Bass Pro Shops air rifles

microman · January 8, 2012, 01:04 PM

Well, I had to drive a friend up to Atlanta the other day
and discovered a new Bass Pro Shop. On the way back home
I had to stop and take a quick peak inside to see what they
carried.

I stumbled upon a large selection of air rifles. Some .22 most
were .177 and around 1,200 fts. They were priced around the
$300 mark so, I am sure they are much more than the pellet
guns I remember of my youth.

For some strange reason I really want to get one of these for
cheap plinking purposes. Is this crazy? or should I just spend
my money on a good .22 rimfire?

g.willikers · January 8, 2012, 03:26 PM

One of these modern pellet rifles can provide excellent home practice.
Most are extremely accurate and will keep skills sharp for mere pennies spent.
But don't let buying one interfere with getting a .22, also.
Together, pellet and .22 guns can provide inexpensive and effective trigger time.

microman · January 8, 2012, 03:33 PM

Thanks for the info. I know much about centerfire/rimfire but am totally a noob at air rifles.

I was looking at this one "BSA XL Tactical Air Rifle 177 Cal Black"

g.willikers · January 8, 2012, 04:47 PM

pyramydair.com is a good source, both for buying and reviews.
Lots of test videos there, too.

springer99 · January 8, 2012, 06:44 PM

I'm not familiar with this specific air-rifle, but in general they can be a great aid in marksmanship training; in addition to the obvious local pest control. Just be aware of two issues.

1 - Advertisements of very high velocity with air-rifles of this type are generally reached ONLY by using very light lead or composite pellets, both of which aren't known for being very accurate or useful for field use. In .177 caliber the use of 7.5-10grain pellets will probably get you velocities more in the area of 800-950fps, which is still nothing to sneeze at.

2 - If this is a "spring-piston" type air-rifle, they can be very sensitive to how you hold them, due to the recoil effect of the pistons. Nothing wrong with that, but it is different from other firearms. Look at it this way, YOU WILL LEARN WHAT FOLLOW-THRU means when shooting air-guns.

Enjoy.

RT · January 8, 2012, 07:55 PM

I have a RWS 460 in .177 and it's a WMD on the squirrels in my yard

mr.t7024 · January 8, 2012, 07:57 PM

I sold them for Bass Pro. hey are nice. But if you buy a .22 rifle and shoot Remington Sub-Sonics it will be just as quiet if not quieter than an air rifle. That is because they travel less than the speed of sound.The longer the barrel on the .22 the quieter it will be.The speed of sound is 1150 feet per second, the sub-sonics travel at 1050 ft per second! Just saying.

Cliff

HKGuns · January 8, 2012, 09:04 PM

Quote:

But if you buy a .22 rifle and shoot Remington Sub-Sonics it will be just as quiet if not quieter than an air rifle. That is because they travel less than the speed of sound.The longer the barrel on the .22 the quieter it will be.

I've never shot a .22 as quiet as an air rifle and I've shot a LOT of subsonic .22 rounds. Perhaps it was the rounds I was shooting, but I don't think you're taking into account the primer strike when accounting for noise.

mr.t7024 · January 9, 2012, 11:41 AM

HKGUNS -I believe it is the barrel length.I shoot them out of a Marlin 60 with a 22 inch barrel,quiet.shoot them out of a Ruger carbine much louder and it's barrel is at least 5 inches shorter. I have tried it in other firearms with the same result.

January 8, 2012, 01:04 PM	#1
microman Senior Member Join Date: February 6, 2011 Posts: 428	Bass Pro Shops air rifles Well, I had to drive a friend up to Atlanta the other day and discovered a new Bass Pro Shop. On the way back home I had to stop and take a quick peak inside to see what they carried. I stumbled upon a large selection of air rifles. Some .22 most were .177 and around 1,200 fts. They were priced around the $300 mark so, I am sure they are much more than the pellet guns I remember of my youth. For some strange reason I really want to get one of these for cheap plinking purposes. Is this crazy? or should I just spend my money on a good .22 rimfire?

January 8, 2012, 03:26 PM	#2
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	One of these modern pellet rifles can provide excellent home practice. Most are extremely accurate and will keep skills sharp for mere pennies spent. But don't let buying one interfere with getting a .22, also. Together, pellet and .22 guns can provide inexpensive and effective trigger time. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

January 8, 2012, 04:47 PM	#4
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	pyramydair.com is a good source, both for buying and reviews. Lots of test videos there, too. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

January 8, 2012, 07:57 PM	#7
mr.t7024 Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2012 Location: Ma, near a brook Posts: 229	Bass Pro pellet guns I sold them for Bass Pro. hey are nice. But if you buy a .22 rifle and shoot Remington Sub-Sonics it will be just as quiet if not quieter than an air rifle. That is because they travel less than the speed of sound.The longer the barrel on the .22 the quieter it will be.The speed of sound is 1150 feet per second, the sub-sonics travel at 1050 ft per second! Just saying. Cliff

January 9, 2012, 11:41 AM	#9
mr.t7024 Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2012 Location: Ma, near a brook Posts: 229	air-rifles HKGUNS -I believe it is the barrel length.I shoot them out of a Marlin 60 with a 22 inch barrel,quiet.shoot them out of a Ruger carbine much louder and it's barrel is at least 5 inches shorter. I have tried it in other firearms with the same result.

January 8, 2012, 03:33 PM	#3
microman Senior Member Join Date: February 6, 2011 Posts: 428	Thanks for the info. I know much about centerfire/rimfire but am totally a noob at air rifles. I was looking at this one "BSA XL Tactical Air Rifle 177 Cal Black"

January 8, 2012, 06:44 PM	#5
springer99 Senior Member Join Date: November 14, 2008 Posts: 355	I'm not familiar with this specific air-rifle, but in general they can be a great aid in marksmanship training; in addition to the obvious local pest control. Just be aware of two issues. 1 - Advertisements of very high velocity with air-rifles of this type are generally reached ONLY by using very light lead or composite pellets, both of which aren't known for being very accurate or useful for field use. In .177 caliber the use of 7.5-10grain pellets will probably get you velocities more in the area of 800-950fps, which is still nothing to sneeze at. 2 - If this is a "spring-piston" type air-rifle, they can be very sensitive to how you hold them, due to the recoil effect of the pistons. Nothing wrong with that, but it is different from other firearms. Look at it this way, YOU WILL LEARN WHAT FOLLOW-THRU means when shooting air-guns. Enjoy.

January 8, 2012, 07:55 PM	#6
RT Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2000 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 2,194	I have a RWS 460 in .177 and it's a WMD on the squirrels in my yard