Advice on Air Rifle

[Albert County]

Good day fellow GCNer's,

I'm new to this forum, as evidenced by my lack of knowledge about air rifles.

I'm hoping to get my 12 yr old son a sub 500 fps air rifle for Christmas, but I'm not sure what my best options are. I had a crossman pump action when I was a kid (until the cops took it away, justifiably), but it was what it was and I'm hoping to find something a little more rewarding.

I bought a Stoger air rifle a few years back, a 1200 fps one, but I was very disappointed with the trigger pull on it and ended up giving it away.

I'm wondering if there might be some suggestions for a new or used sub 500 fps rifle that would fit the bill for my son around the $150 - $200 range.

Many thanks for the read, eager to hear any suggestions.

Eliot

 

[OkayShooter]

Cannot go wrong with a Crosman 1322 with a stock.

 

[sillymike]

Daisy 853/953 are hard to beat

 

[mad_mardigen]

Weihrauch HW30s a great rifle for a 12 year old, sized right, lite and very accurate.

 

[Albert County]

Many thanks guys, I will have a look at these!

Eliot

 

[gunsaholic]

If you go the used route there are many better quality rifles out there that have hardly been shot that you can buy for close to the same price as a cheap, lower quality new rifle. There was a couple of sub 500 fps nice Diana's just on the EE but gone now.

 

[Albert County]

Many thanks, ya I'll keep my eye out on the EE, just wasnt sure what to look for.

Many thanks,

Eliot

 

[sillymike]

The Gundealer in NB has (or had) a promotion on the 953 for about $299

 

[mbogo3]

Diana 24 /HW30 .177 ............think German not Chinese or Turkish junk.

 

[gunsaholic]

Diana 24 /HW30 .177 ............think German not Chinese or Turkish junk.

That is my opinion as well when I mentioned looking for a lightly used, better quality example than lower quality new.

 

[OkayShooter]

Diana 24 /HW30 .177 ............think German not Chinese or Turkish junk.

Well Alot of Diana products are now made in China.

 

[OkayShooter]

The Gundealer in NB has (or had) a promotion on the 953 for about $299

Still do, wicked price, esp when it's 599..

https://the gundealer.net/product/daisy-953-cadet-177-cal/

 

[easyrider604]

CZ630 if you can find one.

 

[trishabmommy]

Which one did you decide on?

 

[mbogo3]

Well Alot of Diana products are now made in China.

They made some springer barrels for a while but got a lot of backlash from the Airgun forums in the US. They still make some of their cheaper Umarex pistols and air rifles. The Chinese can make a good product as long as they're being watched but QC goes out the window less unsupervised. Soft screws etc.

 

[guntech]

Weihrauch HW30s a great rifle for a 12 year old, sized right, lite and very accurate.

Is this ever an old thread ?

My HW30 is about 650 f/s and requires a PAL.

 

[TBCX]

Look for some around 800 to 900 fishing at the most. Anything of higher likely won't be as accurate. My first pellet rifle was a Slavia .177. I got it for Christmas when I was in grade 5. Some of my buddies also got one then. We popped untold tins of Crosman pellets through those rifles and had a great time. Terrorized the local tweety bird population and more cardboard boxes than I could count. Mind you that was in the 60s and times were a lot more leisurely then.

 

[Buck1950]

Trisha... - I'd suggest just getting a CO2 Crosman in the 'under 500 fps' range. More accurate than many 'high-power' rifles, and 'safer' unless you 'shoot your eye out'. And only good for 50-75 feet due to low power. Start 'simple'.
And many municipalities consider ANY pellet gun illegal to fire within city limits. Check local laws.
PS - Cabelas has a good Crosman .177 for ca $90 - model 1077