Budget of around $800 what FT rifle would you choose?

[golddredger]

I have about $800 to spend on another FT rifle. I am looking very hard at an Air Arms S500 Xtra FAC PCP Air Rifle in .177 very hard choice. This one: https://www.pyramydair.com/product/air-arms-s500-xtra-fac-sidelever-pcp-air-rifle?m=2283

The funds can go %100 to the rifle only I already have scopes and everything else. I have been searching for several days trying to make a great choice but it is a tough price range to get one in. I do not want to step down in price I am looking for a great shooter out of the box that I can build a custom FT stock for. Let me know if you have any ideas. I been watching the for sale forums and nothing good popping up.

[Motorhead]

Keep saving !!
or build up a Regulated, LW barrel custom M-rod.

You talking FT or HFT duty here ?

[golddredger]

Hey Scott,
Here is the deal. I have the first M rod ready to go as you know except for the regulator from Vincent. I needed a rifle for my son to shoot. So I sold a powder burner I had to get the funds fast so he can have a rifle to shoot. So we can be ready for March if we can. So if I can score the S500 I would go that route and make a sweet stock. I also am wondering if I would need to put a regulator in the S500 as well?  Or what other gun? I really did not want to build another Marauder I do not think. But maybe that is the way to go? Man I am in a pickle here.

[Motorhead]

Make a couple matches ... look around what others are shooting, ASK to shoot them 
Making an educated decision rather than a rash time crunched one is the more prudent IMO.

As offered, got a loaner HFT rig for the son to shoot.
he / you very well may ... when seeing what other have absolutely go off the deep end and reevaluate your wants 

[golddredger]

Ok will do I will hold off then and we do want to thank you for offering the loaner. That is what we will do then. We will make the match then see what we think after that. We will bring the M Rod we have and show with a smile ready to shoot. Just let us know what pellets we need to bring for the Bam. Thank you very much for the help!!! Jason

[TyRyanosaurus]

With an offer like that from Scott it is hard to beat, but here is another idea or at least a hybrid of Scott's. Just thought I would throw it out to keep your options open.

I have talked with several FTeers about how they wish they never sold their AA S400 (pretty close to the S500). These go used for a little over half your budget. They seem to have stabilized in price so if you don't like it or whatever you will lose little or maybe even make a buck if you can show it is now sussed out.
Keep your eye out for one while you/he shoot the loaner.

I am sure their are other guns like that too.

My personal opinion is to give your son the m-rod and get a nice springer for yourself, but I am afflicted and perhaps deranged.

I was watching Jim C shooting the Bam and he really liked it. Huge smile on his face and he was drilling the target. Pretty nice, proven, loaner.

[Scott Allen]

The S400 is a good choice, my son (14 now) was successful with one in Hunter class in our local club last year.

Scott

[golddredger]

Yep I am going to keep an eye out for the S400. I think I have a line on one now so it might just work out but I will take my time and cross our fingers.

[TyRyanosaurus]

Awesome!
You know you are up near CalMark and a couple other guys in Chico. Y'all should buy some targets and do some match up there. Or come down and visit us.

I would like to get a Sierra match together and a Mid-NorCal match like in Lake county or something. Once or twice a year, just so all the FT people can get together shoot and hang out.

If you can I suggest you go down to Morrow Bay and camp for the Western States GP. It is really fun. Ask Scott.

[golddredger]

Yes sounds like a plan. My son and I plan to get a few shoots under our belts then we will hit some more. I been following the Morrow Bay posts. Looks good and also the Diablo shoots to. I would love to meet up with some guys from Chico and put a match together at least a fun shoot. I also know of some wonderful areas in La Porte, Ca. we could setup a nice shoot and campout at. If you happen to talk to the fellas from Chico let them know we would like to meet up and do some shooting. We shoot powder guns a bunch to.

[TyRyanosaurus]

La Porte is halfway between Paradise and Quincy, south of Bucks lake right?

I am wondering if we set up a camping/FT/general airgun weekend out there if Bay area people would come?

The only times I have been out there I was on a dirt bike or a jeep. Are the roads to any good camping/shooting spots "city car/driver" accessible? I don't want someone to tear off their oil pan thinking they are a rally driver cause it is their first time on dirt. 'Course that really isn't my fault or problem but still I will feel bad.

Is it BLM,NFS, or private land?

[golddredger]

La Porte is halfway between Paradise and Quincy, south of Bucks lake right?

I am wondering if we set up a camping/FT/general airgun weekend out there if Bay area people would come?

The only times I have been out there I was on a dirt bike or a jeep. Are the roads to any good camping/shooting spots "city car/driver" accessible? I don't want someone to tear off their oil pan thinking they are a rally driver cause it is their first time on dirt. 'Course that really isn't my fault or problem but still I will feel bad.

Is it BLM,NFS, or private land?

It is BLM lands and yes they have some very nice roads and campgrounds. I have done a bunch of metal detecting there. The hydraulic pits would be great for having a shoot in. Rolling little hills and trees. Would be lots of fun. Easy to walk around and get a nice course setup. La Porte is just south of Little grass Valley lake and yes that is south of Bucks lake. There is Campgrounds in and around town or at Little Grass if a fellow wants a groomed campground but you can camp anywhere you like. Would be fun for sure.

[woogie_man]

How hard is it to change caliber in s400's?

I ask as I have a 410 in .177 and love it, and then I have an unused one in .22.  Would be great to swap over and use as well, or sell.

[TyRyanosaurus]

Golddregger: drop me a line TyRyanosaurus@yahoo.com or check out the other thread I have going

Woogie: I will talk with my friend who had a 400 and ask him. I think looking at the schematic it is just barrel, bolt, and maybe transfer port. They look to be designed like a very finely built crosman platform. I have never had one apart though. You should ask over on UK forum. They will know more than I for sure.

[chiro972b]

I have about $800 to spend on another FT rifle. I am looking very hard at an Air Arms S500 Xtra FAC PCP Air Rifle in .177 very hard choice. This one: https://www.pyramydair.com/product/air-arms-s500-xtra-fac-sidelever-pcp-air-rifle?m=2283

The funds can go %100 to the rifle only I already have scopes and everything else. I have been searching for several days trying to make a great choice but it is a tough price range to get one in. I do not want to step down in price I am looking for a great shooter out of the box that I can build a custom FT stock for. Let me know if you have any ideas. I been watching the for sale forums and nothing good popping up.

That is the gun I have bought for hunter ft. Mine was modified with a sort of bstaley mod and it gets over a hundred shots on a fill with only about 25 fps es. The gun is an absolute tack driver although I haven't had my first match with it. I do know the gun is more accurate than I am and practicing with a gamo field target without any restrictor on it and at 40 yards I can drop it 9 out of ten shots or better. I haven't moved it out to 55 yards yet, but I'm pretty sure the limiting factor there would be my skills and not the gun. Mine shoots about 850 fps with jsb 8.4 pellets with the bstaley tune. I bought the gun used from a member here for $550 and if I could only keep one air rifle it would be this one.

Good luck in your search.

[Calmark]

I'm no expert since I'm a springer guy, but the AA pcps do seem like they would be very nice for FT.  Like Motorhead suggested, go to a FT match this spring and check out what guys there are using.  You might just see some rifle that you never even though of that jumps out at you as the one for you.  You do say you like making custom stocks, so a Marauder might be a good choice as well, especially since you are familiar with them.  I'd hate to carve into a pretty AA stock, though I've done it to my Prosport, as I'm a lefty.  Its nothing pretty, but does the trick.  I'll be interested to see what you decide to go with and will likely see you in Ione this spring.

By the way, I'm just down the hill from you and live in Durham.  As you can see from my avatar, we also share a second hobby.  I used to go gold dredging until the moratorium was put in place.  I've also tried metal detecting for nuggets a few times, but never found anything that way.  Let me know if you ever want to do some prospecting or try out any of my springer collection. 

-Mark