Directions on how to check air rifle before buying (Wanted).

[cchadwickk]

After rifling through ( pun intended ) IFG for over a month I have decided that I am going to buy an air rifle. Will be be getting an IHP 35 .177 . But the gun shops in my area don't have a lot of "pieces" of air guns (1 IHP per shop no preciholes sadly ). Thus I write today to ask AR owners, what all should I look for in the rifle before buying. The general defects, problems, what accessories to buy, etc. (Basically I have not bought an Air Rifle ever before, was even scared entering a proper gun shop ).

Thanks in advance.

[sathya.sniper]

Good luck on your buy,
IHP 35 .177 is a very good rifle to go for.
Let me share some of the point that i normally used to look after while buying a gun.
> First try to compare 2 or 3 rifle atleast if possible. even if they are in two diff shops.
> Then try to cock/load and the gun, Notice whether the cocking action is smooth. (Some rifles may have unwanted noise like rubbing of metal while doing so)
> Then while cocking most of the rifles barrel tend to touch the wooden stock this will spoil your bluing so look for that (not a big issue still better to check for it)
> Then the main factor comes into its ACCURACY & CONSISTENCY, Try to shoot some shots (3 or 5) out of the rifle.
Usually .177 will be so accurate. even if your not hitting the bulls-eye look aim for the same place every time, all the shot must land close to each other. If they are close enough then the rifle can be zeroed to get the shot back on bulls eye
If you are an average shooter and if the shots are scattered more than 1& 1/2 at 10 mtrs better to go for another rifle. because .177 at 10mtrs will give out hole in hole shots normally.
> Then look for any cracks on the stock of the rifle (Stock finish / quality), specially on the grip area and on the bottom of the rifle near the cocking slot because these are the areas where the stock will get cracks easily

Believe you instincts (fingers crossed), some rifle may make you feel that this is the rifle made for your choice may be But I normally do look after these all these while buying a rifle.
if anything is said wrong pardon my pathetic knowledge on rifles.

regards

[cchadwickk]

That's just what I wanted to know, thanks. Will check them out today.

[bennedose]

Check that the rear sight screws allow full moverment right and left and up and down.
Check for barrel elevation or droop
Check that the foresight is not cockeyed/bent
Check that the rifle cocks and locks properly. Don't dry fire - release the cocked barrel safely. Do this several times and you will get an idea of how tight or light the trigger is.
Check for crack in the wooden stock
Check for spots of rust

[Basu]

To add onto that,
have a look at the bore against light so as to understand absense of any rust or deformity.
Check with the barrel play in cocking position by pushing it left and right .
It should not have any play at hinge bolt area.
When I bought my National-25 , the gun had same problem.
I took the barrel out from receiver and clamped receiver H area and a very light press was given.Since then it was perfectly alright.Barrel play was totally gone.

Basu