Would you have a 350 mm Leshiy Classic as your one gun?

No, for me, the answer is absolutely not. I had it and it was a serviceable gun but had too many drawbacks to have as my only gun.

The biggest issues are that even with the aftermarket tank addition (which always leaked), it had to few shots between fills . . . and it is a single shot, which I hate. Oh, and it was ugly as hell I think the L2 improved on the Classic in a lot of ways even if I don't really care that much for the semi-auto part. The flexibility to really customize the L2 makes it a much better platform.

On the plus side, the Classic was ultra compact and portable.

If I were just to keep one gun only, it would be something like a Matador R5M, which does most things well.

My .22 350 classic was an amazing shooter. Everything I aimed at, it killed, and for woods walking (mainly what I do) it was absolutely perfect. Light, built like a rock, accurate, fun. 


that all being said, the single shot started to bother me. I bought a Leshiy 2, and my plan was to keep both, but over time I got very used to being able to take fast follow up shots, or having multiple targets and shooting them quickly. This found me leaving the classic at home more and more. I’m not into having safe queens, so I sold it. 
that Tiapan is leaps and bounds above the classic in accuracy, trigger, repeater, ergonomics. It has the same build quality, but might be heavier and bulkier. If you want low power, turn it down and keep it. The leshiy is great at power under 800fps, but above that, it becomes very hold sensitive like a springer, and much harder to shoot accurately. 


my vote is to stay with the Taipan. 

No to the Leshiy, single shot gets old quick. Why not go back to the Brococks? Ranger or Atomic would suit, if not? A Concept Lite XR. In .22 they would all be in the sweet spot for your pesting scenarios. Plus they are all drama free right out the box.

Blackpaw you ask a very timely question which may cause many to pause while they consider their answer. As for myself having sampled various platforms of air weapons on a journey to that longed for nirvana. I am happy to report my addiction is at present somewhat level and now down to a small manageable herd. Each filling a unique job requirement to remain within said herd. The bottom line pros and cons for a Leshiy 1 really depend upon just what a person's required duties are. Knowing not only the Leshiy operating limits, but more importantly that of it's marksman.

It's not really a football field long distance hot shooter as for that single shot, it just requires it's marksman to be patient and accurate. For me being over six feet with ham hock hands the original boxed Leshiy was quite a challenge to hit that ole barn door. Larger grips and a 350 mm barrel made all the accurate department difference. Also adding a silent thunder moderator into the Leshiy tube makes it backyard nosey neighbor friendly, if that's a concern. https://www.silentthunderordnance.com/air/leshiy

Mine is a great simple backpacking unit: .25 Leshiy + extra .177 and .22 barrels with pellets + 1 barrel swap and 1 hammer spring Allen wrench + small air tank + water and sandwich. Bottom line for me it's very simple & dependable like an ole K bar and if need be a damn good club, so YES.

probably not ... its important to me to have a portable gun in a small package and the diana bandit is becoming my 'carry' airgun of choice .. with the ldc off even scoped its quite compact and lethal to 50 in 177 ..... so yeah could i go high end sure, only people it impresses is right here lol .. bottom line is unless im setup on a bench for targets i cant outshoot most pcps offhand in the field ... just sayin .. no good reason to spend alot unless you just want to and thats fine if you got it ...

Single shot as my only gun?…….no way.

While I do love my Leshiy Classic, I can't see it as my only airgun because I like variety. What I do like about it is that it's a unique gun and I like the engineering behind it. There are so many great guns out there that I just can't limit myself to only owning one. 

Blackpaw - While everything you have heard about the Classic is true in my opinion (reliability, accuracy, durability, flexibility) I also would not have one as an only gun unless all I was doing was daily light pesting around a ranch, dairy farm, etc.

While I would not rule out a single shot gun as an only gun, I would rule out a single shot break-open loading gun like the LC. 

And IIRC I was getting something like only 18 full power & very accurate shots per fill before I put the double air cylinder set up on mine.

The Leshiy Classic is a fantastic gun, but to me it is not the best only gun,

And AoA currently has an Atomic in their pre-owned section for a couple hundred $$ off new price. Don't imagine that it will last the day unsold.

https://www.airgunsofarizona.com/usedguns.html/brocock-atomic-pistol-.22-%E2%80%93-used/

I'd be looking at a dreamline compact with folding stock for your needs/wants. 

I do have an HW30 and a P-rod but my Classic Leshiys are the only guns I shoot for pests or plinking in the woods. The HW30 is my dedicated basement/garage plinker.

However, I'm an avid hiker and want a backpack gun that I don't think twice about throwing in a pack.

I prefer the open breech, single shot style when shooting with my boys.

If I had the opportunity to pest around farms I think I'd want multi shot. If that opportunity did come up the L2 would be the obvious choice given my backpack needs. I know you've already had one, however.

I'd be looking at a dreamline compact with folding stock for your needs/wants.

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That's a very good idea if it is short enough in folded configuration. I would much rather have a compact DreamTact as my only air gun as opposed to a Leshiy Classic.

I'm just glad I don't need to make that decision! (Although for me if I could have only one gun it would likely be my M3 Compact in .22 cal. But not a backpack friendly as you want).

I will have only " one gun " the Leshiy classic did not last two seconds as a consideration.



As a second gun or, backup, left field, backpacker, %

I had many pcps all kind of shapes. And finally i sold all of them and bought back my old leshiy classic. I have all 3 calibers. And i would have it anytime as my only pcp. Its very accurate light and compact. I use it mostly from car. And singleshot is okay for me because if i miss i dont have chance of second shot. 

If you could have a longer barrel and a twin tank like the 2, ...yeah for sure.

i have always intended to have only one pcp air rifle, and it took over 5 years to decide on which one...which in some ways was decided by the simple ability to "add to cart" and not be forced to pre-order and wait. i hate that.

i had lots of other rifles loaded in my cart, but none that were as easy to swap calibers or barrel length, packed down so small, or was as unique as what i finally ended up with.

as luck would have it, it was also more expensive than the guns that were emptied from my cart, probably not as quiet, and now that i have joined agn, it will be harder to stick to that "one gun" idea.

I'd be looking at a dreamline compact with folding stock for your needs/wants.

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Yep, and get the barrel kits.

I have the Classic set up in .22 (250mm) that I’ve tuned around 750fps and added a Rustem double air tube and I’m getting a ton of shots out of it. I’m a fan of the single shot, it’s made me a better and more thoughtful hunter. I have big hands so I swapped out the grip for a larger one and added a nice monopod. I also mounted a Huma pellet dispenser which helps me reload in just a few seconds. I’ve also got the long barrel in .22 and both in .25, and a .30 barrel. I’ve also added an adapter for donnyfl suppressors which make it super quiet. This thing is a tank and it’s my one gun. But all I do is pesting within 50yds and woods walking. Also a great gun for learning about tuning.

If I HAD TO only have 1 gun then it probably will be the impact. Got many barrels and tuning options to go from 7 FPE to 80fpe. Crazy power or super compact, just too versatile to ignore. Oh did I mention It has a HUGE mag? 


But even with all the versatility I change configuration and tune all the time. guess I’m terrible at commitment.