OT - air guns

[Ysabel Kid]

I know we've covered this topic before, but it has been awhile, so we may have some newer folks who can comment, or more experienced (here) folks who have had more recent experiences that they can share.

I'm interested in getting a good, accurate, and quiet air gun that I can use in the back yard without causing the neighbors to flee for their lives and/or call the police. Also, I don't want to break the bank on it.

I had a gift card from Wally World and purchased a Crosman break-action .177 caliber pellet gun a few weeks ago. It was a nice gun, well made, accurate - but was considerably louder than any .22 I have! I returned it.

At the NRA convention a couple weeks ago I drooled over the Gamo "Whisper" models. I also picked up a brochure from the Crosman stand which shows their new "Nitro Piston" break actions, which are supposed to be 70% quieter than regular break actions, and quieter than even the "Whisper" models from Gamo. Does anyone have any experience with these?

I wouldn't mind getting a PCP (pre-charged pneumatic) air gun, but as far as I can tell, this would break the bank.

As well, I remember recommendations here on going with a .22 caliber versus the .177. Yes? No? Why? How about the .20 or the .25?

Thanks!

[horsesoldier03]

Last summer I was visiting my mom and one of the neighborhoods had a big community yard sale. I was shocked, I finally got me a good buy. I bought a Chinesse Airgun with the arm under the barrel for a whopping $10. I was a bit skeptical, however, the guy handed me a pellet and said here, go ahead and shoot that can over there. This gun is a thumper. I guarentee it is running 900-1000 fps. If you ever see one of those tool sales at the national guard armory I was at one later on and seen the exact same gun for sale there for about $25. Get it, its definately a bargin!

[Rusty]

I have a .22 Sheridan that is far quieter than Jr.'s BSA in the same caliber and both shoot at about the same velocity. I can also vary my power level if I want to. With the peep sight it is quite a set up.

[El Chivo]

I got a Gamo "Silent Cat" which must be the forerunner to the Whisper.

I haven't shot it much as I had trouble getting it on the paper with the new scope and all. I hope it only needs breaking in, but right now it's not accurate at all.

It does seem pretty quiet, but until I get it sorted out I'll be using my slicked up Benjamin Sheridan. Bunny season approaches!

One thing about the Silent Gamos, they don't have metal barrels. It's carbon fiber. I don't know if there's a insert or not but I doubt it.

On the other hand my Benjamin Sheridan is wicked. It will accept up to 14 pumps (after steroid treatment) and has taken more lives than anything else in my arsenal - one English sparrow and one ground squirrel. I was practicing at the silhouette range and shooting at a 40 meter chicken. I fired four or five times and couldn't hit it - so I thought. But when I walked up to it I found I had hit it every time - somebody had put up a 1" thick heavy chicken meant for pistol caliber. The Benjamin Sheridan moved this chicken backwards a smidgen at a time and it was about to fall off its base. Subsequent light gauge chickens fell every time to this thumper.

[RIHMFIRE]

there is a show on the sportsman channel that deals exclusively with
air rifles......hunting air rifles too! American airgunner..check it out
http://www.americanairgunner.com./
or
http://www.thesportsmanchannel.com/prog ... php?ID=307

[firefuzz]

I looked for years trying to find a more powerful, single stroke, air rifle that was quieter than my Benjamin/Sheridan and as accurate and finally gave up and bought a suppressor for my .22lr. They are out there, but the cost is much more than I'll pay for an air rifle, some higher than the total cost of the suppressor and threaded barrels for my 10/22 and G17. The bullet strike with sup-sonic ammo is as loud or louder than the gun going off.

Just another route to explore.

Rob

[stretch]

I've got two at the moment, and I use them for plinking and shooting
squirrels. Both are quiet. My neighbor had a Gamo Whisperer and
although I know he's shot it, I've never heard him! I don't think my
neighbors hear me much, except for the pellets wacking my steel-lined
trap. Nobody's ever complained.

I bought a Beeman SS1000 from Cabela's. These are made in China
now (what isn't?). If you get a good one, they're quite nice for the
money. It's a break-barrel springer sporting a 4x32 scope, also made
in China. In .177, I use the Beeman Silver Arrow pellets, and they'll
go right through a red tree rat from end-to-end. No trouble with power!
And it's accurate - quarter-sized groups at 25 yards if I do my part
are no trouble. The trigger's not all that, but you're not paying for
a target trigger, either.

The other rifle is an RWS 48 in .22. I put a Bushnell scope on it, and use RWS
Hollow Point pellets. This is a difficult rifle to learn to shoot, but the results
are worth the practice. I think it is more accurate than the Beeman, has a
much better trigger than the Beeman, and is made in Germany.
It's a side-lever gun. The hollow point pellets expand nicely after
going through rotten tomatoes! They also expand nicely
in squirrels - I've never had one exit except for a spine shot. The squirrels
also die RIGHT NOW! No twitching, flopping - nothing. They stop whatever
they were doing and fall out of the tree they were in. My notes are a wee
bit fuzzy, but it seems my test pellets retained about 14.2 gr. of 14.7gr (?)
and expanded to around .270 in the tomatoes.

Can only get one air rifle? Go with the .177 in a decent break barrel like RWS
or Gamo. Pellet selection is MUCH better in the .177 caliber.
Going up against a 'chuck? Maybe .22 is better -or even .25. Woodchucks
are the African Buffalo of the Rodent Kingdom up this way. I like using something
with gunpowder on them, myself, but I might try one of those Silver Arrow pellets
in the big RWS on one. .20 is said by some to be the nicest caliber for air guns, but
pellet selection is limited. .25 is like your 50-95, but again - pellet selection is
really limited. .177 and .22 can be had at KMart or WallyWorld.

The PCP guns are really, really nice. They are also breathtakingly expensive.
Maybe someday.....

Let us know what you get, and provide us with a compehensive range report
ASAP!

-Stretch

[rjohns94]

Jay, for quietness, you need a PCP. Look at the benjamin Discovery. about $400 with pump, very accurate, small game capable.

for half that amount, you could get a Benjamin pump, worked over my Mach 1, giving you better trigger, higher velocity, and comes in several calibers.


I have a break open pistol, with rifle stock, in .177, scoped that would be excellent for around the house pest control. it has done a number on the starling population in my yard. It does not get used as much because I still prefer my .20 cal carbine for pest control. If your interested, I could send you pics, then send you the rifle to let you try it out.

My .20 cal Beeman set up with a scope:

[gamekeeper]

Over the years I have, due mainly to our stupid gun laws, used many different air guns.
At the moment, I have a BSA supersport .22 and a .20 Sheridan CO2 pistol, both are MUCH louder than my 9422 with CB longs, so now I don't use the airguns unless I really have to.

Shirley, bought my son's CZ .177 break barrel that has killed loads of vermin including a Fox, it is without doubt the most accurate air rifle I have ever used, it is not as powerful as most hunting air rifles but it always amazes me on how well it kills.

In the UK we are restricted to 12 foot pounds of muzzle energy unless you have a firearm certificate for a more powerful model.

My son and I have both proved that the .177 puts more meat on the table than a .22 but as I said, our pop guns are not as powerful as they should be, so I can't comment on which caliber is best in the USA.

[O.S.O.K.]

Just shot a round of CB longs out of my old Cz m69 trainer this morning - to check the sights - shot a paper plate dead center at about 15 yards with the rear 25 meter sight leaf up. Was very quiet - I would have no trouble shooting this in the hood here - at least for pest control. It does make some noise but sounds like a standard pellet gun to me. Not the most powerful of loads but I think it will dispatch such as rats and squirrels if used on them - cats... I don't know - might just maim them which would not be acceptable. Cats will get stung by the little daisy bb gun that I keep for the purpose.

[JReed]

my favorite back yard air rifle is the Crossman 760 Pumpmaster. It shoots bb and pelets. I like them so much as a plinker I refuse to go with out one.

[Joel]

I have a Gamo hunter, not quiet, but it is accurate and powerful. I know a suppressor for it can be made easily/cheaply, don't know if that would be legal.

[JB]

Airguns are like a lot of lot of things. You get what you pay for. I'd avoid the Gamos and cheaper Spanish made Beemans. Spend a little more and get a German made Beeman or RWS. The Beeman R7's, R9s' and RWS 34's won't break the bank, yet you'll get a better made air rifle. I have a Beeman imported FWB 124 I've had for probably 30 years and it still works great. Since that first adult air rifle I've added a Beeman R9, RWS 48, and an RWS 350 to the stable.

[20cows]

I have had the same experience as the others using a 22 rifle with 22 CB Longs. My Ruger 10-22 handles just like a bolt action. It is quieter than my Sheridan 5mm (20 cal.) and delivers considerble more punch.

Bullet impact is louder than the report.