.177 pellet or air rifle nitro piston

[power napper]

Any good tips on name and type of air rifle to purchase?
Nitro piston looks good to this amateur.
Most cost effective brand?
Best shooting brand?
Best pellets?
Best place to purchase?

Will be mainly used for target shooting and small varmints.

Thanks

[Michael Bush]

I bought a Gammo with a scope. It's cocked with a lever and it's actually supersonic. Shoots, sounds and hits like a .22 rifle. I'm very happy with it.

[Scott Allen]

I'll second the Gamo. Got to be the best one out there. They have one that's even killed a wild boar! I got to shoot the 1200 last winter and was very impressed with both accuracy and punch. Check them out here: http://www.gamousa.com/

Is the Nitro you are referring to the Gamo Nitro 17? That's their 1000 fps model.

Scott

[dragonfly]

I'm not familiar with "nitro piston", but it sounds like an after-market addition to spring piston guns from what I've read.
DH owns a Gamo CFX that he is extremely happy with. He bought it from Pyramydair.com and they are a great company to do business with.

His favorite pellet is the RWS Super H Point.

A friend of ours has a Gamo Whisper that he loves.

[PleaseBees]

Depends on your budget.
Gamo is probably the best quality entry level for cost effectiveness and availability. Everyone has them in stock.
RWS is a step up (the model 34 is nice).

Spring Air gives the cheapest power,but their unique recoil can cause problems for some target shooters and can kill low quality scopes. (google "artillery hold" to learn how to shoot them well).
Pre-charged pneumatics like the Benjamin Marauder can be the easiest to shoot well for hunters,and allow repeat shots,but are very pricey.
Pump pneumatics like the Benjamin Silver/Blue Streak are less powerful than most spring air models,but are easier to shoot accurately and allow adjustable power like the BB guns you used as a kid.
CO2 models can be had as repeaters,but tend to cost more than spring air for the power,and CO2 is yet another ammo cost.

Beman and RWS pellets are great. Gamo and Crosman are not quite as good,but I use them a lot.

Find the model you like,then buy online. It's rare to find better deals at stores,but it can happen.

[IWWEBB]

I have some old copper head pellets that are real nice

i don't think that copper head makes them anymore

but i still have some so i am happy

and the same old story guns are not toys even air guns

[dragonfly]

same old story guns are not toys even air guns

But I love my cheap little air rifle, because it's like a toy that works.

[BGhoney]

I have a panther .22 cal thats pretty good, came with a good scope. I sold my beeman that I got from sportsman warehouse, I liked the beeman better.

The best pellets for it are predators if you looking to kill critters, they are spendy and sometimes hard to find but the red cone point on them makes them penetrate deeper "they say".

Year before last I got 27 rabbits in a row with the beeman, can't do that with my panther. That was over several evenings not 1 outing.

Never used a gamo, sounds nice