OK, I'm gonna sneak in a pretty one for the "Lock & load" Preppers
Mossberg 715T Tactical Semi-Auto Rifles
http://www.cabelas.ca/product/27292/mossberg-715t-tactical-semi-auto-rifles
I have played with this plastic gun and gotta admit, it is more fun to plink with than most other .22's (not counting sidearms of course). Throw a reticle sight on top and it's added height drops the butt into your shoulder properly for those instant fast shots when sighting. When bringing the young kids to the range, this rifle is the one that will instill confidence quickly as many will get 10/10 at 25 yards all day. It is scaled to an M-16 accurately enough that it could be used as a cheaper substitute when performing range drills. It isn't ammo fussy and it has a decent feel when handling it.
A few Suggestions:
- buy with a carry handle is a decent option and $50's cheaper
- camo version is $100's more, paint it yourself (I'll show you how later)
- remove picatiny rails off the sides as there are still plenty left to mount things & use those removed on other guns
- add a cheap $25 pistol grip as kid's will more naturally pull it into their shoulder
- buy some 25 round mags so kids can preload as they wait their turn(the mags are bulky and stupid but look authentic)
Yes, adults will love this gun too!
Caution: When hunting with it, it may make game warden's nervous enough to come in on the draw as the M-16 look makes them iffy...)
JR carbine - the long barrel makes her real ugly, but it's pretty accurate and relatively cheap. Some problems w/ the 9mm w/ FTF though. Light primer strikes due to pin/spring issues - even with the replacement parts.
JR carbine - the long barrel makes her real ugly, but it's pretty accurate and relatively cheap. Some problems w/ the 9mm w/ FTF though. Light primer strikes due to pin/spring issues - even with the replacement parts.
I had to check them out. That looks like a fun gun on the range and I like that it is non restricted(and kinda purdy in a M-16 sorta way). I don't find I could use it for hunting much more than birds though. At $900, I'd opt for the Type 97(cause I'd love to own a bull pup) as the 5.56 NATO could be a deer gun but will likely be near the top of the RCMP's ban list they wish to impose.
I do like the fact that they couldn't rip on you for having unpinned mags over 5 rounds, as they could be for your Glock...as long as you have a registered Glock......
JR carbine - the long barrel makes her real ugly, but it's pretty accurate and relatively cheap. Some problems w/ the 9mm w/ FTF though. Light primer strikes due to pin/spring issues - even with the replacement parts.
I had to check them out. That looks like a fun gun on the range and I like that it is non restricted(and kinda purdy in a M-16 sorta way). I don't find I could use it for hunting much more than birds though. At $900, I'd opt for the Type 97(cause I'd love to own a bull pup) as the 5.56 NATO could be a deer gun but will likely be near the top of the RCMP's ban list they wish to impose.
I do like the fact that they couldn't rip on you for having unpinned mags over 5 rounds, as they could be for your Glock...as long as you have a registered Glock......
I like the Kel-Tec Sub 2000 for the same reason. One of the few rifles you can have 10 rounds in. And the folding bit is cool too; it fits a niche for a concealable rifle.
JR carbine - the long barrel makes her real ugly, but it's pretty accurate and relatively cheap. Some problems w/ the 9mm w/ FTF though. Light primer strikes due to pin/spring issues - even with the replacement parts.
I had to check them out. That looks like a fun gun on the range and I like that it is non restricted(and kinda purdy in a M-16 sorta way). At 6 1/2 lbs, it'd be a lot like packing the SMG around (army days), but even better! I doubt I could use it for hunting without drawing alot of heat from authorities. And if I did, At $900, I'd likely opt for the Type 97(cause I'd love to own a bull pup) as the 5.56 NATO could be a deer gun but will likely be near the top of the RCMP's ban list they wish to impose. I'm betting the JR would be right behind.But hey, if SHTF, who'd care?
I do like the fact that they couldn't rip on you for having unpinned mags over 5 rounds, as they could be for your Glock...as long as you have a registered Glock......
I like the Kel-Tec Sub 2000 for the same reason. One of the few rifles you can have 10 rounds in. And the folding bit is cool too; it fits a niche for a concealable rifle.
I too would jump at this rifle if they made it non-restricted. It's simplicity is alot more like the British Sterling SMG in sooo many ways.....but I don't want the heat of a restricted weapon these days.
I like the Kel-Tec Sub 2000 for the same reason. One of the few rifles you can have 10 rounds in. And the folding bit is cool too; it fits a niche for a concealable rifle.
I too would jump at this rifle if they made it non-restricted. It's simplicity is alot more like the British Sterling SMG in sooo many ways.....but I don't want the heat of a restricted weapon these days.
Actually it's non-restricted. The Canadian version has a longer barrel than in the US. Still very compact.
Actually it's non-restricted. The Canadian version has a longer barrel than in the US. Still very compact.
Who sells the them and how much? I gotta have a goal 😀 in mind since they scooped the CZ858.
Got mine from Calgary Shooting Centre for 6 something. They had a large stock at the time. Call though, their website is never updated.
I figure there is a gun many wouldn't consider buying, yet maybe one should. It is likely going to be high on my list and yet I don't really want to spend the money....
http://www.cabelas.ca/product/32449/gamo-big-cat-air-rifle-w-4-x-32mm-scope
Yup! A pellet gun! I haven't seen a decent one in years. My kids pellet guns are still here, but junk that couldn't kill a mouse. I have squirrels killing my nice whatever kind of trees(white leafed sucker). Mice likely bought land near here and skunks think this area is the Hilton hotel. I'm gonna buy one of them high powered pellet guns and go to town on them mini critters! I shot a squirrel last year with the kids pellet gun and after 20+ pellets, the critter finally fell out of the tree from laughter I figure(or the 1 in the eye did it). I'm not into torture and while I live on the edge of town, the OPP station isn't far, so the .22 isn't a good option.
But if you think .22 rounds are cheap, pellets are far cheaper, no one comes running when you shoot and if I can swallow the price, it'll likely be of more use than many others we want that won't be as justifiable.
I figure there is a gun many wouldn't consider buying, yet maybe one should. It is likely going to be high on my list and yet I don't really want to spend the money....
They've come up here and there, usually on somebody's "here's where I stand, what's next" or Christmas list (mother's day is around the corner and father's day is right behind it, BTW, peeps, just saying...)
I tend to go through http://www.pyramydair.com/a/BB_guns_and_pellet_guns/1116
They run sales here and there, and if you buy 3 or 4 tins of ammo, the 4th or 5th (can't remember) is free. Always.
Around holidays, their free shipping drops to $75-100 and they tend to have killer Thansgiving week sales.
Not sure if they'll ship north of the border and what exactly the shipping runs for you guys, but the ability to sort and filter is phenomenal, so much better than most sites. So you can plug in the caliber you want, fps range (could be broken down better) and then run with the offerings. Sometimes you can further sort by price or availability, but unlike a lot of sites I hit, theirs is mostly accurate.
The customer service is to die for and really is willing to help, stupid question to "let me get one of the test shooters to call you back for that one" (which I prefer to reading off a page, making stuff up, or just saying I don't know).
I'm not affiliated.
You can commonly find on the page or call and get the exact weight of pellets used for determining their max fps, and help narrow down either the accuracy you want or the game round.
Stoeger has several good pages for helping to make decisions about caliber and velocity.
You can apply it to other air guns.
http://usa.stoegerairguns.com/airgun-hunting
http://usa.stoegerairguns.com/about-airgun-ammo
http://usa.stoegerairguns.com/how-to-choose-an-airgun
They're the U.S. links, but I know they have foreign shipping.
I'm partial to the new nitro-pistols because they don't have to be discharged and re-cocked with the frequency or springs. I'm not willing to go PC pneumatics. And I don't want a super-quiet big-time crisis gun that requires CO2 cartridges (plus, they rarely have the oomph I want for a small game and pest gun), so I'm mostly a single-cock girl, but pumps are okay.
For some ages and physical restrictions, cocking weight can play a big, big factor, but is something I think gets overlooked sometimes.
I really love the Benjamin NP Trail pistol, but it's a hoss. The cocking assist makes it feel like nothing and it's small enough still to go on the side of a bag in a mare's leg to take unwary dove and squirrel without announcing to the whole county that man is in the forest.
🙂
Well, thanks for all the input on pellet guns too. I hate the idea I should have to drop over $100 today for one, but I definitely want it to pack enough punch that it kills what I shoot. I read a bunch of reviews on Cabela's and the one I posted seems to be the best bang for the buck at 1250 fps. , but the scope is crap...don't need a scope anyways! I don't know the power of our pellet rifles in the 70's, but they killed birds if you hit them. These 495 fps toys of today are crap.
Now the pellet pistol is another thought too. Trying to find one that isn't CO2 is likely another matter. I don't like the multi-pump as their noisy. I'll see if I can find a decent one of them too....but that Father's day thing ain't gonna work unless it's HER idea....lol
I typed:
I'm partial to the new nitro-pistols...
What I had meant to say was: "nitro PISTON".
Although my favorite current baby is both: http://www.crosman.com/airguns/pistol/BBP77
$75 + small $30 scope that hasn't minded banging around in a bag, truck and closet so far, big-big for a pistol but packable, limited to super short-short range and pest birds although that can be extended some with a perfect shot (hence, scope). My conditions are such that I'm unlikely to be taking shots farther than I could accurately throw a soup can, anyway, due to trees or other considerations, so it works for me.
The browning express pistol is more, $150, pretty much just as big, but 200-300 fps faster and available in .22 cal. I think it comes with better sights than the Benji Trail NP pistol, but I still want a dot or crosshairs for it. Plus, traditional spring so it needs discharged several times a day. It would be the better small game gun of the pair, though, for most people.
Like a lot of the airgun rifles, the big pistols commonly need a layer of duct tape or medical tape on the bottom half of the scope rings to help with the barrel droop. Especially the less expensive scopes, you just can't crank enough to get them true (without popping them loose). And a lot of air guns come with 11mm mounts, so they sometimes require a conversion bar for good scopes.
I now see that there are alot of reviews on pellet pistols and rifles too. I started looking up the pistols as you suggested but they still lack the distance ability as they did too in my youth. 10 yards is OK when you accidentally come across a chicken on your path but during hunting season, 30 yards is more likley your close shot. I haven't seen any of these fancy pellet brands but then I can't say I was looking either. I was envisioning a nice stash weapon for birds when you mentioned the pistol. The 400-750 fps with 10 yard tests will backbench that option to 2nd purchase placement.I will start doing the same on You Tube for the air rifles as there seem to be a few folks who keep it real.
The pellet rifle is what should be on most prepper's list for first choice though as they could practice in their own back yard and it's silent. Many an alley cat and squirrel has fallen prey to this weapon without a neighbours notice. In a urban environment, it could likely put more food on the plate than any other rifle. Killing the neighbour's pet would likely become commonplace in the city in bad times. Just a dumb idea in the country as there are fewer folk to suspect(and retribution is often harsh in either world)!
Sorry, but I've never been known for mincing words(or not pointing out the obvious)....
The big cat is a solid choice (although its lines are too clean to really belong in a "not pretty" guns list). Gamo has been in the game long enough, it's a fair one to trust.
You can find it less $$$ here and there, especially if you look for a remanf.
http://www.pyramydair.com/s/m/Gamo_Big_Cat_1200_and_1250/1280/4240 - $130 + shipping
Here's another option for a lower-money workhorse (and not quite as sleek):
Crossman Optimus
.22, 830 (mine; plenty for its squirrel/bunny/snake job in AL) 950 fps marketed; in .177, 1200 fps marketed
$120 - http://www.pyramydair.com/s/m/Crosman_Optimus_Breakbarrel_Air_Rifle_Combo/2405/4824
$110 - http://www.amazon.com/Crosman-Optimus-Claiber-Barrel-Hardwood/dp/B004V9577M
$140 - http://www.crosman.com/airguns/rifles/break-barrel/CO1K77X
$120 - http://www.walmart.com/ip/Crosman-Optimus-.22-Air-Rifle-with-Scope/16536068
The Crossman Nitro Vemon NP in .22 ranges around $130-160 USD as well. I don't own and have only seen the Venom fired, although it is credited with several crows, doves, pigeons and squirrels and one rabbit from a garden in Missouri.
The Benjamin .22 rifle below falls in the same price range and capabilities.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Benjamin-.22-Caliber-Break-Barrel-Carbine/16536174
Hatsan makes some affordable and comfort-driven .22 and .177 break barrels in the Striker line, but somebody else will have to weigh in the long-term and abuse-driven durability of those.
If I'm humping the full size, I tend to want .22, but at this point you can do just about as much with the right .177.
I don't usually go for .25 because it's harder to find ammo, (.177 is about the only thing actually on shelves here, but there's still more .22 to tailor to each gun than .25 even on the web).
Light pellets get higher fps, when you go there, but they typically lack "knock off the limb" "poof of feathers" impact and in the high-velocity guns, they actually tend to be limited in range than heavier pellets at 200-400 slower fps.
Pellet guns are also more finicky about ammo than .22LR semi-auto pistols. You can get good results from a big box of hum-drum, but for excellent results it's better to try a bunch of smaller boxes/cans and see what it really likes, then just plink the others.
Note that right around that 1200 fps mark you're going to be getting some crack, so "silent" isn't as accurate as it was with lower-velocity air guns in the past although it's quieter than a bang in a metal tube.
Here IS a just-about silent puppy, for about the same (or less) money as the Big Cat on Cabelas (Canadian shipping may alter that some):
Stoeger Suppressed X20
http://www.pyramydair.com/s/m/Stoeger_Arms_X20S_Suppressor_Air_Rifle/2406/4825 - $150 USD (they do free ground shipping to the U.S. over $150)
http://www.airgundepot.com/stoeger-x-20s-30301.html - $150 (free shipping over $180)
**Has scope mount but no iron sights, so you have to buy those if you want them
***The Stoeger belongs here, since it's just a shade shy of "so ugly it's cute" especially with the funky stock some people are sticking on it:
http://www.impactguns.com/sto-atac-22-blk-sup-4-16x40-30304-037084303048.aspx
Shop around, brother. You might not have to spend much over that $100 mark.