Thanks for the trigger info….my #2 complaint about the G1. My #1 complaint is scope placement. I had to remove the rail stop and back the scope up another 2″ for comfort. My fault there….I was born without a neck.

My take on the G1′s range. I initially sighted in at 35 yds and was happy with 6″ groups relative to all the “fliers” I put downrange before establishing some semblance of trigger control. After another 50 rounds at 50 yds I’m doing 50% in 6″ shooting offhand.

Note this is my first break-barrel rifle and that I’m using Premier hunting hollow points. I’ve got an assortment of Diablos (for my Umarex B92FS) I’m going to try next weekend as well as pick up the ones you recommended from the G1 review.

After just 100 or so rounds, I’m pleased with the G1. I bought it because the local feral dog packs have begun to ignore my pistol. Not so with the G1 and it’s an all-new ballgame. I did a rear hip takedown on one critter at 30 yds and made another one jump my fence at 70 yds. If the G1 doesn’t make them put my property on their avoidance list, the .243 Winchester and shovel come out of their racks.

As I said, I’m pleased, but I’d have picked up the Gamo Big Cat 1200 if it had been in stock. My nephew’s BC12 shoots a bit sweeter than the G1.

Thanks and regards,

Sam

I thought your post might have been abbreviated… and I’m glad that you’ve kept writing. This kind of exchange is helpful to our readers.

1″ in .177 at 20 yards is a very attainable goal. There are several rifles out there that can do this. I would recommend that you check B.B.’s Blog over at PyramidAir. ( http://www.pyramidair.com/blog ) He did a series of articles on “The best rifles under $100, $200, $300, etc.” He has a lot more experience with different guns than I do.

You may want to call the folks over at http://www.airgundepot.com or http://www.compasseco.com and talk to them directly. Both suppliers have been very helpful to me. From what I’ve been told, and it will be one of our next reviews, the TechForce 99 Magnum ($135 on sale from $169 at http://www.compasseco.com right now) gives you under lever cocking, fixed barrel accuracy, and delivers 1100 FPS in .177 (expect 900 to 1000 fps depending on pellet, 900 fps is what you are looking for and if you can get it with a heavy pellet, that will work best.)

In general, hunting with a .177 means you have to be an excellent shot or you will mostly just wound your game even if you use hollow point pellets, expecially something at big as a ground hog. Consider rather a hard hitting .22. In the long run I think you’ll be happier with it, but that is just my opinion. There are many excellet choices in .22 pellets, the RWS line is a good example.

I’m not sure about the Mendoza RM-2003. I have the RM-200 and it is one of the nicest rifles under $100. I’ve read conflicting on their other products so I’m not sure what to tell you.

Regarding “how hard are things things to shoot,” how have you done with the G1? Have you been able to get the groups you are looking for? I recently took a trip to see family and visited my nephew to which I gave a Crosman Sierra pro rifle. He was complaining that he could not get the scope adjusted, so I took a day and we all went shooting in their back field. After a while I was shooting sub 1″ groups at 25 yards with his gun. He could bairly keep 4″ groups at that distance. When I gave him the Contender 89 or the BAM B40 he shot 1″ groups with ease. The difference, weight of the guns, craftsmanship, and experience.

My brother in law, who is an excellent shot come to find out, took my Beeman GH950 a and dropped a red squirrel out of a tree 30 yards away while shooting from a standing position on his 2nd floor landing. He also took my rifles, and from a standing position, shot a 20oz water bottle at 65 yards when I couldn’t hit it. He has a lot of practice shooting in the woods without the benefit of a nice shooting table and rest so he just puts me to shame.

The bottom line, My nephew was able to shoot a quality gun from a rest accurately. My brother in law was able to shot a quality gun from any position. The common factor wast that they were both shooting quality guns. As much as I appreciate Crosman for providing low cost adult air rifles, if you get a good one, they still take a lot of skill to shoot accurately. When I shot the Crosman Sierra Pro and got the groups down to 1″, it took a lot of concentration and effort, something that you may not have time to do when the little critters are tearing up your yard and you want to dispatch them.

You mentioned Glock and AR… if you are a firearm guy you know there is a big difference between Hi-Point and Glock. They both may shoot 9mm, but one you could trust with your life and the other you may go and plink with but if given the choice would never grab it in a pinch when the other was available.

In the air gun hobby world $200 is really not a lot of money, but it is hard for folks new to the sport to justify spending $200, $300, $400, or more on a pellet rifle when a firearm in may cases costs less. I had the same problem when I started. But once you shoot a real quality air gun and realize that you don’t have to go to a range every time you want some trigger time, you’ll gain the appreciation for the sport and the guns.

I don’t know if I’ve helped or just confused you more, but I hope that this exchange has been helpful and useful for you.

Best of luck.

AirHead

I have a total of $134 in the G1 and it would be $200 for the B26 with their 3 x 9 scope and 1 piece mount; $220 for the B26-1 with the same set up!

Would this set up be worth the extra $65 – $85??

http://bestairgun.stores.yahoo.net/bamxsairrico3.html

Also, I would prefer to go with the .177 over the .22 since it is easier and there is greater availability of the .177 pellets?

I would like a gun that would group under 1 inch at 20 yrds.

What do you think about a Mendoza RM-2003 for under $150 which would give me both calibers?

I realize that $220 is not a lot for this hobby but I would rather spend anymore than that on another Glock or AR-15!

One more thing; how hard are these things to shot since they all seem much more critical than even a cheap .22 lr?

Thanks again for your assistance and could you email me directly if all of this post doesn’t list?

Deputy Lynch

40 yards is a bit of a stretch for any air gun to take a groundhog, but if that is your goal, you may want to take a look at the most recent review that I just posted to the site on the The TechForce® Contender 89 from Compasseco. I know that it is way out of your $150 price range, but it will give you the accuracy at 40+ yards so that head shots yielding one shot kills should not be a problem.

For now you may want to just stick with the G1 unless it does not give you the results you are looking for. For some added damage on your game, you may want to try the Gamo Pro Magnum pellets. I’m not sure how they will group in the G1 but they are heavy and should be more accurate at longer ranges.

Please let us know how things work out for you.

AirHead

I have done it with my High Standard .22 Pistol but am afraid the neighbors might start to say somehthing!

But now I’m thinking of getting into the air rifle thing and want something that will out shoot me!
I would like something to group

If $150 is your max budget, then stick with the G1 if it is shooting well. It looks like many vendors have raised the price on the B26. Do you have a preference in caliber? What type of shooting are you looking to do? I may know of something that work work better for you.

AirHead

FYI, PyramidAir.com has a very large selection of scopes. Take a look at the Leapers line. They are priced right, and work great.

I would like to have a rifle that would shoot very well at 20 yards with a variable scope for around $150 so that is why I thougt the G1 was a very good value especially over the first Storm 1000 that I had bought and had to return!

I would be willing to go a little higher in price but would expect a great improvement over the $125 rifle I have in the G1!

Thanks again,
Deputy Lynch

To tell you the truth the B26 is in a different class to the G1. The G1 took a lot of work to get .5″ groups at 20 yards. The B26 did it right out of the box, nearly with open sights. It is far less hold sensitive and has an exceptional trigger. You may pay a bit more for a B26 Combo, but you’ll have one heck of a setup when you are done.

Please don’t get me wrong, the G1 with scope is a heck of a combo and I recommend it as an entry level rifle.

Thanks again for your comments.

AirHead

Don’t you think the scope and mounts are worth more than that!