My trip to Cabelas....

Well, I live 20 miles south of Morgantown, WV, home of the WVU mountaineers. So a trip to cabelas takes about 55 minutes. After reading on their site and seeing they had the RWS models I was considering for my second gun I thought i better drive up there and check them out, no buying, only looking (helps if you're poor like me). So off to the big C I went this morning after a nice breakfast at cracker barrel.

we should have some new members cuz I told everyone who was confused in the airgun section to come here, read and get some advice  , not to just impulse-buy the wrong gun!

What a difference holding the gun does for your opinion instead of just reading and looking at pictures. First, I want to say for those that havent been there or dont go because you dont think they have the gun you want since it's not listed on their site, you should go because they had alot of guns they didnt have on their site....like the BEEMAN R9 GOLDFINGER (this is like my 30th trip since it opened)! Which happened the be the only other gun I had been considering instead of an RWS. So imagine my delight to go look at the RWS and end up being able to compare the two very guns I was debating over, the RWS 48 and the R9 goldfinger!

So, I think I've made my decision! I'm going with the Beeman R9 goldfinger in .22. Its just such a great gun to handle, look at, hold, pull to shoulder....everything.  I figure when and if I need or want to step up to magnum power and above I'll just go PCP with a talon, condor or something korean. the $1000.00+ price tag ought to keep happy to stay at 16FPE. I've also heard the R9 can be extremely sensitive to hold so if you can shoot them you can shoot just about anything.

 I feel good about my decision. I'm still concerned about the break-barrel aspect of the R9 vs. the fixed barrel of the 48. I've heard people say fixed barrel is more accurate than break barrel and the breakbarrels have trouble staying aligned over time, either not all the way locked up or can shift left or right. I dont know how true that is but the gun just feels right when I hold it.

JR

Edit: Retracted

[vinceb]

...is largely a moot point, at least with your better BB's. Barrel quality has a lot more to do with accuracy, and I don't think you've got anything to worry about.

As for the '48's bulkiness, you have to remember that it's a fair bit more potent than the R9. More powerful guns will tend to be larger and heavier.

[shadow]

Sometimes having the HANDS ON of what you want or dont want makes the difference. Wish we could test drive airrifles like we do cars before we buy. :0 Sir you've had our airrifle for a month now.! It is'nt broken in yet, just a couple more times around the block please hehehe. Ed

[longislandhunter]

Congrats JR on your choice, you're gonna love that gun.  As far as it being hold sensitive I don't find mine to be that way at all, and as far as the break barrel concern I can tell you that my R-9 Goldfinger locks up extremely tightly, it was one of the first things I noticed when I got the gun.  Again, congrats and good luck with the gun.

Jeff

[daved]

I think you made a great choice, JR.  And I wouldn't worry about the break barrel vs. fixed barrel.  I ended up deciding on my CFX because I thought a fixed barrel would HAVE to be more accurate than a break.  Then I busted a mainspring, and off to Bob it went for a tune.  To stave off withdrawals ( I was already severely addicted, just didn't realize it yet :-)!), I borrowed my bosses Shadow 1000 for awhile.  Didn't take long to realize the Shadow was AT LEAST as accurate as the CFX, maybe slightly more powerful, and less hassle to load.  That's a big part of the reason that gun #2 was a break barrel.  BTW, gun #2 is my RWS (actually Diana!) 350, but I'm not offended by your egregious attack on perhaps one of the FINEST FIXED BARREL RIFLE EVER MADE!!!.....easy, boy, settle down, deep breath...  Okay, maybe a little offended :-).  I've heard that they're heavy beasts, never heard anyone call them ugly though.

So when are you getting the R9?  Keep us posted, and have fun.  Later.

Dave

PS Never got out of my shop yesterday, will get to the post office Monday.

LMAO man. Actually to be clear, I cant speak of the 350 magnums beauty or the lack thereof as cabela's did not have one. I would say I'll have the goldfinger in about two weeks, the wife is buying some things for the house so my "gun funds" are on standby is case of shortage....hahahaha like I'm really gonna give em to her for apple border or wallpaper or whatever else she thinks is more important, but whatever keeps her calm, we'll fight that battle when/if we HAVE to. Im going to my buddy he's a basspro authorized dealer says he might be able to get it for as little as $365.00. My luck says it'll cost $465.00 through him!

JR

Edit: Retracted

[DanoInTx]

Man, ugly?  Not offended at all, but that is one of my favorite looking air rifles.  I had a B30, which I believe is about a pound heavier.  I have handled the 48, the 52, and the 54 at Cabellas myself, and agree with one thing, they are heavy.  If you look at some of the high end match springers they almost all have a heavy side level...how else would you cock it?  They are for sure tanks in airgun clothing though, same reason I got rid of my B30, just too heavy...and I'm a 200 pound 6' tall guy.  I do like the looks of the Goldfinger though, a real beauty for sure.  I think you'll be happy:)  One thing I didn't like about the RWS guns that I did like about the B30 is the plastic, why would I want to pay a substantial amount of money for an air rifle with a plastic trigger?  Probably where they save weight, but it seems cheap to me.  Anyways, enough rant,

Dan

retracted

[rabbit]

Fat,

     I have a RWS model 52 and it is a beautiful rifle. The stock is made from a very heavy grained piece of wood with a lot of swirls. It is a heavy rifle but I knew that all side - levers are heavy. You bring your best rifle and I will put my model 52 against anything you can get.

                                                      Rabbit

[Black Mamba]

As it was once said by someone who was probably important, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder".  

I have a B30 and an RWS 350.  Truthfully I find BOTH guns attractive but in different ways.  I LIKE the heavy, sturdy toughness of the B30's look.  I also like the side cocking system.

fat1's choice of the R9 will indeed as others have said, be a good choice.  They are by all accounts a great gun.

I think at it's heart, this conversation is one of the things that makes airgunning so interesting for me.  No two guys see the same gun the same way.  AND everybody learns something thru the discussion.


As long as YOU like it, it's good.

Dude,

     I didnt say it wasnt a good gun I know it is a great gun. Im a weakling, so I had to have oxygen after holding it up for a few minutes. I believe I also said I didnt mean to be offensive. Also, you could outshoot me if I had a tx200 and you had a blowgun so....nevermind i'll just retract the statement. bye gones

JR

Edit: retracted

[daved]

I haven't been able to figure out that plastic trigger, either.  Sure wish I could put a GRT on it!  Hey, Bob, you listening :-)?

Dave

PS I know, the linkage is such that making a GRT III would be prohibitively expensive.  But a guys gotta dream.

[daved]

Hey, JR, just wanted to be sure you realize no one is really offended, we're just yanking your chain.  Later.

Dave

well, Ive gotten quite a bit of email actually so, I'll just retract. I'm not a sensitive person so I always say things that ruffle people's feathers. I was a fat kid in public school so I have extremely thick skin. I just dont wanna tick anyone off then not be able to get help later cuz I said there gun's ugly   Hehe this place still rules.
 

JR

[shadow]

I second what Black Mamba said and there's NO KGB HERE hehehe. If we all learn something here then it's been another great day at GTA. Good luck on your choice, Ed