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

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

    I wonder what readers would designate as their (non-match) favourite three air rifles (not PCPs but gas rams allowable) from 1918-1960, 1960-80 (which Geezer describes as the 'classic period') and then 1980-2005 (which takes us roughly to the closure of the Birmingham Webley plant)?

    In a thread some weeks ago, relating only to Webleys and BSA, there was a remarkable degree of shared opinion and I wonder if we can obtain a broad similarity of views here and encourage related comments and reasoning, if deemed appropriate.

    Clearly, some rifles - such as the FW Sport - would overlap periods but should only qualify for one period for the purpose of this enquiry.

    Towards the end, I will try to summarise the general opinion and pertinent remarks. I suspect HW will be favoured but I wonder if that would be true without their famous trigger.

    This unscientific survey might give us an idea as to what is likely to appreciate in value in future and what is likely to be favoured by collectors. Air rifles from all countries qualify.

    Afternote: For the purpose of clarity, any sporter that takes an aperture qualifies (such as the Webley Mk3)and so does any match rifle used for sporting purposes. Thus, for example, the FWB 300 qualifies if used for sporting purposes.
    Last edited by andrewM; 21-03-2018 at 08:12 PM. Reason: To insert a further period, 1918-1960

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    Crosman Model 160 with 331 peep-sight

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    Quote Originally Posted by cinedux View Post
    Crosman Model 160 with 331 peep-sight
    Wish you hadn’t mentioned that I’m not looking for another Crosman to collect! By the way any dates that exclude 1949, I have to formally protest.

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    Quote Originally Posted by 45flint View Post
    Wish you hadn’t mentioned that I’m not looking for another Crosman to collect! By the way any dates that exclude 1949, I have to formally protest.
    Good point 45flint. Perhaps we can add 1918-1960 - quite a long period. I will edit my post accordingly.

    A

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    < 80s: Webley mk3/Walther LG55/LGV but dont forget Diana 60/65 etc
    *0s > : Diana 75UT01/Webley Longbow/Osprey Supertarget...Lots of great AR in the years 80s onwards
    You wont get any HW votes here
    Maybe better specify match/non-match?
    ATB,
    yana

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    Fwb

    Feinwerkbau 300 series
    Cheap to service still going strong

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    Quote Originally Posted by hwtyger View Post
    < 80s: Webley mk3/Walther LG55/LGV but dont forget Diana 60/65 etc
    *0s > : Diana 75UT01/Webley Longbow/Osprey Supertarget...Lots of great AR in the years 80s onwards
    You wont get any HW votes here
    Maybe better specify match/non-match?
    Interesting point, there. I have edited my post to include the words 'non-match', as the latter is very much a specialised discipline. Perhaps two more threads can be started, later, to include air pistols and match rifles. Interestingly, no HWs as yet but this is bound to change!

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    Quote Originally Posted by andrewM View Post
    Interesting point, there. I have edited my post to include the words 'non-match', as the latter is very much a specialised discipline. Perhaps two more threads can be started, later, to include air pistols and match rifles. Interestingly, no HWs as yet but this is bound to change!
    FWB Sport mk2
    HW 80
    HW77
    Sorted

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    Non Match excludes the old Walthers and obviously the Giss Diana's. So for me its the:

    Original/Diana 27
    RWS45
    Original/ Diana 50

    Sorry, I'm biased.

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    Blackrider is offline It don't mean a thing, if it ain't got a Spring
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    A very personal "generalized" relpy;
    1960 to 1980. Fwb 300S.
    1980 to 2005. HW 77. But if PCP's are allowed; Rapid 7.
    “An airgun or two”………

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    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.

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    Fwb

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

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    Quote Originally Posted by Geezer View Post
    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.

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    Quote Originally Posted by andrewM View Post
    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".

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