Nickel, Dime, Dollars 😂

I am fortunate enough to have started down the PCP road within budget over 10 years ago. $1000 bought me a brand new gen 1 Marauder, a BSA FFP scope, a Hill hand pump and a Beta Chrony. I also had a $50/month ammo budget, which I spent even if I had not gone through all of my previous order. But I still have and use all of the equipment I purchased originally except the Hill hand pump, which died a few years ago and was replaced with another hand pump. I am also still shooting pellets I bought 6 or 7 years ago...
But I can look over at that Marauder and realize that I've put several hundred dollars into various bits and pieces over the years to make her what she is today. Some of it practical, like a Lothar Walther barrel and some maybe not so much, like that RAI billet aluminum trigger guard (which is barely discernible from the OEM plastic part - but damn nice to have). The RAW setback trigger... yeah, she's special. To me. I could never recoup the cost of all that stuff. Not many other's would "get" it.
 
Hello All, this isn't anything but some thoughts from a green new comer to the sport/hobby and just wondering how deep I can dig my hole.
I recently got my first. AV Avenger Bullpup(2) 25 cal. Groundhogs, Raccoons after my chickens, paper, just plinking.
I did allot of research. AV had a summer promotion (15%) so this gun was <$400. Wow. I got a little cheap on the scope, CVLife 2-10 x 32 AO. For the money it's quite good. Compressor; open box smaller one Spiritech. $100 ($275 retail). Same overstock got a great rifle bag, $20 ($80 retail). Then, obviously, pellets.
At this point, my wife asked me, "Do you have everything you need?" ; "Are you sure you don't need anything else?" She wasn't asking to be hard about it, just rather keep our budget and understand.
So.... This is where things took a bit of a turn on me. Simple things, Silicon cloth for wipe down, muzzle cleaning patches, loctite, bubble level kit.
Ok, that outta do it. Looking great. Oops, forgot a few things. Resting it to mount the scope is making me crazy. Needed a small rifle rest. Cheap laser bore to get close(was junk, returned), basic resting sand bags, etc.
Oh, I can't be sure how this things is performing? Ask for advice, everyone said the same thing. "You need a Chrono". That sounds expensive. I found a budget Chinese one that was well reviewed and most guys here agreed.... $50.
Back to my wife; so I needed a few more things. Not overly expensive. She's completely fine but smiling with the "I knew it" look on her face. 😂
Hmmm... Maybe I should upgrade that glass? Those digital pressure gauges look nice. A moderator would do this thing some justice. Wow, some of these higher end guns look amazing. I bet it'd be easier to fill from a bottle.
I knew, like everything, this could be a real rabbit hole. I didn't realize just how much I'd love it. I'm wondering if others out there had a similar experience and where that road led them.

All my best to everyone. Sorry for the long post but it felt good to put it out there....
What’s a budget if you can’t budge it
 
Dont forget now you need a pellet pouch cause ony new guys use the original tin lol bwahahahaha just kidding good luck with the hobby hole just grab a shovel and dig a lil deeper
Swag gotta have swag, oh and a scale to weigh stuff and tools to maintain stuff and a safe to store stuff hmmmm gotta have a supply of various pellets to see which fly best… how about a membership to a range?
 

The Airgunning HOLE:​


Soooo deep, 😵
and soooo wide. 😱


Give up all hope,
just let go,
feel the calling of the deep.
Hole.
Fall!
Go!

out..... ▆▆▆


😶

FUN. The Airgun Hole -- So Deep, So Wide. #08a. Kola Borehole, Russia, 22,000ft deep.jpg



The image only serves as an illustration as to of
how deep
and
how wide
the AG Hole is:


This is the
Mirny Mine in Russia
a 1,700ft deep pit swirl 😵‍💫
and 3,900ft wide. 😵

Matthias
 
A pertinent analogy might be archery.

As a young adult wanting to take up bowhunting a half-century ago I was torn between a lovely little Bear Kodiak Magnum recurve and a Bear compound sitting next to one-another in a sporting goods store. I really WANTED the recurve, but compounds offered 'advantages'.

Bought the compound and used compounds for my first 15 years or so of bowhunting, shunning most of the black-hole money-pits of compound related gadgetry EVERYONE else embraced. Upon finally realizing I'd devolved into the only wooden compounds still available (Browning), never adopted a mechanical release or peep sight, and finally removed the simple pin sight to shoot instinctively, I had the epiphany that I'm a traditional archer shooting compounds!

The 'moral' of the story is this. The archery industry grew at an incredible rate virtue of compound bows, because if a newbie buys a compound you're almost guaranteed he'll fall into the mindset "All I need now to be successful is one'a them centrifugal stabilizers... and a stabilizer-attached quiver... and moonrock/carbon-alloy arrows... and lighted nocks... and...

View attachment 571828


Or sell a newbie a traditional bow and arrows, shooting glove and quiver, and DONE!

View attachment 571830

FWIW, decades later I not only owned a Kodiak Magnum, but upon becoming a custom bowyer built a press to build rosewood replicas of them. One of the loveliest bows I ever built, of Cocobolo and Bubinga, named Rosey-

View attachment 571829

.
That’s some sexy stuff right there
 
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Honey I only want pellet gun and a compressor. Well ok. 18 months later I getting the look :cautious:. Still shoveling the hole deeper. Today picked an A/C unit for the upstairs room. My family's 100+ year old house never has had A/C, but I need one now for my gun room to control humidity.
Maybe if I dig the hole deep enough I'll reach China so I can buy direct from manufacturers and avoid all the new tariffs...🤣

View attachment 571888
Brilliant
 
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We just bought an old house in a different state so I can enjoy my pcps on my own property, you have far to go young one. :ROFLMAO:
Yah and I’m trying to find 20 acres to create an entire Airgun facility and community where none exists 🤪🎯🤪
 
Hello All, this isn't anything but some thoughts from a green new comer to the sport/hobby and just wondering how deep I can dig my hole.
I recently got my first. AV Avenger Bullpup(2) 25 cal. Groundhogs, Raccoons after my chickens, paper, just plinking.
I did allot of research. AV had a summer promotion (15%) so this gun was <$400. Wow. I got a little cheap on the scope, CVLife 2-10 x 32 AO. For the money it's quite good. Compressor; open box smaller one Spiritech. $100 ($275 retail). Same overstock got a great rifle bag, $20 ($80 retail). Then, obviously, pellets.
At this point, my wife asked me, "Do you have everything you need?" ; "Are you sure you don't need anything else?" She wasn't asking to be hard about it, just rather keep our budget and understand.
So.... This is where things took a bit of a turn on me. Simple things, Silicon cloth for wipe down, muzzle cleaning patches, loctite, bubble level kit.
Ok, that outta do it. Looking great. Oops, forgot a few things. Resting it to mount the scope is making me crazy. Needed a small rifle rest. Cheap laser bore to get close(was junk, returned), basic resting sand bags, etc.
Oh, I can't be sure how this things is performing? Ask for advice, everyone said the same thing. "You need a Chrono". That sounds expensive. I found a budget Chinese one that was well reviewed and most guys here agreed.... $50.
Back to my wife; so I needed a few more things. Not overly expensive. She's completely fine but smiling with the "I knew it" look on her face. 😂
Hmmm... Maybe I should upgrade that glass? Those digital pressure gauges look nice. A moderator would do this thing some justice. Wow, some of these higher end guns look amazing. I bet it'd be easier to fill from a bottle.
I knew, like everything, this could be a real rabbit hole. I didn't realize just how much I'd love it. I'm wondering if others out there had a similar experience and where that road led them.

All my best to everyone. Sorry for the long post but it felt good to put it out there....
Don’t have any idea what you’re talking about……Kidding. John
 
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As a young adult wanting to take up bowhunting a half-century ago I was torn between a lovely little Bear Kodiak Magnum recurve
I deer hunted in Michigan with a Bear Kodiak Magnum many years ago when I was a kid. We lived not too many miles from Grayling and Bear. Even met Fred Bear at his facility. Shot a Bear Tamerlane on the winter indoor leagues.
 
Honey I only want pellet gun and a compressor. Well ok. 18 months later I getting the look :cautious:. Still shoveling the hole deeper. Today picked an A/C unit for the upstairs room. My family's 100+ year old house never has had A/C, but I need one now for my gun room to control humidity.
Maybe if I dig the hole deep enough I'll reach China so I can buy direct from manufacturers and avoid all the new tariffs...🤣

View attachment 571888
At the beginning of November I didn’t know what a PCP was, so 7 months
and my hole is a corner in cellar. Gonna have to start selling one if I want
another. It’s been a great ride and got me through some troubled times.
If I have an unfulfilled wish it would be a couple acres surrounding me.
That bullet has left the barrel though. Gotta be satisfied I can ( discreetly)
shoot 35 yards.
IMG_2231.jpeg
 
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At the beginning of November I didn’t know what a PCP was, so 7 months
and my hole is a corner in cellar. Gonna have to start selling one if I want
another. It’s been a great ride and got me through some troubled times.
If I have an unfulfilled wish it would be a couple acres surrounding me.
That bullet has left the barrel though. Gotta be satisfied I can ( discreetly)
shoot 35 yards.View attachment 572426

Nice man cave! I see drums. I'm a huge drum fan, though I have never tried it. Favorite drummer (and band): Neil Peart. Though I also like Stewart Copeland, Mick Fleetwood (very underrated, IMO), Taylor Hawkins, and some others I'm just blanking out on right now.

I'm just one gun into the air gun thing (just weeks ago). I'm pretty deep down the firearms rabbit hole for many years, though.

I also recently took over my son's bedroom as my "man cave." He is out of the house and serving as a US Marine now. I've got a lot of work to do to get it organized. I need some cabinets and a new (bigger) gun safe.
 
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Nice man cave! I see drums. I'm a huge drum fan, though I have never tried it. Favorite drummer (and band): Neil Peart. Though I also like Stewart Copeland, Mick Fleetwood (very underrated, IMO), Taylor Hawkins, and some others I'm just blanking out on right now.

I'm just one gun into the air gun thing (just weeks ago). I'm pretty deep down the firearms rabbit hole for many years, though.

I also recently took over my son's bedroom as my "man cave." He is out of the house and serving as a US Marine now. I've got a lot of work to do to get it organized. I need some cabinets and a new (bigger) gun safe.
Thanks, How bout Kieth Moon ? Haa. I only got the drums cause it’s one of those never could afford in my working years.
Just bang on them when getting boozed up listening ( LOUD) rocking out.
Lifelong gun guy but love that I can shoot every day without going anywhere.

Whats your first gun? How do you fill it?

Ooooo what do you race ?
 
How bout Kieth Moon ? Haa. I only got the drums cause it’s one of those never could afford in my working years.
Just bang on them when getting boozed up listening ( LOUD) rocking out.

Sure... Keith Moon... John Bonham, too. I would love to get some drums. But drums are unique in their "logistical" requirements.

Lifelong gun guy but love that I can shoot every day without going anywhere.

Whats your first gun? How do you fill it?
Benjamin Marauder (see my signature). Right now... I got a "mini-tank." I think I will quickly "outgrow" it. Good for maybe 1 - 2 range trips. I think I'll get tired of making trips to the local places to fill it. I may end up getting my own compressor to fill the mini-tank.

I'm having fun with it!

I could shoot in my back yard (on 1-acre lot). But I'd need to set up a good back-stop. Fortunately, there's a nice outdoor range about 15 minutes from my house. I was there yesterday.
20250621_081904[1].jpg


Ooooo what do you race ?
I've been using this online handle a long time. I used to be into the track thing. It was called "HPDE" (high performance drivers education) and was not actual competitive racing. My favorite car was a Subaru STI. Hundreds of track laps. It was a rocket. But I had kids who need to eat and do kid activities. The track hobby is very expensive! And so are kids! I hope to get back into it some day.
 
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