Not sure what I want for an air rifle

[GungaDin]

I live in very cramped quarters, a small studio. So for space saving I was considering a folding stock or break down air gun, like these
http://www.@#$%^.com/QB57-Chinese-Air-Rifle-p/qb57d.htm
QB57

http://www.packrat-toyz.com/airsoft%20guns/pellet%20rifles.htm
B7 Folding Stock

Or maybe just a very compact gun like this:
https://www.pyramydair.com/product/izh-60-air-rifle?m=75
IZH 60

But wait, for there is a fly in the ointment. Looking at value for money spent, you just can't beat this:

https://www.pyramydair.com/product/gamo-big-cat-1200-and-1250?m=1280
Gamo Big Cat 1200 and 1250

Whatever gun I bought it would be used mostly for target and plinking in a friends back yard (The 15ft MAX range inside the studio is too short for rifles, which is why I primarily shoot air pistols.)

The big cat definitely does NOT qualify as a compact air gun, but at the same time the increase in quality over the two Chinese (where quality is ALWAYS suspect) guns may make it worth getting anyway.

Well the fount of knowledge here is amazing, so if anyone has first hand experience with the guns I mentioned please give me some advice on what I should get. "All of them" did come to mind, but I don't have unlimited $$ or space.

[BenjiHunter]

I would get the Gamo Big Cat 1200 and 1250.

[RedFeather]

If a springer, the IZH60.  Hands down better than a Big Cat, etc.  Those are sort of dummed-down (mechanically and aesthetically) Shadow 1000's.  In fact, you can find a great used Shadow 1000 for less than the price of a Big Cat.  Same power plant and it has a steel barrel.  You could also do better with a Ruger Air Hawk, either wood stocked or synthetic which goes for a bit less.  Air Guns Daily has refurbs from time to time for about $70.  Most are cosmetically unchallenged, too.  Since you are shooting in a small space, the IZH60/61 will be great for plinking.  Ditto a Daisy 953.  You can find them used and with the Pilkington's trigger mod for under a $100.  Decent enough trigger and one pump to charge it.  No recoil.  That allows you to concentrate on shooting form and also to put any rimfire scope on the planet on it without fear of a big spring/piston shattering the guts.  Light, quiet and very accurate.  Step up to an 853 (all the x53 series gun will need the trigger mod, BTW) and get a bit better sights and more target oriented.  The 753 is top of the line with a LW barrel, although I think the 853's have them now, as well.  No matter.  You are in the entry-level phase, right?  I would stay away from new 853/753's since the price is up there and they always come up for sale.  I could also suggest an old Sheridan Blue Streak, preferably pre-1972 with the rocker safety, since they are accurate and quiet with two/three pumps.  The older ones are, indeed, better but you will have to be sure it holds air overnight (seals are good) and settle for .20 ammo.  Great compact guns with power enough for most any chore.

Whatever you choose, be sure to check you local laws.  Don't want John Law coming around to confiscate your gun and set you up for an embarrassing and expensive day in court. 

Most of all, have fun with it and don't take it too serious.  We've all got enough of that on our over-loaded plates as is. 

[stevemag]

you can store a gun almost anywhere. under the sofa or bed ,,,hangin in a closet. hook on the back of a door.... get the one you really want.

[ac12]

You can shoot reduced range 5 meter targets.
Use iron sights or red dot at that close range.
Just make sure of the safety of your trap and backstop.

I would vote for the Daisy 953 or IZH-60.  Both are fairly quiet and you might be able to shoot them in your studio apartment.
I plan to take my 953 if/when I travel.

[Bullit]

The 953/853 would get my vote for short range targetting.
Rather than the new Gamos...what about a used CFX?   There's one on American Airguns Classifieds with the GRT III trigger.   Much better choice IMO, for accuracy/power balance and quality, than the new model Big Cat.

[mtsheron70]

Maybe I am missing something here but a Crosman 2400 kt custom shop with the plastic shoulder stock add on CO2 powered would fit my bill.  Like I said, I may have misinterpreted your question here.  If so, I apologize.  If the ones listed are the definite choice and you would like a nice rifle on a budget then I would look to the Cat or if you want to add just a tad more for shooting at your friend's house I would opt for the Diana model 34 break barrel in the Panther model or even the plain jane wood! 

Good luck!

[GungaDin]

You could also do better with a Ruger Air Hawk

I checked that out, it looks to have pretty much the same specs as the big cat, a little bit cheaper and has iron sights as well as a scope. "dang", still scratching my head tho. My friends yard abuts 600 acres of state land, he cleared his property so you can get some good distance. A nice scoped rifle would be perfect to shoot there, especially as my vision is not that great. On the other hand there is something to be said for a compact quiet low v gun like the IZH60 (actually IZH61, from what I read no one sells the single shot and cheaper IZH60 in the U.S. anymore), which I could probably get away with shooting both in my small room and at longer ranges in my friends yard. Right now I've been strictly shooting air pistols, as they really are better suited to a short 12-15ft range, but for some odd reason a rifle bug has bit me in the @@@.

[UnRest]

i 2nd the notion for the Ruger Air Hawk. shoots very well out of the box and trigger isnt bad. I have shot over 500 pellets through it. it shoots way better than my gamo by far. also did 75 yard targets with it and it dies well even being stock. 3" groups with cheap Barska scope at 75 yards. I think with a tune and better scope could easily shrink it down to 2" or less.

[ac12]

I think the IZH-61 is easier use with a scope than the 60.
The problem is clearance for your fingers when loading the pellet under the scope w the 60.  The 61 has a slide in clip, eliminating finger clearance as a problem.  I use a short red-dot sight on my 60, so I have all vertical clearance I need to load.

[thekid]

To see the bug bite some else, is always a good thing.

So you have to go to friends, to shoot. This means you want to drive up, get shooter, take shots, accurately and have a good time.
For me this excludes the Big cat. Use the search feature, and search that gun here, not the greatest reviews at times, especially on the Idea of going to some else house to shoot.
Save up and buy quality, the outings will be more enjoyable and relaxing.
Went to my buds farm all the time, for many years with many different shooters. I enjoyed my time there much more when I showed up sporting my new( at the time) 34's.
He even took part in the shooting, was amazed at how much easier it was to shoot compared to my previous guns. My Bud don't shoot nothing or hunt, but comments on those guns all the time.
Not trying to be Biased, but get something with a track record of accuracy,ease of use and reliability...you will be much Happier.
Best of luck and Enjoy!

[Random Plinker]

Sometimes studios have few walls.  Can you make a 10 meter path in your studio?

[GungaDin]

I don't have to go to his house to shoot air pistols, I made a target trap and I shoot them in my apartment BUT as I mentioned before the range is SHORT, 15 ft MAX. Both pistols are QUIET, the Daisy powerline 201 cheapie springer does not make much noise and neither does the 1377 at 3 pumps(min recommended) I usually play music to obfuscate things a little too. So it's kind of a dilemma for me, a 1000fps rifle like a big cat or Rugar Blackhawk would be AWESOME at my friends yard, a hosp or two might even meet it's doom while I'm there, but there is no way I could shoot a honking loud gun like that inside my apartment, so it would only ever get used on my friends yard. A compact low-v low noise gun like the IZH-61 could be used both in my apartment and for longer range shooting at my friends. BUT at 500fps it if NOT suitable for shooting any game, even hosp, or at least that is what I have read on some of the forums. It also does not come stock with a scope, so adding even a cheap $20 one would jack it's price up to $140, not including postage. The Ruger Blackhawk combo is $100.00 with scope so it looks like overall a better deal, although I would not be able to shoot it except when visiting my friend. "dang" I'm so wishy washy!!!

Still not sure, but the compactness and ability to shoot it inside my apartment is kind of drawing me a little to the IZH-61. I'd have to shell out for new pellets for that, from what I read the clip feed system does NOT work well with wadcutters, which is of course what I have now. The forum poster claimed it works well with domed pellets.

I actually don't consider that system an advantage, just something to jack up the cost, increase possibility of breakage by adding complexity, and make the gun ammo picky too. I mean, it's a manually cocked springer, Y U need 5 shot clip?

[GungaDin]

Can you make a 10 meter path in your studio

Nope, it's small, like I said before max distance is 15ft, and that is backed up to the door as far away diagonally from the opposite wall corner as I can get. I usually shoot a little bit closer, 12ft as it's more comfortable for me to stand there than hugging the door. That's ok with air pistols, which are made for short range anyway. I shoot at a lot of combat targets like the official ICE target, but they are NOT the full sized ones LEO's use, they are shrunk down and printed out on standard sized printer paper, so they are fun to shoot at. I also have 5m targets printed out, I only shoot at those with the crosman 1377. The daisy powerline 201 is smoothbore, NOT accurate so that gets relegated to shooting the combat targets, with bb's. I like both guns but now the urge has come upon me to give them a big brother in the form of an air rifle.

[RedFeather]

An Air Hawk would be a bit too hot for apartment dwellers.  Plus springers in that power class are on the loud side.  About like a staple gun.  Multi-pumps like a Blue Streak are quiet at 2/3 pumps but tend to bark when you pump them fully.  The 953 is about ideal for an indoor gun.  Quiet and easy to shoot.

If you want a gun to take advantage of your friend's extended range, the Air Hawk is a good entry level choice.  It takes anything a Diana 34 does since it's a copy of that rifle.  Before buying a Ruger, however, I would check with Mike at Flying Dragon (see the GTA Mall, above) and ask about one of his tuned model 25's.  Again, it's the same gun.  Mike does great work and will set it up nicely for you.  I know that I said it's an entry level gun but, to be truthful, a tuned 25 is something you won't outgrow.

[althawk]

Have you considered a shoulder stock for your 1377? (and a longer barrel + new barrel band... darn easily modified guns. )

A Daisy 953/853 is pretty good.  The daisy 850 I've got is an older variant of the same platform, its probably the best thing daisy makes under $100. Fairly consistant (no recoil like on a springer) & thus very accurate.  The trigger gets complained about, but there is a diy mod for that. Its not too loud either.

I kind of think the airhawk/blackhawk might be too much rifle for just plinking, but its certainly available at a good price.
You might prefer saving some cash and getting the rifle w/o a combo-ed junk scope.

Also as far as pistols... do you find that you prefer/tolerate the 'bark' of most co2 pistols?  At one point I had one of the crosman 357-6 revolvers, (every now and then someone'll have em on sale for $40) and its not bad, due mostly to the rifled barrel, found it was just a tad bit too loud (possibly used up too much co2, i think i was getting 5-6 clips before it'd start to lose power).
There is a gamo rifled barrel co2 pistol whose model# i've forgotten, but it was decent.  It was a gas sipper, and not too loud.  Really can't recall the name, sorry .
The beeman p17 is fairly quiet and accurate, also available for around $40. (be prepared to spend $10-15 to self-repair & maintain it's orings. it definitely needs a source of white lithium grease at the very least)
Daisy 717/747, but that is starting to get a bit pricey for a pistol.

Overall though, the 1377/1322 are pretty hard to beat. Liking the shoulder stock on mine.  Not so sure I really need the steel breech, since if I need to hit something at range, I've got a few rifles to choose from.

I can see an argument for a crosman 2100/airmaster77, its a souped-up (longer) 13xx piston, scopeable out of the box, reasonably quiet at 3-5x pumps, but the loading of pellets is a skill that must be mastered. Available for about the same price as a 13xx.
The benji-sheridan pumpers are substantially better, but lose the easy scope-ability... and have barrel overspray that might need removal (delicate work). 

[z28rod]

How about a Crosman 1322 pellet pistol.
https://www.pyramydair.com/product/crosman-1322-air-pistol-black?m=2657

[VAFarmer]

Daisy 953..

Benji 392.

Daisy 953 is the bare bones  target rifle with the chinese bbl and 100 dollar price tag........but I can assure ya, it can outshoot your capabilities...at least for awhile.  Can plink to 30 yds, you wont miss a can (the small ones) when you scope it.   Cheap diopter can make it more 10meter or indoor rifle. Single pump, very quiet.  Good also for birds to ~15-20yds. 

Benji 392  can do whta the 953 does at 1-2 pumps, and is very quiet at that range also.   Capable of 1 inch groups at 50 yds, and can be sent off to Mac-1 for steroid treatment, which can provide pcp type power with more pumps.
there are those who will say the benjis are no good for plinking, but I wholeheartedly disagree.....2pumps gives the pellet good short range velocity, and pumpers inherently seem to have small extreme spreads.

Both of these guns can be had for ~100 bucks, with the benji going as a refurb.   Both are very easy to disassemble and service, no spring compressor needed.


For that matter, a Daisy 880 or a Crosman 2100 might suit you very well.   Both are very accurate, both can hunt rabbits to 25-30 yds with a scope.  Both multi pump guns can plink on low power and are quiet on low power.  both are under 60 bucks, I think.

The IZH does not have a safety, last time I checked.

I would say since you are looking for a "dual purpose" gun i.e.   15 yd shooting-friends backyard plinking......you need to stick with a pump, co2 or pcp.   There is really no spring gun that has a level of adjustability like the gas powered stuff does.

God bless,

Farmer

[UnRest]

i think this calls for a Crosman custom shop gun 2400 or 2300. The Crosman 1322 would be good choise as well.

http://www.crosman.com/custom-shop

[GungaDin]

Also as far as pistols... do you find that you prefer/tolerate the 'bark' of most co2 pistols?

My nephew has a co2, it is a copy of a S&W and it is somewhat loud. I guess like anything else the noise level varies on what make of co2 pistol you buy, but if my nephews gun is average then co2 handguns are too loud for my situation. I mean, I could take it to my friends house, but it kind of defeats the purpose, the reason I mostly shoot air pistols is because I can use them in my apartment. A LOUD pistol would aggravate the neighbors, something I try to avoid.