N/A What is considered the “best”
- Thread starter SakoSierra
- Start date
There is no spring gun that is considered the best, let alone is the best. That's because every springer in production, now or in the past, has advantages and disadvantages that different people feel about differently, due to size, proportions, age, strength, preferences, experiences, use environment etc.
Early on, with little experience, I had to rely on people's recommendations for my first serious, high-dollar spring guns. It didn't work out well. The most-recommended gun was the worst for me, a source of ongoing disappointment and anger. I soon realized the only way to tell how you feel about a particular gun is to shoot one, preferably for a while. There's no way around it.
Early on, with little experience, I had to rely on people's recommendations for my first serious, high-dollar spring guns. It didn't work out well. The most-recommended gun was the worst for me, a source of ongoing disappointment and anger. I soon realized the only way to tell how you feel about a particular gun is to shoot one, preferably for a while. There's no way around it.
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If we wan't to go the route of naming single guns that are "considered the best", let's consider this:
TX200's are very heavy guns, clocking in at around 4.1kg / 9lbs., unscoped. That is unacceptable to many airgunners.
TX200's utilize an underlever cocking system that many people find awkward and cumbersome to use.
TX200's have one-sided, restricted loading ports compared to other underlever guns such as the HW77.
TX200's come unequipped with open sights, have no fittings for them, and have such stock configurations that using open sights is impossible to most people.
TX200's, like Weihrauchs, have the worst automatic safety configurations around, being awkwardly positioned and non-resettable.
TX200's have two worrisomely weak parts in their anatomy: the cocking shoe, and the front stock screw bracket, which are inexplicably made of cast / sintered some-metal, and are known to crack very easily, the latter part regardless of gun power level.
TX200's are very heavy guns, clocking in at around 4.1kg / 9lbs., unscoped. That is unacceptable to many airgunners.
TX200's utilize an underlever cocking system that many people find awkward and cumbersome to use.
TX200's have one-sided, restricted loading ports compared to other underlever guns such as the HW77.
TX200's come unequipped with open sights, have no fittings for them, and have such stock configurations that using open sights is impossible to most people.
TX200's, like Weihrauchs, have the worst automatic safety configurations around, being awkwardly positioned and non-resettable.
TX200's have two worrisomely weak parts in their anatomy: the cocking shoe, and the front stock screw bracket, which are inexplicably made of cast / sintered some-metal, and are known to crack very easily, the latter part regardless of gun power level.
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There are some negatives to the tx200 (which is my personal favorite). But in the positive side. They are hands down the easiest to strip and work on. Parts availability is usually abundant. The carbine version is great, and if that doesn't suit they offer the standard version. They're super accurate, and in combination with a well proportioned stock with raised comb doesn't make sense to use iron sights. The cd trigger is easy to adjust. The complaints about weak parts, well that might be valid (I've never had any failures however). But, just buy a few spares, they're abundantly available and easy to change. I own a handful of airguns, I love them all but the tx is as close to perfection as is possible in my book.
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In response:
I’ve owned them all and each has its charm.
1. I bought an HW95 with iron sights. They don’t work for me. Best group I can get at 10M off a sandbag is 1 inch. Put a scope on and it shoots 1 hole.
2. Yes, if your scope covers the loading port on the TX and it’s troublesome to load pellets. I found a compact scope that leaves the loading port wide open which solved that problem.
3. The TX is super easy to disassemble to replace springs as opposed to HWs which require a spring compressor.
4. Under lever vs break barrel? Take your choice. Yes, the underlevers are heavier, but target shooters seem to prefer them.
5. Safeties? Meh., I have both HWs and TXs and they are pretty much the same.
Really, they are all good rifles and thankfully, we have choices.
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Best spring gun ever designed? FWB 300S. Out of production for 30 years but luckily, they made over 400K of them and you can still find them easily.
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Yeah that’s a damn fine piece of equipment. But as mentioned previously, this question of what is the best is kind of silly.
I am sure there are Whiscomb (sp?) owners that believe theirs are the best springers designed. “The best” depends on what you are looking for; Power, Accuracy, durability, Recoilessness, weight, cocking effort, ease of maintenance/parts availability, etc
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There is nothing wrong with a Diana 34. Get one used for under 300. They one of the most bang for your buck rifles. I have two. One in 177 and in 22.
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Benjamin AR2078A. Uses two Co2 cartridges for about 55-60 shots. Looks good and shoots good. Airgun Detective on YouTube has a review.
RickH.
RickH.
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As we can see through all of the different posts, what is the"best" is purely subjective. Each of us has our own opinion. So, if we can determine parameters by which we can consider this question, perhaps we can determine an answer. Specifics matter.
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I don't see either a TX200 or an HW97 in your ownership list, thus it looks like you don't "have a dog in this fight" ...... so I am very curious, how do you think the HW97 compares to the TX200 re the above shortcomings? What (?) are the big drawbacks to the HW97? Thanks!
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I think these type of posts mainly serve the purpose of giving us a chance to wax eloquent over the primary elements of something we're passionate about.
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Tx200 is hard to beat plus requires no spring compressor. I might have beat it by finding a superbly tuned LGU bit they are not readily available. Early in the thread maxtrouble had an excellent post. Only thing I would change is more scope power. 6-24×56 like the Hawke Sidewinder or Sightron STac 4-20×50 are my choices without breaking the bank.
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I agree the 54 is a winner. It took a bit of work and, tuning plus Hectors Tunner but at 25 yards makes tiny holes. I ahoot mine vlear to 100 yards. It is a .22. I have thought about getting a .177 because of the acvuracy for brnch rest but am curious why you say .22 only.
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