This report covers:
- The airguns I love
- Multi-pump pneumatic
- Spring piston
- Sig ASP20
- Any CO2 guns?
- What is it?
- What about you?
What if you could only have one airgun? What would it be? As Rod Serling used to say at the start of the Twilight Zone, “Imagine a world…”
This exercise is useful because it strips away all the surface things and gets you down to your core. It tells you who you are.
The airguns I love
The first considerations are the airguns that I love. I can only have one, so which will it be? Of my precharged pneumatics I enjoy my Air Arms S510 XS the most. Yes, my Marauder is more flexible and more powerful. It’s also lighter, slimmer and far less costly. The S510 is more accurate, but only by a slim margin. It also has the better trigger, though the Marauder has a trigger to conjure with, as the archaic saying goes.
Benjamin Marauder.
Air Arms S510XS.
So why do I place the S510 above the Marauder? I don’t know. I just know that whenever I shoot the S510 XS I’m going to hit what I’m aiming at. But that doesn’t matter. The Air Arms S510XS is not the one airgun I would keep if I could only keep one. What is?
Multi-pump pneumatic
My Sheridan Blue Streak is a wonderful air rifle. I bought it new in 1978 and it’s been with me ever since. It was rebuilt a couple years ago by reader Cloud9 (Jeff Cloud, the organizer of the 2022 Texas Airgun Show that happens on Saturday, September 24, followed by a field target shoot September 25). Today the Blue Streak operates as it did when it was new.
Who knows how many thousands of shots that rifle has fired? It’s the air rifle I used to teach my wife, Edith, to shoot. Then she went on a hunting safari and killed mice and rats by the score. She wrapped a yellow twist tie around the triggerguard so she would know which pellets it used. That was back in the day when the only .20 caliber pellets I had were Sheridans that came in the yellow box.
Sheridan Blue Streak.
Of course then there is my Sheridan Model A, which is also known as the Supergrade. I have owned three of these rifles in my lifetime and I remember the day, not so long ago, when $450 would buy a nice shooter at an airgun show. At that time a collector grade rifle went for almost double that. But times change and so do people. A lot of the old silverback airgun collectors have passed away, releasing the guns from their collections into the world again. I was fortunate enough to snag one that’s a shooter plus, right here on this blog. It was found by a reader in an attic and I got it for a reasonable price that was about double what they went for just a few years before.
Sheridan Supergrade. Even with the check in the buttstock it’s still a highly desirable air rifle.
But as nice as both my Blue Streak and Supergrades are, neither one is the rifle I would keep, if I could only keep one. So — what one is?
Spring piston
Many of you are thinking I would keep my Air Arms TX200 Mark III. That’s the rifle I recently tuned with Tony Leach’s 22mm piston kit. After that tune I had a springer that put five pellets into a 0.030-inch group at 10 meters.
TX200 Mark III.
This may be the smallest 5-shot ten-meter group I have ever shot. Five Air Arms 8.44-grain domes are in 0.030-inches at 10 meters.
I even said at the end of that series:
“This TX200 Mark III is now my favorite spring-piston air rifle. I am confident of where it will shoot and it has a perfect trigger. The scope is also perfection and, in a rare moment of good decision making I have decided to not remove this scope from this rifle. That makes two air rifles that have dedicated Meopta scopes — the other one being my Air Arms S510 XS.”
So, if this is now my favorite spring-piston air rifle, why isn’t it the one I would keep if all the others had to go? I don’t know. But I know that it isn’t.
Sig ASP20
Then there is the Sig ASP20. I have done nothing but sing the praises of that rifle ever since I first tested one, and yet despite all that, it isn’t the one airgun I would choose to keep.
Sig ASP20.
Any CO2 guns?
Sorry to say I don’t have any favorite airguns with a CO2 powerplant. Ever since one let me down in a match by running out of gas and making a perfect 10 drop down into the 6-ring I have had very little use for them. I do like the Crosman Marks I and II, as well as the S&W 78G and 79G target pistols. But nothing that uses carbon dioxide gets on my final gun radar.
What is it?
As some of you have already guessed the one airgun I would keep if I had to give up all the others is a Hy Score 807 that is actually a .22-caliber Diana 27. It’s a lower-powered breakbarrel spring-piston rifle with a good trigger that’s not great. The accuracy is just average and I would never think of mounting a scope on it, even if it was possible.
I haven’t even shot that rifle in a long time. So what makes it that keeper? I don’t know, except it’s lightweight, easy to cock, it always works and it’s such a neat old airgun that I could spend my autumn years with just that one. Thank goodness I don’t have to!
What about you?
This report seems simple — until you try to answer the question, which one airgun would you keep if you could only keep one. Do you know why it’s the one? Please tell us.
B.B,
Quackenbush Outlaw .308 LA 1:10 with Superior Stock and Delux Bluing:
It has a power adjuster (preload) and can shoot a range of bullet weights well.
It is deadly precise for the first three shots and predictable for number 4 and 5.
I have a DonnyFL EMPERORV3 and Extension for it that almost makes it backyard friendly for sound level only. It is KISS and built by a Master well enough that it will outlast me, my son, and a few generations of shooters after with a minimum of care.
I can just hold and look at it for hours. It can reliably put meat on the table by taking any edible game in North America with proper range, bullet choice, and shot placement.
shootski
100 yards on one 3,600PSI fill.
BB,
I knew that was the one gun for you! I’m still looking, but I still haven’t found what I’m looking for.
Siraniko
Maybe the Sharpe Ace Hunter Deluxe .22
Sheridan Blue Streak
Benjamin 342
FWB 124,
Diana 350,
Haenel III DRP,
Sorry, can’t decide. Impossible.
I dearly love my Sheridan MB2260 rifle. It’s a light weight and and fun to shoot CO2 gun. I also enjoy my collection of replica handguns. Each of them represents a weapon either I or my sons have shot while serving in our military. Wonderful memories, but none of these is my absolute keeper. That award surely goes to my TX200 in 22 cal. The walnut stock is a beauty to behold and the bluing shines deeply in perfection. The weight is balanced and the trigger breaks oh so lightly and gently. Did I mention how accurate the TX200 is? This rifle is a keeper for generations. . . never to be parted with. Orv.
Only one pellet gun, that would be a sad day. OK it would be a 22 caliber multi-pump. I guess my 13XX I reported on back in 2019.
I guess no one is going to make a multi-pump nowadays that is all wood and steel with a great trigger, a great barrel, and set up for open sights or a scope. Oh and quiet both pumping and shooting. I still think the Marauder would be a good platform to modify. Optimize valves for 177, 22 and 25 calibers. I expect the cost would be similar to the Marauder.
Don
what about that rifle which has an air tank and also a hand pump in 22? cant remember the name of it but it is accurate
Mildot52,
I considered a pcp with a hand pump; I would be happy with that.
I have the Seneca Aspen if that is the one you are thinking about. I thought about it also. It is a bit heavy to be my only gun.
The Crosmsn 362 or the Dragonfly gen 2 may become my favorite one gun pick but I don’t have enough experience with them yet to choose one.
Don
yes it was the aspen. how is the accuracy with the aspen?
Mildot52,
Here is what I got with the gun when I first got it. I haven’t shot it a lot since.
The Aspen is getting .5 inch 5 shot groups with JSB 15.89 dome pellets at 25 yards right out of the box. That is on high or low power, it should do even better as I and the gun spend more time together.
Don
that is great accuracy
B.B.
Easy peezy, HW 50s in .177.
-Y
Probably a very good choice…
It’s much like the HW35E I chose. Just a different stock (that looks great as well) and barrel lock.
I think the good thing about these guns is that they’re simple and very well-made. Even if spare part support should dry up, they would be fixable which might not be true for a FWB300 (let alone a modern PCP).
One of the hardest question ever 🙂
To be honest, I don’t know. I think I would stay with HW30, the fun factor wins at the very end.
Oh boy, that is going to be a good day…
Yogi and Tomek I was waiting for your posts but since R.R. is not here yet I will have to wait for him also.
Obviously a springer, light to medium, would be my choice, despite my love and dedication to the AR6 platform.
After R.R comes in I may ask for your suggestions for the medium one, according to my preference. The HW 30 is an absolute for the light weight for me.
Bill,
The time when I was just a poor student with one airgun was so easy to answer question like this 🙂 Now – it would be a task force for me to decide.
Ever thought about the HW57?
Boy, that is tough.
It’s like deciding which Swiss Army Knife is the best. They all have their pros and cons.
If I go with rifles, it would probably be the Weihrauch HW35E (7.5 joule). A classic, looks fantastic, accurate, great trigger, fairly lightweight and easy to cock (relatively speaking) and it works with open sights, diopters, red dots and scopes (2nd place: FWB 300: Also a classic, even better trigger, a little more accurate or at least easier to control, a good bit heavier).
If I go with pistols: Probably the Weihrauch HW 75. Looks great, almost a match pistol, excellent trigger, dry fire capability, very good open sights, accepts red dots and scopes, too.
(2nd place: FWB LP80: a little more accurate/easier to control, but I might actually prefer the HW75 trigger, even better sights, no dry fire option. 3rd place: HW 45: This thing is just cool and a lot of fun to shoot, looks great and is actually pretty accurate if you can handle it).
All things considered and if I can’t have a pistol and a rifle I think I’ll have to go with the HW35. Please bear in mind I haven’t used nearly as many airguns as some people have 🙂
Bonus content: Best Swiss Army Knife: Victorinox Work Champ (nicest knife blade, best ergonomics and rugged scales, variety of useful tools; runners-up: Swiss Champ, Swiss Tool Spirit X)
Stephan
Stephan,
Wow! I never thought of pocketknives, yet I carry a Swiss Army knife whose name I have forgotten. I used to carry a Midnight Manager as well, but the battery box fell out, so I don’t carry it any longer.
BB
BB,
the scales should be available as a spare part. My mother has a Signature(?) with that very problem that I need to fix.
If it needs more servicing or one of the tools replaced, you might consider sending it in for servicing (at least in Switzerland, they do it for a very reasonable price; US service might be similar). But if you just need the scales, you can just as well buy a new pair and snap them in place.
Stephan
Stephan,
I will look into that. Thanks,
BB
Stephan,
You have not missed out. The HW75 and the HW35E are superb. A Weihrauch would be my second choice.
Every day I used to carry my multitool and various accessories in a belt pouch. And I would need it daily too. Short of a hammer, the Leatherman Surge was perfect for me.
Then I decided to wear suspenders. No belt meant no heavy multitool pouch.
Victorinox provided an alternative: the Swiss Champ fits my jeans watch pocket well, besides which, the little magnifying glass was the decider. 🙂
I have no favourite airgun yet, but I know that it will be an emotional decision if or when it finds me.
G’day BB,
As age catches up, hard to go past a 22 Monsoon FX. Semi automatic, +36 shots plus per fill, super accurate, fairly light, good for hunting/pest control/targets.
Yes, the Theoban Eliminator 20 cal was fun but cocking now without the muzzle brake is more demanding for one shot!!!
Cheers Bob
Bob,
If you still have it, Ridge Runner’s Home For Wayward Airguns would be a good retirement home for that Theoban. I have not had the opportunity to take a .20 to the dance before.
BB,
Yours was easy to guess. So was Yogi’s.
Bill, the HW30 is a superb choice. It is hard to miss with one of those.
I had made this decision years ago and informed Mrs. RR, if need be, it would be the absolute last one to go. I also let her know that I would be quite content if it was the only one I owned. It holds the place of honor over my fireplace. It is the Lincoln Jeffries Model 1906 BSA. That long piece of machined steel and walnut will always have a home with me. It is not anywhere near the most powerful airgun that I have. It is not anywhere near the most accurate airgun I have. It does not have the best trigger. It just is.
RR,
I knew that one! 🙂
BB
LOL! And you were there! In fact, you were the Enabler! If it was not for you, I would not have that jewel!
P.S. Saw you and Tyler on that video yesterday. I am looking forward to the other four episodes.
and not one P PCP yet, imagine that????
-Y
Yogi
I can’t just have one air gun.
But my Gauntlet would be high on the list of only one air gun for me to own if it was my only option. And notice I say high on the list. (List) being the magic word.
Magic word “high”, lol.
-Y
Yogi,
I am afraid Shootski started it off with a PCP.
RidgeRunner,
I think Yogi meant PPPCP; his input skills were hindered by my posted group.
The mere mention of a Quackenbush seems to have the effect of bewildering most every airgunner that has a modicum of knowledge or misinformation about Dennis’s airguns.. The effect is more pronounced with every year that passes and every “Modern” PCP introduced.
shootski
Ok
Now that you are all here please help me with the next level.
HW 35E, HW 57 (Tomek I always had an eye on this), HW 85/95 and Diana 34 Premium. Also forgive me for putting in a GREAT offer on a Diana 350 or an HW 80 which will be detuned accordingly.
All will be shortened to 12″ with open sights and unf thread. All 12-14 fpe max. Open sights absolutely, peep probably.
I wish I have your attention.
Thanks in advance.
Bill,
The HW35 is a bit heavy. I would rather take the HW85 and keep it smooth on a low power. The max energy of the HW35 is very humble compared to its weight. I think would be smoother to keep the HW85 on a low level rather then try to get the max out of the HW35.
Try this HW57. It has a great (in my opinion) loading port for a underlevel system.
Tomek
I have only one thing against the HW57. It cannot accept a silencer. Also there are some reports that blame that loading port for deforming pellets and air leaking.
Pitty for the HW 35. I really like the way it looks more than the other candidates. What are your thoughts on the D 350 detuned? The one I am offered is a real bargain.
Bill,
The silencer would be an option but needs to do some customization for the adapter… The loading port – if there is everything ok with it out of the box there will be no problems.
Diana 350 is a magnum springer. Designed for power. Detuned it will have a pretty long shooting cycle. It might be OK and accurate, but then the HW35 would be much more to the point.
Tomek
I understand your thoughts about the D 350, its just a great bargain. On the other hand your suggestion on the HE 35E made me happy. With the blessings it got from B.B. and others I start to lean towards it.
Bill,
If you are not going for power, stick with the HW35E. Detuned as it is, it is likely a very smooth shooter. The mass of it helps to gentle it out also. Peep sights on it would be awesome. A silencer would probably be a waste as most of the noise will be generated in the compression chamber.
Why shorten them?
Cocking a D350 or a HW 80 with a short lever will be a work-out. Might even loose accuracy, why??????
-Y
Yogi
I want them to be as quiet as possible, for a springer that is. Shortening goes along with the unf threading for a silencer and the detuning as I mentioned. So it will be the same final length along with a lighter power spring. Barrel will be recrowned from my tuner, whom I trust. The whole cost would be less than a nib D 350. By the way do you think that a D340 N-TEc like yours, short barrel, in .177 would fill the bill?
Thanks in advance.
R.R. and B.B.
Besides my ask for help I want to know if 1.000€ is a fair price for BSA 1906 today…
Bill,
That is an extremely high price for one. It would have to be in excellent condition and one of the very first ones made to command that price.
BB
Thanks a lot B.B.
By the way would you be so kind to suggest a model for my medium springer quest?
Bill,
An HW 50s?
BB
No access to that here I’m afraid. Any thoughts on the list?
Bill,
Why silence a springer? It doesn’t do very much. But if that’s what you want get a TX200 Mark III that comes with the Silencer built in. Then tune it with a 22mm kit from Tony Leach.
Of the rifles on the list, only the HW 35 sounds good to me.
BB
B.B
Regarding your suggestion for the HW50 it seems very close to her little sister that I have. Maybe you could comment on my suggestions above? It would be very valuable for me to have your thoughts on this.
Bill,
An FWB 124?
BB
B.B
Thanks for your assistance. I really appreciate it
Bill,
The HW35E is an air rifle I personally would really like to have, most especially if I could have it detuned. Now if you really want one of these BSAs, this is much more reasonable.
https://www.airgunspares.com/220105001-bsa-improved-mod-d-177.html
R.R. thanks for the link.
Very nice and probably fairly priced. But it seems they don’t ship to E.U.. Pitty.
Speaking of BSA, in the store where I found the D350 bargain there is also a BSA Supersport that is supposed to be made in uk. I wonder how can I verify that since the only writing is on the barrel but nothing on the receiver. It’s been on the store rak for many, real many years and the shop owner says it was imported before the Gamo production.
Before I wrote them off, you may want to contact them. You may be surprised as to whether they will ship it or not.
As for the BSA Supersport, it is made in Birmingham, England at Birmingham Small Arms. If it has been sitting there for many years, you might be able to get a real good deal for it.
R.R.
I believe it’s restricted to sell arms by mail or through ecommerce in UK.
On the other hand that BSA is offered for half the price of a new Supersport today. I also fired a few shots and it seems that it’s in a real healthy condition, albeit a bit dirty with the original oils and some marks on the wood from handling during display all these years. Only the open sights that look to be plastic bother me.
Bill,
You could be right about that, I plead ignorance. I have bought parts from them and so has BB.
Plastic sights huh? Well, I have only one air rifle with plastic glowy thingy sights, and they went away and were replaced with a small scope. I am pretty picky with my open sights. Some of these old gals around here have some really nice sights and will not accept a scope. I really enjoy a set of perlkorn sights. Ah well. They are too expensive to make and too labor intensive for modern firearms and air arms.
As far as a “modern” sproinger is concerned, I personally would go for a Weihrauch. They are really easy to upgrade the sights to a set of peeps. This is very similar to what I did to my grandson’s HW30.
https://www.ctcustomairguns.com/hectors-airgun-blog/the-super-plinkerbest-of-both-worlds-diana-280
He really likes it.
R.R mercy.
Just as I was trying to start the HW35E project going you throw in that Diana.
As far as the peep sighted HW30, well it seems that on my 60s I have the same taste like your grandson…
Regarding that BSA Superstore find the plastic sights are old types without fiber optics. Maybe this shows that it’s a really British made one?
Bill,
LOL! The only reason I sent you that link to the Diana was to show you the sight setup I put on my grandson’s HW30. Now, Diana used to have some really nice sproingers, but I think Diana has gotten lost. We will see if they come back or not.
You may want to grab up that BSA Supersport. It is indeed made in Birmingham, England. If I am not mistaken, even the Gamo/BSAs are made there. The BSA optics are coming out of China though.
Where are you that you cannot get your hands on a Weihrauch?
R.R
It seems that the new layout of the blog still confuses me, having to find the beginning of a conversation in order to comment on it’s last post. Anyway.
The non access comment was on the FWB 124 that B.B. suggested ! Fortunately in Greece we have access to any HW,at really reasonable prices and there are all the EU retailers as well. Please don’t send me back to the HW50 now I am set on the 35E, for which I plan to put a 12fpe VORTEK PG4, with the Williams AG set.
Thanks a lot for your assistance once more and forgive my poor use of English.
Bill,
You should really enjoy that HW35E, most especially if you cut it back to 12FPE. I have a Webley/Hatsan Tomahawk that I intend to start cutting the power back soon. I have smoothed it out to no vibration, but it still has quite a “thump” at the end of the firing cycle.
https://www.krale.shop/eu/weihrauch-hw35e/
By the way, your English is excellent.
The Swiss Army hq in Ct does not charge for repairs. I should say that they did not last year.
I would keep my HW30. The better sights give it the edge over my old Diana 96D.
Yes, free of charge. 2 years ago, when you could not repair my very thick Swiss Army knife, they sent me a new one. It was the closes model to my 35 year old one.
-Y
I can mostly confirm that.
I live in Germany, so I dealt with the repair center in Switzerland.
They have “official” costs for certain repair jobs but they might do it free of charge anyway.
I once broke the little pliers on my Work Champ by using them for something they were just not designed for (my fault). I told them as much but they repaired it free of charge anyway.
When I needed something else replaced at a later time, they did charge me, but the cost was very reasonable.
Their pocket knives / tools are very much *not* considered disposable even though some of them are not that expensive.
I respect that as I strongly agree with tomek’s “denial to the trash” philosophy.
There is just something special about companies that are still operated by the founders (or their descendants/long-time employees), still make products in their own facilities and care about quality and customer service.
Victorinox and Weihrauch are two good examples.
Stephan
For me the answer depends on the conditions that go with the situation – I have two different answers that depends on if we can count on ongoing support for the gun, or if we need to be self sufficient in a survival kind of situation for decades . . .
If I have access to ongoing pellet purchases, my pumps, tanks, spare parts and other support – basically where the world goes on as normal and it just me that has to change and get down to one gun, the answer is my Huben K1 in .22. It is simply the most versatile and amazing air gun I have experienced. I had it tuned down to about 7 FPE over the winter and shot it at 10 meters indoors all winter getting well over 300 shots per fill, and with a turn of a knob (and a scope adjustment) it was back to ~30 FPE for spring pesting and longer range shooting (getting about 80 shots per fill). And of course as a semi-automatic with a great trigger it is a joy to shoot. But it is a complicated gun, and while I have been able to take care of everything on it myself so far, I could see needing help with stuff in the action at some point. My Air Ranger would be the second choice.
But if we are talking survival type situations, where I would need to lay in the supply of parts and pellets and “go it alone” it would be a tougher choice to make. Of the guns I have it would either be the HW-30S or the Air Ranger. The HW would be the most “self-sufficient” but the power is so low that it might give me pause. I might have to get an HW-50 for that situation, or go with the Air Ranger. This is a much tougher decision . . .
To answer BB’s challenge I asked myself, which one do I pickup when I just want to enjoy shooting? Not which one is the most challenging, needs some tweaking, still has questionable attributes, might shoot a different pellet better, so forth and so on….. I line up with Yogi – HW50S with an older Vortek kit, JSB 7.87 gr. I even bought a No. 4 kit, but the rifle is so satisfying the “improvements” are still on the shelf.
I have acquired several airguns since the 50S, but none have displaced it. Is that the bane of airgunning? Always seeking? Never satisfied or settled? Maybe when my 50S is as old as RR’s queen I will quit looking.
jumpin
B.B.,
If I imagine a world in which I could only have one airgun it would be the Winchester 427 / Diana 27 you rebuilt and tuned for me three years ago: “Tuning Michael’s Winchester 427.” The series lasted nine parts and was a detailed class in vintage springer repair, restoration and tuning. It still shoots smoooothly.
But its smooth firing behavior is nearly equaled by its ease-of-cocking and accuracy. To me it is the ultimate plinker, and ever since you sent it back to me, it has been the one air gun I would keep if I could only keep one. It is such a special air rifle I felt it had to be named, like historic swords of yore. I therefore christened it “The Gaylord.” (Insert majestic orchestral piece “The Promised Land” from the Castle Aargh scene close to the end of “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPW9fmhA4-k )
Michael
Michael,
I am honored. 🙂
BB
Michael,
That is awesome!
BB, I would have picked your old Shamal over the AA510. I bet the Shamal would have out shot the 510.
As far as why I love my Diana 27, I like that it is so thin and light that I carry it by grasping it around the forearm at the balance point. It just feels right. The thing I don’t like about it is that on recoil the trigger guard always smacks the back of my middle finger. If I am going to shoot it much I use a band-aid to cushion my finger.
When it comes down to only keeping one airgun, I would keep either my Supersport Lightning or my FWB 124D. The Supersport Lightning is my favorite airgun period. I think the FWB 124D is the best balance of power to cocking weight to accuracy.
David Enoch
David
Could you please help to identify a UK made Supersport? I found one unused on display at a store. It’s been there for years and the owner, whom I trust, says it was imported before the Gamo production, but… Since the stamping on the barrel is the only one I can see I wonder if there should be more things to help me verify the origin. It has a nice shot cycle but those plastic open sights are not very nice at all. Still at a bargain price I am tempted.
Thank you in advance
B.B. and Readership,
This is a tough question. Which pocket knife indeed? Which fedora hat, which fountain pen would I keep if I could have only one? The Readership has been choosing mostly springers so far.
The pleasure is in the experience of using an air rifle, whether you hit perfectly well or not. This keeper would have to be pretty to look at, be of medium weight, be mechanically rock solid and have a sweet trigger that requires no extra trouble to use. Also it has to be quiet.
It’s a choice between the Air Arms 200T PCP and the HW35E. Both are rewarding to use and leave me feeling happy after I put them away.
The PCP is so accurate that I feel a real sense of confidence that I can hit what I want nearly every time. This is good for ethical hunting when the rats decide to move in. The trouble with that is it makes me feel like I’m not learning any more when I use it because it is so forgiving.
The springer has an amazingly smooth shot cycle, is super accurate, but it takes more concentration and attention to detail when shooting. When I have to use all the skills I can muster to achieve a set of good shots, the result is more rewarding.
So the HW35E is the final keeper. A good springer takes more skill to use well and gives me a greater feeling of accomplishment than a good PCP does.
Cheers!
Will
Will
I recently got a used .22 caliber Hw35e. I like it alot. It makes good power and is very accurate and fairly easy to cock. The short shot cycle I think is what does it for me also. Its a quick thump once the trigger breaks. Nice guns.
Geezzz BB, early Monday morning, pre-coffee – you sure know how to hit a guy with a question like that when he is off balance LOL!
To be able to answer that question properly (fairly?) I would have to ask: “for what application”? Plinking? Pesting? Hunting? Target? Just ONE eh? OK…
I would chose my .22 Weihrauch HW100 as “the one” with the .22 FX Crown MK2 as a very close second choice as the most versatile airguns I have. IMHO, for overall quality and capabilities it would be difficult to find something of better value.
Cheers!
Hank
Challenging call. I will limit myself to those that I currently own. I’d take the .177 CZ Slavia 634. It is the third air rifle I owned, and it was the one that seemed magically accurate enough to make air rifles fun for me. It was tuned by the late Gene Curtis, and I was lucky enough to get a timely deal on a Japanese Bushnell Trophy scope, and it was carefully mounted with help from my brother. Nothing has been done to it in thirteen years, it is solidly built, has a great barrel, and seems timeless. I can forgive the strange trigger. It might outlast me,
Easy. FWB 124 I’ve had for 40 years. I grew up with one of the best sporting springers ever made. I have over 50 other airguns to compare it to but the last one I would part with is the FWB.
“There is just something special about companies that are still operated by the founders (or their descendants/long-time employees), still make products in their own facilities and care about quality and customer service. Victorinox and Weihrauch are two good examples.”
B.B.,
I concur with the sentiments of CptKlotz; those are two great companies.
That comment caused me to check my pocket knife cabinet; I rotate my EDC knives all the time, and I’ve got 8 of the Victorinox knives at the moment and love them all.
As for Weihrauchs, I’ve owned several, but at the moment, I have only one; and if I could have only one airgun (the thought makes me shudder! =>), that would be the one. I guess I’d pass my Dad’s Tempest, and my first airgun ever, the Sheridan Dad bought me, on to my grandkids; ditto for the customized 1322 pistol my wife got me, and all the rest of my airguns; and the one gun I would keep would be my .22 HW30S.
It’s a wonderful plinker, and since that’s pretty much all I do these days, it would be my pick.
Also, if I ever did want to hunt a squirrel or rabbit (both are plentiful here on the farm), this rifle could do the job at reasonable ranges (15 to 20 yards). I hunted plenty of squirrels with my old .177 R7; and I recall Dr. Beeman noting that one of his favorite squirrel rifles was his scoped FWB 300.
Thank you for this interesting intellectual exercise…but I pray that the day when all we are allowed to have is one airgun is a day that never comes to pass! 🙂
Take care & God bless,
dave
Dave,
Isn’t the R7 a pretty version of the HW30? On PA’s site, they sure look pretty. Like something you’d keep forever. With your HW30 in 22 cal, is pellet “drop” bad at 25 yards or so? For whatever reason, I don’t see the R7 available in .22.
Doc
Doc,
Sorry it took so long to reply; I’m working on a trailer that is blocking my 25 yard range, to I had to lay out a new area in which to shoot.
Anyway, yes; the R7 IS a beautiful rifle; I had one in .177, “got stupid’ and sold it…to buy an HW97. I still kick myself for selling that Beeman R7; it was a great little shooter; and yes, it shot a bit flatter than this one.
However, I love my HW30, and she is a pretty rifle as well; they (HW) changed the stock on the newer guns so that they cover the area of the barrel pivot (which was the main difference with the Beeman R7 version at the time at which I bought it…way back in 1981!).
As I said, this rifle is a “fun gun” for me, a pure joyful plinker. I did a little shooting for you, but things were quite windy here, and my groups are not so great (my 10-yard group was bigger than my 20, hahaha!). Yet I think the attached targets will answer your question. As a 500 fps rifle (with 13.43 g JSB pellets) sighted in at 15 yards, this gun is also right on the money at 10 yards and 20 yards; but at 25 yards, I did see an average drop of 3/4″ (they were all 5-shot groups). The rifle also shot low at 5 yards, just as we would expect from her due to scope height.
But my main “target” for this gun is old .38 special brass, which I lay down sideways and shoot the ends. With the 6X BugBuster, I can still see enough brass outside the crosshairs to hit them (which is why, on B.B.’s advice, I went with the 6X instead of the 4x).
The HW30 in .22 can hit at longer ranges, but you have to use the mil dots; if you want an HW30 to shoot at longer ranges, you might want the flatter-shooting .177 caliber version.
But either way, if you get an HW30 (HW30S…you definitely want that Rekord trigger!), I predict you will be very happy with her…just my 2 cents.
Oh, and as far as I know, the R7 was only offered in .177 mainly, and in .20 for awhile; you have to get the HW30s to get a .22 (but I do like mine).
Happy shooting to ya!
dave
Davemyster,
Thanks’s for your reply and the “review”. Nice shooting! I am looking at the R7/HW30 and the R9 and is it HW80? I can’t remember the HW to the R9. I think they are gorgeous. I always think I want the power of the R9, but so many love the R7/HW30. Maybe I should just break down and buy both LOL.
Doc
Would the HW 50S be the Goldilocks airgun for you? I think it is somewhere between the R7 and R9 for power?
Doc,
You could grab an R7 for plinking and an R9 for hunting. Or you could try as Roamin Greco suggested and get an HW50. Prior to getting the HW30, I was all set to get a .22 HW50S as my “all around air rifle,” for both hunting and plinking. But then I got the .22 HW30S as a modern equivalent of B.B.’s .22 Diana model 27. And the accuracy of the HW30S was high enough that I decided to scope it. After that, I was so happy with it, and I wasn’t really hunting anymore, so I just shot the HW30S and didn’t buy an HW50S…yet! I still want one, LOL! 🙂
However, I don’t think you can go wrong with any of those HWs. 🙂
Good luck with your choice,
dave
Doc,
The R9 is the HW95. The R1 is the HW80. BB has a R1. You noticed he did not say it would be his only one. The R1/HW80 is a hard one to master. It is powerful and very hold sensitive.
Doc,
The R7 is the HW30. I think the newer versions are identical, the R7 just costs more. I bought one for my grandson in .177 and put peep sights on it. Oh man, what a plinker. You have to try to miss. It would probably be pretty rough on the fuzzy tailed tree rat population out to about 25 yards.
Hi BB, the spring piston one I would keep would be that Benjamin /Sheridan Sterling .177 I bought from you and that Vince repaired . Still use that one a lot, and a second would be my .22 cal Diana model 48 that I rebuilt. I like a gun that just needs pellets and just a tiny amount of effort to use, and looks like a air rifle and not a piece of construction material. Take care , Robert
Robert,
Sweet on the Sterling! That is another one that vanished that I always liked the looks of. I had forgotten about that one.
Doc
Doc, I first saw one of those Benji /Sterlings back when I used to stop at ” Great Lakes Airgun ” in Hamburg ,NY back in the day on my way home from pounding nails and slinging mud at my job .Not a power hose , but I have a thing for for under levers. The LW barrel is a plus as well. I also see that you like the EB CO2 pistols as well. I actually like the narrow front sight blade that I paint the face edge orange. If you want a really cool ,easily rebuildable, powerful, and vintage CO 2 air pistol , watch for a Challenger .22 version. I snagged one from the Dean Fletcher collection and it is by far my most favorite vintage CO 2 pistol. Regards ,Robert
Robert,
The trouble with my EB 22 is the rear sight doesn’t have enough drift adjustment. The gun shoots to the left. I’ve had two of these and both shot the same way. I’ve see lots of online chats that talk about it also. Just wish someone made a better rear site for it.
Doc
Doc, if only a little off, you could remove the sight , heat it with a propane torch and bend it in the direction you want? The old Benji “Rocket ” CO 2 pistols and some of the Crosman bluk fill ones, were famous for shooting high, which was worse, and you see a lot of them with the rear sights bent down.. You also could modify the rear sight with a plate glued to the existing blade ., and file it in by trail and error . Could be made of brass or aluminum and blacked after your done.
Robert, Those are great ideas on how to “fix” my rear sight. I have drilled the little screw hole out a little, but it didn’t give enough adjustment. I also have bent it a little, but still very small gains. I’m not very good at stuff like that. But I try.
Doc
Well, being relatively late into the World of Airguns, hard for FM to say “which is a keeper?” Like the HW95 much; likely will stay in Casa FM for the reasons given by Capt. Klotz above. The only PCP in residence is Gunfun’s former .177 Ben-Max and it’s a sweet one so if the choice was limited to a PCP that would be the keeper.
FM just has a hard time parting with the things that work for him and is into long-term relationships.
Not counting my Red Ryder as a kid (I still have and shoot her). Then I thought I could kill anything in my path with her lol. I really don’t think I have found mine yet. Of the ones I’ve owned, the rifle would be the Benjamin 22 pump that was very accurate (The older Wood stock version). It was so hard to pump after 5-6 pumps though. I have had blisters for pumping that beast. Of the pistols, I would say my Benjamin EB 22 but the rear sight is horrible. Always shoots to the left. Crosman has never been able to help me with it. Keeping that in mind I guess it would be my Daisy 4500. It is way more accurate than it should be. Non adjustable sites, C02 pellet pistol. Only shoots wad cutters due to the magazine. But it’s dead on and very reliable. I am still waiting for my all time fav. though. Could it be a Beeman P1? I expected some of those to be listed, but didn’t see any. Maybe a Beeman R9? An HW30? We shall see.
Doc
BB,
Not only is this blog informative on a daily basis, it also will make me think (which is supposed to be good for my mental acuity).
I understand about choosing a pocket knife for everyday carry (especially when my wife tells me that I have too many) and a Swiss Champ has been a companion to me for over 40 years.
The subject of air guns is harder, as I don’t have as many as I do pocket knives and I had to think for a long time before adding another air gun to the ‘assemblage’ (not enough consistency to call it a collection).
My ‘one’ would have to be my Sheridan Blue Streak, which I have owned for the last 55 years. It requires a relaxed shooting cadence, but is way fun to shoot with 3 pumps. If more power is required, more pumps can be added and it is always accurate enough to get the job done.
Choosing the Sheridan made me eliminate my Diana 52, in which I find about everything that I like in a rifle: beautiful fit and finish of wood and blued steel, as well as accurate. The same accolades can be given to my HW95, which has a little less cocking effort than the Diana.
I am so happy that this is only an exercise in ‘what if…’
Keep up the good work, BB, and know that we are all out there cheering you on!
Bill
That’s a tuff one today.
I have and had alot of different air guns. But I can say this. For about a week and a half I have a pinched nerve in my left shoulder blade. I went to a chiropractor last Thursday for the first time in my life and again today. I will say it definitely feels better.
But why I mention that is my pcp’s have been the easiest to shoot so far. Especially with the electric pump. And my FWB 300s has been the springer I have been shooting too over the weekend. Mostly because of the easy cocking for a spring gun.
So for me I really can’t pick one. I pretty much like all the guns I have now. And some fill multiple roles. So that narrows it down some. But right now there is only a few I would let go. But not in no big hurry that’s for sure.
But to only have one. I don’t think that will be a option for me anytime soon. I hope anyway.
A 14 ft/lb R10 is perfect, except I feel a sharp jolt if I touch the trigger guard, because it’s still missing the rear screw. It’s more accurate with a broken spring but hopefully the upgraded spring will last.
So, aside frome shoulder mount spring actions, what about a backyard wheeled action, a smaller pak41? No need for the armour protection. You crank the car spring back, maybe an old Harley piston. Might need to be steel. What diameter for the spring tube?What caliber I wonder?
A seriously big spring cannon. Yea.
Best! Rob
I’m going with .50 BMG barrels or cast bullets, might not be the right twist rate. Motorcycle suspension springs, M.C. pistons with some 2ndary operations for sear rod. The hand crank mechanisims for elevation and sighting, plus cocking mechanism. Too expensive for Crosman. Did they ever have any spring powered 20mm antitank gun trainers? Big bores. Yes please.
R
BB
This is like picking your favorite grandchild. Impossible for me. I am fortunate to own several of the favorites readers have listed; Sheridan Blue Steak, Weihrauchs 30S and 50S, FWB300S. I am surprised the Diana 34 hasn’t been mentioned more because it still ranks among the best adult sized rifles to buy. Walther LG55 and Walther Olympia deserve mention. If a BMW is a driving machine Diana 35 is a shooting machine. Avanti 747 and 753S single strokes. Last of all the CO2’s; AR2078A, Diana Chaser combo, Crosman Custom 2400KT. Oh, and Crosman 160 with modern pellets. One can shoot CO2’s outdoors every season but winter where I live.
Thanks to you retirement is even better than it already was.
Deck
No question about it; I would keep my .177 HW30s with Vortek PG2 kit inside and simple BSA EMD 4×32 WR scope on top, with those great open sights as a back-up.
It’s just a pure delight to shoot and I will never tire of it. The only thing about it I would change is the plain Jane stock.
Anyone else like to see Weihrauch produce a scaled down, HW35e-style walnut stock for the HW30s, complete with pistol grip chequering & end cap, white line spacers and finger grooves? (I love the HW35e too, but find myself reaching for the HW30s way more often)
Bob
I would be one of the first in the line.
BB
Absolutely too hard a question for me to answer. Like GF1, I have too many favorites, depending on the intended use,,,, or the time of day for that matter. If it were a powder burner it would be easy. It would be the Winchester 70 my wife bought for me when we were first married. It stays no matter what else goes.
Since I have bought all my own air guns,, none have the same meaning to me.
By the way,, is there a reason that Pyramyd is putting your obit at the end of each report? Are you not telling us something???
Ed
“…the Winchester 70 my wife bought for me when we were first married. It stays no matter what else goes.”
Ed, that’s way cool! 🙂
B.B. and everyone who bared with me;
Thanks a lot.
I was carried away yesterday and I didn’t answer specifically, thinking it was only rifles, so here it is;
one of the two HW stainless 45s with two barrels, .17 and .22. Although I would try to keep them both, since they are identical, by saying it’s just one…
Bill,
I’ve only shot the HW45 in .177, never in .22; which do you find smoother-shooting? Or are they both about the same?
Thank you!
dave
IDave
As far as I can recall, since the .17 is left in the summer house, the .22 can be smoother. Can be is because I mostly use H&N Green FTTs for their power, but they are harsh. Very good behavior and accuracy come with the H&N HOs, 12+ grains I believe but hard to find anymore.
Sorry I forgot to tell you that I prefer to use modified Crosman barrels, the original WH being too tight for high power. Accuracy? I’m still experimenting…
Cool; that’s great info; thank you! 🙂
BB,
Having a fight with WordPress again?
Siraniko
Marauder pistol/carbine. My pesting workhorse. More than 1000 rats and eastern Grey’s can attest. Small, quiet (with a Donny FL Sumo) dead accurate to 40yds with JSB Hades and Polymags and just enough power to thwack em without pass-through. Tool of a gun.
I’ve had 24 hours to ponder this question and find that I still can’t dignify it with an answer.
Are we “improving” the website again?
Half.
Well now. It’s obvious no one gun will be THE keeper as long as the reasons for having it vary with the individual. I’m going to assume long time support for the air gun is a given because it plays a part in the decision. Owning many air guns that fill many uses equally makes it hard to narrow it down to one. Indy to Aspen for example.
I have been praising my FX Independence for many years. It’s not the best looking. I’d say my RWS Diana TO6 350 Magnum takes that one and it’s not the lightest. Many pistol to carbines are. And for a carbine I would go for my EVANIX AR6 PCP Carbine, nice handling.
I chose it because it is adjustable to a power range for every use and can keep its desired pressure up with three or so pumps. Not to mention accurate.
Close to the same reason, I would choose my Webley Alecto multi pump over the RWS P5 Magnum or Evanix AR6 PCP pistols.
Started out carrying a TL-29 electricians screwdriver / pocket knife in the Navy, OK it was a 6″ Italian Stiletto growing up in Brooklyn first. Then moved on to a Leatherman as an aircraft mech but graduated to a Lowes Kobalt 15 in 1 multi tool with belt pouch. Less tactical and edgy. Shinny stainless with smooth surfaces all around and a non slip grip insert. Much easier on the hand in use and as tight as you can get.
Bob M
On the other hand, If I knew more about the newer totally adjustable tactical looking quality PCP rifles I might be tempted to pick one of those.
Bob M
It seems that we share the same thinking on AR6K and AR6P along with the HP 01 (ULTRA I suppose?). Probably the versatility and simplicity of this last one would make it a final keeper.
Bill Yes It is the Webley Alecto ‘Ultra’ with the longer barrel.
I posted a pic a while back. I have dot sight and small folding grip up front that looks like it was made to be there.
WOW … just noticed Zoraki, Atak Arms, has an adjustable shoulder stock for it that mounts to the lower rail. Discounted too!
JBob
The red dot I prefer on this one is a high mount so I can use the open sights through its base. Regarding the stock I found it complicated to attach on, no easy on off. One more suggestion; Since I had a, necessary, silencer attached what worked for me was a light bipod. Using it either as meant or by grasping the left leg as a grip for fast standing shots. Open or closed bipod must have enough space between the two legs for the silencer while pumping.
Bill
Thanks for the information. The Swiss Arms small round dot sight I have on it is fwd. and low and gives you more hand pumping clearance and it has complementary, non adjustable fixed sight built in. Just a white slot and a post but it’s there.
Always thought this air pistol deserved a detachable stock. I just ordered it.
Is there a rail mount incorporated into the stock mount for the bipod to mount ?
Bob
I am really not sure but I think there is no rail on the aftermarket stock. It just works as a grip attached to the front rail of the pistol.
Bill
Zoomed in and it looks like there isn’t a rail there. May be able to install one then the possibilities are endless with 0ptional mounts.
Still no “tomorrow” report.
The Earth has already spun around and we are on to day 5 of April.
No April 5 report? What gives….
-Y
Bummer.
R.R
I jumped in this post to thank you for your response above because there I couldn’t post an answer. Having respect for your opinion it’s now a one way trip to the HW35E quest.
Thank you all from thousands of miles away.
Easy. Although I own lots of airguns, I’d have to go with the Crosman 2240…..cheap, excellent trigger, fun. Mine I believe was the 2250, with the shoulder stock. Alas, I gave it away and it’s been replaced with another custom version with a longer barrel. For a pistol, I’d have to go with the James Bond semi-auto ??? I own several versions, including the Tuxedo and an airsoft that uses bottled gas. My fav however is the newer version without anything hanging below. Again, fun. Sorry,; having a senior moment and can’t seem to remember names at the moment.
OK, that’s the Walther PPK/S.
Guys, need to refresh topic. On last Friday a new family member is here. The FWB300s in a very good condition makes this potential final decision even more harder.
Here are those two candidates:
HW30s_FWB300s.jpg
My .22
Beeman R9 is the one I would keep out of the 16 that I own.
Tom, like you I’ve drunk the full glass of “Mid-Power Springer Kool-Aid,” LOL. My favorite class of airguns bar none, and it was in fact the Diana 27 – courtesy of Ladd Fanta’s classic article in the 1977 “Gun Digest” – that put me forever on that path.
But if I could only keep one, it would be another of that genre: the Weihrauch HW 55. The ultimate in quality, accuracy, handling, versatile tuning possibilities, and the kind of beauty that makes me leave one sitting out just to look at! The problem would be deciding which stock style…! S, M, T, CM, oh, my…