I'll be 76 later this month. I'm discovering that my patience is wearing thin maintaining PCPs and the associated tanks, fittings, and air compressors. I've always been self sufficient in servicing PCPs and equipment for them. The forums and Youtube are great tools for assisting users how to diagnose and fix most problems. However, it is inevitable that PCPs will develop leaks over time as o-rings harden and deteriorate, losing their ability to hold back high pressure air. In particular, I've found regulators to be a finicky and difficult item to rebuild and readjust to work after rebuilds. I enjoyed tinkering and got a sense of satisfaction when I could troubleshoot and solve my own problems without spending $$ for shipping, repairs, and dealer rebuild costs. Lately it seems I've spent more time chasing leaks and repairing PCPs than I do using them.
I'm going full circle in my shooting hobby interest. I love shooting sports but the savings in PCPs vs. firearms is less than it was when I started gravitating to air guns 25 years ago. Name brand PCPs are very pricy compared to firearm prices. Pellet and slug prices have increased to the point of losing their former price savings over rimfire rounds and reloading costs. The only disadvantage of powder burners is cleaning them after using them. But I have firearms that are 40 plus years old that don't need the rebuilds and servicing that PCPs inevitably require. I feel like the old sheriff Tommy Lee Jones at the end of No Country For Old Men. I'm tired of it all.
Steve, I found your post and reread the entire thread last evening. I also enjoyed our discussion yesterday on compressors.
As we talked about our mutual hobby, it occurred to me that we have similar circumstances. I have seven pretty high end PCPs. Two RAWs ( HM1000x .22, TM1000x .177) two FX Guns ( Royale .22 400 and Mike’s old Boss .30), a Weihrauch .22 Carbine, a Revere .22 side lever and most recently a Taipan Long Vet2 700mm. Also have two nice Anschutz .22 LRs ( 64 MPR and a 1907).
We both have an outdoor local shooting range and I also really can’t target practice in my backyard for fear of neighbors complaining. I am outside city limits and according to the Sheriff, I can legally shoot in backyard but it’s rare when I do.
Having said all of that, maybe you ‘thin the herd’ and keep only one or two of your most reliable PCPs and the same with your PB‘rs. You sell the rest and now have a more manageable stable. I realize you can repair anything, but I sense you want to spend more time shooting than fixing. Me too.
The frustration level will go way down keeping up with leaks in multiple rifles and all the constant tinkering. You’ll shoot more and spend more quality time for the paper target shooting. This seems to strike a good balance between selling everything all at once and reaching a good compromise and selectively keeping your favorites.
p.s. Note to self: “You need to take your own advice.”
The reason this thread is so popular ( I.e., 3,000+ views) is because there are many of us soul searching and you got us all thinking about our inventory of air guns and accessories. Great thread.
