if I may interject an observation about springers and pcps is this
- Thread starter boscoebrea
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This thread is starting to remind me of the Traditional bow vs the compound days. Yeah I am a stick bow shooter 
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It is fussy, which is why i shoot my dreamline daily. The big issue I have is plenum heating in the sun and my performance envelope changing significantly with super "hot" shots for 3 rounds. The springers don't suffer from this as best I can tell.
My circle have been friends since we were kids in the 90s and have always shot air rifles together, but mostly varminting where the first and likely only shot is super important with what we used to do, less so now. ...... Bringing it back to the topic after a drive to tangent land.......
Which is why 1 of them still shoots a 177 springer (known to be reliably consistent with environmentals) , and why I'm chasing tournament level precision and consistency on hunting rigs.
I want somebody to show me/let me try my dream springer for the light trail rig option capable of heavy for caliber pellets. Because I need another airgun for my wife to question
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Yeah, me to! It's as much fun to make a wood bow as it is to shoot it!This thread is starting to remind me of the Traditional bow vs the compound days. Yeah I am a stick bow shooter
Ditto for, atlatls, slings, slingshots, rabbit sticks... all that good stuff.
Cheers!
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Ok, this was with my TX200 .177 today at 50 yds. in 6 to 10 mph gusty winds. When I arrived two .22 rimfire guys said too windy as they packed up and left. So how do you PCP guys view this from a springer? 
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"Boscoe", don't know if you were referring to me. Really, I'm not getting defensive, just stating what I've found works for me, personally. After years away from any kind of gun I started out buying a break barrel. Then I stumbled across PCP videos & knew I had to try one. From the 1st shot I was hooked! Spent about 2 years learning on inexpensive pcp's, at or under your price range, & was amazed by the accuracy (after learning how to tweak them). I seem to be drawn to obsessions that require LOTS of peripherals (drums, astronomy, airguns, etc.) so I wasn't deterred by the pcp equipment factor. I've never looked back, never been happier. Sorry if you misinterpreted my "tone".
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not surprised, some springers and shooters are very good with springers but that's the exception not the rule. generally, shorter distances keep the playing field equal though I have seen some people who can freehand a springer out to 100 yards better than most.
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I can participate there too
springer, pump, co2 or pcp. Compound recurve or longbow. Small block, big block, or ls. Cnc, punch cards or manual dials? Vacuum tubes or solid state? I suppose this means I'm a glutton for punishment doesn't it...
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Only one of my three PCPs can out shoot my Springers. Shucks two of the PCPs can't out shoot my old Sheridan pumpers!
Guess which one is the keeper?
Here are the HWs
You could buy the top three rifles without optics for the price of the one PCP that will outshoot them, and the springers only need pellets. No air.
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I've got 3 nice springers, HW95, TX200 and an R7 and they're all quite accurate. All of them needed some work right out of the box however and none of them were cheap. I could probably match their performance with a sub $500 PCP without trying very hard and none of them could match a $1500 PCP. Figure that an HW30 will cost you $400+ after a tune kit, an HW95 will be closer to $600 and a TX200 can be over $1000 and in my experience they all need to at least be torn down and relubed at a minimum to get decent performance. The TX200 in it's 12 fpe guise might be OK stock. I just know that mine was way too hold sensitive the way I got it at 17 fpe and couldn't come close to matching the performance of a PCP until I tuned it to 12 fpe.
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Another thing to keep in mind about spring guns is that they require a higher level of precision to build right than your average PCP. A break barrel for example has to line up precisely the same with every shot, align properly with the receiver for optics and be strong enough to work as a cocking lever. Then you've got the mechanics of a trigger that has to hold back that massive mainspring while delivering a light, consistent and safe trigger pull.
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I generaly put mine in the 10 ring!15 yards, a year of fine tuning and testing variables, 3000 dollars worth of .22 gun and optic shooting 5 shot group of 23 grain javelin slugs (data collection day, i normally shoot 50-150 yards with this gun) . I hope I'm allowed to hangout with the spring guys too.
View attachment 566122
Sorry I couldn't resist.
Welcome to hanging with the springer guys.
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I don't know? My PCP needs the barrel removed and the chamfer cut. It's sharp edge cuts the pellet and instantly fouls the barrel. Then it shoots beautiful groups like this.
While it's apart I have to make modifications to the compensator, and shroud, to pass air more efficiently.
The trigger is coming around to being decent, but that has been bunch of trial and error. There's also a hammer to adjust. Did I mention that I fried one compressor already.
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Like many others, I have both PCP and Springers. I enjoy shooting springers more. Here's why.
What gets me is that wonderful snick snick sound while cocking the springer rifle and loading a pellet followed by that satisfying thunk noise when closed. Making the shot takes a lot of concentration, a correct hold, the perfect trigger pull and follow through. It is like the perfect arrow shot with my traditional bow. Very satisfying.
PCP's are a work or high wind gun. They excel at pesting or hunting. I can have a horrible hold, mash the trigger and no follow through and still hit my target. Plus you need an air source. Both of mine cost as much as a rifle.
They both require support and at least a working knowledge of the platform. A spring can break and the rifle can still shoot. Once a PCP starts leaking it is only going to get worse. Either way you are on the hook for maintenance and repairs.
I treat all of them like golf clubs. Each one was purchased with a specific goal in mind. They are all a hoot to shoot.
What gets me is that wonderful snick snick sound while cocking the springer rifle and loading a pellet followed by that satisfying thunk noise when closed. Making the shot takes a lot of concentration, a correct hold, the perfect trigger pull and follow through. It is like the perfect arrow shot with my traditional bow. Very satisfying.
PCP's are a work or high wind gun. They excel at pesting or hunting. I can have a horrible hold, mash the trigger and no follow through and still hit my target. Plus you need an air source. Both of mine cost as much as a rifle.
They both require support and at least a working knowledge of the platform. A spring can break and the rifle can still shoot. Once a PCP starts leaking it is only going to get worse. Either way you are on the hook for maintenance and repairs.
I treat all of them like golf clubs. Each one was purchased with a specific goal in mind. They are all a hoot to shoot.
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I needed something smaller to aim atI generaly put mine in the 10 ring!
Sorry I couldn't resist.
Welcome to hanging with the springer guys.
I was given a pile of the cf pistol targets from the 70s to use and they're not for us tight group airgun guysUpvote 0
I can participate there too
I suppose this means I'm a glutton for punishment doesn't it...
Hmmmm... punch cards, manual dials and vacuum tubes Eh?
OK, back at you: Black & White TV, hand mowers and reel to reel tape decks!
Seems we're close to the same vintage
Cheers!
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I've had PCP that would not shoot to the same spot the next day, those that the POI kept changing what seemed like every other moment, and then those that shot fantastic. My issue was the accurate ones were too heavy and low shot count plus the extra tanks and hassle of getting them filled and being tied to them when you needed to do a lot of shooting. I finally ditched all the PCP's and accessories and went back to all spring piston rifles . The spring piston rifles might not be as accurate but out to 50 yards sparrows don't care that I'm only using an R9 to kill them. I've had a few days that I've shot over a tin of pellets (500) at dairies, that would take a lot of air.
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