I hear you loud and clear. Without the butt pad, my daughters still have some growing to do.
For reference, the Keystone Crickett is the perfect size for them. I got them new Red Riders this year because they had the compass and sundial in the stock- Red Rider LOP is too long! So they are shooting the Daisy Buck instead. 11 and 12 years old, and a bit small.
So I am going all out on a completely selfish pellet gun here. My air gun purchases are usually selfish ones hehe. The R7 sounds great, so many say “if I had to settle for one, it’s the R7” but I mostly just hunt. I shoot the BB guns out back with the kids.
I have gone couple of rounds with the PCP world, they have their advantages but I will just say I’ve never killed anything with a PCP. It’s just not my go-to. Maybe in a big bore or powerful long range .25. But I’ve got a .22 and a 12 gauge if I am really looking for every advantage then that is they way to go.
Breakbarrels are simple, cheap to shoot, and no b.s. attached. They just feel right to me.
Lots of great hunting near me, 4,000+ acres conservation area 8 miles away and 60-some odd-thousand about 40 minutes away. I have been slaying the squirrels with the 12 gauge this year, but it’s time to get back to the air rifle again. A lot more fun and a lot cheaper ammo, no lead shot shells allowed here and tired of using up my waterfowl loads on squirrels anyway. I can shoot lead air gun pellets. Lead free shotgun shells only in most of the CA’s here in Missouri.
I kind of had my sights set on the HW80 for a flat shooting .177 pushing the limit. Now I am leaning toward the HW95/R9 thanks to you guys input and thinking about going with the .22. After all the HW95 evolved from the R1, for a reason.
I don’t know if any of y’all like to read straightshooters our take reviews but I saw something interesting on there. In .22 cal, at 50 yards distance, the R9 hits nearly as hard as the R1. Hmmm...
So all that said finally one last question. For a PURE HUNTER, is it the HW95 or HW80? I don’t normally shoot from a blind, I kind of amble around in the woods aimlessly and kill the squirrels dumb enough to let me get close. I know where the food is so I usually get lucky.
A lot of walking but also the potential for some long shots at squirrels scavenging the leftovers in the fresh cut soybean fields.
