Completely new to all the higher end airguns and it's a little overwhelming. Where is the best place to start i.e. aside from reading every thread here what are the good sources of information like youtubers, magazines/books and things of that nature?
Honestly don't know where to start lol
- Thread starter COG
- Start date
What is your interest and experience with airguns in general? Are you looking for a hunting or target/plinking platform? You say new to higher end airguns. Does that mean you are an air gunner now? (springers and lower end pcp's)
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Cog as far as things on you tube I would check out Ted's HoldOver. He reviews a lot of different air rifles and goes over many aspects of air gunning.
Ted's Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNqIq439XbEIeJhFJca2J-g
Also AirArms HuntingSA
Matt Duber Reviews different air rifles and has a lot of air rifle hunting information.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthxJ7N1usTDbd4n_aSSO7g
Ted's Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNqIq439XbEIeJhFJca2J-g
Also AirArms HuntingSA
Matt Duber Reviews different air rifles and has a lot of air rifle hunting information.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthxJ7N1usTDbd4n_aSSO7g
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I guess the correct thing would be getting back in to lol I haven't been out shooting air guns for a few years and I just had a break barrel crossman. Im now a firearms shooter but recently had someone at our range bring out an Airforce rifle and it was pretty awesome. Target and hunting are my interests so throw it all out there!
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I watched a lot of videos, Teds videos first, I discovered Matt Dubbers videos later. Both are good sources. Ted has a few more videos on different guns.
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You need to identify first what you want the thing(s) to do. If you want to punch out the little period that is the ten ring on 10 meter targets, then you are looking at something completely different if your goal is to take whitetail deer. Between these two extremes are where most of us want our airgun roles to fill.
Among the popular airgun sports, are the following: 25 yard or meter benchrest; 75 yard benchrest; Long range (100 yards plus) precision shooting; Field Target; small pest control; medium pest control; meat hunting of small game and birds; medium game and large game hunting; outdoor conventional position shooting; indoor precision shooting (including the four positions of standing, kneeling, sitting and prone); and formal or informal gallery target shooting.
Each of these sports have airguns that are better suited than another. Some will cross over between them more easily than others. Your choice(s) will be determined by what you want to do.
Among the popular airgun sports, are the following: 25 yard or meter benchrest; 75 yard benchrest; Long range (100 yards plus) precision shooting; Field Target; small pest control; medium pest control; meat hunting of small game and birds; medium game and large game hunting; outdoor conventional position shooting; indoor precision shooting (including the four positions of standing, kneeling, sitting and prone); and formal or informal gallery target shooting.
Each of these sports have airguns that are better suited than another. Some will cross over between them more easily than others. Your choice(s) will be determined by what you want to do.
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If someone hasn't already suggested it, and if there is one close enough to you, go to an airgun show and see first-hand what's out there now. Good luck and have fun!
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I second watching Ted's and Matt Dubber's video. When you don't know what you don't know, hard to make a decision. I would recommend to hold your purchase off until you go through enough of these videos and reviews so you know what you can do with these rifles. When you decide what you want to do (ex.- plink, hunt, or bechrest) then I would go in depth with your interest. I took about 4-6 months reviewing thing before I jumped in. Take your time and enjoy the process. I still like to go on the different suppliers just to look at all the different assortment of rifles.
Best of luck!
Doc
Best of luck!
Doc
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COG as a follow up there are a lot of online stores to buy airguns, supplies and accessories. Many will carry most brands of airguns and some feature rifles others don't carry. Here are a couple of vendors I use and visit there sites for products and reviews. There are of course are many fine dealers across the US. Here are a couple.
The first is Pyramyd Air. They have a good selection of everything and I use them because they are fairly close to me. They have a lot of customer reviews on their products
http://www.pyramydair.com/
The next dealer is Straight Shooters. While many dealers give the factories write ups of their airguns SS does a 'Our Take' review where they shoot the rifles and give a fairly good take on the rifles performance and features.
http://www.straightshooters.com/
The first is Pyramyd Air. They have a good selection of everything and I use them because they are fairly close to me. They have a lot of customer reviews on their products
http://www.pyramydair.com/
The next dealer is Straight Shooters. While many dealers give the factories write ups of their airguns SS does a 'Our Take' review where they shoot the rifles and give a fairly good take on the rifles performance and features.
http://www.straightshooters.com/
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See i had no clue there were this many different categories of the sport so listing them off like you did helps me research by giving me keywords to use. I'll start with the youtube channels mentioned along with these category keywords to start zeroing in on what I want to do
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Exactly Doc I have no clue yet what I want to do! Lol I am in no way in a hurry to buy anything yet I at the stage of just being intrigued by where the sport has gone and excited about the journey
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COG the first mistake I made was looking at the higher numbers on fps. A few years ago my air gun made as much noise when it cracked the sound barrier as one of my rimfires. And sometimes I think its better to think about how much you want to spend and throw that out and this bunch will sure help you spend it?
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COG, one of the things to consider if you are going to buy a PCP like the Air Force is the amount of support equipment it needs. They are great because you fill them and then get anywhere from 20 to 60 shots out of them, depending on their power. You don't have to cock the barrel spring or gas ram for each shot. With PCP's it's the filling them that is expensive. Most people start out with a hand pump. Then you use gun in the basement or backyard to sight it in and practice and you want to shoot hundreds of shots. So you use the hand pump and after your first day you think "Man, this sucks." It's not like pumping a bicycle tire, it's like pumping up a (I imagine) 747 tire. So then the next option, if you have a dive shop around to fill it, is to get a carbon fiber tank and fitting to the tune of $500 to $800. Now you have LOTs of shots and refilling your rifle is easy. Some go so far as getting a compressor to fill the tank.
It may seem like I am trying to scare you away. I'm not. Almost all of us with a PCP have gone down the path and have been happy to do so and found its worth every cent.
It may seem like I am trying to scare you away. I'm not. Almost all of us with a PCP have gone down the path and have been happy to do so and found its worth every cent.
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Morning COG,
Sounds like exciting times ahead for you, hope you enjoy Which ever discipline you decide to pursue.
There really is so much more info and selection out there now, so take advantage
ry
Sounds like exciting times ahead for you, hope you enjoy Which ever discipline you decide to pursue.
There really is so much more info and selection out there now, so take advantage
ry
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Here is a link to a pretty popular company that makes and sells their own steel targets. Might be a good baseline to start with as far as what types of targets are being made and for how much.
All the best,
Cliff
http://www.steelplinkers.com/
All the best,
Cliff
http://www.steelplinkers.com/
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Get to a match! Field target would be great but any group will do. You can learn more in one day than reading for ages.
Get with some experienced airgun folks. Most are happy to meet new people. If your anywhere near Liberty, TN give me a shout!
Airguns a good fun, making parts for them is very rewarding, do try to find some airguns near you that you can fire. Are you on the members map? have you look for others near you there yet?
John
edit to add link to above mentioned map
http://airgunnation.dev/topic/global-member-map/
Get with some experienced airgun folks. Most are happy to meet new people. If your anywhere near Liberty, TN give me a shout!
Airguns a good fun, making parts for them is very rewarding, do try to find some airguns near you that you can fire. Are you on the members map? have you look for others near you there yet?
John
edit to add link to above mentioned map
http://airgunnation.dev/topic/global-member-map/
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