GTA
All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => Air Guns And Related Accessories Review Gates => Topic started by: Whirligig on May 17, 2025, 12:49:16 PM
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What are your top picks for "Best Air Gun" each category below? Rifles must be available for less than $250 and pistols must cost $150 or less. Also, the air gun must be currently available new from a reputable retailer.
My Choices:
Air Rifles:
Spring/Gas Ram: Diana two fifty. Great low price of $149.99. High marks for the attractive thumbhole stock, smooth cocking and firing behavior, decent power and good accuracy. It's nice that a scope and mounts are included, but this air rifle deserves better optics than the scope that it comes with. Don't be fooled by the "lawyer trigger;" a few turns clockwise of the trigger adjustment screw, and it's suddenly light, short, and predictable.
Pneumatic: Seneca Dragonfly. A nice-looking wood-stocked pump airgun with a nice trigger and great power at 12-15 pumps. Ingenious pump leverage makes it possible to take it all the way to the maximum of 15 pumps without having to be a weightlifter. Nice weight and balance. Very powerful at 12-15 pumps.
Pre-Charged Pneumatic. PINTY "P-Rifle" carbine. It always seems to be on sale with an additional coupon code, bringing the price down to an unheard-of 220-ish dollars. Extremely powerful, outstanding trigger, and lightweight, this air rifle is the epitome of "don't judge it by it's looks." The beech stock, though not having much character, is ambidextrous and easy to shoulder.
CO2: Xisico XS-60. Priced at $159.99, this air rifle can be tuned to easily generate 12 ft/lbs of energy and stacks pellets all day. Light, and well-balanced, it is a pleasure to shoot. The trigger is heavier than the other air rifle's I've listed, but doesn't get in the way of hitting your target. You may need to shop around to find one.
Air Pistols:
Springer/Gas Ram: Hatsan Mod 25 Supercharger QE. $119.99 Huge, but has a grip that's not too big for average-sized hands. Excellent trigger, a gas ram, incredible power, and solid construction make this air pistol something that was unheard of when the Beeman P1 and the BSA Scorpion were the top contenders for power. It's especially fun in .22-caliber and makes those reactive targets and spinners really take notice when they get hit.
Pneumatic: Beeman P17: $45.99 gets you one of the most accurate and easy to shoot air pistols on the market. A Chinese clone of the Weihrauch-designed Beeman P1, It will put pellets through a dime-sized hole at 30 feet, and has a respectable punch at a measured 430 to 450 FPS with 7.4-7.2-grain pellets. Possibly the best value in air gun pistols available.
CO2: Crosman Vigilante. At $59.99, it would be difficult to find a CO2 air pistol that fires pellets through a rifled barrel with both single-and double action capabilities. Very fun, reliable, and powerful enough to hit beverage cans at a good distance.
-Whirligig
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What are your top picks for "Best Air Gun" each category below? Rifles must be available for less than $250 and pistols must cost $150 or less. Also, the air gun must be currently available new from a reputable retailer.
My Choices:
Air Rifles:
Spring/Gas Ram: Diana two fifty. Great low price of $149.99. High marks for the attractive thumbhole stock, smooth cocking and firing behavior, decent power and good accuracy. It's nice that a scope and mounts are included, but this air rifle deserves better optics than the scope that it comes with. Don't be fooled by the "lawyer trigger;" a few turns clockwise of the trigger adjustment screw, and it's suddenly light, short, and predictable.
Pneumatic: Seneca Dragonfly. A nice-looking wood-stocked pump airgun with a nice trigger and great power at 12-15 pumps. Ingenious pump leverage makes it possible to take it all the way to the maximum of 15 pumps without having to be a weightlifter. Nice weight and balance. Very powerful at 12-15 pumps.
Pre-Charged Pneumatic. PINTY "P-Rifle" carbine. It always seems to be on sale with an additional coupon code, bringing the price down to an unheard-of 220-ish dollars. Extremely powerful, outstanding trigger, and lightweight, this air rifle is the epitome of "don't judge it by it's looks." The beech stock, though not having much character, is ambidextrous and easy to shoulder.
CO2: Xisico XS-60. Priced at $159.99, this air rifle can be tuned to easily generate 12 ft/lbs of energy and stacks pellets all day. Light, and well-balanced, it is a pleasure to shoot. The trigger is heavier than the other air rifle's I've listed, but doesn't get in the way of hitting your target. You may need to shop around to find one.
Air Pistols:
Springer/Gas Ram: Hatsan Mod 25 Supercharger QE. $119.99 Huge, but has a grip that's not too big for average-sized hands. Excellent trigger, a gas ram, incredible power, and solid construction make this air pistol something that was unheard of when the Beeman P1 and the BSA Scorpion were the top contenders for power. It's especially fun in .22-caliber and makes those reactive targets and spinners really take notice when they get hit.
Pneumatic: Beeman P17: $45.99 gets you one of the most accurate and easy to shoot air pistols on the market. A Chinese clone of the Weihrauch-designed Beeman P1, It will put pellets through a dime-sized hole at 30 feet, and has a respectable punch at a measured 430 to 450 FPS with 7.4-7.2-grain pellets. Possibly the best value in air gun pistols available.
CO2: Crosman Vigilante. At $59.99, it would be difficult to find a CO2 air pistol that fires pellets through a rifled barrel with both single-and double action capabilities. Very fun, reliable, and powerful enough to hit beverage cans at a good distance.
Correction: Beeman P17: $45.99 gets you one of the most accurate and easy to shoot air pistols on the market. A Chinese clone of the Weihrauch-designed Beeman P3.
-Whirligig
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Pretty much anything under $250. ;) ;D
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Pretty much anything under $250. ;) ;D
It's funny because it's true!!! ;D
-W
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OK, I have 2.
(well actually I got good deals on all my rifles. The Umarex Surge Max Elite was free, I won it in an air gun raffle.)
#1.
My .22 cal. Gamo Magnum GR rifle.
Lots of BANG with this one and hunting accurate at 40 yards
[Gamo Order #168408] (November 30, 2023)
Magnum GR .22 break barrel air rifle 1 $189.90
Subtotal: $189.90
Discount: -$20.00
Shipping: Free shipping
Tax: $0.00
Total $169.90
#2
My .177 cal Stoeger S3000C rifle.
I bought it at the Sportsman's Warehouse in person.
The price was $60.18 ($56.25 + sales tax.)
It is a light weight, easy cocking, all day shooter and extremely accurate at 20 yards.
It shoots .177 cal. Crosman 7.4 Gr pellets at around 635 fps.
I use it for pesting in my back yard but have hunted with it too.
Best Wishes - Tom
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I was thinking along those lines when I resealed an Air Arms S410 Extreme FAC .22 for a customer. Aside from the AA being non regulated, the ATI Liberty is regulated and almost the spitting image as the AA, and just as accurate ;) but only a Beach stock ;(
ATI Liberty
(https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/gallery/17377-170525140704.jpeg)
Air Arms S410 Xtra FAC Does have a nice Walnut stock :)
(https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/gallery/17377-170525113901.jpeg)