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Seeking Help to Buy an Entry level Rifle

Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2014 2:49 am
by iSudipt
Hello Experts,

I am a newbie hence seek your kind help on selecting the right air rifle for me. Considering the number of options and various companies with variety of specifications, it is really getting difficult for me to narrow down the right one. Of course the cost and availability of the same plays a major role.

Currently I am using an Indian made Sisco Air gun and since I am planning to upgrade to an imported gun, would like your expert comments on the same. The Sisco however was doing a good job for a distance of 10 yards but it requires servicing since I didn't use it for about a year and lately the developing interest in me is pushing to get a new one :) :

1) Purpose : Target practice
2) Preface : I am not planning for hunting rather purely like to grow interest for target shooting.
3) Objective : The sole purpose of getting an Air Rifle is to achieve my lifetime desire of shooting a coin / bottle cap sized object from a good distance.
4) Preferences : I tried to research myself and listed down a few that i came across :
  • a) .177 Crosman optimus
    b) .177 Crosman Quest 1000
    c) .177 Ruger Air Hawk Combo Rifle
    d) .22 Crosman optimus
5) The look and feel matters to me as well so want it to be little heavy with a long barrel, to have the feeling of a fire arm gun (Sounds Silly ? :) ). Personally like the shape of Crosman Optimus.
The above shall help you analyse my interest or range on my requirement.


I went to a nearby gun house and considering my lack of knowledge I fail to demand the right kind of gun. They end up offering local guns and try to convince on avoiding imported ones. The locals with no specification in terms of fps ( which i reckon gives a fair idea based on higher the better ) further confuses me. Forget experience I don't even have basic knowledge to ask for the right one, but since I am planning to upgrade so I would prefer to have an imported Air Gun, at least i would have a number to compare or a name to look for.

Considering the Objective mentioned, I seek your help with the following few queries other than of course the original subject :
  • i) Should I buy a .177 or .22, though what I understood so far based on youtube videos etc, .22 cal would require a more powerful weapon to cover the same distance that of a .177 for the latter being lighter / smaller.Hence, I believe a .177 would be less expensive when compared with .22 cal on similar parameters.
    ii) Since I am a newbie, Is it necessary to have an imported gun or Is there a good Indian brand that would do(Any Chinese or Indian gun between 5k - 7k will help me save on spending over an imported one which surely will be double the cost)
Looking forward to a positive reply from you.

NB: Also if you have an idea on how much will each of these cost. I am going as per the International websites i.e. around $100-$120 each, so expecting closer to Rs 10,000/- in the Indian market. If they are way above then perhaps I will have to settle with an Indian made gun.

Thanks,
Sudipt

Re: Seeking Help to Buy an Entry level Rifle

Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2014 4:53 am
by veeveeaar
Go in for a IHP 35 model in .177 or Precihole 35 model in .177 . That will suit an entry level requirement .

Re: Seeking Help to Buy an Entry level Rifle

Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2014 8:48 am
by iSudipt
veeveeaar wrote:Go in for a IHP 35 model in .177 or Precihole 35 model in .177 . That will suit an entry level requirement .
Thanks a Ton veeveeaar for the reply.

I saw the review on youtube for IHP 35 by sathya.sniper. A good review that covered most of my queries but he did mention about the difference in the spring between 2 guns that he bought. Also, the cheek pad was said to be low. Drawbacks being underlined by experts like you gets me thinking.

Should I be bothered about such factors at this stage ? I mean, who wouldn't want a better version when he is paying for it. Though I have observed people appreciating IHP as much as imported guns but am I being too apprehensive over buying an entry level gun ?

Re: Seeking Help to Buy an Entry level Rifle

Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2014 10:36 am
by brihacharan
veeveeaar wrote:Go in for a IHP 35 model in .177 or Precihole 35 model in .177 . That will suit an entry level requirement .


Hi isudipt,
> You would do well by going in for either an IHP35 or a Precihole Pegasus both are 0.177 caliber...
> These are good entry level ARs... :D
Good Luck!
Briha

Re: Seeking Help to Buy an Entry level Rifle

Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2014 11:30 am
by Basu
I suggest Precihole Club or National 25 would be the better option.
The later ,requires serious tuning.

Basu

Re: Seeking Help to Buy an Entry level Rifle

Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2014 12:08 pm
by iSudipt
Let me congratulate myself for being a member of this amazing forum where everyone seems to be readily sharing their views on the most stupid question ever asked from the level they stand.

I am possibly being a burden to the MOD for keeping them busy in approving my comments : ) So apologies for that too. Its just that I am too excited about getting my new weapon and all these replies are cheering me up. Complete Motivation!

brihacharan wrote:
veeveeaar wrote:Go in for a IHP 35 model in .177 or Precihole 35 model in .177 . That will suit an entry level requirement .


Hi isudipt,
> You would do well by going in for either an IHP35 or a Precihole Pegasus both are 0.177 caliber...
> These are good entry level ARs... :D
Good Luck!
Briha



Basu wrote:I suggest Precihole Club or National 25 would be the better option.
The later ,requires serious tuning.

Basu

I think I will have Precihole as a priority considering it to be a common suggestion by all you experts. Terms like "Tuning" rocks me upside down. So thank you Basu on that quick idea.

Thanks to both of you and everyone for helping me through this.

Do you think I can give an imported gun a try or Precihole / IHP will serve my purpose. Or are they too expensive in the Indian Market and perhaps I need more time with Indian guns. Or am I being too judgemental about "Imported" guns. I am not planning to buy the next one for a long time now.

Re: Seeking Help to Buy an Entry level Rifle

Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2014 4:05 pm
by brihacharan
iSudipt wrote......
Do you think I can give an imported gun a try or Precihole / IHP will serve my purpose. Or are they too expensive in the Indian Market and perhaps I need more time with Indian guns. Or am I being too judgmental about "Imported" guns. I am not planning to buy the next one for a long time now.
User avatar
iSudipt

> As IFGian Basu had opined that IHP needs tuning....he is right as our experiences have been so...
> Precihole scores in this respect (my personal experience)...
> Imported ARs are far too expensive as compared to the Indian made ones, besides you need a Air Rifle Club membership to import one...
> Regardless of the above, it is recommended that you become a member of your local AR Club asap...
Briha

Re: Seeking Help to Buy an Entry level Rifle

Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2014 8:06 pm
by iSudipt
Thanks a Billion Briha... yea you are right I should have got into a club already but wanted to get hold of a better rifle first .. makes no sense practicing with highly efficient guns at some shooting range and then looking annoyingly at inefficient (in my own terms) my local gun : )

I thank all of you including the MOD for getting me quick access.. you guys are really amazing ... thank you all for such pricey details ... I have at least some names handy when i walk into the gun shop next month : ) ... Wish I could give kudos in some form ...