Air Gun Questions...

What kind of pellets did you use? The rounded ones are the most accurate. The pointed ones the least.  Ammo makes all the difference.I have a gammo that can shoot a dime at 50 feet. RWS makes a good airgun. You might have got a bad gammo but I doubt it.Get on a couple airgun forums and do your homework.

Gamo has been having problems w/ their scope mounts and them coming loose. W/ the problem comes lack of being accurate. I've been waiting for them to get it right before I buy one and that may take a couple of yrs.

ORIGINAL: Bull Lifter

Anyone have any recommendations on an air gun thats around 200-300 bucks..I bought a Gamo Varmit hunter the other night and returned it, i was disappointed in it, at 15 feet i couldnt get a group better then 6 inches. Now i have heard some bad on GAMO before but not that bad...i believe this one was defected. So does anyone have any newer type models they would recommened?

Bull,  I shoot a GAMO and really like it, SOMETIMES.  It seems to have a significant amount of recoil.  That said the recoil is different than a rifle or Shotgun.  It is a reverse recoil that all airguns have.  This type of recoil out of more powerful airguns wrecks havoc on scopes that are not either designed for airguns or of military grade specifications.  I used to have a fixed power 4x32 on it designed for air rifles.  It was shooting tack heads consistantly at 25 yards.  I recently had the opportunity to put a 3x9 BSA (with lit reticle) rifle scope on the gun.  It performed flawlessly for the first hundred shots or so.  After that, pellets scattered everywhere.  I figured the scope had been toasted and that does seem to be the case.  I have mounted it to a 22 and cannot hold a pattern at 10 yards.  Now I have switched to a military grade 2-7x32 Center Point and it seems to be back where I want it to be.  FYI,  I only shoot PBA ammo out of this gun.  I used to shoot lead, and then  it was only Beeman pellets.  I honestly believe that better ammo truly flies better at high speeds and tight tolerance air rifles.  Salty mentioned the scope mounts coming loose.  He is correct.  However, this can happen on any air rifle.  Once again, the recoil is different (more of a vibration) than a long gun that uses propellant.  The primary difference between the others (Beeman, RWS, and Benjamin) and a Gamo is that just about everyone can and does buy a Gamo due to price. With the increased number of users, comes a different breed of shooter.  The guy who buys a higher priced manufacturer generally does more research, understands the effects of airguns on equipment and learns how to overcome them (ex. loctite on all screws...).  Anyway, I hope this helps and you enjoy your new toy, Griffon.

Griffon I know alot about air gun recoil but thanks. I dont think on this gun it was the scope coming lose i kept checking it. It also was a 4x32. I used Gamos pellets. im telling ya it seriously was defective. I forgot to mention the trigger when squeezing slowly, i stopped a few times, the vise/me moved and i went to adjust it again and the gun shot. i know its not supposed to do that.   and can you tell me what GAMO MODEL you have they only have about 50 or so...Im willing to try a Gamo again, Just maybe one of the Hunter series. like the Pro? i think i was looking at. the RWS are pretty expensive. Im also willing to pay more if someone says hey i have such and such and it was 350 and it hasnt had any problems with the scope and i shoot it all the time...Basically what i should do but its defeating my purpose is just buy a 17caliber and not have to worry about the reversal recoil. I just dont want the "firearm". i want the air gun

Buddy of mine bought a remington at Gander Mountain. What a sweet shooting gun. But as said the ammo can make all the difference. I've seen him whack a rabbit at 40yds.

bull,
 
I've got a weihrauch HW35.  It is a springer model.  I put a 3-9 cheapy bushnell on it from my HMR.  It will hold 1" groups at 35 yd no problems with the first two types of pellets I have put through it.  If I were in the country I'd sell you the whole thing for $300 (pellets, scope, gun, leather sling).  Might want to check around the net (airgun forums).  The entire HW series are quality guns and can be had in your price range.  I don't have any trips scheduled back to the states where I could mail it to you anytime soon either.
 
You may want to reconsider shooting racoons with one though (ignoring the illegal portion if you are in PA).  While the pellets can be going pretty quick, they are light as anything (10-15 grains) and don't carry much punch.  They are fine for headshots on rabbits or squirrels in the 30 yd range, but I wouldn't shoot a coon with one.  Cats are a little iffy too.
 
Thanks,
Rick

1100 fps and PBR raptors through the eye kill about 9 out of 10 raccoons at 20 yards.  They may run up to 30 yards, but they do die.  I have no actual experience, as this would be illegal in the state of PA and I am only repeating what I have been told

I have the Gamo with the black synthetic stock....I can't for the life of me remember the model...it's at work....one thing I have learned the hard way is that you have to use an airgun scope. They are made to withstand the recoil from the springer guns. Not only does the type of pellets affect accuracy, but also the BRAND. Just like in firearms, every airgun likes a different brand.I can't believe how many on here are into airguns.I have an old Smith and Wesson pump airgun.  8 pumps max. It's a neat gun. Try looking up pyramid air on the net and check out the forums. Oh yea, I bought my Gammo from Sportsman Supply. It was  factory reconditioned. It was about half the price of a new one and best of all, the reconditioned ones are gone over by the factory and have all the bugs worked out of em.