best rifle for under $200

[shawn67]

This is my first post on your forum, I have been reading all of you post for a while now trying to make a informed decision on purchasing a airgun. I have never owned a spinger before so I thought it would be best to find out from the experts what was available in the price range that I would be buying from, which would be under $200 for my first adult air rifle, I thought this would be a good figure as I have bought good shooting .22 rimfires for that much. After much deliberating I was having a hard time deciding between the Mendoza RM600 and the BAM B26 until I heard some of you talking about a fellow named Mike Melick at Flying Dragon Air Rifles and the work he performs on the B26, I contacted him and from talking with him and listening to what you all have said I'm happy to say that I am purchasing one from him tuned and scoped with a leepers 4X32AO for just a little over 200, I can't wait until it get here, I also wanted to say that Mike is a very nice guy to talk to, he answered all of my questions in detail, and was very prompt in returning all of my emails. If this hobby is like all my others I'm sure that this won't be the last airgun that I buy but I'm glad that a place like this was around to help me decide on my first.

[wisconsinwalter]

I really like mine.  I have been shooting standing mostly, havent done that since the Corps.

[shawn67]

Everything that I have heard about them has been positive, especially the ones that have been tuned by Mike, that was the main reason that I decided to go with the B26 over the Mendoza, I will probably be shooting  more from a bench or a prone position except the rare occasion of shooting at garden pest and the like. I'm glad to see that there are a lot of adults and veterans shooting air rifles, some of my shooting buddies have gave me a hard time when I bring up airguns in conversation, saying its a waste of money to buy a air rifle when I could spend the money on another "real" gun, as they put it. But I have over 30 firearms shotguns, rifles, pistols and while I love them all and could always find room for another one. What I don't(not for much longer) have a good air rifle, and I get tired of borrowing my 10 year old sons crossman 660 powermaster, its o.k. For him right now but it doesn't have enough zip for me and its all plastic, even the trigger, that is god awful by the way,  when did airgun makers start making the whole gun out of plastic?  Heck when I was a kid (many years ago) all airguns were made of wood and metal the way they should be, sorry didn't mean to get off subject.

[wisconsinwalter]

Yea, I have the same conversations.  Just ask them how much does it cost them to fire 250 rounds.  How close can they fire theirs at home without being at a range and how much time does it take to properly clean a firearm after shooting it?  For me time is money!!

Good luck with your rifle!  How far south are you in IL?

[bcshooter]

Best $200.00 present anyone can get. Money well spent. Mike works wonders with his hands. He will deliver one smooth shooter. I haveone B 26 .177cal and one B26-2 .22cal. nice solid thunkkk, when you squezze that trigger and let one round fly.......Shoot Safe.....Shoot Straight and Enjoy......Bill

[shawn67]

I'm pretty far down south in Illinois, about a 40 minute drive to Kentucky. My mother used to live in Wisconsin up by the Dells, beautiful country up there, I visited her up there several times.

[shawn67]

Thanks, I opted for the .22 version, I'm only about 10 minutes from my local range but I was also wanting something to put the hurt on those pesky rabbits and birds that get in my garden every year without the neighbors having a heartattack, I have done it with my Savage MKII loaded with Aguila super colbris, which are super quite, but it always makes me a little nervous. I think I'd be better off explaining myself with a airgun than with the .22 rimfire, I live on the outside of town but still close enough they consider it the city (population 1,200) limits.

[Flyby]

You made a good decision on your purchase. You will love the way the B26 shoots. I find myself picking mine up before anything else I have now. It's not the fastest or the best shooter I have but the weight of it and the way it handles makes up for the differences. I really like mine a lot and Mike does magic with them. Enjoy it !!!

[shawn67]

I knew it wouldn't be the fastest, Mike said between somewhere between 650 and 700 with 14 to 15 grains but I'm hoping it will make up for it in accuracy. How does yours do at 20 yrds.? Is it picky as to what pellets it likes?

[Gene_SC]

Shawn, your question is kinda broad.. Springers I assume you are talking about. Every springer has it own forte. They are like tools. You do not trim your rose bushes with a chain saw.. So exactly what do you want to do with a springer? I mean what are you gonna want to shoot with it? Then ask what is the best price for a springer under $200.00 to do a particular job with..

[shawn67]

Good point Gene, I guess I should have been more specific, I plan on using the gun to plink but still have enough knock down power to take care of small to medium size garden pest with on occasion, I really looked for a while before jumping on the B26, I thought about the Mendoza rm600 for a while but I had read mixed reviews on it and everything I heard about Mikes tuned b26 has been nothing but praise and that's coming from guys that have a lot more experience than I do with airguns, I was in the military and have shot guns ever since childhood but sping powered airguns are a new endeavor to me, so I wanted to get the best shooting one that was in my price range that would do what I wanted so I went for the .22 b26 from Mike Melick with a leepers 4x32ao scope, I'm around 6ft and over 200lb so I didn't want a gun that's to small for me either. So I think from what I've heard I will be happy with my choice, but if I know me I will want more power at a later date but I'm sure that will come with a higher price tag, it usually does.

[Gene_SC]

Then Shawn, it looks like you found the right baby in the B-26. It is a great gun for under $200.00. It is based afer the Beeman R-9 which cost twice that. And I think owners of both would say that the B-26 is just about the same. The R-9 is a good hunting springer as well as all around plinker.

[Flyby]

Shawn, it will be fast enough to handle the garden pest you are talking about. Mine likes a couple type pellets. They are Gamo Hunter's and RWS Superdomes. Accuracy is the same with either pellet.Most of my rifles like Predators but this one didn't like them at all. Mine will do a one hole group at 22 yds. off the bags. I've not shot it off the bench at any longer distances but I have taken squirrels at around 35 to 40 yds. without a problem, but you have to place the pellet in the right place. Just play with a few different pellets and you will find one or more that will do the job for you.
Terry

[shawn67]

Thanks for the advise, its interesting that almost everyone that I have talked to has recommended the Gamo hunters as their first choice with this gun, I'm glad because they aren't as expensive as a lot of the other larger brand name pellets out there, some of them are almost as high as .22 rim fire, I think that will be the first ones I try, I'm gonna order some today. Hopefully the pellets will get here before the rifle, lol.

[Jerrycup]

Shawn, my .22 cal B-26 does just fine with the Crosman Premier HP's. The Gamo Hunters are not much better, and I think they have more variability due to skirt design, IMHO.
Anyway I have ended up with shooting just the CPHP's, which are dirt cheap. Their tins have 500 per, and if you buy 3 at Pyramid, the 4th is free.