Advice for air rifle purchase

[Branxhunter]

Branxhunter, what's your budget?

Sorry Fen, just saw this last line in your post. Not sure, still getting my bearings on what different level rifles are worth. Perhaps up to $500-600 for a bare rifle, maybe $700-800 if already set up with some reasonable mounts and a scope.

Quite happy to be educated on what constitutes good value at different price ranges. Have seen some Anschutz 335s for $350-400, Diana’s for $400-500, Weihrauchs for $500-700.

Marcus

[fenring]

For that money I'd have a look at the Diana 34 Classic and a scope along the lines of the 2-7x33 Hawke Airmax.

[Branxhunter]

For that money I'd have a look at the Diana 34 Classic and a scope along the lines of the 2-7x33 Hawke Airmax.

Cheers Fen.

This gave some food for thought: https://hardairmagazine.com/buyers-guid ... le-for-me/

I found a second hand HW80, but adding this it sounds like it might be a bit heavy for the kids (lightly built 12yr daughter, 14yr son) to c*ck.

Marcus

[fenring]

The more powerful air rifles are all quite long and somewhat heavy for young shooters.

If you go down to something like a Weihrauch HW30S you are looking at only around 600fps in .177 which is light on for shooting rabbits.

You could do it with brain shots at closer ranges but not ideal.

Plenty of sparrows and starlings and of course mice have fallen to this sort of power of course.

A HW50S splits the difference size and power wise. A .177 will have enough speed to shoot flat and be adequate for bunnies at closer ranges.

[daisy]

A bit of the old 177 for feathers and 22 for fur.
Saying that my old Diana and now my R9 177 have taken a fair few rabbits.
Even the FWB 300 has got the od close one in the yard.

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

[Branxhunter]

So after some off-line mentoring (thanks Daisy and Lewis) there is now a nice little Maccari-kitted HW50 sitting in the safe. Just waiting for the Clearidge 3-9x32 scope and rings to turn up. In the meantime I might stock up on some cheaper pellets and teach the kids how to use open sights to bed it in.

Thanks everyone for the input. I have been searching the air gun threads both here and over on AHN - there is a wealth of knowledge to access.

Marcus

[daisy]

You have an air rifle that will last, and be able to be handed down the family for years to come. I always found Lewis always great to deal with. Glad to see him back in the air gun game .

[fenring]

Nice outfit.