$350ish to spend on a high velocity air rifle

The advertised speed by almost every company is fabricated. They lie, it's a sales gimmick. And they are using a stupidly light pellet that can damage your rifle, like a dry-fire. Having said that, I too would suggest a Diana 34 in .177 . My reasons are pellet availability, flatter trajectory, will cover most airgun bases before you would need to step up to .22 rimfire. If you get the same in .22 cal, I don't think you'll be crying either. You'll get more like 630 to 660 fps. You'll be getting closer to 900 fps (Diana claims 1000) with a 7.9 grain pellet in .177 . The synthetic stock is a tad lighter to carry (I know, I have both) and will still look new years from now. D&L Airgun as well as Speciality are both terrific to order from. Specialty may have the better price these days. And you get German quality. Just for the trigger alone, I'd go with German-made. Just about anything else leaves you with frustration. It's surprising how much a stiff, gritty, creepy trigger can influence your accuracy. The German-mades will have metal hardware in the barrel hinge area. The "others" are throwing in nylon, which will change with use. I'd go with a spring over nitro. Availability and ease of replacement. www.specialtyshootingsportsoutdoors...reak-barrel-air-rifle.html#fndtn-product_info

As for the multi-pump like the Benjamin 392/397, I have one. You really have to like pumping. The new ones have hit/miss barrel quality. And generally bored big. So you're either shopping for oversize pellets. Or like me, you are using a thin pellet skirt and overpumping to get the air pressure to flare the pellet skirt to get the accuracy. And they are almost like a .22 LR going off. Spring guns are much quieter. If you can get the older models, 1970s before the Crosman era, they say that those were better quality.
 
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WolfyW said:
The advertised speed by almost every company is fabricated. They lie, it's a sales gimmick. And they are using a stupidly light pellet that can damage your rifle, like a dry-fire. Having said that, I too would suggest a Diana 34 in .177 . My reasons are pellet availability, flatter trajectory, will cover most airgun bases before you would need to step up to .22 rimfire. If you get the same in .22 cal, I don't think you'll be crying either. You'll get more like 630 to 660 fps. You'll be getting closer to 900 fps (Diana claims 1000) with a 7.9 grain pellet in .177 . The synthetic stock is a tad lighter to carry (I know, I have both) and will still look new years from now. D&L Airgun as well as Speciality are both terrific to order from. Specialty may have the better price these days. And you get German quality. Just for the trigger alone, I'd go with German-made. Just about anything else leaves you with frustration. It's surprising how much a stiff, gritty, creepy trigger can influence your accuracy. The German-mades will have metal hardware in the barrel hinge area. The "others" are throwing in nylon, which will change with use. I'd go with a spring over nitro. Availability and ease of replacement. www.specialtyshootingsportsoutdoors...reak-barrel-air-rifle.html#fndtn-product_info

As for the multi-pump like the Benjamin 392/397, I have one. You really have to like pumping. The new ones have hit/miss barrel quality. And generally bored big. So you're either shopping for oversize pellets. Or like me, you are using a thin pellet skirt and overpumping to get the air pressure to flare the pellet skirt to get the accuracy. And they are almost like a .22 LR going off. Spring guns are much quieter. If you can get the older models, 1970s before the Crosman era, they say that those were better quality.
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Crosman a good company to get parts for. There 2 good dealers. I'm not allowed to shoot the Springer indoors Because it's loud. My Benjamin is much more quieter.
 
sigtactical said:
all i know is my nitro piston 1250 fps benjamin is darn accurate with superpoints mws
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This may be one of those examples where the advertised MV is referred to as a fact because "that's what it says on the box". Has this air rifle been chronographed to support the assertion that it shoots at 1250 fps? It is doubtful that it is especially accurate with pointy pellets as they are notorious for their inaccuracy.
 
grauhanen said:
This may be one of those examples where the advertised MV is referred to as a fact because "that's what it says on the box". Has this air rifle been chronographed to support the assertion that it shoots at 1250 fps? It is doubtful that it is especially accurate with pointy pellets as they are notorious for their inaccuracy.
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Probably 1295 on the lightest pellet available. I bought a 495 airgun, max I got was 450 but avg only 410. I don't believe what the box says.
 
OkayShooter said:
Crosman a good company to get parts for. There 2 good dealers. I'm not allowed to shoot the Springer indoors Because it's loud. My Benjamin is much more quieter.
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And the odds are that you Will need parts. But I have heard that Crosman's customer service is very good. On the other hand, the only part I've needed for a GErman-made rifle after several years is the Vortek aftermarket spring. These rifles will be handed to grandkids ;)

The D34 is quiet enough that, 100 squirrels and counting later, I've had a number of occasions where they've given me a second shot.
 
Bigbore 35 said:
I just picked up a RUGER AIR MAGNUM. I have a crony but have not had a chance to try it yet. What do you guys know about this rifle?
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The Ruger Air Magnum (or Xisico XS28M) is a Chinese clone of the German-made Diana 350 Magnum. It is a very powerful spring piston air rifle, which will make accurate shooting a challenge. What caliber is your Air Magnum?
 
grauhanen said:
This may be one of those examples where the advertised MV is referred to as a fact because "that's what it says on the box". Has this air rifle been chronographed to support the assertion that it shoots at 1250 fps? It is doubtful that it is especially accurate with pointy pellets as they are notorious for their inaccuracy.
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I have yet to see any airgun achieve the rated velocity with all lead pellets.
 
mbogo3 said:
A .22 Diana/RWS 34 will take small game and pests no problem..........Harold
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It sure will...


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And so will the .177 . My 'Hawg at 20 yards...
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I have an Umerex Surge .177 (1,000FPS advertised). Surprisingly accurate though I find the scope doesn't hold its zero very long.
Thinking of stepping up to a Diana 34 .22. Hoping a heavier pellet will be more effective on 'Coon's.
Suggestions?
 
longbranch* said:
OK. Care to tell us what you suggest?
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Long barrel rifle in .22lr shooting sub sonic 40gr ammo.
About the same noise level as my HW97kt.
You still have to make a solid brain shot.(not always easy in poor light)
The .22lr is covered under the same regs as a +500 air rifle,so if you can shoot the air rifle at your location legally, you can shoot the PB .22.
 
stubblejumper said:
Do you realize that there are big bore air rifles available that deliver 500 ftlbs of energy?
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Yes, I do. But of course no one here is talking about an airgun that will shoot a 225 grain boolit at 1000 fps (499.73 fpe).

longbranch* said:
OK. Care to tell us what you suggest?
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An airgun or more likely a PB firearm that will deliver much more energy than those air rifles discussed in this thread.

flyr said:
Long barrel rifle in .22lr shooting sub sonic 40gr ammo.
About the same noise level as my HW97kt.
You still have to make a solid brain shot.(not always easy in poor light)
The .22lr is covered under the same regs as a +500 air rifle,so if you can shoot the air rifle at your location legally, you can shoot the PB .22.
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Please consider seriously flyr's advice. It is both wise and good. There's no excuse to use a spring piston air rifle such as those referred to in this thread to shoot racoons.
 
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