Going the other way… Atomic XR #2

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L.Leon

L.Leon

Member
Aug 29, 2018
8,293
8,933
NY, Ulster County, United States
My PCP journey started with a Gamo Urban and a hand-pump. My second PCP was a Brocock Compatto . Both guns were astounding to me in what I could do with them. But I got tired of pumping them both and purchased an SCBA along with a Stickman adapter. Then the true cost of traveling to get that SCBA filled? Led me to a HPA compressor and then a bottle gun, a Bantam Sniper HR. This quickly became a costly, slippery slope… I got into Airguns to shoot inexpensively, what happened? Enter the Atomic XR in March 2022 and it blows my mind. 17 FPE of outsized power, in a small, light package, it is a pleasure to handle this little beastie. Hundreds of pests down, tons of plinking, great groups out to 50 yards with CPHPs. The Atomic XR has proven itself to me over and over again. That it is so easily pumped by hand? A big plus, no compressors or bottles needed. Since its arrival all my other Airguns just sit. So I’m back to square one. My Compatto and Bantam Sniper HR are on their way to AOA. They have been traded in for an Atomic XR “We the Plinkers” package. My two Atomic XR should keep me satisfied for the long run. It feels good to not be dependent on my HPA compressor or, SCBAs. Yes, I will continue to use my compressor. But when it finally dies, and can’t be rebuilt? I’ll just continue hand pumping as long as I can. I use my Atomic XR as if bow hunting, I get close. Small game and pests, sub 50 yards in good conditions are toast. I came to PCPs because more “power” (.22 rimfire) meant “less” shooting opportunities. Then the same thing happened in my situations with 30 FPE PCPs, too powerful, even at the lowest TP setting to use inside buildings or around livestock and equipment. We all use Airguns as we will, this is my journey. Did I happen to mention I really love my Atomic XR?

P.S. The Compatto and Bantam Sniper also had hundreds of kills on rats and starlings. Both fine guns, I just want smaller and lighter as I age.
 
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L.Leon said:
My PCP journey started with a Gamo Urban and a hand-pump. My second PCP was a Brocock Compatto . Both guns were astounding to me in what I could do with them. But I got tired of pumping them both and purchased an SCBA along with a Stickman adapter. Then the true cost of traveling to get that SCBA filled? Led me to a HPA compressor and then a bottle gun, a Bantam Sniper HR. This quickly became a costly, slippery slope… I got into Airguns to shoot inexpensively, what happened? Enter the Atomic XR in March 2022 and it blows my mind. 17 FPE of outsized power, in a small, light package, it is a pleasure to handle this little beastie. Hundreds of pests down, tons of plinking, great groups out to 50 yards with CPHPs. The Atomic XR has proven itself to me over and over again. That it is so easily pumped by hand? A big plus, no compressors or bottles needed. Since its arrival all my other Airguns just sit. So I’m back to square one. My Compatto and Bantam Sniper HR are on their way to AOA. They have been traded in for an Atomic XR “We the Plinkers” package. My two Atomic XR should keep me satisfied for the long run. It feels good to not be dependent on my HPA compressor or, SCBAs. Yes, I will continue to use my compressor. But when it finally dies, and can’t be rebuilt? I’ll just continue hand pumping as long as I can. I use my Atomic XR as if bow hunting, I get close. Small game and pests, sub 50 yards in good conditions are toast. I came to PCPs because more “power” (.22 rimfire) meant “less” shooting opportunities. Then the same thing happened in my situations with 30 FPE PCPs, too powerful, even at the lowest TP setting to use inside buildings or around livestock and equipment. We all use Airguns as we will, this is my journey. Did I happen to mention I really love my Atomic XR?

P.S. The Compatto and Bantam Sniper also had hundreds of kills on rats and starlings. Both fine guns, I just want smaller and lighter as I age.
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Sounds like a good plan. The Atomic sure is a keeper!
 
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I love the entire precept that you've adopted in this airgun journey. I'm finding that where I derive the most "fun" from airguns is syncing up quite nicely with what you're presenting here.

The more I play with high power stuff, the more I enjoy my sub 20fpe pcps. Higher shot count, cheaper projectiles, more easily obtained air (mostly cuz so much less of it is needed), etc. Lots of pros, few cons.

I've got 135 yards off the back porch, yet find myself shooting the sub 20fpe guns at regular field target range (10-55yards) more often than not. Today for example, played with a couple guns in the gunroom, but only got one out to shoot, and it was a sub 20 fpe gun.

As you know, been doing the Ghost review....Im highly anticipating converting back to .177/20fpe (from current 50fpe) for all the regular field target matches this summer.

I call it the "do more with less" mindset.
 
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Luis.....CONGRATULATIONS!!! That is the right way to get what you want without having to open your wallet too wide! Brococks are to me Daystates, but, in tactical form! I kinda did the same thing as you when I sold my Regal & Compatto to acquire my RAW....opposite of you going more compact....went with a much longer PCP. I do miss the Compatto for it's compact nature. I do have a Prod!
 
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L.Leon said:
My PCP journey started with a Gamo Urban and a hand-pump. My second PCP was a Brocock Compatto . Both guns were astounding to me in what I could do with them. But I got tired of pumping them both and purchased an SCBA along with a Stickman adapter. Then the true cost of traveling to get that SCBA filled? Led me to a HPA compressor and then a bottle gun, a Bantam Sniper HR. This quickly became a costly, slippery slope… I got into Airguns to shoot inexpensively, what happened? Enter the Atomic XR in March 2022 and it blows my mind. 17 FPE of outsized power, in a small, light package, it is a pleasure to handle this little beastie. Hundreds of pests down, tons of plinking, great groups out to 50 yards with CPHPs. The Atomic XR has proven itself to me over and over again. That it is so easily pumped by hand? A big plus, no compressors or bottles needed. Since its arrival all my other Airguns just sit. So I’m back to square one. My Compatto and Bantam Sniper HR are on their way to AOA. They have been traded in for an Atomic XR “We the Plinkers” package. My two Atomic XR should keep me satisfied for the long run. It feels good to not be dependent on my HPA compressor or, SCBAs. Yes, I will continue to use my compressor. But when it finally dies, and can’t be rebuilt? I’ll just continue hand pumping as long as I can. I use my Atomic XR as if bow hunting, I get close. Small game and pests, sub 50 yards in good conditions are toast. I came to PCPs because more “power” (.22 rimfire) meant “less” shooting opportunities. Then the same thing happened in my situations with 30 FPE PCPs, too powerful, even at the lowest TP setting to use inside buildings or around livestock and equipment. We all use Airguns as we will, this is my journey. Did I happen to mention I really love my Atomic XR?

P.S. The Compatto and Bantam Sniper also had hundreds of kills on rats and starlings. Both fine guns, I just want smaller and lighter as I age.
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It’s to bad that you are going to have two inferior Atomics and not at least have one superior Ranger.
 
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Franklink said:
Will both Atomic XRs be the same caliber? Seems the one you've been playing with for awhile is a .22....perhaps a .177 for the one currently being traded in?
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It will be another .22, set up differently as received... My current one, to be used mainly as my pester. The second one? To play around with different scope setups, pellets, maybe a Wraith Mini or Pard, etc. TBD.
 
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L.Leon said:
My PCP journey started with a Gamo Urban and a hand-pump. My second PCP was a Brocock Compatto . Both guns were astounding to me in what I could do with them. But I got tired of pumping them both and purchased an SCBA along with a Stickman adapter. Then the true cost of traveling to get that SCBA filled? Led me to a HPA compressor and then a bottle gun, a Bantam Sniper HR. This quickly became a costly, slippery slope… I got into Airguns to shoot inexpensively, what happened? Enter the Atomic XR in March 2022 and it blows my mind. 17 FPE of outsized power, in a small, light package, it is a pleasure to handle this little beastie. Hundreds of pests down, tons of plinking, great groups out to 50 yards with CPHPs. The Atomic XR has proven itself to me over and over again. That it is so easily pumped by hand? A big plus, no compressors or bottles needed. Since its arrival all my other Airguns just sit. So I’m back to square one. My Compatto and Bantam Sniper HR are on their way to AOA. They have been traded in for an Atomic XR “We the Plinkers” package. My two Atomic XR should keep me satisfied for the long run. It feels good to not be dependent on my HPA compressor or, SCBAs. Yes, I will continue to use my compressor. But when it finally dies, and can’t be rebuilt? I’ll just continue hand pumping as long as I can. I use my Atomic XR as if bow hunting, I get close. Small game and pests, sub 50 yards in good conditions are toast. I came to PCPs because more “power” (.22 rimfire) meant “less” shooting opportunities. Then the same thing happened in my situations with 30 FPE PCPs, too powerful, even at the lowest TP setting to use inside buildings or around livestock and equipment. We all use Airguns as we will, this is my journey. Did I happen to mention I really love my Atomic XR?

P.S. The Compatto and Bantam Sniper also had hundreds of kills on rats and starlings. Both fine guns, I just want smaller and lighter as I age.
Click to expand...
outstanding post I think I am going to buy a Huben K1 for longer distance hunting and an Atomic Xr for shorter range. Also having the Atomic will solve another problem if I fly to florida to do Igunna hunting I can just bring a pump instead of compressor or air tank I am also looking at the Huben GK1 Pistol
 
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L.Leon said:
@peebrainz, Not really, as I’m pumping slow and under 50 strokes… But will inspect the cyclinder at some future point and report truthfully. I do still have my SCBAs and HPA compressor. As the Spring and Summer come on and the shooting volume goes up? They will come into play. I’m just not overly dependent on them is all.
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@LLeon I am new to the sport what pump are you using I plan on using it in florida do you think I need a filter
 
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@jgg765, I’m using an Air Venturi G7S pump I got years ago. You can get something comparable much less expensively now. Do a search on hand pumps here on AGN. I don’t currently have a filter on my hand pump, others might feel differently.

jgg765 said:
outstanding post I think I am going to buy a Huben K1 for longer distance hunting and an Atomic Xr for shorter range. Also having the Atomic will solve another problem if I fly to florida to do Igunna hunting I can just bring a pump instead of compressor or air tank I am also looking at the Huben GK1 Pistol
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You’ll find the Atomic XR quite capable on small pest out to 60 yards, depending on shooters skill and conditions.
 
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