Another of those... please help me decide on a air rifle.

I was exactly where you are 2 yrs ago. I ended up getting the gamo swarm magnum gen 3. At 1st it was great but no matter what scope I put on it with in 500 shots it would kill the scope. It went through 5 I believe. So about 4 or 5 weeks ago I got on here asking about pcp's. I ended up going with the Air Venturi Avenge X .25 from Pyramyd Air. It came in a bundle with an air compressor for I think $1199. Im as happy as can be. It's kinda heavy but I have the bottle version. The tube would be best for a hunting scenario. It's tune able and very accurate IMO. Im completely satisfied. Will I ever jump off in the deep end and buy a top tier pcp? Heck yea I will. Saving my money as we speak but my Avenge-X does everything that I need it to do. I get ragged hole groups at 50 yards when I do my part.

Boomer1974 said:

I was exactly where you are 2 yrs ago. I ended up getting the gamo swarm magnum gen 3. At 1st it was great but no matter what scope I put on it with in 500 shots it would kill the scope. It went through 5 I believe. So about 4 or 5 weeks ago I got on here asking about pcp's. I ended up going with the Air Venturi Avenge X .25 from Pyramyd Air. It came in a bundle with an air compressor for I think $1199. Im as happy as can be. It's kinda heavy but I have the bottle version. The tube would be best for a hunting scenario. It's tune able and very accurate IMO. Im completely satisfied. Will I ever jump off in the deep end and buy a top tier pcp? Heck yea I will. Saving my money as we speak but my Avenge-X does everything that I need it to do. I get ragged hole groups at 50 yards when I do my part.

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Spring guns can be awfully nice too. I don't want to bash on Gamo, because I think they do produce a decent product considering their price point, but it's kind of like saying that Burger King makes a decent burger. Gamo is kind of the starting point when it comes to spring piston airguns.

okcaveman said:

Hey yall, im wanting some advice from a group of far more knowledgeable people than I.
Im wanting to get a better quality airgun. Its main use will be hunting squirrels and shooting invasives around the property (starlings, euro sparrows, pigeons), and maybe rats around the barn. Target shooting is a 2nd priority.

Im torn. Ive wanted a pcp for a long time because of the accuracy. So on 1 hand, im considering a marauder. Relatively inexpensive, especially if I went used, easy to work on, lower pressure so easier to hand pump, fairly accurate.

Or getting a high quality springer. My only experience with springer is low quality stuff that ive been pretty unhappy with. Similar price to the marauder, very little to work on. No need for a pump. Can be accurate but also harder to shoot, harder on scopes. Always ready to walk out the door and shoot.

Ranges for the invasives, probably 50 yards and in. Targets, as far as I can hit. Have a 100 yard range in my backyard, so any distance up to there.

I like the fact that a nice springer is always ready to go, but having never shot a nice one, i think im a little jaded.

Between something like a marauder, and a r9 or hw50, what would you all recommend?

Whichever i go with would be in 22 cal most likely.


Thanks!

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While springers do get it done and are wonderful in their own right. For me all the monkey motions involved in cocking, loading, uncocking and finally sending? Is simply too much. And thats for just one shot... Give the PCP of your choice a try, there are many inexpensive models out that would suit your stated useage. Certain PCPs you can simply pump up with a manual HPA if you are fit enough. Good luck and post up when you make your decision…

I live in a heavily wooded area of the country, when hunting I rarely have to shoot over 50-70 yards. I just ordered a FX drs Tactical in 25 caliber 700 mm barrel I’m going to mount a Drt Zelos 5-20 with rangefinder. The barrel will be good for slugs and it will weigh a few pounds less than my fx m4 sniper. To me for hunting I want a light rifle. I can put a small tank in my backpack if I’m on a plinking outing and with the right slug I can bring down a wood chunk and hopefully a coyote.

Welcome to Air gun Nation.
I just wanted to say when I started I bought a darn Vevor compressor it did not last a year. I now own a Tuxing Twin cylinder TXED012 got it froml Walmart , so I could buy an Allstate protection plan with it. Some of the members here have had these type air compressors for years. I can fill my Barra 1100Z in a few minutes to 3,000 psi , and It will fill my 500 cc Zelos bottle to 3,625 psi in 4 min flat.
It's a God investment as the Vevor too 15 min to fill the Barra , and would not even fill a 500 cc bottle.
Scroll down the forum list to
"Tanks , pumps , and compressors when you ready. Lots of good people here.

Whatever you decide, I’m certain you’re doing some research on what would suit you best. If I knew then bla bla bla …….
Buy quality right off the bat, skip the I need to tinker with it for it to shoot. Springer I chose the HW95. PCP another HW this time the HW100. Plus a compressor of sorts.

I have an HW97, and it's a high quality springer. Can't remember the last time I shot it. IMO, the PCP's accuracy and ease of follow-up shots takes the springer out of consideration. If I were dealing with a group of pigeons or starlings, I'd be fumbling with pellets and cocking the thing while my targets get restless and fly away. Granted, my decision is based as much on my shortcomings as on any deficiencies with the springer, but I find the PCP much more appealing. And, if you get a cylinder gun, such as the Daystate Revere, the ergonomics will be much more similar to your RF rifle. All that said, and as mentioned by several folks already, some people do just fine with a spring gun, and prefer its simplicity. Try them both. Sometimes the journey is more fun than the destination.

I never owned a cheap PCP, however you could hand pump this one I suppose. Buy once cry once.

My squirrel killer has been my 72 Bluestreak since it was new.

In the early 90s, I bought a .20 cal Beeman R1. That gun had quite a recoil and required hold awareness, but none the less it was a deadly squirrel gun. I had some really nice shots with it.

Today, I own three PCPs, and two of them aren't ready for prime time due to not being able to hit a squirrel.
My Crown is an expensive rig that would be an awesome rifle for a long-range fox squirrel hunt. It is a .30 cal at 890 fps. To use it, I would have to be aware of range and trajectory, and for that purpose, besides a range finder, I have a phone app with my scope and ballistic data. That would be a fun challenge that I usually take .22Lr for.

If I walked out into the woods for my typical squirrel hunt, I would take my .20 cal HW95n.
It is very close to the HW97k's accuracy and power, and it's lighter, handler, and has a smooth shot cycle.


I want to add this point to the springer aspect of your question.
I have four recent weihrauch acquisitions, and two went back for warrenty, Including the 95n. That is why that rifle is so smooth it has been polished internally and properly lubed by Shane at AoA. So if you look at my odds that's a 50% chance that your HW will need additional work. Just so you're properly informed and prepared. All the best.

Get one of each. You will, eventually.

okcaveman said:

Have a 100 yard range in my backyard, so any distance up to there.

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Because I don't hesitate to criticize springers for their (particular) quirks, idiosyncrasies, foibles and shortcomings, some members mistake me for a springer-hater. They're mistaken. I love springers for what they are; but 100 yards they're not.

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