Sub $100 .177 tinker plinker

[Dust]

Been looking at all sorts of cheap chinese and US rifles and pistols, and wanted some opinions.  Since I can't decide on a big gun because of the magnum springer recoil hold sensitivity or the pcp stuff, I thought I would go small, for backyard stuff first.

MAC1 Crosman 1377 - just read about the MAC1 getting the speed up to 6xx fps, sounds good for a pistol.
TF-everything
B 1-4
 and others

So, what would be the good tinkerer for a AG newbie for birds in the backyard out to ~25 feet or so?  Scope mountability would be nice, so the underlevers are kinda off the list, and I already have a 177 b3-1 that will get a QF2 kit when I get back.

[birdmove]

I believe I got an email from Natchez today that they have the Gamo Delta on sale for $49.95 right now. My Remington Airmaster 77 is a very accurate multi pump .177 caliber air rifle that you can find for $69.95 (some are charging $89.95).It's pretty quiet too, especially if you shoot it with five pumps (max of ten) like I do.

    jon

[mackeralboy]

Crosman Quest 1000. PA has been seeling them for about $89.00 without a scope. As you get some spare change you can upgrade it. GRTIII trigger, Maccarri sping, scope and base, tune kits, etc. What started out as a great backyard plinker could wind up being a great little critter getter. Not that a Mac1 tuned 1377 isn't a great deal,(I love mine) but it will run more than a hundred with the price of the gun and a tune.

[airgunandy]

How much do you really want to tinker?
Check out the Crosman Gate to see some real tinkering!
A 1377 converted to a carbine is cool. There is also the 2260 CO2 rifle.

Or if you really want to tinker, the Crosman 760!
This one has a rifled barrel from Mountainair Custom Airguns and a home-brewed stock along with some internal work.

[douglas george]

Try the Chinese QB 36-2, a full size underlever 177 air rifle with globe front sight inserts for under $89.  It is a 900 fps gun, with a thick Mahonagy stock.  I own two of them.
Douglas George

[daveshoot]

If you really want to tinker, the 1377 @ $55 or sois hard to beat. Add a 1399 and you have a $80 carbine with almost unlimited potential.

But beware... then you'll need want a replacement pumper forearm, longer barrel, machined steel breech, shroud (pumpers are a little loud),flat top piston and extended bolt probe. THEN you'll want to start blinging it up, with laminate wood, bipods, lasers, you know, the regular stuff. You start reading around the forumsand looking at pictures, and pretty soon boxes start showing up at the door.

It's not a gun, it's a subscription.

[Dust]

How far would I mod, about as far as the B-3 would allow, which is not much financially. Hence the "tinker" and not "mod". I like the 1377.  The stuff I read on the Quest seems to be a little hit and miss, although when it works it seems to work well.  I have really been thinking about eh QB36-2, but I don't know if I want another underlever. I will try to find some more stuff on the 1377, and see if it is convertible to PCP/HPA or if the other version of it is.  Maybe one of each? I am not a pretty modder by any means, so I don't think that the ultra fine wood stuff woudl wind up on the doorstep, just speed or accuracy mods. Dad just told me he found a b3-3 for $34.95.  Decisions decisions.

[ac12basis]

I have both of these.

The Daisy NEEDS to have the trigger worked on, the stock trigger is GRITTY.  Once you fix the trigger, it is a great plinker.
The BIG advantage of the 953 is that because it is a SSP, there is no spring recoil/vibration, making it MUCH easier to shoot accuratly.

The Gamo Delta, similarly has a rough trigger, but better than the Daisy.  You can replace the stock trigger with an aftermarket trigger (like the GRT), which will make it MUCH better.  BUT the trigger weight will be reduced significantly.  This may or may not be an issue for you, depending on who shoots the rifle (you or a kid).  I would not let a kid shoot mine w the aftermarket trigger installed (that is MY judgement call).  The Delta has a short LoP (mine is 12-1/8" w the GRT trigger), the LoP on the Recon is a bit longer, and it looks to have a better angled pistol grip. (If the LoP was not longer than the Delta, I would have gotten the Recon for the better angled pistol grip).

Others to also consider are the IZH-61 and the Slavia 630 (or its replacement)

At under 25ft, I would consider using a red-dot sight instead of a scope.

[Dust]

I wanted to edit the OP, but it seems I can't.  I would like to set a minimum velocity to 625 fps.  What doors would an extra 25-50 open for me?

[RedFeather]

See if you can find an IZH60/61.  Been discussing these on the Dianawerk.  Wish I had picked up one of the steel receivered ones when they first came out, although the new five shots are nice, too.  I think they may have been based on the IZH46 pistol.  Everyone who has one loves it.  Here's the link:

http://www.network54.com/Forum/184474/thread/1243421685/last-1244026875/Fun+guns!+for+around+%24100.

[daveshoot]

Today's Pyramid blog is all about the IZH-61. Don't know how I missed one of these, but I guess it was during my magnum period. They do have a good reputation.

http://www.pyramydair.com/blog/

[daveshoot]

Just noticed one for sale on American Airguns Classifieds... http://www.airguns.net/classifieds/show_ad.php?adNum=9252&adSort=&StartingAd=0&NumberOfPages=4

[ac12basis]

The better way is to define what you what/how you want to shoot, then determine the guns requirement from there.

Cranking up the velocity for shooting at less than 25ft will only increase the recoil/vibration, making it harder to shoot accurately.

[Dust]

I have been thinking and wanted to clarify what I am looking for.   Would like to be able to shoot in a back yard, but have enough to get out to 30 yards if needed.  I think that 6XX fps would be a good place to aim for.  Targets would be birds, or something of similar size.  I think that a multi-pump would be really nice, kinda a poor man's PCP.  The 2100 has really caught my eye, and it seems that the pneumatics don't have much recoil as compared to a springer.   the 22xx and the ability to go PCP would be nice, but I don't know enough about the money involved.

[Dust]

I wanted to try to post some more info of hat I am looking at.  I am looking or a gun that can be used in a rural backyard for birds.  25 yards maximum.was looking at a multipump pneumatic like the 2100 or the 137, but some have said that they don't have enough power to put down anything.