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Bhargav · Veteran Member

Howdy all,

I am new to Airgun shooting and i have following questions..

1) I live in WA state so do i need a permit to buy an Air gun?
2) What are the recommended brands which one should look for when it comes to buying an airgun? Cool

3) I am planning to buy either a match air rifle or pistol and want to enter competitions. (I do have shooting experience with firearms).

Thanks for your information. Mr. Green

B

StevieLaner7777 · Moderator

Hi Bhargav

As I don't live in the US I can't really help you with the legal issues and licensing, Though I may be able to help you with finding a Gun that is right for you, But before I can make any real suggestions, What is the price range that you are willing to pay? and what type of 'look' are you generally after? be it the High tech space age looks of the Airforce Rifles and the Air Arms EV2 or something more casual like the BSA's or the other Air Arms etc, or more affordable Air rifles like the QB78 or Crosman 2260.

Obviously there are lots of Air pistols about that are or can be modded into Match grade (the Crosman 2240 for example), but also the same questions apply here as stated in the above paragraph.

Also are you looking for a Spring piston (Springer), a Gas ram, a Co2 Airgun or a PCP?

I can't really help you much further until I know what 'look' and price range your going for, Though if you are just getting in to a new sport I suggest you don't blow all your money on something expensive if your looking to get into a different type of shooting or if your unsure what your looking for, In case you decide that you don't really like it too much about a few months after spending lots of cash on the Gun and equipment, Sure you'll sell it if you decide not to continue but it's still quite a bit of a dent in your wallet, So my advise is that you start off reasonably inexpensive, do some shooting with it, possibly join a club and if your not too keen on it, well then it's not much of a loss to you, Though on the other hand if you do really pick it up and really enjoy the sport after a while shooting with a cheaper 'Starter Gun', then you can then buy something more expensive and move on up from there.

Hope this helps!!

Stevie Thumb Up!

Bhargav · Veteran Member

Hey Stevie,

well what i want to do is .. get a match air pistol and join a club. I have already done some research on the club and am very much sure of it but not the airgun.

I went thru some match pistols from Crossman's but don't know how they are .. quality wise and reliability wise...

i am looking at around $100-150 to start with.. as far as the looks go.. i am ok with anything.. what i am looking for is accuracy. Cool

Thanks for the information.

Bhargav Mr. Green

AirGunEric · Site Admin

I don't believe Washington State has any restrictions on airguns. The only states that I know of with specialized laws are Illinois, New York and California. But, many municipalities have bylaws regarding their use (or non-use) inside town/city borders- so check your local township for information. Hunting regulations vary all over the place- so if that's part of your plan- definitely check with your state and local game authorities for specifics.

As for "which gun"- Match Shooting really requires a decent gun (some available higher-end FT guns sell for over $2000)- not the $60 hardware-store item.

A decent "starter" gun for target shooing is the Daisy Avanti 853C which is used by trainees and cadets all over the place for competitions. Beyond that, many pistol and rifle manufacturers have dedicated FT guns that are more adjustable and precise than their non-FT siblings (and cost more too).

The first questions to really be answered really are: What sort of budget are you looking at? And, are you dead-serious about this, or just want to try it out a few times and see how you like it?

AirGunEric · Site Admin

Crap! I gotta type faster- we crossed over one another there.

Guns that fall within your budget are:

http://www.pyramydair.com/cgi-bin/show.pl?cmd_pistols=show_guns_manufacturer&Manufacturer=Daisy
(the two Avantis on the top of the page).

Another option is to find a good, older FT pistol- like a Crosman 38T and try it out (well under $100 in good condition).

FT-quality rifles are a bit more difficult for that pricerange, here are the Daisy match rifles:

http://www.pyramydair.com/cgi-bin/show.pl?cmd_rifles=show_guns_manufacturer&Manufacturer=Daisy

Which are, for all intents and purposes- at the lower end of the price scale for match rifles.

Bhargav · Veteran Member

Hi Airguneric,

I am dead serious about it, i had seen those $60 airguns at walmart and they doesn't look good. I am planning to buy a decent starter airgun but definately don't want to jump for $2000 Shocked

i don't know what the price range will be for a decent starter. can you pls suggest some models?

Also do we have something like "the gun which fits best in your hand" stuff like we have in firearms?

Thanks for the info.

Regards,
Bhargav

AirGunEric · Site Admin

We were typing on top of one another again there!

It's always good to hold an airgun before buying, just like a firearm. Different manufacturers and different guns from the same manufacturer all feel different.

For example, the trigger pull- the distance from the grips to the forward side of the trigger blade, car vary by as much as an inch or more even on some air rifles, usually less on pistols- but depending on the size of your hand, that could make or break your comfort and shooting ability. Another thing is the actual frame/grip position/angle vs. the trigger on pistols- they are not all the same. On lower priced pistols too- sometimes custom trigger shoes are the only solution because of this.

Bhargav · Veteran Member

Yeah.. we are typing on top of one another..

so what do you mean by "FT" , also where can we try the grip of the airguns ? i am not sure if the ranges keep them to rent??

StevieLaner7777 · Moderator

Hi Bhargav

'FT' is short for Field Target, Field Target is an outdoor air gun discipline originating in the United Kingdom, but gaining popularity worldwide.

Also as I live in the UK I can't really help you with finding a place near you that you can try the grip of the Air gun, Sorry!

Hope this helps!

Stevie Thumb Up!

Bhargav · Veteran Member

ohh yeah.. i am sorry i forgot.. that you live in the UK hhehehe.

may be somebody from WA, US will help me on that.

Thank you for all the informationl, appreciate it !!

Thanks,
Bhargav

StevieLaner7777 · Moderator

Hi Bhargav

There are lots of people on this forum and loads more just browsing so someone will see your post and may even be able to help you there!
Also we have DelfinJager Who lives pretty close to you, so maybe He might be able to help you out.

Lastly, Yeah a Guy who joined on the 23rd day of the month needs all the help he can get! LOL (Forum joke, Sorry).

Stevie Thumb Up!

23ib0d0n · Moderator

Crosman custom with a Lothar Walther Match barrel or Daisy Avanti 747 are in your price range. Some good match websites are:
http://www.champchoice.com
http://www.nealjguns.com/
http://www.pilkguns.com/

AirGunEric · Site Admin

Had to go away there for a few hours.

Yes- look over those websites. And, go to the club you mentioned and talk to people there- the club may have guns you can 'borrow' for their range shooting, and other members will likely let you hold and shoot their gun(s) to try and get a feel for what works for you.

This might also be a good idea if you can't decide on a pistol or a rifle. Some people love one and hate the other, some people don't care. I, for example, much prefer rifles for target shooting- but that's just me.

Beyond that- some firearms dealers also carry airguns. I don't know of any specifically in Washington- so if you can't find any- see about going to some of the 'Big Box" stores- 'Sports Authority' and the like usually carry a small-ish selection of airguns and they might have some FT guns as well for you to handle.

Another idea is to decide on a manufacturer or two whose guns you like the appearance of and the features you want- then contact the manufacturer for a list of retailers in your area who carry their products where you can go and handle them a bit. If you can decide on a manufacturer or two- we can certainly get you their websites and telephone numbers to call and inquire.

Bhargav · Veteran Member

I am almost firm on Daisy Avanti 747 as Air pistol but i am also planning to buy an Air Rifle which i can use for both recreational plinking and match purposes. so which model do you suggest? i know Rifles are little more expensive then pistols which is ok for me.

I am looking for accuracy and more fps so that i can even use it for bench rest shooting. I don't hunt so i will never use it for hunting. Razz

Thank you for the information. Wink

AirGunEric · Site Admin

Well, on the lower end of rifles and competitive shooting- we're sorta back to the idea of the Daisy Avanti's.

BUT- if you're willing to forego the idea of a dedicated competition rifle- the Umarex/Hammerli AirMagnum 850 is a nice gun- although I can't personally speak for its accuracy- although at typical competition distances (10 or 20m (30-60 feet)) I bet it would be pretty good.