Are springers bad?

[Kavin2845]

Ive heard people telling me to avoid using springers b/c their like really hard to use and not for beginners, is that true? also whats the difference between a gas ram and a springer? anyone better than the other?

as you can probably tell im new to all this, so take it easy lol!

[DOKF]

Springers BAD?

Not at all!  Enjoy the challenge.  I personally think that springers are the perfect choice for beginners.  Low cost entry to self contained shooting. 

If after shooting a while you like the sport, and can afford to spend copious quantities of hard cash, then the alternative PCP options may be for you.

As for spring versus gas ram; I personally find the gas rams easier to shoot and easier to work on.  But, they are essentially the same guns, working on similar principles.  The pneumatics (CO₂, MSP and PCP) are fundamentally different.

[Hangtown-Shooter]

Welcome Kavin!

Do not believe everything you read and buy yourself a RWS Diana 34 .177 cal. 

[BenjiHunter]

Welcome to the forum!!
If you can shoot a springer well, you can shoot any airgun well.
Yes, springers are trickier than a PCP or a multipump gun. Some are very hold sensitive, others are not.
But they are a lot more fun.

[BenjiHunter]

Welcome Kavin!

Do not believe everything you read and buy yourself a RWS Diana 34 .177 cal. 

+1 on that!

[limbshaker]

The biggest thing that gives springers the bad rap, is people wanting high velocity. A cheap springer thats claimed to shoot 1000fps and made out of plastic or is very lightweight is very hard to shoot accurately because the recoil is so severe. You can't have high power, accuracy, and lightweight out of a springer. You can have 2 out of the 3, but not all.

BUT!!!

Get a decent quality springer and get it shooting at a mellow velocity (12fpe or less in .177 is a good rule of thumb) and they are ridiculously easy to shoot accurately. But take the same gun and try and squeeze maximum power out of it, and it will instantly be much harder to shoot.

Even cheap guns can be very good shooters if they are kept at realistic power levels.

A "gas ram" is the same as a "springer" except for instead of having a conventional steel coil spring, they have a gas strut in its place. Very similar to the thing that holds the hood or rear hatch or trunk up on your car. They both recoil, and behave the same, but the gas ram usually has a sharper, sometimes harsher recoil. If you plan on tinkering and tweaking your gun, I'd suggest getting one with a metal spring. That way you can change springs to alter the power level and the way the recoil feels.

[degorovi]

Springers are not "bad" guns for beginners. If you are looking into getting your first springer I would recommend the following popular guns:
Hatsan 95
Hatsan striker edge
benjamin Trail series
RWS 34
XISICO XS-25
These are reasonably priced and are popular as first airgun purchases. Shooting a spring gun will require practice and patience to shoot well. Enjoy the challenge.

[anuthabubba]

limbshaker speaks the truth!

My first ever experience with an 'adult' airgun was with a FWB124 barrel cocker and I had NO TROUBLE hitting the stuff (pecans, cypress/sycamore/sweet-gum balls, pine cones) I was shooting at. Just don't get fooled by the 1400 fps advertizing. MV is no good if you can't hit the target item! I have killed nutria with headshots at 50 yards with a vintage Sheridan shooting .20 cal. at ~650 fps muzzle velocity and ~12fpe.

[Sfttailrdr46]

  Springers are definitely tricky . The trick is only buying only one

[Racer X]

O ya, bad to the bone. 
Welcome

[MicErs]

Each type of platform has advantages and disadvantages.

Powerful spring guns are usually hard to shoot well and it takes a lot of time and experience to shoot them well.  They also say that they need break in time (some number of pellets shot through them before they settle down).   Springers are hard on optics.  Springers are self-contained and that makes them quite handy.  These are generalizations.

PCP guns require a means to pump them up.  Those pumps are expensive and the rifles tend to be more expensive also.  Get the right pellet in a PCP and it will put pellet on pellet at 50 yards if you do your part.

Multi-pump pneumatics are also self-contained and are easier to shoot well than a springer.  They are usually the lightest of the three as well.  I've been informed that you can get some tuned ones that shoot in the 18 FPE range and that is the sweet spot for hunting small game.  Just my opinion there.  These are generalizations.

If there was a production gun similar to the Benji MPs in .22 that would deliver 770 fps with a 15 grain pellet.  I'd probably buy it.  I mean a from the factory production gun.  I think that the factory folk are missing a great market there.

Anyway, if you go the route of a springer look at mid-range, mid-power guns.  I like under levers or side levers but break barrel guns are usually lighter.  Remember that springers are hard on optics so don't scrimp on the glass, make sure it is rated for a springer.

Find something you like and shoot it.

[Springrrrr]

O ya, bad to the bone Collector
Welcome

There, I fixed it for ya.

[K.O.]

Nah Sproingers are not bad, they make great clubs...

[Veprjack]

Just got my very first springer today. It's a .22 XS-25 from Flying Dragons. There was very little recoil, noise or vibration! After taking a few practice shots I put 5 pellets through a target and got .25" CTC with original iron sights at 10 yards - I'm an average shooter with old eyes!

I'm enjoying my PCPs and Multi pumps, but I like the idea grabbing a gun and a tin of pellets, cocking once and sending an 18.1gr pellet out at 660fps!  For $125 basic or $225 fully tuned by one of the best in the business, how can you go wrong?  And, you can plink, target shoot or take care of pests, small game out to 50 yards with practice.

Simple but powerful and accurate enough. IMHO, everyone should have at least one springer in their collection! If the Zombies come, you won't have to fight through them to get to your local SCUBA or paintball store! 

[DOKF]

A "gas ram" is the same as a "springer" except for instead of having a conventional steel coil spring, they have a gas strut in its place. Very similar to the thing that holds the hood or rear hatch or trunk up on your car. They both recoil, and behave the same, but the gas ram usually has a sharper, sometimes harsher recoil. If you plan on tinkering and tweaking your gun, I'd suggest getting one with a metal spring. That way you can change springs to alter the power level and the way the recoil feels.

I personally find the gas rams to have much less recoil than the conventional spring guns. 

But maybe that is just my gun choices.

.

[Kavin2845]

So basically springers are not bad but the user just needs to have some practice under his belt, Alright cool. What are some good break barrels for hunting? i know a bunch of you guys mentioned the Diana rws 34, i have to admit its a gorgeous gun but a bit out of my price range. Ive heard good things about Hatsan any others?   

[MicErs]

So basically springers are not bad but the user just needs to have some practice under his belt, Alright cool. What are some good break barrels for hunting? i know a bunch of you guys mentioned the Diana rws 34, i have to admit its a gorgeous gun but a bit out of my price range. Ive heard good things about Hatsan any others?

See ViperJack's post just a couple of posts back.

[DOKF]

What ViperJack said ...

I have a mild preference for the Benjamin Trail series (NP2 and NP XL) ...

[Kavin2845]

What ViperJack said ...

I have a mild preference for the Benjamin Trail series (NP2 and NP XL) ...

the NP2 looks nice, i noticed in your tag that you on the NP2 in .22 cal, what you opinion of it? and did you tune it your self? if so how?

[lefteyeshot]

I had a QB78D converted to PCP. Good gun, couldn't miss. I just don't care for PCP so I sold it. To get started with PCP is $400-450.

The RWS 34 is probably the best springer for the price, $285. Never owned one but I have a Diana 470th same trigger and it's like magic.

Cheaper options are the Ruger Airhawk or XS25, same gun and a clones of the 34 but no T06 trigger.
Air Gun Depot has Airhawks with a scope fot $79.95+shipping. Flying Dragon has the XS25 for $115 and basic tune $40 no scope free shipping

Hatsan 95 might be a good starter springer about $150. Never had one but I have four other Hatsans with the same Quatro trigger. Not a T06 but better than most.

Saturday I order a refurbished Airhawk from Midway USA for $48+$15 shpg. no scope and a Winchester 1100 off Amazon $79.95 shipped with a 3-9X32 scope. Couldn't resist the price. They came today. The Airhawk via UPS looked like a new gun. Not a scratch. The 1100 via post office. Like a new gun. Couple of little scratches.

A good inexpensive scope is a Tech Force 2-7X32AO. Pyramyd Air has them in their close out sale for $39.95. I've got six of them. Sunday I ordered two Winchester 2-7X32AO scope off Amazon for $38 each shipped. Came yesterday via P.O. Got four of those. With that 2-7 I can see the holes in targets at 25 yds. For shooting 25 to 50 yds that's all the scope I need.

Another gun I've been thinking about is the same gun as an Airhawk with less power. 12 fpe/810fps.
Made for the UK market. Pyramyd sales them. The SMK TH208. $150 with a 3-9X40 scope and thumbhole stock.

I think these guns need to be shot with open sight for awhile till the smoking and dieseling stops and the oil gets blown out before mounting a scope. I think the dieseling breaks some scope that would hold up otherwise.

Well, that's my 2 cents worth. I got too many guns. I shoot most of'em pretty good, none of'em great except the 470th and the 135. Those are my go to guns but they got better scopes. Good luck and enjoy. This is fun stuff.