Ruger Airhawk .177 $44.50

[avator]

Ok, I know it was posted for $48 but now Midway has the Ruger Airhawk for $44.50.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/568452/ruger-air-hawk-air-rifle-177-caliber-pellet-wood-stock-blue-barrel-factory-reconditioned?cm_vc=ProductFinding

[TooJung2Die]

Too good to pass up. I need another hole in the head so I ordered one.

I really like the Air Hawk despite the problems it had. First thing to do as soon as it arrives is take it apart and inspect everything. I was shooting mine this week when it went "clank" instead of going "thunk". Thought the spring broke. I found the Vortek Black seal came off the piston. Those black seals are much softer than the red ones and maybe this is why they don't sell them anymore. The welding job I did on the piston head cracked as a result. I welded the loose head again and used a Vortek Red seal this time. The stock Air Hawk main spring was corkscrewed and looking soft. I had a stock Diana 34 spring and guide left over from the Vortek PG2 upgrade so it's in the Air Hawk now. Lubed everything with Ultimox grease and Krytox oil.

This is how you can get an air rifle that approaches the performance of a Diana 34 for less than 1/3 the cost. Just be willing to do some work on the air rifle.

Jon

[avator]

Too good to pass up. I need another hole in the head so I ordered one.

I really like the Air Hawk despite the problems it had. First thing to do as soon as it arrives is take it apart and inspect everything. I was shooting mine this week when it went "clank" instead of going "thunk". I found the Vortek Black seal came off the piston. Those black seals are much softer than the red ones and maybe this is why they don't sell them anymore. The welding job I did on the piston head cracked as a result. I welded the loose head again and used a Vortek Red seal this time. The stock Air Hawk main spring was corkscrewed and looking soft. I had a stock Diana 34 spring left over from the Vortek PG2 upgrade so it's in the Air Hawk now.

This is how you can get an air rifle that approaches the performance of Diana 34 for less than 1/3 the cost. Just be willing to do some work on the air rifle.

Jon

Jon.. Get with Mike at FD and get one of his delrin top hats and do the reverse piston sleeve mod... you'll be amazed. Chop about 4 coils off that spring and detune it. Makes an awesome 25 - 30 yds pester.

[TooJung2Die]

Jon.. Get with Mike at FD and get one of his delrin top hats and do the reverse piston sleeve mod... you'll be amazed. Chop about 4 coils off that spring and detune it. Makes an awesome 25 - 30 yds pester.

You know, I did everything suggested to the Air Hawk except that. I didn't see the need because there is no twang at all. Maybe this next Air Hawk will get the "poor man's PG2" mod. Why chop the spring? Making room for the top hat? After a year it's gonna get soft and I might wish I had the coils back.

[avator]

We had a couple airhawks and I did the reverse sleeve mod. they smoothed out so nice but they were just too much for Betty Lou to cock repeatedly. she was good for about 20 shots and she went for another gun. i ended up getting rid of them. for Christmas last year she and I bought each other a full tune XS-25 from Mike. He detuned her for ease in cocking effort. after owning these 2 XS-25s, I wish I would have kept the airhawks and done the same to them.  Speed and power do not always add up to accuracy. In my opinion, a smooth cocking, not so hold sensitive, accurate springer slinging 10.5 ultra mags at mid 700fps is pure fun. Open sights even make the experience better for us

[Be Ready]

Mine showed up..... Stock have a bunch of scratches 
I ordered this rifle just for the wood stock and now I have a project to refinish it. Wanted a wooden stock for my Ruger BHE . After shooting both and I know there the same. My Elite is a much better rifle JMO.

[avator]

Mine showed up..... Stock have a bunch of scratches 
I ordered this rifle just for the wood stock and now I have a project to refinish it. Wanted a wooden stock for my Ruger BHE . After shooting both and I know there the same. My Elite is a much better rifle JMO.

I think I would contact them and ask if this was normal... wouldn't hurt and you might even end up with a spare stock to play with.

[D14Jeff]

$57.69 delivered , lowest price i've seen for a wood stocked 34 "clone" . add a quality spring , seal , lube from ARH/Vortek/Ultimox , deburr/clean things while it's apart , add soda bottle sleeve , MM's 2nd trigger screw mod and it should be a decent C-note shooter .

great find avator

[19Sheridan57]

I would contact them, too. I have not had any problems with them not standing behind their products.

[Be Ready]

I guess a call couldn't hurt, but being a refurbished gun I'm not going to hold my breathe. I've had good luck in the past.... Just not this time.

[bmb]

Tracking says mine should be here tomorrow. A lot of your comments have me worried though. I was hoping for a "beater" gun to have some fun with. However if it's a pos, what fun is that? Should I be expecting that the gun will fail on me? I know it was cheap but if its junk it's worth nothing. Does anyone have one that has not been worked on but still shoots good?

[TooJung2Die]

Tracking says mine should be here tomorrow. A lot of your comments have me worried though. I was hoping for a "beater" gun to have some fun with. However if it's a pos, what fun is that? Should I be expecting that the gun will fail on me? I know it was cheap but if its junk it's worth nothing. Does anyone have one that has not been worked on but still shoots good?

It's factory refurbished so it has been worked on to some extent. Any major flaws will have been corrected (hopefully). I think you have a better chance with a factory refurb than new. Both of the new ones I got needed to be worked on. I have hope for the refurb that's on it's way to me. I'll probably take the best of both guns and make one. The other I'll give away.

[avator]

i don't think a scratched stock makes a gun junk.

[lefteyeshot]

Ordered mine last Saturday and it came Tuesday. $48+shpg+$3 for UPS=$65. It looks like a new gun. Not a scratch on it, wood or meta. Same day I ordered a refurb. Winchester 1100 with a 3-9x32 Prowerline off Amazon $79.95 shipped. It had a couple of little scratches. Shot'em Saturday

Out of the box with the trigger screw in all the way trigger pull averaged 2lbs 12oz. Almost no first stage. I was in a hurry testing these guns ,date night. Peak w/c 8.6 grs avg. 961fps, Hobbies 7grs 1024, Crosman alloy 4 grs 1230 and 1212, only shot two, RWS Super Mags w/c 9.3grs 858. With open sights Super Mags 3 shot group 25 yds, 1".  Gun's fine as is. I'll take the sights off, add a barrel weight and scope it.

The Winchester1100's trigger avg. 5 lbs. but nice. Once it quit dieseling pushed Peak w/c 8.6 grs avg. 973fps, Hobbies 7 grs 1006 fps, alloys 1027 and 1099, Super Mags 9.3 grs 853fps. three shot group at 25 yds 1.5" with open sights. I'll do it the same as the Airhawk and scope it.

[DanD]

Fine. I just ordered one. I have a refurb Blackhawk Elite. I put a JM seal in it, and the power plant is smooth strong, but the barrel is loose in the middle and has poor accuracy. I don't really love the Elite's black tactical look and feel, either, so if this Airhwawk has a good barrel, I should be able to put something decent together between the two of them. I just hope I don't end up with two problem rifles.
Funny thing, too-  I added a tin of RWS basic pellets, and the shipping lowered from $13.19 to $12.74.
Have fun!

[TooJung2Die]

Speed and power do not always add up to accuracy. In my opinion, a smooth cocking, not so hold sensitive, accurate springer slinging 10.5 ultra mags at mid 700fps is pure fun.

You are absolutely right. With the Diana spring in the Air Hawk the recoil is noticeably harsher. No twang but there is a distinct kick it didn't have before. There are too many really bad wild fliers now. I used to be able to keep ten shots within 3/4" at 25 yards with most going through one hole the size of a dime. Now I get half the shots outside the 3/4" bull and some are 2" off. I think I'm going to put the old Air Hawk spring back in. The new spring really makes the spinner targets fly but like you said Accuracy trumps Power.

[Be Ready]

I call MidWay.... They don't have any spare stocks or other parts. They also told me they have no way to check the items once ordered. I think this is BS..... You get what's in the box and hope for the best. Those of you that got the "like" new and no scratches.... Congrats you won! Those like me that got the "pulled behind the road wagon" model. I have to spend my own money to return it, or just give it away. Sorry MidWay you have lost a valued customer. I'll stick with the Companies that have "TRUE" customer service and ways of checking the product before it ships and or free return shipping policy's

[temchik]

Ordered one, just couldn't pass up a $57 34-clone

[avator]

I call MidWay.... They don't have any spare stocks or other parts. They also told me they have no way to check the items once ordered. I think this is BS..... You get what's in the box and hope for the best. Those of you that got the "like" new and no scratches.... Congrats you won! Those like me that got the "pulled behind the road wagon" model. I have to spend my own money to return it, or just give it away. Sorry MidWay you have lost a valued customer. I'll stick with the Companies that have "TRUE" customer service and ways of checking the product before it ships and or free return shipping policy's

Sorry to hear this Brent. In all reality, I never did care for the washed finish on Chinese guns. If it were me, I would strip the wood and do my own thing with it. I've actually found some pretty good stuff under that ugly orange stuff. The gun at this price with the potential it has would just give me the opportunity to tinker my brains out.

[bmb]

Mine came today. Holy smoke. Literally. Refurb must mean re oil, a lot. Should have taken the first shot outside. However, the gun looks to be in decent shape. Cleaned the barrel first and it was super filthy. Put 25 destroyers thru it to see how everything else works. Never had good luck with them so I thought it was the perfect use to burn them up. Sounds a little crunchy at the end of the cocking stroke like the spring bunching up. If it gets worse I'll tear it apart right away otherwise I'll let it break in a little first. First stage is long and needs to be adjusted. Barrel is tight. Breach seal seems good. I'm excited to see how this purchase works out. I'm defiantly not complaining but now I really see why everyone suggested a D34 as my first rifle. It spoiled me for sure.