.30 pcp or piston

Ray,
Welcome to the forum, glad you're here. When I joined, couple years back, got some great advice to check out the 9-part Matt Dubber video series, "Air Gun Ballistics 101." The videos are short, easy to follow and really bring you up to speed. Recommend the same before any purchase, come back with specific questions, plenty here willing to help. Best of Luck, WM
 
I started off in springers. And when the Carnivoire .30 came out, I jist had to have it. And unlike a lot of folks mine was hunting grade accurate, and loads of fun to shoot. Plus... I didn't need all the complexity of support equipment. I still have mine, and still shoot it. I love the Magnums, and this beast is one indeed.
However... All the cyclic challenges that come with shooting a springer accurately, are amplified with the extreme violence that's let loose when you finally get that heavy trigger to break. But if you've honed your springer form, you'll quickly scale your form, and have a good time with it.
Budget is gonna be key. Pricewise... It's an arguably huge jump, going from springer to PCP. (Yes, I know about the Gucci springers. I have a few.)
P.S. Don't let folks run you off if you want one, by extolling the difficulties of cooking this rifle. FFS, if you can break a lug-nut loose to change your tire, you'll be fine.
 
Umarex Gauntlet 30 will be the cheapest kick-ass 30 cal "hunting rifle"

I had a Hatsan Mod 125 in .25 caliber, it shot too slow. Imagine a slightly more powerful piston trying to shoot almost twice the weight. Use a slingshot instead.

I also had an AEA HP SS 30+ that shot JSB 44.75 grain somewhere between 600-700 fps. I imagine that would be quite the punch to the gut, but only good for short range.

The two 30 calibers I shoot now are Guantlet 2 30 with 64 grain slugs flying over 900 fps and an AEA Challenger Pro kicking out 130+ fpe with unbelievable accuracy downrange.

Unless you are buying something that can push JSB 44.75 grain 900+ fps you should be looking at smaller caliber. You'll get better penetration with a 25 shooting fast than a 30 shooting slow.

AEA Challenger 30 with a regulator is around $400 too. These powerful 30's sound a lot like a rimfire without a suppressor though.
 
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I started off in springers. And when the Carnivoire .30 came out, I jist had to have it. And unlike a lot of folks mine was hunting grade accurate, and loads of fun to shoot. Plus... I didn't need all the complexity of support equipment. I still have mine, and still shoot it. I love the Magnums, and this beast is one indeed.
However... All the cyclic challenges that come with shooting a springer accurately, are amplified with the extreme violence that's let loose when you finally get that heavy trigger to break. But if you've honed your springer form, you'll quickly scale your form, and have a good time with it.
Budget is gonna be key. Pricewise... It's an arguably huge jump, going from springer to PCP. (Yes, I know about the Gucci springers. I have a few.)
P.S. Don't let folks run you off if you want one, by extolling the difficulties of cooking this rifle. FFS, if you can break a lug-nut loose to change your tire, you'll be fine.
It bashes the rockchucks!
 
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