$500 for a new rifle....

[Tpatner412]

So I have $500 for a new rifle and I have a few options in mind.  The RWS 48 striker combo from pyramyd in .22 is calling my name.  Just an awesome looking side lever that from what I hear preforms very well.  Next is the BSA Lightning XL Tactical.   Don't know too much about it though?  And finally would be to save my money and wait a month for reviews of the Benjamin Trail series rifles and get one of those bad boys and a GRT-III.  Any feedback is good feedback as far as I'm concerned so please comment.

[longislandhunter]

What are your plans for the rifle,,, target, hunting, both ??

Jeff

[Meann-Machine]

If you have $500 and you are interested in the RWS48, breeze right on by the 48 and get the 54. I have seen several nearly new ones on Brad's classifieds go from $335 to $385. There is one listed now, as new, for $430. I have bought many used but not abused air rifles that way and I have never been burned. In my opinion the 54 is twice the gun the 48 is. It is better looking; as, or more powerful; and recoilless. You would not be sorry.

[Tpatner412]

I'd say more target than hunting but when a squirrel or bird decides to wander into my yard I'll take a shot at it

[Tpatner412]

I did consider a 54 but a) I was hoping for a scope combo and b) I've heard the 54 is a scope killer.  Just what I've heard though

[longislandhunter]

Out of the rifles you mentioned I'd go with the lightening XL,, provided it's one that's made in England.  Word was that they shifted their production facility to Spain... although I'm not aware if that's been verified or not.  At any rate, if it's an English made XL I'd go with that for sure over the 48, especially since you'll be doing mostly target.  I own a .20 cal 48 and I absolutely love it but I bought it and use if for hunting only, I don't really consider it a target rifle.  I don't own an XL but I've shot them plenty of times and every one I ever shot have been really sweeeet rifles.  One of the best "out of the box" shooters I've ever shot.    Just my opinion,,, others may differ of course.

Jeff

[Meann-Machine]

You mentioned earlier about maybe saving for an extra month. If you do that you can buy a 54 proof scope for under $100. If you pick up a 54 used you will have both the rifle and the scope for right around your $500 limit. I have a bunch of different scopes that are 54 proof, some easily under $100 and some way over $100, but all of them a good buy for the money. I have a 3-12x44 Compact Mildot AO Centerpoint on my 54 I picked up for $139. Nice scope. Good match.

[atchman2]

Maybe a Beeman R-9  I know Gene likes them

[longislandhunter]

Now that's a great suggestion Randy..  The R-9's are definitely sweet.  I have 2 R-9  Goldfingers  a  .177 and a .22  and they are superb shooters right out of the box.  

Jeff

[Meann-Machine]

Some information on the R9:

R-9 1000 fps February 25 2010 at 3:33 PM	Tim McMurray  (Login Mac-1) YF
The R-9 and most of the HW made Barrel breaks sold under the Marksman label were designed around the parts left by BSF's liquidation. Body tubes, sights, scope rails, trigger guards etc. were used up on the guns mentioned. Ivan Hancock(Venom founder) and I visited the factory well after Beeman had hyped the gun as a 1000 fps gun but prior to its actual release. The Beeman gun known as the R-9 was generically known as the HW85 as that was the year it was penned. I think we visited HW in '86 and we gave Hans quite a ration about the speed thing. It was pretty obvious the HW85 did not have the stroke or piston size to get 1000 fps with any of the pellets made then and we didn't hesitate to give Hans a hard time about the overpromise thing. He made it clear he wasn't the one doing the hyping and he agreed the gun was going to be less powerful then the HW80/R1 which was rated fairly at 980. Everyone who ever picked up a Springer wanted it to be lighter so a gun with more power and less heft was an easy sell. The problem was executing a design of this sort was going to take a lot of majic as hype doesn't trump Physics and never will. Majic is a little hard to come by also so we had a situation where the hype eventually had to be adjusted downward to be anywhere near reality. The bottom line was the r9 would easily hit 12 fpe but it just wasn't going to outperform the HW80 no matter what Doc BB told people. It was at most a 14 fpe gun while still grouping decently and it would last about half as long as HW's normally did in doing that. This seemed to me the beggining of the outrageous claims which have become the norm in this industry. Since newbies have nothing to go by but outright speed the claims manufacturers make has a lot to do with how much demand they see for their products regardless of how close to reality the claims are. Everyone needs to share the blame for this situation but the newbie has to reconcile reality with what's posted here and it can be a daunting process.

[longislandhunter]

I love both of mine  

Jeff

[Sam]

If you do not own a Beeman R-9, get one.  R-9 are excellent rifles and are now back in stock with some dealers.  I have RWS 48 in 0.22, very powerful and accurate gun.  I shoot it open sight because it does tend ti kill scopes.  The R-9 is smoother, lighter, and I found it to be less twangy than the RWS 48.  I like my R-9 better.

[Mark 611]

If you have your heart set on a 48 get it you can't go wrong with the 48 in .22cal, Air Gun Depot has a combo with a leapers scope a 3x9x40aomd  425$ I have one and thier very good rifles and have enough power to do just about anything you'd want to do with a spring gun and very accurate to boot thier easy to tune and get parts for, JMHO

[Bogey]

$500. to spend?   The HW- 95 is interesting.  If you dedide on the RWS 48, spend a few extra $ and get the RWS 54.  Much nicer in appearance.  

But all of the suggestions from others  are good ones.   You just have to spend your money and takes your chances.

[joeblow]

why has no one mentioned the tx?!?