Air Gun Home :: View topic - Ruger Air Hawk or Crosman Quest 1000

keithb · New Member

I'm a firearms shooter looking to pick up my first airgun. It will be used almost exclusively for backyard plinking, and rarely for chipmunk and squirrel control. Mostly I'm looking for something less noisy than a .22lr (the neighbors get antsy, even though it's perfectly legal here, and I have a safe backstop) so I can shoot on days when I have no time to go to my gun club.

I'm looking to spend around $100, and the two airguns that seem to to be coming to the top are the Ruger Air Hawk and Crosman Quest 1000. I've seen good and bad reviews of both, and I'm not sure which way to go. At the moment the Crosman has a slight edge in my mind because I can get free shipping on Amazon Smile

Either one will be getting new optics, so I'm not concerned about the quality of included optics. Usable iron sights would be a plus, however.

Which way would you go? Don't say "Save another $125 and get X" - I have around $100 of Amazon points kicking around, and if I start thinking about saving $200+, I'll probably convince myself to put it into the Ruger 10/22 project I want to build!

Dukemeister · Member

Pick the one you like the look of most, they are both good choices in low cost springers. The Ruger has a 2 stage adjustable trigger which is OK, but it improves with a bit of polishing and lube (I don't have one myself yet, but have read about this repeatedly). The Crosman has a heavy creepy yucky trigger than can be replaced with one of the now very plentiful 2-stage aftermarket triggers (search Gamo or B18 trigger), the GTXII is one of them.
They cost somewhere between $30-$40 and are a big improvement over the stock trigger on the Crosmans. Putting myself back in your position, I would choose the Quest (or Optimus, same gun nicer stock if you can find one) again. They are easy to work on, reward you for your efforts, are accurate for their class, etc. Good choice for a first springer. Best wishes. Very Happy

oddtodd · Silver Status Member

They are both good rifles and they both will hold up for a long time. I personally like the quest better. Not for any specific reason, I just have better luck with crosman personally. I have a storm which is the same thing as the quest, but with a different color stain on the stock and a cheaper scope, and it shoots great. I've had it a couple of years and it just gets better with age for me. It probably is just a matter of practice for me though. lol

Slavia · Moderator

It's probably a toss up, so go with the gun that looks and feels better. I have a Crosman G1, which is a Quest with a different sight/stock configuration - I like it.

Should you choose the Crosman I think keeping the original optics and replacing the trigger will give you more "bang for your buck."

keithb · New Member

Thanks for the input!

If I go with the Crosman, I would likely be getting the Crosman Quest 1000 (not 1000X) - $25 cheaper, and I already have a scope and mounts in hand.

oddtodd · Silver Status Member

I hat to tell you this, but you will probably destroy any scope not airgun rated. THey are only designed for recoil in one direction and springers have recoil in both direction. One from the piston starting from the spring and another recoil when the piston stops.

keithb · New Member

Indeed.

The scope is a Simmons marked for '.22 Mag Rimfire/Air Rifle' Smile

Crosman140 · Senior Member

Either will do you well.

A couple of things to remember about springers...

1. shoot 200-400 pellets through it before you do any serious shooting with it. They need to "settle in" and it takes that many pellets typically to get them to do so. Also, the first several rounds will have a slight report similar to a .22 LR. This is typical so don't be concerned. After a while, all you will hear when you pull the trigger is the spring "twang."

2. use a light artillery hold on the gun, don't pull it in tightly and don't hold it rigidly. Springers like a light hold just sort of balancing there on your front hand.

I picked up my G1 for just the reasons you mentioned in your OP and it has served me well with a lot of plinking and some nice squirrel kills.