buying advice

[revid]

Looking to buy a .177 cal air rifle to shoot squirrels,birds etc ,something up around the 1200-1400 fps range. Any suggestions,experiences and opinions please?

[wllm995]

Hi - welcome to the CAF!

I highly doubt that you will find any Air Rifle that will shoot a .177 pellet at 1200 fps!

That is just manufacturers hype to get you to buy their product...

1st - do you have your PAL? That is legally required for you to buy any Air Rifle that shoots over 500 fps.

2nd- What is your budget? There are many; many different choices in Air Rifles that can shoot at closer to 900 fps in a .177.

3rd - Why only .177? IF you are legally (in your area) intending to shoot at pests - why not a .22?

HTH

[dyslexic_nam]

...4th - there are lots of different types of guns with totally different powerplants: PCPs, springers, multi-pumps, etc. A first step in narrowing the field could be to pick a style.

5th - even if you do get a gun capable of shooting at the desired speed, your accuracy will suffer because your pellet will break the sound barrier and will be ill-designed to deal with the resulting turbulence (unlike a bullet whose weight and shape allow for higher speeds). It is much better to shoot sub-1000 fps accurately than to get more speed but miss/maim your target with a faster pellet.

[revid]

ok I understand and appreciate your opinions.First,I have a PAL, second I am thinking piston instead of spring.. My budget is up to $500 cdn aprox lol. I am thinking .177 cause I am not really after anything big,squirrels,crows etc but can and would look at a .22.So in the end what would you recommend based on your experiences?

[Daryl]

For a REALLY great rifle, your budget is a bit light, imho.

I used this one, for head and chest shots on gophers to 56yards - worked a treat, using Predator Pellets at 880fps.

https://www.dlairgun.com/Air-Rifles/Wei ... _line.html

Here are some of the pellet tests at 20 yards.

[Dukemeister]

... I am thinking piston instead of spring..

You need to explain that to us..one is no good without the other.
Perhaps you mean gas ram springer instead of wire spring springer? Just a guess.

[revid]

Yes gas ram

[Dukemeister]

Consider this one: http://scopesandammo.com/storefront/pro ... fle-p-1141

[peterdulux]

Get a Diana or Walther, nice out of the box and pleasant to shoot.

Or the hw 97 as suggested.

[revid]

The benjamin?Would you choose the .177 or .22 ? Which do you think would be more accurate?

[tango]

For hunting, go .22. So much more substantial ammunition. IMHO

[Doc Sharptail]

Here are some of the pellet tests at 20 yards.

I've had positive experiences as well with the crosman ultra mags- in different guns to boot. Looks to me like almost your tightest group on that test....

How's your piston sound while shooting them in that gun?

-D.S.