Best magnum springer under $500

[Hoosier Daddy]

^ Most excellent post Marcos!

[prosportfan]

Get a 22cal 54 air king and be done with it

[fwbsport]

Or get an HW80K with a can! And forget it if you can!  But the D54 Air King always fascinated me from the start.  I like the recoiless design.

[mpbby]

I'm glad you liked Scott.

[truck driver]

Get a 22cal 54 air king and be done with it

If you want to spend the money I will second this post.
I have the 54 in .177 and it is unbelievably accurate . I have been able to shoot the spray nozzle of spray cans at 30yds with mine which is a TO1 that I bought used. As for power it will come close to shooting threw a 1/16" thick steel lawnmower engine shroud at 30yds with 8.66 gr pellets. Kind of wish it was .22 instead of .177 but then I have the 48 in .22 that will get the job done.
If I could have only one spring air rifle it would be the 54 in .22 cal.
But to each his own there are lots of choices and we are all different some like break barrels some like under levers and some like side levers. There's no doubt that a fixed barrel rifle of magnum power will for the most part is more accurate and easier to shoot accurately. JMO

[HectorMedina]

Sorry for the delay. I didn't want to answer OToH and I needed to look into some of my notebooks.
As a scientist, I keep notes. I have more than 20 years of notes, sometimes finding something takes time because the notes are not indexed, LOL!

Anyway, I'll try to answer everyone here with "@"

@ Eddie E.- The T06 triggers, though labelled the same are not the same. The NTec trigger is an interference trigger, the steel spring T06 is a hook trigger, so you cannot swap springs between NTec and steel spring rifles.
You can read about a conversion made from the steel spring D34 to a D340 "style" rifle here:

https://www.ctcustomairguns.com/hectors-airgun-blog/converting-a-spring-powered-d34-into-an-n-tec-rifle

It is an irreversible conversion. I have also converted AM03 to steel spring, but for other reasons (using an Anti Bounce Piston at 12 ft-lbs), and that is an easier conversion.

In a 460 or 350 (again, it's basically the same swept volume and spring size), you can use a Vortek PG-2 kit to generate about 18.5 ft-lbs with the 16 grains JSB. It is important to note that you cannot cut the spring in these kits because the pre-compression is only about 1/4" and with less pre-compression, you get piston bounce. Peak Cocking Force (PCF), should be in the 36 # region.
Do NOT try the PG3, it will possibly not latch, and if it does, it will inflict on the piston some severe torque.
Some years ago, a friend (and customer, though he is a better friend than customer, as he drives me nuts with his requests, LOL!) asked to prepare a 460 to shoot offhand with a "gentle, uniform, push". We ended up using a slim Vortek spring with no outside guide and cut the spring till the energy matched what he wanted. If you can cut, forge square, and grind the ends of springs, that is something you can try.

An interesting alternative is using a JM 640 T spring. It is a joy to cock at 25# PCF, and yields 13.3 ft-lbs.

While all numbers were obtained using my personal 460 with an HMO Piston, I have no doubt that the same results can be obtained  in a 350. Perhaps a little less dramatic because the HMO Piston is a very efficient one, but  close.

Gas rams, under their current architecture are not that efficient, even an NTec one is a little less efficient than the steel spring, in the sense that the energy you put in is not converted into Muzzle Energy at the pellet, therefore it has to go somewhere else.
Perhaps in the future we will use already available technology to make the gas springs more friendly, but in the meantime, we are still limited to what is on the shelves.

Here is a picture of the three powerplants:


@ Yogi.- The 350 NTec is a bear to cock, it takes over 45# of PCF, and, to be quite frank, it gets old after a few shots. It's one of those "Dial it to 11" things that never should have happened. Even sadder is that we tarnished the Blaser brand with the effort.
The ASP 20 is not an airgun for airgunners, we've discussed that in the past:

https://www.ctcustomairguns.com/hectors-airgun-blog/the-sig-sauer-asp20-a-powderburners-airgun

I have been working even more on the ASP20 and the deeper I dig the more I realize I was right from the beginning. It may be a good starting point for PB's, but it is a "dead end" in the sense that you cannot do anything to the gun. Not only are there no parts available, but the materials used seem to be not up to the standards expected.
It also exhibits a very interesting vibratory pattern, and interesting in this case means that you need to take good care of the scopes. Something that will be difficult with the Picatinny rail they decided to weld in there.

@Derrek.- Please read abovementioned Blog entry. IF after that, you still decide to try an ASP 20,  I would love to know how you like it. Just be aware of the policy.

@ Justin.- Thanks for your kind words, I have been a professional gunsmith for over 7 years and  have been tinkering with airguns for double that. Easiest thing to do is to ask Mr. Schmitz. Send him a PM through the forum, OR trouh EBay. Since the gun is offered on an "or best offer" base, it means that you can actually offer whatever you think is reasonable.
Be courteous, you are dealing with a brother airgunner.

@ Laid over.- Gas spring guns are under huge pre-loads, do NOT attempt to disassemble one without a robust, reliable and SAFE, spring compresssor!

The rest of comments on the 54.- While I am a fan of the 54, and have used it extensively in all kinds of endeavours in all three calibers (0.177", 0.20" and 0.22"), it is NOT a sporter rifle. And that is one thing that Justin seems to be fixated about.
Now that he has relaxed the money cap, it is an admissible option, but it is still more a target/sniper rifle than a sporting gun.

One detail that is often overlooked in gun's architecture is how the buttpads are designed to come into the shoulder. If you look at the buttpad of the 460, you will see a field gun pad that is designed to come up into the shoulder with ease and on the move, if need be.
Look at the buttpad of the 54 and you see a target gun pad, designed to come into the shoulder carefully, deliberately, and always in the same spot.

As a gunsmith I will respect what the shooter wants as much as possible.

it's up to Justin to decide what he wants to do.

Again, thanks to all for your continued good wishes. I had never taken a flu shot in my life, till four years ago (between the pregnancy of our first (boy) and the 2nd year of our second (girl), I've had four flu shots, and they seem to have messed with my own defenses, now I have none, LOL!

Anyway, getting better slowly. Again, thanks!






HM

[jusanothajoe]

Thanks Hector I read it.
I don't do magnum springers anyway, but will think twice before recommending the ASP20.

[jusanothajoe]

Duplicate

[Hoffman9517]

Get a smooth shooting hw95 (r9) or hw80 (r1) take it and run with it. Learn everything you can and remember every bit and Bob of your rifle. It only gets better from there. Takes less too keep up with a Springer than a dusty rimfire too begin with. Unless you want a underlever buy my 77. I love everything about it but can't pick it up over my simple break barrels . Also. If it's too late. The 350 is great but I gave mine too my 6'6 friend

[MSchmitz]

Hector, I did not see this until today. Thank you for promoting my listing! Much appreciated.

Unfortunately, the rifle sold today (although I still haven't received payment). I'd I don't get that in a day or two though the I will cancel the order and can sell to Justin if he likes.

[rjp]

Hector, I did not see this until today. Thank you for promoting my listing! Much appreciated.

Unfortunately, the rifle sold today (although I still haven't received payment). I'd I don't get that in a day or two though the I will cancel the order and can sell to Justin if he likes.

MSchmitz,
I was waiting for yours to sell before mentioning it, but I also have a like new 350 Magnum T06 I am ready to sell.

Justin,
if you are decided on the 350 and the above is no longer available feel free to PM me. I was planning to list it in the next few weeks but could let it go sooner if you are interested. I could take some pics tomorrow.

Rich

PS. I plan to sell my Model 48 T06 as well.

[HectorMedina]

COMPLETELY OFF TOPIC!!!!

But important: It's nice to see people talking civilly to each other, being considerate of each other and, in general, just looking to do the right thing!

One of the reasons why I like airgunning. Thank you all for being you all! LOL!

May this new year of hindsight bring lots of good shots, some prosperity even in times of hardship, and much joy in the mutual friendship and company of family and friends.







HM

[MSchmitz]

One of the features that would be nice on this forum is the 'like' feature, as I would have used it on the last few posts.

Well, mine officially sold.

[Bryan Heimann]

One of the features that would be nice on this forum is the 'like' feature, as I would have used it on the last few posts.

Well, mine officially sold.

That would be an awesome addition to the forum

[Hoosier Daddy]

"Copy" and "Paste" too tough for ya?

[Chouchin66]

Airgun forum U.K. has likes... Funny bunch of guys to boot!!! Hook up.

[Rick67]

Airgun forum U.K. has likes... Funny bunch of guys to boot!!! Hook up.

I like Brit humor too.

Got a coworker who is English--handsome woman and nice legs with fantastic accent to boot  ..

[Hoosier Daddy]

but what about..... oh... never mind.
#cheeky basta...

[Rick67]

but what about..... oh... never mind.
#cheeky basta...

Use your imagination, HD sir  ..

[Sky]

Just my 2¢... I have a 350 in 22. I got in a trade and was tuned by the previous owner. It's making over 25fpe last time I used it. I really haven't shot it much but it makes dimes at my 18 yard range off a bag.so that's what I'd put up as a magnum Springer.