Approximately once per year I get struck with an inexplicable urge to build my own air rifle. Nothing too ambitious. Just assembling one from store bought custom parts. It comes on like the flu and usually results in a similar amount of headache and wasted time.
There are stores that sell the parts for such an endeavor but the problem is that none of them are very good. It's not the quality of the craftsmanship that's at fault. It's the lack of vision and common sense.
You see, if I am going to go to the trouble of making a diy anything, it will be to either get something for less money or to get something better for the same money. It should be a super fun experience too, like it is for firearms. As it's "custom", I want to be able to make decisions like:
ST, LW or CZ barrel, Bottle or tube, CF or metal bottle, Huma or JD regulator, side lever or bolt-action, premium Walnut or entry level stock, one or two stage trigger, upgrade now or later etc etc.
so..... can I choose any of these things? Not even one. For some reason, my only option is to spend $400-$500 to upgrade a Crossman 2240 or Discovery to be almost as good (but not quite) as an off-the-shelf Marauder. I.e. a giant waste of time. They do offer a choice of different breach colors which would be awesome.... if I was a 12-year-old girl.
I don't have an issue using a Discovery or 2240 as a starting point. I don't mind the custom multi-shot breaches that use Marauder mags. I do mind big time that these stores are only offering them with Crossman barrels in 22 cal and the lack of choice or upgrade options for everything else.
These stores are already machining their own barrels and bottle adapters etc. Giving customers the option to upgrade with drop-in ST or LW barrels or to use a premium regulator with CF bottle would require no new investment on their part. It would make the buying experience infinitely better though.
Afterall, everybody prefers things to be the way they like them. Person A likes ST, B likes LW barrels and C is on a budget and wants to stick with the Crossman barrel. That should be no problem - that's what a custom air gun store is all about. Take away those choices and you have an inferior off-the -shelf gun that you have to build yourself (with no saving).
So... every year.... I end up with the same conclusion: custom air guns are still a waste of time because that need for low cost entry-level PCP rifles is already filled very well by Crossman, Gamo and Hatsan etc. CZ USA sells the CZ200 for $350 from their web store.... These custom parts stores will never be able to compete on price if they only focus on parts to turn Discovery's and 2240's into inferior Marauders.
On the other hand, the market for custom multi-shot Discoverys with upgrade options like LW barrels, regulated CF bottles and figured Walnut stocks is not currently served at all. I know because I just tried to buy the parts to make one and as usual, nobody sells them. In fact, nobody is selling premium drop-in barrel upgrades for any air gun apart from the 22 TJ Marauder barrel offered by MM and their waiting time says it all. You're lucky to receive the one you ordered while you're still alive because that market is so under-served....
Anyway... this is why the custom firearm market is huge while the custom air gun market is just a huge disappointment!
One day there will be a custom air gun store that is actually cool and worth visiting. A wide choice of ready machined parts will be in stock. You'll be able to order online and select options for everything using drop-down menus. You'll be able to click on options like: 22 cal, CZ barrel, 17", 1.5" shroud, 7", side-lever, left side, 480cc bottle, cf, 30fpe, power adjuster, Composite tactical stock, huma reg, auto index mag and there will be no warnings about how it will be delivered whenever they feel like it "because it's custom". "Custom" will not be an excuse for poor customer service.
Popular components like bottle adapters will not be out of stock for months on end because the owner will use their brain to see that they should order more of the popular items. People ordering ready built custom guns will not have to wait forever because it will only require assembly of ready made parts from the warehouse and... they will hire enough staff to fill their orders in a timely fashion.
I can't wait for there to be a decent custom shop!
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There are stores that sell the parts for such an endeavor but the problem is that none of them are very good. It's not the quality of the craftsmanship that's at fault. It's the lack of vision and common sense.
You see, if I am going to go to the trouble of making a diy anything, it will be to either get something for less money or to get something better for the same money. It should be a super fun experience too, like it is for firearms. As it's "custom", I want to be able to make decisions like:
ST, LW or CZ barrel, Bottle or tube, CF or metal bottle, Huma or JD regulator, side lever or bolt-action, premium Walnut or entry level stock, one or two stage trigger, upgrade now or later etc etc.
so..... can I choose any of these things? Not even one. For some reason, my only option is to spend $400-$500 to upgrade a Crossman 2240 or Discovery to be almost as good (but not quite) as an off-the-shelf Marauder. I.e. a giant waste of time. They do offer a choice of different breach colors which would be awesome.... if I was a 12-year-old girl.
I don't have an issue using a Discovery or 2240 as a starting point. I don't mind the custom multi-shot breaches that use Marauder mags. I do mind big time that these stores are only offering them with Crossman barrels in 22 cal and the lack of choice or upgrade options for everything else.
These stores are already machining their own barrels and bottle adapters etc. Giving customers the option to upgrade with drop-in ST or LW barrels or to use a premium regulator with CF bottle would require no new investment on their part. It would make the buying experience infinitely better though.
Afterall, everybody prefers things to be the way they like them. Person A likes ST, B likes LW barrels and C is on a budget and wants to stick with the Crossman barrel. That should be no problem - that's what a custom air gun store is all about. Take away those choices and you have an inferior off-the -shelf gun that you have to build yourself (with no saving).
So... every year.... I end up with the same conclusion: custom air guns are still a waste of time because that need for low cost entry-level PCP rifles is already filled very well by Crossman, Gamo and Hatsan etc. CZ USA sells the CZ200 for $350 from their web store.... These custom parts stores will never be able to compete on price if they only focus on parts to turn Discovery's and 2240's into inferior Marauders.
On the other hand, the market for custom multi-shot Discoverys with upgrade options like LW barrels, regulated CF bottles and figured Walnut stocks is not currently served at all. I know because I just tried to buy the parts to make one and as usual, nobody sells them. In fact, nobody is selling premium drop-in barrel upgrades for any air gun apart from the 22 TJ Marauder barrel offered by MM and their waiting time says it all. You're lucky to receive the one you ordered while you're still alive because that market is so under-served....
Anyway... this is why the custom firearm market is huge while the custom air gun market is just a huge disappointment!
One day there will be a custom air gun store that is actually cool and worth visiting. A wide choice of ready machined parts will be in stock. You'll be able to order online and select options for everything using drop-down menus. You'll be able to click on options like: 22 cal, CZ barrel, 17", 1.5" shroud, 7", side-lever, left side, 480cc bottle, cf, 30fpe, power adjuster, Composite tactical stock, huma reg, auto index mag and there will be no warnings about how it will be delivered whenever they feel like it "because it's custom". "Custom" will not be an excuse for poor customer service.
Popular components like bottle adapters will not be out of stock for months on end because the owner will use their brain to see that they should order more of the popular items. People ordering ready built custom guns will not have to wait forever because it will only require assembly of ready made parts from the warehouse and... they will hire enough staff to fill their orders in a timely fashion.
I can't wait for there to be a decent custom shop!
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