I'd like to pop a question to everybody.
I've been fairly disappointed in air rifles and see a lot of factory-induced damages to piston seals when I have opened up every single air rifle I have. (Hatsan 95, Crosman Stealth Shot, Stoeger X20S2, RWS Diana 34) So with that being said I see no reason to spend more than necessary if they are buggered up from the factory to begin with.
What I'm looking for is something that is less than $200 that is fairly accurate (can hit a 1.5" circle out to a max of 30 yds, with golf ball accuracy up to 20 yds). Now I'm not expecting ragged one hole groups or an enormous amount of power. What I would like is something I can disassemble and clean, deburr, and if necessary get a new piston seal or breech seal for if that need arises. I'm open to the chinese copies if they are good. Matter of fact I'm not seeing much difference in quality of chinese vs Diana 34 at this point. I've got a nitro piston air rifle already (Crosman Stealth Shot) and not too impressed with the nitro piston or what it offers. It's a harsher shot cycle and I can't get the damn thing to shoot consistently (replaced piston seal and barrel pivot washers already, checked and polished crown, deburred and such). So it's pure junk and there really isn't any help for that one I don't think. It's a horrible shooter. The Stoeger shoots reasonably well and is acceptable to a point. I do not care for the suppressor too much as the baffles in there make felt cleaning pellets disappear to later be blown up when shooting pellets. But out of all I like that one the best so far.
The Diana 34 shot the best groups up close but had other issues that made it defective. When you get into that price range more is expected from me of an air rifle. I realize a lot of you may see that as still cheap but to me it's too much to spend. I really have no choice here but to be frugal.
Ok, so again I'm looking for an air rifle that is worth owning and doesn't cause my back to ache because of the cocking effort. A lot of people are against springs, but I'm seeing an advantage to them vs nitro pistons. You can tune a springer lower out of the box if you want, but you can't with a nitro. You can get a stronger spring if you want in most cases or add washer for a wee bit more power, with a nitro you're stuck.
Now I know most lesser costing air rifles may have horrible triggers, but I don't care. As long as it is workable and it can be tweaked some I'm good with that also.
So what do you think? Any ideas on what I can buy now?
Yes, I'm being difficult and expecting a lot for a little but tired of getting junk. Junk can be expensive too (34 sample I sent back, and also the Walther Terrus that was grinding and was not accurate). I'm on the verge of saying to heck with air rifles at this point as it seems to me there is little to no attention to quality control regardless of price point. If it isn't the piston seal, it's the barrel, and if not that some other stupid event. I really enjoy working on the guns to be honest but yet to find one that totally makes me happy. I am limited to what I can spend on one, otherwise I'd own a PCP. But those things come with headaches too like keeping the air in it and the costs associated are way out of my league. That won't change.
Ok to sum it up what I'm looking for
1) Reasonable accuracy as stated above(out to 30 yds)
2) .177 caliber only
3) easy to cycle (when I shoot I want it to be fun not a chore)
4) decent potential and parts availability
5) can kill a squirrel out to 30 yds maximum
6) Chinese made platform is ok with me if it is solid and workable
I really can't say enough here about how much I enjoy shooting air rifles when they are working and when they don't shift point of impact from day to day. I've read all the tricks and applied them. The only one that is reasonable at this time for me is the Stoeger X20S2 but it has it's own little quirks.
What I have NOT tried:
Gamo brand anything, never owned one
Umarex brand air rifles
Benjamin anything(prob just as bad as Crosmans)
Ruger anything (a mish-mash of umarex stuff)
Remington branded air rifles (more umarex stuff I think)
Anything not listed above
"Have Spring Compressor and will dismantle"
I've been fairly disappointed in air rifles and see a lot of factory-induced damages to piston seals when I have opened up every single air rifle I have. (Hatsan 95, Crosman Stealth Shot, Stoeger X20S2, RWS Diana 34) So with that being said I see no reason to spend more than necessary if they are buggered up from the factory to begin with.
What I'm looking for is something that is less than $200 that is fairly accurate (can hit a 1.5" circle out to a max of 30 yds, with golf ball accuracy up to 20 yds). Now I'm not expecting ragged one hole groups or an enormous amount of power. What I would like is something I can disassemble and clean, deburr, and if necessary get a new piston seal or breech seal for if that need arises. I'm open to the chinese copies if they are good. Matter of fact I'm not seeing much difference in quality of chinese vs Diana 34 at this point. I've got a nitro piston air rifle already (Crosman Stealth Shot) and not too impressed with the nitro piston or what it offers. It's a harsher shot cycle and I can't get the damn thing to shoot consistently (replaced piston seal and barrel pivot washers already, checked and polished crown, deburred and such). So it's pure junk and there really isn't any help for that one I don't think. It's a horrible shooter. The Stoeger shoots reasonably well and is acceptable to a point. I do not care for the suppressor too much as the baffles in there make felt cleaning pellets disappear to later be blown up when shooting pellets. But out of all I like that one the best so far.
The Diana 34 shot the best groups up close but had other issues that made it defective. When you get into that price range more is expected from me of an air rifle. I realize a lot of you may see that as still cheap but to me it's too much to spend. I really have no choice here but to be frugal.
Ok, so again I'm looking for an air rifle that is worth owning and doesn't cause my back to ache because of the cocking effort. A lot of people are against springs, but I'm seeing an advantage to them vs nitro pistons. You can tune a springer lower out of the box if you want, but you can't with a nitro. You can get a stronger spring if you want in most cases or add washer for a wee bit more power, with a nitro you're stuck.
Now I know most lesser costing air rifles may have horrible triggers, but I don't care. As long as it is workable and it can be tweaked some I'm good with that also.
So what do you think? Any ideas on what I can buy now?
Yes, I'm being difficult and expecting a lot for a little but tired of getting junk. Junk can be expensive too (34 sample I sent back, and also the Walther Terrus that was grinding and was not accurate). I'm on the verge of saying to heck with air rifles at this point as it seems to me there is little to no attention to quality control regardless of price point. If it isn't the piston seal, it's the barrel, and if not that some other stupid event. I really enjoy working on the guns to be honest but yet to find one that totally makes me happy. I am limited to what I can spend on one, otherwise I'd own a PCP. But those things come with headaches too like keeping the air in it and the costs associated are way out of my league. That won't change.
Ok to sum it up what I'm looking for
1) Reasonable accuracy as stated above(out to 30 yds)
2) .177 caliber only
3) easy to cycle (when I shoot I want it to be fun not a chore)
4) decent potential and parts availability
5) can kill a squirrel out to 30 yds maximum
6) Chinese made platform is ok with me if it is solid and workable
I really can't say enough here about how much I enjoy shooting air rifles when they are working and when they don't shift point of impact from day to day. I've read all the tricks and applied them. The only one that is reasonable at this time for me is the Stoeger X20S2 but it has it's own little quirks.
What I have NOT tried:
Gamo brand anything, never owned one
Umarex brand air rifles
Benjamin anything(prob just as bad as Crosmans)
Ruger anything (a mish-mash of umarex stuff)
Remington branded air rifles (more umarex stuff I think)
Anything not listed above
"Have Spring Compressor and will dismantle"
