Loads of fun.........

[kragnut]

Don't know what possessed me, but I just started noticing something I haven't been into since a kid.....air guns. Started doing a little searching on the web and I was amazed at the selection available now for adults and kids alike. Finally settled on a new RWS side lever .22. Well, it came on the UPS truck yesterday and I've been out in the back yard wringing it out. Got a few bags of sand from an empty lot across the street and made myself a little berm in one corner of the yard (its fenced in with a solid wood fence). Been busting dog food cans and soda cans filled with water at about 25-30 paces. The open sights are not great but are OK, the front blade is way wide which gives a signt picture almost identical to a modern pistol with high viz sights. Power is pretty impressive, with really heavy Beeman pellets, it will penetrate about 3 to 3 and a half dog food or bean cans from a few feet away. Report is very low, like a pneumatic stapler. The best part is, I dont have to jump in the truck and drive for 30 minutes to go shooting.

[Liam]

I've been keeping the squirrels from chewing on my house and the chipmunks from burrowing into my basement for years with a RWS Model 34 in .177 cal. The varmints are welcome to come feed out of my bird feeders, but are not invited to move in. I live with neighbors all around me and no one has noticed the occasional "POW-SPRRRUUNNGG" much less complained about it. Model 34 generates 1100 fps and WILL shoot through my hardwood fence. Don't ask me how I know this!

[Ed Buie]

I just watched a tv show on airguns. These guys had .17, .22, 9mm and 50 caliber airguns. They shot at 100 yards. The 50 cal. shot a 200 grain bullet into a big chunk of meat and ripped it up. I had no idea such guns were out there. The shot into ballistic gel to test penetration and then told how to remold the gel. Very interesting program.

[kragnut]

.50 and 9mm cal airguns are widely available from a South Korean company called Shin Sung. One guy makes an economical rifle that can shoot a 450 grain .50 cal bullet at muzzle velocities of a .45 ACP, if you have patience to wait for him to make you one:

http://www.quackenbushairguns.com/

These are pneumatics, not spring piston guns, and you only get a handful of shots per charge (two shots in the case of the quackenbush). Unless you want to make hundreds of strokes on a bicycle type pump, you have to invest in a scuba tank if you want to recharge in the field. Not exactly plinking guns. I dont see the advantage of them, as the are very loud, though not as loud as a centerfire rifle by any stretch.

Dr. Robert Beeman has a facinating website, and you can see the Lewis and Clark air rifle he donated to the NRA. Google "Girandoni air rifle" for more info on this little know yet amazing repeating 18th century weapon.

[Dave Waits]

I have a Gamo shadow with a BSA 3-9x airgun Scope. does 1000fps. Accurate as all getout. Great for practicing trigger-control. And, for one of my favorite games. I go over my shooting buddy's house and stop on the way and pick up a bag of those little green plastic Army men. We have his daughters spread them out around the Backyard(about 1/2 acre) and we play Sniper. We glass for them first, using 10x Binocs, then we call the target and the other watches through the binoculars for the hit. Lotta fun!

[Steven Martin]

I also have been getting into them. Just yesterday I ordered a Gamo Stutzen from Airgun Depot ( or something like that) through Amazon. It was $50 -$100cheaper than other places ($299 plus $6.95 shipping). I've also been on the look out at garage sales. Sometimes you can find old Daisy's etc. for next to nothing. Some people pay big bucks for them on Gunbroker.

[kragnut]

Very cool : from Dr. Beemans travels and personal collection:

http://krites.blogspot.com/2007/04/nazi-killing-air-gun.html