N/A Help selecting a new pellet gun

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Lead Poison

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Oct 26, 2023
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Salem, OR, US
Trying to sort through all the information that is out there to help select a new pellet rifle. My most recent GS1000 is giving up the ghost... never been really wild about it.
I've read many threads here on gas vs springer - looks about 50/50 so no preference here.

Wants: .22 cal, repeatable accuracy (aside from the person pulling the trigger), not heavy - offhand shooting and want to be able to lug it around over distances, good range, + or - $500 (Probably not $1000).

So many out there and so many 'reviews' is it best to start with the best brands (which I don't know) and try to back into an affordable model? Are there some clear choices based on the above? Other questions I should answer to help narrow the options? I see Weihrauch, Diana, etc mentioned frequently with models in this range.. others?

One review will tell you that the Wildcat Whisper or Swarm are the best, etc. Lots of these are on 'websites 'and not a group of dedicated people with experience, so I think I'll get better/more accurate info here.

Thanks for any help

As a side note I decided to ask Bing's AI what was the best spring piston pellet rifle around $500.. because... I've never asked an AI about anything before - its answer: Diana Model 48, Air Arms TX200MKIII - more affordable option Hatsan 95 Combo - Its recommendation was Pyramyd Air for the widest selection :)
 
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The 48 and TX200 are both excellent. The HW95 that @Hateful McNasty mentioned is probably the best, most diverse option at its price point. 14.5fpe in .177 basically makes it a laser beam out to 50yds or so with 8gr pellets. Hateful McNasty hit the jackpot with his and it eats Crosman pellets for breakfast. Mine is in .20 cal and really only likes the JSB 13gr but there are next to no choices in that caliber so I wasn't expecting it to love anything else.

I would recommend putting another $100 aside for an ARH kit and Vortek piston seal for that gun though. It really tames it quite a bit and you will likely get a slight accuracy bump. Plus you can tear it down and give it a proper lube job while you're in there.
 
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Lead Poison said:
How does FPS play into the mix? This one over here says 1300FPS and the HWR is 700, the next one is xxx fps, how important is FPS? Its faster, potentially more range - but my takeaway from Sam Colt was that faster isn't always better
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Sam Colt is right. For starters that 1300fps is with ultra light pellets. You don't want that. You want to be roughly 900fps or a bit slower. The good news is that you can throw heavier pellets faster which helps with the wind vs lighter pellets. The bad news is that with a spring or gas ram guns, more power usually means the gun is harder to shoot accurately.

The Diana 48 is essentially a magnum capable gun. Out of the box it will basically put out about 40% more power than the TX200 or the HW95. My 48 is in .177 and I tuned it down to 15ftlbs (same-ish as the HW95 and TX) which is equivalent of throwing an 8.44gr at 900fps. If it had been in .22 caliber I probably would have left it somewhere around 18fpe which is the equivalent of throwing a 14.66gr pellet at 750fps. Both calibers at both power levels I mentioned can do great at longer ranges.
 
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Even though your Diana 48 will put out 40% more power, you think the HW95L with the kit is still the way to go?

Looks like they have the HW95L field pro as well +$100 and 1.5 lbs - Looks like your getting a scope and rings? Is it worth the $100? Repurpose the 4x32 Beeman off the GS-1000? Or do something different?

Talked to them out at Arizona, they have them both in stock, would also do the kit, thanks for the heads up on that
 
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Lead Poison said:
Even though your Diana 48 will put out 40% more power, you think the HW95L with the kit is still the way to go?

Looks like they have the HW95L field pro as well +$100 and 1.5 lbs - Looks like your getting a scope and rings? Is it worth the $100? Repurpose the 4x32 Beeman off the GS-1000? Or do something different?

Talked to them out at Arizona, they have them both in stock, would also do the kit, thanks for the heads up on that
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My HW95L is one of the most accurate and easiest springs guns to shoot that I own. That added weight is likely just the scope weight which is normal. Never tried a Weihrauch scope so I can't weigh in on its quality.
 
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If you’re going to scope a HW95 I’d get the Luxus and put my own scope on it. You’ll also get iron sights in case you ever want to use them which I think the Field Pro lacks. Nothing wrong with the Field Pro, good option if you want to keep costs under control’ish. You mentioned weight. Diana 48 is a good deal heavier than the HW95.
 
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TXRMike said:
H&N Field Target Trophy are very popular. I've had great performance in my 22 cal HW95. I hate to echo crazy accurate but that's what it is. I've shot a lot of one hole groups at 25 and 30 yards, hits pebbles at 50 yards, from the bench.
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I'll echo that too. All of my .22 HWs prefer them in either 5.53 and 5.54 by a pretty wide margin compared to everything else I've tried
 
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Lead Poison said:
Trying to sort through all the information that is out there to help select a new pellet rifle. My most recent GS1000 is giving up the ghost... never been really wild about it.
I've read many threads here on gas vs springer - looks about 50/50 so no preference here.

Wants: .22 cal, repeatable accuracy (aside from the person pulling the trigger), not heavy - offhand shooting and want to be able to lug it around over distances, good range, + or - $500 (Probably not $1000).

So many out there and so many 'reviews' is it best to start with the best brands (which I don't know) and try to back into an affordable model? Are there some clear choices based on the above? Other questions I should answer to help narrow the options? I see Weihrauch, Diana, etc mentioned frequently with models in this range.. others?

One review will tell you that the Wildcat Whisper or Swarm are the best, etc. Lots of these are on 'websites 'and not a group of dedicated people with experience, so I think I'll get better/more accurate info here.

Thanks for any help

As a side note I decided to ask Bing's AI what was the best spring piston pellet rifle around $500.. because... I've never asked an AI about anything before - its answer: Diana Model 48, Air Arms TX200MKIII - more affordable option Hatsan 95 Combo - Its recommendation was Pyramyd Air for the widest selection :)
Click to expand...
My vote is for the Beeman R9 which is the same as the HW95 a few folks have already mentioned. It checks all the boxes of what you're looking for and I can't say enough about how much I like mine. I bought my .22 R9 three months ago and it's become my favorite air rifle. It's extremely accurate relatively light weight not pellet picky and the workmanship of the rifle is superb. In addition, it's REKKORD trigger is claimed by many to be the best trigger available on an air rifle, I'm not sure about that but I can tell you the trigger on my R9 is absolutely wonderful. Anyway that's my two cents good luck pal :) 👍
 
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Another option to consider is the .22 Diana 350. It's a magnum springer. Accurate, well made, hits hard. At 8.2lbs it's a bit on the heavy side, but not so much that it's not suited to offhand shooting. Cocking effort is around 45lbs. Stout, but easy to get used to. I bought the combo deal from PA that includes a Mantis 4-12 AO scope for $499. Great rifle for the money. Very happy with mine.
 
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Lead Poison said:
Trying to sort through all the information that is out there to help select a new pellet rifle. My most recent GS1000 is giving up the ghost... never been really wild about it.
I've read many threads here on gas vs springer - looks about 50/50 so no preference here.

Wants: .22 cal, repeatable accuracy (aside from the person pulling the trigger), not heavy - offhand shooting and want to be able to lug it around over distances, good range, + or - $500 (Probably not $1000).

So many out there and so many 'reviews' is it best to start with the best brands (which I don't know) and try to back into an affordable model? Are there some clear choices based on the above? Other questions I should answer to help narrow the options? I see Weihrauch, Diana, etc mentioned frequently with models in this range.. others?

One review will tell you that the Wildcat Whisper or Swarm are the best, etc. Lots of these are on 'websites 'and not a group of dedicated people with experience, so I think I'll get better/more accurate info here.

Thanks for any help

As a side note I decided to ask Bing's AI what was the best spring piston pellet rifle around $500.. because... I've never asked an AI about anything before - its answer: Diana Model 48, Air Arms TX200MKIII - more affordable option Hatsan 95 Combo - Its recommendation was Pyramyd Air for the widest selection :)
Click to expand...
You don't mention if you prefer a break barrel or a side lever fixed barrel.
 
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