$300 will easily get you a Diana 34.
Hi, Morris. Welcome to the GTA!! Springs, as replacement parts, are much less expensive than gas struts - though both last for a LOT of pellets!! I sure wouldn't keep a gas strut as a spare for fear it would leak or deteriorate with age - it would probably be years before it was needed!!Most gas strut guns can be converted to spring. Some spring guns can convert easily to gas strut, others not at all.To work on most springers you need a spring compressor. There are plans and you can make one fairly easily, you may even have all the parts at home already. Beyond that most of the work can be accomplished with simple hand tools.You do need to consider whether you want a fixed barrel or a break barrel. Will you shoot with open sights or a scope? Give a bit of thought to caliber and power. More powerful guns are more difficult (generally) to learn to shoot. Springs, struts, and seals can be easily obtained from after market vendors. Many other parts can be difficult to obtain. That may weigh into your decision.
Morris, in your initial post you mentioned a nice basic setup for under $300. What does that mean? I understand the $300 part. That's pretty specific. Nice is not as clear, it's kind of subjective. Basic setup means different things to different people. Is this supposed to include a scope? Are you purchasing spare parts at the same time and including them in this number? Suggestions would be easier if the parameters were more clearly defined.
$300 will go extremely fast, especially if your idea of nice, is the same as mine. LOL. By the way welcome to the greatest airgun forum....
Check out the refurbished RWS 34's at Air Gun Depot. With a few tins of pellets it will be less than $200 shipped. The 34 Meisterschütze and compact models come with a scope. If you dont see any 34 refurbs call AGD and ask how you secure one when they arrive.
Research the XS28 and do look at flyingdragonairrifles. Break barrel very good quality all the way around , more power than you need yet the one I tried out was as smooth as an RWS34. (and the 34 is good). LOT's of airgunners in TN, maybe try shooting what others have first?John
I'll throw in for the D34, too. I have two of them! I also have a Crosman Titan, an NPSS, and I have had a Benji Trail, all in .22 caliber. I have had all of them apart for cleaning, tuning, and lubing. I sold the Trail because it was just too heavy, and somewhat hold sensitive. If I had to choose between the Titan, the NPSS, or a D34, I'd reach for the D34 every time, regardless of the task at hand. All are capable of dispatching pests and small game. (All of mine have.) Yes, the gas ram guns are nice, and you can leave them cocked forever, but they can be and often are just as hold sensitive as a steel coil spring powered gun. In some cases, more so. I cannot bring myself to honestly say that they are necessarily superior. I call my NPSS "Clang" because of the gong noise it makes when fired. My D34 makes no such noise.Considering your budget, I'd still point you to the D34 classic, and advise you to shoot it with open sights until you absolutely need a scope. (There was time when my vision was such that I could hit sub-2" targets at 15 to 20 yards with the open sights on mine.)If you are bent on buying a gas ram, look at the Crosman outlet store. You can pick up a refurbished Titan for around $85, but keep in mind it will need a little TLC in the form of a thorough cleaning and re-lubing, possibly a new seal, some deburring, brass pivot washers, a gas ram stabilizer (if you can find one) and a GRT-III trigger. You'll need to build or buy a spring compressor to work on it. (There is a thread that shows many different designs. Use the search feature and you'll find it.) After all that, you should have enough left of the original $300 for a decent low end scope.