Sources for New Competition Air Rifle

T

tpotts

Guest
I am interested in buying a competition air rifle. I know champions sells "top end aire rifles. I would like to know who else sells competitive rifles. I am use to the centerfire/rimfire world so have no experience in this area. Thanks, Tom

I love to shoot, but ammo is getting more expensive by the hour.
 
I would recommend you contact Bori at Top Gun Air Guns. He is one of the few dealers who understands air rifle benchrest. He is also one of the best about taking care of his customers.
 
tpotts,

As well as the used forum Dan pointed out.. consider these, but first...

What class are you planning on shooting in? For LV 12fpe class, it's hard to beat an EV2.... actually, the EV2 shoots well enough to compete in 20fpe HV class as well. The EV2 can be purchased at a few places like Top Gun Air Guns, and Pyramyd Air is another place. Here is a page from their site... http://www.pyramydair.com/a/Air_guns/Air_rifles/Precharged_pneumatic_PCP/155/Air-Arms/brands_29

You'll find the AA S400 there as well, which is another good gun to start out with. For HV 20fpe class and 35fpe Open class, some like myself use the US FT in the bench rest format. I have an extra one I could sell, my email is wayne.burns@naturalyards.com The "one at a time" maker of the USFT is Tim from MacI... here is his site http://www.mac1airgun.com/usft.htm

There is a "Sporter" or "Production, out of the box only" class in the works as well... a low price point gun that is pretty good out of the box is the "Marauder", and it can be worked on to be a real contender... Dan has got one that he's making into to a real shooter to compete in HV class.

Welcome! I don't know if you can open these pics... The guys at the Wild River Club in Grants Pass, are some of the top shooters in the country, and they all shoot FWB FTs ... but you can only buy them used, and there are a lot of others looking for one too:)

View attachment 11954
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Wayne Burns,
Match Director,
Ashland Air Rifle Range
 
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tpotts,

Where are you located. I have been traveling to some rim fire matches hoping to find shooters like yourself who have figured out that its accuracy and the pleasure of shooting lots of rounds in the middle of the target. There is no reason to limit your fun by spending .20 cents to 40 cents a shot after you have decided that hand loading is not as much fun as it used to be. I am sure that you will find that a minute of angle accuracy is the same at 10 meters or a hundred meters. The 10 ring gets smaller but often the challenge increases. I have just purchased a new high power for the U.S Open Classes as I own a 12 ft lb. gun and a 20 ft lb gun and now the 30 ft. lb. gun. I have been a hard core air gunner since 1990's. I figured out that smoke noise and recoil and high cost per shot did not make for more fun.

Your first decision in my mind is which class is best for you. The 12 ft lb. class is the International standard if that means anything for you. The EV2 from air arms is a good choice for both bench rest and Field Target( a bloodless hunt in the woods at metal fall when hit targets.) The 20 ft lb class is next and there are many good rifles available your budget will decide which one. Many of the 20 ft lb guns are custom with a whole lot of extras and tuning.

For a while I shot my EV2 boosted to about 19 + ft lbs and did very well in Field Target. Look at all of the posted results of winning equipment on this and other air gun forums before you decide. The Custom Theoben seems to have good potential in the 20 ft lb and High Power as well as the USFT. There is a class that is middle of the road and dominated by a fine rifle the P70 from Fienwerkbau. This rifle is hard to find. Though it is between the 12 and 20 ft lb class the scores are often as good as the higher power rifles. A large percentage of competition air rifles started as 12 ft lb rifles and have been power boosted. Many started un-regulated and have had a regulator installed.

Go to several air rifle matches, even of you have to take a drive to hold em and shoot em. The scores in bench rest are more the shooter than the rifle. Most any decent air rifle will group .50 at 50 yards. You have to have competitive equipment but doping the wind is the key.

Chose carefully and go over your maximum budget and you will never regret it. No fun to wish you had spent a few more dollars. If you have the skill you can buy several extra 10's. You can purchase some good out of the box guns to start and later send them off for extras and tuning.

You will find that most participation in air gun competition is NRA silhouette or Field Target. If you cannot find active bench rest club near you go to these matches and you will see the top dollar rifles.

I have purchased lots of stuff over the years from champions but my last look they are mostly 10 meter rifles for position shooting. There is little are no competition in Texas except for 4H clubs and some college and juniors shooting programs. Most of these 10 meter rifles can be boosted in power.

Good ShootN'

Bob Zimmerman
Houston, Texas
 
Howdy Bob: thanks for the insightful comments. I am leaning toward buying a new S400. The EV2 and P70 look wonderful but for starters it would probably be best to invest a little less until I can be assured of the availability of local competition. I think the 400 will allow for me to sharpen my skills through practice, and I can try some postal matches. Maybe later I will sell one of my Suhls and get something more competitive like an EV2. I see you are from Houston went to school not too far from there. GIG EM! Tom
 
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