Getting expensive

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Smok3y

Member
Sep 25, 2018
1,581
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NC, United States
Hi all. Joined a couple months ago when I started looking more into airguns. I got started with a Marauder and a Guppy, thinking I would ease into the sport with a well respected low priced option.

That is also how I got into 22lr, before always wanting more and better. I added more and more and upgraded into several high end rifles, and before I know it I was not even competing with all this money in my equipment. I was looking to get into airguns and save some money, shoot quieter, and have just as much fun. 

Well, needless to say, this sport is no cheaper (except in ammo), and I am definitely not going to be saving money, and my trading itch just changed from 22lr to .25 airguns. I sold off the Marauder very quickly, as I realized in 22lr, sometimes it is just best to buy once, cry once, except I never do it just once! Picked up a FX Impact which was a heck of a shooter, but I’m not sure I’m a bullpup guy. So, while I’m getting ready to try to find a Red Wolf or Crown, I get the option to pickup a Cricket (which my sounding board Fuss raves about) and now I have stayed with a bullpup and just moved to a different model to give bullpups another try before moving along. If you are keeping tabs, I am on my 3rd rifle in 2 months, and have only been out a handful of days to shoot. 

Now, I’m having more trouble than expected being able to meet up with the paintball shop to get air, and it is getting really annoying. I checked out the shoebox stuff when I started and decided I would pass and could do without. Now, I’m seeing all the good reviews on the Daystate, and while it would be complete overkill for me, I am seriously considering it! That is a big chunk of change and it has been sitting in my cart for a week. Trying hard not to pull the trigger.

When I started this, I thought I would just sell off my match rifle and match scope and I would be perfectly happy. Turns out, I may just sell off all my 22lr except for the sentimental ones and just go all in on airguns! I already have the precision gongs and spinners everywhere, and it is much quieter. I thought I could restrain myself and save money, just buy one rifle and pass on a compressor, but I feel like I have caught a bug or something and I can’t stop!!! 

Anyway, love the forums. Lots of great guys and advice here, and I enjoy it a lot. Thanks for passing along the addiction.
 
Just glad to know I’m not alone. I told myself I wouldn’t get hooked... 

The deal worked out too well with the Guppy, and I have no money in it after flipping the Marauder. I was just looking to get a rifle and pump (which it came with) and really start out slow. Pumped that a few times and my eyes were opened, and realized why the guy had the bottle too. 
 
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For what it’s worth: If you shoot enough that going to the paintball place is annoying, but not enough to justify the $2K compressor, the boosters and s bottle are a good compromise. 

I have an Altaros booster and have been happy with it. It’s slow, but I’m in no particular hurry when I fill. The system is not ultra cheap when all is factored in, but it’s modular and easy to replace pieces of the puzzle (ie the shop compressor can be swapped really fast) 

I only fill my Omega tank every good while (weeks) these days. Used to be more often at the beginning.


 
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I saw that booster in the compressor study (thanks to that guy!) and did a little digging during lunch, but didn’t make it far. I saw that you need a shop compressor, but I haven’t found how big of one is needed yet. My cousin lives close by and he has what I would think is a heavy duty compressor, and I was thinking about getting with him to see if that might be an option once I find out the requirements. Also, I’m not mechanical, and sometimes just prefer to get what works, so that is why the Daystate has caught my eye. 
 
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Definitely an expensive hobby to get into, but not really too expensive to stay in, if you know what I mean.



I too started off with a marauder, but I tossed around 500$ into it turning it into a adjustable 34-39" carbine that weighs 5 lbs undressed shooting 33.95's @ 900 fps or 19.91's as low as 650 for a good broad range of 18-60 FPE effectively.



I personally spent 90$~ on a 45 min tank that I can rehydro once, I will effectively get 5 years out of the tank. Fills are 10$ for me at my local scuba and they take it to 4500. 



Purchasing and maintaining a quality compressor and taking all precautions to make sure the air has ZERO moisture is a task...its an expensive start up and expensive to maintain, oil changes, filter changes, replacing broken/worn parts, electrical costs. At the end of its 'life' (3-5 years at best) I can't justify ever purchasing one unless you have absolutely no source of filling your tanks nearby...even if I spent 10$ a week on fills, that is 520$ a year (I fill monthly at best, so 120$ a year..). A REALLY good compressor cost over 1000$. That excludes the costs of running the machine (1800~ watts an hour), the oil, and more times than not proper filtering. Add in the 3, and over a period of 3 years you likely won't save much if any at all compared to filling at a scuba shop...



But when it comes to cost per shot, nothing beats an air rifle, my pellets run around .4 to .5 cents a pop, and the air I shoot per shot is probably close to 1/2 cent or something, so for 4.5 to 5.5 cents per shot (.25 cal) you can't really beat that.
 
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I think you just wrote my biography...

i went with a vulcan instead and a great white.

my trick was to find a local shooter buddy to buy the redwolf and compressor. Now to pry it outta of his hands....

;-p
Click to expand...

Smok3y,

I started with a Brocock Bantam, and before I even fired it, I had to have the Red Wolf. At this point I'm self contained, knock off compressor, Carbon Tank, LabRadar, and two air rifles. I just need more time to shoot. Being in SoCal, it's normally a drive to anywhere legal to shoot.



Aaron,

I believe the term is "Pry it from my cold dead hands." or it's for rent if you need it.

Besides you got me into this sillyness, you owe me.

Smitty
 
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(Snicker)

I think we all started thinking we could shoot and save a few bucks along the way. Oh how I wish it were true!

Started with a Marauder .22 (like you) and realized I wanted more, more, and more. Now, still have the marauder and just added a regulator, and picked up a used Impact. Compressor is next. Probably the cheapo YongHeng, but it'll do the job as well as any hand pump. I have two guppy bottles, paid $75 for a two year old bottle, and used 100,000 Bing points to buy the regulator so $75 cash, can't beat that.

All the accessories do add up, but since I don't need a machine shop to work on a gun, having one in pieces on my work table isn't uncommon. Real problem is getting all the O-Rings in the right place.

But, and this is a big BUT - my son just bought a 6.5 Creedmoor, scope and ammunition. Gun was "Inexpensive at $600 for a combo) Ammunition is $1.25 per round if not reloading and still in the $.80 range if reloading. For the $.80, I can shoot 10 or 12 times and my shoulder doesn't hurt after a day on the range.

I intend to shoot this stuff till the day they put me in the ground. Well worth every penny
 
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@ackuric - You don’t have to run the numbers for me brother. I’m an accountant. The numbers don’t add up, which is why it is still in the cart! Paying is going to be all about convenience, and me trying to figure out what that is worth to me. The paintball shop that is “close” is only about 15-20 minutes from work, but turns out, they are open every day and especially not in the winter. Now, only open a few hours on the weekend when he wants to be. I haven’t been able to meet him the last 3 weekends. After that, I have a minimum hour drive to anywhere, unless I talk to the local FD. If I do that, I don’t want to bug the crap out of them with small fillups, so then I would want a large tank, call it $500-700. I do think a compressor of some sort is going to be worth the convenience, which will then be worth the fun, which will then cost more money!!

I know I could save and make this fun hobby work a lot cheaper, just like I could have in 22lr. But dang it is fun when you dive in too! I know there are options on the compressor side and I’m still weighing them out. The last three days though... I have just been saying, push the button!!
 
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It is a Cricket Bullpup with the Charlie Frear tune in a skeleton stock. I need to post a pic! DonnyFL is shipping me a 6” end cap.😉

1544138269_17978389725c09ae1d8b2928.76959881_39AB016E-DFE5-4ED9-81F7-72815146B03F.jpeg

 
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Get the Daystate Coltri compressor, don't second guess yourself. Looks like you aren't messing around with your decision for top shelf quality airguns so you should get the best compressor you can buy.

If I were in your shoes I would use the Daystate Compressor as a STARTING POINT because there are better ones than that put out cleaner breathable air such as the Coltris and Bauers. Less run time less wear on the compressors long and dependable trouble free operation...

If you know you are going to be buying expensive high end guns why not invest in the best compressor?

The other option is to rent a 6000psi nitrogen tank. It would be the BEST option IMHO...

When you buy a Porsche feed it Premium gas...


CA
 
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Ohhh man, that gun is a hammer. You will be very happy with it. Get yourself a DonnyFL side plate, or mod yours. Makes things a bit easier. 

My .25 🦗 is at Charlie’s right now getting an overhaul. When performing at it’s peak it’s a 62fpe gun all day long. 

CA just gave you some solid advice right there too. I’m gonna have to give myself a negative for not having thought of it myself (just kidding around CA) Matter of fact, that’s what Charlie uses, a 6000lb Nitrogen tank. Nice and dry gas for all the guns he sells. 
 
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