Airguns you have bought....

[where's it gone]

What airguns did you buy, use but didn't reach your expectations ?
I bought a Datstate Airwolf Tactical in .177. Not a cheap gun but pellet on pellet all day long. I also bought the same in .22 after a hunting incident with the .177. Both these rifles met my expectations at the time,with the adage of ' you get what you pay for '. I didn't expect the tactical finish to get tacky on both rifles. Here ended my association with Datstate. Never thought about buying a Datstate again.

[angrybear]

TX200, shooting sites rave about them, while accurate, I found it heavy, unwieldy, awkward & generally not pleasant to shoot.

[vestlenning]

A Hatsan springer, can't remember which, terrible in more than one way ...

[Neil54]

Hatsan Factor.
Had everything I wanted, large magazine, large bottle, adjustable stock and a hard case.
Biggest let down.

[Born Again]

BSA Airsporter S. I really wanted one as a youngster, and I still like the look of it, but it isn't as great to shoot as I'd imagined.

Worst ever was Sussex Armoury Jackal. Truly horrible.

[ToniD]

A Hatsan springer, can't remember which, terrible in more than one way ...

Exactly
Traded it for a pistol.

[oldskoolzzz]

What airguns did you buy, use but didn't reach your expectations ?

Oh crikey this is going to be a fair old list

1) Edgun Leshiy Classic
Felt like a big pistol, awkward for bench rested shooting (yes I know they are a off hand hunter really) also extremely expensive with such a mediocre trigger and I didn’t feel it was good VFM even when they were cheaper a few years ago but nowadays insane money

2) TX200 as AB states unwieldy and awkward which gets tiresome but a damn fine rifle on all other aspects.

3) Prosport, tiresome awkward cocking with prolonged use and I’m still not convinced with the aesthetics mirroring the side profile of a dolphins snout

4) HW95 lovely rifle but always felt something is not quite right be it the cylinder length and stock fit to the tendency of being hold sensitive had some right dogs but also some when worked on were much better.

5) HW57 they could be great but in reality they are bleeding awful even had a glided full monty setup but still found it crap.

6) HW25 the worst trigger I’ve ever used on a Herman it would rival something from the Far East

7) HW30 worst gaulling I’ve ever known on a Herman and I’ve never been convinced with the ball bearing lockup. or piddly trigger block screw but apart from that nice little rifles but unfortunately I just don’t trust them or more so that lockup.

8) HW90 tried a few from new out the box to oldies but still don’t like them far too heavy and that firing cycle is a huge migraine starter after prolonged use.

9) Theoben rammers Fenman/Evo had a few really want to love them but I just can’t do that outlay for a hernia inducing experience with such a mediocre trigger as it really spoils the enjoyment.

[elewis411]

Oh crikey this is going to be a fair old list

1) Edgun Leshiy Classic
Felt like a big pistol, awkward for bench rested shooting (yes I know they are a off hand hunter really) also extremely expensive with such a mediocre trigger and I didn’t feel it was good VFM even when they were cheaper a few years ago but nowadays insane money

2) TX200 as AB states unwieldy and awkward which gets tiresome but a damn fine rifle on all other aspects.

3) Prosport, tiresome awkward cocking with prolonged use and I’m still not convinced with the aesthetics mirroring the side profile of a dolphins snout

4) HW95 lovely rifle but always felt something is not quite right be it the cylinder length and stock fit to the tendency of being hold sensitive had some right dogs but also some when worked on were much better.

5) HW57 they could be great but in reality they are bleeding awful even had a glided full monty setup but still found it crap.

6) HW25 the worst trigger I’ve ever used on a Herman it would rival something from the Far East

7) HW30 worst gaulling I’ve ever known on a Herman and I’ve never been convinced with the ball bearing lockup. or piddly trigger block screw but apart from that nice little rifles but unfortunately I just don’t trust them or more so that lockup.

8) HW90 tried a few from new out the box to oldies but still don’t like them far too heavy and that firing cycle is a huge migraine starter after prolonged use.

9) Theoben rammers Fenman/Evo had a few really want to love them but I just can’t do that outlay for a hernia inducing experience with such a mediocre trigger as it really spoils the enjoyment.

With you on a few of the above rifles, Hw95, had a few and just can’t get on with them at all and in my opinion Hw99 is far better and had a few and always got on well with them
Theoben rammers, had 2 fenmans back in the day new from theoben and had problems with both leaking after a short time and like you say the triggers were awful too with such a stupidly over sprung first stage that it was nigh on impossible to feel the stop for the second stage on mine…

[oldskoolzzz]

With you on a few of the above rifles, Hw95, had a few and just can’t get on with them at all and in my opinion Hw99 is far better and had a few and always got on well with them
Theoben rammers, had 2 fenmans back in the day new from theoben and had problems with both leaking after a short time and like you say the triggers were awful too with such a stupidly over sprung first stage that it was nigh on impossible to feel the stop for the second stage on mine…

Sometimes we just click with certain rifles I’m a big fan of the 99 and it’s by far the best break barrel I’ve ever found so far when everything is in comparison eg weight, balance, perfect sub 12 power, trigger and especially the price new or even better used.

Granted it might need 20mins of fettling just to make sure all is well but in reality it’s well worth doing.

Must be 20 years now I’ve had the pleasure of many 99’s even back in the days when they were sneered at which I could never understand why the first time I shouldered one (used in a RFD) not knowing anything about them, I was instantly intrigued and bought it on the spot then the first time I fired it, I was hooked and have now lost count how many 99’s have come and gone in those 20 years

[tinbum]

Theoben Rapid. I had wanted one since I very first saw them, but didn’t get one until about 2015. The biggest problem with it was that I had had many quality PCP’s by that point, and every single one of them did everything better than the Rapid did.

[flyingfish]

HW98. As accurate as anything I have used but just didn't gell
Diana mauser 97. Poor build quality and design (and instruction to put 2 drops of oil into the cylinder via the transfer port every 500 shots)
On the other hand my TX200 HC is my go to

[oldskoolzzz]

Theoben Rapid. I had wanted one since I very first saw them, but didn’t get one until about 2015. The biggest problem with it was that I had had many quality PCP’s by that point, and every single one of them did everything better than the Rapid did.

I still have a soft spot for the Rapid as it was my first ever PCP decades ago but I get where you are coming from Tinners.

I went the Daystate route after the Rapid and must confess I actually preferred them in that golden Daystate era of the noughties.

Airwolfs and Air Rangers I always found better than the Rapid and even going round and round in circles I agree they also did everything better than the rapid.

Ironically I got offered another Rapid recently which was tempting but I know I’d be looking to at least fit an after market gauge and QF setup as the only pcp I’ve ever owned that’s let me down in the field was a blooming rapid of all things.

[MartynB]

Interesting thread and comments

[sebbo200]

Logun S16 MK2 - constant jams in the mag
BSA lightning - twangy scew loosener my fault for buying an EU made one

[TonyL]

Oh crikey this is going to be a fair old list

1) Edgun Leshiy Classic
Felt like a big pistol, awkward for bench rested shooting (yes I know they are a off hand hunter really) also extremely expensive with such a mediocre trigger and I didn’t feel it was good VFM even when they were cheaper a few years ago but nowadays insane money

2) TX200 as AB states unwieldy and awkward which gets tiresome but a damn fine rifle on all other aspects.

3) Prosport, tiresome awkward cocking with prolonged use and I’m still not convinced with the aesthetics mirroring the side profile of a dolphins snout

4) HW95 lovely rifle but always felt something is not quite right be it the cylinder length and stock fit to the tendency of being hold sensitive had some right dogs but also some when worked on were much better.

5) HW57 they could be great but in reality they are bleeding awful even had a glided full monty setup but still found it crap.

6) HW25 the worst trigger I’ve ever used on a Herman it would rival something from the Far East

7) HW30 worst gaulling I’ve ever known on a Herman and I’ve never been convinced with the ball bearing lockup. or piddly trigger block screw but apart from that nice little rifles but unfortunately I just don’t trust them or more so that lockup.

8) HW90 tried a few from new out the box to oldies but still don’t like them far too heavy and that firing cycle is a huge migraine starter after prolonged use.

9) Theoben rammers Fenman/Evo had a few really want to love them but I just can’t do that outlay for a hernia inducing experience with such a mediocre trigger as it really spoils the enjoyment.

That's a fair few, Nick. But then you've had a fair few.
I think I agree with you and AB about the TX. I'll never sell mine, and it's very accurate, but feels "clumpy", clunks and doesn't feel as natural to me as a 77/97.
Agree on the 99.

Ones I sold in quick time.....not that many.....a Crosman Vigilante pistol that just wouldn't group and, back in the early 80s, a Vulcan Mk II (mainly due to the trigger).

P.S.....I can't quite remember now what the Vulcan's replacement was. It was either my first HW80 (which I still have) or a FWB127 Sport. As said, mainly due to reservations over the trigger and barrel pivot pin. In recent years I have had the pleasure of trying a few sorted Vulcans at Bash events and find them characterful and pleasurable. Maybe the nostalgia kicking in? But I'd be more than happy to give one a home now.