Airgun Depot's Airsenal News

CO2 is often overlooked as a propellant for airguns. It has some advantages over other types of powerplants, among them its common availability at several venues such as sporting goods stores, paintball supplies, and even fire extinguisher and welding supply houses. And for years, CO2-powered airguns were the guns of choice for competition shooters. It wasn't until the onslaught of PCP airguns that CO2 found itself in a decline as a powerplant for competition.

Airgun Depot has many CO2-powered guns that suit a variety of needs. I even use CO2 guns in my hunting pursuits, finding it an adequate and easily obtained power source for small game and pest control shooting. Since that is the majority of my hunting, it gets used quite a bit at my house for such endeavors.

Consider some of the following guns as useful choices for plinking and small game/pest control shooting:

Benjamin Discovery - yes, that's right....the lowest cost PCP on the planet is also useful as a CO2 gun, made so that it can be used with either powerplant. You get quite a few shots from a fill of CO2 compared to a fill of air, and though the power is lower, for many shooting pursuits, power is not where it is at.....it is accuracy! And the Discovery delivers in that department!

RWS/Walther 850 Magnum - This bolt-action repeater is a fantastic gun for hunting and pest control, offering quick follow-up shots and adequate power for small game and pests. The bulk-fill design allows you quite a few shots before having to refuel, and the accuracy of this gun is up to par with many entry level competition guns.

QB-78 - this classic bolt-action design emulates many firearms, and is great for practicing, hunting, and plinking. Amazingly accurate, this gun allows shooters to enjoy a wood and metal gun that delivers in the pleasure category quite well. I use it for squirrel hunting, pest control, and informal contests with my kids and friends. It always delivers, and is one of the most suggested guns for the new airgunner. 

Crosman pioneered the use of CO2 as a propellant, and they still make a plethora of guns in this category. If you follow the manufacturers link in the left hand menu on the home page of Airgun Depot, you will find a great selection of CO2-powered airguns that are designed to fit the needs of the plinker, hunter, and competitor.  

So don't overlook the usefulness, availability, and economy of using CO2 as your powerplant.....and be sure to look around Airgun Depot's website for a fantastic selection of these types of air guns. 

Posted by Randy Mitchell at 04:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Similar to last week's post about PCP's that fall in different price ranges, I wanted to take this weeks entry and focus on the spring-piston airguns that Airgun Depot carries, commenting on a few brands in different price categories.

We'll go in reverse this week, and start with the more expensive airguns that work on the spring-piston powerplant. The first gun in this category is the .22 caliber Beeman R-1, known as the workhorse of the Beeman line. This gun is responsible for the surge in interest of quality-made airguns from Europe being introduced into the United States. With a well-known pedigree, and a price of $599.00, this gun is one of the more expensive models that is offered by Airgun Depot. Rich in heritage and a known performer, you can't go wrong with one of Beeman's R-1's. 

The Beeman R11 and the Beeman HW77 Mark II also fall into the  $500+ category. These guns are German-engineered and built, with a focus on quality that is hard to beat. Fine craftsmanship, in both the metal and the wood, add to the value of these guns. They are heirlooms that you will be proud to hand down to your family members in years to come. Handsome on both the wall and the shooting range, the Beeman line of spring-piston guns from HW are top of the line.

 RWS imports a line of Diana guns, also from Germany, and the Model 54 and Model 54 scope combo both top the $500 mark. Immensely popular and well-made, the Diana guns are proven performers that are sturdy and robust. I've used Diana-made guns in many of my hunts, and am well-pleased with the results I receive from them.

Another maker in this category is the Webley line of airguns. The Webley Longbow is a fine addition to this price-point category, with its stylish looks, robust stock, and excellent finish. Of English design, these guns offer excellent quality and performance one would expect of a storied maker, and you will be well-satisfied with the offerings from Webley that Airgun Depot offers. 

RWS also offers several other guns that fall in the $300 to $500 category. The Model 460 is a fine choice for an airgun that delivers excellent power and accuracy, as well as good looks, in this category.  And the Model 350 Magnum brings high performance and power to an even lower price point.

In this price-point area between $300-$500, Webley also has some offerings. There is the Webley Stingray and Xocet, both guns which balance superbly and offer great firing behaviors and precise pellet placement on target. I have a personal fondness for the Stingray, having fired one at an airgun show, and plan to add one to my arsenal in the near future.

Gamo has some nice offerings in this category as well. The Hunter Extreme rifle and the stylish Stutzen both fall in this price point. I have a Stutzen on the way, and hope to post a review of it in the near future. 

When it comes to the more budget-minded shooter, take a look at the RWS/Diana Model 34 and Panther series, as well as Gamo's CFX, Whisper, and a few of the Hunter series of rifles. Economy-priced, yet still feature rich, these guns help the budget shooter enjoy the sport just like the shooter who buys the more expensive models.

These are a few of myh pics for spring-piston guns, seperated by price point. So pick how much you want to spend, and search out these great values here at Airgun Depot.

Posted by Randy Mitchell at 06:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Perhaps you've been considering venturing into the world of PCP airguns, or maybe you've just discovered airguns and aren't sure what kind of gun you should get.....or how much you should expect one to cost.

PCP's are, of course, pre-charged pneumatics. They are powered by compressed air that is held in a container of some kind that is integral to the gun....either a tube or a bottle. An example of a PCP airgun with a tube is the Benjamin Discovery. Bottle guns are well-represented by the Air Force brand.

 
Within the world of PCP's, there are the economy guns, the mid-level guns, and the more expensive models available. Suffice it to say that you can spend just about as much as you want on a PCP, but there are some very good offerings in the budget and mid-level tiers as well. Let's take a look at a couple of offerings from the budget and mid-level categories.

For the budget-minded buyer, you're going to find it hard to beat the offering from Crosman Corporation, with their Benjamin Discovery. This gun can be had, WITH A PUMP, for $379.00. This is practically unheard of in the airgun world, but Crosman has managed to make PCP guns affordable and fun once again for the budget minded.

For the medium-range level of cost, you can find some excellent offerings from Air Force. The Air Force Talon can be had for less than $500 dollars, and it is a well-made, unique-looking gun that has gained quite a bit of fans over the last few years. It is an accessorizers dream, with rails just about everywhere on the gun, allowing you to hang scopes, lasers, bipods.....gadget after gadget for the airgunner who enjoys adding to his or her base gun. The Air Force Talon can also reach into the more expensive range of PCP's due to all the add-ons that are available.

One of the PCP's that Airgun Depot carries that pops up into the upper, mid-level price category is the Evanix AR6. This gun, coupled with a scope, manages to break the $700 figure quite easily. This gun is a powerhouse of a .22 caliber pellet gun, and I've enjoyed using it for medium-sized game on two different continents. It will perform marvelously on game, power through targets that lesser airguns simply splatter against, and bark like a big dog!

These are just some of the excellent selections that Airgun Depot offers the PCP airgunner, so look around and choose the airgun of your choice. And don't forget your pellets and other accessories, as well.  

Posted by Randy Mitchell at 06:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)