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With $600 in hand which .22 springer air rifle would you buy and why?

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(@testdepth)
Georgia U.S.
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 1
Topic starter  

I'm in the market for a new or new to me springer air rifle. I will use it for pest control both feather and fur.


   
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(@functor)
North Carolina
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 63
 

Diana 54 and a good scope. 

It is practically recoilless and is the only quality springer I know of which can easily develop at least the lower end of the power where .22 is most effective and is still shootable.


   
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Limbshaker
(@limbshaker)
Alabama
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 228
 

Id get an HW77K/97 in .177

Or an R9/HW95 in .177 if the weight of the others scares you off. 

I think the Weihrauchs have better barrels in .177 from my experience. 


   
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(@bill_s)
Wisconsin
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 460
 

Since you specified .22, I'd be on the lookout for a nice Beeman R1. They come up for sale from time to time or put a WTB ad out there. 

Very well built guns with the Rekord trigger. Gowdy stock is much nicer than the HW80 equivalent. Has enough power to shoot .22 pretty flat (18-19 fpe). Responds well to a tune, up or down. Has a spring not a gas strut so spares available from JM. Classic rifles.


   
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(@harvey)
Minnesota
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 199
 

Get an HW77.  They have good open sights in case you ever want to go that route.  As a hunter, they're a very nice choice.  

Of course an R9 is a bit lighter and has been the go-to rifle for legions of airgunners who hunt.


   
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(@donc)
Illinois
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 442
 

Diana 340 N-Tec gas ram or the more powerful 350. Luxus model is beautiful walnut stock, T O ^ trigger is fantastic. As good as Record or TX200. Not too heavy and wicked accurate. My walnut is grade 3 curley.


   
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(@tk171)
South Carolina
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 22
 

.177 R9 or another HW30 in .177. HW guns give you imo everything you could ask for in a quality air rifle. Maybe add a little and pick up the new FWB Sport as Im a fan of the older sporter models. 


   
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ribbonstone
(@ribbonstone)
Louisiana
Rest In Peace
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 510
 

Can't swear you will shoot any better...but for $600 the springer can be a whole lot nicer.

 

 


   
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Gratewhitehuntr
(@gratewhitehuntr)
Florida
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 1882
 

I'd put up a WTB for a D54, with a target of $400-425.

$100 for a scope

$100 for pellets. Something nice, and a bunch of Crosman domes from Walmart.


   
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stevevines
(@stevevines)
Tennessee
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 281
 

22 Diana 460 Magnum w/TO6 trigger, tuned by John in PA, for $300 on AA Classifieds, being sold by a reputable seller that I've actually done business with.

That would leave enough coin for a nice scope, or you could pay your cable bill ha ha -

 

 

Vines


   
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DJNA
(@djna)
Illinois
Joined: 5 years ago
Posts: 130
 

Diana / RWS 54 or 56 would be my choice as well. 


   
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Prairie_Farmer
(@prairie_farmer)
Illinois
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 303
 

I will say the best .22 cal springer I ever shot was a full length Air Arms TX200.  They can run slightly hotter than the HW equivalent.

Prairie Farmer 


   
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crazyhorse
(@crazyhorse)
California
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 199
 

R9 .20 cal  ....best of both worlds between .177 and .22.


   
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Jason_Lowe
(@jason_lowe)
Tennessee
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 18
 

The longer one's are harder to shoot in the field in my opinion. RWS 48 is a great gun and can be tuned easily. The 54 is the same but heavier but still compact. I like HW's and have an HW85 that is shooting about 17.5 foot pounds in 22. I was thinking about switching out the Maccari spring and put in a Vortek Kit and see if it can hit 18.5 to 19 with their new seal. I get side tracked from time to time with pcp's but always come back to springers. Now you have made me want to get another one. lol


   
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(@bud_sc)
South Carolina
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 11
 

TX 200!!! Hands down!!! All day tack driver!!


   
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Gratewhitehuntr
(@gratewhitehuntr)
Florida
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 1882
 
Posted by: @stevevines

22 Diana 460 Magnum w/TO6 trigger, tuned by John in PA, for $300 on AA Classifieds, being sold by a reputable seller that I've actually done business with.

That would leave enough coin for a nice scope, or you could pay your cable bill ha ha -

 

 

Vines

Winner.

 


   
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(@_270windude)
Oregon
Joined: 5 years ago
Posts: 61
 

Well to be different...  I am very happy with my gamos I have and have tuned.  Especially my CFR, it’s outside the usual line up yet still shoots under .25 with regularity at 35 and not much larger at 50. Having said that... I’d give a gamo swarm gen 2 a try. Maybe even a magnum. I really would. Would I stare at a picture of a 48 and 54 side levers and cry myself to sleep after? Probably. But for hunting a break barrel is really more suited to the job...  if we narrow it down to break barrels which is logical then it becomes a short list comprised of everything mentioned above with the addition of some gamo models. I think people buy Benjamin or other low cost mass market break barrels and think everything in that price range sucks that bad, nope, gamos usually shoot well with jsb Exacts and HN FTTs. They’re just in no way shape or form classy. At all. 


   
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(@tnairgunner)
Tennessee
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 19
 

I’m buying an HW90 in .20. Trigger is good, plenty enough power, and the gas ram is nicer than a spring.


   
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(@bill_s)
Wisconsin
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 460
 
Posted by: @tnairgunner

I’m buying an HW90 in .20. Trigger is good, plenty enough power, and the gas ram is nicer than a spring.

Congrats on the new gun. Gas ram nicer than a spring is very subjective though. Some prefer struts, some prefer springs. 


   
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(@tnairgunner)
Tennessee
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 19
 

@tripleguy I’m sorry I should have clarified. I’ve owned an HW90 for some time. I understand that argument. I’ve owned several other HW springers over the years and I’ve loved every one. The 90 just has my favorite shot cycle so far but again I see the argument!


   
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(@bill_s)
Wisconsin
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 460
 

@tnairgunner

No argument from me. I've shot gas ram guns and liked them. Beeman RX2 comes to mind. Like springs too though and I guess I'm old fashioned. I like the lower cost of replacing a spring. Guess that makes me cheap too!


   
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(@tnairgunner)
Tennessee
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 19
 

@tripleguy I understand and I like them too! Thankfully I haven’t had to replace anything yet!


   
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intenseaty
(@intenseaty)
Georgia U.S.
Joined: 6 years ago
Posts: 64
 

I gravitate towards .177 Springers, but my .22 Walther LGV is the Cat’s Meow!!


   
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daveshoot
(@daveshoot)
California
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 118
 

@intenseaty  Yes, this. The Walther LGV is my best heavy springer, hands down. I think it hasn't been around enough decades to attract the cult following, but it should.


   
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(@josh3rd)
Pennsylvania
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 278
 

If it was me I would get a tried and true hw95 with open sights. Because it's all around versatile accurate enough to use and feel targeted good enough for hunting it's lightweight, it's easy to work on, and the money you have left over you can buy yourself a scope or some pallets or a kit from air rifle headquarters.


   
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(@dutch22)
Illinois
Joined: 4 years ago
Posts: 26
 

Well my suggestion is the tx200.  .177 if your a plinker and .22 if you wanna hunt and plink.  Easy to self tune and change out springs.  Better than HW97 imo.  Run it 16 fpe and you have a squirrel sleeper.                                  Dutch 


   
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