N/A new backyard pcp rifle under 500

[pcponly]

so my plinking back yard rifle has reached its end and now i need a .22 caliber pcp for back yard plinking dont want .177 since i have so much .22 ammo already.

my two key points is: 1 accuracy and 2 of course quietness very important as i do have neighbors

i hear bejamin maureder or jts aircuda max ..but would like to advise of all you pros in those small calibers and that do back yard plinking.. thank you in advance

 

[JaceSpace1369]

so my plinking back yard rifle has reached its end and now i need a .22 caliber pcp for back yard plinking dont want .177 since i have so much .22 ammo already.

my two key points is: 1 accuracy and 2 of course quietness very important as i do have neighbors

i hear bejamin maureder or jts aircuda max ..but would like to advise of all you pros in those small calibers and that do back yard plinking.. thank you in advance

Strictly plinking? Also any preference in style of gun, power, distance?

 

[Dr. Kralenstein]

Personal experience, never having shot an Aircuda, the Mrod is quiet and accurate. It's just a big pig for me. I don't like large rifles, but I also don't shoot much for plinking. I shoot offhand pesting/hunting.

The aircuda standard seems to be a good rifle with good reviews, I believe it's the max that has had issues.

I'll suggest a DAR gen 3. 30 shots at 32 fpe on the regulator and quiet enough for my neighbors not too care. Even quieter if you add a moderator. You can turn it down to around 25 fpe which is plenty for plinking, and it's almost a joke how quiet it will get.

Even a barra 1100z would foot the bill just fine. Just a big gun too.

 

[pcponly]

Strictly plinking? Also any preference in style of gun, power, distance?

plinking maybe pest control...would like at least 900 fps nothing more than 50 yards to be honest and .22 caliber

 

[3Crows]

As much as I dislike China junk and as much as I favor the Marauder (for so many reasons) I was able to hold and examine a Notos yesterday. Despite the China quality, the rifle actually looked really nice, was light, pointed well and from three or four feet looked decent. I would have bought it but bought a Rossi 1892 .44 Magnum I had been looking at instead. Backyard friendly varies.

There is the new, available supposedly this March, the Crosman 3622. It is probably going to retail around $130 or under, MSRP $139. Small, light, but does not have a shroud or moderator but at only 16 fpe it should not be awfully loud.

 

[JaceSpace1369]

plinking maybe pest control...would like at least 900 fps nothing more than 50 yards to be honest and .22 caliber

I second @Dr. Kralenstein suggesting the DAR 3. It is quiet, it has high quality magazines, and a smooth shot cycle. You'll be able to shoot very good groups out to 75yds. If you want a gun that gives you more shots then I would suggest the kratos, someone is selling one for under 500 in the forum

 

[pcponly]

im looking at the dar deffenetly alot cheaper too than maureder or aircuda max.. what about loudness in pyramid is rated 3 loudness ...i dont want to buy moderator just straight out the box

 

[Dr. Kralenstein]

As @JaceSpace1369 mentioned, the DAR is very accurate. I had nickel/quarter sized groups at 75 yards with cheap crosman 14.3s and jsb 18s.

I sold mine because I let the voices in my head tell me it would break because the G2 had so many issues. Haven't really heard any bad reviews on the G3.

Now that PA carries them, and cheaper, I may pick one up again. If it's a dud, PA has your back.

 

[Scotay42]

im looking at the dar deffenetly alot cheaper too than maureder or aircuda max.. what about loudness in pyramid is rated 3 loudness ...i dont want to buy moderator just straight out the box

Get a 3d printed mod from old spook. Well worth the money, less than half of a donnyfl and much more lightweight.

 

[JaceSpace1369]

im looking at the dar deffenetly alot cheaper too than maureder or aircuda max.. what about loudness in pyramid is rated 3 loudness ...i dont want to buy moderator just straight out the box

I couldn't tell you how loud it is in an enclosed area, assuming you have a fence around your home but it is by no means loud at all. If I remember correctly the Akela I used to have was rated at a loudness of 3 and it was honestly one of the quietest pcps I ever shot, did not need a mod. I have no experience with Old Spooks mods but the base donny fl I think about $75 and that was enough to quiet down my fx impact putting 65fpe. So it would definitely work on a 32fpe gun

 

[WorriedMan]

Personal experience, never having shot an Aircuda, the Mrod is quiet and accurate. It's just a big pig for me. I don't like large rifles, but I also don't shoot much for plinking. I shoot offhand pesting/hunting.

The aircuda standard seems to be a good rifle with good reviews, I believe it's the max that has had issues.

I'll suggest a DAR gen 3. 30 shots at 32 fpe on the regulator and quiet enough for my neighbors not too care. Even quieter if you add a moderator. You can turn it down to around 25 fpe which is plenty for plinking, and it's almost a joke how quiet it will get.

Even a barra 1100z would foot the bill just fine. Just a big gun too.

Steer clear of JTS Airacuda Max. Reason #1 Wooden stocks were cut wrong, no central support of action, tighten stock screw too much, magazine won't fit. Reason #2 Many shrouds are out-of-round, pellet clipping common with moderator use. WM

 

[Gerry52]

Of the guns I have personal experience with I'd recommend the Marauder also. Seems to fit your guidelines.

 

[pcponly]

i think im leaning to the benjamin marauder with the walter barrel...now synthetic stock or wood stock synthetic would be least favorite but is much lighter.. now that compared to the dar 3 is my narrowing options

the synthetic stock on the marauder if anyone has it how cheap does it feel or does it feel actually nice in your hands

 

[Gerry52]

WHEN I owned one the wood stock was quite substantial. Never had a synthetic. It felt like anything but a cheap airgun.

 

[pcponly]

i think that it is as i see it also has the option to move the bolt to the left since im left handed.. thank you all friends your help and input is nothing but greatness

 

[Dr. Kralenstein]

The notos is lefty friendly. Small, light, decent power, very accurate. Quiet with heavy pellets. I had mine doing 20 fpe out of the box with 21 grain baracudas and it was a laser beam out to 40 yards.

Pretty sure the gen2 Mrod is left hand swappable.

 

[WorriedMan]

Benjamin Marauder was a gamechanger when it came out in 2009, many members hold fond memories. Been suggested the platform is showing its age, as in, long, heavy, bolt-action, dovetail scope rails, has given way to shorter, lighter, side-levers and picatinny scope rails. I'm sure you can find happiness with the Marauder, many still do, however, more modern platforms like DAR Generation 3, JTS Airacuda Standard and Umarex Notos might also prove a good fit. WM

 

[3Crows]

All of those are China rifles that will likely have poor quality control, no parts or service or factory contacts and are not really any smaller or lighter than the Marauder. Well, the Notos is but it is more of a mini-tactical look rifle and not all that strong. I had an Avenger-X in my hands yesterday and it is okay looking but is just as large and heavy as a Marauder and close inspection quickly reveals it's origin. I was impressed with the Notos, mostly due to it's diminutive size. I had a first gen Avenger, it leaked and I returned it for a Gauntlet G2. It leaked and I returned it, the second one leaked and the bolt handle was loose. I returned it. The third one held air and was okay but it was HUGE, heavy, ugly, long and ungainly and the anodizing looked like it had been applied with a Magic Marker, in fact, some of it was because it came off with mild solvent leaving bare pot metal exposed. I traded it off. I have several PBs that I inherited that are over 100 years old and are still useful and relevant, I hardly think the Marauder irrelevant since apparently every one they make is sold and people like them and they feel like a real weapon. The FT and Armada have pic rails if such a big need for a weapon that has little or no recoil.

 

[WorriedMan]

All of those are China rifles that will likely have poor quality control, no parts or service or factory contacts and are not really any smaller or lighter than the Marauder. Well, the Notos is but it is more of a mini-tactical look rifle and not all that strong. I had an Avenger-X in my hands yesterday and it is okay looking but is just as large and heavy as a Marauder and close inspection quickly reveals it's origin. I was impressed with the Notos, mostly due to it's diminutive size. I had a first gen Avenger, it leaked and I returned it for a Gauntlet G2. It leaked and I returned it, the second one leaked and the bolt handle was loose. I returned it. The third one held air and was okay but it was HUGE, heavy, ugly, long and ungainly and the anodizing looked like it had been applied with a Magic Marker, in fact, some of it was because it came off with mild solvent leaving bare pot metal exposed. I traded it off. I have several PBs that I inherited that are over 100 years old and are still useful and relevant, I hardly think the Marauder irrelevant since apparently every one they make is sold and people like them and they feel like a real weapon. The FT and Armada have pic rails if such a big need for a weapon that has little or no recoil.

While Gauntlets are 47", 8.5 lbs., Marauder is 42.8", 8.2 lbs., DAR Gen 3 is 40", 6.4lbs. WM

 

[3Crows]

The synthetic stocked Marauder rifle is 7.1 pounds and the length is due to the effective shroud which eliminates the need for an aftermarket suppressor for all but the most sensitive environments. Air Gun Revisions makes the Marauder Shawty which is a carbine length and it comes expertly tuned. But the OP wants under $500 so he is left with little choice but China sourced. The little Notos is really cute and there seems to be a pile of (mostly 3D printed) parts for it plus some other items like plenums and bottle adapters.