Best Air Rifles (non PCP) 1960-80 and 1980-2005

[Geezer]

Andrew

Sorry to be a right pedant (and thank you for the name check), but do you want views on which rifles in each period were the best, or our favourites? The two aren't quite the same thing.

For example, I do rather like Webley MkIIIs. But I can't honestly claim that, in terms of performance rather than finish, they were ever the best.

And (God, I am a pain) match rifles and sporters only really started diverging seriously from about 1960. Before then (and later for many), a match rifle was a sporter fitted with an aperture.

Anyway, my nominees for best, but with a hint of favourite:

1918-60:

HW35
Sheridan Model A
Walther LG52 (near miss in this category - Diana 27)

1960-1980

HW80
Crosman 160
FWB Sport

1980-2005

Webley Tomahawk
Webley Longbow
HW77 (25mm).

Honourable mentions: Whiscombes, proper HW85.

That's assuming I can't mention ultra-rare stuff like Venom Mach 1s or Bowkett one-offs.

[Jimlad]

Shot many a rabbit with a 300s up 30 yards with a 4x32 scope

[andrewM]

Andrew

Sorry to be a right pedant (and thank you for the name check), but do you want views on which rifles in each period were the best, or our favourites? The two aren't quite the same thing.

For example, I do rather like Webley MkIIIs. But I can't honestly claim that, in terms of performance rather than finish, they were ever the best.

And (God, I am a pain) match rifles and sporters only really started diverging seriously from about 1960. Before then (and later for many), a match rifle was a sporter fitted with an aperture.

Anyway, my nominees for best, but with a hint of favourite:

1918-60:

HW35
Sheridan Model A
Walther LG52 (near miss in this category - Diana 27)

1960-1980

HW80
Crosman 160
FWB Sport

1980-2005

Webley Tomahawk
Webley Longbow
HW77 (25mm).

Honourable mentions: Whiscombes, proper HW85.

That's assuming I can't mention ultra-rare stuff like Venom Mach 1s or Bowkett one-offs.

Good points, Geezer! To answer you:

1 Yes, favourites as opposed to best. Often, they will be one and the same but not always and that is where the personal comments come in and there is therefore a degree of sentiment here. We know, for example, that PCPs are generally better than springers but the former do not have what Lakey referred to as 'a soul'. You might therefore wish to alter your own choice, with personal comments added?

No reason why you cannot mention one-offs, so long as they were generally available around the country.

2 Any sporter that takes an aperture qualifies and so does any match rifle used for sporting purposes. I will add a further note to the original thread.

Meanwhile, I am going to look up some of the rifles you have already mentioned, with which I am unfamiliar. I find this type of discussion enables readers to become familiar with a greater range of makes and models.

[Geezer]

Good points, Geezer! To answer you:

1 Yes, favourites as opposed to best. Often, they will be one and the same but not always and that is where the personal comments come in and there is therefore a degree of sentiment here. We know, for example, that PCPs are generally better than springers but the former do not have what Lakey referred to as 'a soul'. You might therefore wish to alter your own choice, with personal comments added?

No reason why you cannot mention one-offs, so long as they were generally available around the country.

2 Any sporter that takes an aperture qualifies and so does any match rifle used for sporting purposes. I will add a further note to the original thread.

Meanwhile, I am going to look up some of the rifles you have already mentioned, with which I am unfamiliar. I find this type of discussion enables readers to become familiar with a greater range of makes and models.

Thanks, Andrew.

I basically stand by my judgements, except to say that the best non-PCP post 1980 is the early 77 (honourable mention, TX, and I will not argue the toss on that: it has been done to death). And that the not quite best but very nice/favourite list from earlier includes the Webley MkIII, Mk1 and 2 Airsporters, BSA LJs, 50s Diana 35, Anschutz "Hakim" Sporter, the Falkes, and some of the American rifles that I don't know that much about, like the Crosman "Town and Country".

[sevorg]

18-60 Cadet Major
60-80 Airsporter Mk2
80-05 HW77 Mk1

[DT Fletcher]

Using my own timeframes and from the American viewpoint.

Pre war:
The most influential model would have to be the Benjamin model E/F. It was without question the finest American BB gun made, especially from a performance standpoint. If was this model that really started the American boy's love affair with the pneumatic rifle. It was produced in substantial quantities and is an easy gun to find in the US. Shooting it is a real treat.

Right behind would be the BSA Improved Model D. The first true precision air rifle in America was a big hit, but very expensive. It was, just like in England, the introduction of the diabolo pellet and rifled barrel. The D was the most important pellet rifle ever made and was the beginning point of precision pellet rifles.

The best pre war rifle is the Crosman model 101. Which was a combination of the Benjamin pneumatic system married to the diablo pellet/rifled barrel of the BSA.

Post War:
The Crosman 160 has to be right up there. It served as the introduction of the CO2 Powerlet and the last version having an adjustable trigger along with the S331 sight is in a class by itself.

Any discussion of best airgun has to include the Sheridan models A/B. Like the 160, in a class entirely by themselves.

The Crosman model 1400 probably deserves an honorable mention. The 1400 was an all-out effort by Crosman to produce the finest pneumatic rifle that they were capable of producing. This was during the "Going Great Guns" era when Crosman made every effort to improve the product line; that PY Hahn was at the same time working at selling the business probably had some influence on this.

My personal favorite from this era is the lowly little Crosman model 110. I'm lazy and like small light guns. That the 110 is one of the finest of shooters doesn't hurt.

The Benjamin 312 is another honorable mention.