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So I was looking at Gamo air rifles online the other day, and it seems that some of them are getting pretty impressive. They are NOT your grandpa's Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle. I note that several of them weigh as much as any sporter bolt action rifle, weighing at around 8 lb. Some models have stocks with adjustable comb height, a 3-9x40mm scope, and built in sound suppression. Velocities of 1300-1400 fps is attainable with the right ammo in some of the .17 caliber rifles.

Anyway, a couple of things occurred to me: A) these aren't just toys anymore, they are legitimate small game and varmint rifles and they might even have a limited home defense application; and B) no 4473, FFL transfer, NICS background check, and ammo has GOT to be more plentiful and cheaper than firearm ammo these days. I am seriously thinking about buying one.

So, do you have an air rifle yourself, how do you like yours if you have one, and if you could do it over, which one would you buy today? How do they actually shoot? What is the effective range? Etc., etc.

Clue me in here.

I have an air powered pistol that looks dangerously like a Beretta storm my neighbor gave me

580 fps it claims, using .177 pellets....it has zinged a few feral cats into the afterlife very quietly from near 100 feet ( I breath louder than it does)

we looked at the new air rifles and they are a very deadly option to quiet kills of varmits.
will watch to see some reports

I just so happened to see that one of my favorite sites has refurbished ones for sale today. (limited time frame) http://www.sport.woot.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
They are a texas company btw.
I don't know how those prices stack up. But if you are interested in one, thought you should know.

Been thinking the same thing; especially looking for something quiet to drop the tree rats that are making a mess in my attic. Lots of good info on the air rifle forums, but haven't pulled the trigger on one yet. If you're not worried about the noise; LOTS of choices -----

Tag. I been jonesin for a decent air rifle to combat.....well.....pretty much anything I can without burning gunpowder.

Anygunanywhere

Estand wrote:I just so happened to see that one of my favorite sites has refurbished ones for sale today. (limited time frame) http://www.sport.woot.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
They are a texas company btw.

NOT saying we shouldn't use Woot but they are owned by Amazon. Sold a couple of years ago IIRC. I believe the main warehouse and offices are around DFW but some stuff ships from other Amazon warehouses (watch the shipping labels).

Waco1959 wrote:NOT saying we shouldn't use Woot but they are owned by Amazon. Sold a couple of years ago IIRC. I believe the main warehouse and offices are around DFW but some stuff ships from other Amazon warehouses (watch the shipping labels).

Now disparagingly referred to as AmaWoot. They are located in Carrollton. They used to have some good deals once in a while but since Amazon bought them it seems Amazon is using Woot as an outlet for their returned merchandise.

As far as air rifles, I was seriously interested in buying one for controlling feral cats, skunks, tree rats, etc., several months ago. After some research I decided they were of sufficient accuracy and power to make them very appropriate for varmint control. Then I bought the M&P 22 and put a Streamlight light/laser on it and it's now the varmint gun.

johncanfield wrote:

Waco1959 wrote:NOT saying we shouldn't use Woot but they are owned by Amazon. Sold a couple of years ago IIRC. I believe the main warehouse and offices are around DFW but some stuff ships from other Amazon warehouses (watch the shipping labels).

Now disparagingly referred to as AmaWoot. They are located in Carrollton. They used to have some good deals once in a while but since Amazon bought them it seems Amazon is using Woot as an outlet for their returned merchandise.

As far as air rifles, I was seriously interested in buying one for controlling feral cats, skunks, tree rats, etc., several months ago. After some research I decided they were of sufficient accuracy and power to make them very appropriate for varmint control. Then I bought the M&P 22 and put a Streamlight light/laser on it and it's now the varmint gun.

Subdivision does not approve of shooting firearms. I can keep a straight face when I tell them that my air rifle is not a firearm because it does not use powder. Essentially I am telling them to mind their own business. The rule is a deed restriction and they have not enforced them consistently anyway.

When I determine there is a reason to actually use a firearm on my property then it is my business too.

Anygunanywhere

I've killed 50-60 squirrels with an air rifle (not in Texas).

They were all within about 50 feet.

Neighbors never heard a thing.

Estand wrote:I just so happened to see that one of my favorite sites has refurbished ones for sale today. (limited time frame) http://www.sport.woot.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
They are a texas company btw.
I don't know how those prices stack up. But if you are interested in one, thought you should know.

I've bought a couple of things from Woot! before. Good company. I've looked at those rifle prices, and they are pretty good, but it is also impossible to tell what they cost brand new because they are a discontinued item from Gamo, and I can imagine why. The two that I am looking at, the Whisper Fusion Series, are $309.95 and $329.95 respectively, if bought directly from Gamo. That's not that much money either.

If I were just looking for something to shoot tin cans with, I would jump right on the Woot! offering. But instead of velocities of 1250 (PBA Platinum bullets) that you get with the Gamo The Bone Collector .177 Caliber Air Rifle for $149.00 from Woot!, the Whisper Fusion Pro gives you 1400 fps for another $180.00. Here's their promotional video, and it does seem awful quiet:

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That Bone Collector series rifle is no longer available on Amazon either....speaking of Amazon......but the Whisper Fusion (not the Pro) is available from Amazon for $255.48 instead of the $309.95 MSRP from Gamo direct.

By the way, I notice since the 4 days ago or so that I started looking at them, Gamo has removed the lower velocities attainable from lead bullets from their website, showing only the velocities with the lighter (and I'm sure more expensive) platinum bullets.

I too have been considering an air rifle for those times when the noise issue rules out conventional rifles. In the many years since my franklin pellet gun adventures, things have come a long way. Are there forums or websites that offer independent reviews of the various models, or more importantly can offer validation of the manufacturers claims on velocity or noise levels? I'm not saying I don't believe their claims it's just that sometimes marketing departments put the rosiest shine on things.

We got my son a Crosman Nitro Venom Dusk for Christmas a couple of years ago. At the time it appeared to be a pretty good rifle but it only lasted less than a year. It lost a lot of velocity and started to grouping around 2 ft at 30 yards. I tore it completely down and replaced most of the seals and did what I could to repair it. It still doesn't work. All that being said I think we are going to look at getting another rifle that is of better quality. The main thing that I wanted to add though, was to keep in mind that a light pellet combined with a high velocity rifle will produce a sonic crack (sonic boom). However, this greatly reduces accuracy. My fathers rifle sounds as loud as a .22. I forget what he has, but it's a cheap one bought at Walmart. I thought he was exaggerating when he told me how loud it was, then I shot it. My son's rifle would also do this with a very light pellet.

Scott

I have popped squirrels at 50 feet with mine, including a couple of head shots which were pure luck. I also have an airsoft 1911 that my wife gave me which I use for practice but I have never shot or shot at an animal with it, but it is quite accurate on IDPA targets.

When I was a kid I had a pump up pistol that, after I opened it up and modified the seals a little, could shoot through the corrugated aluminum wall of the lean to on the back of our barn.

I have been thinking of getting another air rifle, but it is low on my list.