If there were a lot of pistols to choose from, multiply that by about 3 and you’re staring at about 600 options on AirgunDepot.com alone! Fortunately they’ve created a tool that can help you refine your options. As part of their new site launch, Airgun Depot incorporated their new “Airgun Finder.” It can help you narrow your search based on some very specific guidelines. The recommended airguns are all proven effective in their individual segments, meaning that when you choose an airgun from our Airgun Finder, you know you are getting an airgun that works.
How can I pick 3 from almost 600?
There are almost 600 airguns listed on AirgunDepot.com. I’m going to attempt to pick 3 for this article. The first rifle I’m going to start with is the Umarex NXG APX Multi-pump airgun. This great little airgun has impressed me for several reasons. First off, it’s held up to a lot of use from a couple of dozen different shooters taking turns at various shoots. It’s still going strong and has not lost velocity or accuracy. That really says something about the inherent ruggedness of the rifle. It has the new “Safe-T-Matic” automatic safety system that engages the moment the pump handle is pulled down, making it one of the safest multi-pump airguns available. That’s a very important point for parents to consider when looking to put an airgun under the tree this holiday season. Lastly, it’s extremely user friendly and easy to operate.
Umarex NXG APX Air Rifle ComboI’ve been using the APX to encourage those never having held a gun of any kind, to at least give airguns a try. So far I’ve had about a 95% success rate. Those that have tried the APX have been amazed at how light it is, how easy it is to shoot, that there is NO recoil, and at 5 pumps, it’s very quiet. When you put all that together you have an airgun that’s very well suited for beginning shooters. Out of all those that have tried it, most have said that they’d be willing to try other airguns now that they have at least pulled the trigger on the APX. That says a lot about what kinds of doors this little airgun can open.
Here’s Naomi, my 7 year old daughter, taking her turn with the APX.The air rifle every airgunner should own
I’m often asked what airgun I would choose if I could only pick one. That’s a VERY hard question for me to answer. But, I’ve thought about it a lot over the years and I keep coming back to one airgun. It’s not a high dollar PCP, it’s not a cheap springer either. It will cost a few bills for sure. It’s the Beeman R9 in .177. Now before you all toss me off the blog thinking I’ve lost my mind, let me explain.
Beeman R9 Elite Series Air Rifle, Combo – Available in 0.177, 0.20, 0.22The Beeman R9 sits quietly in the background as flashier, “modernized” airguns get all the attention. But, when it comes to putting lead on target, the Beeman R9 has never failed me. I shot the best 20 yard group of my life with the R9, a 5 shot .06″ CTC. The only think I’ve had to do with my R9 is clean and lube it once. From that point forward it has been the most consistently accurate airgun that I’ve owned. When I pull it off the wall it always shoots exactly where it shot the last time I used it. That’s why I think every airgunner should own a Beeman R9. To me it represents a time in airgunning that was about simplistic beauty, workmanship, and creating an heirloom product. I don’t see that happening much anymore in this new world of “commodity airguns.” If you, or the airgunner in your life, appreciates accuracy and craftsmanship over “tactical” looking power, then give the Beeman R9 a hard look. It’s worth the investment.
Let’s go Crazy!
So, I’ve hit the entry level airgun, the APX, for the novice airgunners. I’ve hit the old-timer, purest airgunners with the Beeman R9. What’s left to look at? Oh yeah… How about something for the crazy airgunners in all of us!
Evanix Tactical Sniper Air Rifle – Available in 0.22, 0.25, 0.357, 0.45, 0.50I may have mentioned this before, but I’ve grown to love mid bore and big bore airguns. I was out shooting a new Evanix .357 (not even available in the US yet!) the other day carving out 1-hole groups at 40 yards. Man, I like shooting these big bore guns. There’s just something about bigger pellets smacking a target that gets my blood flowing. Out of all the big bore guns that I’ve been shooting, my favorite has been the Evanix Tactical Sniper. Personally I would choose .357 or .45 out of the available calibers. If I had to choose just one, I would probably go .357 as my overall favorite as I believe it has the most potential for accuracy at range, especially shooting the JSB .35 pellets. I currently have the Tactical Sniper in .45 and it slams the target at 40 yards with .45 cal round ball ammo. When I say slams, I mean SLAMS. I’m pushing well over 130 foot pound of energy with this thing. When I shoot the 180 grain or 200 grain slugs I’m getting 150 foot pounds. It may only get 6 shots per fill. It may only shoot accurately out to about 40 yards with the round ball ammo, but it does it with such style I really don’t care. It’s just amazingly fun to look at and shoot. Anytime I take this beast out to the local range a line starts forming to talk about it and then shoot it. It’s expensive to purchase, expensive to shoot, but that has not stopped me from putting pounds of lead down range with it. If you’re airgun crazy, then the Evanix Tactical Sniper may be the ticket.
Evanix Tactical Sniper Air Rifle – Available in 0.22, 0.25, 0.357, 0.45, 0.50What’s next?
That wraps up my holiday buying guide for this year. Remember that there are hundreds of great airguns at AirgunDepot.com. If you’re still not sure what to buy, just hop on their Airgun Finder and it will help narrow your search.
Next we’ll be getting back to the RWS 34, another amazing airgun every airgunner should own, and we’ll be mounting a scope and taking it out for a little testing down at the range, so keep an eye on the Blog!
