Airgun Rifle Advice

I am new to Airguns and I was looking for a break-barrel 0.177 rifle that is mid grade.  I would like something dependable and reliable with a metal trigger.  I have a Hawke Sport optics Airmax EV rifle scope 2-7x32 AO 1 inch tube that I will use with the rifle.  I had a Gamo Swarm 10x 3i that I sent back because of its plastic trigger and components were not to my taste.  I have been thinking about a Beeman R7 or Diana 34 EMS with trying to keep my price point around $400.  Can you please offer any guidance or recommendations.  I don’t know if these are considered quality middle of the road Airguns or if I need to increase my price.  I also want to stick to break barrel rifles, springers or anything I can pump up like a Benjamin 397 S.  I just would have to order the gun and scope rings.  Thank you for your help.  Backyard plinking and rodents around the house.

Ryan

Beeman R7, HW 30 would be my choice.  Currently plenty of aftermarket parts available if needed, and fairly simple to tink on.

Jason

@rmbailey 

Welcome to the forum. For backyard plinking and rodents around the yard the R7 would be hard to beat. It has the power to take squirrel size critters (within reasonable range, say out to 20yds) but is so easy to cock that you could shoot it all afternoon and not get wore out. The R7 has the accuracy needed for good clean shots and it's shot cycle is so well mannered and the Rekord trigger so nice that it's easy to get the accuracy that it's capable of. And your Hawke 2-7x32 would be a great fit on one, too.

The R7 is the same gun as the HW30S but with a different stock. I liked my HW30S so much that I ended up with an R7 as well. I have a Williams peep sight on my 30S and an older 2-7x32 BSA Essential on the R7.

Ditto what Jim said.

@jim_in_swmo 

Thank you so much.  I was just looking at Airguns of Arizona at the HW30S it is not in stock and would be a preorder.  That settles it for me.  R7 or HW 30S.  

Good choice! I have an older R7 and it will never leave my stable. It is everything Jim said. My wife and daughter simple enjoy shooting it also.

Regards

Ray

@ray_in_wi Thank you Ray for the input.

If you want something less expensive than a German gun. Crosman Optimus, $130+/-. Wood stock open sights, 11mm scope grooves, comes with a scope and rings. Easy to modify the trigger with a GRT trigger $35 or the RC roller bearing mod $4. Both 5 or 10 minuite job on utube. Easy to do One pound or less trigger. I have 6 Crosmans, same gun different names, all springers. They all shoot great for me.

Posted by: @tim_ward

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If you want something less expensive than a German gun. Crosman Optimus, $130+/-. Wood stock open sights, 11mm scope grooves, comes with a scope and rings. Easy to modify the trigger with a GRT trigger $35 or the RC roller bearing mod $4. Both 5 or 10 minuite job on utube. Easy to do One pound or less trigger. I have 6 Crosmans, same gun different names, all springers. They all shoot great for me.

+1    

I ended up ordering a Weihrauch HW 30 S and I just have to wait for it to be available.  This was a preorder so at least a couple months.  I am not in a hurry.

@rmbailey 

Congrats! When you get it, don't let it's size fool you. There's a lot to like in that package! The HW30S/R7 is just like the old saying: Good things come in small packages! 😉 

I should give you a heads up, too. Sometimes the factory sets the rivet that holds the two pieces of the cocking lever together far too tight, which makes it want to act like it's one piece and can cause it to gall on the bottom of the spring tube. Don't worry, it's an easy fix. Take the action out of the stock (don't lose the little nut in the back of the trigger unit that holds the rear trigger guard screw) and use a small center punch and tap the rivet from each side just enough to loosen up that joint some. Then add a drop of oil to each side and you should be good to go. Not all of these models need this done and it's not just the HW30S/R7 that is affected by this, either. It can also happen on the HW50S and HW35, which also use 2-piece cocking levers.

Here's a pic with the rivet I'm talking about. This is from my HW50S, but the 30S is the same basic setup.

@jim_in_swmo Awesome.  Thank you for the advice very much.  I will let you know when it comes in.

The R7 and HW30S are exactly the same gun with the exception of minor stock features.  Keep your eye on the various forum classifieds for a used R9 if you want a more full size gun with more power.

If you don't want to wait, and can cancel the backorder, Pyramyd has the R7 in stock for $360. I'm not even hungry and I might bite on that lure.

@rockdoc65 

Plus one for this idea. And having both an HW30S and R7, both running factory internals, I will say that my R7 does put out a bit more power.

@rockdoc65 Thank you for letting me know.  I ordered the composite stock as opposed to the wood stock and this is why I didn’t choose the R7.