So, I bought an air rifle....

[MuttCat]

Yep, a Beeman R9 in 177. Whole new ball game for me...got it for mostly paper punching. It was delivered yesterday and it's a beauty. As I understand, these "springer" rifles are really hard on optics, even those scopes that are springer rated. And similar to rimfires, they can be fussy about pellets too.

Now if it would stop raining for ten minutes....

 

[nortatoga]

Yep, a Beeman R9 in 177. Whole new ball game for me...got it for mostly paper punching. It was delivered yesterday and it's a beauty. As I understand, these "springer" rifles are really hard on optics, even those scopes that are springer rated. And similar to rimfires, they can be fussy about pellets too.

Now if it would stop raining for ten minutes....

Unfortunately these are now discontinued, I have 3 of them the Nikon Prostaff Target EFR 3x9-40 scopes. They were made for air rifles and rimfire rifles.

 

[MuttCat]

I am looking at scopes and mounts. Conventional wisdom calls for a one piece mount/rings to mitigate shock to the scope, and an inexpensive scope with a lifetime warranty so that you can replace the scopes you will wreck. Hmm.
Hawke scopes seem to show well, as does the UTG line. Does Nikon even market rifle scopes anymore?

 

[nortatoga]

No Nikon is no longer making rifle scopes. Checkout Crossman they make the CenterPoint line of scopes I have a few of these as well on some 22's

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[MuttCat]

CenterPoint...check. A quick look though...only one fixed power scope for airguns? I do like illuminated reticles; got spoiled.

 

[Bananabandit]

Nothing wrong with an air rifle. Cheap plinking.

 

[MuttCat]

Exactly...since I'm hoarding my other stuff. Air rifles have come a long way.

 

[Mosinitis]

I shoot air rifles and air pistols in my basement. Low noise and low litter backstops are simple to make with electricians putty or rags in a box.

Spring air rifles were hard on scopes which had crosshairs made of glued wires. The glue would eventually let go under spring thrust forward. Scopes were designed for rifles recoiling to the back. Now that most of the scopes have an etched reticles instead of glued wires, this shouldn't be an issue with modern scopes.

 

[MuttCat]

Lots to learn!

 

[mca90guitar]

My hawke air max has held up fine on my hw97k.

 

[MuttCat]

I ordered up a UTG adapter that has a rail. It also features scope stop pins. One pearl of internet wisdom...go with a compact scope for break barrel rifles.

 

[218bee]

I own several R9's and an R10, some other springers, too.. Thousands of pellets through them and never ruined a scope. Even the cheapies. To Mosinitis' point , this "ruining" scopes business was probably a thing back with the older 3/4" tubed Crosman & Daisy air rifle scopes, or glued reticles. New scopes of today should be GTG. I actually Ive been waiting to ruin a scope, but it hasn't happened yet, and I shoot a lot. I have an old steel tube Weaver scope on my R10 that recoils really hard. Never had a problem, and the gun stacks pellets @ 40 yards. Look at the UTG compact scopes. Had great luck with them.

 

[MuttCat]

It could very well be the "glued" reticle deal that is now the conventional wisdom that springers destroy scopes.

 

[218bee]

Could very well be. I also read that scope reticle failure was due to the reticle ring only being locked into place with one locking ring, and not properly "sandwiched " between two locking rings and factory tightened properly. Who knows...maybe I just got lucky. You can really tame the shot cycle of that R9 with a tune kit, and not loose velocity. I have one with a kit installed that fires with just a low "thump." Another one I have is all stock and sounds kindly twangy when shot.

 

[MuttCat]

Yeah, who knows. Then there's the notion that 30mm tubes are inherently stronger...more resistant...to springer recoil than 1in tubes.
So we have: etched reticles, compact size, 30mm tube, I guess matte black in color, must have AO, and IR, Mil dot....
We're narrowing down the specs.
I though the greater tube diameter was to allow for increased range of adjustment.

 

[spat]

Yeah, who knows. Then there's the notion that 30mm tubes are inherently stronger...more resistant...to springer recoil than 1in tubes.
So we have: etched reticles, compact size, 30mm tube, I guess matte black in color, must have AO, and IR, Mil dot....
We're narrowing down the specs.
I though the greater tube diameter was to allow for increased range of adjustment.

I would think the opposite would be true.

I would think the smaller tube would be better.

The reticle would be better supported.

Which lens or wire has more stress, one with supports 30mm apart or one with them 25mm when subject to the same acceleration ?

 

[MuttCat]

Physics? Now I'm lost.

 

[1075tech]

Thanks @MuttCat . You're going to cost me money

 

[MuttCat]

I had my stimulus coin stashed away, and then some free money from an inheritance of sorts, I was actually waiting to purchase a CZ 22. But nothing in stock, stupid prices...you know.
So shopped for an air rifle. The choices are fantastic, ammo dirt cheap, super accurate, low noise, and tons of goodies.

 

[218bee]

Another attribute of the UTG scopes is that they focus down to like 3 or 5 yards. I’ve had some issues with some scopes on my air guns, where that’s an issue. Not a dealbreaker, just very annoying. For the money, you can’t beat a UTG bug buster. They show up used on eBay for like 75 bucks.

 

[S&W Fan]

I thought that I was the only one sitting out back plinking with an air rifle. We should start a show and tell thread.

 

[Mosinitis]

Shooting scoped air rifles is fun, because you can instantly see the holes appear in the paper. You can safely do it indoors basement, attic or hallway.

10 meters (33 feet) is the standard indoor target distance for air guns. You can shoot anytime day or night and in any weather. Silent pellet traps can be made or bought.

 

[MuttCat]

Amen.

I was just reading some more on things that are glued together inside a scope....way more than reticles. it seems. Cheap scopes have internals that pressed together. It's been said about scopes, you get what you pay for. But I have several Simmons scopes on 22s and all have been great. Not much recoil there however.

 

[218bee]

Here's my backstop. (Actually its still on the original mulch, which looks brand new, but the box is really banged up from use, and I gotta make a new one...) It's a Kitty litter box, w/carry handle, filled with rubber mulch from Home Depot. Screwed a clamp on it to hold targets. Google rubber mulch pellet stops and theres a ton of good intel. I have a PCP rifle in 25 cal. That shoots hot (around 960fps) and the pellet only goes in a few inches. I store it outside since its waterproof.

 

[MuttCat]

Kitty is helping the cause! More tuna please.
Wifey collects those things for some reasom....now I know why.

 

[218bee]

Great! Now you'll have a never ending supply. I think the one in the above pics is like 3 or 4 years old at least. New layer of duct tape now and then to cover pellet holes. Gotta be a zillion pellets in there.

 

[Paperpunch]

I'm using a box full of rubber mats that we get with deliveries at my shop. The mats prevent cargo from sliding around in the back of trailers. The drivers just throw them away after each delivery. They stop .17 & .22 pellets really good.

 

[Phauxtoe]

I Love the Beeman rifles!
total classics

 

[MuttCat]

There are so many rifles and choices, but the Beeman is a simple, well considered, and well made timeless shooter.

I emailed Leupold about their scopes and springer air rifles. Their response: "All of our scopes are tested to withstand this type of recoil, more so beyond that!" I also emailed Bushnell, but no response yet

UPDATE: Bushnell says no springer air rifles.

 

[alistair]

I got an Umarex Origin PCP air rifle a few months ago and it is great. I'm going to set up range in my woods behind my house by hanging old pots and pans from tree branches.

Umarex Origin .22 cal PCP Air Rifle with High Pressure Air Hand Pump

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