If you started from scratch now as far as airguns (but you know what you know), what would you do differently? I ask because of curiosity, and to tap into some of your experience. Thanks,
If you started now?
- Thread starter ColoradoPete
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Knowing what I know now, I’d buy a .22 Taipan Veteran and a .22 Thomas HPX and call it done.
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I probably would have stopped at the '68 Sheridan BS because I have spent a whole bunch of money just to hit that same hole in the target since then. lol
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I would've bought a dive compressor and scba and a chinesium mini lathe along with a premium level gun and skipped money-pitting crosmans and hand pumping. A dozen polished turds (so to speak) is a big pile of crap with the same price tag in the end as buying 1 great gun with good glass.
I wouldn't chase high power slugs and wouldn't have wasted so much money on cheap glass.
Don't worry, I still love the pre-china crosmans.
Buy good glass, a 500 dollar scope and a little fine tuning of the spring and pellet choice and a disco can shoot every bit as good as an fx. I've got almost 6 grand worth of fx not getting used because the disco is lighter and lower powered but does head shot pigeons all the same for less.
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I would have gone directly to AirMaks Katran(s) for all my shooting needs. A Standard bottle.22(400mm) tuned low for rats & short range pest birds. A Long bottle .22(520mm)
for all around shooting & longer range pest birds . And last , a Long bottle HP .25 for groundhogs. AND a GX compressor ( liquid cooled) ! I have the .22 Long
bottle that I purchased a few years ago & a HP version ( UA moving sale , came last week) and a .25 Long BHP I got a few weeks ago( again, the UA sale). The
GX compressor is my main unit , w/ a ROVAIR backup( that puked & had to be rebuilt
) and I have two Hill handpumps , a MK4 ( original air source) & a MK5. The ROVAIR & a hand pump stay in the vehicle for field use , the GX4 is in the Man Cave, along w/ the old MK 4 pump. I try to pump a tube gun up everyday for some cardio( yeah ,I'm nuts!). I do have Stoegers Rangers & a Bullshark (tubes) that have done a good job for the $$. The Katrans are not complicated to adjust the hammer as are the Stoegers, this is ALL I want to mess with, other than a few tweaks on the trigger screws (6-8oz Katrans & 1~lb Stoegers). Oh , I did pick up a 90ci CF tank some time back for ?? just to have , used it twice , once for a friend & once for me. Honestly tanks aren't my thing. All scopes are 4x16 & 6x24 ,some FFP , but all $300-$450. I won't spend more for any glass except range-finding Binos.Upvote 0
The only thing I would do differently is buy my compressor right away instead of working with a dive shop.
These new members trying to get their 10 posts can make for some pretty interesting topics.
These new members trying to get their 10 posts can make for some pretty interesting topics.
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I would try to cover more bases with fewer guns. A .22 Black Wolf and a .25 FX king with a GRS stock and a compressor should account for my multitudes of BR and FT sins.
Ron
Ron
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Wouldn’t change a thing… Started with a Gamo Urban .22 and a handpump… The kills at distance I made with that gun compared to my previous experience with springers? Left me seriously impressed with the potential of PCPs. An unregulated Brocock Compatto was my second and it simply was stellar. I regret parting with it still… My particular journey was incremental as my wallet allowed, but looking back the only thing I would do differently? Purchase a high quality HPAC on my first, not second go around…
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Not too much different really. I started with a Crosman 180, then found a Sheridan blue streak. I've never ventured all that far away from those. Ended up happy with the QB77 and QB78 series rifles.
HPA has just never appealed to me and neither have springers.
Cheers,
J~
HPA has just never appealed to me and neither have springers.
Cheers,
J~
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Not much. I lurked multiple airgun forums and learned. Then I bought too many guns anyway. I would not change a thing.
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I wouldn’t change a thing. Every gun I have owned has been a source of experience and learning.
I am in the process trinmming the herd to 3 that will cover all my uses.
Looking back I wish I had bought the scuba compressor earlier but until you know the hook is firmly in your lip it is a lot of money. Well worth it of you are deep enough into the rabbit hole.
I am in the process trinmming the herd to 3 that will cover all my uses.
Looking back I wish I had bought the scuba compressor earlier but until you know the hook is firmly in your lip it is a lot of money. Well worth it of you are deep enough into the rabbit hole.
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Ones I can recommend.
A decent compressor is getting up there with being an essential item. I use a Coltri MCH6.
Buy decent quality riflescopes and Red Dots. Athlon is my #1 choice by far.
Get good qaulity rings and mounts too.
Genrally using pellets for close to mid distance and slugs for longer distances.
The latest version Thomas Slug gun for Benchrest which could cross over for benched varminting/long range varminting, or for long range on steel. There's no other airgun as solidly built and precise as these.
Likewise for Field Target comps the Thomas FT, which can be converted to a pistol as well, if one has the right size version. Super nice guns that are built like tanks.
"So far for me" for a semiauto, the Steyr ProX is tops IMHO. They shoot very well for a semi, are reliable if kept within the optimal pressure range for proper function, but however a little heavy and not sure I'd be walking around hunting with mine a bunch, well haven't. These are fun guns if you just want to shoot fast on steel.
My opinion could change soon once I get some time behind my new Western Morax Venom semi, which I haven't shot yet, but there's zero doubt I'd rather use the Venom for walk around hunting on small game at normal airgun distances due to it's lightweight. I like semi's a lot.
AGT Vulcan 3 for ELR with 60gr Altaros slugs having a .245 G1 BC. Super reliable, surprisingly precise, and a best bang for the buck.
FWB 600-603 series for 10 meter because it's a single pump pneumatic Olympic match rifle. Best to use the aperture sights due to scope mounting issues.
Low power plinking my Steyr LGB1 is a wonderful little rifle for this and it has a very unique cocking mechanism.
The older FX Royales are decent.
Steyr PL5 or LP50 for a semiauto Olympic match pistols.
A decent compressor is getting up there with being an essential item. I use a Coltri MCH6.
Buy decent quality riflescopes and Red Dots. Athlon is my #1 choice by far.
Get good qaulity rings and mounts too.
Genrally using pellets for close to mid distance and slugs for longer distances.
The latest version Thomas Slug gun for Benchrest which could cross over for benched varminting/long range varminting, or for long range on steel. There's no other airgun as solidly built and precise as these.
Likewise for Field Target comps the Thomas FT, which can be converted to a pistol as well, if one has the right size version. Super nice guns that are built like tanks.
"So far for me" for a semiauto, the Steyr ProX is tops IMHO. They shoot very well for a semi, are reliable if kept within the optimal pressure range for proper function, but however a little heavy and not sure I'd be walking around hunting with mine a bunch, well haven't. These are fun guns if you just want to shoot fast on steel.
My opinion could change soon once I get some time behind my new Western Morax Venom semi, which I haven't shot yet, but there's zero doubt I'd rather use the Venom for walk around hunting on small game at normal airgun distances due to it's lightweight. I like semi's a lot.
AGT Vulcan 3 for ELR with 60gr Altaros slugs having a .245 G1 BC. Super reliable, surprisingly precise, and a best bang for the buck.
FWB 600-603 series for 10 meter because it's a single pump pneumatic Olympic match rifle. Best to use the aperture sights due to scope mounting issues.
Low power plinking my Steyr LGB1 is a wonderful little rifle for this and it has a very unique cocking mechanism.
The older FX Royales are decent.
Steyr PL5 or LP50 for a semiauto Olympic match pistols.
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Skip .177 break barrel
Skip .22 break barrel
Skip Semiauto PCP
Start with Air Force Condor .22
Modify the Condor to figure out the engineering
Then start buying old used rifles
Still would buy my Niksan and Reximex rifles new.
Skip .22 break barrel
Skip Semiauto PCP
Start with Air Force Condor .22
Modify the Condor to figure out the engineering
Then start buying old used rifles
Still would buy my Niksan and Reximex rifles new.
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Don't think I'd change anything. I had to WORK to get my initial guns (& myself) to perform acceptably and by the time better equipment came my way I found myself to be a competent shooter. I'm glad things happened as they did & don't want to screw with success.
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If you want to be well rounded and knowledgeable, there are no shortcuts. So personally I wouldn’t change anything. But that’s not how everyone is with any hobby. If you’re the type that gets enjoyment just floating on the surface of a hobby, this forum can get you pointed in the right direction and save a guy some aggravation. The key is to absorb information. Even if it goes against what you want or believe to be true because of something you saw or read. Don’t base decisions off advertising or short term reviews/results. One of the most brilliant statements I’ve ever heard on this forum is something I’ve been preaching forever but just never summed it up with two words. This hobby is full of half truths. Those half truths are responsible for so much money being spent and wasted.
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