Beeman R9 in .22 Cal Questions

[DRAGON64]

I am purchasing a newly used R9 today.  It is a .22 cal variant, that is advertised to shoot between 650 to 740 fps.  To the the best of my knowledge, the rifle is working in a stock configuration (has not been tuned), and performs nominally.  Is this enough power to hunt squirrel at longer distances?  I know I need to do the artillery hold, but I was hoping to not have to lob artillery at 45 and 50 yards... does this make sense?  Can the power be increased to say 850 to 900 fps?  Can the R9 take it?

The R9 comes highly recommended for my purpose (hunting / pesting small game), but since this is my first springer and hunting rifle, I would like to think I chose wisely...especially since it kind of stressing my budget...

To that, I ask my last question;  what would make an excellent scope combo for the R9 that will fit a $150 budget?  I have searched "airgun rated" scopes till I have analysis paralysis, and so now I must poll the masses that know...

[longislandhunter]

I have a R9 "Goldfinger" in .22 cal that I bought new several years ago.  My rifle shot so well right from the box that I never felt it needed any tuning and to this day it remains bone stock.  The FPS range you listed is right on the money when it comes to an R9 and believe me, it's plenty of power for hunting squirrels.  I've taken many a squirrel out to 40 yards with no problems at all.  As with any air rifle hunting proper shot placement is the key and for the most part that means head shots.  40 yards is my own self imposed limit when it comes to squirrels.  As you know they are tough critters.  They  have a thick hide and a tenacious will to survive, which is why I only go for head shots.  I'm not saying you can't take a body shot, of course you can and it can be effective, but for my hunting I choose head shots.    Anyway, back on topic......   that R9 has plenty of power for squirrel hunting so don't give it a second thought.  As for increasing the power...... sure, you no doubt could do that, but the R9's are such sweet shooting guns I don't think you'll feel the need to do that once you start shooting the gun.  Besides, 900 FPS in a .22 springer is really a lot of power and other than PCP's and a few real "magnum" springers it's common for the majority of .22 springers to be somewhere between 650 -  750 fps  and that's all the power you need for small game hunting. 

You've picked a fine rifle for your first springer, one of the best in my opinion.  I also have an R9 Goldfinger in .177 cal  (also still bone stock) and I've always said that my 2 R9's are my absolute favorite springers.

As for a scope....  3x9x40 or 3x14x40 would be perfect for the rifle in my opinion and those range scopes give you all you'll need for small game hunting.  I've always been partial to Centerpoint scopes and most of my rifles wear them.   Of course everyone has their own favorites when it comes to scopes, but Centerpoint has always served me well and has done it at a price I feel comfortable with.  I'm sure others will give you their choices for scopes. 

I'm sure others will chime in and give you their advise.  Congrats on choosing a fine rifle   Let us know how you make out with it.

BTW..... Both of my R9's have also cleanly taken woodchucks, some of them quite large, within 30 yards and woodchucks are one of the toughest critters I know of when it comes to putting them down for good.   All were taken with head shots.... but it just shows you that the R9's have plenty of hunting power. 

Jeff

[DRAGON64]

Wow, you have lifted a load of concerns off of my shoulders.  I knew that the R9 has a huge reputation for quality and accuracy, and I have high hopes that this rifle will be no exception.  Thanks for the experience and input.

As for the scope... my best scope has been the Center Point 4-16X40, and I have considered purchasing another for this rifle; I can only assume then, that Center Points can handle whatever recoil that an R9 can dish out(?)  That is good to know, since I am quite familiar with my older model 4-16X40.

Thanks again, you have made my Monday!

[nced]

Is this enough power to hunt squirrel at longer distances?  I know I need to do the artillery hold, but I was hoping to not have to lob artillery at 45 and 50 yards... does this make sense?
Certainly enough power at longer distances, but can you place the pellet in a nickle at longer distances with the loopy trajectory? Here is a little "trajectory chart" I worked up from the ChairGun ballistic software.......
.22 Crosman Premier pellet weighing 13.5 grains at 650 fps gives 13 1/2 fpe

With a zero distance of 25 yards and a 1 3/4" scope height you'll get this trajectory (a loopier trajectory with a 1 1/2" scope height)............
The pellet drop from 25 yards to 30 yards........about 1/2" which is probably pretty easy to guess but enough drop to do a "wounding head shot" with poor holdover.
30 to 35 yards.........an additional 3/4" of drop......now you have 1 1/4" total drop from the 25 yard zero........gettin' a bit more difficult to judge holdover!
35-40 yards.........an additional 1" of drop......now you have 2 1/4" drop from the 25 yard zero.......difficult to judge holdover!
40-45 yards.........an additional 1 1/2" of drop........now you have 3 3/4" drop from the 25 yard zero.........real difficult to judge holdover!
45-50 yards.........an additional 1 3/4" of drop........now you have 5 1/2" drop from the 25 yard zero.

Notice that at all ranges if you misjudge the distance by only 5 yards (and only 2 yards at 50......48-50 yards = an additional 3/4" drop) you'll wound the squirrel even with a perfect hold under field conditions! This is the main reason I sold my .20 and .22 berrels on my R9 and reverted back to .177. An "on the spot" hit with a .177 is better than an "off the spot" hit .22!

Can the power be increased to say 850 to 900 fps?  Can the R9 take it?
Nope....not even close! A 13.5 grain CP at 750fps is almost 18fpe. I have tuned a .20 R9 for 17.5fpe with the roughly 11 grain Beeman FTS pellet using a real stiff spring and oring sealed piston cap, however the gun was EXTREMELY hold sensitive and was a pretty good scope wrecker at that tune level!

The R9 comes highly recommended for my purpose (hunting / pesting small game), but since this is my first springer and hunting rifle, I would like to think I chose wisely...especially since it kind of stressing my budget...
LOL......I find that my .177 is perfectly adequate for squirrel hunting out to any distance I can hit a nickle (or paintball) 8 out of 10 times! Still, if at all possible I attempt to stalk within the zero distance of my R9 to remove any concern about holdover! IMHO, shooting a springer at squirrels at 50 yards under field conditions with a gun of the R9 power level is pretty much "lottery shooting"! This is fine for inanimate targets.....not living critters!

To that, I ask my last question;  what would make an excellent scope combo for the R9 that will fit a $150 budget?
Can't help much here since I use a scope in the $300 range (4-12 Vortex Diamondback with BDC reticle) on my .177 R9 but the "heavy as a brick" $80 4-16 Center Point scope I have for a back-up scope works just fine "so far"!

[DRAGON64]

Hmmm... I could save myself $75 if I just went with an RWS 34 Compact in .177 then... which I was looking closely at anyway.  I'm working on a tight budget (like most of us) and was trying to find a hunting springer on a $350 budget.  The Beeman R9 went over by $25...  Back to a confused state now.

[tomykay12]

Hmmm... I could save myself $75 if I just went with an RWS 34 Compact in .177 then... which I was looking closely at anyway.  I'm working on a tight budget (like most of us) and was trying to find a hunting springer on a $350 budget.  The Beeman R9 went over by $25...  Back to a confused state now.

Diana aficionados may disagree, but in my opinion there is a big difference in quality between the R9/HW95 and any version of the 34. They are in a completely different class, though similar in power. This difference is represented in the price. You may be quite happy with the 34. I have a couple, and they are great. I also have a R9 in .22, and Ed above is right on concerning caliber choice for hunting with the R9. My .22 definitely lobs the pellets. Love the rifle though. Very easy on the eye, and mine shoots just fine as is for now. Either rifle will serve you well, but in this power class .177 is probably the better choice for dependable, repeatable hunting accuracy. No sense going around wounding cute furry creatures, tk

[nced]

"on a $350 budget.  The Beeman R9 went over by $25"
Humm....the last R9 I bought from Straight Shooters was about $462.50 with free shipping which is about $112 over your budget.
http://www.straightshooters.com/rifle-spring-gas-ram-.177-spring-gas.html

Or you can get the basic HW95 from Airguns Of Arizona for $398 with free shipping which is almost $50 over your budget!
http://www.airgunsofarizona.com/

[JimL911]

The 34's I have are just as accurate as my 95. However as stated, Weihrauch's are built to a higher quality. Diana's are utilitarian grade.

[DRAGON64]

I know the Brits do it on a daily basis, but could a .177 R9/HW95 pull double duty as a field target rifle and a hunting rifle in sub 12 fpe?  I realize that it all comes down to the shooter and shot placement...

[nced]

I know the Brits do it on a daily basis, but could a .177 R9/HW95 pull double duty as a field target rifle and a hunting rifle in sub 12 fpe?  I realize that it all comes down to the shooter and shot placement...

Yep.......matter of fact the R9 becomes a really sweet shooter at the 12fpe level and it has more than enough power to take squirrels past any distance you should be shooting pellets and the accuracy is good for field target. The issue is learning the correct Kentucky windage for the power level. As far as pellet drop is concerned, when both a 12fpe tune and a 14fpe tune are zero'd at 30 yards there is LESS than 1" difference in the drop of a 7.9 grain CPL at 50 yards!

[Mark 611]

get the HW95 its the same gun basically as the R9, AOA has them for less then $400 shipped, I had a HW95 in .22cal a few yrs ago it was a very nice rifle it shot 650fps out of the box w/14.3gn CPHP's it was deadly accurate and I shot allot of crows and pigeons out to 70yds so IMO its plenty for bunny's and nutters out to 50yds with proper shot placement JMO

[DRAGON64]

Monies have been sent, so now I wait for the R9 in .22 to show up... I decided that ballistics-be-darned, having an R9 in any caliber is a good thing.  The seller is including a number of sample pellets that he tested to be good shooters... coupled with the two tins of .22 cal I have on hand, I believe I will have a good weekend of pellet testing coming up.

I also ordered a scope for the new (to me) rifle; a UTG 4-16X40 SWAT.  Fits my price range, and has the same zoom range as my Center Point scope... Optics palnet had a better price than PA, so I opted for the 80mm side wheel to compliment the SWAT feature.

Thanks for the replies, it has been quite educational... with reading time over with, it is time for the school of hands on!

[DRAGON64]

...before I forget; what material is the muzzle break made from?  Is it Delrin or Aluminum?

[Mark 611]

if you bought a Factory R9 DG model it will be a steel muzzle break

[longislandhunter]

Yup, should be steel. 

Congrats on the new R9..... I know you're gonna love it as much as I love mine... and that's saying a lot 

Jeff

[DRAGON64]

if you bought a Factory R9 DG model it will be a steel muzzle break

Steel is good, I imagine it will help with balance... thanks!

Yup, should be steel. 

Congrats on the new R9..... I know you're gonna love it as much as I love mine... and that's saying a lot 

Jeff

Thanks Jeff, I have a pretty good feeling about the sale as the seller has been pretty straight forward, and has communicated to me quite well that I should have fun for years to come.  From the small images I have seen of the rifle, it is quite elegant with no marks (pressure or damage).

[tomykay12]

They are quite nice. Enjoy, tk

[snakebite4767]

I've had both the RWS34 and the HW 95/R9 in 22 cal. I would take the HW 95/R9 HANDS DOWN between the two. Mine shoots a group as tight as a Bulls @$$ in fly season at 20 yds, and does a good job at 40 yds. I can hit a soup can EVERY shot at 80 yds. I use a UTG 3-9 Mil-dot scope. Dead on at 20 yds, 1 dot over at 40 yds, 3 1/2 dots over at 80 yds. The 14.3 gn CPHP goes through both sides of the can and into the tree at 80 yds. I see no reason for more power in squirrel hunting. I had one of the 900 fps + Mags in 22 cal. It was hard to shoot. IMO, the R9 is very forgiving and pretty easy to shoot compared to some. I think it is one of the best Brake Barrel's on the market. There seems to be a reason that the "Bulls-eye" shooters use under 15 fpe. I was up and down too on which gun to get. I bought others before getting the HW 95 Luxus/R9, and not one of them compared favorably to it.

As with everything... "Your Mileage may vary" 

Snakebite

[DRAGON64]

I've had both the RWS34 and the HW 95/R9 in 22 cal. I would take the HW 95/R9 HANDS DOWN between the two. Mine shoots a group as tight as a Bulls @$$ in fly season at 20 yds, and does a good job at 40 yds. I can hit a soup can EVERY shot at 80 yds. I use a UTG 3-9 Mil-dot scope. Dead on at 20 yds, 1 dot over at 40 yds, 3 1/2 dots over at 80 yds. The 14.3 gn CPHP goes through both sides of the can and into the tree at 80 yds. I see no reason for more power in squirrel hunting. I had one of the 900 fps + Mags in 22 cal. It was hard to shoot. IMO, the R9 is very forgiving and pretty easy to shoot compared to some. I think it is one of the best Brake Barrel's on the market. There seems to be a reason that the "Bulls-eye" shooters use under 15 fpe. I was up and down too on which gun to get. I bought others before getting the HW 95 Luxus/R9, and not one of them compared favorably to it.

As with everything... "Your Mileage may vary" 

Snakebite

Thanks snake... I have some 14.3 domes I have been wanting try first and foremost, as they were excellent shooters for my .22 Marauder (which is long gone).  I also have some Crosman pointed and some Benjamin hollow points... based on the tracking number, it looks as though the rifle will not arrive until Monday/Tuesday next week... The hardest part is the wait.

[snakebite4767]

"The hardest part is the wait"

I HATE THE WAIT!

Snakebite