Best Air Rifles Under A Grand?

[EyeSlayer]

Forgive me if this question has been asked before. I'm pretty new to the PCP world I've owned a .22 Marauder for about three years now but that's my only PCP I've ever owned. I absolutely love my Marauder and I think I'm starting to get addicted to this PCP stuff! 

As the title states I'm looking into a good PCP rifle under 1k. I'm not including the Marauder in this discussion because I already have one and love it but am looking at getting a different gun as maybe the start of a collection. I will be using this gun for small game hunting mostly starlings and sparrows so accuracy is a must. I'm open to either a .177 or .22 caliber I believe a .25 cal is overkill so forget that.

I'm looking at:

- Accuracy
- Cost/Value
- Features
- Shot count
- Reliability
- Weight/Length (smaller the better for me aka carbine but not a must)


Now I'll list the guns I've been looking at long and hard. These are just the guns I've been looking at that look nice to me to see what you all think and if there's something I missed by all means chime in I'm looking for opinions! 

Here they are:

- BSA Scorpion SE ($700+ beech stock hard to find now in .177 & .22. Love the look of the gun and the carbine style)

- BSA Buccaneer SE ($489 nice looking gun with beech stock at a very good price and has same great barrel as the Scorpion but slightly larger gun I believe but still smaller than most)

- Air Arms S500 ($980 very nice gun with poplar stock but only single shot and quite a large gun but love the adjustable power function)

- Walther Rotek R8 ($700 very nice looking gun with Minelli stock and Lother Walther barrel. Why not so popular?)

- Sumatra 2500 Carbine ($650 love the lever action, the carbine style, and power adjustment plus it looks sweet and is powerful)


These are the guns I've been looking long and hard at I left out Hatsan because I really don't care for how they look and how long and heavy they are although I'm sure they are good guns. I've also left out the AirForce guns because I've heard mixed reviews on them but I would consider them if I'm really convinced they are cool looking guns. I also left out the fact I DO need a quiet report but considering most if not all can be equipped with a moderator loudness isn't really an issue.


Thanks for reading I'm looking forward to your opinions! 

[Tonycalves]

I have a Brocock- light, accurate, modest power, 20 shots or so and compact.

I haven't used a sumatra, but I like the features.

[EyeSlayer]

I'm not familiar with the Brocock although I've heard of it. I don't believe it's available at PA or AGD that I know of.

[SpiralGroove]

Hey EyeSlayer,
Add the BSA R10 to the list if you count 10% off from AGD.
Got mine for $990 & $970 with 10% & 12% coupons.
They only come in .177 & .22 caliber.  They're beautiful looking shooters .





   

[LEE IN VA.]

The Brocock Compatto definitely has my attention and is exactly in your price range.

Sumatra carbine with an aftermarket ldc is an excellent choice especially with variable power.

The BSA guns are also a good choice.

[Nomadic Pirate]

Hard to find a more fun gun than the Sumatra carbine.

 $ 585 after 10% off at Pyramyd will leave quite a few bucks to spend on other things

[ancient1one]

If your looking for power and accuracy the Sumatra is the way to go. A well made LDC for about $125 plus $555 and your at $680 for a new Carbine. PA has 15% off with free shipping today.

[EyeSlayer]

Wow Kirk that BSA R10 is a really good looking gun I knew that from the stock pictures I've seen but it looks even better in your photos!  Who sells the Brocock I don't see it on either major website?  Ive heard the Sumatra is meant more for very heavy pellets but does it shoot lighter pellets well?  I would hate to think what would happen if I shot a sparrow with a 30 grain pellet!

[LEE IN VA.]

Wow Kirk that BSA R10 is a really good looking gun I knew that from the stock pictures I've seen but it looks even better in your photos!  Who sells the Brocock I don't see it on either major website?  Ive heard the Sumatra is meant more for very heavy pellets but does it shoot lighter pellets well?  I would hate to think what would happen if I shot a sparrow with a 30 grain pellet!

Airguns of Arizona sells the Brocock.

The Sumatra probably shoots  every popular pellet well, just adjust power for pellet weight.  The key normally is to keep them around 900 fps.

[EyeSlayer]

Thanks Lee I'll check it out. As Sam said PA has 15% off today only so I might have to pull the trigger soon 😁 sorry I had to say that!

[Nomadic Pirate]

Wow Kirk that BSA R10 is a really good looking gun I knew that from the stock pictures I've seen but it looks even better in your photos!  Who sells the Brocock I don't see it on either major website?  Ive heard the Sumatra is meant more for very heavy pellets but does it shoot lighter pellets well?  I would hate to think what would happen if I shot a sparrow with a 30 grain pellet!

On my Sumatra Carbine .22 I shot just about every pellet available, They shoot just about all of them really well, I liked the cheap Crosman at low power the gun was farely quiet even without LDC and getting a bunch of shots, than put the gun at full power and smack something with the 32gr EunJin

[farmerjoe99]

I've heard great things about the BSA R10 mk2 ...makes me want one but out of budget right now or else
I would get one while they are on sale at PA.
I would say the BSA or a AA s510 carbine would be on my list
the BSA does come with a regulator out of box so that is a big plus...

[EyeSlayer]

Lol that sounds like fun to me!  The only real fault I've heard about the Sumatra is the fill probe but sounds like it can easily be replaced with a different one.

[EyeSlayer]

I hear you Joe that R10 looks amazing and probably shoots just as good as it looks but that might be a little out of my range or being at the very tail end of it.

The AA s510 is another beautiful gun and I would love the carbine version but that is probably out of my price range no discounts with Air Arms guns. The s500 is in my range but is only a single shot 😞 

I think all the BSA guns look amazing I love the look of the Scorpion & Ultra with the beech stock very sleek looking guns.

[ancient1one]

SSSO.com sells the Brocock Contour S6 in single shot or 6 shot, Right now the US dollar is strong so $659.00 Canadian = $487. With the shipping and tariff a Contour S6 in Walnut would cost you about $600. Very nice gun I had on in a beech stock. No shroud so they are loud. Mike at TKO make an LDC for it making it backyard friendly.

https://www.specialtyshootingsportsoutdoors.com/air-gun/rifles/brocock.html

The beech single shot would cost you under $475 shipped. Some photos of my Concept. One with the TKO LDC.

[Nomadic Pirate]

Lol that sounds like fun to me!  The only real fault I've heard about the Sumatra is the fill probe but sounds like it can easily be replaced with a different one.

It's a 60 seconds Job, unscrew the unit and screw in the Foster that Pyramyd sells,..no need to take the air out.

as simple as that

[EyeSlayer]

Sam all I see on that site is the Concept in single shot I don't see the Contour S6 at all. Maybe it's because I'm viewing it on my phone the whole website is messed up must not be mobile friendly.

[EyeSlayer]

It's a 60 seconds Job, unscrew the unit and screw in the Foster that Pyramyd sells,..no need to take the air out.

as simple as that

By unit do you mean the fill probe itself or something on the air tank?

[ancient1one]

Sam all I see on that site is the Concept in single shot I don't see the Contour S6 at all. Maybe it's because I'm viewing it on my phone the whole website is messed up must not be mobile friendly.

Sorry they are all single shot. I thought the walnut was the 6 shot. Call them in the morning and ask if they are getting any S6's in or have any in stock. The people there are very nice and helpful. Ive dealt with them a few times. 604 628 6801 

[Rallyshark]

The only gun you listed that I would steer clear of is the BSA Buccaneer.  That's only because it has the gamo trigger in it, I think.  Those Sumatras are pretty darn cool guns, and can pretty much do anything you want them to do.  Of course, the BSA are also great guns.