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Jim47

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Feb 21, 2025
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I’m a new member trying to get informed on current technology. I wore out a Sheridan blue stream in my teenage years and bought a silver streak after marriage 50 yrs ago and still shoot a little. I tried a ruger air piston rifle two years ago thinking I could get better accuracy. Mistake. I’m now researching what I hope will be my answer in a pcp rifle. I’ve been looking at a stoeger XM1 ranger and like the feature but am open to suggestions for similar quality rifle. Use will targets and small pests.
thanks Jim.
 
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Jim47 said:
I’m a new member trying to get informed on current technology. I wore out a Sheridan blue stream in my teenage years and bought a silver streak after marriage 50 yrs ago and still shoot a little. I tried a ruger air piston rifle two years ago thinking I could get better accuracy. Mistake. I’m now researching what I hope will be my answer in a pcp rifle. I’ve been looking at a stoeger XM1 ranger and like the feature but am open to suggestions for similar quality rifle. Use will targets and small pests.
thanks Jim.
Click to expand...
Welcome - Stoeger is a good choice and I recommend @Airgun-Revisions as a solid choice to purchase as owner really takes care of his customers
 
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Though I have been immersed in air gunning for close to 50 years, I only took the step into pcp a year ago. I am finding it is a different animal all together,... in a good way. More paraphernalia, more tunable and for me fiddly. Which is a good thing, it keeps me interested. I do find I am inherently more accurate with a pcp then my springers. I do not have any experience with the XM1, but have many hours behind an Umerex ZELOS with no complaints. I am actually surprised at the consistency and accuracy it has. Not sure, but I believe it is in the general price range as the Stoeger XM1.
 
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"Not sure, but I believe it is in the general price range as the Stoeger XM1."

The Umarex Zelos runs about $600/Shipped at Pyramyd Air, less with coupon codes.

The Stoeger XM1 Ranger/Scout are approx. $300 at Airgun Revisions.

Jim,
Both The Stoeger XM1 and the Umarex Zelos are made by Snowpeak for the Umarex and Stoeger brands. I keep hearing good things about Snowpeak made guns, so much so that I have a 'Stoeger' Bullshark, which is also made by Snowpeak arriving today to try.

You are probably aware that an air source is also needed, not a trivial expense. Depending on what gun you get (depends the guns air volume and the max pressure that you need/want to pump your gun up to) a hand pump may be a viable option for air and they are relatively inexpensive. A carbon fiber tank is an option, not inexpensive, needs to be filled by a scuba shop. But for about the same amount of money you can get a small HPA air compressor. I picked up a Nomad compressor from Pyramyd. If starting out today, I would just get an HPA compressor (probably the GX Pump CS4-I pump this time)... no pumping and no running to the scuba shop (which is a half hour drive for me).

PCP guns, air compressors and hand pumps can all have air leaks and need O-ring replacement, something that can be done by the owner.

Jerry

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Umarex Zelos PCP Air Rifle | Pyramyd AIR

We've got a great price on the Umarex Zelos PCP Air Rifle. Get a great price and expert advice at Pyramyd for your next outdoor adventure!
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Stoeger scout .22

Compact, regulated, powerful, picatinny rail, sidelever, Airgun of the year
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Stoeger XM1 Ranger PCP 22

POWERFUL: Our Stoeger XM1 Ranger packs all the performance of its full-size counterpart in a compact design, perfect for hunters on the move. At 37.7" long, the .22 cal PCP airgun meets the demands for agility and speed in today's airgun market. FIT YOUR STYLE: With its fully adjustable stock...
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I think Stoeger Ranger is a good choice and probably a better choice than an Avenger. I do not have a Ranger but I have P35s (bullpups also made by SPA) and an Avenger. I think the P35s are better made and mine happen to be more accurate.

I started with a hand pump and held onto two when I got a Yong Heng. It's very doable if you shoot at fairly low volume.

My 22 and 177 P35s prefer H&N Baracuda Match pellets. The 25's favorite is JSB Mk2 34 grain. Yours may be different but thesr are worth trying. You may like longer guns but I would pick the Scout over the Ranger.
 
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Hello Jim and welcome to the forum ,
Airguns are fun and today's air guns have a dizzying variety that make choices more difficult. Having had many types since I was a boy, I have a recommendation based on your desire for pesting and targets. The Benjamin Marauder pistol in .22 cal has been around a long time, and it comes with a shoulder stock to make a very handy carbine that is perfect for discreet pesting and target shooting inside 30 yards. You can push it a little farther once you find the right pellet and technique. I have found mine to be easy to work on and quite reliable. Another benefit is that the air reservoir is so small that it is super easy to recharge with a hand pump so that you can get started with a PCP inexpensively. There are some newer budget PCP rifles nowadays, such as the Avenge X and Notos that I read people talking about but I don't have experience with them. I do have experience hand pumping the little Marauder pistol and it's very easy Even for someone in their 60s who does not have joint problems or arthritis in arms and wrists. I picked up a threaded muzzle adapter and one of the small moderators from Donnie FL and this little carbine is ridiculously quiet, not much louder than the action itself.

Do a lot of reading first, and don't buy the first thing that looks good. Also take care to find the right pellet for your choice. This is crucial for best satisfaction, so also pay attention not only to particular model recommendations, but also to the pellet type that works best with it. My Marauder pistol likes the JSB 18.1 grain pellets. You might also try the JSB 14.3 grain, which will have a higher velocity and flatter trajectory, being lighter.


5097.jpeg


Prod Pellet Test 20150201.jpg


Regards and have fun,
Feinwerk
 
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Jim47 said:
I’m a new member trying to get informed on current technology. I wore out a Sheridan blue stream in my teenage years and bought a silver streak after marriage 50 yrs ago and still shoot a little. I tried a ruger air piston rifle two years ago thinking I could get better accuracy. Mistake. I’m now researching what I hope will be my answer in a pcp rifle. I’ve been looking at a stoeger XM1 ranger and like the feature but am open to suggestions for similar quality rifle. Use will targets and small pests.
thanks Jim.
Click to expand...
Hi Jim welcome to the best AGN
I agree with this post #14 as this gun would fill your needs , is reliable , hand pumpable (Amazon cheap china one )
 
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PEP3 said:
Welcome, you should get some good information here. Check out the Air Venturi stuff, they are make some nice guns now at very reasonable prices.
Peyton
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Check the Pyramyd.com refurbished listing's for Air Venturi. Some nice deals.

I'm sure someone has mentioned Airgun Revisions too.

Bargain Block - Airgun Revisions

www.airgunrevisions.com www.airgunrevisions.com
 
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Jim,
I'll also pile on that I too have had a Benjamin Marauder Pistol, commonly referred to as a PRod. They are very light, handy (short), accurate and as Feinwork (post #14) noted good for pesting out to around 30 yards. It's a gun that you could easily take for a woods walk, unlike some of my bulky and/or heavy airguns that I have. I felt that it was quiet enough that I never put a moderator on mine. The only reason I moved on from mine was that where I live the pests generally start out around 30 yards and go out to around 140 yards. Even so, I wish that I had kept mine as it is a great gun for introducing others to airguns and it would have been just the ticket to loan to my buddy who pests (squirrels in his garden) are not over 30 yards out. I hand pumped mine also, and it is no chore with the small air cylinder. It is one airgun that I regret selling and will probably pick up another sometime.

The Stoeger Ranger that you are considering, will be much longer, have more power for longer shots (killing power & trajectory) and as I have read (don't own one) will be louder and a moderator added onto it (adding even more length) would help for hunting or if neighbors are an issue. Which is all fine if it fits you're needs/wants.

Jerry

I've included a couple of links for the reviews, there may be better prices elsewhere. I would not buy through Amazon unless it is shipped/sold by an airgun dealer due to their poor packaging.

https://www.pyramydair.com/product/...xeiR-vLl11oQdqsDLMwRbNsPedT7BsltI4OBmnrXNT3l7
Note; presently Pyramyd code; pyramyd-nra takes $45 off (10%)

 
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