Am I being unrealistic???

[sghunter]

Several weeks ago, when I decided I wanted to hunt with an air rifle and decided it would be a break barrel, spring or gas piston, I started doing the usual research . . . forums, vendor sites, Amazon product reviews, etc.  I thought I had pretty much settled on several under $200 dollar rifles, such as the Ruger, Crosman or Beeman's in that price range.  Then I found this forum and read about tune up kits, honing, deburring, and so on, stuff that is way over my head. 

I hate the idea of throwing my money away on a piece of junk, but I would like to find a decent quality .22 rifle for around $200 that will shoot good and be reliable right out of the box. 

Is that unrealistic?

[Petey]

Welcome to the GTA!


Save your money buy something better . IMHO Something German.. If $200.00 Is  you limit ,Check the GTA classifieds for a Nice previously owned one.

But it would help us to advise you if we knew a bit more about your intended use...Hunt what?

[rsterne]

Diana D34....

Bob

[Motorhead]

Diana D34....

Bob

X2

[sghunter]

Welcome to the GTA!


Save your money buy something better . IMHO Something German.. If $200.00 Is  you limit ,Check the GTA classifieds for a Nice previously owned one.

But it would help us to advise you if we knew a bit more about your intended use...Hunt what?

Here in Colorado my hunting will be rabbits, squirrels, collared doves, prairie dogs, possibly raccoons.  I would pay a little more than $200 if I was confident that I had a good gun right from the start.

What I really want to avoid is buying a gun that turns into a project.  I looked at the RWS34 and the RWS magnum rifles, and I did see some refurbished in my price range, but after reading some of the posts here, I wonder if even those would need a "tune up" before being really useful for hunting.

I should mention that I prefer open sights, and my intention is to avoid long range shooting.

Thanks for your help, I really appreciate it.

[jward681]

Sghunter welcome to GTA. I am a person in a similar situation to yours as far as not wanting to go nuts on investing in an AG. What I have found through my research is that there is a wide selection of guns that are "out of the box ready"(after initial cleaning/breaking in of gun) that are going to suit your desires. What I found out is that the GTA is about making good things better whether its a gun or the shooter themselves.

I'm sure more experienced members will chime in as to the many options of guns that would be a good start but it will help to know more what your actual desires are. I know one of the many questions  that will be asked is what you're looking to hunt. I'm sure there's others but being new to this myself I'm still learning as well.

Good luck in your quest.

[Millipede]

yeah for a 200 dollar spending limit i think youd be happy you spent a few extra bucks for the rws34. i dont own one but thats what i can tell by reading all the reviews. like you, im doing some shopping and research too. I may just save up for the rws48 instead.. (sidelever=awesome)

[gandalfretlaw]

What about a mike tuned flying dragon rifle?

[iowajosh]

Yeah.  You just buy from the right guy and those problems are taken care of.   

[Tpatner412]

The RWS 34 can be had new for under $220 without a scope.  That would be my number one. I have found that the Hatsan 95 is a solid shooter as well. The trigger is far better than any Gamo or Crosman out of the box. Then again a good shooting Crosman or stoeger with a grt3 trigger would make a great rifle as well

[02stampede]

RWS 34 right now or.. Save up a little longer and get a Benji discovery and pump combo. The latter would be my recommendation for hunting. They are easy to shoot accurately, powerful, and leave plenty of room to expand if you want more gun.

[ogre8472]

Answer. No. Not really. IMHO most folks start on the wrong end of the AG scale. Until i found gta and yellow i had few firends that even owned an AG since childhood.  Your on the right track. To hunt most of what you listed a 15-18fpe gun will service you well.  Coons will need a very well placed shot. Im sure we could all use a lesson from Shadow be for our first coon hunt. 

As far a list of AG in your price range...Airgunweb has a series that is tasked with just that request.  Rick is a very straight up guy about his reviews. I personally think without the funds to do it myself, watching his reviews is the next best thing. Good luck and welcome.

[sghunter]

Thanks for the suggestions.  I glanced at the flying dragon site but haven't yet made contact to get prices.   

Just a followup, the one thing I didn't like about the RWS34 was that it is "medium power," instead of magnum.  But maybe that's better for a new shooter?  Does that mean it is smoother shooting and easier to shoot accurately?

[sniksder16]

well aren't you a new shooter? and just because its medium power does not mean its bad. if you have a high power springer and it/the shooter cant hit the side of a barn with it than there is no point to having more power

[sghunter]

well aren't you a new shooter? and just because its medium power does not mean its bad. if you have a high power springer and it/the shooter cant hit the side of a barn with it than there is no point to having more power

Yes, I am a new shooter.  But I was only assuming that the magnums are harder to shoot accurately.  Are you saying that my assumption was correct?

[ezman604]

Magnum springers generally have a harsher firing cycle. More power translates into more recoil and movement of the airgun when fired. They take a bit more attention with the hold and follow through. A tuned magnum is a bit tamer. But learn to shoot a magnum springer accurately and IMO, you will be a better shot with ANY gun you pick up.
For a few bucks more you can go as suggested with a Benjamin Discovery pcp and pump. They seem like cheating though, no recoil at all.
Welcome to GTA Forums also.
SAFE & Happy Shooting!!!!
Dave
 

[1216bandit]

Do the RWS need a tune before being useful for hunting....definitely not!  If you are looking at an RWS refurbed just buy it and start shooting! There are some items that will wear with time and that's when you can do your tune.  Springs will not last indefinitely, so if and when it breaks that's when you can do your drop in tune kit.   

The RWS would be a great choice...as you can tell they are highly regarded around here!

[rockgrabber]

Chiming in as a newbie.  I have bought two different springers, both under $200, and was squirrel hunting once I had the scope zeroed in and understood artillery hold. Later I discovered this site and began my journey into taking good airguns into better ones (also creating a wishlist of airguns like the RWS34). Point is:  just buy one that has a good reputation and start the fun. Mine are a Benjamin Titan and the other is a Stoeger 10x, and there are literally dozens of others to start with. Granted, I don't shoot anything over 20yrd, but as I progress, that distance will increase.

If you can't buy a Stradivarius doesn't mean you shouldn't play music.

[pappa]

My Ruger Blackhawks, the B25S (which was tuned by Mike Melick) and D34s are all sweet shooting machines that have all done exceptional jobs on more Squirrels, Blackbirds, possums and coons than I can keep track of. Except for the B25S, all the rest were purchased as refurbs and they were all like new when received. Admittedly, all these rifles in my care have all been tuned and in most instances have a stronger than stock spring installed. If you don't know, almost all refurbs are rifles that were bought by newbys that had no idea that you need a LOT of patient and concentrated training to fire them accurately, and since they couldn't get expected accuracy right out of the box, they returned the rifle and probably gave up. That is most likely the reason all mine have been in such perfect condition as received.

You mentioned your expectation of more power in getting a magnum. Yes you can get more power and In my Ruger Air Magnum, the power is there along with great accuracy. The RAM is in the ball park of what you say you want to spend. But, my RAM has been super-tuned and even has a stronger than factory spring also. Also, certainly no small matter for a newby, a magnum springer requires a whole lot more concentrated work and experience to master if accuracy is to be achieved. Probably twice as much work as in learning to accurately and effectively use a non-magnum.

All the folks who have responded to you thus far have given you some really great advice. Now, you have a LOT of thinking to do. You're on the right track! Hope to see a lot more from you on the GTA in the future.

[longislandhunter]

I'd go with an RWS 34.  Great gun and darn good shooter right from the box.  I've had my .22 cal 34P for several years now and it's still bone stock.  I never did anything to this rifle, all I did was take it out of the box, clean the barrel and start hunting.  My 34P is one of my favorite break barrel springers and has taken more rabbits and squirrels than I can remember       If you decide you want to tune it down the road you can, but I never felt the need as the rifle was just such a great shooter in it's stock form.  I have no doubt this rifle would suit your needs perfectly.   

Jeff