I was just going to say the same thing. I shot lots of air rifle and pistol back in the day, mostly Crosman and Slavia, but all we have now is the cheapo Stoeger that I bought at the pawn shop for occasional rats.
Best $300 PAL Rated .22 Air Rifle?
- Thread starter Max-4
- Start date
This just sealed the deal for me. Purchased.You definitely want a 22 caliber pellet rifle with 800-1200 fps. I'm assuming you have a firearms license, as you will need one to buy a pellet rifle that can obtain those velocities.
The 495 fps pellet guns are not the best idea for what you wanted to do with it.
Like Bangalore suggested, the Gamo Swarm in 22 caliber has a 1000 fps rating.
https://dantesports.com/en/product/gamo-swarm-evo-10x-gen3i-with-scope/
I would take his advice and buy that one. I've had Gamo pellet guns for over 40 years, never had a bad one........
And this model is on sale for $277.77. Man I almost want one now too!........
If I want a springer on a budget, I would do what a friend of mine did and pick up a 177 Crosman Optimus. There is a bunch of posts on the CAF forum about tuning them up and you will have lots left over for a scope. I am a fancy German airgun shooter and was actually impressed with what you get in the Optimus.
For $100 more you can buy a mint, new in box Diana Mauser underlever in .22 (same powerplant as the Diana 460 Magnum) on another buy and sell gun board that starts with "gun" and ends with "post"
Its listed for pickup in Hamilton...you could probably get it for $350 ...I had one and sold it and its legit quality for the money.
Its listed for pickup in Hamilton...you could probably get it for $350 ...I had one and sold it and its legit quality for the money.
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Good day. I have several gammo rifles over the years. The high velocities can mess with groups. Try the heaviest pellets and work down. When you get around 8-9 hundred feet per second the accuracy will improve.
Note: The IGT system will degrade over time resulting in velocity inconsistency.
JSB is a good place to start.
Cheers
Note: The IGT system will degrade over time resulting in velocity inconsistency.
JSB is a good place to start.
Cheers
Just a few observations/tips from a guy who buys and shoots 50,000 pellets per year. JSB and H&N pellets are the best. Do not interchange brands once you find a pellet that works well. Different lead alloy deposits in a barrel may degrade accuracy until you clean the rifling with ‘felt’ pellets.
If accuracy suddenly goes sour with a springer your scope went bad and your mounts are possibly shifting also. Springers eat scopes. Some scopes (Hawkes) are springer airgun rated) and will survive a longer period of time. PCP airguns don’t abuse scopes.
.22cal pellets are vastly superior to .177cal pellets on varmints. 750-800 fps gives you accuracy, clean kills, without muzzle bark. A 40 yard zero is a good place to start. Then test at 10 to 80 yards and tape the drops to the side of your scope.
If you ever catch the airgun bug then treat yourself someday to a HW97 or AirArms TX200. Do it before you get too old to operate the underlever cocking system. Superb quality rifles, when I was 10 I started with Daisy and Slavia and was grateful to have them into my teens. Now its FX Crowns and RAW HM1000 PCPs.
But never forget or leave behind your springers. A quality German or English made springer will be around to teach your grandkids marksmanship many years down the road. Trust me on this.
If accuracy suddenly goes sour with a springer your scope went bad and your mounts are possibly shifting also. Springers eat scopes. Some scopes (Hawkes) are springer airgun rated) and will survive a longer period of time. PCP airguns don’t abuse scopes.
.22cal pellets are vastly superior to .177cal pellets on varmints. 750-800 fps gives you accuracy, clean kills, without muzzle bark. A 40 yard zero is a good place to start. Then test at 10 to 80 yards and tape the drops to the side of your scope.
If you ever catch the airgun bug then treat yourself someday to a HW97 or AirArms TX200. Do it before you get too old to operate the underlever cocking system. Superb quality rifles, when I was 10 I started with Daisy and Slavia and was grateful to have them into my teens. Now its FX Crowns and RAW HM1000 PCPs.
But never forget or leave behind your springers. A quality German or English made springer will be around to teach your grandkids marksmanship many years down the road. Trust me on this.
Mr Bill,
Although I did respond with a cheaper option I cannot agree more with your post. I purchased a very good condition HW95K with a deluxe R9 stock about 20 years ago when the prices were relatively good but still expensive compared to others. I remember sort of marveling at it when I pulled it out of the box. I bought some extra seals and parts a few years back but am still on the original components. I don't shoot it as often these days but still experience the same joy whenever I use it like I did the first time I unpacked it from that box. Like a cheaper airgun it still cocks and fires a pellet but I can say I enjoy shooting it a lot more than my friends Optimus. Not saying the latter is not useful but it makes me think of shooting a Cooey vs a Beretta.
Although I did respond with a cheaper option I cannot agree more with your post. I purchased a very good condition HW95K with a deluxe R9 stock about 20 years ago when the prices were relatively good but still expensive compared to others. I remember sort of marveling at it when I pulled it out of the box. I bought some extra seals and parts a few years back but am still on the original components. I don't shoot it as often these days but still experience the same joy whenever I use it like I did the first time I unpacked it from that box. Like a cheaper airgun it still cocks and fires a pellet but I can say I enjoy shooting it a lot more than my friends Optimus. Not saying the latter is not useful but it makes me think of shooting a Cooey vs a Beretta.
Grandson’s 10th birthday present this summer….in custody of my son until he gets a little older. Wanted to get him a Slavia but after 5 months of agonizing over options i bit the bullet on this German break barrel in .22cal. The kid can’t load it by himself so it’s relatively safe. $800.00 from D&L, what was I thinking. lol. Cheers
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I'm very happy with my GAMO .22 magnum. It has performed flawlessly for well over 1000 shots now, and it has exceptional accuracy for eliminating pests and target practise. It blew out a good scope in about 100 shots, at which point I reinstalled the original fixed magnification scope which has so far survived ok (amazing). Got it on sale at Cabelas with the excessory package included for sub $300.00.
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