  Make darn certain that the scope and mounts you purchase are rated and warranted for use on “springer” type air rifles.  If not the odds are you will be busting up scopes at a wholesale rate.  Lawdog
 

[ace22]

AirCajun- Your 350 has been on back-order for that long???  Where did you purchase it from?...I ordered mine at midsouth.  Online they said it was in stock for $316.  The price is another reason I bought the 350.

Lawdog- I agree with what you said about the break-barrels, but I decided that for a .22 caliber with that power, it was what I wanted.  I really did want the RWS 48 also.  That was a tough decision, but I think I'll be buying that in .177.  As far as the TF 99M, I will probably purchase it sooner than later in .22, but I was looking for a gun with a nice warranty and better build quality.  I have read that you really enjoy yours.
What is it chrono'd at currently?

By the way, what mounts do you guys suggest?  I like the ones that straightshooters recommends for this rifle, and they can be adjusted for droop.  Also, any personal scope choices?

Thanks guys,

Ace22

[Lawdog]

ace22,

What is it chrono'd at currently?

My Tech Force 99M shooting Beeman Crow Magnum pellets(my pellet of choice as I mainly hunt with my rifles) gets 830+/- fps. depending on weather conditions.  By the way the warranty on RWS air guns is a limited lifetime.  Make very sure you read all the limitations listed in the warranty.  I will also state that the .22 caliber RWS 350M doesn’t get near the stated 1050 fps.  This is one of the times that Straight Shooters and I agree.  My son in-laws chronographed at just over 840fps. shooting the Beeman Crow Magnum pellets.  You might want to check out that 1 Piece 4" Dovetail Droop Compensator Riser from BKL at the BKL web site.  It’s no longer listed.  If your 350 does have barrel droop then you might to consider the Beeman 5039 adjustable mounts.  Stay away from B-Square products.  As for a good quality scope that isn’t going to break your budget, then try Leapers.  I have two now and intend to buy more for any future air rifles I may purchase.  Lawdog
 

[AirCajun]

Ace 22,

I ordered the 350M from D&R Sports Center in late August.  It got sent back to D&R by the postal service due to Hurricane Katrina (wiped out my home in Slidell, LA).  I finally got it in October (had it sent to Mississippi where we were staying temporarily) and it was badly damaged.  D&R made me send it back through UPS inspection and that slowed things down at least another week.  A week later, I called and they said they had sent a new one to me.   Two weeks later, I called again and they said they had not sent one to me but had to order a new one.  I still don't have it.  I paid 316 bucks for it - thought that was a good price - best price I had seen at the time.  If I could find a RWS in .22, I would get that instead.  Bummer........

I took Lawdog's advise and ordered the Beeman one-piece mount for my 350M and I DO have that in hand.   I am also using several one-piece and two-piece Accumounts (not adjustable - made by Leaper's) on other guns (including RWS 94 in .17) and have had good luck with them so far - around 12 bucks at Pyramid Air.

Regards,

Jim

[ace22]

Well my 350 should be delivered tomorrow by UPS.  I'm pretty excited.  After I break it in I'll be looking for a mount and scope.  I have two questions...

1.  Other than the Beeman 5039 mounts, how are the Beeman 5096 dampa mounts?  Worth the extra cash for my 350?

2.  Of ALL scopes under $300, what are my top choices?  I want something that will not be destroyed by the 350.  FOR SURE.  

Thanks everyone,

Ace22

[Lawdog]

Well my 350 should be delivered tomorrow by UPS.  I'm pretty excited.  After I break it in I'll be looking for a mount and scope.  I have two questions...

1.  Other than the Beeman 5039 mounts, how are the Beeman 5096 dampa mounts?  Worth the extra cash for my 350?

2.  Of ALL scopes under $300, what are my top choices?  I want something that will not be destroyed by the 350.  FOR SURE.  

Thanks everyone,

Ace22

My son in-law has a BSA 3-12X40A/O T.T.(model #AR312X40) on his RWS 350M.  Very clear, very sharp and has held up to over 2,500 pellets shot thru it.  Go to http://www.bsaoptics.com/productdetail.asp?ID=441&Prod_Code=AR312X40 to see this one.  Another good scope that isn't going to break your budget is the Leapers.  Go to http://www.leapers.com/pages/airgun%20sport/airgun%20scope.htm to see the complet line up.  These are excellent scopes.  I have two on rifles, one springer and one PCP, and these are the ones I will buy for any air rifles I get in the future.  Lawdog
 

[ace22]

Lawdog, thanks for the assistance.

Okay I got the 350 tonight, and it is beautiful!  First thing I wanted to say is that it doesnt feel as heavy as it looks.  I was quite suprised.  Dont let anyone talk you out of not getting the 350 due to weight.  The rifle is VERY well balanced and the length is perfect in IMO.  Handles much better than the reviews claim.

The fit and finish are perfect on my rifle, and the only thing I have done is clean the bore with a mild degreaser and run a cleaning rope through it.  The barrel looked clean out of the box, but I wanted to make sure.  The spring sounds great, I havent really noticed any twang at all, just a loud POP and a solid/quick recoil.  Cocking is not bad at all, much easier than I thought it would be.

I only found one blemish.  I noticed that the little round black seal (that is just around where you push the pellet into the barrel) has a tiny chunk out of it on the bottom half.  It is probably a mm or 2 deep, but doesnt go all the way to the middle of the seal.  I popped it out and turned it around, now I have a clean seal.

Other than that, I was looking through the barrel at a light bulb, and I noticed that the rifleing is nice, but I figured the barrel would be more polished inside than it is.  How scratchy is it supposed to be?  Mine looks  near "polished".  The areas of metal between the rifleings look a tiny rough/scratched.  Is that normal?

Overall, I am extremely happy with my decision.  Highly recommended.


Thanks,

Ace22

[Lawdog]

ace22,

The areas of metal between the rifleings look a tiny rough/scratched. Is that normal?

Yeah many air rifle barrels are like that.  After you shoot a few hundred pellets thru it(normal break in period) then take a look.  Until that 350M gets broke in the power is going to increase and accuracy will improve.  Keep us informed.  Lawdog