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Indecision within my choice of platform on a budget

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lefteyeshot:
To meet your parameters the platform is going to exceed your budget.

lillysdad621:
Bob, Im a big believer on the old school Benjis and sheridans, but decent size groups with open sights at 50 yards may have been way bigger than a stretched squirrel, in all reality. Those guns, even when healthy, struggled with breaking 650 fps on 10 pumps with the pellets we had back then. They were more apt to keep pesting at 25 yards, and definetely be worthy of small groups at about 50 ft (17 yrds). The triggers were never "great", but we could make them work. As far as getting one today, you can find used ones for less than 2 bills, and most of them will not need seals at that price. Or a new one will also do, and be lighter to carry around as truly be also water proof. The polymer stocks may not be pretty, but they are 100% functional.  The only problem they seem to still have is that they are still difficult to scope, which is necessary for game taking at 30+ yards. But at 220$ new, they are a very good investment.
As far as springers go (and rammers), most of today's crop of inexpensive air rifles will set you back about 200$ new, and will mostly be in .177 or .22. The true velocity on most medium power Break Barrels is 870/880 fps in .177 and 650/660 in .22. That is after breaking them in. That puts tou still in that 392 category in .22 and about 100 fps faster than a 397...but there is the "learning curve" to contend with. You will need practice and maybe a better trigger, some tuning and fiddling, but at the end you will have a decent shooter that will last a long time, and when it fails it is easy to fix or just send back (gamo has a long warranty now). Also, as much &^^& we talk about the chinese guns (crosman and Benjis), they do provide the best airgun for the money. Dont be afraid to work on them, and you can get pretty much any part sent to you in no time from Crosman if you need it. They will take time to learn, but once you know your gun, 40 to 45 yards game shots are very possible.
as far as going out pass 50 to take game, that is PCP territory. But then you are talking a nice cash lay out on gun and support equipment. And as far as turkeys, im not sure that you can hunt them with an airgun legally in NY, or anywhere in the US for that matter. And even if you could, that is a head shot to an animal who will not let you get that close, Bobs its head constantly and are covered in layers of feathers that will shed power of your pellets faster than you think...
Small game? Get a decent .177 break barrel and a good scope. shoot it lots to break it in. then scope it and start grouping at 10 yards. when you can keep all shots inside a quarter, move the target to 15, then 20 and so on and so forth. I am a nuisance wildlife control officer, prior licensed by the DEC in NY, and now by the DNR in GA. I shoot lots of game, with lots of different guns... have been doing it for 15 years now. I can guarantee a 1 inch group at 30 yards. that is it. 50 yards is a long way out, let alone 80. But i'm a crappy marksman. So i got good at getting closer.
For punching targets? the .177 will still do and be flatter shooting... My choice would probably go for a Gamo swarm with the CAT trigger. And a good 3-9x32 with Mil dots. Find the right pellet and you will be surprised.

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