Most accurate spring or gas piston air rifle for rabbit

[PaulFWI]

I have a Beeman R7. I can shoot it accurately.

The last time I had an R1, I could not.

What's the most powerful spring or gas gun I can get that is as accurate as the R7? Or does more power come with less accuracy in these things?

[PasadenaMike]

I have a Beeman R7. I can shoot it accurately.

The last time I had an R1, I could not.

What's the most powerful spring or gas gun I can get that is as accurate as the R7? Or does more power come with less accuracy in these things?

For me the r7 is the most powerful springer I can shoot accurately because I don’t have to think about it I just shoot and it’s accurate . I had an hw50 and hw95 I couldn’t shoot anything with it

[Blowpipe Sam]

You don't need much puissance for cottontails.  Nothing wrong with an R7 for Brer rabbit.  I've killed cottontails with a Crosman 2100 that made less than 9 fpe.    Jacks can take a little more killing.  I've never killed a Jack rabbit with an air rifle but I know from experience that they can soak up .22 LR if your shot placement is off.

[Bayman]

If you're talking Cottontails. Your R7 is fine within 25 maybe 30 yards. I've killed them easily inside of 25 yards with my Hw30 which is the same gun as the R7. Bunnies aren't that tough. Gray squirrels on the other hand are. My Hw30 has taken more than a few of those inside of 20 yards.

[PaulFWI]

I know all about hunting rabbits.

It's not a question of power but of trajectory - higher velocity means longer range.

BUT - I do not take head shots, and a body shot has to anchor the bunny because if it runs 20' it could be in another yard.

I usually hunt them with an FX Wildcat but am thinking about retiring the PCP guns.

So I want - maybe - another springer that can extend my range a bit. The R7 shoots flat to 25Y. 35Y would be nice.

(I don't take head shots because the chance of a wound is too high if you miss by just a little bit.)

[Sqrl Klr]

I've killed a lot of them with my daisy 880 using BBs not even pellets. No need for a more powerful rifle.

[c_m_shooter]

RWS 54.   

[Myson]

I'd recommend the Weihrauch HW97KT springer in either .177 or .22.


After about 500 shots, the HW97KT barrel settles in and the "Twang" goes, then she's wonderfully accurate.


My HW97KT .177 is zeroed at 50yds and with Air Arms Field Diabolo 8.44gr (HS4.52) pellets, I repeatedly hit rabbits in the head at 70yds.


She has a muzzle velocity of 900-910fps, which makes these shots around 15fpe. At 50yds, using the Artillery Hold, Follow Through, sandbags, etc... I get sub-1" groups consistently. Great for longer range headshots! 

[Bayman]

I'd recommend the Weihrauch HW97KT springer in either .177 or .22.


After about 500 shots, the HW97KT barrel settles in and the "Twang" goes, then she's wonderfully accurate.


My HW97KT .177 is zeroed at 50yds and with Air Arms Field Diabolo 8.44gr (HS4.52) pellets, I repeatedly hit rabbits in the head at 70yds.


She has a muzzle velocity of 900-910fps, which makes these shots around 15fpe. At 50yds, using the Artillery Hold, Follow Through, sandbags, etc... I get sub-1" groups consistently. Great for longer range headshots! 

Sure if all the bunnies you need to shoot are near your shooting bench. I have a 97 and it's a tank. You couldn't pay me to carry that gun afield. My 177 HW50 does just as well (if not better) in the field and weighs over 3 pounds less..

[Blowpipe Sam]

IMO spending a lot of money to hunt rabbits is not the best investment.  There is no question that a top quality air rifle should be accurate but why drop the gelt on a  HW, Diana, or Beeman just to pop bunnies?

Get yourself a MM tuned XS25 from Flying Dragon.  That'll put rabbit on the menu at a reasonable price.

[Rick67]

IMO spending a lot of money to hunt rabbits is not the best investment.  There is no question that a top quality air rifle should be accurate but why drop the gelt on a  HW, Diana, or Beeman just to pop bunnies?

Get yourself a MM tuned XS25 from Flying Dragon.  That'll put rabbit on the menu at a reasonable price.

Some people wanna do it in style? 

[SwampHunter]

I have a Beeman R7. I can shoot it accurately.

The last time I had an R1, I could not.

What's the most powerful spring or gas gun I can get that is as accurate as the R7? Or does more power come with less accuracy in these things?

More power means harder to shoot accurately with a springer for me. Not that the gun itself isn't accurate,  just that hold sensitivity has been my issue.

[Random Plinker]

So I want - maybe - another springer that can extend my range a bit. The R7 shoots flat to 25Y. 35Y would be nice.

An HW50S will just about get you there with a nice Rekord trigger and without any excess power exacerbating hold sensitivity.  "Shoots flat" is subjective, but in 177 and zeroed at 30 yards the HW50S should keep mid weight (7.87-8.44) domed pellets within +/- ~0.5 inch out to 35 yards, and a bit tighter (+/- ~0.3 inch) out to just past 30 yards - it will be dropping fast past your zero.

[HOSPassassin]

A third vote for an HW50 in .177. It has just enough power to do what you want it to do very efficiently and it's still reasonably short and light.

You might find a B19 type rifle that will do that kind of job just as well for less money. It may or may not be a good gun, however. Chinese quality control is nothing like HW quality control, with a few exceptions.

[PaulFWI]

How long does it take for a springer to actually shoot? I had thought the R7 had settled down after ~200 rounds, but it is still alternating between 1/4" and 3/4" groups at 20 yards.

My PCP guns don't do that. True, though, they are much more expensive (FX Wildcat and Crown). They never did, even brand new.

I appreciate all the commentary here.

P.S. I honestly hate to be that guy, but, I can't help myself in this instance - it's "biased," not "bias." Bias is a noun. It is a thing. YOU are *not* "bias." You may, however, be biased.

[Myson]

How long does it take for a springer to actually shoot? I had thought the R7 had settled down after ~200 rounds, but it is still alternating between 1/4" and 3/4" groups at 20 yards.

My PCP guns don't do that. True, though, they are much more expensive (FX Wildcat and Crown). They never did, even brand new.

I appreciate all the commentary here.

Hi Paul,


I used to think that most Springers took about 250 shots to settle in but recently I've found that my Weihrauchs are now performing best after 800+ shots!


I was quite shocked when suddenly my HW97KT .177 improved further after about 800 shots - I was really happy with it at 500 shots but surprisingly, the groups got even tighter! Or maybe it was me becoming a better shooter?! 


Maybe it's a combination of barrel wear, piston and cylinder wear and you getting to know your rifle(s)? It's one of those delightful mysteries in life!!! Like maturing wine.....