I'm total opposite. Why spend so much money on a PB I'd rarely shoot and put it into something I can shoot daily
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N/A Best value PCP?
- Thread starter Dairyboy
- Start date
I don't have tons of experience with many airguns, but after shooting the Taipan Vet against the Cricket (close match) and several FX's over the years I've settled on the Vet I. It's fun to look at the 2-3K$ rifles coming out, but for informal target shooting and pesting, it's hard to beat the Vet I in any caliber. Being that they aren't being made anymore, looks like they're holding the value at $900-1100 used. Seems to be a solid choice for many. Balistas still have a few new units for <$1400, but when you factor in customs, maybe you're north of $1500. That being said, I'm curious what they new semi Taipan is going to come in at.
I routinely keep my eye on the used section of AoA. Sometimes some real good deals there. And they will stand behind the transaction.
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i think the best value PCP is the one you don't buy , Instead buy the highest quality springer and send it off to the best tuner to get it tuned to around 80 percent of its known FPE plus polished to mirror bright on all the parts that are involved letting off the shot . Then all you need to buy is pellets .
Just my .02
Just my .02
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I have one in the OP's "mid priced" category, an Air Maks Caiman X. I view it as my expensive gun. I like it but it is also my heaviest airgun at 3kg. Weight is a key reason I do not have a Taipan. Air Maks seems to consider weight more important than some. But my Caiman arrived without a functional vent for the spring stack of the regulator due to over use of silicone grease at assembly and really tight machining tolerances. I fixed it early and now really like it (except it is still a little heavy). I don't expect that all Caimans have this issue but I have read of others with it. My 5 under $500 guns did not have similar issues but my $300 early Avenger did arrive leaking. But my favorites are my 3 P35s. The most accurate of them (the 22) is as accurate as the Caiman and the other 2 are not far behind and all 3 are more accurate than my Avenger. A key reason they are my favorites is they only weighed 5 lbs with their plastic stocks and weigh only a few ounces more with their wood stocks. I have yet to see a more expensive airgun with a 450mm barrel at this weight. They have a good trigger too. They are not as well made as my Caiman but they are better made than my Avenger. Their combination of low weight with good power and good accuracy is what I like.
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Have to agree, I have PBs that haven’t been used in years… My PCPs get lots of use in target practice/plinking and practically on pests…
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i can understand that point of view, hence the reason why i don’t spend such money on pb lol
i think i’ve lucked out on my choice of purchased airguns.
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I sold all my PB guns except for a couple for utilitarian and protection uses. I do have a couple vintage shotguns hanging in the bar/mancave for decor.
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"Informal target shooting"
not competition
Please have your reading make sense before responding, thanks.
And yes,
Notos 4.15
Niksan Elf 8.59
Beeman underlever 7.28
Air Venturi Avenger 6.4
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I have 3 of the 4 and shoot them regularly.
My NOTOS and 1358 are .22 and the Avenger with the BUCK Rail Tactical kit is .25.
My home range is 45yds and all 3 do quite well within that distance.
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Don't most non hatsan/aea low cost guns weigh in less than 9lbs? I don't think any of the main options here is over 9 lbs
I'm REALLY good at turning a moderate weight rifle into a supertanker anchor. I think my Barrage is 16-17 lbs
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I have the Niksan Ozark which is the same action and barrel as the Elf. My 45 yard range it is only surpassed by the great FX Bobcat and as of yesterday my Hartley Stalker Tiger Ten. My AirForce Talon SS is in that mix too
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I have others as well. A Hatsan Flash QE in .177, Xisico Sentry .22 and Urban in the Buccaneer stock .22 to mention a few. All these guns are sub $400 gun and shoot as accurately as I can within my range.
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Another that deserves mention is the bottled QB78 .22. That gun is way beyond it's investment in enjoyment. 
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My take on this is a little different.
The best budget rifle is one you WANT TO USE everyday
Let's say you buy a 2k rifle and shoot it once a week ...comes out to be around $38.47 a week
If shot 3 times a week =$16.53 ...everyday = $5.48
buy a cheap rifle that you never want to use..well that math is easy.
Doesn't matter how expensive the rifle is ...what matters is how often it is used
You can have a budget rifle @$500 but if you only shoot it once a month = 41.67
Mike
The best budget rifle is one you WANT TO USE everyday
Let's say you buy a 2k rifle and shoot it once a week ...comes out to be around $38.47 a week
If shot 3 times a week =$16.53 ...everyday = $5.48
buy a cheap rifle that you never want to use..well that math is easy.
Doesn't matter how expensive the rifle is ...what matters is how often it is used
You can have a budget rifle @$500 but if you only shoot it once a month = 41.67
Mike
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It depends on what caliber, power and application you’re looking for.
There is nothing wrong with a Benjamin Marauder. Great PCPs. There is a barrel lottery to endure but unfortunately, that’s kinda been most manufacturers lately regardless of cost!! There is only one exception to this that I know of; .30 Cricket 2 Tacticals ~ every single one has had a great LW bore that I’ve tuned/tested. We’re talking 15 or so with not one bad bore! I haven’t done Avengers but a lot of folks like them and they have tons of tasty features!
Now, if a high dollar multi caliber PCP can take the place of 3 or 4 individual PCPs, that’s also value homie! To date, my favorite is the Skout EVO. Will the new Black Wolf fit the bill here? It sure looks that way if the bores are good. It needs a high capacity mag though
Why on earth, if your making a new block and platform, would you not make a high capacity magazine?!?!!
Okay, got that off my chest
The BRK Ghost is very good but barrel quality has been an issue! Same with Delta/Alpha. The Impacts can be good but the first several shots low issue is a problem (not reg creep caused)!
The Taipan Vateran is great. The Vulcan 3 is great as well as the Uragán 2. The Cricket 2 is great. The BRK Sniper is great. The Daystate Revere is great.
Just my thoughts!
There is nothing wrong with a Benjamin Marauder. Great PCPs. There is a barrel lottery to endure but unfortunately, that’s kinda been most manufacturers lately regardless of cost!! There is only one exception to this that I know of; .30 Cricket 2 Tacticals ~ every single one has had a great LW bore that I’ve tuned/tested. We’re talking 15 or so with not one bad bore! I haven’t done Avengers but a lot of folks like them and they have tons of tasty features!
Now, if a high dollar multi caliber PCP can take the place of 3 or 4 individual PCPs, that’s also value homie! To date, my favorite is the Skout EVO. Will the new Black Wolf fit the bill here? It sure looks that way if the bores are good. It needs a high capacity mag though
Why on earth, if your making a new block and platform, would you not make a high capacity magazine?!?!!Okay, got that off my chest
The BRK Ghost is very good but barrel quality has been an issue! Same with Delta/Alpha. The Impacts can be good but the first several shots low issue is a problem (not reg creep caused)!The Taipan Vateran is great. The Vulcan 3 is great as well as the Uragán 2. The Cricket 2 is great. The BRK Sniper is great. The Daystate Revere is great.
Just my thoughts!
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And I have 5 rifles under $400 and a couple more under $500. I shot 4 of them yesterday and 1 on Friday. How's the math on that?
Your math is both ridiculous and insulting. Your premise is that because you overpay for your guns that anyone who does not overpay is unhappy with their rifle and just leaves it to rust.
Feel free to find anyone in this thread vouching for low cost rifles that actually follows your ridiculous premise.
I am sure there are plenty of the gun snobs who won't deign to sully their precious trigger fingers on the gun that got them into PCP anymore.
But those of us that can identify value always shoot our rifles.
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