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

[45flint]

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.

[andrewM]

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

[hwtyger]

< 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?

[Jimlad]

Feinwerkbau 300 series
Cheap to service still going strong

[andrewM]

< 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!

[Yokel]

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

[Drew451]

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.

[Blackrider]

A very personal "generalized" relpy;
1960 to 1980. Fwb 300S.
1980 to 2005. HW 77. But if PCP's are allowed; Rapid 7.

[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.