Hello all. I have been lurking a bit and finally decided it was time to join. I am in process of learning about air guns and trying to make a decision about purchasing an air gun. Quite frankly a bit overwhelmed at the moment. I am mainly wanting one to get rid of some varmints (squirrels) and for target shooting. I am thinking at a minimum .22. After doing some reading I think a PCP gun is the route to take. I will initially start with a hand pump. I seen several recommend the Uramex Guantlet. Budget is $800 give or take as long as I get something of quality and reliability. Not necessarily set in stone on a PCP, so open to suggestions.
Newb looking for suggestions
- Thread starter antv20
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I would not start into airguns with PCP. I would suggest a high quality Spring gun and a good scope. That may be all you need. I’d call Air Guns of Arizona or one of the other distributors and talk to the sales staff.
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A 22 Gauntlet or any caliber Gauntlet is a very heavy gun something to keep in mind. Good news is they are inherently accurate shooters and if you are a DIY sort of guy $40 worth of parts such as a barrel band and spring and ball bearing trigger mod would make it a pleasant heavy gun to shoot. If you're lucky there's a goid possibility it may like cheap ammo such as Crosman Premier hollowpoints from Wal-Mart. A cheap generic $40 Chinese hand pump with the folding legs is good enough to get you started. Or you could buy a good quality spring gun such as a break barrel RWS 34 for example with a good scope and BKL dropper mounts for starters. YO!
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Go for a HW95 in .22 at Air Guns of Arizona. Thank me later.
After you learn them jump to PCPs.
After you learn them jump to PCPs.
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Yeah.
First off: they teach you all the same simple ballistics you will use the rest of your life if you upgrade.
Second, they are self contained and ergo very awesome for prepper situations/SHTF/zombie apocilypse.
Third, their simplicity leads to less mechanical issues provided you buy quality.
Fourth, they are loads of fun in their own right .
Lastly, people often go 2k into the hobby without ever actually liking it. Invest in a quality springer and actually use it. If you like it, keep using it and learn until you are completely bored, and then go PCP. If you are decisive and know you want the PCP route, go to either FX or AirForce
First off: they teach you all the same simple ballistics you will use the rest of your life if you upgrade.
Second, they are self contained and ergo very awesome for prepper situations/SHTF/zombie apocilypse.
Third, their simplicity leads to less mechanical issues provided you buy quality.
Fourth, they are loads of fun in their own right .
Lastly, people often go 2k into the hobby without ever actually liking it. Invest in a quality springer and actually use it. If you like it, keep using it and learn until you are completely bored, and then go PCP. If you are decisive and know you want the PCP route, go to either FX or AirForce
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I think an entry level PCP is great idea most spring guns are just not as powerful nor as accurate as the PCP guns.
The Gauntlet is a good first choice in the PCP format from what I have read. The Benjamin Fortitude or Marauder should not be overlooked either. There are many choices in the .22 world for guns and ammo so you can't go wrong that caliber.
Hajimoto has plenty of tips for Gauntlet tuning if you go that route.
https://www.airgun101.com/index.php/component/allvideoshare/video/umarex-gauntlet-tune-kit-results?Itemid=407
Springers are much harder to shoot accurately as they are very hold sensitive when compared to a PCP. Still there are several decent spring guns that are accurate and powerful enough out to 50-60 yards for the bulk of pesting that may need to be done. I have a Diana 54 that shoots less than an inch at 50 yards and I shoot it fairly often. If you are going for a springer I would suggest you get at least a mid-level gun in the 350-$500+ range to get the accuracy and longevity one wants in a gun. Most of the Diana, HW and Air Arms, in that price range, would do fine.
The Gauntlet is a good first choice in the PCP format from what I have read. The Benjamin Fortitude or Marauder should not be overlooked either. There are many choices in the .22 world for guns and ammo so you can't go wrong that caliber.
Hajimoto has plenty of tips for Gauntlet tuning if you go that route.
https://www.airgun101.com/index.php/component/allvideoshare/video/umarex-gauntlet-tune-kit-results?Itemid=407
Springers are much harder to shoot accurately as they are very hold sensitive when compared to a PCP. Still there are several decent spring guns that are accurate and powerful enough out to 50-60 yards for the bulk of pesting that may need to be done. I have a Diana 54 that shoots less than an inch at 50 yards and I shoot it fairly often. If you are going for a springer I would suggest you get at least a mid-level gun in the 350-$500+ range to get the accuracy and longevity one wants in a gun. Most of the Diana, HW and Air Arms, in that price range, would do fine.
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I'd go with a starter PCP over a springer. With a springer, unless it's a high-end one, don't have high expectations in regards to accuracy. For your budget, I recommend a Benjamin Marauder. Check out AEAC videos on budget friendly PCPs'.
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Agreed with the comment above. You would need to learn artillery hold, but that is easy. With a 12-18lb rifle like an weihrauch 95 “HW95” or the American branded Beeman R9 you can achieve incredible accuracy and it will cost you roughly $375 at Air Guns of Arizona.
PCPs are awesome but you have to buy a tank and willing to spend another $500 on top of the gun for that. Don’t buy a hand pump! The H20 in the air will go into the pump and moisture will build in the gun’s tank and compromise and ruin it (happens even in dry climates and might destroy your tank in under a year). Hand pumps are no good and that is why manufactures don’t warrant the gun if a hand pump has been used.
You will need a high pressure 4500psi tank.
I suggest going and talking to Joe at ExpertHPA
PCPs are awesome but you have to buy a tank and willing to spend another $500 on top of the gun for that. Don’t buy a hand pump! The H20 in the air will go into the pump and moisture will build in the gun’s tank and compromise and ruin it (happens even in dry climates and might destroy your tank in under a year). Hand pumps are no good and that is why manufactures don’t warrant the gun if a hand pump has been used.
You will need a high pressure 4500psi tank.
I suggest going and talking to Joe at ExpertHPA
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On the hand pump issue: you can look at videos on YouTube of people opening up their air cylinders on their rifles after using a hand pump and it looks like it is filled with cottage cheese hahaha - all that water and oil building up until it is a gross goo. It compromises the tank and takes capacity down! Also don’t buy a cheap Chinese high pressure tank as 99% of the time they are not DOT approved and therefore when you take it to a filler they will refuse.
I know you want to keep it under the $800, but just want to give you the best foot forward without making a beginners mistake on the purchase level.
Best of luck man and tell us what you went for!
I know you want to keep it under the $800, but just want to give you the best foot forward without making a beginners mistake on the purchase level.
Best of luck man and tell us what you went for!
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If your budget is in the $800 range you actually have enough for an entry level PCP, a Yong Heng compressor and one of the gold filters to go with it. No reason to pump by hand. Speaking of a filter I would recommend a decent smallish one even with a hand pump as it is important to keep the moisture out of your gun. Also for that kind of money you would have enough for a very nice springer gun. So many choices. I started with a springer then went to co2 then PCP myself so I have allot of money invested over the years. In retrospect I would probly buy a PCP as my first gun if I could do it with the knowledge I have today.
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Check out the utg bug buster scope for entry level. Great cheap scopes. Made in the China free state of Taiwan and owned by an American
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Appreciate the info. Now off to do some fun research. Will report back when I narrow the field down
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Well for the PCP side here. Started with the Piston gun and soon went to the PCP. You don't need the tank or compressor, but you will migrate there before long. I did. For squirrel and pigeons the PCP is the ticket, of course how many shots you take at a time is a factor as is accuracy. The springer can destroy scopes, have not heard a PCP doing so. A lightly used gun in the classified here with scope might be a frugal idea. You can put together a tank and fill station for the price of a good hand pump like $140-$180 not new tank but good for 5 years or a Chinese compressor like the spark for $250 or so. Having shot 2000 odd pigeons and doves pesting and 1500 plus ground squirrels in the last 2 1/2 months for me a piston or springer is not for me. But I'm 72 years young and don't like the effort it takes to operate these guns.
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I started on springers and it was years before getting my first pcp. The springers recommended are solid choices, I think an RWS 34 is worth considering also. Personally I think mastering a Springer will make you a better shot no matter what you are using because you are forced to learn shooting discipline, there is no room for sloppy technique with a springer. Just remember patience because they are very frustrating until you learn a technique that works for you. I recommend .177 in springers because of the flatter trajectory. Springers tend to be heavier than PCP's. Nothing wrong with starting with a pcp, I would recommend a Benjamin marauder or an air force talon or condor, both on .22, there are a ton of possibilities with the marauder and the air force is the airgun equivalent of the AR 15 with the unlimited ways they can be modified, the are built on the principle of K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid ) it helps if you like to tinker with things. A hand pump works, it did for me for years. Don't think it will end there, you will end up with a tank and, or a compressor/ or both like myself. But that will come as time and budget allows. HTH. 
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You could do a Benjamin Maximus hunter, a scuba tank and a fill station for $500. If you have a dive shop within a hours drive to refill the tank. You will get 50-60 fills from the tank at 25-30 good shots per fill. So 12-1400 shots between trips.
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I started on springers and it was years before getting my first pcp. The springers recommended are solid choices, I think an RWS 34 is worth considering also. Personally I think mastering a Springer will make you a better shot no matter what you are using because you are forced to learn shooting discipline, there is no room for sloppy technique with a springer. Just remember patience because they are very frustrating until you learn a technique that works for you. I recommend .177 in springers because of the flatter trajectory. Springers tend to be heavier than PCP's. Nothing wrong with starting with a pcp, I would recommend a Benjamin marauder or an air force talon or condor, both on .22, there are a ton of possibilities with the marauder and the air force is the airgun equivalent of the AR 15 with the unlimited ways they can be modified, the are built on the principle of K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid ) it helps if you like to tinker with things. A hand pump works, it did for me for years. Don't think it will end there, you will end up with a tank and, or a compressor/ or both like myself. But that will come as time and budget allows. HTH.
I appreciate that insight. Gives me something else to think about. I am mechanical engineer by trade, so I don't mind to tinker.
Thanks. Will check out the classifieds then.
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If your interest is mostly hunting, then a PCP is the way to go. They are easier to shoot accurately under a wider range of conditions. If your interest is mostly target shooting at distances out to 50 yards or a bit more, then a good springer will do the job nicely without the fill problem. And of course it could be used for pest removal as well.
If you decide on a springer, I would go right to the top and get a TX200, HW97, or something similar. They don't cost that much more, and the fixed barrel plus extra weight makes them easier to shoot accurately. Even if your interests take you in a different direction, these are guns you will always want to have in your collection.
On caliber choices, there are a lot of .22 fans on this forum. But .177 offers a flatter trajectory and is plenty for squirrel, plus the pellets are cheaper. In a PCP I might be tempted to go with .22, in a typical 12-15 ft-lb springer .177 is a better fit in my opinion.
If you decide on a springer, I would go right to the top and get a TX200, HW97, or something similar. They don't cost that much more, and the fixed barrel plus extra weight makes them easier to shoot accurately. Even if your interests take you in a different direction, these are guns you will always want to have in your collection.
On caliber choices, there are a lot of .22 fans on this forum. But .177 offers a flatter trajectory and is plenty for squirrel, plus the pellets are cheaper. In a PCP I might be tempted to go with .22, in a typical 12-15 ft-lb springer .177 is a better fit in my opinion.
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Bye a decent Springer or two with the $800 Or plan on spending 1.5 to 2 k to get started.
Myself love Springer's 24 strong. Will never go to the darkside. They serve my purposes for target and hunting. They also are a great joy to tinker with if you enjoy this. There is something to be said for the simplicity of grabbing a tin of pellets and one of your rifles and heading out into the field.
Myself love Springer's 24 strong. Will never go to the darkside. They serve my purposes for target and hunting. They also are a great joy to tinker with if you enjoy this. There is something to be said for the simplicity of grabbing a tin of pellets and one of your rifles and heading out into the field.
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