I have a Beeman HW 97 K, laminated blue stock now( that I would be selling) , but have been thinking about an FX Crown, blue laminated stock. I don’t use it ( them) very often at all and I want something very dependable , which my 97 has been. I am afraid if I buy a pcp I will have air leaks and such and maintenance will be a lot higher. I am not sure how hard they are to replace ( o rings) if it’s something I could do or would I have to have it sent out ? I would not be fiddling with it much, how ever it comes is how I will be shooting it. Maxed out on the two dials, I believe. And am happy shooting what ever pellet is recommended. So is it ok to leave them aired up for long periods of time between use ? And are leaks or any other problems ( and what kind of problems might I have ) a real concern with the crown. I would be getting it in .25 caliber as I have a coon problem from time to time and the springer ( .177 cal.) just can’t get it done. Hence the reason for wanting a new rifle. Thanks , newbie here to this sight and to this higher powered air gun stuff. Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.
Pcp or springer
- Thread starter ghoststalker
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Oh yea, the coon thing ain’t a huge deal , I just will trap them if I have to. But still would like a more powerful air rifle if it’s very dependable.
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I have pcp rifles that have kept there charge for over 20 years and still shoot accurately. You should always keep them charged, it keeps the seals from going bad. Maybe I have just been lucky, but the few leaks I have encountered were easily fixed with easily replaced O rings. Coons are tough critters and even with a .25 it takes a well placed shot to get the job done, get a gun that has enough power, at least 40 foot pounds, or more is better. The only down side of PCP's is the initial cost of the needed accessories for charging. Unless you are young and in great shape, forget the hand pumps, they are not any fun in a very short time. If you have a source of high pressure air, PCP's can't be beat.
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ghoststalker: I have a FX Impact X .25 and it fairly good to shoot once you set it up to your own preferences. The Crown has been a gun that many are fond of and as a matter of fact, I would have bought one also to complement my Impact as a back up if I could afford it. However, I have spent way too much getting in to PCP's. I did not regret it as the Springers were getting to me. There are many You Tube videos with the Crown and their owners boasting about their accuracy etc. Whatever way you decide, good luck.
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Don't forget the Dreamline's. I have a .25 Classic that shoots like a laser. Few hundred less than the Crown. Also as of this moment there is a Carbon Fiber tank with filling station available for $150,
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I've had them all 177,22,25 and 30. If you are hunting a 30 is the way to go.
On the other side of this if you plan to rarely use the rifle I'm not sure it's worth all that it takes to get up and running with a PCP.
If I was shooting coons I'd use my 17 HMR if I could but perhaps that's out of the question.
On the other side of this if you plan to rarely use the rifle I'm not sure it's worth all that it takes to get up and running with a PCP.
If I was shooting coons I'd use my 17 HMR if I could but perhaps that's out of the question.
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All air rifles will need some attention at some time. I had a 97K, and while it was dead reliable, I decided to change the mainspring. Pretty tricky operation. You'll need a spring compressor. As I understand, the AA TX200 is a lot easier and doesn't require a spring compressor. Replacing O rings in RAW rifles is pretty easy, as their design is quite simple. I have three of those and an FX Dreamline. All good rifles and have enough power for hunting. I do recommend the .25 caliber for that. I also have a 25 cal Cricket tuned by Charlie Frear that shoots over 60 fpe. Another good choice for hunting. You will have to be a little mechanically inclined to tear these apart for repair/re-seal. There are plenty of Youtube videos showing that. If you choose an FX, maybe the new lower priced Crown VP edition may be considered. It's just a bit more than a Dreamline.
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Well after reading all these, still not sure what to do. Yea I have been researching and the cost for “ air supplies” does kinda hold me back a bit. I will keep researching here as well as else where and keep saving so I can get everything I need. I will buy the hand pump first, just to have in case. And I do like a workout, pump my ATV tires with a hand pump still, takes about 250- 350 strokes to get there sometimes but it’s not bad. But have a dive shop at the end of the street also. I am afraid of going .30 cal. as I live in a residential neighbor hood and don’t want pass throughs, and the coon shooting would be needed rarely ( trapped 6 in the last month) I hope to keep there numbers down by catching them. But the smart ones may require lead.
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I have had my 97k for several years now and am on my second tin of pellets. That’s 250 per tin. So yea I don’t shoot it a lot.. But it’s plenty accurate enough for me. How would you rate the noise level between the two. Is the crown noisier ?
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You'll have no problem with a hand pump if you're doing 250 strokes for an ATV. I've got a pretty quiet AA Ulimate sporter in .25, and it's not too loud for back yards, though I think there are quieter 25s out there. Comes with a suppressor attached. Have routinely left my s510 for weeks w/o a shot and no problem. My experience with AA 510s/sporters has been wonderful. Just no problems whatsoever. I have no experience with FX, but I gather that the Royale is pretty reliable as well. If I'm not mistaken, there was a beautiful .25 Royale in the classified ads a few weeks ago. Nice too b/c the FX, like the AA, has variable power settings, which is a good thing to have, since lower power is quieter, and good for plinking. One somewhat louder shot at night to drop a raccoon is still available though. I have springers, and like them, but I find that I spend more time with my PCPs now, and where pesting is concerned, I much prefer the PCPs, b/c I can shoot them more accurately. Prefer the .25 as well.
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I would say that a .25 cal pellet is louder than a .177 cal pellet especially when it impacts the target. Mechanically the Crown will be quieter but the pellet flight and impact will be more noticeable. Even more so if the person hearing it is away from the shooter.
A pellet whacking animal flesh makes quite a pop. It’s definitely a distinct sound.
For as little as you say you shoot, pumping won’t be that bad. If you are pumping your ATV tires by hand, the pcp pump shouldn’t give you any more trouble than you have already elected to do.
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The flesh sound is fine they will get it if inside my garage so no one will hear that . But I will be out side shooting into the garage, so the report is what iam concerned about. I just wen5 and checked out the crown in the classifieds, I jus5 don’t know about buying used, reading some of these posts here and else where. Where guys are drilling stuff out, turning reg. while under pressure. I don’t want some one else’s mistakes. Plus that’s about what you can get a brand new one for.
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ghoststalker You say you have a dive shop close by , check to see what their max pressure is . Hard to find one that can fill a bottle to 4500 psi most are 3000 to 3350 psi . That will relate to how many times you can fill the gun you choose . Also you say shooting in the garage (pass throughs larger cal ) might look into hades or predator poly mags pellets also .
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I agree with "greenarrow". FX Royale 500 (.25). Had mine for over 2 years & all I EVER have to do maintenance wise is run some patches through every 1000 shots or so. Check out my post & the responses I got (FX Royale 500 & FX Boss). Think it's under PCP Airguns. No leaks, no glitches, no problems, no VARMINTS!!! That post is from 4 days ago.
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I think a Royale would be a better gun to start off with as a first pcp. Dials knobs and gizmos can be a bit of a hassle for a first timer. No need to start off being frustrated because something isn't tuned right. JMO.
And when did coon become armor plated? Especially at garage distances. I've humanely dispatched many coon, woodchuck and opossum with a lowly 28 ft lb 22cal. Accuracy is key.
And when did coon become armor plated? Especially at garage distances. I've humanely dispatched many coon, woodchuck and opossum with a lowly 28 ft lb 22cal. Accuracy is key.
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I will check out the dive shop fill pressure. I don’t know if they are armor plated but my dog and I were in deep with one in the garage a while back. All kind of hell broke lose, pellet gun didn’t do it ( didn’t even make him change his mind, after 6 self defense type shots, could not aim , things were happening way to fast) so I took to beating them with a stick. Wife said it sounded like we were in a fight with a bear. Actually it was two coons, it was crazy intense.
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