Do I prefer .20? What can I buy on a budget?

[Rick67]

I have a disco barrel for the 362 anniversary now, rick, just haven't getten around to putting it in.  The screws on the receiver of the parts gun are stripped so it's not a quick and easy task.

Where does one acquire an MCA LW .20 barrel?

Abbreviation for Mountain Custom Airguns.

It’s owned by Roy W.:


https://mountainaircustomairguns.com/faq/

[splitbeing]

Thanks, Rick!  Can't quite swing those prices.  The barrel is more than I paid for the gun.

[Rick67]

AFAIK, it already comes with a brass probe and bolt 👍

Yes, it really is expensive 

I think I remember them being $195 so many years ago 

[north country gal]

One of my most used springers is my HW50 in 20 cal, using the JSB 13.73s. (Tried the lighter 11.42s, but my 50 does much better with the 13.73s as far as accuracy.)

I also shoot a 50 in 177 and enjoy it, too, but when it comes to shooting steel reactive targets at my usual 30 yards, my 50 in 20 cal will flip the steel more consistently than the 177. Since I shoot at a slight angle when shooting from our deck, a marginal hit with the 177 sometimes just wobbles the steel instead of flipping it. A marginal hit with the 20 cal is more likely to flip the steel. All fun, though.

[airgunaut]

Hw20s aren't much faster than 22. Unless you're using the 11.42 maybe 20 fps  If you're trying to avoid loopy, it's not the way to go unless you're willing to roll the dice that your HW will do well with the 11.42 FTTs. IMO the R9 is bare minium HW power for 20 cal. They'll go 800 with the 11.42s and 725 with the other pellet, 13.73 JSB. Don't bother with the 15.89 heavies or 13.58 Barracuda because these guns loose alot of efficency with those two.

Fwiw I have 3 Hw95 family guns in 20 and one in 177. I've either owned or tuned multiple Hw30s, 50s and 95s in all three popular calibers.

HTH
Ron

If your post was intended for me rather than Rion, I would not be willing to heft or tote something as heavy as the HW95, no matter how well paired to the .20 cal. (I did check specs and talk to sales rep). If it feels heavy, I won't practice much--->no point buying it. There are rimfire .22 rifles that weigh only 3 to 5 lbs, and one is even available for me to use if I feel the need for more power, which I don't.

I'd already decided the main pellet to practice with is the FTT. Whatever loopiness exists in that or the whopping TWO other .20 cal pellets I would use is just something to learn during practice, within the modest distance range I mentioned. My eyesight will be the limit with the open sights.

Rion has different constraints. I will leave this thread now since the thread is mostly for him.

[splitbeing]

One of my most used springers is my HW50 in 20 cal, using the JSB 13.73s. (Tried the lighter 11.42s, but my 50 does much better with the 13.73s as far as accuracy.)

I also shoot a 50 in 177 and enjoy it, too, but when it comes to shooting steel reactive targets at my usual 30 yards, my 50 in 20 cal will flip the steel more consistently than the 177. Since I shoot at a slight angle when shooting from our deck, a marginal hit with the 177 sometimes just wobbles the steel instead of flipping it. A marginal hit with the 20 cal is more likely to flip the steel. All fun, though.

I have that experience at 50 ft, Joanie.  My hunch about the 50 in .20 is I can flip the steel at 50 more easily than a 50 in .177.

The .20 Sheridan flips the steel more easily than my .177 pumpers.

[Bayman]

Hw20s aren't much faster than 22. Unless you're using the 11.42 maybe 20 fps  If you're trying to avoid loopy, it's not the way to go unless you're willing to roll the dice that your HW will do well with the 11.42 FTTs. IMO the R9 is bare minium HW power for 20 cal. They'll go 800 with the 11.42s and 725 with the other pellet, 13.73 JSB. Don't bother with the 15.89 heavies or 13.58 Barracuda because these guns loose alot of efficency with those two.

Fwiw I have 3 Hw95 family guns in 20 and one in 177. I've either owned or tuned multiple Hw30s, 50s and 95s in all three popular calibers.

HTH
Ron

If your post was intended for me rather than Rion, I would not be willing to heft or tote something as heavy as the HW95, no matter how well paired to the .20 cal. (I did check specs and talk to sales rep). If it feels heavy, I won't practice much--->no point buying it. There are rimfire .22 rifles that weigh only 3 to 5 lbs, and one is even available for me to use if I feel the need for more power, which I don't.

I'd already decided the main pellet to practice with is the FTT. Whatever loopiness exists in that or the whopping TWO other .20 cal pellets I would use is just something to learn during practice, within the modest distance range I mentioned. My eyesight will be the limit with the open sights.

Rion has different constraints. I will leave this thread now since the thread is mostly for him.

It wasn't intended for you only. It was a general statement made for the community to dispell the perfect caliber myth. And I agree with you about the gun weights. I have plenty of powder burners I can shoot from my porch or deck. My Hw30s get more use than all my other airguns put together. My R1 and underlevers barely see the light of day because of their weight.

[splitbeing]

Shooting offhand from a sitting position, it's tough to beat a scoped R7.

I'm excited for Pat to get her R7 in .20.  I also understand Bayman's reasoning regarding the R9 as the powerplant match for .20.  My head went to the r9/95 in .20 first, then I read Ed's post about actually following through with that and what he discovered.  Now we have Bayman's experience, which is different from Ed's but is similalrly a very informed opinion based in experience.

If I could swing it, I think I'd go for and HW50 in .20.  Like Joanie, one of my metrics is whether or not it can flip a steel target at my typical shooting range, which is 50 ft.  I think a .20 HW50 would do that well.  However, it might do that in .177 too.  A domed .177 pellet making 10 fpe at the muzzle will usually flip the steel.

I have a Diana EMS I got cheap.  The barrel options never affordably appeared to my knowledge.  That might have been a way for me to cost effectively make a .20.  Folks called the EMS a millenial idea that sounds good but wouldn't play out.  Maybe that's what happened.

I'm not sure if .20 is a perfect caliber by the numbers.  Subjectively, I find the pellets themselves to be very pleasing in size for whatever reason. 

On 4 pumps, my silver streak flips the steal without being too loud.  For me shooting indoors mostly, the loudness required to flip the steel matters.  Most .177s are too loud when they have enough power to make the so satisfying noise of flipping steel happen.  Maybe that's my argument for the 50 in .20?  Quiet enough to flip the steel while .177 might be too loud?

Also as an aside, having so few pellet options is kinda relaxing. 

[A.K.A. Tommy Boy]

I bit the pellet today and pre-ordered the HW30S in .20 cal. Call it low-powered, but the other models are too long and heavy for me to consider for grab-and-go carry. Since I prefer open sights or peep, it won't be used for shooting beyond about 100 ft anyway, and mostly 33 to 80-something ft.

Although I don't expect to deal with replacing parts soon, what is most likely to wear down first? Breech o-ring?

WOW...Congratulations Pat !

You will be getting a really nice, high quality rifle.

Please post pictures when you have time.


Best Wishes - Tom

[north country gal]

Pat, I do understand about other models being too long and heavy, believe me. Ron (Bayman) is so right about the HW 95 being a better match for the 20 cal as far as power, but my preference for the HW50 versus the 95 is the size and weight of the 50, now that gun weight has become a factor for me. I had the 95 in 20 cal and would highly recommend the 95 in any caliber. It's a great gun. When I had the 95 and it came time to grab a gun and do some backyard shooting, though, I kept grabbing the 50 (or even the 30) instead of the 95. So yeah, handling and gun weight are important for me.

As for the HW30, I have two and am thinking of adding yet another one. I consider the 30 to be essential to my air gun shooting. You're going to love the 30. Congrats.

As for the 20 cal, the reason I added a 20 to my springer collection was that I have always had a collection of Sheridans, so I was shooting 20 cal, anyway. Thought I might as well add a 20 in a springer. Funny thing, though. Once I started shooting 20 cal in a springer, my Sheridans have been collecting dust. The accuracy of 20s in HW springers put the accuracy of Sheridans to shame. No pumping needed either.

[airgunaut]

Thank you all for the comments. I have just one Sheridan which I really like, but...given that it is, you know, old, I want to have another well-built wood-and-metal rifle in .20 caliber to spread out the practice with. LOL. And I am curious about springers, drawn to self-powered stuff.

Agree with Rion that the limited selection of pellets is kind of relaxing. Incentive to stick with one for a while and learn how it shoots.

Rion, good luck with the continued agonizing over the right pick!

[splitbeing]

Thanks, Pat.  I reached out to Pyramyd to ask if they expect any .20 hw50s anytime soon.  The cs rep said unknown.  If I save and use my once a year benefit with some bullseyebucks, I might could swing it if they sell it at the same price as the other calibers,  AoA has the .20 on order, but its well out of my reach.  Fingers crossed for a sale.

[splitbeing]

Stumbled across this thread, which is an older version of my dilemma.

https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=186911.0

[airgunaut]

Are used HW50 .20 cal that rare? Could be another option for you.

RE: pellet choices, such as they are. When I switched from using 13.73 to 11.42 in the Streak, the shots hit high (for the same number of pumps). I adjusted the peep accordingly. That's why I'll probably end up using only/mainly the 13.73 in the Streak (readjusting the sight) and only/mainly the 11.42 in the HW30. Just gives me a better chance to learn each pairing for its anticipated range of shooting within the distance that my eyesight and open sights allow.

With only 3 pellet rifles, practicing them often enough to get a decent feel for each isn't going to be a problem.

RE: the impossible perfect combination, we must never, ever discuss what we want in a motor vehicle. Something the size and weight of a Subaru Forester is not going to tow a long, heavy trailer AND keep up with normal traffic on all terrain AND get 50 mpg AND cost little AND have inside space to carry a 17' long canoe or kayak AND and and.

[Hoosier Daddy]

I was going to suggest used as well. That's how I got my R10 on .20 and it is a SWEET shooter..
 That lead me on a quick search and found this.
Might be right up your alley seeing you are in PA.
EBAY LINKY

Local pickup only from East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, United States 18302

[airgunaut]

Oooooo, in the same state!

You enabler! All of us, that is.

[Hoosier Daddy]

Oooooo, in the same state!

You enabler! All of us, that is.

That's what I do.
Seriously.. I would be hard pressed to sell my R10 in .20 for that low of a price.

[buellm2]

I was going to suggest used as well. That's how I got my R10 on .20 and it is a SWEET shooter..
 That lead me on a quick search and found this.
Might be right up your alley seeing you are in PA.
EBAY LINKY

Local pickup only from East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, United States 18302

Gosh darn, I was in East Stroudsburg a couple weeks ago.   I take that Beeman in a minute.

[splitbeing]

Drooling in Pittsburgh, which is pretty far from East Stradsburg unfortunately!

[splitbeing]

Something interesting about the .20 silver streak and my basement range: on 4 pumps with baracudas it will flip the steel at 50ish feet. 

That's about 6 fpe at the muzzle.  My .177 R7 and my Crosman 100 (on 6 pumps) also make 6 fpe at the muzzle, but have no hope of flipping the steel.

That's a big difference for me in the basement range.  In .177, I need about 10 fpe at the muzzle to flip the steel.  I did not expect the .20 to carry energy that much better at such a short distance.

This also has me thinking the R7in .20 might do the same if in that caliber it can get 6 fpe at the muzzle.