This upsets me because it is not helpful

[jps2486]

And how many people answer a question with a question and further muddy the waters?

 

[rc4fun]

Ya, A conversation i had the other day. I can afford a Ford Maverick. But no someone tells me. "Save your money and buy a F150". As if he didn't even hear me. Happens all the time here and everywhere.

What you really need is the 250 Turbo Diesel

 

[Franklink]

Sometimes it's as simple as somebody not realizing their budget isn't realistic for what they're asking for.

"I'm wanting to get involved in the RMAC/EBR competitions and will be going to both later this year. What are your suggestions for a gun that will be competitive? Max budget of $500 for gun, scope, compressor, tanks, fill station, bipod, and 2 years worth of ammo to feed it."

 

[357cal]

yes if their budget is ?? $300 suggesting a small increase for a better gun would be justified . but Buy once Cry once 1k more is ludicrous . In another conversation earlier i mentioned i meet a lot of people that have no idea their are other air guns except those sold in the Big Box stores .

I agree. My first PCP was a 42 FPE 25 caliber Avenger $400, which allowed me to its mechanics and modify it to achieve 100 FPE. This not only provided a valuable learning experience but also enabled me to advance to the next level of power without needing to purchase another PCP at that time. It was some of the best money I ever spent.

 

[RickH]

I try and answer the question asked if I know something about it. Sometimes the answer is you can’t do what you want very well on $xxx budget. Other times there is a very good solution and I’ll say so. I may add that for another $100 you can do even better. Like most activities there’s a learning curve that requires time, effort and money.
Rick H.

 

[cavedweller]

Well after reading some of these replies I can see some people are still not getting it.
I can agree with the thoughts of introducing people to newer better air rifles that cost more.
That should be introduced as a question Not an answer.Answer their question,who are you to think they do not know about better higher priced air guns?
So then I can agree what you are saying,but I think that is a different subject .
Again ask it ,like if you can afford a little more or have you thought of.....Do not ever tell anyone what they should get =outside what they are asking.
Assumptions are your personal opinion,not facts,if needed then get more facts to help you help them

There is no such thing as a budget Airgun
let me qualify that statement... if i recommend an inexpensive break barrel... and someone can not cock it... well darn.
If i recommend an inexpensive pcp and the person has no access to compressed air and lacks the strength to use a floor pump... well darn.
If i recommend an inexpensive Co2 gun and the person lacks the funds to buy more Co2 cartridges.... well darn.
If I recommend any inexpensive airgun and it needs a scope, and the scope needs rings... well darn.
AND this matters too, some people whine over the price of pellets... and any potential maintenance / parts etc....

Not my Problem

Even the cheapest airgun has the potential to COST someone with limited funds more money and frustration than they can afford.

That said, Sheridan pumper and be done.... if your physically able to pump it. Same for a good break barrel like HW30 etc....

I think "new to Airguns" people often fail to realize form follows function so not only does price matter, intended usage matters and ones personal physical condition, and maybe even municipal laws... because buying something that isn’t the correct tool for who you are, for where you live, and for the intended target, means you have wasted money.

 

[Vetmx]

Part of the time it’s lack of reading comprehension. Part of the time it’s guys wanting to recommend what excited them and they just can’t hold back. Very easy for some of us to say nothing fits your budget/expectations. Others prefer to just upgrade the poor guy beyond his budget and talk about stuff he can’t afford.

 

[ctshooter]

I've seen these threads pop up every other day looking for a $500 or less airgun. I agree with the OP as I read through these threads and shake my head when people start recommending $1K+ items. I haven't bought much sub $1K in the past few years, so I am not familiar with the $500 entry level offerings outside of reading a review. That essesntially make me unqualified to participate in the thread. At that point I'll do one of two things: 1 - bow out silently and not post, or 2 - have a look through the classifieds here and used pages at the retail stores to see if there is anything I am familiar with worth recommending.

The flip side is I think it is important to make noobs to the hobby aware of the 'other' costs of PCP. Air source, hoses, and maintenance stuff will easily double the cost of a $500 airgun. Plus scope/rings an maybe some shooting aids.

PCP is not a cheap side of the airgun hobby and if someone can barely afford a $500 airgun then a springer may be a better option.

 

[JaceSpace1369]

I don’t even click on those threads anymore. They have become my least favorite by far. In my opinion they are fruitless. Just a thread full of 50 different suggestions that probably confuse more than it helps. People need to research themselves, narrow it down to a couple and then ask specific questions about those specific guns instead of the what gun should I buy question.

My thing is there enough of those thread already to make a full search page with pages worth of information in most of them..

 

[rangur1]

Well after reading some of these replies I can see some people are still not getting it.
I can agree with the thoughts of introducing people to newer better air rifles that cost more.
That should be introduced as a question Not an answer.Answer their question,who are you to think they do not know about better higher priced air guns?
So then I can agree what you are saying,but I think that is a different subject .
Again ask it ,like if you can afford a little more or have you thought of.....Do not ever tell anyone what they should get =outside what they are asking.
Assumptions are your personal opinion,not facts,if needed then get more facts to help you help them

I agree with this and the original post completely. To the others that feel there is no harm in recommending significantly higher cost items. It is necessary to consider HOW it is recommended. Wording is key! Written text doesn't have voice inflection. It's easy for someone to feel ridiculed or insulted from a post you consider innocently intended. Whenever I answer a budget question, I'll give my best recommendations AND state my relative lack of expertise with that particular item. If I encourage a bump up in price item, I try to keep it within a couple hundred and mention it's advantages I feel it may have over the posters choice. But I humbly submit it for their consideration only, if they are locked in on their choice, That's where I stay with advice.

 

[Ezana4CE]

By all means, try to honor the budget. BUT when unrealistic expectations exceed the budget bracket, then open the flood gates to reality. I seem to notice this more with compressor questions Some members seek Alkin performance with a Hill hand pump or Yong Heng budget. Airguns questions aren’t too different. Some guys are on a Notos or Gamo springer budget, but desiste Daystate Redwolf performance.

When they’re legit questions and I’m not tired of the redundancy of this particular type of question, I may suggest a thread or two on a Notos or Avenge X. I really lack experience in the budget gun department so I can really only go off what others on here say. I’ve read enough about them which is why I have zero issues suggesting that the OPs of these types of threads use the search function. I know the info is on the forums already. I’m of the opinion that common question stickies would be great for AGN.

I like what JC says below...

My thing is there enough of those thread already to make a full search page with pages worth of information in most of them..

The only thing I have to add to the above comment is that every 6 months to a year enough new guns come out to add a few to the running list of suggested budget airguns already posted in older threads.

 

[john8]

View attachment 560206

I've yelled at cloud or two in my lifetime.

 

[rich177]

YES.