Umarex Synergis Elite.177

[OldVet]

I want to learn what I can about this under lever gas piston .177. 10 shot air rifle. I have read that a under lever has a more consistent accuracy due to the barrel not moving like a conventional brake barrel. I have on the other hand seen playing cards shot with a brake barrel air rifle with amazing accuracy.
I suppose it's true with these type rifles you get what you pay for as well as the pricey brake barrels have some great accuracy. Is a gas piston better than a spring? Is a $200 under lever gas piston better than a $700 spring brake barrel. At least for the accuracy reasons what is the truth behind the gas piston vs. spring , and the under lever vs. the brake barrel.
OldVet wants to know.

 

[Toxylon]

A whole bunch of big questions! I'll take a stab at it.

Fixed barrel vs. break barrel has been discussed to the ground several times, in many places. There is no truth. Field Target competition is the most accuracy-demanding spring gun arena. Break barrels are almost non-existent on the podium there. BUT very accurate independent shooters, many of them here, shoot break barrel guns with great accuracy. Some have both fixed barrel and break barrel guns, and report no real difference in accuracy between them.

I find fixed barrel guns easier to be accurate with, outside the very best break barrel guns, like my Walther LGV. I find break barrel guns often out of whack with regards to correct pivot joint tension, and many guns, including the Weihrauchs I've had, are not made precisely enough there for adjustments to be either easy or dependable. The reason the LGV is so good is that the pivot joint is made extremely precisely. There is no pivot joint to go out of whack in a fixed barrel gun, but the powerplant and the barrel can be out of whack in them, too, negating any advantage of the fixed barrel.

A gasram gun isn't better than a coilspring gun. Most of the claims made by manufacturers on the advantages of gasrams are little more than lies to boost sales, and gasram guns have disadvantages peculiar to them, such as zero possibility to adjust power in most models, the gas powerplant's extreme reactivity to temperature swings, and the propensity of gasrams to leak sooner or later, especially after a longer period of no use. Still, some people like gasram guns over coilspring guns, and they are not wrong.

a $200 gasram underlever isn't better than a $700 coilspring breakbarrel. Gasram guns are not noted for their accuracy, and are never seen at the FT circuit. A gun's barrel is the most important factor in accuracy, and independent of the mode of cocking.

 

[OldVet]

A whole bunch of big questions! I'll take a stab at it.

Fixed barrel vs. break barrel has been discussed to the ground several times, in many places. There is no truth. Field Target competition is the most accuracy-demanding spring gun arena. Break barrels are almost non-existent on the podium there. BUT very accurate independent shooters, many of them here, shoot break barrel guns with great accuracy. Some have both fixed barrel and break barrel guns, and report no real difference in accuracy between them.

I find fixed barrel guns easier to be accurate with, outside the very best break barrel guns, like my Walther LGV. I find break barrel guns often out of whack with regards to correct pivot joint tension, and many guns, including the Weihrauchs I've had, are not made precisely enough there for adjustments to be either easy or dependable. The reason the LGV is so good is that the pivot joint is made extremely precisely. There is no pivot joint to go out of whack in a fixed barrel gun, but the powerplant and the barrel can be out of whack in them, too, negating any advantage of the fixed barrel.

A gasram gun isn't better than a coilspring gun. Most of the claims made by manufacturers on the advantages of gasrams are little more than lies to boost sales, and gasram guns have disadvantages peculiar to them, such as zero possibility to adjust power in most models, the gas powerplant's extreme reactivity to temperature swings, and the propensity of gasrams to leak sooner or later, especially after a longer period of no use. Still, some people like gasram guns over coilspring guns, and they are not wrong.

a $200 gasram underlever isn't better than a $700 coilspring breakbarrel. Gasram guns are not noted for their accuracy, and are never seen at the FT circuit. A gun's barrel is the most important factor in accuracy, and independent of the mode of cocking.

I used to own a .25 cal Benjamin Trail I got from Walmart for $230 It was too hard to use with my bad shoulder , so I sold it. I also bought a .22 cal Titan for a $100 ugly color finish on the stock , so I used a propane torch burnt some stripes in it , and finished it in a Cherry stain. My friend loved it , so much he had to have it , so that's gone too
I want to get a under lever , or a brake barrel to have that ability to just have the gun , and pellets that will work for survival, or grab , and go type thing.
I'm a USAF vet living on a fixed income , but can buy used of I need to. Any suggestions for a dependable one with accuracy. I was looking at the synergis for $189 , but really don't know. I also seen a new Beeman under lever for $195. Appreciate any advice.