Decision Tool for "What gun should I buy?" 
Decision Tool for "What gun should I buy?" When...
...someone pops THE question:"What gun should I buy?"
Then...
...here are some questions that will help answer THE question.
(The focus is on PCPs, though some of this also works for springers.)
➠ Naturally, some gun characteristics will be more costly or are harder to find. The tool below will help you narrow down what is truly important for you and to develop compromises.
➠ Feel free to assign levels of importance, with X or ★, e.g.:
★★★ = indispensible
★★ = important
★ = nice but not needed
How much money are you planning to spend?
(Did you consider a scope? And a source of high pressure air — pump, tank, or compressor?)
(Have you evaluated the risk of having to sleep in the dog house for a few nights?
)
Do you want a gun made in USA?
➠ Then look for a short list of brands (list below), with even fewer models available.¹
Are you so enarmored with very high quality — that you are willing to pay the price?
➠ Then look for brands that are made other than in Turkey or China (except Huben).
Do you really like a certain style of gun — long rifle, bullpup, pistol, tactical stock, traditional stock, gaudy colored stock?
➠ Good news! There is a gun for every fancy.
Do you want semi-auto or full-auto?
➠ Their fun factor is undeniable, however their practical use is very limited.
And the number of available models is extremely small.
(Almost all PCPs have multi-shot magazines.)
Do you want to shoot your gun at longer ranges (80y+), or do precision shooting (competitions)?
➠ Then look for guns than have a regulator.²
➠ And look for guns of higher quality.
Do you want to shoot slugs?
(Slugs are affected a lot less by wind drift, which plagues airgunners much more than powder burners. They carry more power downrange for larger quarry. And they are the way to go for shooting out to 100y and beyond.)
➠ Then look for:
● Guns that have a unchoked barrel.³
● Or guns that offer barrels or barrel liners that can be changed to one that works with slugs.
Do you want to be able to change the caliber⁴ of your gun, or the length of your barrel?
➠ Then look for brands and models that allow that, and there are rather few that do, usually the pricier models.
Do you plan to lug your gun around for hours (walking hunts)?
➠ Then look for a lighter rifle, 6 ½ lbs (3.0kg) or less.
● Pistols⁵ are a lot lighter, of course
● Bullpups, compact models, and synthetic stocks save some weight, usually
● If the gun has an air bottle, it should not be of aluminum, but carbon fiber
Do you like/need short guns?
(Maybe to pack it easily, or for airline travel, or to conceal it easily, or to shoot from a vehicle?)
➠ Then look for, in this order:
● Pistols⁵
● Bullpups
● FSRs (folding stock rifles)
● Compact models of bullpups and long rifles ["compact" meaning they come with a shorter barrel, usually under 500mm, making them less powerful and/or louder — but not less precise]
Do you plan to use your gun as a tool (instead of babying it, or only using it in controlled environments like your porch or at competitions)?
➠ Then look for:
● Guns that will not change their point of impact when the barrel/shroud hits a branch, or comes out of your backpack (many FX guns are said to be somewhat sensitive...).
● Synthetic stocks rather than wood or lamiante
● Higher priced guns usually are higher quality and thus more robust
Do you like to make power adjustments to your gun?
(Because you want to adapt it to different weight ammo, or because you like to tinker)?
➠ Then look for guns that allow for the external adjustment of both the regulator⁶ and the hammer spring.
Do you need a high shot count⁷?
➠ Then look for guns with a bottle as air reservoir.
Usually, the shorter guns (compacts, pistols) have less air.
➠ Look for guns with an air reservoir rated for higher pressure (at least 250bar = 3600psi).
(Of course, carrying a small 1L or 2L air bottle as reserve in a backpack solves the need for air, and makes the gun lighter.)
"What caliber should I buy?"
➠ That is a whole discussion by itself....
FOOTNOTES:
¹Made in the USA:
The first three economical, the latter not:
▪Benjamin
▪Crosman (some models)
▪Umarex USA (some models)
▪American Air Arms
▪SKOUT
▪Western Airguns (auto and/or big bore)
▪RAW (Rapid Air Worx)
▪AirForce Air Guns (high power)
▪Serpent Arms (high power, and shotguns)
▪Quackenbush Air Guns (custom big bore, now retired)
▪XP-Airguns (custom big bore)
▪Thomas Air (top competition guns)
²Regulator:
Most guns nowadays come with a regulator, but certain brands (Hatsan, Kral) and some less pricey models do not. However, almost all can be fitted with an aftermarket regulator for $100 (Huma, Altaros, Lane).
³Unchoked barrel:
That limits the options to very few brands, and usually the pricier models.
With some luck many guns with choked barrels seem to shoot slugs with mediocre precision at shorter ranges, say 50y.
Also, slugs usually require significantly higher power than pellets.
⁴Models that allow changing the caliber:
Going by what airgun forum members have reported: Once a gun is all set up and dialed in, power, ammo, scope, etc. — users are hesitant to change all that and start over, just to shoot a different caliber. The caliber change option might be one that many pay for, but few actually exercise.
⁵Pistols:
Pistols are rare: for every pistol model there must be at least 10 rifle models on the market. Pistols have significantly less power (e.g.: a typical .22cal rifle has 30FPE, a typical pistol has half of that, though there are exceptions [Huben GK1]). And they have a smaller shot count due to their smaller air reservoir.
⁶Guns with external power adjustments:
▪Most PCP's can be adjusted internally, i.e., when disassembled — something that requires time, patience, tools, and some mechanical skills (Youtube offers some instructionals).
▪Many PCPs allow the external adjustment of the hammer spring — "external" meaning no disassembly required.
▪Some PCPs allow the external adjustment of both hammer spring and regulator. Some even add valve adjustment. These are usually the pricier models.
▪Most "power adjusters" and economical guns (e.g., Hatsan) only limit the transfer port to reduce the air going into the barrel, but this reduction does not increase shot count.
⁷A typical shot count for a typical gun with typical characteristics:
40 to 50 shots — with a .22cal air rifle, with a 250cc air reservoir, rated at 250bar, at 30FPE of power.
Larger calibers use more air.
Cheers,
Matthias
PS: @Moderator2
Would this post be valuable if placed in the "How to airgun stuff" sub-forum?
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. I just choose to pass them by anymore as the only thing seemingly produced are 500 different suggestions and it would seem further confusion. I think people should do a little more research on their own and narrow the field and never ask the broad question of what gun out of all the guns should I get.
