Help me decide

[knot4reel]

I'm wanting to pick up a light weight decent quality .177 air rifle for back yard target shooting for the Grandkids and without a doubt Grandpa. Something with a easier cocking spring weight would be nice. The lighter weight would be a plus also. Looking to keep it under $200. Thanks

 

[readyeddy]

Take a look at the Diana 240 Classic.

 

[LoonWulf]

The crossman raven looks like it might be a good option as well.

 

[cobalt327]

The Raven would be a good choice- kids could shoot it (12" LOP) as well as an adult. The Crosman Raven MV is 600 fps with a cocking effort of 25 pounds. The Umarex Embark and Ruger Explorer are both about 500 fps and have a ~17 lb. cocking effort and the same LOP, according to Pyramyd Air. Last time I knew, the Ruger was least expensive. The Umarex rear sight's windage and elevation adjustments have click detents and the front sight is a hooded post. The other two might be fiber optic but not positive about that. But all the guns' sights are open, not peep sights like you'd see on most target type guns (the Umarex Embark was chosen for the shooting program called the Student Air Rifle Program (SAR).

Bottom line- any of these would make a kid happy!

 

[knot4reel]

Thanks guys. That Diana 240 classic looks pretty impressive for the price. I'm looking into the Umarex and Ruger as well. I found the Gamo Recon also.

 

[chicharrones]

I found the Gamo Recon also.

I bought a Gamo Recon for my daughter years ago. It is a nice low velocity air gun suitable for kids or adults. The trigger isn't great, and I mention Charlie DaTuna triggers often on this forum, well that Recon was the first airgun I ever tried a CDT trigger with. It made the gun much better than out of the box.

What I like about the Recon for kids is the polymer covered barrel and synthetic stock. It's one of those guns that shrugs off scratches and is rust resistant right where your hand cocks the gun.

Below is a photo from 2010 before we ditched the Gamo 4x scope for a 30mm red dot. You can just make out the gold colored CDT trigger.

View attachment 758940

 

[cobalt327]

Gamo has updated their Recon, it's now the Gamo Recon G2 Whisper. It has more MV (now 750 fps, was 525 fps) but it's advertised as having the same cocking effort (19 pounds) as before (I would tend to question the effort specs, seems a little too low to me)- but it should still be within the range of kids who would be shooting it, seeing as how it's marketed as a youth orientated gun. It now comes with open sights and with a green dot optic sight. When the features and specs are compared, IMHO it's one of the best buys of the youth-type pellet guns right now- PA has them for ~$90.00.

ETA It looks like the Recon 2 has a cocking assist of sorts- the front sight assembly makes the overall length of the barrel longer than before so it would be less effort to cock (although spread over a greater distance) than its less powerful predecessor.

I like the earlier Recon stock design a lot better, but as long as it's comfortable to shoot, I suppose I could give the new stock a pass. Truth be told, none of the stocks exactly wow me- but I'm an ol' fart anyway.

 

[knot4reel]

Thanks for the replys' everybody. The Gamo Recon 2 seems to fit the bill for the younger ones to have fun with. Ordered one today and I'll let you know my impressions after shooting it for a while.

 

[chicharrones]

Gamo has updated their Recon, it's now the Gamo Recon G2 Whisper.

I guess I'm a bit behind in Gamo air rifle development! I didn't realize that the Recon got an update. The added sights are worth the price incease, IMO.

Thanks for the replys' everybody. The Gamo Recon 2 seems to fit the bill for the younger ones to have fun with. Ordered one today and I'll let you know my impressions after shooting it for a while.

I'm looking forward to seeing how it works out for you. I can't speak for that dot sight it comes with, but the rest of the gun should give years of service.

 

[cobalt327]

Agree about the dot sight- great if it works out, but it wouldn't be something that drove me to buy the gun. But I would also tend to think it's a better option than most "free" scope that are sold with various airguns.

 

[knot4reel]

Agree about the sight. I have a spare TRS 25 just itching to jump on there.

 

[tallpaul]

Do yourself a favor and look for a HW30 or beeman r7.... get the record trigger. Quality to pass down and easy to shoot etc. I paid several times more 40 years ago for a hw50 that is still as good as the dau I bought her- better actually. And with the better trigger and more refined overall execution it was and is a great airgun for practice/pesting n plinking. Well worth the upgrade

 

[BLB68]

(Sorry for responding a bit late.) An Aire Venturi Bronco might fill the bill, but they were discontinued a while back. Might still be able to find one used or new old stock.