Looking for a springer for hunting, help me choose?

[1911 Range Officer]

I'd like to keep it under $500 but I figure that gives me enough to get something worth shooting. I will use it for hunting small game, so .22 or 25 caliber will be needed. I can't get .25 local so that's a knock and PCP is out of the question for now, maybe down the road once I move if I welding or scuba shop or something near by can fill tanks for me as I'm not spending the coin on a shoe box compressor. So Spring power it is! I have heard a lot of mixed opinions of the gas piston rifles so I'd like to steer clear, besides springs don't leak.

A fixed barrel seems like it would be a plus for accuracy and maybe less obvious movement under cocking? I would think I will need something that at least yields  ???ft/lb of ME? BTW that $500 should be rifle and scope. Suggestions for something accurate, reasonably easy to shoot, and powerful enough? Range would be >30 yards.

P.S. Been a powder burner all my life and i'm not that great with springers, I'd love to go PCP, but again air is the problem, and I doubt i'd enjoy using a hand pump. Cocking, loading, aim and fire seems like it would net me a lot more pleasure for the dollar....Though if I can't shoot it well, that's going to frustrate me. Hopefully I'm not asking for the world here lol. And thank you in advance, you guru's are very helpful to us new/inexperienced guys.


ETA: RWS 460 Mag?

[Bullit]

The Diana model 48 is a very accurate springer rifle that is famous for it's accuracy and hunting power.  They balance really well inhand so you won't notice the weight so much.
These fixed barrel sidecockers have a long history (and lots of small game) to their credit.
Airgun Depot offers "refurb" units periodically that are priced great.  Keep checking with them because they sell fast when they come up.
They are magnum class power (20+fpe in .22), so I got the Leapers scopes on mine and they have held up for years.  The newer glass etched 3-12x44 Swat Compact was my last purchase and I think they're a great scope.  Tough and plenty of magnification for $150.00
I bet you can put this combo together in your budget if you pay attention to prices/deals.
Happy Huntin...

[Booger]

I'd like to keep it under $500 but I figure that gives me enough to get something worth shooting. I will use it for hunting small game, so .22 or 25 caliber will be needed. I can't get .25 local so that's a knock and PCP is out of the question for now, maybe down the road once I move if I welding or scuba shop or something near by can fill tanks for me as I'm not spending the coin on a shoe box compressor. So Spring power it is! I have heard a lot of mixed opinions of the gas piston rifles so I'd like to steer clear, besides springs don't leak.

A fixed barrel seems like it would be a plus for accuracy and maybe less obvious movement under cocking? I would think I will need something that at least yields  ???ft/lb of ME? BTW that $500 should be rifle and scope. Suggestions for something accurate, reasonably easy to shoot, and powerful enough? Range would be >30 yards.

P.S. Been a powder burner all my life and i'm not that great with springers, I'd love to go PCP, but again air is the problem, and I doubt i'd enjoy using a hand pump. Cocking, loading, aim and fire seems like it would net me a lot more pleasure for the dollar....Though if I can't shoot it well, that's going to frustrate me. Hopefully I'm not asking for the world here lol. And thank you in advance, you guru's are very helpful to us new/inexperienced guys.


ETA: RWS 460 Mag?

I would go with a HW95 (AOA has on sale) or a D-34 with money left over for a nice scope and mounts.

[north country gal]

We have a good selection of both under lever guns and break barrel guns and I would be hard pressed to prove an accuracy advantage for the under lever guns. Keep in mind, though, that these are all quality guns, all with excellent triggers, so that probably will have more effect on accuracy than the type of springer. Another vote for the HW95. That definitely get you into the quality with excellent trigger category. Also lighter than the typical under lever, too, and that may be a factor for your hunting.

[TexasInfidel]

Midway USA has the Hatsan .30cal shipping in March of 2016
30-35FPE for under $300US

[notyal50]

I know you said no hand pump but a Benjamin Discovery is really easy to pump. Pumping from 1000 psi to 2000 psi is a breeze and would give you 16 -20 shots. I use mine for squirrels and it's plenty of shots for a hunt. You can get the combo for just under 400 hundred. The disco is very light, sitting around 6 lbs. It's great to carry around in the woods too.  Hope this helps and good luck!

[Nomadic Pirate]

Midway USA has the Hatsan .30cal shipping in March of 2016
30-35FPE for under $300US

Great suggestion, he said that gas rams aren't on his radar, .25 is kinda iffy because of avaiability and he's not all that great at shooting springers,...the Hatsan .30 super magnum is the perfect compromise than

[Nomadic Pirate]

I know you said no hand pump but a Benjamin Discovery is really easy to pump. Pumping from 1000 psi to 2000 psi is a breeze and would give you 16 -20 shots. I use mine for squirrels and it's plenty of shots for a hunt. You can get the combo for just under 400 hundred. The disco is very light, sitting around 6 lbs. It's great to carry around in the woods too.  Hope this helps and good luck!

Agree, something to really look into.

[Bullit]

I have always thought that the accuracy of the fixed barrel vs the breakbarrel is that that mastering the Hold Sensitivity of the lighter breakbarrel with high or magnum power is a real issue for so many shooters.  The fixed barrel Magnum class rifles are more tame, and generally easier for shooters to master.  The added weight is a help to the shooter in this case, I believe.
Any newer Diana has a very good trigger, as do many of the good and proven rifles.

[anuthabubba]

I'd like to keep it under $500 but I figure that gives me enough to get something worth shooting. I will use it for hunting small game, so .22 or 25 caliber will be needed.

For what is considered 'traditional airgun quarry' (birds, rats, squirrels, rabbits, pigeons) the Brits have been using a Gov't mandated 12 foot pound limit to successfully 'hunt' for many decades. Even with cherished competition target models.

Some personal experience examples:

My longest kill shot with a .177 barrel cocking steel spring airgun was a headshot with an HW95k/R10 with Leupold 3-9x33EFR, on a nutria at 75 yards. Longest with a .22 barrel cocker was a nutria, headshot at 50 yards with an HW80k/R1 with Leupy 3-9x33EFR. Longest kill with a '64 Sheridan Blue Streak .20/8 pumps w/ open sights, was a nutria headshot at 50 yards. Also a headshot on another nutria with a Benjamin 397P-N .177/8 pumps w/ open sights, at 50 yards. All were from a standing offhand position and were laser ranged. Have made many similar shots on other small game with various older Dans/Benjamins/HWs/FWBs/RWS34s/pistols, etc. from 20 to 40+ yards.

Airgun hunting requires trajectory considerations similar to archery or looong range centerfire! Shot placement is KING!

"Was there regret of under power or not enough grain weight?"
 Only regret is not being 100% accurate 100% of the time.

Another example from a different shooter:

http://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=103964.msg984929#msg984929

[nced]

I'd like to keep it under $500 but I figure that gives me enough to get something worth shooting. I will use it for hunting small game, so .22 or 25 caliber will be needed. I can't get .25 local so that's a knock and PCP is out of the question for now, maybe down the road once I move if I welding or scuba shop or something near by can fill tanks for me as I'm not spending the coin on a shoe box compressor. So Spring power it is! I have heard a lot of mixed opinions of the gas piston rifles so I'd like to steer clear, besides springs don't leak.

A fixed barrel seems like it would be a plus for accuracy and maybe less obvious movement under cocking? I would think I will need something that at least yields  ???ft/lb of ME? BTW that $500 should be rifle and scope. Suggestions for something accurate, reasonably easy to shoot, and powerful enough? Range would be >30 yards.

P.S. Been a powder burner all my life and i'm not that great with springers, I'd love to go PCP, but again air is the problem, and I doubt i'd enjoy using a hand pump. Cocking, loading, aim and fire seems like it would net me a lot more pleasure for the dollar....Though if I can't shoot it well, that's going to frustrate me. Hopefully I'm not asking for the world here lol. And thank you in advance, you guru's are very helpful to us new/inexperienced guys.


ETA: RWS 460 Mag?

LOL...after messing with .20 and .22 barrels on my R9 over a decade ago and finding that the "fat pellets" didn't perform any better on tree squirrels than the .177 cal I started out with I sold both the .20 and .22 barrels reverting back to .177 never to look back. At R9 power levels (about 14 fpe) I found that the loopier trajectory of the .20/.22s caused more "off the mark hits"  than the .177 cal due to the precision of range "guestimation" and the amount of holdover required past my zero distance (30 yards). I also learned that with R9 power level springers the only game that counts is putting a pellet THROUGH the vitals is of any value and an "off the mark hit" with a .22 pellet isn't as good as an "on the mark hit" with a .177 pellet! Some one shot kills with my .177 R9..........
One squirrel head shot and one double lunged........
Uploaded at Snapagogo.com
This one was head shot........
Uploaded at Snapagogo.com
What happens to the squirrels..........
Uploaded at Snapagogo.com

Some larger critters, all single .177 cal hits.........
Uploaded at Snapagogo.com
Uploaded at Snapagogo.com

[1911 Range Officer]

Thanks for everyone's input thus far. I'll take a 2nd look at the discovery, I think it will be it or the RWS 460 mag. The Discovery would cost less, and if it's really not that big of a deal to pump compared to 3000psi fill air rifles...

[pllagunos]

I know you said no hand pump but a Benjamin Discovery is really easy to pump. Pumping from 1000 psi to 2000 psi is a breeze and would give you 16 -20 shots. I use mine for squirrels and it's plenty of shots for a hunt. You can get the combo for just under 400 hundred. The disco is very light, sitting around 6 lbs. It's great to carry around in the woods too.  Hope this helps and good luck!

Agree, something to really look into.

Another nice option would be the Benjamin Maximus, which is basically a discovery with a  synthetic stock, the price starts at $199, so there would be more money for an optic. If pumping isn't your thing, then weihrauch springers are hard to beat, AOA has the HW95, and the HW97k is currently at $400 here http://www.krale-schietsport.nl/en/weihrauch-hw97-k.html

[Bryan Heimann]

I am thinking a breakbarrel pushing 11-15 fpe would suit your needs just fine.  Guns like the Diana 34, R9/HW95,Walther LGV or the new Walther Terrus.  Caliber should be .177 or .22, based on your personal preference.  You can always go back and get a .25 magnum or a pcp later down the road.  A sweet mid powered breakbarrel with a soft 12-13 fpe tune is easy to cock, easy to shoot, easy to carry, and packs enough punch for most airgun game.

[39M]

For a scope, I'd get a Leupold VX-2 3-9x33 EFR. Optics Planet has it on sale
http://shop.opticsplanet.com/leupold-vari-x-3-9x28mm-compact-rifle-scope-with-gloss-black-finish-and-duplex-reticle.html?_iv_code=LU-RS-VX2-3-9x33-110827&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=plusbox-beta&gclid=CM-h-o_Q9coCFZCIaQodi_gJew

That doesn't leave much room under your cap for a rifle. But this scope will last a lifetime and you can put it on any upgrade rifle you might choose in the future.

For now, I'd suggest the Ruger Blackhawk Elite .177
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Ruger-Blackhawk-Elite-.177-Pellet-Air-Rifle-with-Scope/27678724
to mount the scope on leaving you $14 to buy two tins of pellets.

[1911 Range Officer]

After looking at what a respectable pump costs.. Discovery is out.

[SteveP-52]

The Discovery comes with a pump:
http://www.airgundepot.com/benjamin-discovery-air-rifle-combo.html

Surf a little and you can usually find that same setup for a little less.

[Bullit]

The 460 magnum is a powerhouse springer that isn't hard to manage.  I find that mine isn't a rifle that I wanna sit at the bench all afternoon to cock&shoot a hundred times.  They are fine for hunting tho.  It is more nose heavy than the 48, but it stays on target well. I like mine overall.  Check out Airgun Depot as they have deals on refurbs that are good as new most all of the time.  Again, they don't last long when they come out.  I have bought a few refurbs and never a problem...but then, you are buying a quality to start with, so don't worry about refurb vs new.  I found out that many times it's more "buyers remorse excuses" than a problem w/ the rifle. So they're fine, but can't be sold as "new" any more

1911 Range Officer:
You are correct in that quality pumps for a PCP costs more than the start out pump they provide you in their package.  I don't know what a Hill Pump costs today, but I know they aren't cheap.

[anuthabubba]

Thanks for everyone's input thus far. I'll take a 2nd look at the discovery, I think it will be it or the RWS 460 mag. The Discovery would cost less, and if it's really not that big of a deal to pump compared to 3000psi fill air rifles...

Refilling a low volume, low pressure airgun, like the Disco, with a hand pump is not really hard or exhausting, unless there are underlying health problems. I regularly pump up 3x Crosman PCP pistols (2x 1701Ps and a 1720T carbine to ~3000psi each) and get ~150 total plinking/pesting shots (slightly tweaked factory settings) from less than a hundred strokes. Also occasionally hand pump a coupla vintage Daystates and B50 clone, Mrod and Disco. Where the pistols take ~30 pumps each, the larger tubed rifles can take more than twice that number. Am a 'Scottish build' and not particularly 'fit', 63 and a half y/o.

[rokitman60]

My Friend,

                  If you're looking for a springer for hunting, then I can enthusiastically suggest the Xisico XS28M from MM over at Flying Dragon. I got one fully tuned, with a Leapers 4-16x50 AO for well under the price point you've stated.  It's a clone of the Diana 350 Magnum, the workmanship is solid, but it's not so expensive or fancy that you don't want to take it out in the field. It hits like a hammer and is lights out accurate at 50 yards. It took some getting used to, but once I found the 'groove', (and the pellet it liked) I never looked back. AWESOME gun!
                                                                 
                                                             Best Regards,
                                                                                     Butch