Air rifle recommendation

I need an accurate one for back yard plinking - any suggestions ?

If you are willing to part with the $$, the Beeman R7 is the king of back yard plinking.

We own 20 acres so I’d like to be a good neighbor when it comes to varmits

My search kept leading to Gamo and I almost did it

I never bought one and kept w the .17 hmr but no complaints from neighbor

I’d check what they have to offer, time and time again they seem to lead the pack

I shoot an RWS 34 P and a old school Weihrauch HW35 Luxus. I put a Vortek PG2 in my 34 and it is a great shooter.




It is.

Considering what some people are willing to pay for a rifle that hardly gets used in this forum, $300 is a small price to pay for a gun you can shoot every day

Gamo rifles are not that great. Most of them are built around the same powerplant as the cheapest Gamo you can buy, with a bunch of fancified plastic added to the overmoulded stock and barrel.

The only thong Gamo leads the pack in is marketing.

Gamo are alright for shooting out to ten or fifteen yards, maybe some backyard bunny bashing and squirrels at close range.

If you want a serious air rifle, either go with a quality european gun or be prepared to tear down and work on a cheaper gun.

For the price of Gamo's top of the line, you get the same rifle as Gamo's bottom end. A nicer stock does not enhance accuracy on a spring or gas ram air rifle.

Or, for the same money, a bare bones Diana or Weihrauch that will perform to the price point.

Best advice I can give a guy looking at air rifles is to pose your exact same question in the GTA forum:

https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/

https://www.crosman.com/heritage-2260-22

No pumping, no heavy spring or gas ram, no pre-charged filling. 12 gram C02 which are cheap as can be. I'm guessing 50 shots per cartridge. The perfect back yard pinker and will end a squirrel too.

It will work. Probably more like 20-30 good powerful shots.

The only 2 problems with these are CO2 doesn't work well in the cold, and the trigger is aweful. But it will work 15-20 yards on a squirrel.

And yes I used to have one.

Edit- also, valve lock on a hot day, has happened to me with CO2 guns and this very model in particular.

https://www.pyramydair.com/s/m/Beeman_R7_Air_Rifle/1899#8724

Link to R7^

https://www.pyramydair.com/s/m/Diana_34P_air_rifle_Synthetic_Stock/1041

Link to Diana 34P^

this, I bought mine from Pyramid. They mounted the scope and did basic sight in. Remember, as with all our toys, you get what you pay for.

I'm not sure about Haslet but I'm not supposed to discharge mine in Frisco, unlawful.

If you have a good backstop, you can shoot your air rifle in the house

Surprised no votes for Benjamin ??

Benjamin is a different gun these days. Benajmin was bought out by Crosman more than a decade ago. The multipump 392 and 397 are not bad guns but not as good as they used to be. Heavier triggers, paint overspray in the muzzle which affects accuracy. But they are good guns after a little bit of work, doesnt take much.

The breakbarrel, "nitro piston" Benjamin rifles are Chinese. Even the "Built in USA" Benjamins are "Built" in USA of mostly Chinese made parts. That is why they can't say "Made" in USA.

Even the Chinese breakbarrels are generally not bad rifles but they usually take some work. At the price of a Benjamin Nitro Piston rifle you can get a nice Diana or in some cases Weihrauch with very good craftsmanship and made of quality materials, in Germany. Diana/RWS and Weihrauch have very nice triggers. The German Beeman rifles are very nice but avoid the cheaper Chinese Beeman models.

The Benjamin PCP rifles are pretty good guns, except for the Wildfire. The wildfire just isn't built to last.

PCP rifles can be amazing but the startup cost is a bit high and air can be a hassle.

If you are gonna go CO2 I'd recommend a QB78, or check out the Crosman Custom Shop and have a real nice 2240 built the way you like it.

I have a Stoeger X20 S2 in .177. With a UTG airgun scope and a one piece mount, I can hit my spin target 9-10 times at 40 yards with Winchester hollow point pellets. All you hear is the spring and the pellet smacking the plate. The down sides are that you have to get used to the trigger, it is heavy, and a kid probably could not break open the barrel.

As a kid that loved to shoot, I went through a few BB & air rifles growing up. Now as an old timer I decided to buy one again for plinking & small vermin control around the yard. When I started doing some research, boy did I have a very rude awakening! The sophistication, designs & prices vary in the extreme! Get a catalog from pyramydair & study a bit & be amazed! Also check out some of the YouTube videos showing guys sniper shooting birds at 100+ yds with their pellet guns!

I have a Air Arms TX200 which is arguably the best factory springer. I love the gun. The trigger is amazing and will group under 1" at 50Y.

I recommended the R7 for back yard plinking specifically for its low velocity (~600 fps) and its low noise signature. In addition to being a quality air rifle with a great trigger and fine accuracy, it's very neighbor friendly. There are many better options for hunting.

Sig ASP20

Surprised to see even this many serious airgunners on here. Where ya'll been all this time?

I'll second the AA TX200

Diana model 48 with the T06 trigger, hits hard and very accurate."Word of warning" it's not quiet.

Gamo sucks. I have an old RWS that’s been great.

Been there and done that....stack of beer cans in front of phone books in front of plywood....tried plywood by itself but had too many bounce-backs.....

I used a 4'x4' piece of 3/4" plywood with about an 8" wide by 12" tall by 4" deep box of 2x4's nailed to the front, open in the front. I stuffed that with duct seal. The pellets don't even make any noise hitting the duct seal.

Up to a .25 caliber Walther Talon Mag, thousands upon thousands of shots, not one ricochet or perforation. It's like the pellets stacked up in the duct seal just make it stop the next ones easier.

I bet enough duct seal packed in there will stop most centerfire pistols easily.

Here's a link to a post I made here when I purchased my TX200.

https://texashuntingforum.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/6896752/1

That is my dream rifle. Gotta put some glass on there that she deserves!