How many of you shoot springers and PCPs?

Jump to latest Follow Reply
What, no MSP or gas ram?
1f601.svg
Click to expand...

I don’t have a gas ram and I have one MSP. I rarely shoot the pumper. I like it, it’s just that the others are less work. The pumper I have (1377 carbine rifle conversion) is great for super close range wasp hunting. 2 pumps at 15’ on 3x is a wasp snipers dream.



1582315947_8485072425e5039ab18df30.59996302_FEB83C48-45CC-4BD6-A506-5095198BF6BB.jpeg

 
Upvote 0
I don’t own any pcp rifles, but I’ve got 4 springers and 1 old benjiman pumper. 
The idea of needing a bottle or a compressor to charge the gun seems too cumbersome for my needs and wants. I like being able to just grab the gun and a tin of Pb pellets and shooting until I run out of pellets or I get bored.
Also, the price of entry is significantly higher for the pcp market. that’s been a large deterrent for me and pcp. Even the more modestly priced pcp will set you back the same as a springer but then you need more to be able to shoot it. 
Some of the guys here whom have 4-8 pcp guns, don’t get me wrong fellas, good on you, but that’s a lot of money sitting there in your safe or closet or wherever. My wife would rather see me buy her a treadmill or better health insurance... it never ends
 
Upvote 0
I don’t own any pcp rifles, but I’ve got 4 springers and 1 old benjiman pumper. 
The idea of needing a bottle or a compressor to charge the gun seems too cumbersome for my needs and wants. I like being able to just grab the gun and a tin of Pb pellets and shooting until I run out of pellets or I get bored.
Also, the price of entry is significantly higher for the pcp market. that’s been a large deterrent for me and pcp. Even the more modestly priced pcp will set you back the same as a springer but then you need more to be able to shoot it. 
Some of the guys here whom have 4-8 pcp guns, don’t get me wrong fellas, good on you, but that’s a lot of money sitting there in your safe or closet or wherever. My wife would rather see me buy her a treadmill or better health insurance... it never ends
Click to expand...

Ain't America great. You can spend your money on whatever you want to.
 
Upvote 0
BStalder85- good on you for resisting the temptation, if any. Tell you what, if you’ve never shot a pcp, leave it that way! I, too was a long time springer guy with the high end Beeman guns of the day, and swore I never needed any more. But like Eve with the apple, I was always curious. So, I just happen to have some MAD $$ sitting around back in 2017 and decided to try my first pcp, a Benjamin synrod in 25 cal. The minute I pulled the trigger, and felt no jolt, and hit exactly what I was aiming at and did it again with the second and third shot, well, I knew right then why there was such a love for the PCP’s. My RX1 gas ram in 20 caliber hasn’t been shot since, and I’ve already sold off my FWB124 sport. Next up is my Beeman R10 which may be going bye bye this Monday.

Yes, do yourself a big favor, and don’t ever sample a PCP. You’ll get sucked in, lol
 
Upvote 0
Springer's only. 14 of them and growing. 2 pumpers. I like it simple a tin of pellets and a rifle. Sure break barrels are harder to master but it makes you a better shot with your PB's also.

Have no desire or need for PCP or the extra equipment needed for them.

If it takes more than one shot to hit your mark. Your not doing it right!

I avoid the dark side as I would a bad virus. 
 
Upvote 0
I feel a true Airgun hobbyist should dabble in at least one of each type of power plant, from on board hand pumping(plain pneumatic gun), to a CO2, a PCP, a break barrel springer and a break barrel gas ram. 



The equipment needed for a PCP gun is truly about how involved one wants it to be, and how deep the pocketbooks are. Down and dirty basic, a hand pump, your pcp gun, and pellets are all that’s needed. The trade off for the extra cost of the hand pump, well, is the accuracy and smoothness of firing one gets with a pcp. 

With the coming of the economical PCP’s, and the $50 hand pumps, one can easily get into this hobby at much less or equal to a quality springer in the $500-$700 range. In fact, apples to apples, a mid priced gun like a Marauder(that’s got the best manufacture and aftermarket support of all pcp’s) coupled with one of those $50 hand pumps, would be equal in cost to say a Beeman RX1 gas ram.

Now if one was to only buy $150 springers from Big5 sporting goods, well there’s no trying to even compare that to a pcp because there aren’t any pcp’s In that price range. Not yet, anyway.
 
Upvote 0
As far as break barrels making one a better shooter with powder burners, I have to agree and disagree.

i agree for these points- 

Any type of Airgun shooting will only enhance the skills needed for centerfire cartridge shooting. It’s all about practice, right? 

The weight of a typical break barrel is really close to the weight of a typical powder burner.

The idea of making the “one shot” count will definitely keep a centerfire cartridge shooter in that mentality.

Why I disagree-

artillery hold will not benefit a centerfire cartridge shooter in the hunting arena or benchrest arena.

There is no double jolt in a centerfire cartridge gun. In fact, one could do everything right(avoid canting, equipment such as scopes and scope mounts mounted perfect, etc) and that break barrel jolt is enough to move the point of impact. Let’s face it, at 40 to 50 yards, I have yet to see a one hole group with a break barrel gun. 3/8” to 1/2”, maybe, but nothing like a pcp gun groups.

Break barrel guns are not as easily shot from a benchrest position or even using a gun rest, because of that forward and backward jolt. Sure, it can be done, but with more attention to the type of rest one is using. A centerfire gun or a pcp can go on just about any manufactured gun rest made.



Just my opinions. I own both pcp and springers, and just overall shooting of any of these will make you a better firearms shooter. It’s more about the steps it takes to acquire and fire- breathing, watching for cant, trigger control, heartbeat, etc. Heck, a plastic gun shooting snap caps can help you with these, even.
 
Upvote 0
As far as break barrels making one a better shooter with powder burners, I have to agree and disagree.

i agree for these points- 

Any type of Airgun shooting will only enhance the skills needed for centerfire cartridge shooting. It’s all about practice, right? 

The weight of a typical break barrel is really close to the weight of a typical powder burner.

The idea of making the “one shot” count will definitely keep a centerfire cartridge shooter in that mentality.

Why I disagree-

artillery hold will not benefit a centerfire cartridge shooter in the hunting arena or benchrest arena.

There is no double jolt in a centerfire cartridge gun. In fact, one could do everything right(avoid canting, equipment such as scopes and scope mounts mounted perfect, etc) and that break barrel jolt is enough to move the point of impact. Let’s face it, at 40 to 50 yards, I have yet to see a one hole group with a break barrel gun. 3/8” to 1/2”, maybe, but nothing like a pcp gun groups.

Break barrel guns are not as easily shot from a benchrest position or even using a gun rest, because of that forward and backward jolt. Sure, it can be done, but with more attention to the type of rest one is using. A centerfire gun or a pcp can go on just about any manufactured gun rest made.



Just my opinions. I own both pcp and springers, and just overall shooting of any of these will make you a better firearms shooter. It’s more about the steps it takes to acquire and fire- breathing, watching for cant, trigger control, heartbeat, etc. Heck, a plastic gun shooting snap caps can help you with these, even.
Click to expand...

Agree. General practice helps immensely. Improved feel, familiarity with your specific gun and load, understanding the effect of conditions. If one wants to limit himself to one type of gun, so be it. Lots to miss out on in my opinion if that is done, but that is just my opinion.
 
Upvote 0
I started out with springers then eventually bought a PCP. I love shooting my PCP and won't get rid of it. However....after jumping into the PCP pond, I have discovered that I really enjoy quality springers more. I shoot them much more often and just find them more enjoyable. I have one PCP, but I have several springers. I will undoubtedly buy another springer or two. But, I won't be purchasing another PCP. I'm good with just one.
 
Upvote 0


Why I disagree-

artillery hold will not benefit a centerfire cartridge shooter in the hunting arena or benchrest arena.

There is no double jolt in a centerfire cartridge gun. In fact, one could do everything right(avoid canting, equipment such as scopes and scope mounts mounted perfect, etc) and that break barrel jolt is enough to move the point of impact. Let’s face it, at 40 to 50 yards, I have yet to see a one hole group with a break barrel gun. 3/8” to 1/2”, maybe, but nothing like a pcp gun groups.

Break barrel guns are not as easily shot from a benchrest position or even using a gun rest, because of that forward and backward jolt. Sure, it can be done, but with more attention to the type of rest one is using. A centerfire gun or a pcp can go on just about any manufactured gun rest made.



Just my opinions. I own both pcp and springers, and just overall shooting of any of these will make you a better firearms shooter. It’s more about the steps it takes to acquire and fire- breathing, watching for cant, trigger control, heartbeat, etc. Heck, a plastic gun shooting snap caps can help you with these, even.
Click to expand...

I actually find that shooting Springers makes me a better shooter all the way around without any negatives. But why do I see it differently? For me it comes down to the fact that Springers make me SsssLooowwwww down a bit, quite a bit. Everything from my breathing, my hold, trigger pull, how I hold the gun, where I hold the gun, I do mean everything just slows down and it's about concentration and thinking things through. Paying attention and following through. 

As a side note, I don't ever Artillery hold any of my Springers. Also, much to my shame, I shoot my Springers best from the bench. Much to my shame because I would like to be a good shot without the security blanket of the bench. 

Shooting PCPs can make me be very complacent and overconfident. Aim, pull trigger, hit....until I miss and I don't know why. A while back I went with a good friend to the range with powder burners (308s) and I was out shooting him, but that should not be, this guy is an avid hunter, he is out there all the time. I do mean all the time, hunting is his life. Why? why did I out shoot him? I narrowed down to two things: Trigger time & Springer shooting. At that time I did not own a PCP. 

Anyway, just my opinion as well, different point of view. YMMV. 
 
Upvote 0


Why I disagree-

artillery hold will not benefit a centerfire cartridge shooter in the hunting arena or benchrest arena.

There is no double jolt in a centerfire cartridge gun. In fact, one could do everything right(avoid canting, equipment such as scopes and scope mounts mounted perfect, etc) and that break barrel jolt is enough to move the point of impact. Let’s face it, at 40 to 50 yards, I have yet to see a one hole group with a break barrel gun. 3/8” to 1/2”, maybe, but nothing like a pcp gun groups.

Break barrel guns are not as easily shot from a benchrest position or even using a gun rest, because of that forward and backward jolt. Sure, it can be done, but with more attention to the type of rest one is using. A centerfire gun or a pcp can go on just about any manufactured gun rest made.



Just my opinions. I own both pcp and springers, and just overall shooting of any of these will make you a better firearms shooter. It’s more about the steps it takes to acquire and fire- breathing, watching for cant, trigger control, heartbeat, etc. Heck, a plastic gun shooting snap caps can help you with these, even.
Click to expand...

I actually find that shooting Springers makes me a better shooter all the way around without any negatives. But why do I see it differently? For me it comes down to the fact that Springers make me SsssLooowwwww down a bit, quite a bit. Everything from my breathing, my hold, trigger pull, how I hold the gun, where I hold the gun, I do mean everything just slows down and it's about concentration and thinking things through. Paying attention and following through. 

As a side note, I don't ever Artillery hold any of my Springers. Also, much to my shame, I shoot my Springers best from the bench. Much to my shame because I would like to be a good shot without the security blanket of the bench. 

Shooting PCPs can make me be very complacent and overconfident. Aim, pull trigger, hit....until I miss and I don't know why. A while back I went with a good friend to the range with powder burners (308s) and I was out shooting him, but that should not be, this guy is an avid hunter, he is out there all the time. I do mean all the time, hunting is his life. Why? why did I out shoot him? I narrowed down to two things: Trigger time & Springer shooting. At that time I did not own a PCP. 

Anyway, just my opinion as well, different point of view. YMMV.
Click to expand...

👍 My Springer's are alot like my muzzleloader's. Your not shooting for little tight groups, but to hit your target or game with one shot. 


 
Upvote 0
I started years ago with springers. Then went high power Gamo 1300fps 177 and became very disenchanted. Very inaccurate and I could not quiet the amount of springer recoil. I then bought an used FX Wildcat in 25 and have found peace👍. Smooth, accurate and consistent with a great trigger. Now I just bought a Gamo Swarm Fox in 22 for short range plinking. Like the magazine, let’s see if I can do better with my hold and accuracy.
 
Upvote 0
Years ago at a store called The Man Cave in my small town, I bought a brand new break barrel beeman rifle that came in a zipped up case. It came with 2 barrels, one in 177 and the other in 22. Can’t remember the beeman make or model, but I remember it cost $75. My intent was to hand it over to my son so he had his own air gun. Back then, I wasn’t into pcp’s Yet.

Well, my son said no thanks as he had his mind on girls at the time(don’t blame him, at 18 years old), so I called an old friend and asked him if he wanted to buy it for his son. It so happens his sons birthday was right around the corner, so I sold it to him at the $75 I payed for it. 

Long story short, his son moved to Texas(military) and my buddy kept it. He has become such a crack shot with that $75 rifle. He was just over my house two weeks ago for a re sight in, and I did a maintenance job on it, For a test after a final sight in, I asked him to shoot at a cork I had hanging on a piece of fishing line from a tree limb. Half the cork was gone from past shootings, so I said let’s see how well his sight in went. 

At 32 yards he cut that fishing line off, just directly above the remaining piece of cork left. Totally impressed me, for a $75 break barrel. To give him credit, for a guy that’s never been into shooting till this air rifle, he is a crack shot. 
 
Upvote 0
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back
Home
Forums
Resources
Menu