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Omega79 · New Member

Hey everybody,

I'm new to Airgunning (pretty avid firearms enthusiast with several weapons) and I'm thinking this will become my new addiction. I'm sure you guys have gotten these questions a million times and I searched a bit, but have been spending hours doing so, so I'm a bit overwhelmed and confused.

My big question is the usual, what should I get? I won't leave it 100% open because I'm not that... dense..., I'm pretty sure I have some things decided.

I want a .177, something under 1k fps, preferably not cheap caca, but not something super nice either since I'm starting and am known to tinker Rolling Eyes

so I don't want to ruin a $300 gun. I would like to keep it around $100, and something neighborhood friendly, so I guess that's break barrel territory. I also would prefer to pick up something at a local store (Dick's, Big 5, Wallymart etc.) because I find myself without patience right now lol! I've been itching to go shooting with my regular firearms but haven't been able to, so I'm going to either buy or make a trap to shoot at in my backyard that's about 50 yards at it's longest, so I can get my kicks. I may use this for pest control or small game hunting in the future as well if I get something suitable.

I understand the concept of buying different brands/types of pellets to test functionality with (great excuse to play with the gun!), so I will purchase an assortment with it.

The Crossman 1000x seemed like what would be a good compromise for me, but I've read some negatives (on the interwebs, no way!) but the only thing that concerned me was the noise. Couldn't tell if maybe people were using too light of pellets, don't want neighbors freaking out and calling the cops cause they "heard gunshots".

Anyway, after my novelette here, thanks in advance. I will probably be spending a lot of time on here after this since I have a tendency to obsess over things like this lol!

Thanks again to any replies,

-Nick

packrat · Senior Member

WELCOME (to your new addiction Mr. Green

) Given your circumstances, I'd say Wal-Mart, Crosman Storm XT, $109.95..Excellent rifle, I had one at one time..fits your requirements pretty darn good. Go to http://www.crosman.com/airguns/ and read up on it...lots of guys here have one, I'm sure you'll hear more real soon...

Omega79 · New Member

Thanks packrat! Checked it out on Crosman's site, looks like you are spot on. I'll be on the hunt today for one!

P.S. This getting old thing really isn't for sissies, I'm not sure when I started being able to do so much stuff with so much pain...

donec · Senior Member

If you don't clean the preservative oil out of the barrel your rifle will sound quite loud until the oil is burnt off. If you use a heavier pellet you will lower the velocity of the pellet coming out of the barrel and avoid breaking the sound barrier with the pellet thus producing less noise. I had a Crosman Storm XT and found it to be a great rifle but mine was damaged and I suspect it was due to being handled wrongly in the store as all the boxes had been opened and the guns were handled by customers, some were even cocked.

Slavia · Moderator

Welcome to the forum, Omega79! 50 yards in the backyard is perfect.

Some quick points:

1. Coming from a firearms tradition you will want to learn a different hold for a springer airgun. Often called the "artillery hold," you hold the gun as lightly as possible while maintaining control. Lots of vibration and lurching there; you'll be most consistent letting it rock.

2. If you scope the gun, be sure the scope is O.K. for spring-powered airguns. They have bi-directional recoil that can kill a reticle that isn't braced for it.

3. If you anticipate going inside the gun make a spring compressor. Releasing the preloaded spring without control can cause injury.

4. The trigger on the Crosman break-barrel guns isn't great, but there are aftermarket triggers that will tansform it.

5. Many of the Crosman break-barrel offerings are really the same gun with variations in stock and sight configurations. Keep that in mind as you plot your tinkering strategy. Pay attention any time you see names like Summit, Storm, Quest, G1, or Phantom.

Again, welcome.

Omega79 · New Member

Awesome stuff everybody, thanks!

Thanks for the heads donec, I have to admit I'm a bit anal retentive so I couldn't buy one that was opened, even if that's all they have. Maybe it's OCD lol!

Slavia, Good to know about handling, I think I would have been fustrated. Def know about the scope thing, that will probably come down the line. I was thinking of ordering one CharlieDaTuna's GRTIII triggers for it, would that be what you guys would recommend? And a spring compressor huh? I'll have to search the forum for that, I assume it's been covered.

Thanks again, leaving soon to pick one up!

Slavia · Moderator

Jaxom · Senior Member

Omega,

There is another option, if you have a bit of patience. And that's to utilize Crosman's custom shop. They can build you a customized rifle or pistol to suit your needs and budget. For example the 2300kt that's listed in my signature. That ran me $96 +$12 s/h. It's a great pistol even if it looks a bit odd with a 14" long barrel!

Since you tinker, you'll like this even more. I bought my 2300kt with the intention of turning it into a bulk HPA ag. If you do a search of these forums and take a look at what folks have done eith their 22xx series ag, you'll be amazed. If that's not enough eye candy, take a web stroll over to Airgun Artistry.com's site.

And all this can be done to suit your skill level and pocket book allowance!

Omega79 · New Member

Thanks again guys, got the Storm XT today (long search!) and I can't wait to fire it! The local Wal Mart had about a dozen in stock and I grabbed the only one that hadn't been opened. Got a sampling of GAMO and Crosman pellets, and the Crosman foam target block. It came with a Centerpoint scope which seems okay, better than I saw on some of the other rifles. Big5 had some Ruger that was originally 200 some-odd dollars on sale for 119, and I was tempted but went with what I saw here instead.

Slavia, I will be giving that a read, end to end.

Jaxom, thanks for the heads up, but I didn't have the patience lmao! Not a bad sounding deal, maybe for my next, I'm sure this won't be the last. Think the first order of business will be to order a new trigger and do whatever I can do on the cheap for now. Hope the weather co-operates so I can get it zeroed, I'll at least let a couple rounds go from the porch at minimum.

I'll post some pics tomorrow, thanks for the help!

packrat · Senior Member

Actually, I thought the scope to be pretty darned good...considering it comes in a package deal combo..usually get junk stuff..I believe the scope is a centerpoint 3-9x32 I liked it...so much that I bought another one from WallyWorld to put on another rifle I had just gotten . I still like it..for $56.00 I think it's a good deal.. naturally, YMMV.

Slavia · Moderator

Be safe, have fun, keep us posted, and you get the gold.

packrat · Senior Member

My StormXT shot very accurately with the GAMO 9.6 Rockets..has the little steel BB in the nose....only time I've ever heard anyone say anything good about a gamo pellet was this one- so I tried them and sure enough they were waaay good in my storm..might wanna give 'em a shot(pun intended)