New Airgun

[AdamW]

Guys...

I fancy getting an air gun, to go along with my current Browning sg, mainly to shoot targets and rabbits etc, now I have been looking at these CO2 guns...

What good and whats not? what do I look for and how much am I looking at for a average gun, either s/h or new, and also a scope to go with it?

Are CO2 guns better than spring guns?

I used to have a HW something a few years back and also a pump action air gun..

I am very new to these CO guns...

 

Help......!!

 

Adam

[1 of 5]

Co2 powered guns vary a lot in power with temperature. As it gets colder the pressure of Co2 drops and so does the power. Most Co2 powered guns are Crosman which cost about 1/3 of the UK price in the USA which reflects their true value. Most Co2 guns will struggle to reach 12 ft/lb though some can be made to do so. Using Co2 for target work will be expensive as the capsules will cost anything from 30p to £1 depending on quantity purchased and where. Also Crosman and Sherridan guns require a barrel clamp arrangement to mount a scope. This is total pants and will result in a great deal of loss of zero as the arrangements simply do not grip the barrel correctly. You can buy metal breeches that are dovetailed but you have to factor in the cost of one.

A spring gun will beat almost any Co2 powered gun around for power, accuracy, cost of running and longevity.

The ratty can be got for around £90 new if you shop around and does around 8 ft/lb and the rabbitstoper is much more expensive and ought to be imported from the USA to save money. You can get a fully powered up (12ft/lb) Rattcatcher with metal breech etc secondhand for about £120 or less on airgun BBS. Be warned though that a 12 ft/lb Ratty has a 24 inch barrel and that's a fair old length for the field. You have zero chance of a .177 12ft/lb co2 gun as the co2 source simply can't generate the power required with such a small calibre. All 12ft/lb co2 rifles will be .22.

A secondhand Webley Ecocet or similar will cost less and give far better service. If buying new the AGS SR2/SR1 break barrel is a HW95 copy at £45 or so less than the HW and is frankly a superb gun. Don't be put off by it's Chinese manufacture - it really is a quality gun and is miles ahead of the old B2 etc.

[alanlee]

Are CO2 guns better than spring guns?

I used to have a HW something a few years back and also a pump action air gun..

Are you getting mixed up between Pneumatic and CO2 guns?

Pneumatic (PCP) are more common than CO2 guns, and are generally better quality.CO2 guns tend to be at the cheaper end of the market (£100+).

PCP guns are recharged with compressed air, either from a pump, or topped up via a divers air bottle.CO2 guns have capsules which cost around £5 each for up to 200 shots.PCP guns have around 70 shots for each fill, and cost around £1 to refill, or a lot cheaper if you have your own divers bottle.

PCP guns are generally more accurate than spring guns, as there is no recoil when firing.Others argue that in the right hands, a spring gun is as accurate.Target shooting results do not confirm this.The plus side of spring guns is that they are very cheap to run, and are never likely to run out of air like a PCP gun, as well as being slightly cheaper.

PCP guns start at around £250(Air Arms S200?).You need to add on the price of a scope and scope mounts (£50 upwards).

Quality older spring guns are available for around £100+.Weihrauch HW80s are meant to be classic spring guns, I have one of these for sale with a scope for £100 if you are interested, though TBH, it would be better IMO to get a PCP gun, as I find them so much better, especially something with a multi-shot cartridge.

I've never tried a CO2 gun, but they dont have a very good reputation.

Alan.

[rarms]

Get a rapid, or a falcon of some description, cant go wrong with either

 

I finally choose rapid over falcon, only cos the rapid does larger amounts of shots per fill

[AdamW]

Guys..

 

Thanks for the reply's.. Yes I think I ment the PSP..

 

apart from the one listed any others?

or reviews on them?

probably best I buy a mag, and have a look through..

 

Are there any complete packages..?

 

Adam

[1 of 5]

What's your budget?

 

For a single shot

Hornet or S400. Both great guns. Blueing on S400 is not particularly good. OK if regularly attended to. Cocking on Hornet not to everyones taste.

 

Multi

S410 or Rapid. S410 if 12/ft/lb and Rapid for FAC use.

 

If a bit more cash the Daystates are excellent with a superb finish and choice of single or multi.

 

Single is good for target work and multi saves pellet fumbling in cold/dark conditions in the field.

[roblade]

hi adam,

 

with regard to which is best PCP or spring its a bit like asking .177 or .22 the answers are endless

 

PCP have to have a charging bottle F/ps varies from shot to shot unl;ess rifle has a regulator fitted (adds cost to rifle)

 

but there is very little difference in accuracy in any of the PCP rifles (apart from the gun power stealth which needs work to be pellet on pellet accurate)

 

sping rifles nothing to worry about aprat from holding them totaly opposite to the shotguns, they just need to be balanced in your hands and nbot pulled in or held tight.

 

my personal preferance is spring low maintenace costs, dont ahve to worry about how many shots i have doen or how much air is left in the rifle.

 

today i shot a competition at my club out of six rifles shooting i was joint first shooting a Air Arms Tx200 MK1 .22 (spring) (36/40) with a rapid MK1 .22 and a daystate MK3 .177 ( electronic jobbie) im the only person at the club that regualry shoots a spring rifle (30 members)

 

i have only been shooting air rifles (or any other shooting) for 2 years, so its by no means expericance!!!!

 

buy a springer you know it makes sence

 

ROB

 

PS PCP rifles are very muchy (if the cross hairs on it, its in the bag)