Author Topic: Need Advice on a Springer for Squirrels out to 50 yard Max (Read 4470 times))

Commuterfisher · « **on:** June 04, 2019, 07:34:20 PM »

A friend is looking for a Springer for squirrels mostly 20-30 yards but some out farther. I was suggesting the Weihrauch HW50S but with a scope he is looking at $400 total.

Any suggestions for an accurate Springer in .177 or 22 with consistent groups at 25 or 50 yards with enough power to drop a squirrel?

Dont want to buy junk and need accuracy

Madd Hatter · « **Reply #1 on:** June 04, 2019, 07:49:47 PM »

My RWS 48 in. 177 has slammed the little chicken siloets at 39 yards with only a 4x scope easily. I have taken out a ground squirrel at 70 yards with a RWS 34 in. 177 also.

A.K.A. Tommy Boy · « **Reply #2 on:** June 04, 2019, 08:19:01 PM »

This Diana Stealth 22 cal was for sale about a month ago. The Classified add timed out. It was in your price range. ($330)

Below is the link from the GTA Classifieds
> https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=158217.msg155753509#msg155753509

Contact Orion and see if it is still for sale. > .https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?action=profile;u=35450

Best Wishes - Tom

Pelletjunkie · « **Reply #3 on:** June 04, 2019, 08:33:10 PM »

In my experience with springers, I have found 2 things for accuracy and ease of shooting. My great springers are made of wood and shoot under 1,000fps. Big box store plastic cannons will just wind up testing your patience. With springers, you definitely get what you pay for but they last forever. I still have my Webley Vulcan from 1983.

BrushPopper · « **Reply #4 on:** June 04, 2019, 08:48:40 PM »

I recently bought an XS-25 in .22, with a full tune from Flying Dragon.

It’s scoped with a Hammers 3-7x40 airgun scope. Solid 15+ fpme and quite shooter friendly/accurate.

It’s a solid value and the whole rig would be within ur budget.

For me, a 12-15 fp rifle seems to be the “sweet-spot” for easy repeatability in a springer. Well satisfied with mine, plenty of power/accuracy for small game and all-around airgunning.

(I have around 50 airguns, for what that’s worth)

Whatever you decide, keep us posted!👍

Commuterfisher · « **Reply #5 on:** June 04, 2019, 11:29:57 PM »

The Diana for sale looks interesting. I have a Hatsan 65 Carnivore in .30 cal. I got fed up with the flyers. My first was a Gammo .177 that I rescoped that I love for close in shooting. I rescoped with a Simmons and found it loves the Crossman copper heads.

I bought a Benjamin Trail NP in .22 cal and I cant get real consistent with it but I am ok at 25 yards. Hard to figure the hold with it.

Then I bought Tommyboys FX Crown .30 cal. Whoa, it's the gun for me. First squirrel was 111 yards. Another at 105 and 3 squirts at 80 yards. It's scoped with a Hawke Sidewider 8-32 x 56.

I dont want to repeat my frustrations with a gun suggestion for my friends wife for Father's Day. She wants to get him a nice gun and scope for around $300.

Thanks for your suggestions!

Pelletjunkie · « **Reply #6 on:** June 05, 2019, 11:34:52 AM »

The $300 budget for a nice gun and scope is a little tricky. My nice springer in 1983 was more than $300. I took a look at the XS25 that Brushpopper suggested. That gun with a full tune may just be the route to go. It appears to be a chinagun so the full tune is absolutely necessary. Make sure you get a springer rated scope. A 750fps .22cal springer will chew up a &^^& scope in no time.

Arch_E · « **Reply #7 on:** June 05, 2019, 12:08:26 PM »

Quote from: Commuterfisher on June 04, 2019, 07:34:20 PM

A friend is looking for a Springer for squirrels mostly 20-30 yards but some out farther. I was suggesting the Weihrauch HW50S but with a scope he is looking at $400 total.

Any suggestions for an accurate Springer in .177 or 22 with consistent groups at 25 or 50 yards with enough power to drop a squirrel?

Dont want to buy junk and need accuracy

Both the HW95 and 97K will do that; neither being scoped, for that $400 price. I plan to move up to a PCP when I start shooting over 50 yards, plus getting a quality scope. TommyBoy aka Tom showed us pics of a 1" group at 55 yds this week, with a Benjamin Trail NP, and that's about a $250 gun. Of course, Tom is very experienced with weapons and knows his rifles.

Best wishes,

Archie

nced · « **Reply #8 on:** June 05, 2019, 01:03:32 PM »

Quote from: Commuterfisher on June 04, 2019, 07:34:20 PM

A friend is looking for a Springer for squirrels mostly 20-30 yards but some out farther. I was suggesting the Weihrauch HW50S but with a scope he is looking at $400 total.

Any suggestions for an accurate Springer in .177 or 22 with consistent groups at 25 or 50 yards with enough power to drop a squirrel?

Dont want to buy junk and need accuracy

I hunted squirrel with a .177 R9 for years when I lived in West Virginia and came to the conclusion that any springer with 12 fpe at the muzzle had more than enough power to drop a tree squirrel past any distance that should have been taken, certainly past 50 yards. Used my .177 HW77k that was detuned to shoot 7.9 grain CPLs at 850fps (about 12.5fpe) and shooting from my deck rail I took two grey squirrels in a row from a large oak tree at a measured 65 yards!

The issue with any pellet at even .177 dome pellet with 12fpe or more muzzle energy is the placement of the pellet and penetration through the vitals, NOT fpe!

LOL......before I got into adult piston guns I would drop squirrels with rib shots using a Daisy Powerline and dome pellets out to 30 yards. I didn't own a chrony at that time but I doubt that the Daisy Powerline was shooting PELLETS over 8.0 fpe at the muzzle. I do have to admit however that when the squirrels were shot through the ribs they would often climb high into the tree after being hit to drop to the ground after a few seconds. After buying a .177 HW35 decades ago I dropped quite a few squirrels from my bird feeders with the gun and it only chronied 8.3 grain RWS Super Domes at 680 fps at the muzzle (about 8.5 fpe at the muzzle).

Commuterfisher · « **Reply #9 on:** June 05, 2019, 02:40:17 PM »

Thanks for all the great responses. I bought the Flying Dragon XS -25 22 cal and the 4x32 scope from Mike withers full tune

Out the door $ 325 with the the full tune.

BrushPopper · « **Reply #10 on:** June 05, 2019, 02:50:33 PM »

Excellent choice! Mike will effect the 2-screw trigger mod as well.

My trigger was set perfectly for a field gun. Stock screws would loosen some on mine, at first, and the barrel appreciated a good cleaning...

My cousin has a .22 also. Both of ours seem to thrive on the 554 H&N FTT ammo

avator · « **Reply #11 on:** June 05, 2019, 03:52:21 PM »

Flying Dragon has my vote on this one too. Call Mike between 9 and noon on weekdays. He may even have better options for you.

Commuterfisher · « **Reply #12 on:** June 05, 2019, 04:36:42 PM »

I spoke with Mike today about the full tune and scope. He said it would be here before Father's Day. He said he tests them out to 25 yards

Thank you!

uglymike · « **Reply #13 on:** June 05, 2019, 05:10:54 PM »

The X25 from Flying Dragon is a good choice. Save the box with his handwritten crony numbers, that's your lifetime warranty

Arch_E · « **Reply #14 on:** June 05, 2019, 05:21:59 PM »

Congrats on your new MM tuned air rifle. I look forward to hearing how well the 25 performs. I’ve looked hard at buying one but have held off so far.

Best wishes,

Archie

Commuterfisher · « **Reply #15 on:** June 05, 2019, 05:58:47 PM »

I spoke with Mike today about the full tune and scope. He said it would be here before Father's Day. He said he tests them out to 25 yards

Thank you!

BrushPopper · « **Reply #16 on:** June 05, 2019, 06:41:42 PM »

Not to beat the thread to death, but was just shooting my .22 XS25, using FTTs/Benched/Artillery/28 yds/5 shots. This was the last group of the day...

These clock 680 for me. I usually leave the scope @ 3x (whiskey-shivers)

Other shooters could likely do better, but this is about as well as I can shoot any gun, anymore.

Arch_E · « **Reply #17 on:** June 05, 2019, 08:22:10 PM »

That’s verrrry nice shooting!!!

Archie

Hoosier Daddy · « **Reply #18 on:** June 05, 2019, 10:16:10 PM »

I believe it is safe to say...
50% is the shooters Technic
45% is pellet (diet) selection
5% pure dumb luck.

I have had springers you could not hit the broad side of a barn standing inside it... until I learned its preferred hold and pellet choice.

SteveP-52 · « **Reply #19 on:** June 05, 2019, 11:25:06 PM »

Quote from: Arch_E on June 05, 2019, 05:21:59 PM

Congrats on your new MM tuned air rifle. I look forward to hearing how well the 25 performs. I’ve looked hard at buying one but have held off so far.

Best wishes,

Archie

Owning one myself, stop holding off and get yourself one, you'll thank yourself later

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Need Advice on a Springer for Squirrels out to 50 yard Max

Author Topic: Need Advice on a Springer for Squirrels out to 50 yard Max (Read 4470 times))