Increased power in Airguns -- This the Trend?

[Saltlake58]

Power trends - People in the US have been trained since birth that more power is better. I've learned the hard way, accuracy is better but that's so esoteric, it's hard to market. Power is simple. This springer shoots at 1100fps, or that springer shoots at 1250 fps, even though it can't hit the broad side of a barn. A good gun is well balanced between power and accuracy, hopefully having a good bit of both.

Luckily the laws of physics do govern the power that can be generated by an airgun (or PB for that matter) so, since we are hitting the max one can expect with current power plants, maybe accuracy will make a comeback.

As for Regulation, look at Canada's restrictions on airguns. I thought Britain was strict at 12fpe, but Canada goes further at 6fpe before needing a certificate. I have one gun that's close to 6, a .177 pistol at 450 fps, but even that would require a certificate in Canada. No thanks! 

 

[zx10wall]

There are plenty of high powered airguns that are very accurate. This talk that you either have an airgun that produces precision accuracy (less powerful) or mondo power but not both simultaneously is false. 

There is a point, in my opinion, that additional power doesn’t make a lot of sense. I dabbled in big bore airguns. You know, the type that shoots heavy slugs for 3-6 shots from a very high fill pressure. You basically have a loud airgun that has recoil and is not as comfy to shoot as I believe an airgun should be. For me, it’s not my thing. I would rather grab a PB for anything that requires this type of power. 

With that said, I love .30, .25 and .22 high power airguns. 85 FPE to 40 FPE is great and can produce extreme accuracy to 100 yards and further in some cases. However, I do appreciate 20-35 FPE rigs as well and have a few. .177 doesn’t wet my whistle so I don’t bother with them. It’s only my .02 cents, worthless as it might be to ya, lol. Have a good weekend all. 

 

[Dairyboy]

There are plenty of high powered airguns that are very accurate. This talk that you either have an airgun that produces precision accuracy (less powerful) or mondo power but not both simultaneously is false. 

There is a point, in my opinion, that additional power doesn’t make a lot of sense. I dabbled in big bore airguns. You know, the type that shoots heavy slugs for 3-6 shots from a very high fill pressure. You basically have a loud airgun that has recoil and is not as comfy to shoot as I believe an airgun should be. For me, it’s not my thing. I would rather grab a PB for anything that requires this type of power. 

With that said, I love .30, .25 and .22 high power airguns. 85 FPE to 40 FPE is great and can produce extreme accuracy to 100 yards and further in some cases. However, I do appreciate 20-35 FPE rigs as well and have a few. .177 doesn’t wet my whistle so I don’t bother with them. It’s only my .02 cents, worthless as it might be to ya, lol. Have a good weekend all.

Well stated brother. I agree completely.

I especially am rather fond of 40fpe+ .22s. Really fun to shoot. .25s are ok to me but .30 is probably my favorite! Only problem is I have no need for one realistically so no longer have one. But yeah they can easily outshoot lower fpe guns at farther distances.

On the other hand I have a 12fpe CZ200S in .22. Very accurate and just fun to shoot and get really good practice at doping for distance and wind.

 

[OrdnasNS]

The trend is obvious and I don't mind if air guns are getting more power as long as I can tune them down very easy for when I need low power level and larger shot count. Accuracy is a must.

 

[randy_68]

When I got into the pcp game it seemed like a .22 in 30fpe was the std high power mark. Now it seems like people are looking for 80 or 100 or 120 etc. I never thought I would "need" a 60fpe gun but after buying and shooting one I love it. I still like my lower powered guns too. Like the old saying goes "Variety is the spice of life".

I like having guns of varying power levels that get used for their intended purpose according to their power. I have a 12 fpe FWB124D springer in .177, a Career .22 carbine that can go from 0 to 60 fpe, and a Cricket .25 that covers my 50-60 fpe range. I don't really need any more than that for what I do. But it's nice to know that if I want more power and bigger calibers that they are readily available for pretty reasonable prices. Not so 10 - 15 years ago. 

 

[donwalk]

I’ve noticed the trend also and have been wondering why someone would spend as much money as airguns cost for power commensurate with powder burners. You can buy a powder burner for approximately half the cost of a high end pcp. I think it is the challenge. Maybe there should be two categories of pcp’s, pellet guns and airguns. .25 and smaller are pellet guns and .30 and larger are airguns. We may need those designations if the government gets involved in our sport. Just saying and not being critical of anybody.

Not a chance in the world. Once the government steps in, it is all or nothing. They will regulate ALL air gun the same. It will probably be, "they are all firearms and subject to firearms laws." In some states, that is already the case as we all know.

What is adding to the confusion is the amount of blabber the big bore guns are getting these days. We are sticking our heads up and I expect the government to take its shot very soon because of it.

this, i believe, is in the very near future with all the anti-gun hysteria sweeping the nation. ^^^

 

[mtnGhost]

I’ve noticed the trend also and have been wondering why someone would spend as much money as airguns cost for power commensurate with powder burners. You can buy a powder burner for approximately half the cost of a high end pcp. I think it is the challenge. Maybe there should be two categories of pcp’s, pellet guns and airguns. .25 and smaller are pellet guns and .30 and larger are airguns. We may need those designations if the government gets involved in our sport. Just saying and not being critical of anybody.

Not a chance in the world. Once the government steps in, it is all or nothing. They will regulate ALL air gun the same. It will probably be, "they are all firearms and subject to firearms laws." In some states, that is already the case as we all know.

What is adding to the confusion is the amount of blabber the big bore guns are getting these days. We are sticking our heads up and I expect the government to take its shot very soon because of it.

this, i believe, is in the very near future with all the anti-gun hysteria sweeping the nation. ^^^

Yep. The phrase "With great power comes great responsibility" totally applies to the market. As popularity grows, it'll be the same types of people that leave hundreds of pounds of shell casings at shooting spots on public lands that will wind up being the irresponsible types that will command Uncle Sam to meddle. 

 

[Guest]

And again they say; The Sky is Falling.

 

[wyshadow]

It seems like we have this same conversation every couple of years. "The government is going take our BB guns because we can shoot as good as PB" 

The PCP group is so small none of my neighbors has never heard of a PCP and one of my neighbor has been shooting guns since he was little. There is a hand full of us shooters in NM compared to the thousands of PBs.

If anyone of us thinks their BB gun can compete against PB in the same price range, you're dreaming or lying.

 

[zx10wall]

I’m not influenced as to how I may tune or what airgun I may buy based on what the government may do. That’s just goofy. 

Bring on precision with power. 

 

[Springrrrr]

And again they say; The Sky is Falling.

I want to be completely wrong about my prediction in an earlier post. Just that I probably been around a little longer than many of you and have seen the erosion of our rights and privileges in a lot of areas with guns being one that the word "compromise" seems to mean, take with little or no give with many gun rights being slowly, but constantly being chipped away.

The one bright spot is that many states are legally allowing their residents to carry firearms with a permit and some are even going to constitutional carry. That is a positive thing, but restrictions on the who, where, how and why can make it difficult.

We will have to see how this all plays out in the future.

The most popular rifle in the U.S. is the AR-15 and its head is constantly on the chopping block and it is a good example of the direction I see thing just may be heading.

Not looking up because I think the sky is falling. Just looking over my shoulder.

 

[DanT55]

I like 12ft/lb springers. Due to the mass and movement involved it makes them much nicer to shoot and will still provide enough power for most needs. Now, anything more than that is PCP in my world. Lots of good ammo choices and platforms to launch them for longer range and bigger critters. 

Regards,

DT

 

[ackuric]

I have a .25 cal that can shoot from 18.5-60 fpe (regged) or up to 110 FPE unregged if I desire... I don't know any other caliber that covers such a practical range of power, and I honestly shoot more often at the 20 FPE tune than anything because I mostly shoot paper, why do people need 40+ FPE to punch paper? IDK...if/when I go hunt I set my power according to what I am hunting.



One and done for me, I'll never own a .177 or .22, or a .30, because I already do in terms of energy outputs...name any of the other 3 calibers that can effectively hit my power ranges in my configuration, I'll be damned if any of them even come close...



-Matt

 

[zx10wall]

Matt, nobody cares about that dadgum Marauder of yours

Joking with you man. 

 

[ackuric]

Matt, nobody cares about that dadgum Marauder of yours

Joking with you man.

I am referring to a caliber, there was no mention of marauder. Give me any .25 cal and I'll get the same end results...I don't even call my rifle a marauder anymore, its got maybe 2 original parts minus screws. 



I don't view pcp's by brand, I view them by specs, which includes features. Brand boys give me a good giggle.

 

[zx10wall]

Oh no, it’s right there on the receiver; Marauder

 

[Guest]

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