Best "survivalist" airgun

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Northman999

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Fellows,

If a fellow was looking for an airgun for a SHTF type scenario, to use for quietly hunting game, that was powerful, reliable and had absolutely minimal maintenance needed, what would it be? What spare parts would a fellow buy for this to ensure the longest possible lifespan. I'm kind of leaning towards .22 cal, but if somebody is sure .177 is better and can tell me why, I'm definitely open to hearing about it.

Thanks!
 
Any kind of springer. Pneumatics have problems with shrinking pump cups and seals if you don't lube them etc. Co2 is for entertainment only.

.22 has greater energy, but .177 has a smaller surface area which results in greater pressure at point of impact.
 
Did a lot of hunting in England with air rifles.
It was pretty well established by all my friends, that the .22 was superior in taking game than the .177
The only reliable way to take game with the .177 was a head shot.
The .22 would drop rabbits and birds if a good body hit was obtained, the .177 would wound.
 
Levi Garrett said:
Need more info, is weight a factor, spring guns can run 9 , even 10 lbs scoped, makes a big bore rifle seem light:D A 22 rimfire is much better for survival.
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Weight probably not a factor - not wanting something super huge, but performance and reliability would come first.

Anyone have any specific models to reccomend? I'd probably be looking for something in .22 cal, scoped, springer, at least 1000 fps - more if possible.

I'm thinking something like "Gamo Hunter Extreme .22 "The Beast" 1300 fps with PBA ammo, 950 with lead. Anyone hear anything about them, or other, similar rifles?
 
PCP rifles don't have a whole lot of moving parts. The pump is another question. Temperature will effect velocity I'm guessing.
 
Northman999 said:
I'm thinking something like "Gamo Hunter Extreme .22 "The Beast" 1300 fps with PBA ammo, 950 with lead. Anyone hear anything about them, or other, similar rifles?
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I don't have any practical experience, but I did spend a few nights researching this topic last summer [and I am staying at a holiday inn express as I write this posting;-)] and I ended up setting my mind on the same Gamo you mention.

In my reading, I discovered that pellet guns are hard to keep accurate past a very limited range if you are pushing 1300fps(supersonic). Apparently the shape of the pellets causes them to become highly inaccurate as they fall out of supersonic speeds, and the transition from supersonic to subsonic happens relatively quickly due to the shape of the pellets(ie. Accurate at 10 yards, but completely unpredictable at 50 yards). After reading multiple reports about the pronounced instability that the pellets suffer from when they fall out of supersonic speeds, I decided the best way to go for consistency combined with hitting power(if you can call it that) would be to use the heaviest .22 pellets(16.5 grains?) that the Gamo Extreme would push out at ~950fps. The extra weight at lower speed was the best compromise of accuracy and energy. Besides, subsonic seems like a better idea if you want to minimize the chance of scaring off other small game in your vicinity.



However, I've never followed up on my research as I became distracted by my other toys. If anyone knows of a good Gamo supplier, maybe I'll return to my earlier interest...
 
I use to have a Diana 35 as a kid, very nice gun accurate and never had any problem with it. I killed many games with that one, you do not need 1000fps+
 
Hmmmmm...Me thinks I would go with a minimum .22 and lean heavily towards .25 cal. in a "springer" and as close to 1000 fps as I could get,but still stay sub-sonic.Now if I were going PCP...hands down it would be the Quackenbush .308 cal. Just my thoughts.

Oops you want quiet....ummm that leaves the .308 out....Benjamin Marauder,or an FX Monsoon
 
for simplicity/quiet/light weight,
.22 long rifle,bolt-action with cci sub sonic rounds

just as loud as my PAL springer and packs way more stopping power.

i shot a partridge a couple of weeks ago with these rounds at about 10 meters,the round hitting the bird made more noise than the round leaving the barrel.
 
I believe that the airforce condor is the most reliable air rifle if you want to get into pcp. Parts are simple to fix or modify. Power can be adjusted too. Temperature doesn't affect the performance either. Single shot bolt action is the best for reliablity and variety of pellets. Loading this pcp isn't difficult compared to a magnum springer. The weight of the airforce condor is good because its made with air craft aluminum. Switching barrels is easy just like switching air tanks. Expect to invest aprox $1000 to get started in owning one. You will need a hand pump or scuba tank with adapters to fill this beast :)
 
For survivalist airgun would be a springer .22cal @ about 1000fps with open sights, scope optional.

Forget pcp, co2 or pumps... WTF.... lug around a hand pump or a scuba tank or those co2 powerlets?!?!?! When you run out of air don't come crawling to me in hunger wanting to borrow my reliable springer.
 
The ROC said:
For survivalist airgun would be a springer .22cal @ about 1000fps with open sights, scope optional.

Forget pcp, co2 or pumps... WTF.... lug around a hand pump or a scuba tank or those co2 powerlets?!?!?! When you run out of air don't come crawling to me in hunger wanting to borrow my reliable springer.
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I hear ya , but like 'em all :) Here is the 460 , super accurate, and light for a power house spring gun
RWS%20460%20Magnum.jpg
 
air rifle

i bought the gamo hunter.it shoots .177 at 1200 fps with pba ammo.it seemed very accurate at 30yrds.there is a you tube video showing it killing a wild bore with one shot to the head with pba ammo.should convince you that it works.
 
Just a stunt to sell guns using lightweight pellets to achieve velocity.Seal and piston damage are inevitable with continued use.Cattle are executed routinely with the lowly .22 short. P.O. Ackley shot a kodiak brown bear with a .17AI but I wouldn't recommend it .....................Cape buffalo with a .257 WB mag been done etc............JMO........Harold ..... the hog I saw shot was bayed with a bunch of dogs so the shooter was never in any real danger [Wild TV]
 
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Levi Garrett said:
I hear ya , but like 'em all :) Here is the 460 , super accurate, and light for a power house spring gun
RWS%20460%20Magnum.jpg
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If a springer breaks down in the field it would be more difficult to fix because you would need a spring compressor etc. Fixing a pcp like the airforce condor only requires a few allen keys. Carrying a handpump or extra tank like a carbon fiber would be very handy.
 
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