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bigbadwulff · Member

Sorry for the 'same old question'. "What rifle would be best for me"?

I'm 51 and had a (I think 'Crosman' Benjamin-style .22 pump) for many years. I really liked that rifle but it bit the dust a few years ago. Gave it to a 'friend' to get fixed and it never returned to me.....imagine that happening!

Been looking around the internet for a replacement. I think I want a scoped rilfle but could be persuaded otherwise. Never had a problem with open sights however.

I will not be using this all that much(so he says now). I will be going after tree rats mainly and some general plinking around.
Don't want to invest too much into this at this time.

Saw a Gamo CFX .22 fixed barrel that looked like about what I need. Saw it for $169.00.

I know a little more than "to be dangerous" but not much more.

Opinions please. I know...............get the Diana . You see I read a bit before I posted.

Pretty sure I want to stick with a .22.
Thanks in advance for setting me straight.

BBgunNoob · Veteran Member

lol diana is a good gun, do u want the same gun the 392 is a nice gun, gamo shud be fine but for what ur doing, iwud prob go after a crosman quest 800 imo then the gamo n it is cheaper

bigbadwulff · Member

Is the scope a little better on the Gamo CFX than the Crosman Quest ?
Must admit that Crosman was on the list too.
Will check out the Benjamin 392.

thepaladin · Senior Member

I'm like you and a bit older. I got back into Air Guns maybe 10 years ago after a long time of only powder burners or simply being too busy to shoot at all. If I were you I'd probably go with a springer, you don't seem to need a PCP and I know I never got into them because of the cost. There are a lot of excellent springers depending on how much you want to spend and what you want to do with it (do you think you'll move from squirrel to rabbit? How about anything bigger? That kind of thing). As agreed to before Diana is a good gun. Some of the inexpensive Crosman guns will do the job, but aren't the same as a better rifle. Gamo is a good solid "okay" and will usually do the job (they market so heavily etc. that you can find them everywhere, but it will be a little difficult to find a .22 in any "big box" store.) Like you I like the .22. To be honest and overcome my own prejudice however....for squirrel there are also some good .177s.

Mostly it depends on what you plan to use it for and your own taste.

broommaster2000 · Moderator

If you feel like a big spender, you might want to take a look at the Diana special editions, or at Weihrauch/Beeman rifles. The Weihrauch models that were imported by Beeman should still be available and are pretty good and a bit more high end then most Diana's.

There are also chinese clones of Weihrauch/Diana rifles on the market, not sure under which name they are sold right now though. Neutral

intrepid1999 · New Member

i'd go with a .177 for several reasons...

A. you're hunting small game...anything larger than a rabbit, you'll want that .22, but for rats chipmunks, squirrel..etc...it'll be fine...

B. you'll want excellent shot placment since your game is small, the vitals are as well, the fastest way to dispatch is to hit in a vital area. the flatter trajectory of a .177 will allow you more consistent short range shot placement IMO than a .22.

C. there are WAY more options in .177 in rifles, and especially in pellets. surely several for each and every application.

personally, i have a gamo big cat 1200 i bought for 149.99. and honestly, i like everything about the gun, the only thing i'd do different is, next time i'd buy the nitro-spring...that pushes the guns price tag over 200, but eveyone who has it says it's completely worth it.

with my gamo, i've easily taken 40yd shots and bagged 6 chipmunks and 4 squirrels with complete confidence. the scope it comes with is fine for it's application...also, i used to have a crosman springer and the cocking effort was a lot more than the effort in this gun, and the fit/finish was nowhere near as good...

thepaladin · Senior Member

I've been away for months and the first thread I start to post in someone begins the .177 vs. .22 debate... Wow, things don't change. Smile

bigbadwulff · Member

Sorry. Didn't mean to "start" anything Smile

.
I'm kinda partial to the .22s since I've had one before. With my "benjamin" I could plunk squirrels from quite a distance(won't state that distance for fear of starting another 'flame' Smile

)

I am willing to consider a .177 since it seems they may be better now than in the past.

broommaster2000 · Moderator

I think the argument of a worse trajectory in .22 is in general quite negligible. (I had to look that last word up) Mr. Green

The difference will probably only be noticed past longer distances.

thepaladin · Senior Member

See... "I told you so" Laughing

I don't agree that there is a great difference in the trajectory either till you get out to distances where the energy will be an issue. I like the .22 myself (though I admit there's an element of prejudice in it). Still there are some very good .177s and I own a few....I own a couple of .25s also. Cool

broommaster2000 · Moderator

thepaladin · Senior Member

The top one is my Walther Falcon Hunter .25

The bottom one is my Webley Stingray (one of the last English made ones).25.

The center is my Gamo Stutzen, it's a .177, but you can't have everything. I couldn't afford the Diana (which seems to have been discontinued...I can't find one anyway).

My favorite .22s are co2. The Hammerli 850 (which I've had little chance to do anything with) and the (venerable) Crosman 2260.

I need to arrange a place to shoot....it doesn't do to allow your guns (or yourself) to gather duct...sigh.

BBgunNoob · Veteran Member

the gamo and crosman scopes both suck

BBgunNoob · Veteran Member

and .22 is better

fritz · Silver Status Member

Or get the Diana in .22? Rolling Eyes