Other Looking for a premium PCP - what are the top-tier brands now?

$500 and under entry level, $1000 intermediate, around $2000 premium.
There are a bunch of companies charging a premium price. I would avoid brand new technology.
My next purchase will not be a new release. It will be a rifle that has been around a few years, while making small improvements to the same design.
I've been looking at Air-Maks Arms for my next. I like that their guns are mostly unchanged over the years, but improved on. They addressed their regulator issues by going to huma air for their expertise.

RAW punches above their weight especially the ones that were final tuned by Martin.

Ghost

MikeWarner said:

I'm starting to research my next high-end PCP airgun purchase and feel a bit out of the loop on the current market. The options seem to have exploded in recent years!

I'm looking for something in the premium segment - exceptional build quality, outstanding out-of-the-box accuracy, and modern engineering. While I'm familiar with the usual suspects like Daystate, FX, and Airgun Technology, I'm curious to know what other top-tier or "boutique" brands I should be considering.

Have you discovered any newer or perhaps underrated manufacturers that truly compete at the highest level? What brands impress you the most with their innovation and performance right now?

I'd really appreciate your insights and any personal experiences. Thanks in advance for helping me expand my list!

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Daystate Blackwolf - lovely especially if you get the “right barrel“ prepped for it!

Hard to beat a Thomas for Bench or field target but they are mission specific and you will wait a long time for it.

American Arms Paradigm checks a lot of boxes.

I have always been impressed by the RAW lineup, especially when Martin is involved in the build.

I'm very fond of my (5) Weihrauch airguns, I've had a pair of the HW100 PCPs (.177 & .22) that have preformed very well over the years.

The HW100 is well designed, well made, accurate and reliable. Wood, steel and aluminum construction in a traditional format.

IMHO, the magazine system is the best in the world - it's simple and idiot proof - haven't has a problem or mis-feed in many thousands of shots.

My .22 gets around 33 shots at 30 fpe from a 200 bar fill.

Cheers!

It will help if you define your main use for the rifle.

Two rifles that I’ve been looking into lately are the Airmaks Katran and the Epic Two. Both of these are priced into the “upper levels” of the current market; especially the Epic Two. These are both “rifle length” rifles and not bullpup designs; although both companies also make bullpup models as well. I don’t have any personal experience with either one but they do seem rather interesting to me so far.
Kenny

Scout epoch it is probabbly the best but not so popular due to high price tag but is bulpup all the time new updates ,heavy bullbarrels for slugs long range or tiny pipes for pellets. It have the bulpup design and it have wify electronics controlling the power with touchscreens it is just the better version of Daystate. Otherwise best value will be probabbly Fx Dynamic great power changable calibers, capable to shoot long range over 500 yards. Kind of most realiable is AGT vulcan 3 but no outside adjustments but you can find it for a thousand bucks used. Powerfull and accurate and reliable is also RTI Mora, winner of lot of the competitions latley with smart design for troubleshooting and made for easy maintance without disasemble the whole airgun. With numbered holes to identify o-ring leakage. Mora is about the same price tag as Fx impact m4 or FX panthera/dynamic sniper. And somewhere at the lower budget price tag best would be avenger x bulpup with accurate slug barrel and maybe hatsan blitz 777 full auto with folding stock doing 2 ich groups at 100 yards with slugs and chocked barrel for pellets. Other full auto highest quality and price tag would be western rattler .30 or semi-auto in .45 or long version .45. Their semi-auto budget Western SideWinder however is good only with pellets.

Taipan slash
Epic 1 or 2
Skout
AAA Evol
RTI Mora
Airmaks Krait pro

I think you pretty much hit the mark with the brands you listed. I would ad Skout to the list. US made and great support. Exceptional build quality. Have to like a bullpup platform though.

The only airgun I would consider buying today is the RTI Mora, but only after they put a solid lower Arca rail on it And fix the self detaching butt pad. There are workarounds but at that price I'm unwilling to fix someone else's mistake. To be honest, I have zero desire for a semi auto as they are not as reliable and are being regulated in more and more areas. I am also not interested in any electronic guns. I tried a Delta Wolf. I'm not going back. Maybe for target shooting or competition they are practical, but to me they are not practical for hunting, my main purpose.

dgeesaman said:

RAW punches above their weight especially the ones that were final tuned by Martin.

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I can agree with this. My buddies transitional period Martin/af hmx1000 was really ready to roll at a high level vs my impact m3. I like my fx's but the raw impressed me once I could understand the logic behind some of its weirdness

My vote would be a slash or AAA. I'm not a bullpup guy though. I have had several and still have one(delta for now). Great gun. Just not for me hunting. Now I've never owned either of the ones I mentioned but will soon one or the other.

rangur1 said:

Taipan slash
Epic 1 or 2
Skout
AAA Evol
RTI Mora
Airmaks Krait pro

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I'm missing the Slash, but like @rangur1 I have a couple of Vet 2 tactical and I have an RTI P3 instead of the Mora. I have 2 Airmaks Kraits - 22 and 25. Close your eyes and pick - they're all good. I'm currently working on selling/trading for a Skout...