Buying First PCP

Daystate regal. Hw110. Brockok bantam. Streamline great choice also.

I would watch the classifieds sections on the various AG gun boards closely for awhile. I would not hesitate to buy used from a seller who has lots of posts. Look them up, try to find their own threads about the gun they are selling. Look them up on the feedback board. Find something you like? Ask lots of questions from the seller.

Even better - use one of the airgunner maps and see if you can find anyone close to you to shoot with who owns a PCP. Ask them lots of questions, ask to shoot with them. Again, I would rather buy a used gun that's proven (or at least sorted through) vs. a new one that may have "issues" and then you need to deal with fixing or returning it.

Oh yeah, what are your plans for filling it? That might be a new thread on its own!

Hi John, & welcome. We have all been there, buying the first PCP. I encourage you to look up older threads asking the same question: Which pcp? Check out Steve’s review below. Not for the gun, but for the pumping of the gun. Ask yourself what you want to do with the gun, how much power you want, how accurate (aside from your abilities) etc. 

As for the charging of the gun: ask yourself how much you think you will be shooting it? How many shots you want out of a single fill? 

Buying used as suggested above is great advice, some of us will sell practically new guns at a great discount just because we want the latest and greatest. The Brocock Compatto is a good choice and I have seen it for under $550 recently (used) 

https://www.airgunnation.com/topic/watch-discuss-the-benjamin-fortitude-regulated/

Good luck

Educate yourself on what you want and on the PCPs that have caught your eye. You can score some really nice buys on the classifieds here, once you know what your looking for.

FX Typhoon FT12 .22 would fit your needs for accuracy, craftsmanship and value.

There's a Diana Outlaw in .22 on Airgun Warriors site right now for $400 tuned and regulated to the max...

Would make a good first pcp and still have money for a pump or tank to fill her up....

James from Michigan, 

I bought a hill pump 3 years ago for my pistol marauder (prod). Still have it and use it but I’m thinking of picking up a chinese pump from ebay or amazon for around $50. I would have bought it instead of my hill if the option was around back then. 

As for an airgun I have little experience only owning a prod and now a taipan. Do a search here or go through a few pages for more answers/opinions. Your choice of streamline is good as I would reccomend one that has some sort of easy adjustment for power. I bought my taipan used from here and the transaction was great.

Scope never asked but I saved money again with a small budget and am really happy with a FFP (first focal plane) scope from the brand discovery. 

Good luck as I think it is almost impossable to own only one pcp airgun. Never been a better time to buy as so many options at all price points, but you always get what you pay for.

I love my airforce condor ss. Mine is 25 cal but they are all good. It is very accurate. Powerful. Adjustable. Losts of extras available to tune it. Very light and quiet. And its only $735 it is a single shot but that doesnt bother me. Plus you will have money left for a good scope. Good luck.

I recently went through the same decision process for my first PCP after years of springers. I was thinking of waiting for the Fortitude and going in a bit cheaper, but thanks to the advice of others on this board, I put in a few more $ and splurged for the FX Streamline. I am so happy with that decision and have no regrets. The Streamline has been great from day one and I have not have to do anything except mount the scope and sight it in. My wife has even tried this PCP and wants to shoot it almost as much as I do. I would recommend spending a bit more and get something that doesn't really need any modifications that can be used for a long time.

I had a few springers and then got a Hatsan Nova. It's a good gun for the money, but very front heavy. I've used bicycle pumps and had to do dozens of pumps to get the tires filled. I got a pump, but sent it back; the idea of six hundred pumps to get a full tank was a younger man's job. I got a few used SCBA tanks on ebay and it takes about 30 seconds to fill my gun. I sold the Nova and got a Wildcat MkII. Beautiful design and light weight. I may buy another gun someday, but this one has hit all the marks.

Another one you might consider is a Brocock Hi-lite or Sniper.

I’m thinking of getting a Hill MK4 pump. I’ve heard good things about it and it’s got a lifetime warranty! (Also I’m too cheap to buy a compressor 

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Hi John, I have been there with a nice Air Arms S510 .22 and a Hill pump. I truly loved the gun but (for me anyway) pumping took much of the fun out of it. I eventually sold both the gun and pump. I shifted hobbies for a while and then when I got back into PCPs I invested in a tank. Before doing this I found a local fire equipment supply company that filled them. I know that I have good quality air. Shooting is SOOOOO much more fun when you don't have to pump three times for each shot you take. (That was the ratio for me anyway when I needed to top off the gun.)

Some people are perfectly fine pumping. I just felt that it threw off my "rhythm" of shooting. I have springers that I shot a lot when I was without a PCP.

I have since found a dive shop with 4500 psi fill capabilities. I get my tank filled for less than $5 now. Before I was paying about $14 per fill on my tank. If you have any similar companies that can fill for you, you should really consider a less expensive 1st PCP and a tank.

$500 tank + $300 starter or used PCP = more fun

Oh, you can probably sell the gun after a year and lose very little money on it.



My 2-cents!

I racked my brain for a year and a half before I finally bought a used FX Royale 400 in May and I recently purchased a used Wildcat. It was hard to tell that the WC had been out of the box. I'm lucky enough to live a short drive from AoA so I was able to handle all the guns I thought I was interested in before buying. Like others have said I think saving a few bucks on a used rifle is a great option. However, I was able to purchase both of my rifles in person and didn't have to deal with purchasing sight unseen. I've been very happy with both rifles.

I saved enough by purchasing used that I was able to get a tank to fill it and I'm really glad I did. The tank is incredibly convenient and I saved the money of buying a hand pump first.

If you're looking for a general purpose target/hunting airgun you can't go wrong with the Streamline, Bantam, and Regal XL as others have stated. On the lower price end I've spoken to Diana Outlaw owners who were very happy with them. Having handled that Outlaw it's nice and light and feels really well in the hand.

My first PCP was a disco....damn thing hooked me. Since then Hatsans, Benji, Kral and Crickets. The Hatsan AT 44 has been very good to me but, especially good after the Huma reg I installed. Its decent on air, about 35/fill on the reg, 18 g JSB at 870 fps, nearly hole in hole. It will splt poker chips at 50 yds with boring consistency. They are also easy to tinker on. The Cricket is a 25 tuned by Rowe, its so good but, its not $1000 better than the AT 44. The Benji Marauder was a 25 with the GM barrel, it was nice but, an air hog and did not like the bolt. Hatsans dont get much love but, mine has been so enjoyable to shoot. The Cricket gets more use but, mostly because I have better glass on it and the shorter platform is nice. The Kral PB was solid but, the trigger was wonky for me, no issues at all beyond that. Try a used gun from AGN. 



Good luck

Buy used from any well know airgunnner, or shop.

Hand pumps are not what they used to be ( excessively over priced ) I found a taousa hand pump new for $49.00 delivered. So far it has actually out preformed my past FX & Hill hand pumps. You can safely save a $ there. 

Air, check local supply & buy a used scba. Tho some remember way back ,kidding, before the freedom provided by hand pumps folks used regular scuba tanks and enjoyed their airguns greatly. 

Anything with a regulator allows steady shots ( just fewer per fill ) off any fill above reg set point.

Pumping is all technique it's not hard if your bones are good. I do know a 1st rate shooter who pumps during FT shoots because he "likes it", go figure.



Best advice, get with some other airgun folks and shoot what they've got.







John

Buy used from any well know airgunnner, or shop.

Hand pumps are not what they used to be ( excessively over priced ) I found a taousa hand pump new for $49.00 delivered. So far it has actually out preformed my past FX & Hill hand pumps. You can safely save a $ there. 

Air, check local supply & buy a used scba. Tho some remember way back ,kidding, before the freedom provided by hand pumps folks used regular scuba tanks and enjoyed their airguns greatly. 

Anything with a regulator allows steady shots ( just fewer per fill ) off any fill above reg set point.

Pumping is all technique it's not hard if your bones are good. I do know a 1st rate shooter who pumps during FT shoots because he "likes it", go figure.



Best advice, get with some other airgun folks and shoot what they've got.







John

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What John said! Seriously, find a match somewhere. If there isn't anything close, see if you can find someone on here or through a local range that will let you try a variety. John told me the same thing several months ago, I listened, and it was very good advice.

If I may ask, what will you be using the rifle for? Pest control, targets, both? 

PCP's are such a pleasure to shoot.. and once you buy one the search for the ultimate PCP will start.. most guys on here probably own 6 -8 + rifles..

$700 should get you a nice used pcp.. AirArms is a good one to start with.. and there are many others too.. 

Wish u the best of luck.. 

I'd say save up to the 1200$ range and then buy used. 

If you really want to stay in the 700$ range I recommend brocock and even a Benjamin maurader.

You want the best features for the money at that price range. 

ach, " Seriously, find a match somewhere. If there isn't anything close, see if you can find someone on here or through a local range that will let you try a variety. John told me the same thing several months ago, I listened, and it was very good advice. "

That is what you did after inquiring about different rigs and the face to face did make a difference correct?



For the most part airgun folks are friendly and happy to let others shoot what they have and esp. starting out it is always a lot of helpful fun getting to know whomever is around your area, might even find a deal!



John