Help me pick a hunter!

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wafair

wafair

Member
Oct 9, 2015
133
8
TN, United States
Hi all,

I've been messing around with PCPs for 9 years or so now. Started with a Disco, then got an OG Marauder in .25, a Cricket in .25, a Wildcat in .25, and a bunch of other random guns that came and went. I shoot lights out with the Marauder, Cricket, and Wildcat. Then I got fancy and bought a new Impact MKII Compact in .25 and couldn't hit anything. I can zero on the bench, but then when I go to shoot as I do when I hunt - braced against a tree - I can't hit anything. I sold that and bought a Matador R5M compact. Same thing. I currently have an original Leshiy and a Matador R5M long. Have not had time to shoot them yet to know whether I can hit or not. They are a little awkward to operate in my opinion. Don't like the cocking mechanism on the R5M or the single shot in the Leshiy. Meanwhile I am intrigued by the Leshiy 2 for the multishot and honestly just the cool factor. Love all the iguana hunting vids. I am a sucker for gadgets basically.

I don't get to shoot a lot. I moved to a neighborhood where it's not safe and reasonable to slay squirrels in the backyard, certainly not with hit or miss accuracy. So I get to go to the woods a handful of times in the Fall and Winter to enjoy smashing squirrels. I'm not an engineer or scientist about it, and have little time or opportunity for tuning and adjustments. I just need something that works. Honestly my Marauder does the trick, but it is heavy to begin with, and then with the added shroud- and airtube extensions it's a pain to carry in the woods. The Cricket was a great shooter, but hard to operate with the mag change procedure. 

Here is what I think I need in a hunting gun: Easy to shoot and operate, good shot count, and lightweight. 

Anyway, here is my question or questions after all that rambling and over-sharing: Is the Leshiy 2 easy to shoot accurately, or is it fussy/twitchy like the Impact Compact because of its light weight and compactness? It is good for at least up to 50 yards for hunting? Is the power and shot count adequate? Quiet-ish? I'd shoot .25 and am open to .30. 

OR, better to go with the new Cricket Tactical? Looks like they have improved the magazine switching issue and it has that big bottle. 

BTW, no doubt I could learn and practice in order to shoot better. I just don't have the free time or place to do it. I know I can hit with some guns, so in my mind the solution is just to find a gun that I can shoot as well as those, but with more power, shot count, etc. than the Marauder, etc. 

Thanks!
 
I have not owned eather of them but rifles with a longer shoulder to front hand grip seem to be easier to shoot freestanding. Also look into using a sling to steady the gun.
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Agree 100%. I love my Veteran, but as a bullpup, I find it challenging to shoot from field positions. I also shoot from the side of a tree when I can when hunting. For me, full length rifles with a sporter style stock are the best. Two that I currently own that fit that profile, the HW100, and the Revere. The Revere is considerably lighter, and would be my choice.
 
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My fx crown for a couple of reasons I can guess, has the uncanny ability to hit what you point it at, as long as it's still pointed when you pull the trigger. Even the worst hold and technique cannot dissuade it. Downside... Don't ever bump the barrel (there are workarounds) and being a bottle gun, it is a bit wide. But with a lightweight barrel feels a couple lbs lighter than it is. My hunting rig is 9.5lbs, but with synthetic stock and 4x scope I can get it to weigh in at 7lbs on the nose. 
 
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Your pcp ownership sounds just like mine but had great luck shooting all my guns on the bench or walk-n-stalk. You seem to be comfortable shooting a standard rifle if you say you prefer your mrod. Might want to look at the bantam hp. I use to own a .22 bantam and it was a great carry gun. If it was regulated and shooting in the lower 30 ft-lbs, I would've kept it. The only complaints I had on the bantam was the low energy, un-reg, and the trigger was not as great as my other pcp's. The newer regulated hp bantams might be a lot better then the one I had and if they are, might be worth looking at
 
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You either shoulder and love the bullpups and shoot them well or the complete opposite. I don't mind because almost all my pesting i shoot off a tripod. I am trying to get a wildcat for my woods walker and will try and keep that one balanced. I know you sold the impact but the buttstock from saber tactical or k&l could have completely changed the feel and hold and might have been golden for you. If shot count isn't crazy needed from a bottle gun I would check the veteran short or standard built like a tank and accurate mine is shooting hades .25 at 920fps granted it was Ernest Rowes so it has his magic in it as do the other 3 rifles I bought from him I got lucky and spoiled and have 4 guns from Ernests personal collection. Maybe give the dreamline/tac versions a look maybe you like the hold and feel of a rifle instead of a bullpup.
 
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FX Royale 400 (.22) or 500 (.25) are incredibly accurate, reliable & easy to shoot straight out of the box. Traditional rifle style, NOT carbine or bullpup but easily hit what you aim at, really quiet too. Research them here on the forum. Designed around JSB pellets so those always work great.
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The Royale 400 is a great rifle, I like mine a lot. The only reason it's not my first choice for a woods rifle, the bottle platform makes shooting from my typical tree position a bit less comfortable. But that's just a personal thing.
 
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I shoot everything off-hand. For me, the bench exists solely for sighting in.


I disagree with others here- and find that the Taipan is an excellent off- hand shooter. If I was advising someone, I would suggest the .22 version, of the Taipan Standard for squirrels during hunting season….

Mine is ready to go, for just that,…
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Yes, the Vet is fine offhand, but that's not how I shoot most squirrels. I rest on the side of tree, and that's where the blocky forend of the Vet is an issue for me. If you kill most of your squirrels shooting offhand, you are simply a much better shot, and I congratulate you.
 
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elh0102, “If you kill most of your squirrels shooting offhand, you are simply a much better shot, and I congratulate you.”

I started shooting squirrels and rabbits with a single shot .410 gauge my parents gave me over 50 years ago; age 8. We ate what I shot- then and now. I do not claim to have any skill. I do have what it takes to bring home dinner, though. That, has always been good enough,…


 
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For real hunting go for to a Uragan in .30 Cal.

If you want less power go for a Uragan in .25 Cal.

If you want a large super accurate rifle, go for a Wolverine HP HR.

With those rifles being able to hit a rabbit at 160 yards is a matter of knowing your rifle.

Do not go to Brocock. There's a lot of time and movement among you pull the trigger and the pellet start to fly.

The Bantam is super comfortable and a very good rifle but the accuracy, because of what I have said above, is much more difficult to achieve at long distance.
 
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Please don't take this the wrong way, but bench shooting and off hand shooting requires different two different skill sets. Maybe you could take some more time practicing. And there are many hunter here that use shooting tripods in the field. Those are essential tools for the modern airgun hunter inmo.
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Well, I've been practicing for 60 years, so I guess I am what I am. Regarding the tripod, yes, that's almost as good as a bench, but not practical for my woods hunting. And maybe we aren't talking about the same thing regarding offhand shooting. To me, that means shooting with no support at all, you stand up and shoot. My best standing position scores in service rifle were mediocre, certainly not squirrel head capable. But if I can get next to a small tree for support, I'm generally good to 50 yards or so, which is about my personal limit. And that's where the trimmer, cylinder rifle forend suits me better.
 
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Hi all,

I've been messing around with PCPs for 9 years or so now. Started with a Disco, then got an OG Marauder in .25, a Cricket in .25, a Wildcat in .25, and a bunch of other random guns that came and went. I shoot lights out with the Marauder, Cricket, and Wildcat. Then I got fancy and bought a new Impact MKII Compact in .25 and couldn't hit anything. I can zero on the bench, but then when I go to shoot as I do when I hunt - braced against a tree - I can't hit anything. I sold that and bought a Matador R5M compact. Same thing. I currently have an original Leshiy and a Matador R5M long. Have not had time to shoot them yet to know whether I can hit or not. They are a little awkward to operate in my opinion. Don't like the cocking mechanism on the R5M or the single shot in the Leshiy. Meanwhile I am intrigued by the Leshiy 2 for the multishot and honestly just the cool factor. Love all the iguana hunting vids. I am a sucker for gadgets basically.

I don't get to shoot a lot. I moved to a neighborhood where it's not safe and reasonable to slay squirrels in the backyard, certainly not with hit or miss accuracy. So I get to go to the woods a handful of times in the Fall and Winter to enjoy smashing squirrels. I'm not an engineer or scientist about it, and have little time or opportunity for tuning and adjustments. I just need something that works. Honestly my Marauder does the trick, but it is heavy to begin with, and then with the added shroud- and airtube extensions it's a pain to carry in the woods. The Cricket was a great shooter, but hard to operate with the mag change procedure. 

Here is what I think I need in a hunting gun: Easy to shoot and operate, good shot count, and lightweight. 

Anyway, here is my question or questions after all that rambling and over-sharing: Is the Leshiy 2 easy to shoot accurately, or is it fussy/twitchy like the Impact Compact because of its light weight and compactness? It is good for at least up to 50 yards for hunting? Is the power and shot count adequate? Quiet-ish? I'd shoot .25 and am open to .30. 

OR, better to go with the new Cricket Tactical? Looks like they have improved the magazine switching issue and it has that big bottle. 

BTW, no doubt I could learn and practice in order to shoot better. I just don't have the free time or place to do it. I know I can hit with some guns, so in my mind the solution is just to find a gun that I can shoot as well as those, but with more power, shot count, etc. than the Marauder, etc. 

Thanks!
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To answer your question about the leshiy 2, it's moderately loud out of the box. As for accuracy wise, shooting up to 50 yards with no problem offhand or using a tree if you're in the woods. I like it cause it's lightweight and can easily be folded up into my backpack. I left my leshiy 2 on out of the box settings and just use a silencer insert. Has been really quiet and been shooting out to 75 yards with no problem.
 
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