New to air guns, what should I buy?

[T-Higgs]

I do not think you can beat this deal on a German made springer. Walmart has the Diana rws 34 in .177 for $178 bucks. Normally closer to 300. I have many nice German rifles and my 34 is close, if not my most accurate. This one even comes with a scope that looks pretty usable. You could upgrade the scope at a later time if you really get into it. That 34 will hold its value pretty well too

https://www.walmart.com/ip/RWS-Model-34-177-Pellet-Air-Rifle-with-Scope/22171887

Report back and let us know what you choose and what you think. Welcome to the Pandora’s box of hobbies. 

[Back_Roads]

 Or as it goes here , buy what suits your fancy and pocket book and we will help you sort out any issues you may have with the gun 

[Matchstickshooter]

Depending on what you want to spend... three...
A good springer, perhaps a tuned one from Mike at Flying Dragon
a good CO2, QB78 comes to mind,
and a good pumper... perhaps a Benjamin, or one of the vintage Crosman 140 or 1400

You'd have the bases covered.

JMHO

[Relentless Holiday]

How much do you want to spend including a scope if it will be needed? If not let us know. What will you use it for including how far do you want to shoot with what level of accuracy and power?

Answer those questions and some of these for answers may change from the people who wrote them.

You could spend $50 to $4000 and everywhere in between.  With an unlimited budget almost any can be quieted.

[HASHTAG]

Try to find some one local who will let you shoot some of they're rifles.

That would definitely help a lot  in terms of narrowing down choice.

[Marc In Iowa]

... a gun ... even quieter than my bolt .22LR

... plan on using this for target shooting out to about 50 yards, and killing varmint in the yard

I have close neighbors so something quiet is kind of important

Wow! I've read all the wide variety of advice. The well-intentioned flood of advice on airgun forums can be quite bewildering.

Part of the "right advice" depends on your wants, budget and situation.

If by "target shooting" you mean hitting pop or soup cans at 50 yds, that's quite doable with a wide variety of air guns. If you mean any sort of competition like Field Target, etc., that is a whole 'nuther ball game.

If by "varmint shooting" in the yard (say 25-30 yd range) you mean mice, rats or squirrels, that is also quite doable. If you mean tougher varmints like raccoons or ground hogs that's another matter too.

And, of course, budget is very important.

Air guns, unlike 22lr, can get more expensive for good equipment much faster. Experienced air gun folks will pretty much always tell you to start with the best equipment you can afford for the needs you have.

In the last year and a half, I've tried springers, CO² and PCPs. My best pop and soup can target rifle is my .22 Discovery powered by a hand pump with a 3-9x Bug Buster scope. I don't hunt but the Discovery could do well on squirrels if I wanted to. I hear good things about eBay $45 air pumps but I use a Hill. I keep it quiet with a TKO moderator, otherwise it is pretty loud.

With that Discovery, I routinely hit 5" metal targets at 75 yds shooting GTO pellets. You have to find the right pellet for pretty much any air gun. They all shoot differently.

Some people like springers but the only springer I found consistently satisfying to shoot was a HW30S and that sounds too underpowered for what you want. I'm trying a Walther Terrus in 177 but I have my doubts if I'll be happy with it from the few days of shooting it.

[Rob M]

if quiet is important , all the moderately powered springers are off the list, including the 34 which has some  major "CRACK"  to it.. I think with summer looming , the umarex fusion co2 rifle best suits all your needs.. 85 bux, comes with an excellent LDC which makes it one of the quiestest production airguns ( as tested by paul capella, it beat the marauder )  , no added equipment except co2 carts and pellets.

[RAJOD]

Hey all, new guy here

I have plenty of powder burners (including a suppressed .22LR bolt action)

I would like to get into the air gun game but I want to get a gun that would be even quieter than my bolt .22LR

Any decent options out there? After doing some reading, it sounds like a springer would be a good starter for my first air gun

Gamo whispers sound pretty quiet, but I’ve heard from some people they are junk

I plan on using this for target shooting out to about 50 yards, and killing varmint in the yard

I have close neighbors so something quiet is kind of important

If you are new to airguns buy a
- Gammo Urban
- or Umarex Gauntlet

Both can be had from $200-300.00 depending if they are on sale. 

Both are backyard noise friendly.   

   

[lefteyeshot]

Hey all, new guy here

I have plenty of powder burners (including a suppressed .22LR bolt action)

I would like to get into the air gun game but I want to get a gun that would be even quieter than my bolt .22LR

Any decent options out there? After doing some reading, it sounds like a springer would be a good starter for my first air gun

Gamo whispers sound pretty quiet, but I’ve heard from some people they are junk

I plan on using this for target shooting out to about 50 yards, and killing varmint in the yard

I have close neighbors so something quiet is kind of important

A lot of info and different info. Well, what did you decide on?

[Neil54]

I like to tinker so I will try anything.
Be careful though. It can become addictive. I now have 15 air rifles and something I fancy has been traded in at my local gun shop.
Buy them all and find your favourite.
Neil

[RAJOD]

Hey all, new guy here

I have plenty of powder burners (including a suppressed .22LR bolt action)

I would like to get into the air gun game but I want to get a gun that would be even quieter than my bolt .22LR

Any decent options out there? After doing some reading, it sounds like a springer would be a good starter for my first air gun

Gamo whispers sound pretty quiet, but I’ve heard from some people they are junk

I plan on using this for target shooting out to about 50 yards, and killing varmint in the yard

I have close neighbors so something quiet is kind of important

Whats your budget?  $1,000?  $2,000?

I would not get a spring piston gun.   Get a PCP air gun depends on your budget on what to get.

[Telecaster]

I would not get a spring piston gun.

I would not get an air rifle that WASN'T of the spring-piston type. 

[longhunter]

As previously stated, budget has a lot to do with the number of choices you will ultimately have.
If you're looking for a springer, then, I would give Mike a call at Flying Dragon airrifles. He can get ANYTHING offered by Pyramid Air, AND tune it for you, at a competitive price. Having a springer tuned takes it to a whole different level of performance.
PCP's are a whole 'nother ball of wax. One that I can personally recommend is the Benjamin Maximus, in .22 caliber. ( I traded mine, a while back, and I regret it enough,  not that I regret what I got in trade, mind you , that I plan to get another, when funds permit ).

[EMrider]

I do not think you can beat this deal on a German made springer. Walmart has the Diana rws 34 in .177 for $178 bucks. Normally closer to 300. I have many nice German rifles and my 34 is close, if not my most accurate. This one even comes with a scope that looks pretty usable. You could upgrade the scope at a later time if you really get into it. That 34 will hold its value pretty well too

https://www.walmart.com/ip/RWS-Model-34-177-Pellet-Air-Rifle-with-Scope/22171887

Report back and let us know what you choose and what you think. Welcome to the Pandora’s box of hobbies. 

This RWS34 is the deal of the year by far. Very high quality gun. My suggestion is to buy a quality .177 HW or RWS springer setup to shoot between 12-14fpe.  An RWS34, R9, HW95 or HW97 will give you a lifetime of accurate shooting.

R

[Back_Roads]

As previously stated, budget has a lot to do with the number of choices you will ultimately have.
If you're looking for a springer, then, I would give Mike a call at Flying Dragon airrifles. He can get ANYTHING offered by Pyramid Air, AND tune it for you, at a competitive price. Having a springer tuned takes it to a whole different level of performance.
PCP's are a whole 'nother ball of wax. One that I can personally recommend is the Benjamin Maximus, in .22 caliber. ( I traded mine, a while back, and I regret it enough,  not that I regret what I got in trade, mind you , that I plan to get another, when funds permit ).

Scott I do have an extra Maximus Hunter.22 and barrel band, just give me a PM when the funds cooperate 

[lefteyeshot]

I do not think you can beat this deal on a German made springer. Walmart has the Diana rws 34 in .177 for $178 bucks. Normally closer to 300. I have many nice German rifles and my 34 is close, if not my most accurate. This one even comes with a scope that looks pretty usable. You could upgrade the scope at a later time if you really get into it. That 34 will hold its value pretty well too

https://www.walmart.com/ip/RWS-Model-34-177-Pellet-Air-Rifle-with-Scope/22171887

Report back and let us know what you choose and what you think. Welcome to the Pandora’s box of hobbies. 

+1. I forgot about this deal. I might order this one

[avator]

Just buy one of everything.. if you're like the rest of us you eventually will anyhow....

[Earl]

"quieter than a suppressed bolt action using subsonic ammo" is hard to beat for both quiet and accuracy.

Umarex Gauntlet or Benjamin Maximus plus a $45 Chinese pump from ebay plus an AO scope.
Crosman Challenger for targets only plus a $45 Chinese pump from ebay plus an AO scope (my favorite).
Browning Leverage if you want a springer comes with a good scope
refurbished Daisy 853 from CMP for targets only
Beeman P17 just for FUN
Bug-A-Salt gun for killing flies, mosquitoes, ants, etc. in the yard.  Wife says no salt can get on her floors.

.177 for targets only
.22 for killing varmints and targets

A good solution to not disturbing your neighbors is to shoot from inside your home thru an open door or window into your back yard.  I shoot from the air conditioned comfort of my den.  I have 18 yards completely inside, 29 yards from the den thru an open door to my back yard, 49 yards from the den thru an open window into a shed in the back yard.  I catch the pellets with rimfire bullet traps.  I use an ironing board with sand bags for a bench rest.  I shoot a LOT!  LIFE IS GOOD!!!

Break barrels are VERY difficult to shoot accurately.
I have 8 and do not like any of them
Some days I can shoot one fairly accurately.
Most days I shoot them badly and swear never to shoot break barrels again!

[avator]

Most all of us have, or have had, a vintage Sheridan Blue Streak or Silver Streak in .20 cal. They are still pretty easy to get your hands on a nice one for $200 - $300. It's an experience you'll want to have.
They can be pretty loud if pumped to max 8 pumps but most back yard duties only require 3 - 5. I rarely pump more than 5.

[Deep South]

Since the OP has not replied I assume he's recovering from information overload albeit all good information. My two cents. I only own two air rifles. A .177 Beeman R9 and a  .22 Weihrauch  HW100.  Since putting in the Vortek spring kit in the R9  with the proper lubes lets just say the HW100 spends more time in the closet. Once you learn how to let the R9 recoil (I use a paint roller stand) it is deadly accurate. Head shots on squirrels at 35 yards. And it loves the cheap and easy to find crossman hollow point pellets. So if after all of this great information you find yourself committed to the institution for the insane air gunner and they only let you have one gun I'd go with the R9.