Advice for pellet rifle

[20 TAC]

Looking to purchase a pellet rifle and cap the budget spend at around $300. I have beeen looking at the Gamo Swarm Magnum Pro 10 Gen 3i in 22 cal.
To be clear, this purchase is based off “wants” far more than “needs”. But for general plinking what are your thoughts on this model? Are there other models you’d suggest considering? And the age old question, “22 cal or .177”?

Thanks in advance for any guidance offered.

 

[Rank Amateur]

General plinking - so target shooting. Recommend comparing break-barrel pellet rifles (like the Gamo) to low-end PCPs. There are specific techniques needed to accurately shoot break-barrel rifles due to the heavy two-directional recoil of those rifles. PCPs, on the other hand are much more like VERY mild rimfire or centerfire firearms, with essentially zero recoil. Diablo shaped pellets are inherently unstable at transsonic speeds, so shooting pellets much above 1000 fps will lead to poor precision/accuracy. Very short range target shooting will probably favor the .17 cal (and there is a reason that caliber is used in olympic target shooting). On the other hand, they are very wind sensitive, where the heavier .22 cal pellet will be better. Rifle manufacturer claims of max velocity of 1300 or 1600 FPS are generally achieved with very light pellets which are not intended for precision. If precision/accuracy is the goal, suggest you look for something that will move good quality pellets at around 900 PFS. In good rifles, that velocity with heavy pellets can get you good accuracy even at 100 yds.

 

[snert]

General plinking - so target shooting. Recommend comparing break-barrel pellet rifles (like the Gamo) to low-end PCPs. There are specific techniques needed to accurately shoot break-barrel rifles due to the heavy two-directional recoil of those rifles. PCPs, on the other hand are much more like VERY mild rimfire or centerfire firearms, with essentially zero recoil. Diablo shaped pellets are inherently unstable at transsonic speeds, so shooting pellets much above 1000 fps will lead to poor precision/accuracy. Very short range target shooting will probably favor the .17 cal (and there is a reason that caliber is used in olympic target shooting). On the other hand, they are very wind sensitive, where the heavier .22 cal pellet will be better. Rifle manufacturer claims of max velocity of 1300 or 1600 FPS are generally achieved with very light pellets which are not intended for precision. If precision/accuracy is the goal, suggest you look for something that will move good quality pellets at around 900 PFS. In good rifles, that velocity with heavy pellets can get you good accuracy even at 100 yds.

This is good information. Solid basis for choosing a gun.

I would add that if you would double your money you would likely be much happier. I have seen the Gamo type rifles in action and while there will be a chorus of Boo from the grea unwashed, my gut says spend once cry once.

i'd look at a disco or Marauder or similar. If you must go springer, look for a used high quality rifle...HW or even a RWS 48. Just plan on buying a scope that is designed for air rifle recoil. No matter ewhat you buy, if you buy a springer, you will pay a lot extra for a scope that will last more than a few tins.

or buy one of @MikeT49 offers. You will be amazed.

 

[brokeasajoke]

Are you going break barrel or PCP?

 

[searcher]

For general plinking, you might not end up using the air rifle as much as you think if you get a break-barrel. After about 20 "breaks", cocking starts to get tiresome, not to mention if you are sitting, it can mean repositioning yourself (or standing) to cock the rifle. The cheaper PCP's have gotten much better in just the last few years, and it is worth watching about a dozen you-tube videos of the lesser-expensive rifles that might fall withing your budget. Would be nice to sit down and pop off a nice long string without changing shooting position. While I do not own a PCP, I do believe from what I have seen and read, there are some models in your price range that should not be discounted. A quality break-barrel is easily $300.00 or more - so the price point is about the same, I think, for a decent shooter of either type. I love my old RWS break-front and I still whack rabbits in my yard every year with it (have had it since 1988 - when it cost $150.00). It serves my purpose as I only shoot one or two shots, then put it back away. If I was wanting to shoot paper, I'd trade mine in for a PCP right now. Cocking sucks - as does pumping up a PCP. Buying a PCP compressor meaningfully adds to the cost with your budget.

 

[JEFFPPC]

General plinking - so target shooting. Recommend comparing break-barrel pellet rifles (like the Gamo) to low-end PCPs. There are specific techniques needed to accurately shoot break-barrel rifles due to the heavy two-directional recoil of those rifles. PCPs, on the other hand are much more like VERY mild rimfire or centerfire firearms, with essentially zero recoil. Diablo shaped pellets are inherently unstable at transsonic speeds, so shooting pellets much above 1000 fps will lead to poor precision/accuracy. Very short range target shooting will probably favor the .17 cal (and there is a reason that caliber is used in olympic target shooting). On the other hand, they are very wind sensitive, where the heavier .22 cal pellet will be better. Rifle manufacturer claims of max velocity of 1300 or 1600 FPS are generally achieved with very light pellets which are not intended for precision. If precision/accuracy is the goal, suggest you look for something that will move good quality pellets at around 900 PFS. In good rifles, that velocity with heavy pellets can get you good accuracy even at 100 yds.

Why not a 22 lr? I see lots of 30 and 40 yards groups put online with low end pcps I laugh at. What is the mindset that a Springer means a break barrel? A top end underlever or sidecocker spring gun is less money than a top end centerfire barrel chambered and installed. That's like advising a guy who wants to compete in PB benchrest to but a used Savage 340in 30-30 and jump in. You need to widen your horizons and let the moths out of your wallet.

 

[searcher]

Why not a 22 lr? I see lots of 30 and 40 yards groups put online with low end pcps I laugh at. What is the mindset that a Springer means a break barrel? A top end underlever or sidecocker spring gun is less money than a top end centerfire barrel chambered and installed. That's like advising a guy who wants to compete in PB benchrest to but a used Savage 340in 30-30 and jump in. You need to widen your horizons and let the moths out of your wallet.

I guess the point was cocking versus PCP- whether cocking from top, bottom, break, etc.
If sound is not an issue, I'm on board with the .22 LR too!

 

[MikeT49]

You can get a PCP air rifle and 4500 psi hand pump and dovetail to picatinny adapters for under $300. With the adapters, you can mount any scope you want with whatever rings you want to use. Zero worries about scope damage.
There are guns such as the Diana Stormrider, Crosman 3622 and the Beeman Chief. All three are what the airgun dudesters call LEGO guns. Easy to customize and mass quantities of aftermarket parts available. The Crosman and Beeman are 2000 psi max fill. But, you actually only need to fill to ~1800 psi as that is about where you will get to the flat part of the MV "inverted bathtub" curve. The Diana is a 2900 psi max fill gun. About 2700 to start on the flat part of the curve. Easy to do with a hand pump.
For a cost example: Beeman Chief ~$170, hand pump $60, pic to dovetail adapters $11. Free shipping from Amazon, total OTD $241 + tax.
With a little barrel and trigger work on these entry level guns, you can give the high dollar guns a run for the money.

 

[20 TAC]

Some great information so far, thank you. So if I want to take a random shot at the occasional squirrel or bird, would the PCP be more cumbersome or time consuming to get a shot off than a springer?

 

[Adam in WI]

Some great information so far, thank you. So if I want to take a random shot at the occasional squirrel or bird, would the PCP be more cumbersome or time consuming to get a shot off than a springer?

I leave my PCP charged all the time. A decent one shouldn't leak down and with commonly used rotary magazines, a PCP is just as quick to deploy as a firearm.

 

[450BM]

Some great information so far, thank you. So if I want to take a random shot at the occasional squirrel or bird, would the PCP be more cumbersome or time consuming to get a shot off than a springer?

I keep my pcps filled with air but I don’t keep my springers cocked, so pcps are faster. My 25 cal FX Impact gets 140 shots per tank of air with a 28 round magazine. My 177 cal Benjamin marauder gets about 70 shots per tank and has a 10 shot magazine. .177 will work for squirrel but it’s a better wounder than killer. The .25 is a hammer on them.
Take some time and watch videos from Ted’s Holdover on YouTube. He has a lot of unboxing and sight in vids with different rifles with more in depth vids on the ones he likes. He’s very informative while being entertaining too. His videos introduced me to the FX Impact and i wanted one really bad… I knew I’d never buy one because I would never spend that much on an air rifle. Viral meningitis changed my outlook on life and I bought one about a month after I recovered from the 3 month illness…

 

[Woollybugger]

I use fireman air tanks to charge mine and get them filled at our locall rural fire dept so the cost is minimal and I’m not standing on a hand pump.

 

[snert]

For the Benjamin products it is best to store them at about 1000 PSI. Otherwise they get valve issues. Ask me how I know.

 

[450BM]

Better wounder not “sounder”

For the Benjamin products it is best to store them at about 1000 PSI. Otherwise they get valve issues. Ask me how I know.

good to know! I degassed mine once to fix the bolt and the pressure gauge failed! It acted like there was something held in place with air pressure and when I took all pressure out it failed. It certainly didn’t seem like a coincidence, it happened at the same time.

Do you shoot yours down to 1000 psi or use the degassing tool? What caliber do you have?

 

[snert]

I shoot them down

 

[snert]

25 marauder and 22 Disco/upgraded

 

[charlie b]

You can get a PCP air rifle and 4500 psi hand pump and dovetail to picatinny adapters for under $300. With the adapters, you can mount any scope you want with whatever rings you want to use. Zero worries about scope damage.
There are guns such as the Diana Stormrider, Crosman 3622 and the Beeman Chief. All three are what the airgun dudesters call LEGO guns. Easy to customize and mass quantities of aftermarket parts available. The Crosman and Beeman are 2000 psi max fill. But, you actually only need to fill to ~1800 psi as that is about where you will get to the flat part of the MV "inverted bathtub" curve. The Diana is a 2900 psi max fill gun. About 2700 to start on the flat part of the curve. Easy to do with a hand pump.
For a cost example: Beeman Chief ~$170, hand pump $60, pic to dovetail adapters $11. Free shipping from Amazon, total OTD $241 + tax.
With a little barrel and trigger work on these entry level guns, you can give the high dollar guns a run for the money.

Thanks Mike!!

I had an inexpensive break barrel I used for invasive critters on the property. I chose the .22 specifically to keep the vel and noise lower. It worked well but when I did choose to practice with it the pumping got tedious after about 20 rounds. If noise is an issue I'd stick with a subsonic combination.

I've been toying with getting a PCP but was turned off by the high pressure pumps/tanks. Am glad Mike helped clear that up.

 

[Steve Donlon]

I have a couple of HW springers but my favorite is an old Benjamin model 397PA with wood stock that was about $200. It is 17 cal and is a pump with t forend as what is used to pull down to pump. I leave it with 3 pumps in it at all times. Then if I need to shoot a coyote or kill a varmint, I just give her few more pumps and she is ready to go. I keep it by my garage side door. Very accurate and it uses a bolt action to load the pellet.

 

[Adam in WI]

I have a couple of HW springers but my favorite is an old Benjamin model 397PA with wood stock that was about $200. It is 17 cal and is a pump with tView attachment 1692455 forend as what is used to pull down to pump. I leave it with 3 pumps in it at all times. Then if I need to shoot a coyote or kill a varmint, I just give her few more pumps and she is ready to go. I keep it by my garage side door. Very accurate and it uses a bolt action to load the pellet.

Had a friend in school that had the .20 cal version. That gun was amazing to a kid that grew up using the Crossman 66 and 760.

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

HW or old Beeman are very good. 177 is the classic caliber. I think the older ones are better made. get one with 'rekord' trigger. they are hell on squirrels.