JTS Airacuda .30 vs Umarex Gauntlet 2 .30

[Pellethuntr]

I've decided that I want to add a .30 caliber rifle to the stable. I'm not looking to spend a fortune and both of these rifles are in my budget.

For starters I really hate how the Gauntlet looks but I am willing to consider it anyway because it makes quite a bit more power in stock form than the Airacuda. Like all of my other guns this will be primarily a hunting weapon so power is important to me. I did a lot of Google searching and watched a lot of videos and I have not seen any talk of tuning/moding the Airacudas for more power. A high shot count does not matter to me, I would be perfectly happy to only have a mag worth of shots in the 100fpe range if that's possible?

My other concern is parts availability, is one company a better option than the other? I've never dealt with either of these companies before. Most of my guns have been Crosman/Benjamin and most recently an Airforce. I have been doing this long enough to know that parts like poppets and o-rings get damaged and need to be replaced. I also did a lot of Googling on this subject and came up basically empty handed on solid information for either company. Both have a warranty but what about after the warranty is up? I plan to have whatever I buy for a very long time. I bought a Discovery around 2010, shot probably 20,000 pellets out of it so far. I have rebuilt it 3-4 times and it still shoots just as well as the day that I bought it.

[avator]

Have you considered the weight? The JTS is 1 pound lighter.

[Pellethuntr]

Have you considered the weight? The JTS is 1 pound lighter.

I had not considered the weight, I don't think that it's a big factor. I figured the Gauntlet was probably a little heavier as it seems to have more onboard air.

[avator]

Yep, nearly 9 pounds unscoped.. that's pretty hefty for dragging around on a hunt.

[Back_Roads]

 Let me toss this in the mix, I have mine tuned for 10 shots at over 100 fpe.
https://www.thepelletshop.com/collections/challenger-series-airguns/products/aea-challenger-standard-24-barrel?variant=40262986498237

[Pellethuntr]

Let me toss this in the mix, I have mine tuned for 10 shots at over 100 fpe.
https://www.thepelletshop.com/collections/challenger-series-airguns/products/aea-challenger-standard-24-barrel?variant=40262986498237

I looked at the AEA but all I saw was mixed reviews on quality control, no parts availability, a shot string like a cliff and hard to find an accurate projectile.

 

[sculbert1]

I have a Gauntlet 30SL side lever and I'm VERY impressed with the accuracy, power, and shot count I get from it.  The only things I've done to it is a little trigger work and added a GOOD moderator on it.  As delivered, the trigger left alot to be desired, but it uses the old QB style trigger and is very easy to work on.  Also, unmoderated.. it is LOUD.  I had initially added a cheap buck rail moderator on it, but it hurt the accuracy.  I believe the power that the gun is making was overwhelming the printed moderator.  I replaced it with a much nicer (although more expensive) unit from Silent Thunder and haven't looked back.

My only remaining complaint is how HEAVY the gun is.. I generally just shoot it off the bench, but my original idea for it was coyote hunting in more populated areas.  I'm going to outfit it with my new PARD IR scope and try it, but with the weight and LONG overall length, I'm not so sure that it will be a good fit for hunting.  I would definitely buy again though.  I found a crazy good deal on mine at buds guns shop online.