Hi,
I'm new to airguns and have wanted an air rifle for a long time. I have decided to buy one in the next couple of weeks and need some help.
A friend talked me out of .177 and into .22 He had a ben sher. 392 for many years. I have been looking at the r9 , rws 350, rws 46, and rws 48 and b20/b21.
r9 is only in .20 so that is out. I am not sure about the chinese guns and figure by the time I spent the extra money to change the spring and seals, I might as well buy something nice for a bit more.
I have read alot of good things about rws.
I will be using it for plinking in the cellar alot since I love to shoot, and also for tree rats up to but prob no more than 30 yds.
Are the side or underlever guns harder to load than break barrel? which is the best for my purpose that is not to loud? The more I read online the more I get confused.
Thank you,
george

the R-9 is your best bet. Chinese guns are as you say a gamble. High power guns such as the RWS 48 and RWS 350 are ok for hunting but not really a good idea for indoor basement plinking. Nothing wrong with .177, lots of guys shoot squirrels with .177 guns, including the R-9 and every other model. .177 pellets are a lot cheaper if you do mostly paper plinking too. .20 cal is ok too, Sheridan guns have been using it for near 50 years, and more game has been taken over the years with .20 Blue Streak and Silver Streak air rifles than just about any other. Pellets selection is not as good, but theres enough out there so that you should be able to find something that fits your needs. You can get the R-9 in .22 if you really want one. Its the HW 85, and you can order it from a couple places in Canada or direct from the factory. The R-1 (HW80) is an excellent air rifle too. Its a bit more but worth it.

.177 is a very practical caliber for the jobs you want the rifle to do. A Diana(RWS)34 or an R9 would be my first choice. Good luck,

Mulby

I have had a RWS 34 .177 for many years, lots of power and fun to shoot. I recently purchased a RWS 54 in .22cal and it does not even compare to the 34. It is very powerfull, accurate and a real smooth shooter as it is recoilless. But, it is one heavy beast of a gun and a little more pricey than the break barrels. It is nice and easy to load, and trigger is not to bad either. Both of these guns the 34 and the 54 are a little heavy for basement shooting unless you have a real heavy duty trap set up and you'll also need a strong arm to crank em up. I'll shoot easily 2-300 one a weekend and my arm never gets tired, but for indoor shooting it will seem tiresom. If you like to hunt or like long range plinking it is a good choice. I would also suggest the .22cal as it has a much heavier wallop when it hits the target. For hunting I use the .22 mod 54 and it takes out the largest of pellet gun sized critters Rabbits, etc. with a heck of a sudden whack and they are done. The .177 mod 34 is a flat shooter and will take the same game, but I have found it does not strike and take out the game as hard an fast as the .22 and with all the same head shots too. I am sure there are many other good rifles to chose from but these are the only 2 I have ever owned and can report on, so good luck.

LT

??!!

Thanks everyone,
I would rather have it a little overpowered than under. I want to take out the squirrels as easy as possible. I have a huge cellar and have 55 feet of clear path to shoot in. I saved up a bunch of telephone books for backdrop.
I think the .22 would be the best. Is the break barrel easier to cock and reload than the side levers?

Yes because ingot are longer.

I was reading reviews in straightshooters,and they seem to like the 350 as an all around target, hunting,plinking type gun?
It gets confusing reading all the different reviews.
The 34 would be a better choice than the 46 then. Am I correct in that the 46 would be better for target and the 34 is better all around? The hw 85 is too costly for me, I had hoped to keep it around 300 or below.

D 350 are very good gun but 100%
they are not for plinking, specialy on
short distance, they are too strong,
they are too too heavy, and they are too too long.
Balance is not too good, but they are nice made,
nice look, accuracy is ok with RIGHT pellets and
they have incredible strong impact for springer.
I have one few years.

If you not sure 34 or 46 I think 46 are better choice
for everything.

http://free-sb.t-com.hr/mkeke

Maybe help you in choice!