So........what are Chinese air guns?

[lizzie]

I'm new here, and my experience with air rifles is pretty limited. When you guys refer to Chinese air guns, are these Chinese brands, or American (or other) brands, made in China? Just wondering, because I'm looking for a good, accurate air rifle that will hold up to time. My impulse with other products that I want reliability and good craftsmanship in is to avoid Chinese. Is there something about Chinese air rifles that I should know?

[JonnyReb]

 Hi Lizzie and welcome to the GTA.

  China has copied or been contracted to make a bunch of American and German guns so as to closely equal performance and design. The price however, reflects the china labor rate, they are 1/2 to 1/3 of the cost of the original in most cases. If you are buying a  crosman, you are buying a chinese rifle in most cases. Lots and lots of guys like the china guns too, not only because of cost but because they like to tinker with their guns and inexpensive chinese guns are perfect for tuning, refinishing etc.  They are often impressively built with no plastic on them. Try one or two and you would soon agree that they are pretty nice. Here is a link to a site that sells "china" guns..
http://bestairgun.stores.yahoo.net/xixsairri.html

[lizzie]

Thanks for the welcome and thanks for the information. So, they are the well-known brands, just manufactured in China? If the quality is the same, then I guess I need to check into the subject more.

[JonnyReb]

 More or less if it's less than $200.00 it's made in china or spain. Most folks start out with guns like these and they work pretty well. Jump up to $200 and up guns and you start finding them made in the US or Europe. I try hard to buy American but in the case of pellet guns you have to look outside of the US so as to not limit your choices too much.  J

[lizzie]

More or less if it's less than $200.00 it's made in china or spain. Most folks start out with guns like these and they work pretty well. Jump up to $200 and up guns and you start finding them made in the US or Europe. I try hard to buy American but in the case of pellet guns you have to look outside of the US so as to not limit your choices too much.  J

Ahhhhh- good point.

It's probably similar to buying power tools these days. You're lucky if you can find any at all made in the US.

[DMikeM]

Hello again Lizzie,

I have several Chinese AGs as you can see by my signature and actually want to get rid of my German gun so as to buy an additional china gun. I like them they are a tinkerers dream as they cost far less and hurts less if you mess up. I have a B28 .177 that will shoot a ragged hole at 35 yards shooting 930 fps with an 8.6 grain pellet I paid less than $125.00 for the gun as it was a display gun. Added 100 in parts and it is still less than the RWS 350 it is cloned after. There are quiet a few very good Chinese made guns out there, you just have to read the posts by the users here on the forum.

Here is the link to the Clone list so you can see what gun is cloned from another.
http://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/library/clonelist.htm

[lizzie]

Thanks DMike- obviously, lots of you guys love your Chinese guns;D. If I don't intend to tinker with a gun, is Chinese still a good option? I'm a tinkerer, but I already have plenty of wood projects to keep me busy, lol. The primary reason I want a really accurate gun is because I'm a bird enthusiast, and I build bird houses and feed birds here on my place. I want to control starlings and sparrows, which are aggressive at dominating my blue bird and purple martin houses. Aside from that, I have found, via shooting my little cheapy Crosman pump-up, that I actually LOVE target shooting, and I want a gun that will hold up to regular and frequent use- not abuse- just regular use by someone who takes good care of her stuff.

[pjw]

 I know u would love a HW30, maybe a little more money then $300 but well worth it.

[pindog2000]

Cant talk bad on chinese guns I have a tf89 in the stable hehe.

[lizzie]

Thanks pjw- who makes the HW30 that you're referring to? I googled it earlier, and if I remember correctly, two different manufacturer's names came up, so I didn't know for sure which one to read about.

[lizzie]

Cant talk bad on chinese guns I have a tf89 in the stable hehe.

You have a freakin stable for your guns, lol.
(just kidding with you) Now- what's a tf89?

[pjw]

 They are made in germany by Weihrauch and have been sold under the beeman name.

[lizzie]

They are made in germany by Weihrauch and have been sold under the beeman name.

Okay- that makes perfect sense now. Those were the two names I was seeing, and I didn't realize that it's the same gun, lol.

[pindog2000]

Techforce contender 89  a gun that will reach out and put a beatdown.but since your small might be a issue.if you have a mad cashflow the beeman r9 is a winner.do your research also .

[lizzie]

Techforce contender 89  a gun that will reach out and put a beatdown.but since your small might be a issue.if you have a mad cashflow the beeman r9 is a winner.do your research also .

Thanks.
No mad cashflow here unfortunately. I do want to keep it under 300 dollars if at all possible.

[turbonoma]

Have a look at the spanish made Cometa guns. I think they are a good buy. This is my .177 cal Fusion Star.

[JonnyReb]

 Hi Lizzie, was just thinking about your purpose for the AG and wondered if instead of a spring gun like all the ones we've been talking about, you'd be lots better off with a spanish made gamo, which cocks easier and can be had in the 5-6lb range instead of 7-8+ for a typical china gun. Or, maybe an American made(i think) crosman pumper, a classic like this one.. https://www.pyramydair.com/product/benjamin-397?m=206

 or a lightweight gamo like this one:  https://www.pyramydair.com/product/gamo-nitro-17?m=985

  Just mentioning it as most chinese guns are a bit harder to cock and are heavier, plus they tend to be long and by the time you add a nice scope, you have a 10lb 45" long gun that might not be comfortable for you to carry and shoot.

  Just a thought.   J
 

[lizzie]

Have a look at the spanish made Cometa guns. I think they are a good buy. This is my .177 cal Fusion Star.

Thanks Turbonoma- she's a beauty.

[lizzie]

Hi Lizzie, was just thinking about your purpose for the AG and wondered if instead of a spring gun like all the ones we've been talking about, you'd be lots better off with a spanish made gamo, which cocks easier and can be had in the 5-6lb range instead of 7-8+ for a typical china gun. Or, maybe an American made(i think) crosman pumper, a classic like this one.. https://www.pyramydair.com/product/benjamin-397?m=206

 or a lightweight gamo like this one:  https://www.pyramydair.com/product/gamo-nitro-17?m=985

  Just mentioning it as most chinese guns are a bit harder to cock and are heavier, plus they tend to be long and by the time you add a nice scope, you have a 10lb 45" long gun that might not be comfortable for you to carry and shoot.

  Just a thought.   J
 

Thanks- I will certainly check them out.

Is the Sheridan accurate? I've seen them sold in a couple of stores in the city nearest me, and I've thought about buying one, but I didn't know much about them. I have a little Crosman "toy" (the one that Walmart carries called Remington Airmaster 77). I absolutely love it, and it's accurate as ****, it just doesn't have much power for knocking down birds at 75 feet. I want something that will do the job well and quickly.

[Jay]

LOL, now you are seeing what all is out here Lizzie(Hi again), I have two of the older "original" Sheridans and they still shoot great after 30 some years, worth checking into, just takes alittle more to scope them(and pump them). And just think you have not even checked out Co2,HPA,PCPs yet!!!