Air Rifles-Pellet Guns?

[rWt]

I am in the high risk category due to age and underlying conditions. Plus, all the ranges around me are closed. I live in a built up community. So, I am thinking it might be good to buy something I can shoot in my basement or small back yard.

Anyone have any thoughts or suggestion?

[gsp7]

I have a Sheridan 5mm, excellent for gophers and ground squills and such

[bula]

I nabbed a Beeman that came with 2 barrels. It easily converts from 177 to 22. With my impaired fumbly hands, I leave the 22 barrel on it. I'd also suggest the primer only driven plastic bullet cartridges from CCI. A wooden box with a hanging piece of carpet and a cat litter tray to catch bullets is all you need. Can shoot in basement. Eyes n ears still, please. When we were boys, we had a basement set up similar for our Wrist-Rocket slingshots. We scrounged buckets of iron ore pellets found where there was a sharp bend or krink in the tracks. Over spill ya know. 

[bouddha]

I had the great pleasure of owning/refurbishing this Diana for a couple of years.  A true one-holer!

[bula]

For the OP's usage, agree a pellet pistol a better choice than a rifle. If you have a revolver in 38,357,44spec or 44mag, think the plastic bullets/cases by CCI both wise and fun. 

[kings6]

I have one of the Beeman pistols with click adjustable rear sight and a miniature set of silhouette targets. A wooden saw horse for a target stand and a carpet backdrop and my shop becomes my indoor range.

[gregs]

The best thing I did for my pistol shooting was to get an IZH Single Stroke Pneumatic (SSP) 10m Air Pistol for wintertime basement entertainment during the grey out in the Willamette Valley. As we all know, handgun skills are highly perishable. It is better to shoot 25-50 rds once a week than 2-300 rds once a month.

The lower velocity, low noise and relatively small amount of required accessories (pellets, targets, target holder/backstop) make it a go anywhere entertainment (outside, dungeon, barn ect)

I recommend the SSP over a spring or Pre-Charged Pneumatic (PCP) for two reasons. First, the spring powered pistol involves alot of mechanical movement once the sear breaks thus requiring a rock solid hold. Second is the PCP required either a hand pump, carbon fiber/scuba tank or a HP compressor to recharge the HP (3K) air cylinder(s).

[tinkerpearce]

Aguila Colibri .22 rimfire is another option for revolvers or single-shot pistols. No louder than an air rifle- I shoot it in my shop all the time and the neighbors are none the wiser.

[bula]

A good thought. As soon as the "difficulties" are over, am gonna look for a box of those. Oho in lockdown. 

[junebug]

I use 22 short or long C B caps in the back yard . Light pop out of pistol hardly any noise from a rifle.Shoot into a bullet trap I made ,back yrd or basement ,tho basement gets a little smokey. Careful with the Colibri as I have had them stick in a rifle barrel before. Another reason I like a bullet trap, if you don't hear a tink or see bullet impact, check bore.

[AxeHandle]

The Air Pistol will teach you follow through better than anythig else... I'm holding a FWB 65 myself. This model FWB held every air pistol record in the books until the compressed air pistols (CO2 and Air) come to be in the mid 80s. Pictures when I get home.

[AxeHandle]

[AxeHandle]

[AxeHandle]

[AxeHandle]

10 meter target and the head of the 177 pellet. These guns shoot groups virtually the size of that pellet at 10 meters.