Why do people spend $300+ on a pellet rifle?

Pellet ammo is a lot cheaper and easier to get these days than .22lr, and the neighbors don't get bent out of shape when I set up a pellet gun range in the back yard.

Ravens have just been declared a pest in my town, so maybe I will hunt them when they are on the ground, ( in the air the pellet could still do damage to something or someone else if it went through, or I missed).
 
My wife is interested in a air rifle that matches the Lewis and Clark rifle ( .35 caliber or so, doesn't have to be a .5 or bigger)

No she does not want to hunt, but she wants one in that category.

What would be a good accurate one and what caliber offered in something in 60- $800 range and 50 yards?.

It wold have to have good accuracy but not match grade. Satisfaction part.

I am thinking air tank as she can't do the pump stuff but I could so would consider a pump type.

This area is not close to my expertise as is probably obvious so no problem with being educated.
 
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Jimro said:
First off you get better holes from actual target paper targets. The paper has the fibers arranged in a manner to have nice round holes cut in it. I've been using the ISSF/NRA 10m targets from National Target. A pack of 100 is pretty cheap considering you get 12 bulls per sheet.

My last match there were no backers on the targets, they were held in place by clips and gravity. We had no issues scoring. If that doesn't work for you, double wall cardboard seems to work as a backer.

Second, you have to use wadcutter pellets, domed or pointed pellets will make ragged holes.

Jimro
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Maybe the higher velocity of air rifles has something to do with it. Where I was having trouble with was air pistol, around 400 fps. Even glued to cardboard, using 3-M Super 77 aerosol contact adhesive, I would get some hard to score hits.
I finally did something completely different. I used solid steel plate for a backer. The pellets just flatten and stick where they hit leaving nice round holes. I even had a perfect double once that was easy to prove because two pellets were welded together on that hole.
I imagine that in the Olympics, they use a new target for every shot, or maybe some high tech elecronic hit scoring device.
 
At the olympics they use electronic target scoring with a moving paper witness. Same as if you shoot at Camp Perry's 10m range. Use them once and you get spoiled, instant feedback, no target changes, and printable shot by shot record.

Jimro
 
The backer is just hard cardboard. They were fired at 10m in 3 position. I think the best target was from Standing which was my specialty back then but to be honest it was now 34 years ago that I was shooting competitively.

I looked at the 300s that was sold last month. I decided to pass on it for various reasons. I know I am still on the hunt for a 300 or another 75 maybe.

By the way, if you believe the CPI (inflation calculator) then my gun today would have costs about $1150.
 
My wife is interested in a air rifle that matches the Lewis and Clark rifle ( .35 caliber or so, doesn't have to be a .5 or bigger)

No she does not want to hunt, but she wants one in that category.

What would be a good accurate one and what caliber offered in something in 60- $800 range and 50 yards?.

It wold have to have good accuracy but not match grade. Satisfaction part.

I am thinking air tank as she can't do the pump stuff but I could so would consider a pump type.

This area is not close to my expertise as is probably obvious so no problem with being educated.
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Crosman Marauder PCP in 25 caliber would be my first choice, as if she isn't hunting and you are looking for 50 yard accuracy.

If it is really a 35 caliber or bigger she wants, then I would just recommend you read the reviews between this http://www.pyramydair.com/s/m/Evanix_Rainstorm_II_PCP_Air_Rifle/2750/5818#Reviews and http://www.pyramydair.com/s/m/Sam_Yang_Recluse_Air_Rifle/2501/4996#Reviews or the sam Sam Yang with a bigger reservoir http://www.pyramydair.com/s/m/Sam_Yang_Recluse_Dual_Tank_Air_Rifle/2510/5008#Specifications as they seem to be the only two options in your price range.

Jimro
 
air

Benjamin Marauder....a fine gun.
In .357, your choices are limited to Evanix and Sam Yang.
I recommend a carbon fiber tank if you go with either.
Those big bullets use a lot of air.
Keep a hand pump for back up.
Between the cost of a high pressure pump and a high pressure carbon tank....you have doubled your investment.

Pete
 
Well, my air rifle is a Sheridan pneumatic, that I got for my birthday at 13. It is a great rifle for shooting in a basement or garage, where a firearm needs proper ventilation. It is also amazingly accurate, or rather used to be when my eyes were 13 instead of 58. It's still fun shooting off my deck, though.

I wouldn't mind having a modern one in .177 cal.
 
Stevie-Ray,

Williams makes an aperture receiver sight (the 5D-SH model) for the Sheridan rifles. Most of the older Sheridans (maybe all of them?) are already pre-drilled for installation of the peep sight. They're a nice addition to the rifle, especially for someone whose eyes (like mine) are starting to complain about open sights.

I have one of my air rifles equipped with a Williams aperture sight and a Merit adustable aperture similar to the #4 Hunting disc in the link below. It screws into the Williams sight and allows the aperture size to be adjusted to suit the lighting conditions. In bright lighting, you can screw it down to a pinhole to improve the clarity of the target and front sight. Or in dim light, you can open it up a little--accuracy will suffer a bit but at least you'll be able to see the front sight and target.

http://www.meritcorporation.com/products.html

If you really want to go all out, Merit even makes an aperture with a place to install a custom prescription lens.
 
That's a pretty sleeper hunting rig. A friend of mine had one of the nickeled Sheridans set up that way, and I borrowed it frequently.
 
Stevie-Ray,

Williams makes an aperture receiver sight (the 5D-SH model) for the Sheridan rifles. Most of the older Sheridans (maybe all of them?) are already pre-drilled for installation of the peep sight. They're a nice addition to the rifle, especially for someone whose eyes (like mine) are starting to complain about open sights.
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Sweeet! I've always wanted to stop in to Williams Gunsight, whenever I go by it. Now, I've got the perfect reason to. Thanks, John!;)
 
Found a picture of my Sheridan with the 5D-SH installed.

attachment.php


http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=3071&d=1051498983
 
I had my Sheridan Silver Streak set up just the same way. I actually took it to Williams for the install since I lived in the general area of downstate michigan.

Unfortunately, like nearly all of my guns, it had to be sold to get through my undergrad in college. Excellent gun and very fun to shoot.

Of that vintage, I only have my Diamondback and my Beeman 400 (shown above) that I would not sell (or more accurately, I graduated before I had to).
 
It's a hobby. Doesn't have to make sense
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Truer words are rarely spoken.

I enjoy my air pistols/rifles as much as my powder burners. I've been known to bring them to the range along with my "real" guns. Part of spending a few hundred or more is owing a "rifle" vs a toy so to speak. Good triggers, decent wood, ergonomics etc. these are not 50 dollar Chinese toys. These are well made, precision tools. I would argue my hw30s is a better rifle than my stock 10/22 in many ways.
 
It's a hobby. Doesn't have to make sense...
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Good point. What's funny is that many of the people who tend think of airgun purchases as a waste of money have bought firearms that will never be used for anything other than recreation.
 
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