which .22 to buy under $200?

[uglymike]

A used RWS 34.

+1

[anti-squirrel]

A used RWS 34.

+1

Except gas-piston requirement.

Otherwise, the 34 is a great airgun.

[rdtricks]

You could always go with a Xisico XS-25 or XS-25S from Flying Dragon Air Rifles and have Mr. Mike Melick give it his special attention - "full tune".  Give the site a look-see and carefully consider what it is you are expecting your air rifles to do for you. 

[DanD]

A magnum .22 for bigger critters is totally sound reasoning.

I've never had a problem hunting all day with a cocked springer. It's leaving them cocked for weeks that will sack the spring out.

Nickel groups at 25 yards is good results with a magnum springer. You might want to try another Trail NP2 if you liked them. It can be risky to send a cheap accurate rifle in for warranty lest you receive a less accurate replacement. If you get another accurate one, the GTA will be glad to help you troubleshoot and fix any problems that come up.
If you have credit at Pyramyd and want to try a different gun, the Diana 34P is probably their best springer in the $200 range. You might also be happy with a Hatsan that has the power you are looking for.

I highly recommend investing in an airgun rated AO scope, even a cheap one to start- just buy from somewhere with a good return policy. Bundled scopes are usually placeholders at best. I set them aside for troubleshooting or mounting on garage sale rifles.

My springer advice is to shoot often, practice different hunting positions and try to hold the gun so it can recoil linearly without pushing it off course- notice that the POI might change if you are braced on the right side of a tree -vs- the left. As far as maintenance, keep the screws tight (medium strength threadlocker helps), wipe the metal down with an oily rag when you're done shooting, and pull some patches through the barrel if accuracy degrades.

Have fun!

[mac]

Very good advice from DanD. I would also have to agree with everyone who recommends The RWS/Diana 34. I have never had one but would like one. I have done a lot of reading on here about the 34 and it seems to be pretty unanimous that it would be very accurate out of the box with a great trigger compared to other offerings.

[buddyb]

What's your thoughts on the Benjamin 392s, I know it doesn't have the power of the other guns but it seems pretty accurate? i wonder if the added pumping of the gun would nullify the possibility getting a second shot if the first one misses? It is a little pricey too.

[c_m_shooter]

The 392 has been made forever now, so it should be a good choice.  It is a challenge to scope, and you will have to work for your shots. A lot of us shot pumpers of various makes for years.  Don't miss.

[avator]

I can take any small game/pest within my property boundries with a 392. Most with 5 pumps or less. As others have said... accuracy trumps power.
The topic title says "under $200". The 392 is under $200.

[anti-squirrel]

I'm a huge fan of the 392- I own one- a 392PA technically.

I've taken a lot of tree-rats with mine, and I rarely pump more than 5 times.  Since they are mostly brass and wood, they have Very Long Lives.  Store it with one pump, and be sure to clean off any paint overspray inside the crown.  The 392 is kinda known for the overspray, and I've never heard of an inaccurate 392 who accuracy woes were not resolved by cleaning the overspray.

Mine is bone-stock, has about 8000 pellets through it give or take, and works well with a good number of pellets.  JSB and Air Arms domes work especially well, but my favorites are RWS Mesiterkugeln wadcutters (no better shot range pesting pellet is made).  Despite using iron sights and 50-year old eyes that have been stuck with glasses for over 40 of those years, I can give squirrels fatal migraines at 35+ yrds on 5 pumps.

In areas with extended summer seasons, I also can vouch for the Crosman Custom Shop 2400KT CO carbines.  I used mine extensively this summer for pesting needs- it is surgically precise with a range of pellets, including CP domes.  The simple fact you can buy one with a Lothar Walther barrel for under $150 makes it a steal.  However, I do not consider them the best choice for longer pesting shots as they are CO2 airguns.

The 392 is also a fantastic prepper/woods-gun.  They are light, near indestructible, do not corrode, and don't cost much.

[buddyb]

Thanks for your replies again. I think my searching for a gun may be over. A member here stepped up and offered me a good deal on a gun. Its a Benjamin NP XL 1100 .22. It may take me a while to get used to it but I'm up to the challenge.

If they're still available I may pick up a 392s for my wife next year.

[subscriber]

IMO Skip $200.00 springers go multi-pump pneumatic .... or Seneka .177 Dragonfly.

Dragonfly has very poor pumping ergonomics, in my opinion.  At that price point, the PCP version may make more sense:  https://www.pyramydair.com/product/diana-stormrider-multi-shot-pcp-air-rifle?m=4449
Read this post first, though: https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=162535.0

[avator]

Thanks for your replies again. I think my searching for a gun may be over. A member here stepped up and offered me a good deal on a gun. Its a Benjamin NP XL 1100 .22. It may take me a while to get used to it but I'm up to the challenge.

If they're still available I may pick up a 392s for my wife next year.

Hey, I got one of those in synth stock. Darn near forgot about it.

[buddyb]

I actually shot one yesterday at Baker airguns. It felt pretty good to shoot.

[birdmove]

    Couple suggestions. Walmart online has the .22 caliber Redtail for $89. One gent above likes his Crosman Vantage. Amazon has it in that caliber at about $91. These are both NP's. If a Norica springer in .22 would work, Amazon has the Dragon at about $76. I hear the trigger is stiff, but may loosen with use. I'll mentipn the Beeman Midel 78S, which is a CO2 shooter wirh a sybthetic stock.Amazon just dropped the price to about $85. I'd get one of these, but they won't ship it to me in Hawaii. TKO makes amuzzle brake for these, and they get reallt good reviews for this Beeman.

[joek]

Picked up a .177 Norica Black Eagle on Amazon for $91, they used to sell the .22 but no restock expected. checked the distributor and no .22 listed. the Black Eagle has a nice adjustable 2 stage trigger. I would have no problems using it for small game.

[fwbsport]

Your budget is too low for a good springer and the Idea you should settle for less in a pump up or nitro piston is money down the drain with frustration.

I've bought cheap springers (two: Walther Parrus and Terrus) from a reputable company costing MORE than $200 and now I want to send them away to someone who needs them without spending money--but I also know the guns aren't worth anyone's time.

They sit as junk in a room gathering dust and room (they are big as well and heavy).  Lots of uselessly put together sheet metal.

You'll get the same in $200 range.

People here should be talking you out of spending your first $200 on a worthless springer.  Add $200 more and when you've got it (however long it takes you got $200 NOW!).  For $400 you are in the ballpark of quality that can last a lifetime without frustration.

Sorry to jump the boat saying get cheap.
 

[joek]

Your budget is too low for a good springer and the Idea you should settle for less in a pump up or nitro piston is money down the drain with frustration.

I've bought cheap springers (two: Walther Parrus and Terrus) from a reputable company costing MORE than $200 and now I want to send them away to someone who needs them without spending money--but I also know the guns aren't worth anyone's time.

They sit as junk in a room gathering dust and room (they are big as well and heavy).  Lots of uselessly put together sheet metal.

You'll get the same in $200 range.

People here should be talking you out of spending your first $200 on a worthless springer.  Add $200 more and when you've got it (however long it takes you got $200 NOW!).  For $400 you are in the ballpark of quality that can last a lifetime without frustration.

Sorry to jump the boat saying get cheap.
 

I would not of suggested the Black Eagle if imho it wasn't above the standard of inexpensive springers, it's not equal to my german or UK rifles, but a very good value. I have both the Terrus and Parrus in .177 I like the Terrus it's about equal to my Webley Vulcan and Stingray in shot cycle and trigger feel. I do agree that the Parrus is too big and too heavy. 

[buddyb]

I checked out several of the guns mentioned and they're nice guns and some day I might have one or two of them, just not right now. Thanks for all the suggestions and opinions though.

[anti-squirrel]

You can purchase an HW-30 from Krale without blowing a wad of money.  HW-30 = R-7.

When it comes to critter-blasting on a budget, though, there is no springer on the planet as smooth as a 392.  Recoil-free.  No spring torque.  No anti-beartrap device, you can leave it "cocked and loaded" all day...or week... or month...  And a 392 weighs a good deal less than any springer I've handled- no worries about corrosion, and they tend to be pretty darn accurate.  Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan of higher-end guns like the FWB-300 and even more the 124.  I've been yearning for a 65 or 65MKII since forever... but for a relative newcomer, I always advise starting out in airguns with something that most-closely resembles a firearm at the lowest cost, and that's the 397/392.

[buddyb]

I liked the 392s a lot and definitely see myself with one one day. I checked it out at Baker Airguns earlier this week, its light weight and shoulders well.