Best Air Rifle?

[MarkP]

Amazon has the Maximus in .22 as a kit with a pump, swinging target, pellets, and glasses for $309. I am really tempted.

[birdmove]

That's a good price I think. You might consider. if you get one, ordering a TKO muzzle brake for it. I understand it makes the Maximus back yard friendly.

Here is the 6 part review Tom Gaylord did on the Maximus. You can read it from part one through six by clicking on the part one and returning to this page each time.
http://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2016/08/b...us-part-6/

One other recent change in the world of PCP air rifles. Benjamin (Crosman) has taken the older CO2 repater called the 1077, which uses a single CO2 powerlet, and transformed it into a PCP called the Benjamin Wildfire. I have a 1077, and I am not really suggesting the new Wildfire due to it's accuracy level. I consider these models to be plinkers, largely due to the fact that in order to get them to be repeaters using a 12 round magazine, they truly have a double action mechanism like a revolver does. But, the Wildfire is going to sell for $139-$149, then you need the hand pump to charge it to 2000 PSI. The Maximus is the one if you want something that might get you, say one inch groups at 50 yards or so. Also the 1077 and Wildfire are pretty much all plastic except for the steel barrels. Mr. Gaylord shoots his two 1077's better than I do, and gets one inch groups at 25 yards.

I kind of like the Umarex Fusion, which uses either one or two CO2 cans. .177 caliber only. These are known for very good accuracy, and are already quiet as a mouse. Reviewers are saying about 80 decibels, which is super quiet.

No more purchases for me for a while, as last Monday I was diagnosed with a problem which requires more testing before we can discuss what to do about it. It all started with an increase in my PSA levels. I'm using one of my airguns almost every day as it takes my mind off it for a while.

Jon in Keaau/HPP

[MarkP]

I'm just not sure what to think about the add on "muzzle brake". From what I have read if the Feds want to they can declare them silencers and you'll be in trouble. I wish that it was built on to the rifle if it is that simple. i guess it is on the Marauder but that is like 3 times the price.

Wishing you the best Jon.

[MarkP]

I wish I had spent my money on the Maximus right up front although it wasn't available when I bought the NPXL. I really don't know what to do with the thing now. It might be suitable for executing small pigs at very short range but I was sort of hoping to pick off doves in my garden but I just don't see that happening as things are now. Granted this rifle, being a replacement, may still need breaking in but c'mon, throw me a bone.

[birdmove]

Here's a review of the Umarex Fusion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjVvMJF39hg

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Umarex-Fusion...e/25174732

Living in Hawaii, one never experiences the cold weather problems with CO2 airguns. The drawback is you have to buy the cartridges, and one should not store the airgun with the CO2 cans installed in the gun. This thing comes with the "muzzle break" from the factory, and many reviewers say it's the quietest air rifle they've shot. If one wants to do a short shooting session, put in one full and one empty CO2 can for 40-50 shots. Or put in two full ones for 70-80 shots.

Jon in Keaau/HPP

[rocketman]

Just got a few of mine over here from the mainland, anyone know where we could go shoot?

[birdmove]

That's a good question. I shoot on my property into a metal pellet trap that sits on the ground in front of a rock wall. That's a reason I don't want a very loud airgun. I don't want to piss off my neighbors. And, I have been known to go after rats at night.

The big island is not firearm friendly. If your airguns aren't too loud, maybe just set up a little shooting area in your yard in with a very solid backstop, and into either a store bought or home made pellet trap. For maximum quiet, you can make one out of wood scraps, and then pack the back part with plumbers putty. This type of trap is super quiet. The metal traps (like I have) make a racket when the pellet hits the rear angled downward metal wall.

Jon in Keaau/HPP

[MarkP]

I shoot my air rifle on my own 1 acre property. The neighbors can probably hear if they try but without the crack of a supersonic projectile I don't think most people would really recognize the sound of the shots as such. My pellet trap is a 5 gallon bucket filled with rubber mulch (ground up tires). It works great. A single bag of the mulch pretty much fills the bucket although over time and use there is settling so maybe get 2 bags. Buy a lid for the bucket. Lay the bucket on its side and shoot through the lid. When the lid gets too full of holes cut out the center and use a piece of cardboard to keep the mulch from falling out. It really works great. The loose mulch is self healing in that as repeated shots create a void new mulch falls in from above. You can also dump out the mulch and retrieve the lead pellets. The bucket and lid are about $5 and the bags of mulch are about $8 each.

I sent an email to the person I dealt with at Crosman when I sent in the rifle for repair, basically saying I was dissatisfied and "wondering out loud" about what might make me feel better. I specifically said I wanted to return the NPXL for a refund and mentioned how the Maximus looked nice. We'll see what happens.

[birdmove]

Here's one of the first reviews on the Benjamin Wildfire. Not trying to push this air rifle, and I think the Maximus is a better value and more accurate too. This gent says his trigger on the Wildfire is an 11 pound pull. Another reviewer (Hard Air N\Magazine online) said his was 12 pounds!! And, Tom Gaylord has his review, part one so far, at the Pyramid Air Blog.

This gent here actually gets a couple of decent 25 yard groups with hie test gun, despite the trigger.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnFWUoqcpX0&t=16s

The biggest attraction of this Wildfire is the 12 shot repeating capability, and the low price.

Jon in Keaau/HPP

[MarkP]

This guy was getting about 1 1/2" groups at 20 yards. I was getting 6" groups at 25 yards. I know that a springer requires a certain technique but I had educated myself about that and taken great pains to mitigate it and I was still getting pie plate sized groups. Something else was going on. I fully believe that break barrel spring piston guns can be accurate. I can do better with my old gamo than I can with this new NPXL. However the break barrel action does introduce challenges to manufacturing and quality control that have to be met and if they aren't well not every gun will be out of tolerance but some will. I used to repair treadmills for a side job and I came to the conclusion that the modern business model was that a certain number of them would have problems. Of those with problems, a certain number of customers would call in for warranty service. Of those, some would be satisfied with the repair and some wouldn't, etc so that as long as enough machines kept getting sold the business model worked. I kind of feel bad that I am essentially giving a negative review for Crosman but it is what it is. I am accurately reporting my experiences so far and I am after all still considering other Crosman products. The fact that they turned around and sent me another gun of the same model supports my theory that they are relying on a numbers game and I just got burned twice. Had the second gun been more towards the peak of the bell curve of quality I might be singing its praises now. I think I payed about $160 for the Gamo 20 years ago and I payed $260 for the NPXL a few months ago and if it had lived up to the hype it would have been far more gun for the money. Who am I to complain as long as I am essentially playing the lottery in terms of quality?