Must be .177, must be quiet - is a HW30/R7 the right fit?

[AntiRodentTaskForce]

Sorry, my point was not to compare laws - but to point out the caliber restriction is written as .18 - the same as Illinois.
My reference was from a guide written for the Minnesota House legislature, not to directly quote the law.

I was just curious about the .19999
I was not trying to do anything else.

( If my wife passes away - I will move out of Illinois )

EDIT: I have a R7 .177 - I would think you would like it. I only shoot targets with it, for pests I use a stronger airgun.

My mistake... this is confusion that began with my error (getting the limit of .18 vs. .20 wrong).   Thanks for trying to help, I thought I was done with my due diligence, so I had to ask to be sure. 

Yes, I think I'll just go ahead with finding an R7/HW30s ... the accuracy/versatility is worth more to me foregoing possibly-less noise.   For the use I have in mind (once or twice weekly) I think I would rather shoot once, than shoot twice quietly. 

[AntiRodentTaskForce]

An HW 30 or R7 would work just fine for that task as long as you can hit the brain. I have taken a fair number of squirrels with mine. Check out krale.shop if you do decide to buy one. Their prices are usually better than AOA or Pyramyd and their shipping is fantastic.

Krale seem like the clear choice for buying new, since there appears to be a stock issue lately.

Is there any secret to finding a used HW30s/R7 ?   Used air rifles sure aren't a thing, it seems.  (I saw the one at AGN forum, but at that price I'm better off buying new)

[Rick67]

An HW 30 or R7 would work just fine for that task as long as you can hit the brain. I have taken a fair number of squirrels with mine. Check out krale.shop if you do decide to buy one. Their prices are usually better than AOA or Pyramyd and their shipping is fantastic.

Krale seem like the clear choice for buying new, since there appears to be a stock issue lately.

Is there any secret to finding a used HW30s/R7 ?

Have you seen this thread?


https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=212024.0

[Rick67]

Shipping is free.

They also have suppressed models:



https://keystoneairguns.com/collections/all

[HOSPassassin]

An HW 30 or R7 would work just fine for that task as long as you can hit the brain. I have taken a fair number of squirrels with mine. Check out krale.shop if you do decide to buy one. Their prices are usually better than AOA or Pyramyd and their shipping is fantastic.

Krale seem like the clear choice for buying new, since there appears to be a stock issue lately.

Is there any secret to finding a used HW30s/R7 ?   Used air rifles sure aren't a thing, it seems.  (I saw the one at AGN forum, but at that price I'm better off buying new)

I have heard it claimed that it's hard to find a used R7/HW 30 because everyone who has one loves it and no one wants to sell them. I think it's possible, just going from my experience.

Krale can get one to your door from the Netherlands in two days, maybe less.

[Cslinger]

Krale is LITERALLY far far far faster to your door then Airguns or Arizona. 

[SpiralGroove]

Krale is LITERALLY far far far faster to your door then Airguns or Arizona. 

+1 ..... Best Service of anyone

[Denby95]

x2 Krale is the best. Unfortunately HW30s used to be about 215 bucks from them buy inflation hit the EU alot harder than the US so their prices went up significantly. Even with that, I'd still buy from Krale as their customer service, shipping speed, etc are the best I've experienced from any air rifle retailer.

Something to think about while you buy, if you add anything else to that purchase like pellets etc, it does not increase the shipping cost. So good time to buy a few tins, any accessories you might want, etc.

[Methuselah]

Are you dead set on a Break barrel Springer?

Again!
Now, where's that like button!

[SpiralGroove]

x2 Krale is the best. Unfortunately HW30s used to be about 215 bucks from them buy inflation hit the EU alot harder than the US so their prices went up significantly. Even with that, I'd still buy from Krale as their customer service, shipping speed, etc are the best I've experienced from any air rifle retailer.

Something to think about while you buy, if you add anything else to that purchase like pellets etc, it does not increase the shipping cost. So good time to buy a few tins, any accessories you might want, etc.

Yeah crazy,
I got my first HW30S back in 2016 for $195 + $42 shipping (which could be split between two guns) ............ they were very undervalued.

[Rick67]

Are you dead set on a Break barrel Springer?

Again!
Now, where's that like button!

For the aforesaid range and caliber, I’d use a Crosman Custom Shop 1377 with a 14.6” Lothar barrel…or a 1701P PCP pistol with a PROD transfer port (or even OEM) and 1399 stock..

Zero recoil and deadly silent with pickles 

Amazon has the best price for the 1701P.

[Denby95]

I like this. Or if he wants to stick to a springer since the HW30 seems to be pushing the stated budget a bit, one of those low end Diana offerings like the 240 and the 250 which are for sale for 99 dollars and like 176 dollars. I think the 176 dollar one comes with a scope.

https://www.pyramydair.com/product/diana-two-fifty-breakbarrel-air-rifle?m=5800&page=1&query=diana%2520250&lang=en&searchConfigId=643645070c547549270ccc15#11887

https://www.pyramydair.com/product/diana-240-classic-air-rifle?m=4163&page=1&query=diana+240&lang=en&searchConfigId=643645070c547549270ccc15

[Rick67]

Are you dead set on a Break barrel Springer?

Again!
Now, where's that like button!

For the aforesaid range and caliber, I’d use a Crosman Custom Shop 1377 with a 14.6” Lothar barrel…or a 1701P PCP pistol with a PROD transfer port (or even OEM) and 1399 stock..

Zero recoil and deadly silent with pickles 

Amazon has the best price for the 1701P.

To clarify, I have both for paper only and could shoot a squirrel's eye at 25 yards, my limited home range, although I no longer hunt.

Note: I haven't shot a squirrel nor its eye in my life, but my targets at the aforementioned range are about half the size, or about 5mm.

[Bayman]

x2 Krale is the best. Unfortunately HW30s used to be about 215 bucks from them buy inflation hit the EU alot harder than the US so their prices went up significantly. Even with that, I'd still buy from Krale as their customer service, shipping speed, etc are the best I've experienced from any air rifle retailer.

Something to think about while you buy, if you add anything else to that purchase like pellets etc, it does not increase the shipping cost. So good time to buy a few tins, any accessories you might want, etc.

Yeah crazy,
I got my first HW30S back in 2016 for $195 + $42 shipping (which could be split between two guns) ............ they were very undervalued.

Where's the like button? I bought my first 30 (and favorite Airgun) from AoA in 2016 for ~ $269. It's probably got 100k shots through it. Sure it's had springs and piston seals replaced but the main steel parts are all original. The rifle is worth every penny of $400 of today's inflated dollars.

[Hoosier Daddy]

Are you dead set on a Break barrel Springer?

Again!
Now, where's that like button!

I try my best to "muddy the water" 

[AntiRodentTaskForce]

Are you dead set on a Break barrel Springer?

it's the format that seems the most "buy it for life" / low-maintenance.  (and have an assortment which are not made in China, something I prefer)

I can't consider the handgun-style that someone else recommended above.. but I do see the appeal of a rifle PCP:  Accurate and quiet. 

Would $300 or so of PCP in .177 be a great advantage over the HW30s ?   Sell me on it... i'm open minded, i just know zero about PCP and the realities of ownership.

[splitbeing]

How long are your arms? If they are real long, the r7 might be small.

If your arms are in the normal range or below in terms of length, get the HW30.

There's always tomorrow for PCPs. The tech keeps getting more affordable while the springers worth having keep getting more expensive.

[Mark 611]

I'll add my 2ct, first off, all spring guns benefit from a good tune, the power plant is where most of the noise comes from in a spring gun, also depending on caliber and velocity that can add to the crack of the report of the rifle, these are just my thoughts when people start asking for a quiet, lower powered spring piston air gun, having owned just about all the rifles mentioned here HW30/R7, Diana two forty, COMETA 220 compacts which I have 3 of these rifles, several HW50's and so on, as most of you know all my rifles are highly tune and have moderators on them, QUIET is the name of the game for me! and also a gun that fits my 5'9'' 180lb frame, these are my opinions and not everybody is going to agree! for me the R7/HW30 is too small, it is hard for me to get comfortable behind it, the COMETA 220's are about the same size as an HW35, but a lot lighter in weight, and have the power of the HW30 power plant, I like this size of rifle, but for shooting small rodents I would only recommend it in .177cal at the distances you are wanting to shoot! my .22calversion of this rifle shoots a tic under 500fps, the Diana two forty I had .177cal didn't break 600fps with 7.9gn pellets and had a bad barrel and was not accurate at all, even after multiple attempts of recrowning and choking the barrel!!! my HW50's are my pet gun's, IMO the .22cal is probably your best bet, the.22cal in this rifle is a lot quieter than a .177cal in this power plant, they will shoot over 600fps with a 14.3gn pellet, which is more than enough power to rid you of your pests without being excessive! the muzzle report is a poof not a crack, add a can even better, I don't shoot pump type guns so I will no comment on them, some these guns are probably out of you price range for a new gun? but theirs used 1's out there, The COMETA rifles are pretty good guns, I have had and still have a 400 Compact star in .22cal, I'm planning to purchase another Fenix 400 USC, for $295 pretty good price for what you get, and it comes with a moderator! I detuned my 400 Star to just over 500fps, it's QUIET and accurate!!!!! YMMV

[HOSPassassin]

Since the OP mentioned that he would like to avoid made in China if possible, that eliminates every PCP that falls in his price range, as well as the affordable Diana's that have been mentioned. I can't speak about the desirability of Cometa rifles but I do know they are made in Spain. HW rifles are still made in Germany. A Gamo Delta or Hatsan Alpha is going to be similar to an R7 for cheaper but they are not as nice. They are made in Spain and Turkey, last I heard.

[AntiRodentTaskForce]

How long are your arms? If they are real long, the r7 might be small.

I've used the .22 version of the HW30s with no problems.

my HW50's are my pet gun's, IMO the .22cal is probably your best bet, the.22cal in this rifle is a lot quieter than a .177cal in this power plant, they will shoot over 600fps with a 14.3gn pellet, which is more than enough power to rid you of your pests without being excessive! the muzzle report is a poof not a crack, add a can even better

Would the .177 HW50 a lot louder than the .177 HW30s?    I'd love to go .22 but then i'm on the F-word hook:  "firearm" inside city limits

The COMETA rifles are pretty good guns, I have had and still have a 400 Compact star in .22cal, I'm planning to purchase another Fenix 400 USC, for $295 pretty good price for what you get, and it comes with a moderator! I detuned my 400 Star to just over 500fps, it's QUIET and accurate!!!!! YMMV

I'll look into them.  Concerns are: factory support, and long term quality. 

some these guns are probably out of you price range for a new gun?

$300 is just a ballpark... I could stretch for the right deal/accessories/etc.   I am considering used/refurb'd as well.

Since the OP mentioned that he would like to avoid made in China if possible, that eliminates every PCP that falls in his price range, as well as the affordable Diana's that have been mentioned. I can't speak about the desirability of Cometa rifles but I do know they are made in Spain. HW rifles are still made in Germany. A Gamo Delta or Hatsan Alpha is going to be similar to an R7 for cheaper but they are not as nice. They are made in Spain and Turkey, last I heard.

If I could be convinced that a MIC rifle would give me no quality/accuracy troubles, I would consider a used one.  (for personal/ethical reasons, I won't buy new)