New to PCP advice wanted

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Raney85

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Dec 16, 2019
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TX, United States
So first off will say that I found pcp guns on YouTube and became really interested in them and the accuracy of them. Also looking to get my 6 yr old son into it and used to using a scope before a powder gun. So with that being said I only know what I've seen on YouTube as there is not really a pcp shooting range or group near me here in Texas that I know if anyways. 

So I would just like to know what all it exactly takes to get started in it and best gun to get as a great starter gun. I don't need top of the line but I don't want something that will make me wish I went with a higher end gun few months down the road. Something reliable and accurate and powerful as we would like to be able to hunt with it also. I like the fx dreamline as it seems to be very interchangeable and can grow with me and my son in our experience lvl. And then it's on to the get it with the bottle or not? And then the refill method hand pump... compressor...or just a big bottle and use to refill? But if I did the bottle where do you get those filled? 

Sorry I know that's a lot of questions and I'm all over the place... please take it easy on me as I know some forums can get nasty with comments...not here for that just looking for help and sound advice and hope we find it as me and my son would like to get into the sport! All ears here and looking forward to hearing from whoever will share and thank you in advance!!
 
Best way to get help is to list what you want to do with said PCP, how much your willing to spend on your first. And the incidentals to run it, pump, tank, compressor?
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Ok thanks, well I would like to be able to go out and consistently tack small groups at at least 100 yrds if not further just not sure how far they can shoot. And also just have small Targets setup for my son to be able to shoot. Then once we feel confident would like to go out hunting with it. That in itself is a whole new question as to I don't know how big game it can kill humanly and how close you need to be to still have the knock down power. I'm on a deer lease and we have plenty of coons at the feeder I'm sure it could take these out but also have hogs tons of em. Would be nice to take some and not scare deer off the property as trying to thin the hog population. I have seen hogs killed with a airgun but not sure what kind or the power settings. 

Cost well I would feel good around 1000 or so....but if needed maybe a little more for all accessories. Somewhat there maybe no more than 1500. Thanks 
 
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If you have your eyes set on the dreamline you would probably have to go with a .25. It is flexible enough to take a smallish hog as well as small game. As for how far you could take a hog, I would say 50 yards and in with good placement would do the job. It will also be better at reaching out to 100 yards consistently especially against the wind. I got a dreamline classic .22 as my first pcp and I love it. When I was looking I was in the same place deciding what gun I wanted to get. I wanted something I would be happy with as well as grow with. The marauder is nice, but I didnt want to get it and wish I had spent more to get the dl. After the fact I am super happy I went with the dl. I went with the .22 since it provided a nice compromise between power and air consumption. I have been hand pumping it and so far it has not been an issue. With a .25 getting a compressor or bottle might be a good choice, it depends on how much you will shoot. As far as filling the bottle you can go to a dive shop or maybe ask at a local fire department.
 
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at those distances , you are talking PCP and hogs may be to big for 25 cal. at 80-100 yard distances. but anyway. you can go with 25 or 30 cal. great guns for raccoons and hogs may be a second hand wildcat or taipan veteran 1000-1200 bucks on the forums. a 25 cal taipan can push 60 FPE with 34g JSB and the wildcat 30 cal about 80 FPE. both guns are pricey new , but have great reputation.
 
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Agree with above. Look for something in .25 caliber capable of shooting the 34gr pellets at or above 850 fps. First guns that comes to mind is a Kalibrgun Cricket, Taipan Veteran, or FX Wildcat. There have been a few of all these listed on the classifieds for reasonable amounts. Depending on which one and how much power its putting out will determine lethality and distance for taking game. Believe all the above should be able to take smaller hogs (100lbs or so) out to 50 yards or so with a clean head-shot, however I have no experiences with hogs (just what I've learned from hours and hours on youtube). I would personally recommend a Taipan Veteran standard/long or Kalibrgun Cricket, I have the most experience with these. I will say all of these maybe a little heavy for your son though at his current age, you may want to invest in a second gun more suited to his size currently (Gamo Urban), then let him work up to dad's rifle. I've personally taken fox, coyote, coon, and woodchuck with a Cricket .25 out to 85 yards with quick clean head-shots. That gun is tuned to shoot the 34gr JSB's at 870 fps. I've hand pump all my guns for the last three years, looking to upgrade but hand pumping is very manageable.
 
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I think one thing that you need to understand is tacking small groups at 100 yards and beyond with an airgun is nothing like a firearm. Some of the guns that are the most capable are complex. I found this out years ago when I got an Impact. I bought it for shooting long distances but got in over my head. I got frustrated about several things that I wont get into here but with the wealth of info available now on the gun, I still don't know if I would have kept it. What I am trying to say is I have quite a few guns now that are pretty good at 100 yards, but I have to live these guns. Lots of tuning and trial and error. Now having a good 50 yard PCP? Its never a guarantee but is easier to obtain. All of my good 100 yard guns were not cheap to buy or build. I do agree with getting a gun that has the capability of going long once you gain the knowledge and are willing to put in the time to do it.
 
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Sounds like your asking for alot.

I recommend a lower priced decent gun in .22 or .25 calibler.

Start there shoot under 100 yards for now.Later on once you figure out what you can and can not do with the airgun buy something that will stretch out 100 yards.

Or look at the FX line of guns.With the FX Dreamline classic in stock form some guys in south Africa are shooting the new FX Slugs in the pellet barrel and are pulling about a 1.5" 5 shot group at 100 yards

They regularly shoot pest birds over 100 yards.

I have a Hatsan AT44S-10 in .22 slinging 18 grain ammo at about 910fps.

I take pest birds and rabbits at 100 yards.That gun is my low budget sniper.

My .25 caliber Bullboss is my go to gun for close range small hogs and coyotes,pest birds and rabbits.

Not a good 100 yard gun cause it's not as accurate as the rifle.......its a bullpup and is awkward on the bi bipod but I love it walking through the woods and feilds.

Long range I'd look for a .25 pellet/slug shooter or a .22 FX slug shooter.

There are alot of neat vids of the Airforce Condors doing what you are asking but it's not ergonomic and like most guns needs tuning.



I hand pumped for 6 years before I bought a compressor and a scba bottle.

Look at the price of slugs and the few guns that shoot them well.For you needs I'd almost recommend a .22 rimfire.

There are One airguns that can do what you ask but probly not in your price range.

Look for something in .25 cal that can sling heavy pellets near 900 feet per second 

Or slugs excess of 800 feet per second
 
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There are lots of airgunners in Texas, but Texas is big. Whereabouts are you? If you want to hunt deer the minimum legal caliber is .30 with muzzle energy of over 200 ft lb, but bigger is better. Anything goes for pigs, but it makes sense to use the same gun you would deer hunt with. Range is limited by accuracy and energy, there are guys hunting long ranges and putting the videos on youtube, but it is mostly a stunt. these are 50-100 yard guns depending on what you end up with. I would look into a cheap .22 PCP to start like a Discovery or Maximus. This will get you used to the pump or air tanks and they are cheap to feed with pellets from Walmart. For big game I would look at the Sam Yang (Seneca now) in .357, 45, or 50 or one of the Air Force Texans in 357 or 45.
 
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These PCP's are dangerous! And most of them are made for adults in size. Personally I think it's a mistake letting a 6 years old handle one of these and it's a good idea to get a kid that young start off on a RedRyder BB gun or something designed for a little kid so they can learn safety and gun handling first.

We airgunners look at energy ratings in foot pounds of energy - FPE. I agree with cmshooter, more energy goes hand in hand with killing power. 
 
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How big is your 6 y.o. son? If you're teaching your son to shoot, the length of pull is a consideration. You want him to be comfortable and relaxed when it's time to squeeze the trigger. I believe the Dreamline Tact can be fitted with an adjustable stock for length of pull. Another plus is the power adjustment. Start low until he's comfortable shooting it and then it can be upped.

Just some thoughts.
 
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This thread seems to be running into chaos because there are 3 different power and size issues going on at the same time.

The PCP for the kid is somewhat easy. A Diana Stormrider in .22 will fit the kid and it's light weight and very cheap. The small air tube is easily hand pumped and shoots well up to 60 yds. Will not take a raccoon easily, perfect head shots only and close up. It will take squirrels easily, even body shots. Around 19 ft-lbs energy. Gamo Urban in .22 is ok as well, Carbine length over all, adult LOP, medium weight. ($50 magazines though, ouch) I don't like Gamo , but this one's built by BSA.



The second gun asked about would be the raccoon gun. That's a .25 caliber in the 44~50 ft-lb energy range. Most of the reasonably priced ones are long and heavy, adult size rifles around 10 lbs scoped. A Marauder or a Gauntlet would be good shooters for dad on the cheap. No 6 yr old could carry one more than the length of the driveway. Brilliant from a bi-pod though. A Flash Pup might be the exception under a grand, but I just can't recommend Hatsan as a company, given how difficult they can be to deal with when there is a problem. No sane person hand pumps a .25 airgun for more than a week before buying an expensive scuba compressor. (small hogs have been taken with a .25, but you need to know hog anatomy and shoot straight.)

There are some truly amazing and trouble free .25's on the high end. Edgun, Taipan,FX etc. Do you own an oil well?

Deer guns/bear guns are big bore 150 ft-lb and higher and some states only issue permit tags for over 200 ft-lbs. So the Air Force Texan SS in .457 or similar. Got to get it done in 3 shots or less or you run out of air. Slugs are expensive as well.
 
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This thread seems to be running into chaos because there are 3 different power and size issues going on at the same time.

The PCP for the kid is somewhat easy. A Diana Stormrider in .22 will fit the kid and it's light weight and very cheap. The small air tube is easily hand pumped and shoots well up to 60 yds. Will not take a raccoon easily, perfect head shots only and close up. It will take squirrels easily, even body shots. Around 19 ft-lbs energy. Gamo Urban in .22 is ok as well, Carbine length over all, adult LOP, medium weight. ($50 magazines though, ouch) I don't like Gamo , but this one's built by BSA.



The second gun asked about would be the raccoon gun. That's a .25 caliber in the 44~50 ft-lb energy range. Most of the reasonably priced ones are long and heavy, adult size rifles around 10 lbs scoped. A Marauder or a Gauntlet would be good shooters for dad on the cheap. No 6 yr old could carry one more than the length of the driveway. Brilliant from a bi-pod though. A Flash Pup might be the exception under a grand, but I just can't recommend Hatsan as a company, given how difficult they can be to deal with when there is a problem. No sane person hand pumps a .25 airgun for more than a week before buying an expensive scuba compressor. (small hogs have been taken with a .25, but you need to know hog anatomy and shoot straight.)

There are some truly amazing and trouble free .25's on the high end. Edgun, Taipan,FX etc. Do you own an oil well?

Deer guns/bear guns are big bore 150 ft-lb and higher and some states only issue permit tags for over 200 ft-lbs. So the Air Force Texan SS in .457 or similar. Got to get it done in 3 shots or less or you run out of air. Slugs are expensive as well.
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Solid info here. And I hand pumped about 20,000 rounds,75 pumps every 20 shots.......exhausting.

However since it's a 6 year old I suggest something lite with high shot count.Two guns come to mind.

Gauntlet

Airforce Talon.


 
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Thanks to all that have responded all great info. So to touch on a few things you guys have mentioned. So my son is small but HE Has had experience with BB gun he has one and has shot it for awhile and he knows they can hurt someone if handled improperly. He uses the safety well and don't play with it. I still don't let him just run off with it. And he for sure wouldn't run off with this pcp, he only would shot it when I'm with him other than that its locked away with the rest of my firearms. Thanks Steve for the caution but I do know the dangers and not going to just let him run free with it. There's just so much you can do with a BB gun. I want him to learn to use a scope and shoot longer range, nothing crazy mostly shooting from a bench until comfortable to take it out to shoot some small game...still most likely from our treestand or boxblind where he can prop it up like it was in practice on the bench. 

As to the dreamline you guys are saying exactly what I was thinking already as the 25 ca was what I was thinking and the tactical model as it looks to be able to adjust the stock for him to be able to pull close and get comfortable with it. Also if he can't then I was thinking down the line I could buy the bullpup stock or kit (not sure how it works) and convert it. I'm under the impression that it's able to completely change it up to any style? Am I correct? 

Also wanted dreamline for the barrels to be able to switch out for different calibers...but is there a slug barrel and pellet one or one does both? 

Again thanks for all the info I'm going to look into the other guns mentioned here and do more research. Not like I'm buying right now want to make a accurate educated decision. That's why I'm here and appreciate all the help. Any other advice is welcomed and will check back when I can. Thank you all!!
 
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