Airgun geeks unite! Post airgun stories and questions here.

[fightingquaker13]

All right. Badger, Alf and I are pretty much out of the closet as being airgun nerds. Are we alone here? Anyone want to to share stories about what they use and why? There is the old saying that wheel guns are real guns. I would say the same about airguns, and no less authorities than Lewis and Clark will back me up. They are quiet, powerful and accurate, and cheaper than .22 LR. What's not to love? Personally, I've used them on tree rats and possums for years and am beginning to expand my horizons a bit in terms of high power hand guns. This seems like it could be a fun topic as anything from an iguana to a wild hog can be killed with one and a decent target gun will get you a 3/8" group at 20 yards for pennies a shot.
FQ13

[alfsauve]

Like many kids my parents gave me a Crosman Marksman pistol.  (A spring BB gun that looks like a 1911).    When I was into IHMSA, I bought a Crosman MK II  CO2 pistol in .177 so that I could practice in my basement.   

A few decades ago, a co-worker turned me on to Beeman and the modern airgun revolution.   I got an R7.  About that time I started reading the Straight Shooters and the Yellow forums.   I resurrected the MK II and the seals had all gone bad.  I sent it to MAC guns for a refurb.  Had it upgraded to a .22 (basically now it's a MK I) with a Walther barrel.  Ported a little for more power.

I also wanted something with more power than the R7, but had entered my "must be accurate phase".   I didn't want the hassle that comes with a PCP, so I opted for a underlever springer.   After much research, I settled on the Weihrauch HW-77 in .22.  Beeman imports it but only in .177 and .20 claiming it's underpowered for .22 or .25.    I think they're wrong and finally got one from a Canadian retailer, Illingsworth --  now DAK Sport.   They were wrong.  At 20yds this beast will punch through squirrel and crows.   I'm still waiting to find two lined up just right so I can pull a Quigly shot.  Got a grackle yesterday on the bird feeder.  Went clean through him and through the feeder leaving feathers embedded in the feeder on both sides.   Oh and we're talking MOA with this sucker if I do my part.  It sports a 5-15x40AO Bushnell Legend scope.    I think I'm ready to upgrade to gas ram and may try the Remington.  I may also look for a replacement ram for my HW-77.

I dabbled with a Crosman 2240 (.22 in CO2).  Putting a longer barrel on it.  Replacing the receiver.  Adding a muzzle brake.   It's okay but it's for sale with all the parts if anybody wants a toy to fiddle with.

That's my airgun odyssey.  (and yes I still have the Marksman.)

[fightingquaker13]

How much for the 2240? That's one of the two starter high power AG pistols I'm looking at. I like the Browning 800 at 600 FPS better, but for the right price, the 2240 seems like a decent shooter and tree rat capable. Will it do the job?
FQ13

[Solus]

Only had one pellet gun.  It was some model of Crosman lever cocking.  Took 10 strokes for a full charge.

I got it to rid my back yard of starlings the year I planted my first garden.  I think I named each seed as I put it in the ground and I really took offense when I saw the starlings pecking at them.

Early before work, I'd open the second story bedroom window facing the garden and line up on a starling sitting on the fence waiting for his appetite to kick in.  Just as I'd start to pull the trigger the bird flew.  Not just once but 3 or 4 times over several day without me getting a shot.  

I came to believe that the bird somehow knew I was intent on killing it.  It was about 30 ft away and I didn't know if humans produce a pheromone when they commit to the kill or if the damn thing was reading my mind.

So to test it, the next time, I lined up, being careful to have no thoughts of killing, and pulled the trigger with only a thought of hitting a target.  Bird stayed and died.  Worked fine as long as I didn't let "kill" thoughts or emotions get involved.  

The dead starlings laying in the back yard seemed to keep others away.

Made some shots for my next door neighbor who wanted  dead starlings in his back yard too.

Stopped my killing spree when a neighbor lady in the row of houses behind mine and several house down yelled at me one morning that she knew what I was dong and was gonna report me if I didn't stop.  

Discharging an air gun in the city limits was illegal so I let the remaining starlings live.

Anyway, all this talk by Badger about his new gun has me wanting to take it up again.  Can have a basement range set up for some pellet performance initial testing.  Feels like it will be fun.

[MikeBjerum]

As an extension of our Firearm Safety course we try to get youth more involved with shooting sports.  My approach is to follow the disciplines that will work up through CMP and Olympics, since these will also translate well to college programs and the military.

What air rifles do you recommend for entry into these sports.  I am looking quality, but lower priced (I know that is subjective), accurate and easily used and maintained.

The biggest problem I face in shopping is that most dealers do not understand the low velocity requirements for these sanctioned sports.

I am also looking for target systems - both reactive and paper.

[Sponsor]

[fightingquaker13]

How low a velocity are we talking about? Also, what sorts of targets (paper or steel) and at what ranges? If you can get by with say 500 -600 fps in .177 there a lot of good affordable options. Also do you want full sized or youth sized guns and are optics an issue? Too many lower priced airguns have POS Chinese plastic sights and really want a scope if you are punching paper at 10 yards and want a 3/8" group. Getting one with decent "irons" often means upgrading a bit. Let me know what your specs and budget are and I will happily research it. After all "its for the children", and in this case it really is.
FQ13 ROFL  

[Solus]

How low a velocity are we talking about? Also, what sorts of targets (paper or steel) and at what ranges? If you can get by with say 500 -600 fps in .177 there a lot of good affordable options. Also do you want full sized or youth sized guns and are optics an issue? Too many lower priced airguns have POS Chinese plastic sights and really want a scope if you are punching paper at 10 yards and want a 3/8" group. Getting one with decent "irons" often means upgrading a bit. Let me know what your specs and budget are and I will happily research it. After all "its for the children", and in this case it really is.
FQ13 ROFL  

For all of us really.  Teaching kids about our shooting heritage is the surest way to preserve it. 

Good work M58, and Quaker if you manage to help him out.

[fightingquaker13]

Check out these M58. They are by a company called Mendoza and have a very good rep. Mexican made (better than China) and are a wood and metal gun which should stand up to some abuse. They are reasonably low velocity at around 550 with lead pellets. They are 13" LOP and cocking weight is only 18 pounds. They have a rail if you want to scope them, but hopefully you won't need to. They go for $125 a pop at pyramid air. The main attraction  here is the ease of cocking and the durability. I'd take a look.
FQ13

http://www.pyramydair.com/s/m/Air_Venturi_Bronco_air_rifle/2013

[fightingquaker13]

If those are too rich for your blood Ruger and Crossman both make models at around $70. Downside is that they look like rayguns, and are plastic from stem to stern so god knows how durable they are According to an honest rep at Airgun Depot if you can group inside an inch at ten meters you are doing well. On the other hand that may be good enough, just don't expect tack drivers. Stoeger has its X-5 at around $100. Its a solid company with a good wood and steel gun. It seems ideal, except it hits 800 fps (figure 725 with lead) and is probably too zippy for what you want.
FQ13

[MikeBjerum]

How low a velocity are we talking about? Also, what sorts of targets (paper or steel) and at what ranges? If you can get by with say 500 -600 fps in .177 there a lot of good affordable options. Also do you want full sized or youth sized guns and are optics an issue? Too many lower priced airguns have POS Chinese plastic sights and really want a scope if you are punching paper at 10 yards and want a 3/8" group. Getting one with decent "irons" often means upgrading a bit. Let me know what your specs and budget are and I will happily research it. After all "its for the children", and in this case it really is.
FQ13 ROFL  

I am double checking my numbers (getting delayed because I'm also trying to make a living today), but I think that 4-H, Olympic and other usually are around 750 to 850 fps and may be on the lower end of that range.  I wish that a manufacturer would put out a basic listing or include in the specs "This gun meets requirements of these disciplines" statement.  Once I get more up to speed I will be better at this, and that is my goal for this year's class - Means I have just one month to prepare.