recommend me a .177 air rifle

Rimfire bolt action rifles, lever action, pump action and self loading rifles. Air rifles.

recommend me a .177 air rifle

Post by Zappa » 10 Mar 2019, 11:56 pm

Just need something cheap to shoot for target and taking small pests up to 50 metres.
Prefer a wood stock but can live with synthetics. As long its not a thumbhole grip. Budget up to $450 , if it comes with a good scope on it a bonus. But would be shooting iron sights mostly. Has to be good, not cheap and nasty. I;d like to keep it for a while and maybe pass it down to the Grandkids one day.

Also have no idea about the velocity I should be looking for and whether go spring or nitro, strut like. NO co2 or PCP.

Someone has pointed me towards Diana's but as i have no idea about who makes what, and at what pricepoint
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Re: recommend me a .177 air rifle

Post by No1Mk3 » 11 Mar 2019, 5:00 am

BSA Meteor,
They were a good rifle in their day, and in 177 make 1000fps. A number of budget European air-rifles can be found and I still use a Gecado 25 that does what you require. (50m would be absolute max for the little Gecado though!) My leaning towards spring guns, over the far more lethal gas guns, is you never go to the safe and say "bugger, no gas bottles" or "the pump isn't working". Cheers.
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Re: recommend me a .177 air rifle

Post by Gaznazdiak » 11 Mar 2019, 9:10 am

+1 on the Meteor.
Had one for nearly 40years, only had to put a new spring and seals in it last year.
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Re: recommend me a .177 air rifle

Post by Zappa » 11 Mar 2019, 10:54 am

folks - thank you for your input. I need also to mention, a rifle I can walk into a LGS and purchase or buy sight unseen over the net , but needs to be new.
BSA Importers (Tasco) website doesnt seem to be working to locate a local dealer.

I've lived with springers before and dont mind them again , but would like the 'smoother' sealed gas strut.
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Re: recommend me a .177 air rifle

Post by Supaduke » 11 Mar 2019, 12:06 pm

For brand new, in that price range. Pretty much Gamo is your choice. They do inert gas guns. If you can stretch a bit further a Walther or Diana.
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Re: recommend me a .177 air rifle

Post by Bent Arrow » 11 Mar 2019, 12:15 pm

You wont get into a PCP that you'll be happy with at that price point. At your budget, I'd stick with a springer.
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Re: recommend me a .177 air rifle

Post by TassieTiger » 11 Mar 2019, 3:39 pm

I had a .177 VMAX and it wouldn’t shoot groups for crap. Tried 50 different pellet weights and types and grouped 5 inches at 20m....
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Re: recommend me a .177 air rifle

Post by Zappa » 11 Mar 2019, 9:16 pm

Bent Arrow wrote:You wont get into a PCP that you'll be happy with at that price point. At your budget, I'd stick with a springer.


Confused myself and others.Was not referring to PCP. What are the enclosed strut type pistons called? Fully self contained gas and spring ?
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Re: recommend me a .177 air rifle

Post by Supaduke » 11 Mar 2019, 10:34 pm

No spring, an inert gas is compressed in the cylinder and acts as the spring. Supposed to be more consistent, but springers work just fine. Also not as much 'twang'
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Re: recommend me a .177 air rifle

Post by Daddybang » 12 Mar 2019, 9:51 am

I like my bsa scout v. :thumbsup: :drinks:
This hard living ain't as easy as it used to be!!!
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Re: recommend me a .177 air rifle

Post by Sawyers » 12 Mar 2019, 9:53 am

You can pick un a Diana 340 Ntec for the that price, there big heavy guns and decent quality.
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Re: recommend me a .177 air rifle

Post by Gaznazdiak » 12 Mar 2019, 10:23 am

Supaduke wrote:No spring, an inert gas is compressed in the cylinder and acts as the spring. Supposed to be more consistent, but springers work just fine. Also not as much 'twang'



Yeah, springer for me too.
The first spring on my old Meteor lasted me nearly 40yrs, can't complain there.
No pumps no bottles or other embuggerances, and if you ever run out of air for your springer, then not being able to shoot is going to be the least of your worries :D
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Re: recommend me a .177 air rifle

Post by Zappa » 12 Mar 2019, 10:31 am

Sawyers wrote:You can pick un a Diana 340 Ntec for the that price, there big heavy guns and decent quality.



I like a lot. unfortunately out of my budget. $560. :|
https://www.horsleyparkgunshop.com.au/p ... -air-rifle

Anyone have any experience with Gamo Bigcat 1000 ?
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Re: recommend me a .177 air rifle

Post by Zappa » 12 Mar 2019, 10:35 am

Daddybang wrote:I like my bsa scout v. :thumbsup: :drinks:


They're marketed as a beginners \ kids rifle. lol

possibly shorter stock and lighter ?
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Re: recommend me a .177 air rifle

Post by Daddybang » 12 Mar 2019, 11:04 am

Zappa wrote:
Daddybang wrote:I like my bsa scout v. :thumbsup: :drinks:


They're marketed as a beginners \ kids rifle. lol

possibly shorter stock and lighter ?


Yep we brought it to teach the girl spawn on (when she comes of legal age of course).
But both my wife and I have fun plinking and chasing canetoads etc with it. :thumbsup: :drinks:
This hard living ain't as easy as it used to be!!!
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Re: recommend me a .177 air rifle

Post by Sawyers » 12 Mar 2019, 2:10 pm

Zappa wrote:
Sawyers wrote:You can pick un a Diana 340 Ntec for the that price, there big heavy guns and decent quality.



I like a lot. unfortunately out of my budget. $560. :|
https://www.horsleyparkgunshop.com.au/p ... -air-rifle

Anyone have any experience with Gamo Bigcat 1000 ?

The price is on point if you can live with plastic stock
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Re: recommend me a .177 air rifle

Post by simpsonhey » 27 Apr 2019, 7:52 pm

Got a diana big cat 1000 for 270 and is a awsome little gun
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Re: recommend me a .177 air rifle

Post by Zappa » 27 Apr 2019, 8:14 pm

simpsonhey wrote:Got a diana big cat 1000 for 270 and is a awsome little gun



Gamo Big Cat 1000?
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