Try a Crosman Challenger. Takes both air and CO2, good trigger and apparently stunningly accurate.
AirGun Depot has them for $486, and it'll shoot a lot off one CO2. Doesn't use the CO2 cartridges as such and shoots mid 500 fps.
21 - 40 of 40 Posts
If Money Is No Object
_seems a reasonable trade-off to forgo the expense of CO2 cartridges or PCP support equipment.
However, if money is no object ... then, PCP is the only way to go.
How about a Steyr LG110.
All airguns will require maintenance - routine maintenance aside.
A spring and piston air rifle will only need pellets to start practice.
But, springers generate recoil and require a very disciplined hold and follow-through for best accuracy.
The technique needed to shoot a rimfire or centerfire is not the same effort needed to master a springer.
A SSP will only need pellets for practice.
A CO2 rifle requires CO2 cartridges plus pellets.
A PCP will require an air or CO2 source (tank, manifold and lines or a high pressure air pump) plus pellets.
Hmmm ... for informal target practice in the basement the additional effort needed to operate a SSP
_seems a reasonable trade-off to forgo the expense of CO2 cartridges or PCP support equipment.
However, if money is no object ... then, PCP is the only way to go.
How about a Steyr LG110.
In comparison, PCP support or CO2 is a pittance.
Sorry for getting off topic ... I couldn't resist the set-up.
It was way too easy.
It was way too easy.
All airguns will require maintenance - routine maintenance aside.
A spring and piston air rifle will only need pellets to start practice.
But, springers generate recoil and require a very disciplined hold and follow-through for best accuracy.
The technique needed to shoot a rimfire or centerfire is not the same effort needed to master a springer.
A SSP will only need pellets for practice.
A CO2 rifle requires CO2 cartridges plus pellets.
A PCP will require an air or CO2 source (tank, manifold and lines or a high pressure air pump) plus pellets.
Thank you frog5215 for actually answering the OP question. The OP wants to maintain his benchrest shooting chops over the winter and he's getting a bunch of recommendations for break-barrel springers? Huh?
Just to further amplify on frog5215's excellent recommendations.
The QB78 is a nice Chinese clone of the venerable (and long out of production) Crosman 160. Unfortunately, the QC is hit or miss, so it's best to buy the rifle from someone who will at least look it over.
http://www.archerairguns.com/qb78-airgun-family-air-rifles-s/27.htm
Archer will go over the rifle and make sure it's not a dud. They also stock some accessories you might need.
http://www.airgunartisans.com/flyingdragon/
Mike Melick at Flying Dragons can do a bit more work if you wish, totally breaking down the rifle, deburring and recrowning as necessary and making the trigger sweeter. His prices are really reasonable as well.
I would get the regular QB78 that takes the C02 carts you can buy at Wal-Mart. A stock .177 rifle will probably get about 50 shots on two carts depending on the temperature of your basement (colder=less shots). After you establish that you enjoy the rifle and wish to reduce your C02 costs you can easily bulk-fill a QB78 with an adapter. Here's more info on C02 bulk fill:
http://www.network54.com/Forum/113813/thread/1257738101/I+am+officially+into+the+bulk+CO2+club...so
The Crosman Discovery and Marauder that frog5215 mentioned can work on either HPA or bulk C02 (no carts) and would be excellent for bench shooting. The Marauder's 10-pellet mag would be really sweet at the bench, with around 100 silent shots between fills.
I almost bought a QB78 for this spring, the only deterrent for me with this rifle is my shop is too cold to shoot C02 in the winter. I still might get one anyway, but I already have another brown Santa delivery coming Monday.
Just to further amplify on frog5215's excellent recommendations.
The QB78 is a nice Chinese clone of the venerable (and long out of production) Crosman 160. Unfortunately, the QC is hit or miss, so it's best to buy the rifle from someone who will at least look it over.
http://www.archerairguns.com/qb78-airgun-family-air-rifles-s/27.htm
Archer will go over the rifle and make sure it's not a dud. They also stock some accessories you might need.
http://www.airgunartisans.com/flyingdragon/
Mike Melick at Flying Dragons can do a bit more work if you wish, totally breaking down the rifle, deburring and recrowning as necessary and making the trigger sweeter. His prices are really reasonable as well.
I would get the regular QB78 that takes the C02 carts you can buy at Wal-Mart. A stock .177 rifle will probably get about 50 shots on two carts depending on the temperature of your basement (colder=less shots). After you establish that you enjoy the rifle and wish to reduce your C02 costs you can easily bulk-fill a QB78 with an adapter. Here's more info on C02 bulk fill:
http://www.network54.com/Forum/113813/thread/1257738101/I+am+officially+into+the+bulk+CO2+club...so
The Crosman Discovery and Marauder that frog5215 mentioned can work on either HPA or bulk C02 (no carts) and would be excellent for bench shooting. The Marauder's 10-pellet mag would be really sweet at the bench, with around 100 silent shots between fills.
I almost bought a QB78 for this spring, the only deterrent for me with this rifle is my shop is too cold to shoot C02 in the winter. I still might get one anyway, but I already have another brown Santa delivery coming Monday.
forrest r wrote :
"I apologize for my advice, I didn't realize the ssp's were that much trouble to use on a bench. The other reason I suggested them was $$$$$.
I also started shooting pellet guns for practice in the winter. Between the ease of use (walking down the stairs) and the excellent accuracy of them, they became adicting. Now I shot them year round and my range time has been cut way back.
Why I'm saying cost savings.
I shoot 10,000 pellets a year (30 a day) just threw those target rifles. I just got a new order of pellets (10,0000) in from pyramid for $122. If I get 25 shots out of a c02 bottle then I'd be buying 400 of them a year. People were kind enough to tell me the 25 packs of c02 cost $15 for 25 of them at walmart. I'd need to buy 16 packs of them at $240.
My cost of shooting would go from $122 a year to $362 a year, tripling my expense. Now that I've done the math, a dollor a day to shoot is very cheap for these highly accurate rifles."
That is why I've been studying the CO2 route, but I'm in the middle of building a pair of 1377 Carbines and can't justify the extra cost.
![]()
"LOL! A 10,000 pellet a year noob? Buddy. you are well and truly addicted already! I thought you were someone just starting out..."
Judging from the *nice* airguns he's got I don't think hes a "noob" :bthumb:
"I apologize for my advice, I didn't realize the ssp's were that much trouble to use on a bench. The other reason I suggested them was $$$$$.
I also started shooting pellet guns for practice in the winter. Between the ease of use (walking down the stairs) and the excellent accuracy of them, they became adicting. Now I shot them year round and my range time has been cut way back.
Why I'm saying cost savings.
I shoot 10,000 pellets a year (30 a day) just threw those target rifles. I just got a new order of pellets (10,0000) in from pyramid for $122. If I get 25 shots out of a c02 bottle then I'd be buying 400 of them a year. People were kind enough to tell me the 25 packs of c02 cost $15 for 25 of them at walmart. I'd need to buy 16 packs of them at $240.
My cost of shooting would go from $122 a year to $362 a year, tripling my expense. Now that I've done the math, a dollor a day to shoot is very cheap for these highly accurate rifles."
That is why I've been studying the CO2 route, but I'm in the middle of building a pair of 1377 Carbines and can't justify the extra cost.
"LOL! A 10,000 pellet a year noob? Buddy. you are well and truly addicted already! I thought you were someone just starting out..."
Judging from the *nice* airguns he's got I don't think hes a "noob" :bthumb:
My CO2 and SSP Pistols
Well, anyway ... if you are willing to commit to the initial expense ... PCP is the way to go.
How expensive? In the case of the Marauder or Discovery the cost of a tank, tank valve,
_distribution manifold and a HPA hand pump will easily exceed the price of the rifle.
Up until now, I had not realized how much of a disadvantage having to stroke my SSP for each shot had been to me.
I've owned some good quality CO2 pistols and an excellent SSP pistol at the same time.
I can't tell you how many times I've wanted to shoot during the late afternoon after work.
And, had to decide between committing enough time for 60 good shots from a CO2 cartridge - or not.
This may be naive of me ... but, if I didn't have the time to consume the entire cartridge ... I didn't or wouldn't shoot.
Why? I resisted putting my CO2 pistol away with a partially used CO2 cylinder - against factory recommendations.
So, more often than not, out came my SSP Walther LP3.
During the weekdays, I shot my LP3 more frequently than my CO2s because of time constraints.
During the weekends, I shot my CO2s until I would ran out of cylinders.
Then, guess what? Out came my LP3.
My LP3 was always ready to go regardless of how many or how few shots I had time for.
Consequently, over the years, I put more pellets down-range with my LP3 than any other of my CO2 pistols - combined.
I know I shouldn't step-off into this ... but, I can't resist
Well, anyway ... if you are willing to commit to the initial expense ... PCP is the way to go.
How expensive? In the case of the Marauder or Discovery the cost of a tank, tank valve,
_distribution manifold and a HPA hand pump will easily exceed the price of the rifle.
Up until now, I had not realized how much of a disadvantage having to stroke my SSP for each shot had been to me.
I've owned some good quality CO2 pistols and an excellent SSP pistol at the same time.
I can't tell you how many times I've wanted to shoot during the late afternoon after work.
And, had to decide between committing enough time for 60 good shots from a CO2 cartridge - or not.
This may be naive of me ... but, if I didn't have the time to consume the entire cartridge ... I didn't or wouldn't shoot.
Why? I resisted putting my CO2 pistol away with a partially used CO2 cylinder - against factory recommendations.
So, more often than not, out came my SSP Walther LP3.
During the weekdays, I shot my LP3 more frequently than my CO2s because of time constraints.
During the weekends, I shot my CO2s until I would ran out of cylinders.
Then, guess what? Out came my LP3.
My LP3 was always ready to go regardless of how many or how few shots I had time for.
Consequently, over the years, I put more pellets down-range with my LP3 than any other of my CO2 pistols - combined.
21 - 40 of 40 Posts
