hello everyone, new guy on the forum here,
I've toyed with and taken small game with an airgun since I was a kid, mostly inexpensive multi-pump and CO2 driven guns, and I had a Gamo break barrel at one point, but I recently decided I wanted a serious air rifle. I recently picked up a Hatsan Flash QE in 25 cal and I wanted to know what you guys thought of it compared to the Benjamin Fortitude 22, which was the other gun I was considering. I went with the Hatsan based on a few reviews I had read about problems with the Benji and per recommendation of the pyramyd air customer support. Was also wondering if you guys have any tips, do and donts, etc for my new rifle, or beginner tips for PCP guns in general.
I also had a few beginner questions regarding PCP air guns and airgunning in general
1. Are the less expensive Chinese-made high pressure pumps you can find on Amazon for 50-80 bucks worth buying over the expensive name brand ones if you actually know what you are doing and use and care for it correctly?
2. Are there any good sources outside of craigslist or something similar to source a scuba tank for cheap?
3. In my limited reading on PCP airguns, it seems a regulator is a good thing to have on your gun for shot to shot consistency over your usable shot count. I know the Fortitude is regulated, but I don't think my Hatsan is (correct?). For someone who is just going to be shooting a PCP informally, and using it for small game at reasonable ranges, is a regulator really necessary. I really dont plan on shooting game at the crazy ranges of some of the guys on youtube, maybe out to 75 yards max for me. If it is recommended or I do want one later, is there an aftermarket part I can buy?
4. Is anyone out there casting their own pellets for their PCPs? I know in the past, casting pellets was virtually unheard of because there were no really good molds, but NOE now has some good molds out and a handful of guys over on the cast boolit forum have been getting positive results and good accuracy with them. I'm pretty set on trying it out myself.
Thanks for your help everyone. I look forward to lots of good future airgun discussions
I've toyed with and taken small game with an airgun since I was a kid, mostly inexpensive multi-pump and CO2 driven guns, and I had a Gamo break barrel at one point, but I recently decided I wanted a serious air rifle. I recently picked up a Hatsan Flash QE in 25 cal and I wanted to know what you guys thought of it compared to the Benjamin Fortitude 22, which was the other gun I was considering. I went with the Hatsan based on a few reviews I had read about problems with the Benji and per recommendation of the pyramyd air customer support. Was also wondering if you guys have any tips, do and donts, etc for my new rifle, or beginner tips for PCP guns in general.
I also had a few beginner questions regarding PCP air guns and airgunning in general
1. Are the less expensive Chinese-made high pressure pumps you can find on Amazon for 50-80 bucks worth buying over the expensive name brand ones if you actually know what you are doing and use and care for it correctly?
2. Are there any good sources outside of craigslist or something similar to source a scuba tank for cheap?
3. In my limited reading on PCP airguns, it seems a regulator is a good thing to have on your gun for shot to shot consistency over your usable shot count. I know the Fortitude is regulated, but I don't think my Hatsan is (correct?). For someone who is just going to be shooting a PCP informally, and using it for small game at reasonable ranges, is a regulator really necessary. I really dont plan on shooting game at the crazy ranges of some of the guys on youtube, maybe out to 75 yards max for me. If it is recommended or I do want one later, is there an aftermarket part I can buy?
4. Is anyone out there casting their own pellets for their PCPs? I know in the past, casting pellets was virtually unheard of because there were no really good molds, but NOE now has some good molds out and a handful of guys over on the cast boolit forum have been getting positive results and good accuracy with them. I'm pretty set on trying it out myself.
Thanks for your help everyone. I look forward to lots of good future airgun discussions
