Springer vs. PCP

[Hammer]

Thanks for all the advice, everyone. Given the input, I think I'll snoop around for a good deal on a Diana 34 or similar. As some of you mentioned, I will probably end up having a blast, slip fall down and accidently buy a PCP as well. Best case scenario, I get a springer I love and never stray. Worst case scenario, I end up with a springer and a PCP and have twice the fun.

Good plan. It gives you the opportunity to experience "adult" airguns. You may, or may not progress to PCPs, but even if you do, the 34 is a quality piece that is handy to have around. It has been the universal recommendation for a first airgun for many years.

 

[Orv]

Good plan. It gives you the opportunity to experience "adult" airguns. You may, or may not progress to PCPs, but even if you do, the 34 is a quality piece that is handy to have around. It has been the universal recommendation for a first airgun for many years.

 

[Orv]

I feel the need to reply, not out of any great knowledge I have, but from years of devotion to our sport of airgunning. Shooting a spring loaded airgun takes a level of skill that will carry over to other shooting platforms. This skill will teach valuable safety skills to beginning airgunners. Springers, as we call them, help one to learn safety skills, as well as range and woods awareness. Springers are far and away easier to work on than pcp airguns. Trigger awareness is most easily learned on springers. Have you noticed that I am a spring powered airgun fan yet? Among other airguns in my collection are a some springers including TX2OO and a HW 97K. Both of these airguns are fine springers, although a bit on the high side for pricing. That is pricing for spring powered airguns. The majority of PCPs will cost more, especially when including the ancillary equipment. I can highly recommend Weihrauch rifles; both spring powered and pcps. Quality airguns are tools lasting for lifetimes when cared for. This can apply for both spring powered airguns or pcps. Please note that springers are relatively easy to maintain by the hobby level shooter while pcps most often need to be maintained by the professional. I haven't meant to scare you, merely to inform. Welcome to our hobby! Orv

 

[Paul Be Careful]

That’s solid advice from @Orv — couldn’t agree more. Mastering a springer’s double recoil sets you up nicely for moving on to powder burners. Personally, I don’t think the artillery hold is a strict must; just avoid resting it on a hard surface like you would with a PB — a good bag does the trick. If shooting runs in the family, go for a proper quality springer like the lads here mentioned. Bit pricier, sure, but built to last — heirloom stuff your boy can pass down to his own one day.

 

[rokonman]

A Diana model 34 was my first adult Airgun way back in the 1980s it was a scarce sport model and I traded it in short order to begin my long climb to better and more expensive guns. After a long search I have recently acquired a similar sport model in well worn but loved condition. I rebuilt it with a Vortek OEM replacement spring. I have to say I am shocked how easy it cocks and it isn’t hold sensitive. If I had stopped at that gun way back then, Airgun life would in hindsight have been OK. I recently read happy people make the best of what they have, I guess I need to work on that.

 

[beerthief]

I have been in this game for a while now , i have 4 of the best top line PCP's and 14 top springers , 5 pistol 's . I find the springers give me much more enjoyment .
I think your starting with a springer , the lure of PCP will be strong . I find the PCP boring, it is not any more accurate .
Welcome to the best AGN
Stan in KY .

 

[AlanMcD]

I'll second the sentiment about the ability to potentially stop with a quality springer in the post #25 above. In my case, I bought a fairly cheap Crosman Chinese springer (a Quest) to deal with a groundhog issue I had at the time, and it just was not good enough to meet my needs - no amount of technique could make that gun shoot better than about 1.5" ten shot groups at 20 yards. I messed around with it for a while, but eventually found my way into PCPs with a Marauder that was vastly more more capable of hitting what I aimed at, plus had more power too.

That, of course, moved me from the space of "acquiring a tool" into "acquiring a hobby," and while I have enjoyed this hobby immensely, had I first started out with something like the Diana 34 springer instead of that lower cost (and quality) Quest, that may have been all I needed. I likely would have been happy there, and I would never have been into PCPs, nor the blogs for that matter. I would not even be on this site now to be typing this . . .

So if you know you would be happy with a tool rather than a separate branch of shooting sports for a hobby, the 34 or one of the HW offerings would likely meet that need. But I am glad that I did go down the path that I did - I very much enjoy this hobby, and my time on the blogs.

Best of luck, and I hope whatever you get meets your needs!

 

[JimD]

Anybody that thinks springers are just as accurate as pcps needs to print out some 30 yard challenge targets and prove it. The only springer scores I've seen are much lower. But my poor view of springers is no doubt in large part because I've never shot a nice one.

 

[kwaping]

Anybody that thinks springers are just as accurate as pcps needs to print out some 30 yard challenge targets and prove it. The only springer scores I've seen are much lower. But my poor view of springers is no doubt in large part because I've never shot a nice one.

I think it's probably that last part...

 

[JimD]

Perhaps. The latest spreadsheet of results for this year appears to be on page 160 of the thread on this website. The best springer score is a 192. The goal is a 200 and there are several of those from PCPs. My best score this year is a 198. Lots of higher scores from pcps. If springers shoot as well as pcps join us and prove it. It's fun regardless of the results.

 

[Jay308]

HW97K or TX200 for a springer, almost as accurate as a PCP. Both can be disassembled without a spring compressor. You can get the Weihrauch at Krale.