First, I apologize if this isn't the right place for this, but I'm completely clueless when it comes to airguns. My uncle is looking into a Dragon Claw. I figured there are probably a few guys in here who shoot airguns that could provide some valuable input. Many thanks in advance!
Sidearms & Scatterguns Does anyone shoot an airgun?
- Thread starter canezach
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I enjoy shooting quality PCP air rifles nearly as much as powder burners.
A good resource:
www.airgunnation.com
A good resource:
PCP Airgun - Discussion - Airgun Nation
Discuss everything about PCP (Pre-Charged Pneumatic) airguns on the best airgun site - the Airgun Nation Forum
I have several air rifles I shoot them a fair bit. Varmints do not know what hit them, nor do the neighbors know what I am doing. My 2 air pistols not as much.
Air rifles have come a long way! I shoot a PCP Gauntlet .22 and it's incredibly accurate at 25 yards and the bottle under the barrel holds 3000 psi! I haven't tried it any further out but did wack some starlings at about 50 yds. Here's my first target after mounting a scope and trying different weight pellets......
they have absolutely come a long way. I have a couple one is an RWS 34. Classic wood Monte Carlo stock. It’s a single shot break barrel design. (Cocking it is a working out and probably not possible for a kid under 12). It is accurate and hits hard. About 800fps in .22 and. I believe .177 is 1100fps
I also have a Crosman MAR177. This is one of the coolest you get own. Unfortunately now discontinued they do pop on the used market now and again. It is a PCP upper that mates to a milspec AR15 lower. Walther match barrel. It was designed to be a match quality rifle and capable of being a trainer for National Match Service Rifle shooters. It feeds from a 10round rotary mag The charging handle charges the weapon as it is single shot not semi automatic.
I also have a Crosman MAR177. This is one of the coolest you get own. Unfortunately now discontinued they do pop on the used market now and again. It is a PCP upper that mates to a milspec AR15 lower. Walther match barrel. It was designed to be a match quality rifle and capable of being a trainer for National Match Service Rifle shooters. It feeds from a 10round rotary mag The charging handle charges the weapon as it is single shot not semi automatic.
I have a $100 gamo hornet with the cheesy scope it came with and crush all kinds of small game with it. Also used it to break in my latest bird dog at a very young age to the sight and sound of a gun before moving him on to blanks. For the money thing has provided too much fun
I have a Ruger 22cal air rifle that is more than adequate for small game and practice shooting.
With the right pellets it is surprising accurate and pretty damn quiet with the suedo suppressor that is permanently attached from the factory.
The Benjamin 14.5 grain hollow point pellets are the most accurate in it I have used.
With the right pellets it is surprising accurate and pretty damn quiet with the suedo suppressor that is permanently attached from the factory.
The Benjamin 14.5 grain hollow point pellets are the most accurate in it I have used.
I have more $$ in my Weihrauch gas-ram than in several of my centerfire bolt actions... gotta deal with thos pesky muskrats and groundhogs... 
Dragon claw is a good .50 cal air rifle.. shot one many times with my friend Paul Capello former Host, creator of American Air gunner TV..... still have 2 of his Diana's
I have a few PCP airguns that I shoot around my property. Awesome for getting trigger time in where it would be illegal to shoot firearms, and they wreck hell on smaller pests.
My previous place had steel targets from 120 to 273 yards, so I used to get some ELR practice in with my airguns. Can't shoot near that far on my current property, unfortunately.
They are awesome little tools. They are a good compliment to regular firearms, and certainly have their place and uses.
My previous place had steel targets from 120 to 273 yards, so I used to get some ELR practice in with my airguns. Can't shoot near that far on my current property, unfortunately.
They are awesome little tools. They are a good compliment to regular firearms, and certainly have their place and uses.
I recently got back into airguns. Mine is a Brocock Bantam Sniper HR in .177, sometimes I think I should have gotten a .22 but for what I bought it for (fun and pest control) it works great. I would have better slug options with .22 but I can deal with that. I have a 100yd target pit built at the end of my driveway.
they are good to practice with. They are very unforgiving with the fundamentals, at least I think so. I used to have issues with using a rear bag but solved that with an extended rail for the bipod. It used to be too close to the balance pint so was really hard to get stable.
they are good to practice with. They are very unforgiving with the fundamentals, at least I think so. I used to have issues with using a rear bag but solved that with an extended rail for the bipod. It used to be too close to the balance pint so was really hard to get stable.
Attachments
6 oz trigger, accurate to a 1/2 pellet width at 35 yards, shoots 25 gr. pellets at ~950 fps, 40 ft lbs energy, and nearly silent in the backyard.
Yeah, they’re fun.
Yeah, they’re fun.
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I have an original .25 Brocock Bantam that I'm turning into a project gun. Originally it came with a metal 400cc bottle and no regulator. Thing is an absolute air hog.
I bought a 580cc carbon bottle that's now installed, and waiting on an Altaros regulator to show up. Hoping to get a lot more shots out of it, as it's a pretty decent gun. It's going to become my go-to pesting gun.
.177's are really fun. I hear you on the .22, it strikes a really nice balance. Good power with lots of pellet and slug options. I have a Taipan Veteran Long in .22 and the thing is an awesome gun. My wife has a .177 Air Arms (CZ) S200 in .177, and that's one of my favorite guns to shoot. Something to be said about that .177, even though "on paper" it may not seem like the best option. I wouldn't be without a .177.
I can see the .25 using a lot of air, air usage was the secondary reason why I went .177 over .22. I would hate to see what the .30 calls burn. The primary use was pest control at close range to the smaller mass is less of a ricochet risk. I’ve offed 10 cottontails in my front yard at ranges of 4ft to 12yds over the past few weeks. All were head shots that were DRT.
I shoot the H&N Barracude Extreme on pests but the most accurate pellet I’ve tried is the JSB Monster. If you do your part, which can be hard, you can watch them go through the same hole.
I shoot the H&N Barracude Extreme on pests but the most accurate pellet I’ve tried is the JSB Monster. If you do your part, which can be hard, you can watch them go through the same hole.
Those .177 can do some damage in the right hands. I used my wife's .177 to take care of a few giant rock squirrels. Same H&N pellets. One shot to the dome and it's lights out. Perfect to use for areas where ricochets are a risk, I have to be much more careful with my .25 (or .22 for that matter).
RD monsters are compelling. I'm trying to get them to work in my .22 Taipan. Need a bit more power, I'm only shooting them ~860 fps and apparently they like 900+. They fall apart on me somewhere to 120 yards. Got a power spring coming hopefully soon that will get me there.
I have thousands of pellets through my 22 & 25 cal Benjamin PCPs. I keep thinking about upgrading to an FX or Daystate, but the Marauders are so accurate and quiet, I just can’t justify it.
I have used it on Rabbits, squirrels, crows, pigeons, grouse, prairie dogs, raccoons and even a few larger animals with great results. A few times they even made the trek to Montana for Varmint hunts.
Air rifles are a lot of fun, besides having a practical use for places where firearms are illegal or unsafe.
I have used it on Rabbits, squirrels, crows, pigeons, grouse, prairie dogs, raccoons and even a few larger animals with great results. A few times they even made the trek to Montana for Varmint hunts.
Air rifles are a lot of fun, besides having a practical use for places where firearms are illegal or unsafe.
264win,
The Brocock is really quiet, it has first stage suppression with a shrouded LW barrel. I top that off with a 0dB short can.
kthomas,
The Monsters are only launching at 843fps for me but are working well, I haven’t tried them at the range you have yet. It’s interesting how a gun likes certain pellets or not. The JSB Diablo Exact shot light out. The Exact Heavy, not so much. The Monster, money. The H&N Terminator shoots like shit for me, the Crow Magnum so-so, the Barracuda Extreme pretty good, the Hornet shot well. I want to try some slugs but haven’t gotten around to it yet, I need to try some of the NSA’s.
The Brocock is really quiet, it has first stage suppression with a shrouded LW barrel. I top that off with a 0dB short can.
kthomas,
The Monsters are only launching at 843fps for me but are working well, I haven’t tried them at the range you have yet. It’s interesting how a gun likes certain pellets or not. The JSB Diablo Exact shot light out. The Exact Heavy, not so much. The Monster, money. The H&N Terminator shoots like shit for me, the Crow Magnum so-so, the Barracuda Extreme pretty good, the Hornet shot well. I want to try some slugs but haven’t gotten around to it yet, I need to try some of the NSA’s.
For me, the .22 RD monsters shoot amazing at 10 meters. At 120 yards they were all over the place, they definitely destabilized somewhere on the way from 10 m/yards to 120 yards.
Apparently not uncommon problem, and people have had to push them 930+ fps to get them to stabilize at 100+ yards.
Apparently not uncommon problem, and people have had to push them 930+ fps to get them to stabilize at 100+ yards.
Interesting. I’ll have to try them at longer ranges. My target pit is good to 100yds but I need to raise it a little for it to be practical beyond 60yds due to a dip in the road. It may be an academic point as I don’t see the Monster as a real game pellet.
I’m not sure where to get them but the H&N Piledriver seems to be the last stop short of the NSA slugs.
I’m not sure where to get them but the H&N Piledriver seems to be the last stop short of the NSA slugs.
Thanks. March 3-24x52. I Really like the March’s on my air rifles. Nice glass, light weight and 10 yard parallax.
I shoot an air pistol every day... even if just a few shots for fundamentals. .177 match grade. I have a mini target trap right in my living room.
Cheers, Sirhr
Cheers, Sirhr
I got an Anschutz field target setup last year and it is a riot. It’s underpowered compared to the 50’s, but it’s unbelievably accurate. You just need to have good dope and be spot-on with your wind calls.
I nailed an English sparrow at 53 yards last week when it was trying to take over my bluebird boxes.
I nailed an English sparrow at 53 yards last week when it was trying to take over my bluebird boxes.
Thanks. My rifle came with an Aztec Emerald. The SFP, MOA, no zero stop, no illumination feature set wasn’t working for me so I upgraded. After a lot of looking I took a chance on the new Element Optics Nexus. It’s a very nice scope for the price. I considered the March but didn’t want to spend that much.
It's pretty crazy how not that long ago airguns were considered "toys" in the gun community. Nowadays we got .50 caliber airguns that are putting out the same muzzle energy as a freaking .44 Magnum!
Anyways, my current badass airgun is a Hatsan Carnivore. It's .30 caliber and powered by a gas piston. And before anyone asks, yes it's a total bitch to cock!
Anyways, my current badass airgun is a Hatsan Carnivore. It's .30 caliber and powered by a gas piston. And before anyone asks, yes it's a total bitch to cock!
I went to the small end of things with my latest air rifle purchase. Little Weihrauch HW30S. 177 at slower speeds, easy cocking, and scoped with a Leupold Vari X 1-4 it’s a treat for in town pests in the backyard. Shoot it into a trap for offhand practice in the basement as well. It’s a treat to shoot.
^ Truth! The first time I went to cock my Wiehrauch gas ram I though "man... anyone who thinks these airguns are kids toys need to give this bad-boy a try... better start hitting the bench again... ( Hey Budly, can I getta spot...? )
I have a 10 Meter Walther LG300. Beautiful gun, 2 oz trigger, and a lot of fun. I just wish I could find a way to mount a scope. It has aperture sights. It is single load and the loading/cocking lever gets in the way of the scope with the several different tall rings I've tried. If anyone knows a solution, let me know.
I also wish it had a magazine so I could practice holding a position and cocking in between shots.
This time of year my wife and I shoot spinner targets at 25 yds off the back porch in between sips of beer/wine/whiskey Good times!
I also wish it had a magazine so I could practice holding a position and cocking in between shots.
This time of year my wife and I shoot spinner targets at 25 yds off the back porch in between sips of beer/wine/whiskey
Good times!
I have a 10 Meter Walther LG300. Beautiful gun, 2 oz trigger, and a lot of fun. I just wish I could find a way to mount a scope. It has aperture sights. It is single load and the loading/cocking lever gets in the way of the scope with the several different tall rings I've tried. If anyone knows a solution, let me know.
I also wish it had a magazine so I could practice holding a position and cocking in between shots.
This time of year my wife and I shoot spinner targets at 25 yds off the back porch in between sips of beer/wine/whiskey
Unfortunately, it may be time to upgrade as it sounds like your LG300 just isn’t designed for what you want to do. Moving to a Brocock, Daystate or FX would solve your problems. My Brocock runs a 10rnd rotary magazine and the FX can run up to 30ish depending on caliber and model. The market seems to be gravitating to toggle bolt deigns similar to Biathlon rifles. Mine is the traditional bolt but I’m looking hard at swapping it for an FX Impact II.
Well, shit. I think you're right. That FX Dreamline seems perfect for some realistic silent backyard practice at out to 100+yds.
The other consideration I found was the Benjamin Armada Tactical. It weighs more and is in a chassis similar to a precision rifle for a few hundred bucks less. The FX accuracy, caliber versatility, and sound suppression is ridiculous though. I have neighbors so I'd rather not make any noise if I don't have to.
I have seen some videos of the .50 tank-filled monsters. But this is the first I heard of the Hatsen. Impressive as hell on the YouTube videos. Serious energy.
And $300?? Amazing!
thanks for the info!
Sirhr
Keep in mind the cost of caliber conversions for the FX. Over $400 last time I looked. Almost the cost of a Benjamin marauder and not to much less than an Armada.
I really want an FX Dream bull pup, but can’t bring myself to pull the trigger, so to speak.
I have the Benjamin it shoots nice...
But I love the trigger and everything about my FX worth the money. Pop it on a RRS and you’ll never look back.
When I was younger I shot a Benjamin 20 cal and gamo 177 a LOT.
I was murder on crows, rats and starlings.
Kinda mis it actually.
I was murder on crows, rats and starlings.
Kinda mis it actually.
Nailing a crow at 100 yds with an air rifle still puts a grin on my face every time 
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