Help! 22 caliber break barrel rifle for hunting

[Gman414]

Hello break barrel hunters.  I need to upgrade my hunter / pesting rifle to keep my gardens from being decimated by the critter population to include rabbits, raccoons, crows and the like. I may be looking for something that does not exist. My first generation NP2 Trail .22 is accurate, quiet and powerful to 35 yards but it is now loosing power.  My garden have grown in the two last year. Now I need an accurate, quiet and powerful .22 break barrel rifle to cover 50 yards easily.  Quiet is a must because of a nosy neighbor who feeds every wild animal including rats. So is there a break barrel solution out there with a $250 budget.  I tried the Gamo board but there is no replies and I have read many forums posts. Many people are dissatisfied with Gamos. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you for your time!!

[Back_Roads]

 Sounds like the Dark side is calling you 
Or just a simple nitro piston and seal replacement.

[Doug Wall]

Why don't you  rebuild the NP2? Parts are available from Crosman.

[A.K.A. Tommy Boy]

Gary :

I hunt with break barrel rifles but I don't have any of the real quiet ones.
Go to Pyramid Air's web site and select pellet rifles.
Then select spring piston
Then select gas spring/nitro piston
Then select #2 Quiet.

That will get you to the quietest guns that they have.
I can't tell you anything about them.  Look them over.


Best Wishes - Tom

Example :
Loudness: 2-Low-Medium
Category: Spring-piston air rifles
Gas Spring / Nitro Piston air rifles

[Nomadic Pirate]

Get a PCP !!!

[Gman414]

Doug Wall and James Seller:  Thanks for the replies but rebuilding the NP2 will only get me back to the 35 yards of lethal force. Do you have knowledge or experience being raccoon lethal at 50 yards with a break barrel?. If so, what is the name of that bad boy rifle?

James: you may be correct. I may have to save for a while and invest in a low cost PCP and a hand pump.  I just never wanted to put that kind of investment into Air rifles when a .22 powder burner can be bought for $300.

Tommy:  Thanks for the tip on the Pyramid air website. Pyramid has a great website for research!!!  It looks like I may have to buy another Crosman / Benjamin break barrel after a little research into into the accuracy of this gas piston.  The Crosman NP Elites with the SBD barrel shroud match the perimeters at 1100 FPS with alloys. I like the look of the "Ironhide" with the thumb hole stock very Trail like.  Much higher than the 950 advertised on my gen 1 NP2 Trail.  I had thought the NP2 and NP Elites were the same power plants with the Elites being a China built version.

Can anyone tell my about there accuracy with their SBD NP Elite? Any great hunting experiences? Thanks again!!

[A.K.A. Tommy Boy]

Gary....Check out these posts.  This gun will do 50 Yds. accurately.   Get it the way these Guys are doing it and it will be $ 108.00

> https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=155978.0;topicseen

> https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=157235.0Best


Reviews of this Gun:

>https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=145178.0

>https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=145791.0

[xtred1]

I would sure like to play with one of those Nova Freedoms

[Duckfish]

Maurader? 

[squirrel_hunter]

 yep the dark side is calling,go with a disco(PCP)to start they great rifles and can be pumped up pretty easy.get the 22 cal...

[VaporTrail]

raccoon lethal at 50 yards? I think that might be hard to achieve, unless it's a smaller raccoon; but that's just my opinion. Also, quiet can be subjective. With an LDC on my Gamo Magnum, it's definitely quieter than before. Kinda sounds like a mean 392. A lot of the report has been muffled, with the biggest noise being the piston slap. Prior to the LDC, the Magnum was actually louder than a 10/22 shooting subsonics; now, the subsonics are definitely louder. Still not quiet quiet, but it's a lot more backyard friendly.

As for range, I personally keep it at 20 yards or less; maybe out to 30 depending on the size of the pest. Past that I either let em pass or sneak closer.

That being said, I'd opt for a Gamo Swarm Magnum or perhaps a one of the Dianas.

[Korak-again]

   I love springers however considering your requirements, the Seneca Aspen is, IMHO, the best choice.

https://www.pyramydair.com/video-details/seneca-aspen-multi-pump-pcp-air-rifle/532

[mr007s]

Have you looked here? http://flyingdragonairrifles.org/

Fully tuned and lifetime warranty in your price range

[uglymike]

Maybe I'm weird but shooting a raccoon at 50 yards with a break barrel is something I wouldn't even try.   

[SteveP-52]

Maybe I'm weird but shooting a raccoon at 50 yards with a break barrel is something I wouldn't even try.

+1...30, yep. 50 I'm breaking out one of the PCP's.

[Nomadic Pirate]

For 250 bucks you can easily get a PCP a pump and use the scope you have on the NP2,......you set for hunting.

One example right here without even looking around much

https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=157079.0

[triggerfest]

The Hatsans Vortex QE's are pretty quiet.... And are delivering great accuracy and the quality is great for what you are paying for.

[wolverine]

Sounds like the Dark side is calling you 
Or just a simple nitro piston and seal replacement.

that radiator is a piece of art! 


do you have those throughout your home?

[Back_Roads]

Sounds like the Dark side is calling you 
Or just a simple nitro piston and seal replacement.

Yes they are, only reason I live in this 1910 money pit LOL





that radiator is a piece of art! 


do you have those throughout your home?

[Tater]

I live an hour and a half away Gary. I'd be glad to stop by and let you try out my Disco/Maximus and my wife's Maximus if you've never shot a PCP before. Both are VERY quiet.
You could also stop by Badgerland Air Gun Association in Bristol,WI.  http://bagaclub.com/Lots of really nice and knowledgeable guys there, most would be happy to let you try out their guns (Break barrels, PCP's...