porter Posted November 17, 2008 Report Share Posted November 17, 2008 I realize that these rifles are quite different and have quite a large price difference. But they are the two rifles on the market i am most interested in buying. I am looking for a competent hunting rifle (springer, don't want any added fuss). I already have a older BSA and really like it so I'm tempted by the lightning XL. Its light weight, simplicity and good reviews are also tempting! However i have shot the TX200 HC and its quality seems unrivaled, as do its reviews! I am under the impression that the TX200HC is the better rifle, but its also a lot heavier and a bit more expensive. So to get to the point, i was wondering what opinions people had on this dilemma. Which should i buy? Is the added weight and cost of the TX200 worth it? Or should i go for the light simple Lightning? Don't know if it has any bearing on this question but i'll be going for .177. Also what rifle would you generally consider as the best springer/gas ram rifle on the market, is there something better than the TX200HC that i have overlooked? All input welcome, thanks in advance for your thoughts. And as I'm new to the site Hi everyone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baronvontreffyes Posted November 17, 2008 Report Share Posted November 17, 2008 weihrauh hw97 great gun,sorry to complicate things Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porter Posted November 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2008 thats fine. I have read a bit about that gun but, most of what i've read said that out the box the TX200 HC was much better, but after tuning they would be similar. I don't want to fork out the money then have to get the gun tuned! I will read up on it a bit more though! want to make the best buy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porter Posted November 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2008 Please give your opinion, not getting many replies compared to views! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR.LAG Posted November 17, 2008 Report Share Posted November 17, 2008 (edited) If your going to buy an lightning xl i have one for sale with a scope havent even taken it into the feild Edited November 17, 2008 by MR.LAG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porter Posted November 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2008 What scope, stock, cal? how many shots fired? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GatGun Posted November 17, 2008 Report Share Posted November 17, 2008 You dont have to get a 97k tuned mate. Nothing wrong with it out of the box. The weirach and air arms are two VERY similar guns. Personal preference me thinks...... Your comparing a citroen saxo to a BMW 3 series here with the BSA and the Air Arms. No comparison. Both will kill quarry at the range your after. Your basically paying for a smoother firing cycle, better accuracy as the TX absorbs recoil better, better trigger and a better (but heavier stock) to put it in a nutshell. Some people prefer break barrels, some people prefer the heavier underlevers. Id opt for the Air arms out of the two if I had the money. ( ive had a 97k,TX200, and Lightening ) but If I wanted a light gun, or didnt have as much spare change Id go for the lightening. The lightenings are very good guns for the money ! But personally Id go for the weirach 97k, something about them compared to the TX I just cant put my finger on...... ( BUT IT COULD BE THE TRIGGERS) Try firing a couple if your local gunshop will let you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baronvontreffyes Posted November 17, 2008 Report Share Posted November 17, 2008 hw97 just wants bedding in a bit,the build quality is second to none i think,if buying second hand wont need bedding in,they are nice guns Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porter Posted November 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2008 I have fired the TX200 HC and was impressed but i found the loading procedure quite annoying. Having said that, at the moment i have a break barrel with no safety features at all, so opposed to that anything is going to seem painstaking. I imagine i'd soon get used to it. I was very impressed with how solid and smooth it felt. If i were to forget about the BSA should i go for the TX200HC or the HK97. I realise that there similar and its just personal oppinion, but just want to get a consensus. I'll head down to Blackpool air rifles ASAP to compare the two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porter Posted November 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2008 As accuracy is my main concern is there any difference between the two? I think I'm going to struggle with this decision as there so similar! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pair away Posted November 18, 2008 Report Share Posted November 18, 2008 i have owened a tx and a hw in the past and if your set on aspringer the hw has the edge for me ( trigers ) what about the hw90 , if you have not tryed a gas ram get down to blackpool and give one ago , sorry this was to help but ive just thrown more into the mix , gas rams are pricey but very smooth and no spring clank on firing . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porter Posted November 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2008 I was thinking of installing a gas ram when the spring started to deteriorate, as i'll be hunting the gun will be cocked for extended periods of time, witch will quite quickly have an effect of the spring (i think?). To my knowledge a gas ram would solve this. Thinking about it then am i better going for a gas ram gun strait away? Obviously they are designed around a gas ram so do they perform better with one than a upgraded springer? If i'm thinking of gas ram am i not better of looking at theoben? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porter Posted November 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2008 To be honest i'm still swaying towards the TX200, I would prefer to buy british you see. I'm a bit patriotic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porter Posted November 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2008 (edited) PRO SPORT? Just read a load of reviews on this gun and it seems to be amazing but it is expensive is it worth it over the tx200? anyone got both? Edited November 18, 2008 by porter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy 01 Posted November 19, 2008 Report Share Posted November 19, 2008 (edited) Yes mate, I have both. I teach a bit of field target, and use springers, so fairly qualified to answer. I love the look, pointability and fit of the PS, but the truth is I can shoot the TX better. I just find the PS a little hold sensitive, even after some extensive tuning work. The BSA just isn’t in the same league as the TX, but that’s reflected in the price. The BSA is light, and in .177 snappy. The weight of the TX is an advantage with .177 springers, as it helps to absorb the recoil and aids accuracy. Fit a sling, and its no big deal humping it round the fields all day. The reports on the HW’s in the last few months have been better, but they have had some quality issues up till then, and I have seen springs that been cut off with side cutters and refitted from new. I have also turned two 77’s away from the club this year, brand new, and doing over 15 f/lbs. Don’t get me wrong, I like the HW’s and I’m not knocking them, just giving you the facts as I see it. The CD trigger unit in the AA is every bit as good as the Reckford in the HW, but worlds apart from the BSA’s trigger. I like the BSA, and am actually looking for one in .22 as a close range rabbit gun, so please do not think I am biased. The TX and the BSA are very different guns, and in very different price brackets. The best advice I can give you, is pop along to your local club and talk to the people who shoot the guns your interested in. Most will let you have a go also. The important thing to remember is we are all different in size and technique, and what suites me may well not suite you, so you need to try as many first before parting with any cash. I would say if I had to get rid of all my guns, and could only keep one in the cabinet, it would be my full length TX MK3 I would keep. As capable as an EV2 to drop a 55 yard target on a course, great hunter up to 40 yards in .177, no bottles and no faf. Grab the gun, a handful of pellets and head up the fields. It doesn’t come much better than that. Edited November 19, 2008 by Andy 01 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TuftySnuffer Posted November 19, 2008 Report Share Posted November 19, 2008 Go for the TX200 in all cases. I like the analogy of another member saying Citroen Saxo Vs BMW 3 series. Very Very true. Both will do the job but you have aded luxury with one and not the other. You can however sharpen the Lightening by adding a gas ram. But this depends on wether you are prepared to do the conversion or just want a nice gun out of the box. Go down to your local Field target club and find the sheer number of HW97's and TX200's that are in use. Probably a lot less lightnings. Shows how popular they are. A Tx will also hold its resale value better too, for when it comes to the time to upgrade to PCP/Rimmy/Shottie/Centrefirey etc. regards Tufty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pair away Posted November 19, 2008 Report Share Posted November 19, 2008 porter tufty and andy have both made very good points , which ever gun you may like the look of you need to shoot before you buy , so as i said go to blackpool and have a look but even better as they said go to a club and try a few in the field , you may like the look of a gun in the mags or when you see someone else with one but when you shoot it it may not be the gun for you , good luck and keep shooting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullet boy Posted November 19, 2008 Report Share Posted November 19, 2008 TX200-A brilliant rifle! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porter Posted November 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2008 Thanks for all your comments been very helpful to get your opinions. I am now certain that i want a air arms as i think if i went for the BSA I would soon want to upgrade again! I say buy right buy once! I have borrowed the tx200 hc and taken it out and tried it in the field i really liked it and didn't find the weight to be such factor as i thought it would be. I'll make my decision one i have tried the pro-sport. Thanks again everyone! One last thing, which i know has been a recurring and unsolved debate, .177 or .22. Do you think .177 in these guns is the right choice? I will mainly be hunting so i know a lot of people would go for .22 but i feel that the increased range and flat trajectory will aid me better than the power retention and nock down power of the .22. Do you agree? Also is it possible on either rifle to change the barrel so i can switch between cals for different purposes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullet boy Posted November 19, 2008 Report Share Posted November 19, 2008 The Prosport is better again!I always say .177 for 12ft/lbs rifle and .22 for FAC.ATB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy 01 Posted November 19, 2008 Report Share Posted November 19, 2008 The Prosport is better again!I always say .177 for 12ft/lbs rifle and .22 for FAC.ATB. Totally agree. Sub 12 ft/lbs .177 has more advantage. Over 12 ft/lbs .22 all the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porter Posted November 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2008 Thats what i thought. Cheers! Just going to have to get the cash now haha! My budget has gone up considerably from the BSA. Any recommendations for a good scope for hunting? Needs to be water tight and fog proof as where i live its ALWAYS RAINS so it will no doubt get WET!! Robust to I'm always nocking my current sight of zero! Not sure on price range because i don't know what a decent scope costs. Again preferably a British make. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laf Posted November 19, 2008 Report Share Posted November 19, 2008 right then as for rifle i use my TX200 for the farms all the time i didnt bother with the HC liked the feel of the full length rifle i have a 2.5-12x56 scope cant remeber what make it is off top ov my head and its brill also have a deben max lamping kit on it for when i need it. i dare say the TX is the best rifle i have used since i started shooting and i have had my hands this is what i have used in the past webley pathfinder webley stingray K HW99s HW97k HW97 Cometa fenix 400 bsa lighting bsa supersport hope that helped also used a mates prosprot but it didnt feel as good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porter Posted November 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2008 Really helpful thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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