Ruger .177 Caliber Airhawk Elite 2 Pellet Rifle

It’sa great gun at a great price. I’m very happy with our purchase.

This is an interesting and fun pellet rifle. After burning through one rifle in less than 100 shots, we figured out some good tricks to keep a second replacement rifle working. First, it has much power, it shoots well, it is a fun gun, but there are a few things an owner should be aware of. For starters, the scope is trash, it is nothing more than a few pieces of loose, laser cut, aluminum foil strips, formed into what looks like cross hairs inside the scope, which of course move greatly when you shoot. With the first rifle, it took 50 - 100 shots (ridiculous) to site it in, before we knew the issue with the scope. Even after site in, it was unpredictable, a foot of variance at times, which is why we kept going back to the drawing board with a site-in taking 10xs more shots than it should. With this sort of variance, it was impossible to use this rifle to encourage and build confidence of a new young shooter, much less have fun shooting. We couldn't figure out why our siting kept moving to the left. Taking apart the scope, we found no etched glass, no way to truly site it in with loose foil strips moving inside the scope every time you shoot, I've never seen anything like this. Either replace the scope or just use the iron sites, which work well. Secondly, you need to replace both bolts on the forestock, near the break action. Go to a hardware store and get the stainless steel 5mm (grade 8 doesn't seem to be available in this size) and a couple of washers for each side. If you do not, you will have bolts broken off within 50 - 100 shots, as well as washers that will dig into the plastic of the gun and keep digging with every shot. I say 50 - 100 shots, because after we finally had the scope kinda/sorta sited in, both bolts sheered right off, and we headed back to the store. Tractor Supply, by the way, has amazing customer service, couldn't be more pleased. Also, be aware that you need to keep tightening (or at least checking) these same replaced bolts every 10 shots, else they will back out with the recoil vibration and still crack the gun -- or use locktite. Thirdly, inside the gun, the nitrogen gas piston creates much heat when fired, melting the synthetic plastic inside of the stock. So far, that has not caused an issue, but something to be aware of. If I was Ruger, I would take my name off this gun, it is an insult to their otherwise prestigious reputation.