N/A Thinking About Returning to PCPs

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bowwild

bowwild

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Dec 28, 2015
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Lawrenceburg, KY
About 10 months ago I almost got back into PCPs. Currently I have an AA TX200. I went through a bunch of different brands/models over a 10-year period which ended about 4 years ago when I got tired of chasing air (2 hour round trip) and couldn't keep my Omega Super Charger running; Daystate, FX, Air Arms, and my favorites the Steyr Hunter Scout and LP50 HP pistol. I sold them all and didn't take a beating.

I see some good reviews on a few more reasonably priced, dependable (?) compressors; Air Ventura Rovair and GX CS4-I.

It appears PCPs have gone up in price and the used market seems to be holding up pretty good (great for seller, but....well you know).

My interest is plinking to be competent squirrel hunting. I'm pretty sure I'm going for a Charlie Frears Cricket. I like the 25 carbine except for its 46" length - I'd rather have 30-36" OAL). The Mini with skeleton stock looks good too. The Brocock Ghost looks pretty nice as does the Cricket Tactica.. However, I think I'd like to keep everything under $2,000.

I know the Taipan folks are extremely pleased and if it weren't for what seem to be blocky stocks I'd be more interested. I don't want a gun I have to tinker with (that's why the Steyrs were so great).

Any input is welcome.

Thanks

https://gxpumpofficial.com/products...-cooling-5-hours-continous-work-12v-auto-stop​

 
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There’s a used Ghost in .25 for sale in the Classifieds for a fair price:

PCP Rifle - BRK Ghost .25

Not interested in trades Selling a Ghost in .25 that has 2 years and 3 months of warranty left. Fully functional but with cosmetic issues. The rifle was used for iguana removal and has a couple scratches that are shown below in the photos. The rail below the cheek piece was drilled through in...
www.airgunnation.com www.airgunnation.com
 
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If you plan to shoot off a bench a lot, I think the Taipan forend would be perfect for an ARCA Swiss rail for a tripod setup. If I was in your shoes, I would buy a Gen 1 Taipan Veteran and a GX CS4 or Omega Trail Charger. I have a GX CS3 that is working great but is only a couple months old. My good friend has an Omega Trail Charger, which apparently are made by the same manufacturer. More attention and a few better quality parts go into the Omega version if you believe the rumors. Tony at Talon Tunes has a few new Gen 1 Taipan left. You can get a new pcp and budget compressor for under $2k should you decide to go that route.

Other than that the standard options are also good choices. BRK, Daystate, AA, BSA, FX etc not necessarily in that order. I have a 500mm Impact M3 and Maverick, and recently sold my Wildcat. I use them for pesting and occasionally paper punching. They make wonderful short dual purpose setups, after you address a few possible quirks. They are probably more tinkering types than it sounds like you are looking for. I dont own one yet, but the new FX DRS is probably more up your alley. You can adjust it if you really wanted to, but they are kinda setup out of the box. If you havent picked a Cal yet; I really like 22Cal as I think it has the most variety of uses while being cost effective.
 
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My Yong Heng is in it's fourth year and the only repair was one O-ring so far. I use it to fill my expired Scott fireman's 45 minute bottle. I have added cooling and another moisture filter, however. I also have used NUVAIR lubricant exclusively in it. Not fancy but it works.

I think Air Maks is an up-and-coming brand with prices a little below the more established brands. My Caiman was not trouble free from the start but I am pretty sure Utah Air would have fixed it if I had let them. I just did it myself and it works great now. You might prefer a Katran or a Krait. I think they are all under $2000. All have CZ barrels and are lighter than many other "high end" guns.
 
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Don’t do it.
Last year I left the dark side.
I sold three Marauder Rifles, Marauder pistol, shoebox F10, two air tanks, two scopes, assorted parts and accessories.

No PCP And I was happy..
Springers and a couple CO2s
.
Around November I was offered a sweet deal on another PRod that I couldn’t pass.
Now, that is the only PCP I have along with a Guppy and CX2.

My springers:
3 TX200
R1
HW35
IZH60
Original Model 25
499b
FWB6M

Others:

FWB601
IZH46M
2300S
P17
2240XL
Crosman C9a
 
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The compressor can bring one to his knees. I have two, being a Spritech and a Tuxing. They BOTH died last Thursday.....
Since these companies are both failing to provide adequate customer service, I'm gonna order a dual cylinder oil filled, water cooled unit.
Those "care free" oil free units are actually too much work to keep going for what they cost. With regard to the amount that I shoot, a higher end compressor is warranted.
 
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I appreciate all this information from everyone. I talked to Charlie Frears today at Georgia Airguns. I'm pretty sure I'm going for a Cricket II Tactical. Not sure whether .25 or .22. I like the more power of the .25 and shot count of the larger barrel (the 60), but I also know that a .22 cal. is effective on tree squirrels, my quarry when in season as they are now.

I am VERY Leary of going down the compressor road again. Instead, I think I'll get a carbon fiber tank and have it filled for $20 a pop at the local paintball store.
 
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bowwild said:
I appreciate all this information from everyone. I talked to Charlie Frears today at Georgia Airguns. I'm pretty sure I'm going for a Cricket II Tactical. Not sure whether .25 or .22. I like the more power of the .25 and shot count of the larger barrel (the 60), but I also know that a .22 cal. is effective on tree squirrels, my quarry when in season as they are now.

I am VERY Leary of going down the compressor road again. Instead, I think I'll get a carbon fiber tank and have it filled for $20 a pop at the local paintball store.
Click to expand...

16 hrs on my 200$ compressor, average 15min fill, that is around 4 fills per hour so 64 fills, *20$ that would be $1,280...

I mean, you do you but that is crazy, and the compressor is still kicking, and when it kicks the bucket I'll replace it with all that money I saved...to each their own though if you're limited on space.

Can't go wrong with your choice or either caliber.

-Matt
 
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I've shot tree squirrels with my P35-177, Prod, P35-22, P35-25, and Avenger. Fpe from 18 to over 40. I agree that a 25 will drop them a little quicker and has a little more margin for non-optimum placement, I also think a 22 tuned to give 30+ fpe is plenty. It will drop them almost as fast and will shoot through them more so than a 25 tuned to the same power. But 30+ in a 25 works too. I plan to use the 177 more this year when our season opens. It kills them just as dead as long as the placement is decent. But for an all around gun I like a 22. I have 3 now. I retuned my P35-25 from the 32 fpe I used in it to take 18 squirrels to about 50 fpe. That is not for squirrels but for the occasional raccoon or armadillo that come around. Really anything above about 25 fpe in a 22 is going to work very well. Doesn't take a ton of power, just good placement and they drop DRT.
 
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The cricket mini is a great gun, my next pcp will be the FX wildcat M3 compact in .22. Fully adjustable and economical with air. I had both and both were extremely accurate. I will be getting the tube version as I like the looks better and I plan on shooting pellets. The bottle version has a larger plenum = more power if you want to shoot heavier projectiles and more shots per fill.
 
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bowwild said:
I appreciate all this information from everyone. I talked to Charlie Frears today at Georgia Airguns. I'm pretty sure I'm going for a Cricket II Tactical. Not sure whether .25 or .22. I like the more power of the .25 and shot count of the larger barrel (the 60), but I also know that a .22 cal. is effective on tree squirrels, my quarry when in season as they are now.

I am VERY Leary of going down the compressor road again. Instead, I think I'll get a carbon fiber tank and have it filled for $20 a pop at the local paintball store.
Click to expand...
$20.00 a pop!?
10 fills would pay for another Yong Heng!
 
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Yep, I'm definitely going to have to include a Compressor after the math above. I think I like the Mini-carbine better than tactical. I'd rather have tube than bottle. Want to keep it under 36" overall length. I'm going to keep my eye peeled for the mini in classifieds here, but I think I want a Charlie Frears tuned rifle. Still leaning towards 25. I don't disagree with the .22 being enough comments, I've just had so many .22 I feel like changing it up a bit.
Thanks
All
 
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I dropped the hammer yesterday. A little nervous about it.
I ordered, from UTAirGuns a Taipan Veteran 2 Standard in .25 (700mm barrel)

I had gone so far as ordering the Cricket II and cancelled the order after talking to a couple fellows on the phone and re-reading a few reviews. I don't think I could wrong no matter which of these for my needs?

The deciding factor for me was the quality of the build and the trigger -- reputations and reviews as I have never even seen in the wild a Crcket or Taipan. While I think there are dozens of wonderful airguns out there, I can't afford buy favorites, the Steyrs any longer since Krale stopped selling to us.

My nervousness:
1. I have a lot of confidence in the trust folks have with Charlie Frears and his Cricket work. He no longer sells Taipans.
2. I've ordered nearly every air gun I've ever owned from AoA (about 6 or so). I've never ordered one from UTAG and I did read a couple of horror stories AFTER I had placed the order.
3. I hope the stock (wood but not tactical) is sleeker than they look in pictures and videos. If not, I'm planning to do a bit of butchering if the rifle makes the grade in other areas.

I don't have any concerns about accuracy or dependability.

Going to go with filling up the gun a couple of times with local paintball shop. Pretty silly for a 331 cylinder to 250-260 bar I know. If I can get that fill per tank (75-100 CF) down from the $20 the fellow quoted me, I may get a tank. If not, then I'll likely get a portable compressor with the GXS 4 C-I being the most interesting to me at this point.

Finally, I'm intrigued with the idea of shooting slugs in this rifle, but I'm being it to shoot whichever .25 caliber pellet shoots best in it.

Thanks for all the input.

Oh, and because I had ordered a pre-owned Cricket II from AoA and a new (better be) Taipan Vet 2 from UT, there was only $1.00 difference in price.
 
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