We need to start a category for regular guys/gals with sub $800 airguns/pcps, we love the hobby just as much as anyone else, but can't pluck down $2000 for a gun.
Sub $800 Air Rifles
- Thread starter dark1961
- Start date
Half of what I see (in my opinion) is problems with reliability with the high dollars guns!
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Ok here's one-.22 Gen 1 Marauder bought used already tuned for 2100 psi fill- puts out around 20ft lbs. 24 shots with an ES of 10 fps. $400 shipped to my door. Used Corcoran stock I got off the yellow classifieds for well under $400. Mine has a good barrel and has done 1/2" 50 yard 5 shot groups with JSB 18.1s. Yes it's heavy, not sure if I'm building character or injuring my back, LOL!
Think I've had it for 5 years now, thousands of round down the barrel-zero issues so far!
Think I've had it for 5 years now, thousands of round down the barrel-zero issues so far!
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That's what I'm talking about, maybe $600 new! Not $2000!
I had to come up with a cut-off price, I chose $800.
I had to come up with a cut-off price, I chose $800.
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Under $800 ( or such $ ) belong in all categories, by power plant here. Pretty sure the box store "magnum springers" out sell everything else. More crosman pre-charged rigs sold than any other manufacture ( taking years in the field into account ). "top end" - but gosh only QC should matter - rigs make up a small segment of airguns sold/used.
Remember when the first $400.00 pcp hit the U.S. ? Man oh man 1/2 the cost of anything, wow. Catch all the right sales and get a maximus for $140 shipped? What "real airgunner" deosnt need one? One mnight think a lot of people who post here with $$$ rigs also have once upon a time purchase one just to " see what I get for the money".
I got to see and use many of the best airguns in the world at the GOB, everyone owns more than one, everyone wants to see every new airgun. I remember the first pre-ordered Discovery's showing up one day, same for the "1st 100 " Marauders, everyone wants to see what you get for the money.
Sfter the marauders were out for a bit a worlds FT shooter said " the marauder is 95% as good as anything, it's just missing fit and a regulator". And we have cheap regulators now - 10 years ago you could have spent $600 on a custom reg-.
There ALL good, just dont shoot your eye out.
John
love my Gauntlet .177
Remember when the first $400.00 pcp hit the U.S. ? Man oh man 1/2 the cost of anything, wow. Catch all the right sales and get a maximus for $140 shipped? What "real airgunner" deosnt need one? One mnight think a lot of people who post here with $$$ rigs also have once upon a time purchase one just to " see what I get for the money".
I got to see and use many of the best airguns in the world at the GOB, everyone owns more than one, everyone wants to see every new airgun. I remember the first pre-ordered Discovery's showing up one day, same for the "1st 100 " Marauders, everyone wants to see what you get for the money.
Sfter the marauders were out for a bit a worlds FT shooter said " the marauder is 95% as good as anything, it's just missing fit and a regulator". And we have cheap regulators now - 10 years ago you could have spent $600 on a custom reg-.
There ALL good, just dont shoot your eye out.
John
love my Gauntlet .177
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I have had *0* problems with my D-54,Gen2 Marauder,LGU,Kral Puncher Breaker,QB78D,BEEMAN P-17,Sheridan Blue Streak...ect. All well under 800 bucks and 99% of the time,they shoot Way better than I'm capable of. Lets be honest and say 100% of the time. I also own a 1997 CBR600F3 thats a much better bike than I am a rider. But if I could afford it, a 2018 DUCATI Panigale V-4 would be sitting in my garage. (Or livingroom). I just can't justify such an expensive purchase when what I have meets or exceeds my (as well as the Vast majority of most others) needs. And I must admit that I'm genuinely happy with what I have/own!
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That’s the truth John my first pcp was a disco loved it still do .but like most I needed better I now own the wild cat then came the omega compressor it’s a never ending deep hole .
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All I'm saying is that unless some rich relative leaves me tons of $$$$ in their will, I will probably never own an FX Impact, Daystate or Air Force Texan.
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Nothing wrong with $800 guns. but before you accept suggestions, you need to identify what you want to do with the gun.
If you want to shoot bench competitively, better get ready to plunk down more than $800
If you want to shoot Field Target, take a look at Tom Holland's videos. He uses a Gen 1 Marauder and has it tuned to real accuracy. Number of guns can fit into that category
Hunting? Lots and lots of good sub-$800 guns out there, and you can't really go wrong. The Kral punchers get really good reviews. I still own a Gen 2 Marauder and really like the gun. All depends on what you want to hunt.
I think the main differences between high end guns and lower end (maybe under $500) is the fit and finish. To be honest, while my Marauder is under $500 and a great gun, but the finish of an FX Impact which sells for $2000 is just that much better. Even discounting the Smooth Twist barrel, the smooth trigger, improved finish, and design make the difference.
Example, when cocking a Marauder, you pull a bolt back that compresses a spring. You must apply 8 or 10 pounds of force to cock the gun. The Impact is so different, very light cocking effort, like maybe 6 ounces, and so smooth. Just a better design that's more expensive to execute.
But, if you spend $2000 on a gun designed for bench when you want to hunt, it's wasted money.
So, what do you want to do with the gun?
If you want to shoot bench competitively, better get ready to plunk down more than $800
If you want to shoot Field Target, take a look at Tom Holland's videos. He uses a Gen 1 Marauder and has it tuned to real accuracy. Number of guns can fit into that category
Hunting? Lots and lots of good sub-$800 guns out there, and you can't really go wrong. The Kral punchers get really good reviews. I still own a Gen 2 Marauder and really like the gun. All depends on what you want to hunt.
I think the main differences between high end guns and lower end (maybe under $500) is the fit and finish. To be honest, while my Marauder is under $500 and a great gun, but the finish of an FX Impact which sells for $2000 is just that much better. Even discounting the Smooth Twist barrel, the smooth trigger, improved finish, and design make the difference.
Example, when cocking a Marauder, you pull a bolt back that compresses a spring. You must apply 8 or 10 pounds of force to cock the gun. The Impact is so different, very light cocking effort, like maybe 6 ounces, and so smooth. Just a better design that's more expensive to execute.
But, if you spend $2000 on a gun designed for bench when you want to hunt, it's wasted money.
So, what do you want to do with the gun?
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I'm interested in how the Benjamin Fortitude will perform-from what I see in the photos the possible wobbly breech of the Discovery and Maximus has been addressed by two screws into the valve body in front of the breech opening like the Marauder pistol uses. I think a Marauder trigger group will work (with a spacer) so with a good barrel you'd have a lightweight regulated gun with a great trigger and good shot count. It's also likely that aftermarket stocks for the Discovery and Maximus will fit the action, so a shooter could customize to their liking.Sure these mods will bump the cost a bit, but you'd still be under $700.
In what's getting to be common the release date keeps moving back, hopefully we'll see some soon.
In what's getting to be common the release date keeps moving back, hopefully we'll see some soon.
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Hi all......I've been thinking of the AOA deal on the Walther Maximathor in .22 or .25 ($500 or $600 basically). Seems owners report good power and accuracy from a walther barrel no less (not a hard choice for the company
. A good choice to for "real gun feel". I can get over weight and high noise values, if the gun shoots true with a little extra push for heavier pellets!
. A good choice to for "real gun feel". I can get over weight and high noise values, if the gun shoots true with a little extra push for heavier pellets!Upvote 0
I have a beautiful 250$ air rifle that can be had in .177, .22, .25 all for same price. Xisico Sentry, this rifle is my favorite and I’ve had a couple. It’s extremely accurate, I shoot eggs at 72 yards !!! Money will get you quality in most cases and I don’t disagree with higher priced rifles but for 250$ this decimated the sub 500$ category hands down.
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Hi, yonyb."yonyb"Hi all......I've been thinking of the AOA deal on the Walther Maximathor in .22 or .25 ($500 or $600 basically). Seems owners report good power and accuracy from a walther barrel no less (not a hard choice for the company
I have a MaximaThor in .22. I paid nearly double that in $AU. It is very powerful, up to 45 FP and accurate, even at over 1050 fps with 16 grain JSBs. That's the good news. The sweet spot is very narrow, around one eight shot mag. You will get a mag worth of shots either side of that but your extreme spread will stretch to almost 100 fps. The gun is marketed as a hunting rifle but at 13 pounds with scope and bipod, you will need to be Hercules to shoot it offhand. I find it good for bench work whilst tethered to a bottle. I have had little success using the recommended 21 grain H&Ns, preferring the 18 grain JSBs even at over 1000 fps, I'm getting 1/2 inch groups at 50 yards.
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If you are ok with some noise look at the Brocock Concept S6-pretty sure it has either a Walther or HW barrel and it's $400."yonyb"Hi all......I've been thinking of the AOA deal on the Walther Maximathor in .22 or .25 ($500 or $600 basically). Seems owners report good power and accuracy from a walther barrel no less (not a hard choice for the company
http://www.airgunsofarizona.com/precharged-pcp/brocock-concept-s6-standard-.22/
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Dark1961 -
More or fewer, it's all in your shooting style. I went the other route, purchased one $2000 gun to more or less rule them all in my house. It's all personal preference. Where I am fairly OCD, having multiple guns would make life hell as each deserves to be shot in turn (Yeah, stupid, but you know this OCD crap). It's not quite that bad, but it does play into the equation. With one, extremely tune-able gun, extremely well fit and adjusted just for me, and a gun I can switch calibers on if I want, it just makes my life easier. I seek perfection where none exists.
I started PCP's with the Marauder. Excellent gun, decent trigger, but a bit rough around the edges. The Impact is in a whole different league. Excellent gun, fantastic trigger, and the edges are extremely well polished. Shoots like a laser, I think you get the message.
I may yet buy a Maximus in European standard just so I have a sub-12 fpe gun to play with. Other than that, I intend to keep shooting the Impact till it won't shoot anymore.
I also understand the folks that like to shot many guns, as in the More the Merrier! Whichever way you want to go, have fun.
More or fewer, it's all in your shooting style. I went the other route, purchased one $2000 gun to more or less rule them all in my house. It's all personal preference. Where I am fairly OCD, having multiple guns would make life hell as each deserves to be shot in turn (Yeah, stupid, but you know this OCD crap). It's not quite that bad, but it does play into the equation. With one, extremely tune-able gun, extremely well fit and adjusted just for me, and a gun I can switch calibers on if I want, it just makes my life easier. I seek perfection where none exists.
I started PCP's with the Marauder. Excellent gun, decent trigger, but a bit rough around the edges. The Impact is in a whole different league. Excellent gun, fantastic trigger, and the edges are extremely well polished. Shoots like a laser, I think you get the message.
I may yet buy a Maximus in European standard just so I have a sub-12 fpe gun to play with. Other than that, I intend to keep shooting the Impact till it won't shoot anymore.
I also understand the folks that like to shot many guns, as in the More the Merrier! Whichever way you want to go, have fun.
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Don't count out the Kral puncher series. A little love and they will keep up with a gun twice the cost.
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+1. Thammer can make the Kral guns really perform. From mild fpe to massive fpe, Troy has the voodoo to get the most out of them.
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