Buying Advice

[Trapper]

Decisions, decisions… lol, Thanks kindly for all the input, It’s been very helpful! This newbie’s not here to ask questions and run, planning on sticking around this great site.

I got a quote for the B26 from Mr. Melick, he was very prompt in his reply to my questions, Big thumbs up!
As much as I’d like to purchase the B25 I’m leaning towards the Gamo BC (w/scope) due to the initial savings (I really need the scope). Later on I’m planning to upgrade the trigger (GRT3) and switching to 1 pc. Scope mounts.  then probably kick myself in the behind… lol

Any recommendations where to purchase a GRT3 and 1 pc. scope mounts? I think what I need is a 3/8 dovetail mount for a 1” tube?  My preference would be ordering both from same vendor.
Happy shooting, Tony

[gamo2hammerli]

There's only one place to get the GRT III trigger blade.....that's at Charlie Da Tuna webpage....you can find the link here at GTA.  I think you can find the link by clicking on "Product Review" on top.   BTW....welcome to the GTA forum and family.  1 piece mount...need someone else to chime in on that.

[larspawn]

TRAPPER WAIT!  You will quickly find that the fixed non AO scope on the BC (6x32?) is destined for the trash can.  As much as I love the BC, I'd actually recommend the B25 combo.  It comes with a Xisico 3-9X40 AO scope and mount.  It is actually a pretty nice scope.  You will end up paying about the same money for a BC and then have to spend another $60 getting a decent scope.  AND the BC has no open sights so you HAVE to get a scope.

To tell you the truth, the RWS cloned trigger as stock on the B25 is way better than the stock trigger on the BC and quite honestly as good as the GRTIII.  Argh, I'm in trouble here for saying that but that's my totally uneducated, heathen opinion.

So you buy a BC for $129 add $60 for a scope and $32 for a trigger and you are at $220.  Buy the b25 for $139.99 shipped?

Okay just my thought but I STILL LOVE MY BIG CAT.

Andy Wong aka larspawn

[Trapper]

Thanks for the input Andy,
I realize the scope shipped with the BC isnt anything to write home about but the initial savings is 56.00 under the cost of a B26 from Flying Dragon.
I would consider the B25 with open sights as its only 10.00 over what I'm planning to spend on the BC and I could purchase a decent scope later when funds become available.
Where could I buy the B25 for $139.99 shipped?

[cokezero]

Trapper sounds like you are on a tight budget, but if you can wait and save a bit i would go with the gamo CFX fixed barrel over the bigcat.  The bigcat is a great starter air rifle (was mine too) but if i could return mine i would have went with a fixed barrel CFX.
i don't think this question came up but what do you plan on using the rifle for mostly? if you do any varmint control you will soon find out sometimes .177 just doesnt cut it. anything bigger then a bird then you would want headshots. I made the mistake of a body shot to a squirrel with a .177 bigcat and it ran out of reach so if i can't hit the head i don't take the shot with my bigcat no more.
for pellets you should stick with domed shaped for best accuracy.

after you get your first good air rifle and you are addicted and want more power from a .22 you can get a PCP discovery. they go for about $400 with a pump and have all the power you will need for varmint control. the accuracy and power for the price on the discovery is unmatched. you don't get a lot of shots per fill like the higher dollar PCP which is more then double triple the cost but for hunting i do just fine with my 30 shots.

[Gopher]

Try here they're on sale. With scope and mounts.

http://bestairgun.stores.yahoo.net/xixsairri3sc.html

[Trapper]

I was origionally looking for a .177 but thinking .22 now for more power for tree rats. I'd like something affordable, say to hit a target the size of a coffee cup at 30 yds. Mike's deals for his tuned rifles at flying dragon is really tempting except for the fact I'm on a budget and wanting a scope right away. Could I expect the above results from a B25 w/scope out of the box sold at bestairgun.com?

[tjk]

Hey Tony, Mike does great work on his Chinese shooters. I am very pleased with mine. But if you are looking to buy and shoot only one rifle and use that as a sole air-gun shooter,..then I would strongly recommend the Diana 34. Gene as well as a lot of tuners can tweek them to their best performance level,...and it will be a rifle that you can count on no matter what. I've said this before to another person getting into this fine sport and hobby,...."if I could only keep one rifle (air-rifle) from my collection,....it would be my Diana 34,...hands down,...no question. It's the best $200's you'll ever invest in. Add some more for a decent scope set-up and a tune, and you'll have all the rifle you'll ever need. Good Luck finding your shooter. tjk

[cokezero]

my advice if you like to hunt those tasty tree squirrels is definitely a .22 im not saying you can't manage with a .177 but shot placement will be much more critical. I personally spent around $1400 (which is nothing to the real addicts) on  air rifles going through 3 different springer to finally a PCP before satisfying my needs for an air rifle. so I say if you can't afford what will satisfy what you want then just save your money and do it right the first time. im a firm believer in fixed barrels for better accuracy but that doesn't mean break barrels can't be accurate, they real good ones just cost a pretty penny.

[Bogey]

Tony,  you state that you are new or want to get involved again with AGs.   Go ahead and buy the BC.  Try it out, see if you like shooting AGs. Make some improvements to it.  Keep your investment low until you see if you really want to make larger investments ie. more expensive AGs.  Put better scope mounts on your BC with a better scope.  Order a GRT111 trigger from Charliedatuna.   Many here I am sure started low budget and advanced as skill and cash flow improved.   Just shoot and have fun.

KEEP IT SIMPLE.

[Gopher]

Trapper,

I was in the same boat as you. I wanted to move up in power to .22 thinking that .177 wasn't enough. I was wrong.
The .177/.22 debate will go on long after we are gone.
The .177@850 FPS = about 14 FPE (pounds of muzzle energy).
The .22@720 FPS is around 16 FPE
For tree rats you need about 5 FPE. With the .177 your good to 50-60 yds. with .22 even further (depending on which calculator you use).
If your shooting them at that distance, you don't have a pest problem, you have an addiction
Most of my in town shooting is 25-30 yds with my B-26 and with those numbers even head shoots go clean through.
In the country, we all shoot, so I still went .22 just for something different. Being frugal ... I went B-25.
The B-25, scope, mounts and tuned from Mike M is cheap for what you get.
If you tune it yourself, even cheaper. You saw the link a few posts up right?
It's the clone of the Diana 34 which is a known power house.
We all want good, power & cheap, but once you get going you want to shoot more and more and more.
Just from a frugal point of view you will spend a lot less on .177 pellets than .22's, and If your on a buget that's the way I'd suggest.
There are a lot of good Gamo's out there, but they're more money to start with and still need a $ trigger job, scope, mounts.

Just I thought...are there any local airgun dealers by you that might let you try one out back or something?
All this talk about which one to get could be solved with a little hands on. It might just click after trying one.
Good luck it's never an easy decision!

[Trapper]

Unfortunately no local AG dealers. Locally its limited supply purchases from Wal-Mart or the over priced (unless there’s a sale going on) Big 5.
I'm narrowing things down thanks to all the fantastic help I'm receiving here, Thanks a million guys!

Unless accuracy is better with the .177 (?) I plan to go with a .22 cal.
(unfortunately the Gamo Big Cat's only available in .177)

Choices: RWS 34 or a B-26-2 from Mike

Pyramid Air has a Diana RWS 34 Break barrel Rifle for $226.85 + shipping
They also have a Diana RWS 34 Striker with Leapers 4x32AO scope for $229.99 + shipping (is it the same rifle aside from the scope?)
Or…..
Order the Low Comb stock B-26-2 from Mike.

I’ve heard so many good things about Mike and his tunes that I’m leaning towards one of his B-26’s. I do like the fact that the RWS is made in Germany. Is there any difference in quality between the German made RWS and the Chinese made B-26, enough to warranty choosing one over the other?

Thanks again guys, I'll be attending some Airoholic Anonymous classes soon, Scouts honor…

[Progun]

Tony whichever air rifle you decide on, when you get it out of the box, tighten the stock screws as they might be loose, and clean the barrel and wipe off any visible oils around the breech.A pull thru cleaning floss(Hoppe's Bore Snake) is about the easiest way to clean the factory grime from a new barrel.A little Goo Gone on the front end of the floss and drop the weighted string thru the bore and pull through. You can even make your own patch puller with a length of weed eater line.Good luck and welcome aboard.

[cokezero]

correct me if im wrong but more weight in pelllet means better accuracy for the longer distance and more FPS means a flatter trajectory up to about 35yrds or so. well i think it is safe to say if he is gonna shoot tree squirrels he won't stop at that, im sure if the occasional slightly bigger game comes in his cross hairs he may want to take that as well so the .22 IMO would be a better fit.  the only problem i have with my bigcat for small game is that sometimes if you don't hit a vital organ you walk up to an animal that is still breathing or quickly reload to finish of the limping game.  My PCP .22 i don't have this problem, the dam thing is just to dam accurate and even if im slightly off my target it still pack such a punch the game just drops dead.
im sure there are really good airgunners out there that is surgical with their .177 and don't have my problem but for me the .22 leaves a little room for error if you aren't a pro shot.

if you are ordering from pyramid air they offer free shipping for order $150 and up or a 10% coupon but you can't use the free shipping. they also offer a free tin of pellets if you order 3. pyramid does have great deals on rifles and coupons but i would try to order from places that can tune at the same time.

[brokenarrowjbe]

Go with Mike. At 30 yards you can hit with open sights after some practice. I have a CDT tuned Gamo SIk with a CDT grt iii trigger on the classified and if I did not need the money for a "situation" would trade geewhiz in a heartbeat the QB he has listed. Mine has a 440 wood stockk that really reduces the "springer effect". This is an addicting hobby. I have a scuba tank on the front porch so I can move up to PCP the easy way. I have 2 crosman's, lots of crosman parts I get here and there trying out new things. Any of my air rifles will take a Raccoon down with a head shot out to 30 yards. I have to park the truck behind the barn, or the squirrels won't come out to play. The .177 is cheaper to shoot, the .22's are more fun. Bigger holes, more energy transfer. Good luck. I would take the cfx over the big cat. John