Thinking the same thing...
Hey, Jesse,
I've been recently looking into this, since I'm pretty tight on cash, and a typical run to the range (45 minutes north) costs about:
$18 Range Fees
$5 Gas
$50 Ammo
For about two hours' worth of bang-bang time. Great fun, but a bit costly and I really don't get enough time in to work my shooting skills all that much. So I'm looking at picking up a good .177 pellet rifle and a trap, so that my buddy and I can just cart over to one another's house and shoot in the backyard. That way, we don't waste so much ammo when we DO get to the range!!
With that in mind, might I suggest the Gamo Young Hunter Model 220? It has a lot offer:
~640 fps (doesn't compare to the 1000+ fps big boys, but has the major advantage that the pellets don't make a sonic CRACK, either!)
Comes in open sights, or with a BSA 4x32 scope for about $40 more
Single stroke pump
Feels heavier than most of the Daisy and Crosman guns I've hefted
Now, before you get to thinking "Heck a YOUNG Hunter Model? It's a kid's gun!" Let me tell you...other than a lower fps, which is actually an advantage to us suburbanites, the only differences between this and the full-blown 220 model are a pound of weight, about an inch of stock, and $50.
I'm thinking of ordering mine from
www.pyramydair.com where they offer the combo model (the one with a scope) for $129.95 and shipping. I haven't found it locally for less than that, so...
Anyway, I hope you'll give this a look. I've heard great things about it from friends, and I think it even got a write-up in Gun Week, a while back.
Good Luck!!