Budget, quiet, super accurate basement and back yard pcp rifle recommendations.

[vigilandy]

  I bet a BSA Ultra with an LDC or shroud would be a sweet little gun.

Just saw a 22 cal multi-shot on the AOA used list for under $400....

[Taso1000]

Donny and Andy,

Thanks for the BSA Ultra recommendation.  When I was researching the BSA R10, as I need a super quiet rifle and the black wrapped version had dropped to $622, the ultra kept popping up.  I checked it out but it looks odd in pictures.  Does it look like that in person?

I forgot to mention in my previous point that I have my 5 fpe B51 pretty much sorted out mechanically.  Now I need to put lead to paper and accuracy test in my basement.

Thanks,

Taso

[Rallyshark]

I've never handled one in person, but I think it is basically a short barreled rifle, which is why it looks funny.  It would probably look more "normal" with a LDC or good shroud on it.  Maybe someone that has one can chime in?

[RayK]

I forgot to mention in my previous point that I have my 5 fpe B51 pretty much sorted out mechanically.  Now I need to put lead to paper and accuracy test in my basement.

Try the Air Arms 10.34 grain pellets in your 177 BAM.   https://www.pyramydair.com/product/air-arms-field-heavy-177-cal-4-52mm-10-34-grains-domed-500ct?p=713

Both my 177 BAMs shoot them very precisely (and they don't shoot any other pellet nearly as well).

I tapered and polished the inleade on both guns which seems to be necessary to eliminate pellet damage when loading.  Both crowns were good from the factory.

When I first saw your post, I wanted to reply 177 BAM B50 with Rocker1 LDC, but I saw you already had like five of the BAMs.  Mine are super quiet and super accurate and get very good shot count per fill - 35 to 40 shots on 2200 (gun 2) to 2400 (gun 1) psi fill.

Ray

[Taso1000]

Thanks Ray.  I will put the Air Arms pellets on my shopping list.  I recently got about 5 different wadcutters to test.  Hopefully I can get some groups on paper to see how the B51 shoots.

I had initially bought 3 new old stock B51's to start modifying.  While I was trying to complete the first, a 5 fpe project rifle, a B51 and a B50 showed up in the classifieds.  I just had to give them a new home.  :-)

Thanks,

Taso

[RayK]

I had initially bought 3 new old stock B51's to start modifying.  While I was trying to complete the first, a 5 fpe project rifle, a B51 and a B50 showed up in the classifieds.  I just had to give them a new home.  :-)

Let me know when you are ready to sell any of your BAM airguns.

Ray

[Taso1000]

Ray,

Ok, but I may be a while.   

Taso

[Kailua]

If you are frugal and already have the B51 and are tired of tinkering.  You might want to talk to Motorhead on the cost of a tune and upgraded barrel.  There is also Mac1 he may have something that fits your needs.  No matter what any off the shelf airgun regulated or not may need to be tinkered with to get it to you liking.  JMO
Oops didn't notice this has 4 pages might have missed something when posting.  sorry

[Taso1000]

Ray,

It's all good. If you search regulated B51 you should be able to find my post on it.  I don't remember if I linked to it in this post.

Taso

[Ribbonstone]

LIkely already posted somthing like this.

Personally, like wood/metal/detachable LDC's, and actually prefer single shots.

Also like the BAM's, but keep to faster power limits for thse higher energy/louder/single shot rifles. Kind of big,heavy, rifles, where power and longer ranges seem to be what they are best at.  I pretty much recognize that all wood and thick metal is NEVER going to be "slinky lite" so don't really try to run a race they just can't win (not a matter of "good" or "bad"... a medal winning Olympic shot-putter just isn't going to be viable in the 100meter dash).

For shot range backyard plinking/basement target, tend to go with lighter rifles, lower power, much higher shot counts. There is nothing that needs to be shot hard, just hit center.

Finding one rifle that can do both is a great goal....but as you already have 1/2 the equation, seems to me that (1) taking the BAMs up in power would cover the non-backyard/plinking duty and (2) a no compromise back yard rifle would take care of the rest.

Guve you 2 examples (actually 4):

Two heavy weight BAM's, one in .22 (51) one in .177 (50): 40 and 25 foot pounds:


Two light weight AA 200's, one in .22 (A200) and one in .177 (200T): 15 and 8 foot pounds


If push came to shove, is  there really antything airgunnish I couldn't do with those 4?

[lillysdad621]

i got a b50 in .177 set to 12 fpe that gets charged to 1700 psi and gives me 52 consistent shots... she is not too loud with a naked crown (about as loud as a co2 bb pistol) but i was able to secure a huntsman LDC that makes it silly quiet. If Rally shark was out with blackdiesel shooting then i have met him and he has seen this B50 shooting cans and such out to about 90 yards... i think they are way underrated and can be made to shoot quite well. I have even turned mine down to 6fpe... for back yard fun is unbeatable. I also own a s200 and the only thing that bthe s200 has in top of the Bam is size...

[Ribbonstone]

"..own a s200 and the only thing that bthe s200 has in top of the Bam is size..."

Which is kind of the point; having two rifles that cover the same caliber/accuracy/energy is fun, but doesn't make for a minimum number or rifles cover the maximum tasks.  Shucks, I'm pretty guilty of that, having several that cover the same task.

Just saying that if I had a choice, would let the BAM's run fast and powerful, and pick something more suited to backyard distances/noise levels.

On those rare occasions when you have no idea what ranges you'll face...take 'em both along.

[Taso1000]

Hi All,

Thanks for all the suggestions and great points you've made. 

I now know the B50/51's forte are that they are powerhouses.  My main attraction to them is that they were solid steel foundations to tweak and they were cheap.  They only cost me about $240 with shipping included.  They are neither small or light.  A .177 B51 is 7.5 pounds.  At that time I hadn't found a better platform.  The majority of the time I shoot off a bench rest.

I have found I like tweaking and shooting about the same.  I like it even more when my tweaks are an improvement! 

I did luck out and find the FWB 601 recently.  It made me realize that I still did want a lighter accurate pcp.

So with that being said:

Paul,  hopefully this recently crowned barrel will shoot well.  If it doesn't I have three other barreled receivers to try out.  I had reached out to Motorhead about machining an aftermarket barrel to work in a B50/51 receiver.  Back then I was asking about .25 but I will have to ask if he'd do a .177 Lothar Walther barrel if my current barrels aren't accurate enough for me.

Ribbonstone,  I too do not like rifles that perform the same function.  I also don't like rifles that don't get shot.  I'm not a collector I guess.     While I am drawn to the larger calibers they will get me in trouble shooting them in my back yard.  Larger than .177 necessitates it would be a range gun.

My next project will probably be a 20 fpe .177 B51 for pest control. 

I can't tell you how many times the T200 and MPR have been in my shopping cart and then removed.   

Taso

[Wayne52]

In my opinion wad cutters are not that great for target shooting, they're fine in my co2 pistols but in my Disco they're about the most terrible pellet there is for accuracy.

[anuthabubba]

That's why they're used exclusively for international target competition!?!? Wadcutters don't like to be oversped, which makes them unstable. Keep them at lower/mid power/velocity and semi-short range and wadcutters are 'Da Bomb' for accuracy and terminal SMACK!

[Ribbonstone]

There is no airgun that you'd use more than a basement/backyard plinker, so it's worth getting that one dead-right.  It is going to be the most shot, most used, airgun in your collection, so don't compromise from your first posts or you'll just be back looking for another rifle later on.

[Taso1000]

Ribbonstone,

When you're right you're right!  I just ordered the T200 from Pyramid Air.  Too bad I can't apply any coupons but that is ok.  I'm going to place a 2nd order for the fill adapter and some pellets.  Should I get the degassing tool too?

Thank you All for your help!

Taso

[MDStroup]

I was going to suggest a webley raider 10 from airguns of arizona. $299. I know those can be tuned down and regulated, unless they come regulated. There is that British hunting show on youtube, fieldsports channel. The one airgun one uses that rifle.

i hope you enjoy your T200.

I love the BAM air rifles. I have wanted one forever. I think i could even say i wanted one more then a benjamin maraude .  I just could never find one in all he years i have been looking. Wanted a BAM50 in particular.

[Taso1000]

Michael,

Thank you!  I'm excited!

You can still buy new old stock B50's from the Canadian Airgun Forum Store:

http://www.airgunforum.ca/store/product_info.php?cPath=22&products_id=98

The prices you see on the website are in Canadian dollars.  Shipping is $40 Canadian the last time I purchased.

Taso

[Ribbonstone]

Until you mentioned it (and I looked it up) had no idea any of these were still out there for sale.

Last issue were HAtsan made, which I have no problem with, but the UK shooters are more nationalistic than US shooters and turned away from it in droves.  US shooters weren't too thrilled by a smaller air volume/lower shot count/heavy weight PCP either.  Been a good rifle for me, but it's a "pot belly pig" as far as weight is concerned.


Pretty wood, nicely styles stock (although rather thick at the forearm), with an oddly placed bolt (which the English made version also had).



Wanted a 5mm PCP, and tracked down the last of the last 5mm versions I know of.

Even with alight scope, it's heavy (like +9 pounds). No way to really get it all lite-n-handy, so I put the heaviest scope I had on her (figuring if you can't make it lite, go ahead and use the bar-bell scope on her).

Do like the rifle, but a great lite weight, backyard pliker/basement target rifle, it isn't.

As for your choice of an AA 200t...been a great rifle.  Down at target speeds of about 5 foot pounds, can manage a whole lot of good shots (about 100). Cranking it up to higher speeds (like 12 foot pounds) can be as easy as turning out the transfer port restriction screw.