• The AGN App is ready! Search "Airgun Nation" in your App store. To compliment this new tech we've assigned the "Threads" Feed & "Dark" Mode. To revert back click HERE.

N/A Thinking of buying my 1st PCP, need advice.

I am thinking of taking the dive into PCPs. I have been eyeing the HW110 carbine laminate because I like the Weihrauchs. But the Daystate Wolverine R High Power .177 is also catching my eye. I need your guys advice, if I take the PCP dive, what will I also need to get for a PCP? I want something that is precise that can be used for longer distance target practice. What do you recommend and what would I also need to go with getting a PCP? Please let me know, thanks.
 
The two logical compressor options to me are a Yong Heng or a GX CS4. Very different but both will cost at least $500 by the time you get them setup the way I would want them. The GX seems to not need much, the YH needs, IMHO, a bottle, fillset, and some extra cooling. I think it's too noisy to routinely use to fill guns. But it works great to fill a bottle. That is what I do with it.

I used to have a "shooting Chrony" chronograph I used with PBs but shot it one too many times. I use $20-30 Chinese chronys now and am very happy with them. They even have rechargable batteries further decreasing expense. You will need targets, at least, but can print them on a printer. I like to shoot into a pellet trap so the lead doesn't go everywhere.

Lots of new airgunners seem to want to spend over $1000 on their first air rifle. I do not understand that. I have the money but decided to start with under $500 rifles. I have 5. I love my little P35s and one of them is pretty darn competitive with the much more expensive guns on the 30 yard challenge. None of my 5 have required anything other than an occasional O-ring which the compressor has also needed. I don't know how you know what you want at first. Seems more logical to me to start with an Avenger or Marauder or P35 or Stoeger bullshark or any one of a dozen or more other sub $500 airguns that will shoot accurately and let you discover what type of gun your like best. I really like them short and light and the P35 fills that well. It is shorter and lighter than most if not all more expensive airguns too. My Avenger is fine but is so long that I rarely shoot it. It only cost me $300, however, and for that expense I will just hang onto it. If I had a couple thousand dollars in it I don't think I'd feel the same.
 
I
The two logical compressor options to me are a Yong Heng or a GX CS4. Very different but both will cost at least $500 by the time you get them setup the way I would want them. The GX seems to not need much, the YH needs, IMHO, a bottle, fillset, and some extra cooling. I think it's too noisy to routinely use to fill guns. But it works great to fill a bottle. That is what I do with it.

I used to have a "shooting Chrony" chronograph I used with PBs but shot it one too many times. I use $20-30 Chinese chronys now and am very happy with them. They even have rechargable batteries further decreasing expense. You will need targets, at least, but can print them on a printer. I like to shoot into a pellet trap so the lead doesn't go everywhere.

Lots of new airgunners seem to want to spend over $1000 on their first air rifle. I do not understand that. I have the money but decided to start with under $500 rifles. I have 5. I love my little P35s and one of them is pretty darn competitive with the much more expensive guns on the 30 yard challenge. None of my 5 have required anything other than an occasional O-ring which the compressor has also needed. I don't know how you know what you want at first. Seems more logical to me to start with an Avenger or Marauder or P35 or Stoeger bullshark or any one of a dozen or more other sub $500 airguns that will shoot accurately and let you discover what type of gun your like best. I really like them short and light and the P35 fills that well. It is shorter and lighter than most if not all more expensive airguns too. My Avenger is fine but is so long that I rarely shoot it. It only cost me $300, however, and for that expense I will just hang onto it. If I had a couple thousand dollars in it I don't think I'd feel the same.
and you spent how much to find out 1/2 you dont like and still have not experienced an airgun that is worth the money ! And you dont see why someone would do that. Dumb its like scopes buy a leepers and love it cause its so good and shoot someones gun with a $1000-1500 scope and realize the difference!
 
Just don't buy a redwolf and think all you need is a hand pump. At least you have the forum as a good source of information.

Air source- compressor or buying air?
Bottle
Hoses
adapters
Bipod and or bags,
Scope,
Rings
Magazines
Pellets
moderator
Case or bag to hold rifle, tools, pellets, tank
Tools,
Cleaning supplies
A place to lay out and work or clean the gun
Chronograph of some sort
shooting table?
Targets
Target backstop
Safe place to shoot

🤔

Allen
 
  • Like
Reactions: TattoosByJohnnyV
If the OP is considering the Daystate Wolverine R HP in .177, I can share some experiences.

First, you will need a compressor. A GX CS4 will do the trick. A GX CS2 is fine, too, for less $$$.

As a 30 FPE .177, this gun is kind of frugal on compressed air compared to larger caliber guns. The Daystate slingshot valve does I prove the efficiency of the gun.

The HP has the polygonal barrel, slightly choked. It can shoot NSA .178 12.5gr slugs quite accurately. Securely rested, this gun can shoot said slugs sub-MOA at 50 yards with no mods on a calm day. The muzzle velocity is about 980 FPS. The NSA 12.5gr .178 slugs have a BC of .070 (I can verify that). While this is not impressive compared to .22 and .25 slugs, it is still pretty good out to 100 yards. Sitting on the ground with the front end rested on a short tripod, I can shoot 2 MOA groups at 100 yards on a calm day. I think shooting from a good rest can shrink the group size to 1 MOA (haven't tried it, yet)

One can get more out energy of this gun. The factory setting has the valve striker backed up all the way for minimum hammer energy, and yet it is already too much for the factory set regulated pressure of 160 bars. At the loss of shot count, the regulator can be turned up a little to get more muzzle velocity. I don't see any reason to turn the power up any further.

Please note that the Wolverine R HP cannot shoot "regular" pellets accurately because of the 30 FPE power plant. This means any pellet that weighs less than 12 grains will come out way too fast.

Hope this helps provide some data!
 
  • Like
Reactions: rigbymauser
I

and you spent how much to find out 1/2 you dont like and still have not experienced an airgun that is worth the money ! And you dont see why someone would do that. Dumb its like scopes buy a leepers and love it cause its so good and shoot someones gun with a $1000-1500 scope and realize the difference!
I did not want to imply that I do not like my rifles or that you shouldn't like yours regardless of the cost. My point is that there are many rifles under $500 that work quite well. I have 5. You do not have to spend $1000 plus to get a good shooting reliable gun. If you look on the leader board of the 30 yard challenge you will see my P35-25 at 194 this year and my P35-22 at 200 last year. I think I've shot over 190 with all them except possibly the Avenger. I did not notice any scores from you, however. If your guns are so much better than mine you might want to demonstrate that. I agree with you, however, on Leapers scopes. I had one on my Prod, my first PCP and it would not hold zero. And Leapers gave me a return number and then would not fix my scope, send me another, or provide any remedy or even a reply. So no more Leapers for me. Hawke, Athlon, Vector, Arken, and even West Hunter have been fine, however. My Arken is my most expensive and I see a little difference between it and the others but only a little difference. My experience is that $300-500 airguns work pretty well as do scopes around $200 from reputable brands. I'm not trying to say there are no advantages to spending more, just that you do not have to and it makes more sense to me for first time users to start with something in the $500 range.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Solo1 and Shaky2
Seriously, if I had to do it over again, I would go for a GX CS2 as my first compressor. It is cheap, you will need to watch while filling and stop it when you get to your desired fill, which is a good thing to get used to, no matter what compressor you use. It will fill any airgun I know of, and do it fairly fast, like in less than 5 minutes.
I'd go for as expensive gun as you can afford. Not just to have a high end gun, but because it is more enjoyable to have a tunable, accurate rifle with a decent trigger, and a lot of cheaper guns, just don't have all the features. A Marauder is the exception to that rule and also a good starter, but I'm betting 95% of pcp shooters will eventually want more that it has to offer.
I'm sure you're aware you need a scope, a rest maybe, pellets and all that stuff, but with a gun and compressor, you're mostly ready to go.
If you have a rifle and a compressor, you can shoot til the cows come home and never leave the farm.
 
I did not want to imply that I do not like my rifles or that you shouldn't like yours regardless of the cost. My point is that there are many rifles under $500 that work quite well. I have 5. You do not have to spend $1000 plus to get a good shooting reliable gun. If you look on the leader board of the 30 yard challenge you will see my P35-25 at 194 this year and my P35-22 at 200 last year. I think I've shot over 190 with all them except possibly the Avenger. I did not notice any scores from you, however. If your guns are so much better than mine you might want to demonstrate that. I agree with you, however, on Leapers scopes. I had one on my Prod, my first PCP and it would not hold zero. And Leapers gave me a return number and then would not fix my scope, send me another, or provide any remedy or even a reply. So no more Leapers for me. Hawke, Athlon, Vector, Arken, and even West Hunter have been fine, however. My Arken is my most expensive and I see a little difference between it and the others but only a little difference. My experience is that $300-500 airguns work pretty well as do scopes around $200 from reputable brands. I'm not trying to say there are no advantages to spending more, just that you do not have to and it makes more sense to me for first time users to start with something in the $500 range.
And thats great! Really is but when someone says target shooting im thinking 50&100 yds and i bet you can’t shoot a 250 with your avenger! And again it great at 30-40 yds but 100 is a whole different ball of wax. Same for scopes for field target i was pretty happy with a athlon argos 6-24x50 ffp and i did well with it but i just got a helos 6-24x56 ffp and its so much brighter i think it will help my ranging on darker targets. Same for my bench gun jusr put an ares on it and again much brighter and clearer and the extra x lets me see holes much easier. Different tools for different jobs
 
  • Like
Reactions: L.Leon
On the Pcp, buy more gun than you plan to need. So I would go with a 25 cal, 177 doesn't do well with the wind 2nd on the list, a compressor that can fill med to large bottles or tanks, do not buy a sealed unit. Look for one you can get parts for and able to rebuild and the last item, a chronograph, you don't need to spend 300 bucks, 130-150 will buy you decent one. It is expensive to start but hopefully you will have to maintain your gear. I would ask the group before buying anything what their opinion is on the gear you're interested in The Competition Electronics ProChrono DLX Chronograph in white is priced at $147.24 on Amazon I have this one.
 
And thats great! Really is but when someone says target shooting im thinking 50&100 yds and i bet you can’t shoot a 250 with your avenger! And again it great at 30-40 yds but 100 is a whole different ball of wax. Same for scopes for field target i was pretty happy with a athlon argos 6-24x50 ffp and i did well with it but i just got a helos 6-24x56 ffp and its so much brighter i think it will help my ranging on darker targets. Same for my bench gun jusr put an ares on it and again much brighter and clearer and the extra x lets me see holes much easier. Different tools for different jobs
Good point on scopes, I to have the Athlon Argos BTR Gen 2 8-34x56 ffp, and have no problem hitting 8-inch steel at 200 yards. I was using a Athlon Optics Talos BTR 4-14x44.
 
Yes, our hobbies are like women, expensive. But seriously, what would be a good rifle, and what would be a good chrono & compressor to go with it?
Cheap gun? Umarex Gauntlet 2 in .25 or .30 cal.

Expensive gun? FX Impact M3.

Best compressor today? The GX-CS4.

Chrono? The FX V2 is ok, but I went with the FX True Ballistic for the all-around best experience.

Then there are hoses & perhaps SCBA tanks to buy. Don't waste your time with 3000psi/207bar, go straight to 4500psi/310bar.

And the ammo... DonnyFL.com has some legit AEA pellets that are significantly more affordable than JSB anywhere. (Avoid Amazon unless you can find a killer deal, which I never have for ammo)

Optics? I have a https://www.arkenopticsusa.com/prod...lluminated-VPR-Zero-Stop-34mm-Tube-p559097166 ($600) on my .30 cal, as well as a https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0794ZBYNP/ ($80.00) on my .25 cal. They both have allowed me slay MANY yard dragons at ranges from 15 feet to 60 meters.
 
Last edited:
Buy the very best rifle you can manage and then get a cheap Amazon hand pump and a Leapers scope to go with it. Since you want a .177 a hand pump won't be too bad. Four months from now upgrade the Leapers to the best scope you can afford and put the Leapers on something else. Four months later get a GX CS4. A year from now you'll have a kick ass rifle and all the gear to support it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DV Shifty