Budget PCP package I'm assembling, what else am I going to need? TIA

Jump to latest Follow Reply
AmosBurton

AmosBurton

Member
Jul 11, 2022
533
676
Staunton, IL, USA
First off, I'm doing this for hunting squirrel and pests around the house (groundhog, squirrel, and raccoon) with the occasional target shooting session. Second, I've got a budget of less than $1K (can't piss off the boss). I already have a .25cal Hatsan 95 QE which I love, crappy scope and all, it shoots great. I want to stick to keep the same caliber to share ammo.
What I'm looking at is the Air Venturi Avenger in .25cal with the wood stock and a Yong Heng compressor. That's less than $700. The gun comes with a male fitting, will I need something else to connect to the compressor?
Thanks,
Ben
 
i got this one last time i was shopping for a scope... it's held up nicely and has a good warranty:

and definitely "budget friendly"
hammersscope001.JPG
 
Upvote 0
Booder98 said:
I haven't seen any comments about it being particularly fragile compared to other scopes, but it does have a lifetime warranty just in case it gets broken.
Click to expand...
always read the negative reviews first. i skip 4 and 5 star ratings and find out if the problems people do have are ones i can live with.

the 1-star reviews just on Amazon turned me off almost immediately. there's plenty of other choices. like a hammers, utg, even Hatsan makes some fine budget scopes.

good luck, keep us posted!

#pdxfrank
 
Upvote 0
pdxFrank said:
curious... what is a PCP going to offer you that you can't get in, say, a break-barrel?
Click to expand...
Good question. A lot less movement in the woods between shots. Will it matter? Probably not...
I also want to shoot slugs for the longer groundhog shots.
And I just want one, I wanted one before I got the Hatsan. I didn't get one then because I wasn't sure I'd like it more than using my good old Marlin Model 60 .22lr.
I should have mentioned I have a Vortex red dot and their 3X flip away magnifier that would go on the gun.
 
  • Like
Reactions: pdxFrank
Upvote 0
pdxFrank said:
curious... what is a PCP going to offer you that you can't get in, say, a break-barrel?
Click to expand...
I would say if one is going to shoot .30cal and above pcp. However you make a good point for smaller calibers as a break barrel can have enough power for small game. Guess it just comes down to a person's preference. I did see a .30cal break barrel in my search for big bore break barrels.
 
  • Like
Reactions: pdxFrank
Upvote 0
Amos,
The Air Venturi Avenger (Wood Stock) is one choice, however, I'd also consider the DAR Generation 3. Casino7095, YouTube airgun reviewer, claims DAR stock is much nicer and more metal than the heavily plastic Avenger, however, DAR lacks the ability for quick tuning adjustments, that Avenger has. The DAR lists for $499, but I noticed a code on the Airgun Detective's YouTube video comments section, "Detectives," that might offer a $100 discount. A third choice is the JTS Airacuda Max, which is reported to be released soon. Gerry52 is correct in directing to Biohazardman's Yong Heng posts, share if you still have questions. Best of Luck, WM
 
  • Like
Reactions: AmosBurton
Upvote 0
yes... Yes... another one joining the darkside. :devilish:
You have the barebones essentials, what you may want to also purchase are things that will keep your rifle in good shape and equipment that will enhance your shooting experience:

What you have:
-Avenger (Rifle)
-Scope
-Pellets
-Yong Heng (Compressor) - as mentioned before, in other replies, look into Yong Heng posts to learn about how to properly run this compressor (what addons you may want, the correct oil to run, and overall instructions and maintenance)

What you may need:
-Moisture Separator (Included in the Yong Heng posts, but this is important. You'll want a sieve similar to the Tuxing gold filter to keep the air that you're putting into your gun dry)
-Moderator (Avenger's have a bark that may not be appropriate for your shooting area - esp in .25 caliber)

What you may want:
-Chronograph (this will be useful in tuning your rifle - a crappy $30 chinese one will suffice)
-Range Finder (this makes life easier, especially when shooting long distances)
-Ballistics Calculator App (I use StrelokPro and love it - It's like cheating, plug in your variables, and it'll churn out the necessary adjustments)

You'll inevitably accumulate more stuff than necessary on your path, but going broke and having "the boss" yell at you once in a while is part of the journey :)

Stay Safe, and Have Fun!
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: AmosBurton
Upvote 0
Depending on how much noise you can make you may need to add a moderator to the Avenger. I did. If you factor in that expense the SPA P35 could be less expensive. It can be around 85 db with a simple hair curler mod to it's shroud. Comes in 25, 22, and 177 - I have one of each. I have a long Avenger too and I get better accuracy from the P35s and I like the lower amount of plastic in the P35s. Mid cocking too.

I don't know if you really need added moisture filtration to fill a gun off a YH but it wouldn't be a bad idea. But I would not get the big gold one, that's overkill IMHO. I use a much smaller and cheaper black one filled with color changing dessicant beads and they show very little water getting past the stock cotton filter, and I fill my 45 minute SCBA bottle. I also vent about every 5 minutes. But a gun fill shouldn't take 5 minutes. It would be good to change the cotton filter after each fill unless you squeeze it and nothing comes out. I got a big bag of them pretty cheap from Alibabba. Get some good oil for the YH, something that could be used in a pump creating breathable air. It isn't cheap but I think it will keep my YH running longer.

I have a Athlon Talos 6-24x50 on my P35-22 and I like it. The head box is super tight at 24X, however. I have a Primary Arms 4-16 on my P35-177. It is less expensive and is a pretty nice scope. If the budget gets tight I use a Hawke Vantage on my Prod and it works great.
 
  • Like
Reactions: moodyblues
Upvote 0
I recommend a small rail on the forearm so you can attach a bipod. If you have a sling swivel stud, you can get a small rail adapter that screws onto it. For the bipod, get one that has non-rotating rubber feet and click adjustable leg positions every 45°. I have found the bipod to be a very versatile extra hand hold and brace against door and window frames, trees and other objects, while pesting. You fold one of the legs forward at 45° and it's perfect for bracing against things, allowing you to lean into the butt a little bit, increasing shoulder pressure and stability with the right foot stance. Sometimes I grab the opposite bipod leg with my off hand to further steady my sight picture or I put my off hand on the same surface that the other bipod leg is touching and use my wrist and forearm to support the other bipod leg for the steadiest hold while standing.

Racing like this is especially helpful when shooting up at high angles into trees.

Using a bipod this way, for bracing, works very well for me and is the reason why I specified rubber feet that do not spin. Sometimes while bracing, the foot will roll off of tree bark or whatever object I'm resting at on. Not all bipods have this so you may spend a little more for something like the atlas bt46.

Regards,
Feinwerk
 
  • Like
Reactions: AmosBurton
Upvote 0
pdxFrank said:
the complaints about how easily it could break would turn me off to that scope.
Click to expand...
I have that scope on a Weihrauch WH100. I'd like something not Chiwanese, but that isnt in the budget right now. All that said, I really like the scope and have had zero issues; no "zero" drift and it did take a tumble and a knock in the field.
 
  • Like
Reactions: pdxFrank
Upvote 0
In my opinion OP the avenger wood stock in 25 is a great choice. I have one and love it. The trigger isn’t as nice as my fx streamline but other than that it really shoots just as well and is way more versatile in the ammo you can shoot out of it. For hunting I would recommend hades at 850 fps. Don’t push them faster or you will hate them. Slow them to 850 and I would argue they become the best pellet for the avenger over all and are devastating on small game. Mine has been perfectly reliable for nearly a year.
The only things I would recommend are an aftermarket barrel band and a Donny fl adapter. These will take out any of the POI shifts you may read about. The final thing is I shimmed the back of my scope with pieces of beer can. For some reason these avengers seem to shoot super low out of the box. Don’t know why and this is the one negative of the gun. Really wish someone would make aftermarket picatiny rail pieces with like 30 moa built into them.
 
Upvote 0
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back
Home
Forums
Resources
Menu