Airgunning on a Budget

[avator]

Hands down the best way to get into airgunning on a tight budget is to be patient and hit the yardsales, pawnshops and flea markets. Your local craigslist is another source. Carry a few pellets of each caliber in your car or truck. Most excuses for not letting you test a gun is that the sellers says they don't have any pellets. Be careful of "all sales final" signs if they won't let you test fire it. The longer it takes you to find "the bargain gun" the longer you have to build the fund for it. Your smart phone is your friend... google the gun and don't let the seller tell you what the gun is worth.... you tell him. Springers are a bit scary to buy like this because you don't know how many times it's been dry fired. You definitely want to test fire a springer. Patience and knowing the gun is going to get you the best results.

[LeadPoisoner]

I'm grateful for all of the replies. I bought a $15 UTG one piece mount from PA and ordered a 4x32 scope from FDAR for $55. I will see how well this does. The price of the scope seems comparable to the ones you all have recommended. I expect to have the scope by Monday or Tuesday. I'm looking forward to getting it sighted in and improving my marksmanship. A friend has a place in the country and has invited me to come out and do some pest control. Having a place to go that is only 30 minute drive from home will make for a nice opportunity to do some shooting. It also means that I might have to get a .20 or .22 AG for some larger critters. -- D

crosman redtail .22 is $65 at midwayusa and shoots straight due to tight pivot bushings.. but could use a re tightening out of box.
or maybe FDAR B-25 barrel in 22?

or an upgrade to PCP like xisico sentry (ask FDAR)

[jumpin]

"...might have to get a .20 or .22..."! See how insidious this affliction becomes? Budget? What Budget? Welcome to the asylum. haha

[Barkis]

"...might have to get a .20 or .22..."! See how insidious this affliction becomes? Budget? What Budget? Welcome to the asylum. haha

Exactly! Same thing happened with the PBs (I love revolvers) when I started casting and reloading. Sigh. If it is not one thing it is another. -- D

[WhatUPSbox?]

Revolvers...Hmmm
Well the Crosman Vigilante is a pretty good gateway drug, then you may want to dive into George's thread on testing and mods https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=118339.0
And then there are all the nice metal versions out there.......