Start with a "budget gun" or go all out?

Steve-kville speaking from my experience starting with the lower priced Kral translates "KING" is a good plan. I too was new to bull pups and torn between the Kral and a Wildcat or Bobcat. So I went with the at the time $374 Kral and discovered that the bull pup experience was not well suited to my post surgery shoulder. Anyway the much cheaper build like a tank Kral has worked out very well as a good loaner field gun. For the John Wick type who maybe somewhat new to the sport and from time to time stumble into a ditch or two. And I just know it wouldn't be quite as funny, if these soakers were holding my Wildcat.

Problem is that if you DO like the platform, the lower priced gun will be the liability on your stair climb to the higher priced spread.

My first PCP was a Gauntlet. Now a Wolverine "R" and a Red Wolf later, the Gauntlet still gets shot, but I would like the $270 back to by pellets (if they could be found).

I guess this is a perpetual dilemma for all of us. The only bullpup I own, and have ever shot, is the Taipan Veteran. I didn't think I would especially like the BP format, and I don't. But ironically, the Veteran is one of my favorite air guns. Because of its short length and balance, I find it noticeably more difficult to shoot well. But, the Veteran build quality, simplicity of design, and exceptionally good trigger are all very appealing to me, and I shoot it often. Had I bought a budget gun with a less refined trigger, or design features I don't like, I would likely have sold it and called the BP experiment over. IMO, buy the best that your budget allows. If you don't like it, you will make up most of the price difference when you sell it. And if it's a high quality rifle, you won't wonder if a better one might have made a difference. Just my opinion, good luck. 

My opinion for what it’s worth is that you get the gun that you want. If you don’t you will wind up buying something twice. If you have a gun you don’t like it will just sit in the corner and rot. 

pends .. if you need a high end gun for a specific purpose like competition id say go for it .. otherwise its like anything else theres a learning curve and in my own opinion you need to experience what something lesser can teach you to get good .. dats what i tank ..

The kral are excellent guns for the price. The Benjamin akela is built by kral to their own specs, and comes with the 5yr warranty. Let it be known, I’ve never shot an Akela, or a breaker, but I owned a kral np03. It was accurate, light, and fun to shoot. But at the time I was looking for ULTRA compact, and it wasn’t quite there. I would but kral again, and I own many “high end” guns including a wildcat bull pup. I agree with elh0102, but the best you can afford. If you like to tinker, even better. There’s videos on how to polish and recrown a barrel, and if done on any of Kral’s offerings, you’ll get a rifle that will hold its own with the big boys. 

My opinion for what it’s worth is that you get the gun that you want. If you don’t you will wind up buying something twice. If you have a gun you don’t like it will just sit in the corner and rot.

Click to expand...

I try to live by this now myself having spent countless dollars on all kinds of things I wish I could get back. My motto is buy quality first and you only cry once. That being said, it doesn't mean you have to find the most expensive thing - just make sure you're happy with the choice. If you really think it will be a stepping stone then I say skip the step. 

Buy as good as you can afford + till it hurts. You'll heal! REMEMBER your budget MUST include air!

The bull pup difficulties are 'in the eye of the beholder'. When you WANT to learn how to shoot one, you will.

Don't let the internet people roadblock you!

In my case both of my bullpups, Taipan Vet Long and RTI Performance Compact (forward cocking), have butt stock modifications and are dropped down and in one case offset-right. I prefer a more upright head position, that's normal, in any gun. Even my BSA R10 is dropped and right-offset.

You should be able to pick up ANY gun and shoot it reasonably well even from the first shot, assuming it's a functioning gun that is sighted for some known distance.

Great advice, thanks. Not sure what direction I'm going just jet.

Click to expand...

You MIGHT be headed down 'Tinkerers Lane' if you go too cheap.

You want to shoot or turn wrenches?

If you're thinking about getting something nicer, just go ahead and get it. Worst case you'll have something easier to sell that holds value better.

Minus the forward cocking lever the Kral can be set up to perform pretty much as well as a wildcat at less than half the cost. It weighs a little more but will shoot dime size groups at 50 yards. And if you really like the platform you can end up with 2 (one in 22 and 25) and still be less than a single high end gun. 

People are subject the preconceived notion that they MUST spend a lot of money and the MUST move up the expense pyramid to ever be happy with airguns. Poppycock says I. Don't let yourself into that thought trap. Cost does not equal value. Ego does not equal performance.

My FIRST...air rifle was/is an Edgun, Lelya 2.

I went straight for the big money, and haven't looked back (as they say). I now have a hand full+ of rifles, "all" bullpups. No long guns for me.

Mike

I started with a marauder and then bought a Taipan 25 used….Loved the Bullpup style!….I did later sell the taipan and regretted it for a long time and bought another….All the rifles I have are bullpups and all the rifles my wife shoots are standard rifles…..If you are anywhere close to San Diego reach out and you can try my wildcat compact, impact, taipan, cricket mini and of course the boss lady’s standard rifles….

Tony P

People are subject the preconceived notion that they MUST spend a lot of money and the MUST move up the expense pyramid to ever be happy with airguns. Poppycock says I. Don't let yourself into that thought trap. Cost does not equal value. Ego does not equal performance.

Click to expand...

Yeah, I'm with you on the ego thing, but my perspective of cost is a little different. True, cost does not necessarily equal value, but it almost always indicates relative quality, although it is not nearly a linear relationship. Most $500 air guns are not as good as most that cost $1,500. But, is the $1,500 specimen three times as good? No. Subjective of course, but let's assume the more expensive one is 20% better, however that is defined. Is that level of performance worth three times the price? To some folks, no way. But to others, absolutely. I think it's like that in most human endeavors, pay to play. 

Buy once, cry once. Spend as much as you can and get it over with the first time.

Steve, I really love the BP platform as its very comfortable to me. I have owned lower budget Hatsan to FX and have really enjoyed them all. Yes the higher end guns are just more refined but that's not to say the lower to mid range aren't good. My Hatsan Flash pup was a great gun to start and I don't regret that purchase. I learned how to tune, take apart and reseal a air gun. I also installed my first regulator on that rifle. In my opinion its a lot less nerve racking taking apart a $300ish gun than a $1200 one! With a little work most lower end guns can be improved quite a bit over stock. If your not one to tinker than I would say go for a mid to higher end as you would probably be happier. Just remember that if you don't care for which ever you get you can always sell on the classifieds and jump into something else! Good luck...