poor man's R7

[snuffer]

Guys I have the air rifle bug BAD.
I got a RWS 34 about Thanksgiving it's kept me sane reading and learning about air rifles so far this winter.
But now I need another one to try pellets in and buy scopes for.
I think my 34 Compact has me spoiled for accuracy but it is pretty heavy and a little hard to cock for a old guy. I want I think a R7  but ma says NOT TILL YOU RETIRE  2 more years but I need something to mess with now!
Someone said a Bronco would be accurate at 10-30 yards and easy-to-use and cheaper.
You Guys have any suggestions?
Thanks for the input
Chuck

[grauhanen]

Don't compromise.  Tell her you'll have to retire early.  Or tell her you will compromise with an HW30.

[Oldgringo]

Do it now!  Tomorrow is not promised.

[Mulby]

If you have to wait, it's worth it. My wife can be swayed with some effort, and yours likely can be too. The 631 or 634 are good quality 'poor mans' guns. I love my CZs as much as my 30s.

[joek]

one dealer has very good deals going on HW30S's right now. otherwise diana 24 t05.

[lefteyeshot]

Poor man's R7? Blackhawk Elite or Umarex Surge at Walmart $100. Guns are the same.(34 knock-offs) You can get both re-furbed from dpciwholesale.com for $124+shipping.($100 minimum order) From them I got the re-furbed Elite and a chinese under lever I've been wanting with a wood stock and safety and fiber optic sights for $123 with shipping. I put the Elite in an old extra XS bamboo thumbhole stock and mounted a re-furbed($25 amazon)Winchesr 2-7x32AO scope on it. Shoots good.  Put a TF 3-7x32AO(PA close out sale $39) on the under lever. It shoots ok.

I bought a TF M8 awhile back with the scope on sale for $109. They're $149 again now or $129 without the scope. About the same weight, length and fps as an R7. Same barrel lock-up, safety and twin trigger as the Bronco you mentioned.  I've got a TF M12 also but it cost more than a "poor man's" R7. They both shoot good.

These aren't high dollar guns but I like'em a lot. I never shot a 34 or R7. I just got a Diana 470th but haven't had a chance to shoot it yet.

[Booger]

If you have to wait, it's worth it. My wife can be swayed with some effort, and yours likely can be too. The 631 or 634 are good quality 'poor mans' guns. I love my CZs as much as my 30s.

+1 I had a CZ 631 it was very accurate, but at 600 FPS it just wasn't for me. The Bronco please do not waste your money. The Bronco left such a bad taste in my mouth that mouth wash never got out.

[Sfttailrdr46]

  Save your pocket change and watch for decent used or a refurb D34 and forget the Knock off clones then you will have the real deal for very little more out of pocket

[Tinknocker1]

i would buy the stainless HW-30 send it to Paul Watts for a tune enjoy my retirement and the single life 

[ptpalpha]

The OP already has a D34; he's wanting something lighter with less cocking effort.  The 34 weighs about 7-1/2 lbs unscoped, the R7 is right around 6lbs so I think Snuffer's on the right track here.
Having been in the "tight as a drum budget" category myself a time or two, here are some suggestions:
1. Don't compromise.  I know you want something RIGHT NOW, but with some careful (and perhaps devious) maneuvering you should be able to score the R7 you really want.  If you can come up with the $130-or-so a knock-off will cost, you're on your way to the R7 (which you should buy on the used market).
2. Give a hard look around you to see what you can sell that won't pi$$ off your wife (too much).  Then run some searches online to see what those items are selling for.  Then sell them, funneling the money into a paypal account.  That part is critical, as you avoid opening up the arguments every time a check comes in the mail.  Remember, people will buy anything, especially if it's "vintage" or "collectable".
3. Waiting 2 years is out of the question.  Period.  If you can't raise the money by selling stuff, you need to come up with a strategy of renegotiating with your wife.  If part of that involves selling the D34, then you may have to consider that.
4. If all of the above fails, one way to scratch the New Gun itch is to customize the gun you already have.  Refinish the stock, lube-tune the action, make an adjustable recoil pad, etc.  Also, research and read everything you can find about the R7 so you're ready for it when the time comes.  Do you want an older one, newer one, what are the different stocks it's come in, which tune kits are other R7 owners using, etc.
I have yet to purchase an air rifle without logging many, many hours of internet research time.  The hunt is as much fun as the score.
Best of luck, and it may come down to this: putting your foot down and telling her you're buying the R7.  It can get bloody, but sometimes there's no other choice.  But WHATEVER YOU DO, don't buy it without telling her first.  The "better to ask for forgiveness than ask for permission" idea DOES NOT apply here.  Trust me on that one.  Good luck, brother.

[JimL911]

Two years is a lot of missed shooting. If you absolutely can't get it now, put a JM OS kit in your 34. This will drastically alter the shot cycle and cocking effort to the better.

[Tomcat]

This is my idea of a poor man's R7.  I have shot both the HW30s, which is the same action as the R7 and the XS-12 from Flying Dragon (one of the sponsors for this forum).  http://flyingdragonairrifles.org/XISICO_XS12.html

While the XS-12 is not as refined as the R7, it has the same lower cocking effort and light weight.  It is fairly accurate, while not in the same league as the R&/HW30s.   It will shoot in the 600fps range in .177 cal.

For the small amount of money (less than $100), I found it to be quite a bargain.  Mike will tune it for a little more money and make it even better.

Just my $.02

Tom

[Brazos]

I have no experience with the XS12 that Tomcat suggest but on paper it should work.  For less than $100 I too have considered it for the same reason.  So if budget is an issue you just can't get around then roll the dice.  It could work out great.   I still may do this myself on day if for no other reason to have an R7 type beater gun for the neighborhood kids. 

I do own a HW30S I bought 1 year ago from Pyramyd with 10% off & free shipping.  To my door it was $283.  It is a very nice rifle and at that price it was a steal.  That rifle is nicer than ANY gun you can buy for under $300.  Super accurate, top bluing, match adjustable trigger, outstanding sights with insets, well finished wood stock with rubber but pad, ...  If you can swing it get the HW30S and buy some JSB RS 7.33 grain pellets and never look back.  You will pass it down to your kids and grand kids.

[lillysdad621]

there are also several options, and i speak from the standpoint that i have owned 3 R7, 2 in .177 and one  in .20. They were all sold and the only one i miss is the .20. Once i discovered the FWB300s i never went back. Now, that said, the R7 has something besides accuracy that i think is the true attraction to the rifle. Its practicality. It does everything a big springer does, at 60% of the size. Its small without being useless. Its simple without being cheap. and you can shoot it all day without tiring of the effort necessary as well as of exploring how precise it allows you to shoot. The Joy of cutting Dandelyons stems off hand, that pesky squirrel inside your yard, blasting a wasp on a wooded post. or just seen how far you can really shoot it if it "only "does about 600 fps... telephone pole  at 140 yards??? how many mississippis does it take to get there? explore the effects of wind on pellets as you can see them flying through your scope... many joys... As the others guys said, have a heart to heart talk with your wife (no birthday or Christmas for a couple of years?) and explain to her that it will make you very happy to add that to your collection. Get the R7 or save some and get the HW30S. They are worth every penny. You will find no one who disagrees with that statement.
Now, if she sticks to her guns, there are options that can help you explore those joys, but understand this; no matter what you buy, you will eventually buy an R7. Period. You could find an older BSA meteor, and tune it yourself... but the trigger is not the same. Or a Diana 24, 25,27 or even a 35. I just tuned one that shot just as well as my R7s, and had a very nice trigger. But at the last show someone that needed an R7 like rifle made me an offer that i could not refuse and she went home with that gentleman. I had a xs12 with a modified B26 trigger... great rifle, but it was also given away at the last GTA shoot... she was also a great rifle and it could give an R7 a run for its money... after that i went searching for another peashooter to do R7 duty... i found a neglected crosman 3100. I went through the whole gun nd i am happy to say that she will still cut Dandelyons, and all the rest, for the princely sum of about 50 bucks... I love it when i find little gems in the rough. But even with that, i will purchase another R7/HW30s... in .20 again. and i think by now i learned my lesson. It will stay part of the collection indefinitely, for those times when i am reminded what a great little rifle they are...
I hope that gives you some ideas... BSA about 100$, XS under 100$, dianas you can find for under 150$, the crosman was 10 bucks... and dont be afreaid to get one that needs work... they can be made to shoot well for very little investment.

[PigButtons]

If your 34 isn't exactly what you NEED;
1) Sell it and get the R7
2) If you love it but want it more user friendly, easier to cock install this: http://www.airrifleheadquarters.com/catalog/item/251488/7512885.htm OR http://vortekproducts.com/ourstore/index.php?route=product/product&path=45&product_id=231
3) If the gun is just too heavy, exercise more so you can tote it, or see 1) above.

Also, a little patience and being willing to get a used one in need of TLC can get you one for not much more than a cheaper (read less satisfying) alternative, even after the repairs if you are handy enough to do them yourself.

[Tomcat]

I have no experience with the XS12 that Tomcat suggest but on paper it should work.  For less than $100 I too have considered it for the same reason.  So if budget is an issue you just can't get around then roll the dice.  It could work out great.   I still may do this myself on day if for no other reason to have an R7 type beater gun for the neighborhood kids. 

I do own a HW30S I bought 1 year ago from Pyramyd with 10% off & free shipping.  To my door it was $283.  It is a very nice rifle and at that price it was a steal.  That rifle is nicer than ANY gun you can buy for under $300.  Super accurate, top bluing, match adjustable trigger, outstanding sights with insets, well finished wood stock with rubber but pad, ...  If you can swing it get the HW30S and buy some JSB RS 7.33 grain pellets and never look back.  You will pass it down to your kids and grand kids.

The XS-12 would make an excellent loaner or kids gun that almost anyone can operate and shoot.  I am average size and the XS-12 was fine for me. I found the one I had (.177 cal) actually shot the RWS supermag pellets pretty well.  It is a fun gun for sure, and size-wise almost exactly the same as the R7/HW30.  I, too, later bought the HW30s from PA, and never looked back.  It is one of the easiest fun guns to shoot that I have owned.  You can use the stock iron sights or add a scope if you want.  Same with the XS-12.

[ev-in-az]

This is a different suggestion, will probably be considered off the wall by many. I own an R7, three XS12 rifles from mike. I also have an IZH 60. It is light, easy to cock and mine at least is a tack driver. It is a rifle you can shoot all day long. Mine is a little pellet picky. If you prefer metal and wood an XS12 from Mike Melick is an excellent choice.

[RC1947]

The inexpensive Stoeger X-5 is a fine air rifle.  I passed mine to my grandson, and he does very well with it.  RC

[lizzard]

I own a HW 30-HW50s but my CZ634 is just as accurate, not as nice trigger or finish but for 150.00 and easy cocking its a great buy. I bought mine from Buds .

[Oldgringo]

I own a HW 30-HW50s but my CZ634 is just as accurate, not as nice trigger or finish but for 150.00 and easy cocking its a great buy. I bought mine from Buds .

Hmmm?  I have a half dozen CZ452 .22 LR PB's and don't think they can be touched for quality or accuracy for $500 or less.  I need to look into the CZ air rifles.  Buds has been good to me over the years.