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General Discussion To Gateway To Airguns => Airgun Gate => : gregebby June 17, 2010, 10:45:40 AM

: Best all around .22 caliber springer for hunting out to 40 yrds?
: gregebby June 17, 2010, 10:45:40 AM
All,

If you had to purchase (once) a .22 caliber springer for hunting squirrels & crows out to 40 yards, what would you buy? Cost not a factor.

Thanks Greg.
: RE: Best all around .22 caliber springer for hunting out to 40 yrds?
: rocker1 June 17, 2010, 11:18:00 AM
one of the benji trails xl1100 or xl1500 both have plenty of power  i don't think you would go wrong  just replace the triggers with the grt trigger.   .......... thanks david
: RE: Best all around .22 caliber springer for hunting out to 40 yrds?
: ezman604 June 17, 2010, 11:54:55 AM


I second that. Benji Trail NP XL1500 for sure and will tell you about the XL1100 in a few days. Testing shortly. But the XL1500 generated (bone stock from the box) 23.4fpe using CPUM 10.5 gr ammo. And is a nail driver at 40 yards. I made some shots and was surprised to see a flat trajectory out to 100 yards. No Mil-dot leading.



Happy Shooting!!!!



Dave



(http://../jscripts/tiny_mce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-cool.gif)

: RE: Best all around .22 caliber springer for hunting out to 40 yrds?
: shadow June 17, 2010, 12:47:18 PM
I've heard that the XL is a great shooter from several hunt family here but I sure like my Extreme Royal 1250.22. Ed
: RE: Best all around .22 caliber springer for hunting out to 40 yrds?
: patton123 June 17, 2010, 01:46:11 PM
Alot of people here are shooting the latest Benjamin rifles. I have a RWS 350 that does real well.
: RE: Best all around .22 caliber springer for hunting out to 40 yrds?
: longislandhunter June 17, 2010, 04:14:46 PM
My .22 Trail XL 1100 is hard to beat for a small to medium sized game rifle,  I'd have to choose her   :)

You can keep it cocked all day, has more than enough power to nail nutters (which we all know are tough animals) out to 40 yards consistently and cleanly, already comes with a nice sling/swivel setup and a great, comfortable T/H stock.......   all for a nice price.  Just doesn't get any better.  :)

Jeff
: RE: Best all around .22 caliber springer for hunting out to 40 yrds?
: Zzyzx June 17, 2010, 04:55:03 PM
Interesting most replies are in favor of their newest toy.

RWS, Weihrauch, Theoben, and so many other fine spring powered rifles are still shooting well after 20+ years. Will the new toys last that long?
A lot to be said about time proven designs and models. Maybe not as snazzy as the latest toy but reliability over the years is much better in my view than
a new toy yet unproven.
: Re: Best all around .22 caliber springer for hunting out to 40 yrds?
: atchman2 June 17, 2010, 05:25:18 PM
For going cheap, I'd say a TF 89. Mine is a great hunting gun.  For more, I'd say a RWS 350, it is such a nice gun but honestly I think it needs to be tuned to get the most out of it.  One of the new Trails has HIGH appeal to me.  If I had the money right now, I'd get a Trail XL in a heartbeat!
: Re: Best all around .22 caliber springer for hunting out to 40 yrds?
: Progun June 17, 2010, 10:22:23 PM
Cost not a factor?? Only going to buy it once and hunt small game in .22caliber?? With those parameters I'd lean toward a gas rammed Theoben. Either a Crow Magnum/Eliminator or RX-2 or HW 90 or a UK Webley Patriot/Beeman Kodiak in .22. I'm not knocking the other suggestions you've heard as they are all capable hunters but if cost is not a factor then by all means get top shelf. Nobody will argue that the Benjamins, and RWS rifles and Gamo's are in any way BETTER than the models I've listed for you. The truth is you don't have to buy the best to get a capable .22 springer for squirrels and such but for long term durability and pride of ownership it would be hard to beat the gas rammed models above.Plenty of power and accuracy in this group.
: Re: Best all around .22 caliber springer for hunting out to 40 yrds?
: kiwi June 17, 2010, 10:29:42 PM
Easy if costs not a factor...
Theoben SLR.... underlever springer with a 7 shot mag...
.22   18fpe...
A  underlever thats faster & easyer than a brake barrel to cock & load...
The only reasion I don't have one is the $2,300NZ prise tag...

Pete
: Re: Best all around .22 caliber springer for hunting out to 40 yrds?
: Mark 611 June 18, 2010, 02:17:52 AM
HW97! or HW80 or  a RWS460mag or 54 or 48 all exelent choices. I've taken crows and other game easily at 40yds with my HW95 in .22cal and it only shoots 635fps!
: RE: Best all around .22 caliber springer for hunting out to 40 yrds?
: jwh2 June 18, 2010, 03:31:21 AM
gregebby - 6/17/2010  4:45 PM
f you had to purchase (once) a .22 caliber springer for hunting squirrels & crows out to 40 yards, what would you buy? Cost not a factor.
Thanks Greg.


An R1 or an HW80 would be hard to beat. Well made classics that can be enjoyed for years to come.
: RE: Best all around .22 caliber springer for hunting out to 40 yrds?
: ezman604 June 18, 2010, 05:38:43 AM


Greg, this is a good thread and thanks for starting it. Unfortunately, MOST of us live in a world where cost is as BIG factor in our hobbies. (http://../jscripts/tiny_mce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-smile.gif)



I still stand by my recommendation of the XL1500 and it appears several also agree the gas ram (nitrogen piston) is the way to go instead of springer. I've never handled or even seen some of the mentioned AGs so it spurred my interest enough to look for info on some of them. All of these mentioned are nice looking pieces. Thought some of you might enjoy seeing what some of them look like, just in case.



: RE: Best all around .22 caliber springer for hunting out to 40 yrds?
: airiscool June 18, 2010, 06:08:35 AM
One more vote for the Benji Trail XL1100.

Paul.
: Re: Best all around .22 caliber springer for hunting out to 40 yrds?
: tjk June 18, 2010, 07:31:24 AM
Beeman RX2 or an HW90 if cost isn't an issue. Very accurate and will give you excellent results well passed the 40 yard mark. tjk
: RE: Best all around .22 caliber springer for hunting out to 40 yrds?
: Zzyzx June 18, 2010, 07:40:56 AM
"Greg, this is a good thread and thanks for starting it. Unfortunately, MOST of us live in a world where cost is as BIG factor in our hobbies."

Well ezman, this topic says Cost is NOT a factor. So my surprise on seeing so many posts that go with only current nice rifles rather than current and classic top drawer rifles.

Given the choice as the post suggests, why not a top drawer rifle that draws praise from every quarter as your shooter?
: RE: Best all around .22 caliber springer for hunting out to 40 yrds?
: ezman604 June 18, 2010, 07:54:38 AM
Joshua, Cost is NOT a factor, meaning function is. The top drawer AGs are very nice, can do the job and give you not only prestige but resale value. Granted all that. But, when talking about an effective hunting piece, I'll take my Benjamin Trail NP XL1500, take the small/medium game harvest home and keep more jingle in my pocket. The gun I suggest is as powerful as many PCPs and shoots dead on from 25 out to 100 yards. What else do you want in a hunter? To each his own but I'm practical MOST of the time.
: RE: Best all around .22 caliber springer for hunting out to 40 yrds?
: ctw19 June 18, 2010, 04:15:25 PM
Air Arms TX200 HC in .177 caliber is the rifle for you.  I have one.  It is deadly.
: RE: Best all around .22 caliber springer for hunting out to 40 yrds?
: leftcoast1 June 18, 2010, 05:31:18 PM
Theoben Eleminator w dampa mount and leupold 3-9-32 efr. doesnt get any better
: RE: Best all around .22 caliber springer for hunting out to 40 yrds?
: turbonoma June 19, 2010, 07:58:05 AM
ctw19 - 6/18/2010  12:15 AM
Air Arms TX200 HC in .177 caliber is the rifle for you.  I have one.  It is deadly.

I second that in either caliber(.177 or .22)
: Re: Best all around .22 caliber springer for hunting out to 40 yrds?
: tjk June 19, 2010, 11:31:20 AM
Let me toss this rifle into the mix. What about the classic FWB 127?!? Sure it might not have the power that the fore-mentionned shooters posess, but with a match grade barrel, head shots would seem to be the standard target kill zone. Ok BTs would be a challenge in the fpe power,  but a crow headshot is do-able for sure. Just a thought. tjk