Think of this, if you get into the cycle of "I want the latest and greatest"...then you're in for a full ride until your die because that cycle isn't terminating tomorrow nor will your spending habits trying to keep up...
-Matt
-Matt
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Airgun Market Shift?
- Thread starter jps2486
- Start date
I buy almost exclusively used but the price shift that has frustrated me is the price of pellets. I average 1-2 tins a week. The Crosman .22 hp were around $6 and change and looking right now Amazon is $12.99. PA and AGD are $11.48. They have doubled? And JSB 14.3 are $28.99 at PA. 
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People who can afford $2k plus Airguns aren’t fools….
They just have more disposable income.
Generalizations are…. Well…. Generalizations
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I like high quality performance models without electronics. Maybe because I don't want to spend the money on the highest tech?
I know I have zero interest in slugs. I have plenty of rimfire powder burners when I need 100 FPE or more. I have some concern that I might come to enjoy squirrel hunting with my BRK so much that my rimfires will sit unused.
It seems with so many of the shooting sports, we start out handicapping ourselves and then spend the next few years trying to reinvent the powder burner. I see this with muzzleloaders, bows (crossbows), and even rimfires. I'm a fan of all of em with the exception of MZZL. I hate to clean those.
I know I have zero interest in slugs. I have plenty of rimfire powder burners when I need 100 FPE or more. I have some concern that I might come to enjoy squirrel hunting with my BRK so much that my rimfires will sit unused.
It seems with so many of the shooting sports, we start out handicapping ourselves and then spend the next few years trying to reinvent the powder burner. I see this with muzzleloaders, bows (crossbows), and even rimfires. I'm a fan of all of em with the exception of MZZL. I hate to clean those.
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The only anecdote I can offer is when FX adds a new trigger to the Impact and the adjustable top rail and deems it enough to pretend it is a marked upgrade to the M3? All I see is a marketing ploy. You want to make an Impact that has a new valve system or regulators or maybe barrel style I am all in on that being grounds for an M4. What we got was M3.1.
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Buy them from walmart online.I buy almost exclusively used but the price shift that has frustrated me is the price of pellets. I average 1-2 tins a week. The Crosman .22 hp were around $6 and change and looking right now Amazon is $12.99. PA and AGD are $11.48. They have doubled? And JSB 14.3 are $28.99 at PA.
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Yeah I have noticed without a doubt the used market is super soft right now. I think it boils down to the highly lackluster economy coupled with the fact we are entering the holiday season and family gifts supercede personal hobbies.
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Me personally I have only purchased a pcp in the last month only because I sold 2 if not I would have not purchased anything.. both pcp where cheap one costing $800 and the othe $1100.. both old models almost discontinued.. with those 2 .. it will be years before I be in the market for anything else..
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H&N Barracuda Match for $7.99 at HatsanI buy almost exclusively used but the price shift that has frustrated me is the price of pellets. I average 1-2 tins a week. The Crosman .22 hp were around $6 and change and looking right now Amazon is $12.99. PA and AGD are $11.48. They have doubled? And JSB 14.3 are $28.99 at PA.
HatsanUSAH&N Baracuda Match
H&N Baracuda Match pellets are a heavy, extremely accurate pellet for long ranges. Top-notch aerodynamic design for high impact and penetration. Tightest shot groups. Lowest rate of lead foulin…
hatsanairgunsusa.com I find them as good as any much more expensive pellet.
-- Matt
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This quarter is always the worst for selling (great buys though).
Big picture I also suspect that the centerfire and rimfire shooters who tried out airguns, have now realized that airguns do not shoot like firearms. Or their cheap compressor gave out and they never bothered to resolve it. Slugs are a step in that direction but they are a whole lot trickier to get tuned and I’ll bet very few new shooters actually achieved any level of excellence. Firearms stuff is expensive but it’s kind of sort of available more than during the pandemic. So that crowd is bored or gone or saving their resources for some kind of post election catastrophe.
The manufacturers who rushed in to meet pandemic demand did so impressively, but again with demand coming down it will get lean and very competitive.
Big picture I also suspect that the centerfire and rimfire shooters who tried out airguns, have now realized that airguns do not shoot like firearms. Or their cheap compressor gave out and they never bothered to resolve it. Slugs are a step in that direction but they are a whole lot trickier to get tuned and I’ll bet very few new shooters actually achieved any level of excellence. Firearms stuff is expensive but it’s kind of sort of available more than during the pandemic. So that crowd is bored or gone or saving their resources for some kind of post election catastrophe.
The manufacturers who rushed in to meet pandemic demand did so impressively, but again with demand coming down it will get lean and very competitive.
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I buy almost exclusively used but the price shift that has frustrated me is the price of pellets. I average 1-2 tins a week. The Crosman .22 hp were around $6 and change and looking right now Amazon is $12.99. PA and AGD are $11.48. They have doubled? And JSB 14.3 are $28.99 at PA.
CPHP'S are $6.92 at my local Walmart still. Not old stock, manufacturers date on the case was July.
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I have 2 higher end slug shooters. Why. I shoot ground squirrels. A typical trip for 3 days and 500-1000 go down.
When I started 10 years ago, well actually 35 years ago with Beeman, with PCP’s, they were just starting to become the guns they are now. Now so many people have shown interest, many other companies have started to make Airguns to make money. I do believe though that we have hit the peak of shooters and interest is slowly going down. It does amaze me though, the people new to PCP’s, want 30 and 35 caliber guns. Most will not be able to shoot them in a back yard. And of course just the plane arguments about which caliber. For me it is the .22. Best value for what I do. I did own a 25. But cost of ammo and variety to try was not really there. For variety and availability 22 does do what I need it to do, rolling squirrels regularly out to 150 yards and occasionally 250.
Now target shooters have found the 30 to be wonderful. Slowly more pellets are coming out for them.
But back to the original question. Yes i believe airguns have hit their peak and will continue to slowly decline and balance out. Some of the newest companies will probably close, but old ones will be there.
Oh the Beeman from 35 years ago. For squirrels in and around our adobe structures at work. When I went to the Beeman store the recommended caliber at that time, .20. Of course in a high power springer. Max distance for a consistent kill at that time, 40 yards. 30-35 preferred.
Have fun guys. A fun sport that does cost us a bucks. But for most of us, very enjoyable.
When I started 10 years ago, well actually 35 years ago with Beeman, with PCP’s, they were just starting to become the guns they are now. Now so many people have shown interest, many other companies have started to make Airguns to make money. I do believe though that we have hit the peak of shooters and interest is slowly going down. It does amaze me though, the people new to PCP’s, want 30 and 35 caliber guns. Most will not be able to shoot them in a back yard. And of course just the plane arguments about which caliber. For me it is the .22. Best value for what I do. I did own a 25. But cost of ammo and variety to try was not really there. For variety and availability 22 does do what I need it to do, rolling squirrels regularly out to 150 yards and occasionally 250.
Now target shooters have found the 30 to be wonderful. Slowly more pellets are coming out for them.
But back to the original question. Yes i believe airguns have hit their peak and will continue to slowly decline and balance out. Some of the newest companies will probably close, but old ones will be there.
Oh the Beeman from 35 years ago. For squirrels in and around our adobe structures at work. When I went to the Beeman store the recommended caliber at that time, .20. Of course in a high power springer. Max distance for a consistent kill at that time, 40 yards. 30-35 preferred.
Have fun guys. A fun sport that does cost us a bucks. But for most of us, very enjoyable.
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If you look at the difference in economic conditions between now and four years ago, you'll find the answer to your questions. People usually won't spend what they don't have.
Everything costs a lot more these days. It's up to you to figure out what has happened between now and then, and why prices are so much higher. You can't "drive a market" when people can't afford what you're selling. Good luck!
Cheers,
J~
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Matt,
Interesting you call everyone who spent $2,000 dollars or more on a Fool. By that logic, I guess anyone that only spends $500 is just broke and barely making it in life.
I have both the Redwolf and Ghost, I guess I'm twice the fool as some.
People buy what they want, regardless of price. I purchased a Sailplane, no one needs a sailplane either.
Smitty
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Interesting how you take something out of context just to rage bait others...
There is a difference between saying "How many fools can you sell $2,000 rifles to" and "Every person who buys a $2,000 rifle is a fool".
Full stop. I'll give you a day to read this then you go on my block list. I have zero tolerance for this type of behavior.
-Matt
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