PCP then springer?

I have a handful or more of any way you can deliver a pellet, PCP being the most recent.
I also recently purchased a set of springers that I had missed out on back in the day, and of those the 97K gets the most airtime.
That's why these guys call it a rabbit hole.

Turn around You're going the wrong way!

See this kinda discussion often.

Maybe I'm fickle, or have a short attention span but I don't focus on only one thing/activity. I try to experience and enjoy as much as I can.

With airguns, I shoot springers, muli-pumps, single stroke pneumatics, precharged pneumatics, and enjoy their unique features equally.

Call me an airgun-whore if you want. Can't see a reason to restrict myself to one style or discipline.

Cheers!

I started with an FWB 124 in 1978, did a short stent into PCP but never liked messing with HPA so I'm now back to only springers and a couple of Crosman pump-ups. An R7 can go through a lot of pellets in a day with little effort.

A totally headache & tool free activity. Gun & pellets are all you need for a good time.

It does feel a bit more pure using your own muscles. Being forced to slow down probably adds to that sensation. It's the slow food

What's not to like?

It's pretty easy to get caught up in the power and rate of fire that PCPs bring to the table. But it's probably good to step back once in a while too

Started back into airguns as an adult with a Crosman Discovery. After discovering field target, I found the limits of the disco and set about modifying a bit. Got tired of the project fairly quickly, and got an HW97, sent it to Motorhead for a tune and it was my steady setup for a few years. I have tried and sold a bunch of other guns since then. Have not been shooting any field target matches for awhile, but that HW97 and Leupold scope will probably be the last to go.

For most of us it's simple economics. PCPs are expensive and specialized. The peripheral equipment cost is real. The limitations are too. Even the lower tier guns will set you back more than a rimfire or centerfire weapon that will do much more downrange.

A springer bridges the gap between a rimfire and a slingshot. Even the high end springers are less outlay than the most economical PCP. I realize some guys just don't have a place to shoot powder and want more than a springer offers. For those folks a PCP may be worth the money. But for the rest of us it's a lot of cash and equipment for less power than a rimfire.

The PCP is a solution to a problem if you have one. If you don't a rimfire just makes more sense. Within reasonable pellet gun ranges a quality springer will perform just as well as a PCP. Farther out a rimfire will outperform a PCP. You will spend a ton of money on a PCP that will equal the accuracy of a springer at 50 yards. And a truckload of cash for one that shoots better than a rimfire at 100.

After 6-7 years of shooting a springer daily I found myself looking at PCP. I really wanted one bad. I tried my best to convince myself it was worth the cash to have one. I priced a few and budgeted for a scope, mounts, compressor, fittings, etc. The cost was real... about twice the price of a quality springer and twice the price of a precision rimfire.

I decided to buy 2 good rimfires instead of a PCP and a bunch of equipment to support it. They will shoot MOA at 100 yds with $4/50 ammo... almost as cheap as JSB pellets. I can strap them to a pack animal, fall down a mountain, endure a dust storm and pull them through brush. Like the springer I can carry a months worth of ammo in my shirt pocket and don't need a compressor.

For me the PCP is a non starter. They are cool and I'd love to have one. They are super accurate and "tuneable" for performance. For a target shooter I understand the allure.

Honestly out to 50-70 yards a good springer lacks nothing and past that a powder gun just makes more sense and costs less. For hunting and plinking a springer and a rimfire covers the bases from 10-150 yards pretty well. The ONLY advantage I see with a PCP is being able to shoot in an area where a rimfire might be prohibited. Outside of that specific circumstance there is very little advantage.

Bedrock Bob said:

For most of us it's simple economics. PCPs are expensive and specialized. The peripheral equipment cost is real. The limitations are too. Even the lower tier guns will set you back more than a rimfire or centerfire weapon that will do much more downrange.

A springer bridges the gap between a rimfire and a slingshot. Even the high end springers are less outlay than the most economical PCP. I realize some guys just don't have a place to shoot powder and want more than a springer offers. For those folks a PCP may be worth the money. But for the rest of us it's a lot of cash and equipment for less power than a rimfire.

The PCP is a solution to a problem if you have one. If you don't a rimfire just makes more sense. Within reasonable pellet gun ranges a quality springer will perform just as well as a PCP. Farther out a rimfire will outperform a PCP. You will spend a ton of money on a PCP that will equal the accuracy of a springer at 50 yards. And a truckload of cash for one that shoots better than a rimfire at 100.

After 6-7 years of shooting a springer daily I found myself looking at PCP. I really wanted one bad. I tried my best to convince myself it was worth the cash to have one. I priced a few and budgeted for a scope, mounts, compressor, fittings, etc. The cost was real... about twice the price of a quality springer and twice the price of a precision rimfire.

I decided to buy 2 good rimfires instead of a PCP and a bunch of equipment to support it. They will shoot MOA at 100 yds with $4/50 ammo... almost as cheap as JSB pellets. I can strap them to a pack animal, fall down a mountain, endure a dust storm and pull them through brush. Like the springer I can carry a months worth of ammo in my shirt pocket and don't need a compressor.

For me the PCP is a non starter. They are cool and I'd love to have one. They are super accurate and "tuneable" for performance. For a target shooter I understand the allure.

Honestly out to 50-70 yards a good springer lacks nothing and past that a powder gun just makes more sense and costs less. For hunting and plinking a springer and a rimfire covers the bases from 10-150 yards pretty well. The ONLY advantage I see with a PCP is being able to shoot in an area where a rimfire might be prohibited. Outside of that specific circumstance there is very little advantage.

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I have yet to out shoot my FX Crown with any other gun I own, and I have a 10/22 with a Kidd fluted bull barrel. Still though, I shoot the springers and the 22Lr more often.

Having gone over to the dark side for too long, I was recently reminded that break barrels require some physical strength. Especially during a longer session.

So it makes your pec's buff too...

I guess you could get the same benefit by hand pumping a PCP

.20calguy said:

I have yet to out shoot my FX Crown with any other gun I own, and I have a 10/22 with a Kidd fluted bull barrel. Still though, I shoot the springers and the 22Lr more often.

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For pure accuracy I suppose a PCP is better than a rimfire. You can tune it and get quality projectiles. No doubt rimfire ammo is a limitation to precision accuracy.

The difference isn't much. Yes a PCP will group them tighter. Both the CZ and the Tikka shoot 1MOA with CCI-SV (4 cents a shot) out to 100 yds. with an occasional flyer. With premium ammo (18 cents a shot), the Tikka will shoot .5 MOA 80% of the time. The CZ isn't quite that tight but mighty close.

I bought the Tikka online. The day I picked it up they had the balloon pop at Sportsmans Warehouse. The line was 2 hours long to get to the counter. I was grumpy as hell when I finally got my rifle. The line to get out took another hour. I was borderline loco when they rang me up.

They popped a balloon and I got lucky. 50% off. So the gun cost a whopping $350 tax included. I got so happy I had to calm myself down. I was manic. I proposed to the checkout lady. I skipped through the parking lot.

The PCPs are cool no doubt. From where I'm standing the springers are cooler. I truly enjoy plinking with them and can afford to shoot the hell out of them for hours. The rimfire is the least expensive way for me to extend my range and not have to deal with reloading. If target accuracy was the goal I'm sure a PCP would perform even better.

My TX200 really fits for me in a lot of ways.

Sleestak said:

So it makes your pec's buff too...

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Just the left one.

Trucker3573 said:

I just can’t. Started with springers and after discovering the greater accuracy and smoothness of pcps I can’t go back

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Same here…a few months ago, I had a “nostalgia” moment and bought one of the new Gamo “swarm” models…my nostalgia moment was short lived…

shootinsquid said:

When I discovered adult air guns over the last six months and how I could shoot in my backyard, I went all-in on PCPs for target and varmint hunting (all .22s). Once my PCP collection grew I got curious about springers.

I didn’t consider them before because I thought they would be underpowered (wrong!), and I wondered why because the thought of not needing anything else except pellets was great. I guess the convenience of multiple shot availability and follow-up shot speed of PCPs won and still wins the day, but at a substantial price premium.

Now that I have a Diana 54 and an HW97 inbound, I’m enjoying the springers more than my PCPs. I can see that PCPs are more powerful, but there’s something cool about loading your shots one at a time on a high quality, steel springer that I find to be much more appealing.

Am I being a weirdo or are there like-minded shooters out there as well?

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You are not a weirdo. Most of us old farts on this forum started with spring guns. The fact that you started on the PCP airguns, THEN moved to springers w/o pissing and moaning earns my respect.

SALUTE!

Rondo said:

Just the left one.

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i expect by the end of this year i will only have one PCP rifle , my Anny 8002

shootinsquid said:

When I discovered adult air guns over the last six months and how I could shoot in my backyard, I went all-in on PCPs for target and varmint hunting (all .22s). Once my PCP collection grew I got curious about springers.

I didn’t consider them before because I thought they would be underpowered (wrong!), and I wondered why because the thought of not needing anything else except pellets was great. I guess the convenience of multiple shot availability and follow-up shot speed of PCPs won and still wins the day, but at a substantial price premium.

Now that I have a Diana 54 and an HW97 inbound, I’m enjoying the springers more than my PCPs. I can see that PCPs are more powerful, but there’s something cool about loading your shots one at a time on a high quality, steel springer that I find to be much more appealing.

Am I being a weirdo or are there like-minded shooters out there as well?

Click to expand...

I find springers to be relaxing and even Zen like to shoot, especially when I'm alone. When the compressor craps out and the Orings fail, the springer continues to perform.

Bedrock Bob said:

For pure accuracy I suppose a PCP is better than a rimfire. You can tune it and get quality projectiles. No doubt rimfire ammo is a limitation to precision accuracy.

The difference isn't much. Yes a PCP will group them tighter. Both the CZ and the Tikka shoot 1MOA with CCI-SV (4 cents a shot) out to 100 yds. with an occasional flyer. With premium ammo (18 cents a shot), the Tikka will shoot .5 MOA 80% of the time. The CZ isn't quite that tight but mighty close.

I bought the Tikka online. The day I picked it up they had the balloon pop at Sportsmans Warehouse. The line was 2 hours long to get to the counter. I was grumpy as hell when I finally got my rifle. The line to get out took another hour. I was borderline loco when they rang me up.

They popped a balloon and I got lucky. 50% off. So the gun cost a whopping $350 tax included. I got so happy I had to calm myself down. I was manic. I proposed to the checkout lady. I skipped through the parking lot.

The PCPs are cool no doubt. From where I'm standing the springers are cooler. I truly enjoy plinking with them and can afford to shoot the hell out of them for hours. The rimfire is the least expensive way for me to extend my range and not have to deal with reloading. If target accuracy was the goal I'm sure a PCP would perform even better.

Click to expand...

I have to learn what to feed my 22Lr that's for sure. It's like you expecting good work out of me feeding me Brussel sprouts. Lol,
I'll have to PM you sometime about that 22 Lr subject off the forum.
I really do enjoy a bit of peesonal entertainment in a post. I hope you didn't get slapped.