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I think I have been well satisfied with all of my airgun purchases as an adult, starting with my Benji 397PA back in '95 or '96. When I first wanted to get into PCPs 11 or 12 years ago and saw what the initial cost would be, I decided to be very careful about what I bought. It paid off to the extent that I am very satisfied with my choices and cannot think of anything significant I would change. I stayed away from YouTube reviews, because I frankly can't stand them or most any content on YouTube, with the exception of the Obscurest Vinyl collection. Most of my research was done here or on the GTA and I took my time. I won't say I saved any money, but I can say that I spent it well because I still enjoy all of them.
 
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I cost-off my hobby purchases based on how much I use that particular item... a $300 airgun used rarely is "more expensive" than a $3,000 one that's used all the time. It's the entertainment value that's important to me.

That being said, I have several similarly priced airguns that have lower value that their peers. In hindsight, knowing what I know now, I could have avoided those ones. Still, it's all part of the learning experience and I don't regret the purchases.

My interests cover several disciplines. Guess that from the practical standpoint, I have many more airguns than I really need. From the hobby perspective, I have just the right amount. 😁

To answer the OP, I don't think that starting over would have changed much.

Cheers!
 
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I got into PCP’s a little over 10 years ago, back then there were no cheap guns or Chinese compressors. There were some reasonably priced used Bauers to be had but they were still more than I wanted to pay, I wished I’d bought one. I ended up converting a Hammerli 850 to HPA as my first PCP. That gun still shoots great and has never leaked and it cost me $550 by the time I did everything to it I wanted. Many guns later, I have decided that you just can’t beat Eastern European bullpups. Taipans especially.
 
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Ratzy said:
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.
Click to expand...
Recently, P/U a Condor .25 SS, converted to .20 CO2, 1000 shots per fill, it's a fun AG.
 
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I would skip the SCBA tank, Yong Hengs and clones, going directly to a GX CS3 compressor and CS1 clone for backup. In other words, direct fill my guns, at the range and make all that simpler.

Guns, I would have taken Lorne's advice (Airhead Airguns, Manitoba) and begun with PCP instead of springers. I would have avoided .177 & .25 and stayed with .22 from the beginning.

In PCP, had I started with my (2) FX Steamlines and added a third, such as my DRS or even Gauntlet, I would have been thousands ahead, and avoided much frustration.

Similarly to Vetmx's comments, "But that’s not how everyone is with any hobby.".

Perhaps the most challenging is trying to learn from the limited context of most posts.

People will state what someone should buy/do, but it is rare that anyone will mention the "Why" or the "How".

The 20 meter, off hand target shooter, the Olympic Target shooter, the hunter, or the 150 yard silhouette shooter will be unhappy if they try to switch places, no matter how well they do in their present circumstances, IMO.
 
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would have bought a Daystate Huntsman Regal Lefty and the Morini pistol lefty i did buy long ago . then i would only have bought the Mac 1 USFT a few years ago
But if i actually did that i would need a small fork lift to move my stash of pellets i would have collected all these years . so probably the same amount of cash .
 
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Chukar60 said:
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.
Click to expand...
Alkin W31 upright compressor, Thomas, Redwolf, Steyr HfT, Steyr ProX10, Brocock Ghost, TM1000 pistol - done!
 
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✺ Well, all the learning that took place in 8 years as I went from bottom-of-the-barrel break-barrel — to China PCP — to quality PCP — that journey I would totally miss....


✺ Same for scopes: From a scope-shipped-with-gun kit (with 100y parallax) — to China-fully-functioning airgun scope — to tier-2 scope — that journey I would as well totally miss....


▪ Learning and (really!) understanding airgunning for me has become part of the hobby I enjoy, not just the shooting part.
▪ Just like for others for whom the in-depth modding of their guns is part of the hobby — not just the finished modded gun.


And in the beginning I could not fathom JUST HOW IMPORTANT this hobby would become, as far as time and money goes.
I thought this would be a nice hobby — but THIS extraordinarily FUN and interesting?! No way I would have guessed that.



It's been a fun journey.
Thanks for accompanying me here on AGN! 😊

Matthias
 
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It's a hobby, so discretionary spending is discretionary.;)
I've been in this rabbit hole since 2008 (1978 w/crosman 766)
I jumped back in with a Walmart Beeman R2 .177 & .22 cal springer setup, which I promptly returned, and bought a Gamo Silent Cat .177. After navigating forums I bought a trigger upgrade for it. Then jumped into pcp with a refurb Marauder .22 and hand pump in ~2012 from PA. I quickly jumped on a used 3440 scuba tank and my wife's bosses son who owned a scuba shop. From there I sold the Marauder for what I paid because it was a heavy sumbitch. I bought a Marauder pistol and fell in love. I have about $1.7k in parts for a P-rod build that I paid to Jim Gaska and Tim Hill to build a longer carbine parts, basically to build a $230 regulated Fortitude clone.🤔😒
I have my HW30, 50, 57, and 95 springers to shoot for cathartic shooting, but also have a FX compact panthera and stoeger bullshark .22's to shoot in the back yard range now.
 
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ColoradoPete said:
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,
Click to expand...
Stopped with the Taipan Veteran Compact ... got it right for my style and situation. Accurate, simple, mouse quiet for backyard pesting or truck gun. I would NEVER buy new from a vendor or chase the latest BS in features. I'd shop AN classifieds as the members here have for the vast majority of the transactions, done me right or better.
 
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cavedweller said:
Thomas, Redwolf, Steyr HfT, Steyr ProX10, Brocock Ghost, TM1000 pistol - done!
Click to expand...
After shooting with my son in law today, decided 4 was the magic number.
the 30 Impact covers any needs for larger critters, the Maverick will go back to a 25 compact, the 22 Impact covers my slug gun needs and now I need a mid power 22 pellet pusher. Dang this ain’t a simple process and the outcome is uncertain
 
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If I were to start from scratch... I'd skip out on pcp's and their support equipment altogether. I'd be set with an accurate ~20fpe .22cal spring/gas piston rifle with good glass for critter duty and a Daisy BB gun for super cheap plinking. That's all I need, not necessary what I'd want. After having 60+ airguns of many makes/models the last decade and a half, that's basically what it's boiled down to.
 
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Chukar60 said:
After shooting with my son in law today, decided 4 was the magic number.
the 30 Impact covers any needs for larger critters, the Maverick will go back to a 25 compact, the 22 Impact covers my slug gun needs and now I need a mid power 22 pellet pusher. Dang this ain’t a simple process and the outcome is uncertain
Click to expand...
Aaaahhhh now the fun begins
scopes 🤣
 
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I did several months of reading before I ventured into the world of Springers for benchrest. I had and have no interest in PCPs, to much collateral equipment need, I will stick to powder burners for that itch. I decided on a TX200. So close three years later and now have a TX200, D54, two D75s, a FWB300s and a LGU. I made the best choice first. I shoot mostly 22 yards to 50 yards. The 10 meter guns while amazing fall short as distance increases. The D54(.22) I shoot out to 100 yds but it's trigger is way behind the others leaving the LGU and TX....winner is the TX with a 2 oz trigger. LGU is a joy to shoot, it's so smooth with a great shot cycle but for the million dollar shot.....TX200. Best thing about the D75s, they got my wife into shooting which she would never do. Problem is ahe got REAL good very quickly.
 
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