So I will have my main hunting rifle soon but in the process of buying a scope for it, I accidently bought a second scope on trademe.  I bid $41 on a new Gamo 4x32 scope (rrp $119), thinking that with almost 2 days to go and the previous high bid $40 it was bound to go higher but I was wrong.  I was mainly just seeing how the bidding on trademe worked as I hadn't bid before, oh well.

In any case I'm left with a 4x32 scope that I doubt will hold up to use on a springer long term, despite being air rated.  So that got me thinking, it might be good on a CO2 rifle like the Air chief rapid repeater, where recoil won't be an issue and shots would be fairly close so 4x would be plenty.  The use would be sparrows and starlings around the barn and thought the right CO2 or multi pump might be quieter than a gamo CF-S and would be more forgiving to shooting from various rests and different holds.

So I'm considering these (but open to recommendations):

Air chief rapid repeater .22 CO2

Crosman rifle 2250B .22 CO2

Crosman 1077 .177 CO2

Cannon 737.177 multipump

Cannon 737L (longer barrel) multipump

The cannon multipump looks great and is affordable and I believe more powerful than the CO2 rifles unmodified but I worry about its accuracy/consistency.

The air chief I would assume is the best of the CO2 options but a bit pricey for a low powered rifle.

I like the idea of the 1077 but don't know how accurate it is likely to be?

For those who have used one or more of these rifles, what are your thoughts? I value accuracy first, noise second and power (including ability to modify for more power) third.  I don't expect amazing quality from any of them but decent quality would be nice.

I am leaning towards CO2multishot for that reason but kruz does make a couple of good points in favour of the multipumps. Having to have a ready supply of CO2 and also potential drops in power with temperature have always put me off them in the past.

On another note, are you still selling replacement triggers for Gamo CFX's? I believe they would also fit the gamo CF-S I'm buying from Pauly5. I'll see how the trigger is for myself first before deciding if it could do with replacing but it would be good to know if you are still able to supply them.

Thanks

I have always toyed with the idea of getting a 1322 or 1377 asthey look like good fun.

Do you know what fpe you get from yours at the typical number of pumps you use?  Is it easy to source a stock for it and other parts?

The cannon 737l is appealing as it is currently the best part of $100 cheaper than a 1322 from youngs and perhaps would need less in the way of mods but I've not investigated that in any depth yet.

The AO version does not cost much more and I think all that is required for backyard. I have had good durable service from both types on rifles up to 15 ft/lbs.

Air Chief Rapid Repeater I have watched one of these do very nicely at 20 yard targets proving to be very accurate. The .22 should perform better than .177 on CO2. I am not a fan of the magazines.

CO2 $2 - 2.50 per capsule

Summer 25-30 shots

Winter 10 -15 shots

I've ruled ont the 1077, it does look like its only good for a bit of plinking fun.

I'd love to follow what Kruza has done but or something similar with a 2250 but I don't currently have the knowledge or tools to do this but both could be aquired over time.  One problem I have is I don't know how much time I have in NZ as I still need to secure a work visa to stay beyond the beginning of 2024.  I'd be loathed to invest a lot of time and money into a project and have to leqave it behind.

I would be interested in getting a 2250, fitting the steel breech (assuming they come with the plastic one) and perhaps a longer barrel with the means to attach a silencer. An accurate, quiet little carbine, shooting around 8fpe would be ideal where I am currently. Who would you recommend as a supplier and do you also have a recommended supplier for upgrade parts?

Some of the multipumps are still tempting though.  I almost bought a 1377 back in the UK for a bit of fun.

EDITED:

Does anyone know if the crosman 2250XL is available in NZ? It comes with a longer 18inch barrel which ought to increase velocity I would have thought and this is threaded for a silencer. It also comes as standard with a steel breech from what I've read.  I know where I can get one from my old local gun dealer in England but a quick google didn't bring up results over here.

http://bagnallandkirkwood.co.uk/product/crosman-2250xl-ratcatcher-xl-co2-air-rifle" rel="nofollow - http://bagnallandkirkwood.co.uk/product/crosman-2250xl-ratcatcher-xl-co2-air-rifle

Perfectly accurate and consistent, that is what I loved about pcp's and why these are an appealing alternative.  I'm leaning towards "the ratcatcher." I was just looking at the thread where you show bulk filling yours and it looks great but I'm sure beyond what I could do myself currently.  Even if I could do it, not sure I'd be brave enough to try. I think I would work on getting it shooting well with CO2 capsules first and maybe try bulk filling down the line.

Yeah I saw in another thread that your hand had been operated on, I hope the recovery goes well!

That's good to know you still do them, if I need a new trigger I'll get in touch, if you're making the new option by then I'd be happy to try one of those out.

According to this review  http://airgunshooting.co.uk/article/gun-test-crosman-2250-xl" rel="nofollow - http://airgunshooting.co.uk/article/gun-test-crosman-2250-xl it produces 25 shots at 9fte with 14.3 grain accupells, by the 35th shot it had dropped to a respectable 7fpe.  I did read some issues with the threading for the silencer causing a loss of accuracy with a silencer fitted, presumably it was not quite straight and caused some clipping, but that was on a forum thread around 10 years ago so I would assume this with have been sorted on later batches produced.

I'd be interested to know if Youngs Airguns could get these in or source the barrels for them.  I'd be very tempted to get one.

Co2 is great for small pests as you can suppress it easily. The Air Chief rapid repeater is good value as it comes with metal breech ready for optics, suppressor, multishot mag and longer barrels.

All that can be done to the 2250, but would cost more for the same spec.

There is something fun about doing it yourself and making something custom but i do know he is out of long barrels and has been for some time so who knows when they will be back.

In an ideal world I would buy a 2250XL but as they don't seem to be available over here, the rapid repeater is probably a better option, although I do really like the idea of getting a standard 2250 and customising it.  I keep reading about people polishing this and replacing that and I only half understand what they're doing, so I think its about time I learnt myself.

Also, anyone looking at the Crosman 2260 rifles on trademe?  Well over my budget currently but might be of interest to someone on here.

I'm sceptical about that way of mounting the scope so would get a steel breech. It is a shame the 2250XL isn't available here with the steel breech and longer barrel as standard.  When I give Youngs a call, I'll ask him if the XL version is something he could look into importing, I'm sure it would be popular.

My two cents would be a BSA Comet Evo in 177. I have one of these in 22 and its a great rifle. You said you want co2 but they just don't have the same performance as a break barrel.

Elliot87 wrote: FPM, appreciate the recommendation but I am in the process of buying a break barrel from Paul

I have not used a CO2 before but have looked at the numbers. So I would be interested to hear how you go.

Not sure how I will get on here as there aren't that many obvious ambush spots but I'm sure I'll get a few initially.

Ron Young has got back to me with prices for various parts.

Steel breech $58

Probe and handle $22

24" barrel $55

2250B $289

Shipping $25

He has the rifle in stock but would have to order in the other parts.  Not sure I would get the 24" as I'd rather have 18" or stick with 14".  So shipped 2250 with steel breech, probe and handle is $394.

It will take time I'm sure to get everything delivered and put together.  Not to mention I would want to order a silencer and silencer adapter at extra cost and time.

On the other hand I could pop to gun city tomorrow and buy a air chief rapid repeater with silencer for $399.  My head says that is what I should do but I just like the idea of the 2250 more.

Is a stock 2250 likely to be less accurate and less powerful than the air chief I wonder?

Yeah 24" is too long, I'd probably end up cutting it down to 18" and that is extra hassle. Think I'll just read/watch some more reviews for both and see how I feel after that.

Thanks for the comparison. What is the top rifle?

As you say, same size as the 362 but the 362 doesn't have the advantage of the silencer.  Are you using one of the over barrel silencer adapters and would you be able to fit a silencer in the same way to the 362?

Its a shame the 362 also come with a plastic breech, am I right in saying the metal breech for the 2250 is the same as the 1322 one and would also fit fit the 362?

If I did get an air chief i'd be very keen to get an adapter like that made up but would have no idea how to do it myself unfortunately.  Again, back to the strengths of the multi pump guns.

I don't think I have seen it but will look for it now. I would be keen to attach a bipod for sure, so once again I appreciate the offer. If I do go down that route I will or 1322/2250 I'll message you no doubt.  Thanks for all the help and advice.  Shooting is nothing new to me but these multi pump or co2 rifles are, as is modding so it is good to hear what other people achieve with them.  I did shoot starlings as a boy but they became protected in the UK not long after that. I think most of the ones I shot were with a 9mm garden gun but a few with air rifles too I'm sure.

I did manage to kill one pest tonight. The cat belonging to the people I'm staying with brought a mouse into the house a couple of days ago. Their poodle spotted it run under the fridge today, so I flushed it out and with a little help from the poodle, I managed to dispatch it with one of my crocs.  I don't think I'll get many more using that method though.