I bought this air rifle from Walmart a couple of weeks ago for 148$ on an impulse. While I am not a gun snob , let's face it under a certain price point a quality airgun is the exception rather than the rule ( with my Daisy 901 being one of those exceptions). Ever since I sold my Diana 54 air king, that was tuned from John in PA ( too heavy for hunting at almost 11 pounds scoped) I was without a .22 . Anyway that was my justification for forking out the money for the Ruger. First impressions when I unboxed it was that the gun looked really nice for the price. Scope looked junk but I didn't care as I was planning to use the fiber optic sights that it came with. First 5 shots at 25 yards using the sights were under an inch grouping slightly right from the bullseye. Then as I tried to adjust, it all went downhill. My groups were all over and I gave up. The next few days were a nightmare as I was trying different pellets and nothing worked. Decided to put a Nikon prostaff crossbow scope I had on but unfortunately the front sight was bluring the bottom half as the scope was sitting low. Still decided to keep it until I sight it in. Again , couldn't group for poop. Last week I was at Walmart again and decided to try the Gamo Rockets .22 and the Ruger superpoints. Went back home and got to shooting. As my luck would have it ,the gun loved both of those pellets and got to under an inch grouping with the scope, front rest only , me sitting on an uncomfortable position on my knees.
Took scope off and finally was able to use the sights. Was very relieved that I found that the pellets were the issue and not the gun or my shooting.
Yesterday,still wondering what the gun can do with a scope , decided to put in my Tasco 2.5x 12x42 so, with some medium Leupold rings. After 20 shots or so adjusting the scope ,I was able to put one hole or holes touching at 15 yards ,front rest only standing ( using a ladder as a rest. It was already 10 at night so couldn't shoot further. Today is windy with gusts to 20mph so no shooting.
Pros: low price, nice wood stock with an ok checkering, metal trigger, gas piston that's not fussy shooting of a bag rest, tolerable shooting cycle and recoil, crisp second stage trigger.
Cons: although the trigger is crisp it brakes at around 6 pounds. Pellet fussy. If I hadn't stumbled on the Ruger superpoints and the Gamo rocket I would have thought the gun is a poopter. Comes with a junky scope.
Last thoughts: I am going to leave the Tasco scope on. Now that I found the pellets that the gun likes the next step is to buy a lighter spring for the trigger. There are a couple of write ups from owners that have brought the pull weight down to 1.5 pounds.
I think that this gun has found a place in my collection and looking forward for mods to make it even more accurate. Will update this post with pics from 25 yard groups once the wind dies down.
Took scope off and finally was able to use the sights. Was very relieved that I found that the pellets were the issue and not the gun or my shooting.
Yesterday,still wondering what the gun can do with a scope , decided to put in my Tasco 2.5x 12x42 so, with some medium Leupold rings. After 20 shots or so adjusting the scope ,I was able to put one hole or holes touching at 15 yards ,front rest only standing ( using a ladder as a rest. It was already 10 at night so couldn't shoot further. Today is windy with gusts to 20mph so no shooting.
Pros: low price, nice wood stock with an ok checkering, metal trigger, gas piston that's not fussy shooting of a bag rest, tolerable shooting cycle and recoil, crisp second stage trigger.
Cons: although the trigger is crisp it brakes at around 6 pounds. Pellet fussy. If I hadn't stumbled on the Ruger superpoints and the Gamo rocket I would have thought the gun is a poopter. Comes with a junky scope.
Last thoughts: I am going to leave the Tasco scope on. Now that I found the pellets that the gun likes the next step is to buy a lighter spring for the trigger. There are a couple of write ups from owners that have brought the pull weight down to 1.5 pounds.
I think that this gun has found a place in my collection and looking forward for mods to make it even more accurate. Will update this post with pics from 25 yard groups once the wind dies down.
