Airguns of Arizona

mikegranger

mikegranger

Well-known member
As some of you may have noticed. AoA is a sponsor here on Predator Masters. I was killing time one Saturday morning and noticed their banner. Having not shot an airgun in 20+ years (Daisy Powerline), I was curious as to why an airgun business would advertise on PM. I went to their website and was totally blown away by what I saw. Holy Smokes, little did I know airguns have advanced so much over the years. I spent the entire rest of the day reading everything on their website, going to all kinds of blogs and searching Youtube for all kinds of airgunning footage. As you probably have guessed, I just had to buy one and it wasn't long until a RWS 350 Magnum .177 was delivered by everyone's favorite brown truck. Let me tell you, I've had an absolute blast learning to shoot such a powerful air rifle and over the course of the summer, have laid to waste many rabbits, ground squirrels, pigeons and a couple of prairie dogs.



I've shot thousands of pellets through it am amazed at how accurate and deadly it is.
This prairie dog was killed at 90 yards with a .177 pellet rifle!

No doubt I have the airgun fever, so much so that a new one just arrived. It's a beauty!!



So, if you're killing time and looking for something to do, check out AoA, but beware, these things are addictive!!
 
Glad to see that you have found another addictive hunting form. Airguns date a very long way back and come in big bore too.
The trigger time is great to keep you in tune year round.
Like bullets you will find that certain pellets are better.
This is where consistency counts from die number stamped on the box to seating the pellet.
 

Nice Mike. I too have wanted a nice air rifle for a long time but just seems I won't take the jump and get one. Seems there's always something else that catches my attention.

Apparently the rifle isn't lacking in the accuracy department. Did it take some getting used to for accuracy?
 
Addiction....LOL... Man... what you talking about... it's a whole NEW WORLD.

I shoot a Sumatra 22 cal... lost count of critters I've killed with it... but I did count the 3 hogs I killed that are on Youtube
 
Wait till you get the PCP bug! What caliber is your new 97? Weihrauch is one of the better spring guns. I've had a RWS 350 in 177. They are a rocket. JSB is a good choice for that gun so is the heavier Premiers in the cardboard box.
 
They are great peple there. I have a TechStar that didn't cost a ton but man can it shoot. Dimes at 50 yards are easy. I have killed ground squirrels at 60+ with it and they were DRT.

Greg
 
6mm,

The RWS 350 Magnum was a bearcat to figure out how to hold it just right to get good groups. I can get 1/2 inch groups at 30 yards with it now but I've gone through at least 2000 pellets doing so. I finally called AoA back and asked what pellets shoot best in it. They gave me some great advice and now I'm deadly with it. That's what I was shooting pdogs with.
 
Dan, so true, I didn't know the airgun world existed until clicking on the link. We all grew up shooting bb guns but these things are in a different universe. I'm having a blast plinking away. Pigeons and starlings beware!
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Springers are a different breed of air rifle. We have found that holding the for-end with an open hand gives the best accuracy. Use the hand holding the for-end palm open and just rest the for-end on it like a rest. Works good!
 
I went from Crosman on to RWS-BSA-Feinwerkbau-Beeman and then moved up to Shin Sung PCP's.
It was nice to get away from the military hold to shoot and scope killing springers.
Problem with a PCP is your tied to an air supply or hand pump. But they sure shoot. Often 50 birds in one sitting.
They all have a niche with much fun at a low cost per shot.
I think the Gas Rams are easiest springers to shoot.
 
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I too was amazed at how far air rifles have come, when .22 ammo first started climbing in price I purchased a .22 Benjamin Discovery PCP air rifle and couldn't believe how well it shot. 1/2 five shot groups at 50 yards are the norm, they also smack with some authority. I'd like to try a .25 cal next, I have the carbon fiber tank and shoebox 4500 psi compressor so air usage isn't a big deal to me anymore.


When I purchase my next plinker I'll give them a peek too....I've bought a lot of my things from Pyramid air because of their 4 tins of pellets for the price of 3 deal.
 
I haven't gone the PCP route mainly because I didn't want to be tied to a tank. No doubt they are extremely accurate.

I like to check out our sponsors here on PM and purchase from them when I can. Give them a look, they have some great deals on stuff. The HW97K I just bought was in their "used" gun sale. It had a small ding on the stock near the safety catch. They knocked off $100 of the price of an un-dinged gun. Of course that was the first thing I looked for when opening the box. I just had to smile when I saw it. When the salesman said "small" he really meant small. Good honest folks and good prices.
 
no need to be tied to a tank. When my Sumatra is filled to 3000psi, it will produce 60-80 good shots powerful enough to kill squirrels, with it's power wheel set at #4. It has 12 power settings. I use power setting 12 when hog hunting, which gives around 15-20 high power settings with 32gr EunJin Pellets. I've never ran out of power when in the field... and I never carry my scuba tank with me. You only shoot your air down to about 1800-2000 psi, then cap it off again to 3000. The PCP is Okie Dokie.
 
Originally Posted By: dan brothersno need to be tied to a tank. When my Sumatra is filled to 3000psi, it will produce 60-80 good shots powerful enough to kill squirrels, with it's power wheel set at #4. It has 12 power settings. I use power setting 12 when hog hunting, which gives around 15-20 high power settings with 32gr EunJin Pellets. I've never ran out of power when in the field... and I never carry my scuba tank with me. You only shoot your air down to about 1800-2000 psi, then cap it off again to 3000. The PCP is Okie Dokie.

Yep and it's easier on scopes, doesn't require special holds and offers fast follow up shots if needed.
 
I was fortunate . My garage burnt down and most equipment was lost. I included a high pressure compressor in my rebuild. PCP is the way to go mine is an AA 410 E. Thinking about a Maurader in 25 cal. I have dozens of air guns. Many old Benjamin and Crossman rifles and pistols to the higher end spring and CO2 air guns. Anybody here have a Drozd?
 
I started air gunning for predators a few years ago with a Benjamin Marauder in .25 cal that I got from AoA. I sold it off in favor of an Air Force Condor SS in .25 cal. I love the freedom that the air gun allows me to stretch out my season. Late in the season when predators start getting harder to find due to the amount of hunters out there the air guns keep me in the game. No, they are not as powerful as a rifle or shotgun, but they are incredibly accurate, good enough for me to take a headshot out to about 60 yards. That is more than enough to drop a predator. I can even get off more than one shot in many cases because my Condor is suppressed and the low volume of the discharge doesn't tend to spook off predators nor does it bring in a bunch of anti-hunting hippies squawking about shooting too close to homes.
 
Guys just remember that these guns are powerful. Sometimes the suppressors are so effective that we tend to forget that these pellets carry a long way. I shoot an early FX Tarantula and a Daystate Mark III. At full power these guns will blow through a cedar fence at 40 yds. Both guns are in 22 Cal. At our airgun range in Baton Rouge we shoot FT out to 60 yds and get great groups on the targets. Its neat to see the animal targets fall when you thread the pellet through the kill zone. They are clearly more accurate than 95 percent of the 22 cal Rimfires sold today.
 
Yes , the powder burner guys have no idea how much fun air guns are. (no noise , more areas to hunt and an endless supply of sparrows , starlings , rodents ,cheap ammo , no long drives to a range just to do some shooting, and inexpensive guns , long and hand , that are accurate and powerful enough for tiny sparrows at 50 yards to the heavy pellet guns for larger game. ) Saw a show on American Airgunner ,TV show on cable , that they were trying out some air shotguns !!!! Talk about cool shooting sparrows and a species of pest doves . I have an Umarex octane .177 that is real hard hitting and can put them on top of each other . I sit by my shop and knock sparrow off a fence at 50 yards and have taken starlings out at 80 yards. It is a different discipline shooting a springer . Any movement during the shot is magnified in the direction of the movement so holding still is paramount....so guess what kind of other shooting this helps with.....All Kinds!! Jim
 


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