How to Choose an Airgun

Use the information here to help you choose the right air rifle for your needs.

1. Consider the features.

Check out the information here to learn more about the features you’d like, and then check the

chart below to find the model that’s right for you.

Sound Level

If quiet shooting is important, the X20 Suppressor and ATAC Suppressor Air Rifles are the

winners with their best-in-class low noise capabilities. The runner-up is the X5 Air Rifle, which

shoots pellets more slowly.

Small Size, Light Weight

The X5 Air Rifle scores here: it’s compact and light. The X10, X20 and X20 Suppressor are also

options. They are shorter than most comparable air rifles, and they have the feel of a carbine-length

gun.

Hunting

The X50 Air Rifle is clearly the favorite for hunting, with its long-range power. The X20

Suppressor is also an excellent choice. It’s less likely to scare game with the first shot.

Whichever model you choose, the .22 caliber will be best (if it’s legal in your area). It has more

knockdown power than .177, due to the bigger, heavier pellets.

Traditional Appearance

The X20 wins on appearance. It has a graceful Monte Carlo stock and good-looking hardwood that

blends well with the deep bluing of the steel parts.

General Shooting

The X10 and X20 are the leaders in this category. Their great blend of features makes them the

best choices for general utility. And they’re ideal for plinking, the favorite pastime of most airgun

shooters.

Synthetic Stocks

A synthetic stock is perfect if you don’t want to worry about scratching a hardwood stock in the

field. All models except the X3 are available with synthetic stocks. Check the individual model

pages for stock options

Open Sights

All Stoeger Airguns (except the Suppressor models) are fitted with fiber-optic open sights. These

give a clear sight picture. You line up the single red dot of the front sight between the two red dots

of the rear sight.

The rear sight provides easy, click-adjustable elevation and windage (side-to-side) adjustment for

sighting.

There are no open sights on the Suppressor model, so if sights are something you really want,

you’ll need to forego super-quiet shooting!

Scope Combos

While the X20 Suppressor and the ATAC Suppressor models are supplied only as combos with

scopes, the X5 and X10 models are available optionally as scope combos. Unless you already have

a favorite scope and mounts, the combo is certainly the way to go.

Unlike most competitors’ air rifles, the Stoeger scope combos are supplied with the scope already

mounted and bore sighted. That saves a big headache for those who struggle with the complexities

of scope mounting and sighting-in. This, alone, is a great reason to buy a Stoeger X-series air rifle

combo.

Scopes

If your buying decision is based on having a scope included with the gun, then consider Stoeger’s

airgun combos.

Both X5 and X10 models are supplied with a full-length, 4 x 32 fixed-magnification scope with

duplex reticle and separate rings. This is fine for plinking and normal use.

The X20 Suppressor features a compact 4 x 32 scope, again with separate rings. This illuminated

scope has switchable red or green dot at the center of the reticle for improved shooting in low light.

The best scopes supplied with Stoeger combos are the 3-9 x 40 AO scope supplied with the X20

Suppresor Air Rifle and X50 Air Rifle Review and the 4-16 x 40 AO mil-dot reticle scope supplied

with the ATAC Suppressor.

Variable scopes provide further reach for precision shooting when hunting. They also have

adjustable objectives that allow the scopes to give sharp focus at the close ranges often encountered

when shooting air rifles.

When scopes are required, the solid, one-piece scope mount supplied with these combos provides

a reliable and rugged mount system.

X3 Youth X5 X10 X20 X20

Suppressor

ATAC

Suppressor X50

.177 Cal.

Muzzle

Velocity

(Alloy)

550 fps 800 fps 1200 fps 1200 fps 1200 fps 1200 fps 1500 fps

.22 Cal.

Muzzle

Velocity

(Alloy)

Not

available

in .22

Not

available

in .22

1000 fps 1000 fps 1000 fps 1000 fps 1200 fps

Low Noise Fairly

quiet

Fairly

quiet

Average

Noise

Level

Average

Noise

Level

Yes, best in

class

Yes, best in

class

Above

average

noise level

Suitable for

Plinking Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Suitable for

Hunting

Not

applicable

Yes:

Small

pests,

close

range

Yes;

Small

game,

longer

range

Yes:

Small

game,

longer

range

Yes: Small

game, longer

range

Yes: Small

game, longer

range

Yes, best

hunting

choice:

Varmints,

long range

Traditional

Look with

Wood Stock

Yes Yes

(option)

Yes

(option)

Yes

(option) No No No

Synthetic

Stock No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Fiber-Optic

Open Sights Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes

Mounted

Scope

Option

No

Yes:

Fixed

power 4 X

32 mm

Yes:

Fixed

power 4

X 32 mm

Yes:

Variable

power 3-9

X 40 mm

AO

Yes: Fixed

power 4 X 32

mm;

red/green-

illuminated

Yes: Variable

power 4-16 X

40 mm mil-

dot

Yes:

Variable

power 3-9 X

40 mm AO

AO = Adjustable objective Mil-dot = Adjustable objective mil-dot reticle scope

2. Compare brands.

Consider how Stoeger Airguns compare to air rifles marketed by other major companies.

Product Quality and Warranty Length

The quality of Stoeger Airguns is backed by a warranty that’s double the length provided by other

companies.

Cost

Some Stoeger Airguns models are a little more expensive than other brands with similar

performance. For most users, that premium is easily justified just by having a mounted, sighted-in

scope fitted to the gun so it is ready to shoot when it comes out of the box.

Mounted Scope

Many people, especially novices, find scope mounting and sighting a somewhat difficult process.

That’s already done on the Stoeger Airgun combos, giving them an advantage over Crosman and

Gamo combos.

Automatic Safety

The ergonomic design of Stoeger Airguns includes a safety that’s easy to access and resets every

time the gun is cocked. It must be released before firing. This is an excellent safety precaution,

especially for the novice shooter.

The safeties of competitors’ air rifles are not automatic. They are also often located inside the

trigger guard. It’s a much less convenient location, so they are more difficult to engage. That’s a

big disadvantage for many shooters.

Parts Availability

For long-term security, parts for Stoeger Airguns are readily available online from the official U.S.

parts supplier, Archer Airguns, Inc.

Stoeger® Airguns Crosman Air Rifle Gamo Air Rifle

Warranty Period 2 years 1 year 1 year

Scope Combos

Ready to shoot;

already mounted and

bore-sighted

Unmounted scope and

rings; need to mount

and sight in

Unmounted scope and

rings; need to mount and

sight in

Traditional Blued

Steel Construction Yes Some models

Lots of plastic parts in

most models

Performance of

“Quiet” Model

X20 Suppressor

94.2 dB

Quietest

Nitro

101.3 dB

Loudest

Whisper

98.1 dB

Loud

Perceived Quality Traditional high-

quality look and feel

Many models appear

built for minimum cost

Extensive use of plastic

raises concerns about

quality and durability

Automatic Safety Yes, all models No No

Spare Parts

Availability

Yes, easy online

ordering

Yes, but need to know

part numbers, phone

orders only

Very limited availability

Genuine Rifle Fit

and Feel Yes, like a traditional

firearm No No

3. Choose a caliber.

The information below will help you consider the benefits of both calibers, .177 and .22, and

choose the right caliber for your needs.

.177 Caliber

Ideal for target shooting and general plinking

Pellets are less expensive because they’re smaller

Smaller pellets are more easily dropped and lost

The most widely used airgun pellet size in the U.S.

A huge variety of pellets are available in this size

The largest caliber that can be used in some towns, cities, and states, without causing the

air rifle to be classified as a firearm

Pellets and airguns available from Stoeger Airguns

.22 Caliber

Ideal for hunting small game; more knockdown power than .177

The pellets are larger and heavier

Larger pellets are easier to handle

A variety of pellets are available in this size

Pellets and airguns available from Stoeger Airguns

4. Decide what muzzle velocity you need.

All Stoeger air rifles provide sufficient muzzle velocity for plinking, target shooting, and some

types of hunting.

There is no relationship between muzzle velocity and accuracy; air rifles used in Olympic

competition are only 500 fps

The only real reason for high muzzle velocity (1,000 fps) is for hunting; to achieve humane,

one-shot kills at longer ranges

In a spring piston air rifle, there is a tradeoff between gun size and weight and fps

A longer, heavier gun produces higher fps

A lighter, shorter gun produces lower fps

The multi-purpose X10 and X20 represent an ideal compromise between muzzle velocity

and size and weight

5. Consider quiet.

Several factors contribute to the noise of an airgun, especially when it’s new.

Dieseling noise occurs when the lubricant used in manufacturing ignites under

compression as an airgun is fired; this noise stops in time, usually in about 200 shots

Increased muzzle velocity from residual oil in the compression chamber of some new

.177s makes them quite loud at first; with use, that oil burns and dries out, the airgun settles

back to its typical fps, and the noise level drops significantly

Supersonic noise is the loud, sharp, high-pitched crack caused when pellets travel faster

than sound waves and ”break” the sound barrier; a suppressor cannot change that

Pellets that don’t break the sound barrier are much quieter, with shots that sound more

like a dull “thunk”

Most .22s are significantly quieter than .177 caliber models (when dieseling has stopped

and the gun is new)

The X20 Suppressor Air Rifle uses a Dual-Stage Noise Reduction System. The system combines

the functions of an internal air regulator ring and baffles that work together to reduce noise better

than any other airgun on the market.

Independent testing conducted for Stoeger Airguns showed that the X20 Suppressor and ATAC

Suppressor are much quieter than their main competitors, as the chart shows.

Chart data is based on tests conducted and certified by F-Squared Laboratories, an independent

testing laboratory. Tests were performed in a certified anechoic chamber.

More infomaftion visit site: http://mybestairrifle.com