I Just Gotta Ask, How Many of You Guys Are Still Shooting and Enjoying Springers?

If this has been asked lately, I haven't seen the post.  I DO know that PCP prices are getting lower and lower, and that includes some rifles of good quality.  As far as the availability of an air supply that used to be centered around then fairly-expensive compressors or maybe knowing someone at a local fire department, etc, it appears a lot more shooters are OK with starting out with a hand pump--and the price of those is also reasonable.

Last but not least, most of the springer accuracy issues become moot once you switch to shooting a very-low-to-no recoil PCP.  In fact, in that regard, I recently had a phone conversation with a previously very-faithful springer shooter who's been reading and posting on the Old Yellow forum for many years, and he said he was finally done with springers, period.  He said he was tired of getting his backside kicked at his local field target competitions, seeing all the PCP shooters win over and over, and he was getting a PCP and putting away (or selling?) his spring guns once and for all.

With that said and acknowledged, my own opinion hasn't really changed.  I've shot PCPs and I like them.  I see the appeal.  But, as I've posted, if PCP rifles were free, I'd still own and shoot at least one springer.  I just like them--some of that being about the technology itself, while some is about being challenged and rewarded in regard to good shooting technique--and I'll leave it at that.

I want to add two disclaimers.  1. I'm 62 years old and my strength and health are still good.  I have no issues with the physical part of springer use.  But, if my ability to cock and shoot a springer ever diminish, I'll immediately hop aboard the PCP boat big time and never look back, so I can still shoot an air gun.  As for the present, though, I don't own one and don't plan to purchase one just yet.  2. I have great respect for and thoroughly support you PCP owners who are good marksmen and who are having a good time with your stored-air arms.  In other words, I don't intend this post to be seen as a Ford vs. Chevy thing (oh please I don't mean that!).  Because, when you look at the bottom line, this whole thing IS  about having some good shooting fun, isn't it??

Anyone want to comment on a tired old topic--lol?  Thanks.  (And, by "Guys", I do mean both Guys and Gals).

Still shoot my FWB 124d on a weekly basis. For S&G I bring the Rws 54 .22  out and shoot soda cans at 100 yds. Love both of mine and have 2 pcp's also.

  Got my first air gun a little over two years ago. Diana 34 Classic .22  I shoot just about every single day. I've been so so so close to getting an FX Streamline for months now but every time I'm about to do so, I talk myself out of it. I have so much fun with the Diana. I shoot very accurately with it and it's easy to service. I've replaced the piston spring twice, replaced a bad piston seal, torn it down several times for clean and re-lube. The sear spring in the trigger unit just broke 3 days ago so I'm waiting for the new spring to arrive as that's an easy fix as well. Maybe this fall I'll jump into the PCP world, maybe not. I'm coming up on 62 myself but I'm in great shape and have no problem cocking and carrying around this heavy gun. I use it for target shooting, plinking and keeping the squirrel population in check around our 2 acres of woods. No problem taking squirrels up to 50 yards with it.

That piston replacement thing you mention: You're talking about the big coiled mainspring inside the receiver tube, right?  Are you replacing a broken one with yet another factory spring?  If so, that could be a big part of your problem.  The factory spring in that rifle has sometimes been known to break far-too-soon.  Unless you're abusing it by adding excess lube down the transfer port and thus into the compression chamber which can cause a lube detonation (you'll hear a 'Bang'! when you pull the trigger to tell you that's what happened), you really shouldn't have to put up with so many spring breakages.

With a few quick clicks of the mouse, you can buy a replacement spring right now that's made of much better metal for only $20 plus shipping (and shipping is quite cheap).  The velocity with that new spring will be the same or maybe even a little better, and the spring is a straight drop-in replacement for the factory spring--no extra work or fitting required.  Now, I do suggest you smooth the ends of a new spring before you install it, like with a Dremel tool and a sanding wheel.  But, that's  for mechanical reasons, it has nothing to do with which spring you're using.  It's more about getting rid of unwanted spring torque that sometimes arises when using any coiled mainspring with unpolished ends.

Here's the link to the $20 upgraded spring:

http://www.airrifleheadquarters.com/catalog/item/251488/10099208.htm

And, BTW, thanks for your reply!

Shot a lot of PCP's when I was living at near 10,000 FASL.

Now I shoot mostly springers and love it.

At 62 I have no health issues and enjoy the challenges that having a tool with "soul" carries with it.

😉

Keep well and shoot straight!

HM

At 50 years old and a few "health issues"  I shoot both , however, I lean towards the HPA usually. For me it comes down to time. I know the "Darkside" as it is often called seemingly sucked me in with a Marauder about 5+ years back but before that first rifle I was a springer and when the temps were right a co2 shooter. I have a few pumpers as well and haven't shot them much lately.

I live in the woods and have the perfect shooting place, but for me, the commodity that is most precious is time. I might get a few hours on the weekend to shoot. So I usually fill up a HPA rifle and start punching paper or knocking down FTs on the lanes in my backyard. 

I jst posted a thread to help me decide if I should sell a TX200 in .22 that I bought new or keep it and tune it up etc. I have owned about 8 TX200's and several B40s over the years. My .22 was a new purchase made possible by selling off little used guns that  included a springer break barrel Daisy Powerline. Overpowered and over sprung (same thing?) it was a beast in .177. That was my first adult airgun back about 15 years ago and I used to be pretty good at shooting that thing. 

Obviously if time is my biggest challenge than it just comes down to would I rather keep up shooting skills in both the HPA and springers or just shoot the HPAs and get in more shots as the daylight fleets.....

I shot the TX200 in .22 last weekend about 15 rounds. It is bone stock and has less than 100 rounds total through it. A harsh shooting rifle compared to the tuned TX200 MKII in .177 that has a 12 fpe kit in it. I took it out next and those next 15 shots were a night and day difference. But I wrapped up the session with the RAW .25 for some target practice. 

I decided to keep the TX200 in .22 and will get it tuned by a gunsmith I know and trust. I am looking forward to keeping it and shooting both springers and HPA!

~GOD BLESS~

john

Count me in that group, Ed. I have about a dozen air rifles and all but 3 are springers. The 3 that aren't include 1 SSP and 2 MSPs. No CO2 or PCP for me.

I like springers for a couple of reasons. One is when I shoot I like to shoot, not pump, count shots, or chase down leaks, lol. The other is that springers have a "personality" to them and each one is different.

And BTW. I agree with the advice you gave above to Outdoorman on the aftermarket replacement spring. That's a cheap upgrade that's much better than the factory spring. But you can extend the life of a factory spring a little by simply polishing the ends and adding a washer to the piston for it to rotate on. A little moly paste on the spring ends helps, too. And as you mentioned, the same should be done with an aftermarket spring as well.

But if he wants to spend a little more JM has 2 kits for the 34, too. The full power GRT kit and the lower power GSX-OS kit. I have the GRT in my 34 Pro Compact right now and it's a big difference over the factory internals. Very nice shot cycle, just a quick, solid, thump. But I think it's probably better suited to the .22 caliber guns than the .177 like my 34PC. I also have the GSX-OS kit which I plan on putting in my 34 sometime in the future. From what others have said about it I think it will be a nice shooting kit that's easier to cock than the GRT.  

So anyway, just give me a springer and some pellets and I'm a happy camper. ?

It's a skill....and if you neglect your springer skills, they get rusty. It's no where as easy shooti8ng a recoiling springer than a "recoiless" (although not in the Newetonian sense) co2/PCP/MSP/SSP.

I do shoot springers, but I've laid off them for many months due rto other projects and a limited amount of shooting-time.

I intend to correct that inattention shorty...the longer your lay-odd springersa, the worse you'll do.

So right now, I'd be hard pressed to keep 5X5 shot 20 yaqrds groups well inswide 1/2" (in the "5's" fore an average) after once-knowing and laying off for a long time. 

BET that inside of 2-3 days confirmed practice, I'll re-remember the needs of the springers at hand and be under 1/3" (and likely in the high 2"s) as an average.

Lets find out ...I've negelcted the springers for far too long...(but I only have a couple of days to get back into the springer groove).

Can I getto a reasonable level in just a couple of days?

So maybe the scant number of answers posted so far is an answer of sorts in itself?   ?   At least a few people are still out there shooting these ungainly beasts.  I'd be one of them.

Been away from this forum for sometime but heve recently regained my interest in shooting. When I was a more active shooter 6-7 yrs ago I had PCP's and springers. Started with springers R-7 & R-9' TX200' , HW's Diana's. etc. I became curious about PCP's and bought a few. Admittedly the PCP's are easier to shoot and more accurate. I didn't like the extra equipment that went along with owning one. Air tanks, pumps, fittings etc. I sold most of my PCP's and equipment but kept most of my springers. Do regret selling  the AAS400 FAC  that shot dime size groups at 50yds. I guess the simplicity of the springers had an appeal for me and that prevails. However, would you believe I am getting curious again, dang, May get back in the PCP realm again.

Grab and go kind of guy so mostly springers. As for low # of responses, this forum is on life support. Off topic section is dead. Remember the old Yellow and the YFOT? Those days are gone.

Bill, thanks for your insight on the lack of traffic here on our new forum.  I really had no idea that it was down by such a large amount. 

Did people have problems making the new address and sign-in transition or what?  And, yes I sure do remember the old Yellow.  If a bunch of the good old Yellow Forum boys went somewhere else instead, I don't know where that is.  If they didn't get a log-in ID to post, maybe they're still reading (aka lurking), providing that you can do that.  The lurking thing doesn't bother me any if it doesn't bother them.  I just hope they didn't feel chased away.

At 78, I still get great pleasure out of shooting my FWB 300S despite the fact that I have a number of top end PCPs.

I am still a springer guy through and through. Not sure I can add much to the many excellent reasons already given, but I do collect mostly older and lower-powered ones which IMHO adds to the experience, adding fine workmanship and finish and good old-fashioned beauty to the mix.

I think the most common mistake with springers is to go for too much power, which makes ‘em bigger, heavier, harder to cock, and less pleasant to fire. Above 12 FPE is where pneumatics shine.

Got rid of my PCP and only shoot my FWB 300 collection , love the FWB 65 also. A lot headaches to deal with. 

Only 1 Meisterkugeln left in the tin that I've only used on critter duty, always with the R9.

Mostly squirrels, 8-12 possums,  a dozen crows,  maybe some other stuff. 499 down..... maybe closer to 450 after follow up shots....

The crows came to curse me for shooting their (egg thieving) buddy Bob a couple weeks ago, then became distracted mobbing a Barred Owl in my towering Queen Palm.

I got 4 of the buggers for sure, 2 in the head went down like a brick, 2 more calling MAYDAY, a couple more flew off and only possums can count them.

Again, R9,  1970's MIJ  Tasco 3-9x40 (square view) and 8.2 Meisterkugelns, about 40 yards-ish.

Confidence in your gun is important, and consistently knocking squirrels out of the tree at 50-65yds has built more than confidence.

Thank goodness I had the reloader's sense to buy an extra tin or 2 before the dies changed or some crap... hopefully identical pellets in the next tin...

Now... let me go work something up for the OT section..... dead indeed....

I shoot springers, CO2, and HPA.  I like the slower pace of shooting a springer and I like the challenge of shooting a springer well.  But, I have two bad shoulders and find myself shooting PCPs most of the time.  You have to find new things to challenge you when you switch from springers to PCPs.  The same targets at the same distances you shot with springers are too easy with PCPs.  If you don't have a large yard, you have to go to tiny targets or find another place to shoot.

David Enoch

The first and last time I took a PCP to go shoot with a buddy the pump shat an o-ring on the second stroke.

Wish I'd taken a springer on that trip.

How's this for a challenge? Find anything anywhere near Istokpoga Florida on a weekend.

Sorry to hear about your shoulders Dave, I'd shoot PCP too... on a tether LOL.

Hey, count me in!  I love shooting airguns...  spring, CO2, pump, PCP.....  all of them.  I just shot my FX Streamline and my HW97K just yesterday.  I plan on shooting something airpowered tonight after I get home.  

I never understood the animosity between power plants.  I started in springers and still shoot them regularly even though I have 3 PCPs, one of them being an exceptional shooter.  Each one provides its own challenge and pleasure.  I still hand pump the PCPs too so that isn’t a deterrent.  

So yes, I still shoot and enjoy shooting springers.  I hope to be able to enjoy them as long as I am around on this earth.  

Posted by: Gratewhitehuntr

The first and last time I took a PCP to go shoot with a buddy the pump shat an o-ring on the second stroke.

Wish I'd taken a springer on that trip

Funny you should say that.  Even if PCP's are someone's first and foremost love, I've often suggested to air gun shooters and tuning customers that they keep at least one springer leaning in the corner of their closet just in case their air supply gives out.

Power of springer paper practice with concentration.

Not just shooting a whole bunch (that's plinking, where the "oops" shots are just forgotten) but shooting to the limit of your focused concentration.  And paper,. berceuse it doesn't ignore/forget the way-off shots.

Limit will creep up on you unannounced while you are shooting. We, as humanas, tend to get sloppy with repetitive actions...and springers are always waiting to take advantage of that.

There are only so many shots a person's consentration can be focuesed on with laster0like clearity. You'll THINK you are long afeter you've passed tyhat point.

Recoiling sp[ringers (to seperate them from the "recoiless" springers)s seen to be 2-3X more taxing on consentration than "recoiless" air rifles (and I use "recoiless" in a non-Newtonian sense).

For me, in my current state of springer-readiness,that's about 235-30 shots before I start to "lag".

So becasue of this post:

And becasue I've laid off springer for far too long to keep up my skill set, I p[icked out a pretty palin springer to practicve with.

Dusted it off, cleaned the scope, fired it 3-4 times into the dirt at my feed to kind of warm it up, asnd proceeded directly to 20 yard tagets. Same range, same back stop, same shooting positiuon, same pellets out of the same tin.

First efforts were not so good. Had forgotten the skill-set needed for springer shooting.

https://flic.kr/p/LhUEbA

Beteeen the above and the below, were 3 practice seesions, limited to 25 shots per session. Were nmot Earth shatterting advances,but each set of 25 shots did average smaller.

Only 75 shots into "consentated practice" and there is a firm result.
(OK...a "cheat"....I keep a ring binder (yep...handwritten notations in a world of coumkputer technology...reviewing it gavce me MAJOR hints about how that rifle wanted to be held.)

https://flic.kr/p/27khig9

Now one way to look at is is the number of "Oh, Poo!" shots. Those are really the outer limits of a group, and early on and a lot fewer of them later one. Acutually, even the first "clusters" would have been good enough if I had controled the "Oh, Poo!!" shots to land within them.

Yeah..the "core" group did get better...but much more importantly, the "opps" shots got fewer and not as far out of the "core".

So to sum it up:

1. The rifle stayed the same, the range stayed the same, the pellets stayed the same.
2. No mechaincal difference from first to last.
3. Biologics must have adapted to the needs of the rifle.
4. Still not "there" yet with this spinger, as there is still a 1 in 25 chance of an "oh poo" shot.
5. But I've run out of shooting time. Recovered a reasonable amount of ability with springers (or at least that springer) and likely could trim the gourp average by 25% with enough pracitce..

...I just elect not to spend that effort.

Posted by: Gratewhitehuntr

The first and last time I took a PCP to go shoot with a buddy the pump shat an o-ring on the second stroke.

Wish I'd taken a springer on that trip.

How's this for a challenge? Find anything anywhere near Istokpoga Florida on a weekend.

Try Arcadia Gun Club on the 2nd Sunday of the month. Desoto Airgunners have a match there most 2nd Sundays. For something even closer, go fishing. That 12 hours of Sebring is real close as well, but it's only once a year.

Sorry to hear about your shoulders Dave, I'd shoot PCP too... on a tether LOL.

Hi Ed - I'm not sure if you meant to include pistols (that's all I shoot), but I enjoy my springer pistols very much:

[img] [/img]

They are soft-tuned and heavy. Easy to cock and shoot. Not particularly hold or rest sensitive. I don't know what's not to like about them but everyone is a little different. Especially me I guess... have 35 or so pistols in every platform except PCP. I don't have a need for PCP but I can see how it fills the need for others.

There's not as much interest in pistols (esp. non-PCP) so that's one reason I've been inactive on the forum.

Wyo

My springers are still some of the most accurate guns I own.  I won't list them here as it clogs up searches, but I still have 9 springers.  Only half of them get shot regularly, but they all get shot in a year.  That is on top of half a dozen PCPs and dozens of non-airguns.

The beauty of simplicity, a springer. I have about 70Air rifles, all springer except one gas ram .177 Hatsan Proxima and when the warranty runs out or sooner it's getting sprung. Don't like the firing cycle or sound of gas ram. I had one pcp. I found the experience of shooting them boring and the extra trouble and equipment a pain in the hind end. I do, though, have a AR2078 .177 co2 coming to day. We'll see if it's a keeper.

Nice topic ! It's about time to get this forum going like it was before, I miss the socializing and great knowledge of the members. And yes springers are fun and I try to get out every chance I get. The weather in south central Wisconsin is just plain rotten any more making difficult to do any thing outdoors. Well any how can any one share some thoughts on the beeman R11, thinking I need one.

 

Posted by: FPoole

Try Arcadia Gun Club on the 2nd Sunday of the month. Desoto Airgunners have a match there most 2nd Sundays. For something even closer, go fishing. That 12 hours of Sebring is real close as well, but it's only once a year.

Thanks.

I'll let him know, the guy used to shoot rifle club in high school, old and retired now and just wanted SOMETHING to shoot.

Maybe I can even attend.

Incidentally, even my Hatsan 135 only sounds like a finish nailer with a decent LDC.

I don't know why people blame a bad tune for pressure exiting the muzzle?

WyoMan, Yes pistols count too, because just like with the rifles, you have your choice of power plants.  Thanks for weighing in.

Posted by: bf1956

Well any how can any one share some thoughts on the beeman R11, thinking I need one.

I tuned an R11 once, and with the adjustments you can make to the stock, I found it to be the most comfortable air rifle stock I've ever held in my hands.  The heightened gripping power provided by those 'extras' at the fore stock helps, too.

The accuracy was extremely-good, no doubt due to the near motionless shot cycle which I attributed to the extra weight of the bull barrel.  I don't think that's a coincidence--some of the most accurate firearm target rifles also come with the same kind of heavy barrel.  (There's another way I can say this): You know how everyone always talks about how great the accuracy is with a springer as long as you limit the power to 12 FPE?  Well, due to the extra weight of the barrel, together with the weight of a scope, add 2-3 FPE to that number and it's fair to say that you'll get as calm a shot cycle from the R11 at 14-15 FPE as you would with its lighter cousin the R9/HW95 at 12 FPE.

Oh, yes, and it has that wonderful Rekord 2-stage trigger unit, but you may already be familiar with that feature since it's not unique to the R11.

That's the best I can do.  If you don't want one now, it's obvious you're beyond being enabled.   ? 

Have been fortunate to have and hold, shoot and wipe down R1, & R7 , R8 ,R9 , 77 . Ilike the R9 .2o a lot and Ido have other fine air rfles and pistls. Oh well , any how thanks Ek. Spelling Bee any one ?

Springers definitely make you a better shooter, as you are forced to follow through with the shot longer.  A great companion to shooting better is the book entitled "the ways of the rifle".  Quickly looked it up, and it seems they have made new editions.  You won't regret purchasing this book to improve your game.  It is exhaustive:

http://www.championshooters.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&view=productdetails&virtuemart_product_id=643&virtuemart_category_id=9&Itemid=111

I try to always read your posts about pistols.  Those P1s area work of art.  Thanks for showing them.

Bob in WV

!Posted by: ribbonstone

Not just shooting a whole bunch (that's plinking, where the "oops" shots are just forgotten) but shooting to the limit of your focused concentration.  And paper,. berceuse it doesn't ignore/forget the way-off shots.

Reliance on the bench will be your downfall in the field when there is no flat slab to rest, this has been my experience.

 The best bench shooters I've competed against (local champs/ex mil) when taken afield, couldn't hit a really HOT crossing duck to save their nuts. (or that wad of cash, Hulk take your money, losing bets is for losers)

Some people are great at holding still, others like moving targets. 

I find myself in some sort of momentary trance aiming at moving targets, I'm only watching the target and don't even have a sight picture, just a cheek weld. The moment of trigger break is blurry, follow through mostly registers (we got a runner!) but it's not a normal conscious state. Shoot/don't judgement is doable, but I'm otherwise absent.

Either autopilot or OOM (computer slang out-of-memory) as if my brain is  focused on calculations and movements, and there is a temporary suspension of conscious presence.

It feels like a different sport (biathletes  could speak to this) but I'm not so hot off the bench.  Yes, prejudice 😉

Edit, not having medals or trophies makes me a liar, I know, I'll delete the lies...sigh...I don't compete as an adult for various reasons, personal (obsession) and financial. Runaway train... and I don't need medals to know who won.

To rephrase all that crap.... shooting paper targets feels like writing a book report, I would rather be at recess.

I've never owned a pcp, but I've shot a bunch of them, thanks to my shooting buddies.  They can be remarkably accurate and easy to shoot.  But for me, I'd rather be shooting a rimfire.  They just don't FEEL like airguns.  I love my springers.  I also love my few MSPs and SSPs.  There's just something about translating my own human power into shooting that appeals to me.  Kinda like archery, (which I was NEVER any good at.)  I also own a few CO2 rifles, from cheap to 10M match grade.  They feel a little like cheating.  I own a few air pistols, but I'm such a bad handgun shooter that I mostly stick to long guns.

I really like the simplicity and elegance of a finely crafted spring rifle.  One of my all-time favorites is the Belgian made Hyscore 801.  They have three ingredients: hide, steel and timber.  One would be hard pressed to make an airgun with fewer parts.  I don't currently own one, but over the years I've had 4 or 5.  Every single one I've ever seen had a slightly different checkering pattern.  These were obviously hand-made guns.  I currently have a pre-war Haenel III that fills that niche.

If it ever came down to just one gun, it would be hands down my beloved Diana 34N. 

I just sold a NIB springer I'd bought to tune and resell (but still NIB), and then NEARLY clicking BIN on a $80 rifle to practice machining on.

What don't I like about springers, and why would I hesitate to tell Joe Newb to get one from Walmrat?

The initial tuning, debugging, and pellet selection phase of a new springer purchase is a major turnoff, even with a machine shop. Some might even call it a mofo (think I read it in a review)

I tell anyone interested in airguns to come here, and

"Buy a USED gun that is know to shoot well, and ask the seller to throw in a tin of it's favorite pellets, just so you know what GOOD looks like."

Posted by: JiminPGH

I'd rather be shooting a rimfire. 

Exactly what someone said last time I mentioned airguns.

Posted by: JiminPGH

They just don't FEEL like airguns. 

I do like the jump, my R9 is still untuned and honks like a goose which is just all the more entertaining, and the Red Ryder goes right hard against my cheekbone where the red spot is going to be.

EDIT ... something with an orange stock is getting butchered instead, and it'll make some room in the lockbox.

Besides sending starlings to the great hereafter, I shoot outdoor FT and occasionally BR with a 300S and tricked out 124D for S&G.  Compete against a broad range of PCP's, including Thomas and RAW wielded by very capable hands.  Do I win?  No but I do better than some and the smack talk lobbed both ways makes us all smile, and that's a win!

Always get the feeling that shooting springers is NOT so much about making the good shots  a little better, but about limiting the bad ones.  

Always seem to have several nice shots...then one where I "oops" it, and it lands who-knows-where.

At least with paper, you DO know where.

I compete with PCPs in field target, but when I shoot just for the sake of shooting I shoot my springers. I have a collection of HW 30's and Beeman R7's and they are just fun to shoot.

Just picked up that laminate HW30s to compliment my Beech one with fiber optic sights. Pretty happy with both! Perfect for my 50 yard home range. 

Only compliant is the skeeters! 

JiminPGH, I can't fault you for saying that 34N would be the one you'd keep. Especially if it's still wearing that purty, original style, wood stock! ? If it were mine I'd most likely feel the same way. I've seen a lot of pics of a lot of 34s and your 34N is the nicest looking one I've seen. That nickel action combined with that wood stock was a match made in springer heaven. ? 

Frankly, that's a nice pair of HW30s you've got there! What's the barrel length on the laminate version? It looks like a nice handy little carbine.

Posted by: Jim in SWMO

JiminPGH, I can't fault you for saying that 34N would be the one you'd keep. Especially if it's still wearing that purty, original style, wood stock! ? If it were mine I'd most likely feel the same way. I've seen a lot of pics of a lot of 34s and your 34N is the nicest looking one I've seen. That nickel action combined with that wood stock was a match made in springer heaven. ? 

Frankly, that's a nice pair of HW30s you've got there! What's the barrel length on the laminate version? It looks like a nice handy little carbine.

 

Thank you, 13" to 16" approximately

Posted by: ribbonstone

Always get the feeling that shooting springers is NOT so much about making the good shots  a little better, but about limiting the bad ones.  

Always seem to have several nice shots...then one where I "oops" it, and it lands who-knows-where.

You remind me of one of my all-time favorite air gun shooting jokes.  I first read it on the old Yellow Forum many years ago:

"No matter how hard I try, every time I shoot a 5-shoot group I get one flier?  Any suggestions?"

"Only shoot 4".

My memory is nudging me that when I read it, it could have come from LD but I'm not sure.

Hi Ed !

That's a good shooting "joke" !

I need to shoot more !

I've always loved springers !

Only have one PCP... a Career 707 carbine... fun to shoot but the pumping can be tedious, and no way would I invest in any other gear to charge it.

Love my Hy-Score 810M, my R1-TK .22, FWB124D, R9TK, HW95TK... and some others I have neglected to shoot for awhile !

I'll be 64 in August... hope I can keep shooting and doing my other hobbies for many more years !

Got several, or more PCP's, mainly as a progression of my lifelong affair with airguns. But in the end springers are my first love, always will be. Just bought a Diana Panther 21 that is one umpteenth the cost of some of my other stuff (PCP's). but I absolutely love it. Keeps me rooted and also makes me realize that we should never try to compete with firearms. Keep airguns where they are. We have an "oasis" in the world of guns, and springers are at the centre of it, and probably always will be .. hopefully.

RG

Posted by: airmojo

Hi Ed !

Only have one PCP... a Career 707 carbine... fun to shoot but the pumping can be tedious, and no way would I invest in any other gear to charge it.

Love my Hy-Score 810M, my R1-TK .22, FWB124D, R9TK, HW95TK... and some others I have neglected to shoot for awhile !

I'll be 64 in August... hope I can keep shooting and doing my other hobbies for many more years !

Hi Ken, I take your ownership recommendation of a PCP very highly.  And, if I'm not mistaken, I know a little something about that Hyscore rifle.   Did your wife finally let you start shooting it?--yes, THAT Hyscore rifle. 

Oh, yeah, I'll be 63 in September.  I started a little exercise regimen lately to keep from keeling over before my time, hopefully.

Anyway, I'm back at the tuning thing again, including on several of the nicer HW/Beeman models.  Let me know if I can ever be of service, and shoot straight. 

Posted by: airmojo

Love my Hy-Score 810M, my R1-TK .22, FWB124D, R9TK, HW95TK... and some others I have neglected to shoot for awhile !

I'll be 64 in August... hope I can keep shooting and doing my other hobbies for many more years !

I too will be 64 in August, hmmm perhaps this springer lust thing is age-related, LOL...?

I gotta start by saying the 810M—along with any other Diana double-piston springer—is an amazing thing (I have one). This is the gun you should let your PCP-toting buddies try out! Truly recoilless and will make ya question the need for pneumatics for sure.

Threads like this are interesting to read, but ultimately the whole “which is best” debate is really kinda goofy. Every mechanical device has its advantages and disadvantages, and the key is to fit those to your needs and wants. Neither springers nor pneumatics will ever be the “best” for everyone.

Posted by: ekmeister

Hi Ken, I take your ownership recommendation of a PCP very highly.  And, if I'm not mistaken, I know a little something about that Hyscore rifle.   Did your wife finally let you start shooting it?--yes, THAT Hyscore rifle. 

Oh, yeah, I'll be 63 in September.  I started a little exercise regimen lately to keep from keeling over before my time, hopefully.

Anyway, I'm back at the tuning thing again, including on several of the nicer HW/Beeman models.  Let me know if I can ever be of service, and shoot straight. 

No, she hasn't shot it yet... but she is semi-retired now, and I hope to get her outside and do some airgun shooting at some reactive targets... if the deer flies don't scare her off.

I also have my son's R7 that would be just right for her.

So you found your tools, or you had to find replacements ?

I love the "simplicity" of the spring-piston airguns over the PCP's.

I also have a few pneumatic-pump airguns... Blue and Silver Streak Sheridans, that are fun, but not as simple as a single cocking springer !

I have resisted adding any more to my collection, and will just enjoy the ones that I have.

I shoot my springers occasionally. But if I really want to hit what I'm shooting at I shoot a PCP.

Recoilless springers are OK, too, but limited in range.

Posted by: Paul Stakun

At 78, I still get great pleasure out of shooting my FWB 300S despite the fact that I have a number of top end PCPs.

Well, only a youngster here, 71, but I sure had fun shooting yesterday with you and Bill at Freddie's using my HW97K and newly acquired and recently setup "old" Bushnell 4200 Front AO 6-24. I was pretty surprised how repeatable the scope is and how well I actually did with my springer. Like you, shooting my RAW HM1000 is great fun but "sometimes" is boringly accurate. I might even start shooting a few more Field Target matches with my 97K, because it was soooo much fun and much more rewarding to see a 55 yard target go down. Just my opinion.

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Apparently, I really am a youngster here at 41, and springers are all I shoot. Maybe it’s the fact that I grew up shooting my Dad’s R1, bought the first year Doc Beeman started selling them. After a 15 year hiatus with nothing other than a barely-used Tempest, I fell back into airguns hard a couple years ago. I think the PCP’s are fascinating, but I still love the simplicity, self sufficiency, and elegance (mechanical and asthetic) of a proper  springer.  Yes, PCP’s can usually shoot farther, harder, and more accurately (at least more easily), but I enjoy the challenge springers provide. And, with my skill level, I need something I can blame for my woeful shooting. Plus, as has been said before, there is something amazing to me about turning 1/2 second’s worth of exertion into a pellet traveling 600 mph. I just think that’s really cool. 

For those who prefer PCPs: hey, that’s cool too - whatever does it for you!! But I’m sticking to my “old-fashioned” mechanical wonders. Their purpose is to provide me with enjoyment, and they provide more of it than any of the other “toys” out there. This thread illustrates that many others feel the same way! 

As to the forum activity being less...ah, robust than the old yellow- I agree that it feels that way, but don’t know if that’s actually true...and have no insight into why that is if it is true. Hopefully, that doesn’t continue to be the case.

Regardless, thank you, Ed, for starting a thread that got us talking!!

Posted by: MDriskill

Threads like this are interesting to read, but ultimately the whole “which is best” debate is really kinda goofy. Every mechanical device has its advantages and disadvantages, and the key is to fit those to your needs and wants. Neither springers nor pneumatics will ever be the “best” for everyone.

I'm with you.  I hope you're not directing that to me, or the question with which I started this thread.  I said in my original post that I didn't want this to turn into a Ford vs. Chevy thing, and I still don't.  My intent wasn't to ask which type of air gun anyone thought was best, but, instead, to find out who was still shooting springers here in 2018.  Fortunately, it seems most people understood my intent and have answered accordingly--with lots of nice answers, too.  And, by this comment, I don't mean to 'pick on you' in any way for your comment above, either.  This is merely a clarification of where I was coming from.  I mean, 'Viva la air gun', right?

I stand by my comment that I definitely see the allure of modern PCP's, no question (verses the somewhat-cumbersome and quirky design of the Lewis and Clark version of centuries past, that is).  In fact, if the modern PCP hadn't hadn't been invented, many air gun shooters would have no acceptable outlet for their sport/hobby, and that's no good.

(Lewis and Clark version of the PCP by Girandoni  circa 1795, from its entry on Wikipedia):

I am a springer guy, totally  addicted to the natural  mechanical feel and sounds of the wood  and steel rifles . It's a obsession and the projects  that come along with that obsession helps complete  the circle

while its  nice having refined weihrauch springers I enjoy  the non weihrauch magnums, shooting cans and stuff  feels good to me, it's easy too.

The catch is  I dont get a chance to shoot much due to working five days a week and the many airgun projects and  shop  work I  get myself into but  that is  just as rewarding and  apart  of the sport one  has to accept

Posted by: airmojo

Posted by: ekmeister

...Hyscore rifle.   Did your wife finally let you start shooting it?--yes, THAT Hyscore rifle. 

No, she hasn't shot it yet... but she is semi-retired now, and I hope to get her outside and do some airgun shooting at some reactive targets... if the deer flies don't scare her off.

So you found your tools, or you had to find replacements ?

A decrepit brain error about the wife--someone once told me their wife tried their spring gun after a tuning job and took it away from them (so, I'm now pondering: just whose wife was that??).

Anyway, yes I completely re-outfitted myself in tools not all that long ago, and  I've got what I need again.

I see some o them Chebby guys been working out eh?

Good idea to be in shape if ya know you're gonna have to WALK! 😉

I'm 37, had a 760 PumpMaster as a kid. 

Much of the springer appeal lies in the 1-pump1-shot which is a much more balanced ratio than my average MSP 20-pumps-1-shot.

Paper/bench is super useful for figuring out what the heck is going on with a gun.

Ed... took my Hy-Score 810M air rifle out today... I had to shoot it.

Took it outside to get some decent photos of it too.

I think I may let my wife shoot it, but once she feels how heavy it is, I will probably just let her shoot it from a rest.

My son's R7 will probably be best for her.

I really love this rifle, and so glad that you got it up and running again.

The best pawn shop fine I ever had !

Posted by: airmojo

Ed... took my Hy-Score 810M air rifle out today... I had to shoot it.

Took it outside to get some decent photos of it too.

I think I may let my wife shoot it, but once she feels how heavy it is, I will probably just let her shoot it from a rest.

My son's R7 will probably be best for her.

I really love this rifle, and so glad that you got it up and running again.

The best pawn shop fine I ever had !

Man, I totally-loved shooting that rifle for its mandatory indoor testing (and a little fun) while it was here.  The rebuilding process about wore me out though.  You've got greasy pistons and springs hanging out everywhere, like the legs of an octopus, while you're reassembling it.

Ed... I knew that I didn't want to even attempt taking it apart, although I have done a few basic air rifles with JM parts !

In a way, I lovee recoiless springers....RWS75/ FWB 150/FWB 300....they show what a springer COULD do if the twitch/vibration/jump was elminated. Noting wrong with springer barrels, or the consistency of shot-to-shot varation, they just tend to "twitch"during the shot.

⦁ Do remeber my FWB 65 pistol did come with a stamped steel piece....but installing it, would negate the recoiless slide action. Same pisto, same barrel, same pellets....but in recoil mode,was about 1/2 as accurate (not becasuer it was MECANICALLY less accurate, but it was BIOLOGIC less accurate).

I love my springers. Grew up with them and prefer them though I won't rule out a PCP in the future. Right now I have an R9 and an R1 but the R1 one needs some professional attention and I'm looking for someone to work on it. If anyone knows of a good and reliable smith I'd love to hear of them. 

The R1 barrel angle is way off to the right and the rifle is down on power according to my chronograph ear. I'd like to have it gone through and repaired by a pro.