Coming full circle with my choices

This may, or may not interest some of you; Having worked my way up and down the Airgun food chain, including associated equipment; cheap to expensive to stupid expensive for the last 3 years, I’m finally settling in, or zeroing in on my TWO current favorite's, one is a bullpup, the other a traditional rifle. Still waiting on my carbine version of the Thomas 🤩 to come Jan 2025.

Presently:

The Brocock Ghost bullpup in carbine form, in .177 caliber with a 300cc bottle with a Sightron S-Tac 4-20X50 scope for general pesting and plinking; but also works great for HFT. For precision like Benchrest I change the Ghosts bottle to a 700 cc and use the 28” Fady K. World Record Barrel in .22. I also switch to a higher power Bench Rest type scope.
With a Ghost I can choose any of 5 different barrels in 4 different calibers.
The Ghost is an amazing and highly adaptable platform that I can shift from any popular caliber to the next in less than 10 minutes; especially once you have learned and recorded your tunes! 5 shots after caliber change it’s settled and ready to go.

Next up is:

Daystate’s Redwolf “not hp” in .177. I use it mainly for my obsession with HFT using Sightron’s newest S6 FT offering pushing 13.4’s at 810 FPS. I have the HP version also but for my general use the non HP is my preferred. You have three tunes available; I chose low pwr WFTF legal 8.44’s at 715 FPS, HFT legal med pwr 10.3’s at 888 FPS, and HFT legal high pwr is 13.4’s at 815 fps.

For EFT or UFT or whatever you call it, I’m using a Daystate Redwolf in .25 cal with a Sightron S3 PLR for 20-100 yards shooting with JTS 33 gr Diablos at 910 FPS.

Meanwhile

If you’re into pistols, I’m still sorting my pistol passions but for HFT <12 fpe, my .20 cal RAW TM 1000 is stellar out to 55 yards using a Sightron S-Tac 4-20x50. I get over 200 shots with this setup on a single fill.

The Marauder <12 HFT pistol built by Airgun Revsions comes in a definite 2nd using the same scope but with Benji 10.65’s; but the small air tube means refilling is required during a match.

Most recently I’m fiddling with the Brocock Atomic .177 currently shooting 8.44’s set for <12 fpe but I’m wanting to try it at <20 fpe for extreme pistol FT; also using the S-Tac 4-20x50.

The Atomic like the Marauder pistols are lightweight but because of air consumption, last on my list, as are most tube type PCP’s are because its wise to carry an additional air source with you.

How have you come full circle with your choices?
 
My half circle started with the thought process of “faster is better”, of course I was 100% incorrect! I started with a traditional rifle, the FX crown 600mm .25 and traded it for a taipan veteran 2 tactical also in .25, slowed my projectiles down to low to mid nines on the knockouts and found dime size groups at 75 yards is the norm with it.
The next in the shoot was a .177, and again, thinking 1000fps was what it HAD to shoot, all I did was change the hammer spring on my P35 and now I’m shooting 13gr zans at 870 same hole at 50 yards over and over again instead of 1” groups at 50….needless to say my obsession with speed is over.
I own 3 Notos all tuned for hunting pellets around 8ish FPS but all topped with NV for night ratting and dark barning sky rats.
 
My first PCP was a Gamo Urban and a hand pump, my subsequent four PCPs were all hand pumpable. When I purchased my first bottle gun, a Bantam Sniper HR, an SCBA was necessary and then a HPA compressor. My bottle guns (Ghost Carbine and Pathfinder) are useless to me without a HPA compressor. My two Atomics I simply pump up by hand. So if I want to shoot the Atomics more? I simply pump more…🙈 Have come full circle into liking the simplicity of that…🙏
 
Sir, what you are experiencing is not a circle but a spiral. 😉
I recall the days when I had way too many guns believing my next purchase would be the answer to my prayers. Disappointed and dissolutioned (as well as spending enough money to fund a nice European vacation for me and my family), over the course of a few years I sold everything but the two I currently own; my one FT and one XFT gun. I had been toying with the crazy idea of replacing my $250 Athlon Argos on my FT but after knocking down thirty-eight consecutive targets yesterday in Arlington Texas I’m thinking discretion is the better part of valor and I’m not replacing anything but the air in the tank.
So reflecting on my past mistakes, going forward I will stay where I am. Good luck, have fun and as Steve Jobs said, ”The Journey is the Reward”.
 
Personally, I like variety. I'm just more entertained if I'm switching things up. What I've come to like best however are the following. I'm sure there are plenty of other great guns out there too, but I can only speak to what I have shot.

Spring Piston
#1 HW95 in .177. This is as close to being the perfect springer as I am aware of. Very accurate, nice weight and balance, not hold sensitive, easy to load, etc...
#2 TX200 12 fpe in .177. This is a distant second. It's better looking and slightly more accurate than the HW95, but not nearly as easy to load or as handy. If you're looking for a springer that can go toe to toe with a PCP in terms of accuracy however, this is it.
#3 HW30 in .177. This is just like the HW95, but smaller, lighter, easier to cock and less powerful. This is the gun you can hand to a 10 year old or a small woman and they'll be able to cock it themselves and will enjoy shooting.
#4 Hatsan 135 in .30. A gas piston cannon that hits with authority. This is the gun to break out when you're shooting targets that go splat. People talk about it being solely for hunting, but I think that where it really shines is as a plinker. It's just a fun gun to shoot.

BB guns and Replicas
#1 Barra 400e. Not a perfect replica, but an outstanding BB gun. Very accurate, very well made, cheap to shoot but expensive to purchase.
#2 Crosman M1 Carbine, new CO2 version. Also not a great replica, but a great BB gun. Great sights, select fire, affordable, efficient and lighter and handier than the Barra. This is a gun a kid can afford to buy and will love shooting.
#3 Umarex MP40. Fantastic replica and very fun to shoot.
#4 Umarex M1 Carbine. Another fantastic replica and mine is very accurate. It's a gas hog though and not consistent at all in rapid fire. Mags only hold 15 rounds, which IMO is a stupid thing to be realistic about. You can load up a 50 round mag with 15 BB's if you want it to have realistic capacity.

Multipump Pneumatics
#1 Steroid 392PA. I just got this and have been very impressed with it. It's accurate, powerful, efficient and lightweight.
#2 Sheridan Silver Streak rocker safety. I don't have this gun anymore, but I liked it a lot.

Pistols
#1 Huben GK1. In a league of its own.
#2 Crosman Model 600. Just a great semi-auto CO2. Accurate, powerful and well made. It is loud though.
#3 Crosman Mk1. A great CO2 single shot.
#4 Beeman P17. Very accurate and unbeatable bang for the buck.

PCP's
#1 Huben K1
#2 Western Sidewinder
#3 Air Arms S400E
I'm sure there are better PCP's out there, but these are the ones I own that impress me.

I probably should come up with a list detailing the guns that are either disappointing or aren't much fun to shoot as well. I think that list might be longer.
 
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I don't really have enough to make a circle... more of a triangle or pentagon, even. But each one does what it does pretty well. Well enough that for now, I've decided I am satisfied. The pumpers are awesome for kicks and plinks. I've got an American Classic and a Benji 397 that remind me of where I started as a kid.
I've got 3 PCPs. The Gen 1 .177 Mrod got me into PCPs a little over 10 years ago. It's still got it where it counts and I'll just say it's been through a lot of changes and it's finally just right! Definitely a go to for squirrels. There's also an FX Dreamtac in .177 that is really running nice. It's perfect for 50 yard chipmunk sniping. Then turn it down and run light weight pellets for 20 yard paper punching. Once it gets too cold, the rifles step aside for the 1701P winter pistol fest in my basement.
I've been eyeing .20 cals lately, so if and when I feel the urge for something different, I'll be going there most likely. I could go vintage with a 'Dan or PCP with an AR .20 cal Mrod. Eyyy, who am I kidding... I'll probably do both!
 
I see myself going back more to my old tuned springers,that said, I love my PCP pistols.Since I hand pump I also want as many shots as possible with my PCP rifles,I demand accuracy in all of my guns, so for shot count and accuracy I find my Crossman Challenger hard to beat. The older I get the simpler I want things. I should menton most of my shooting is at 30yds.
 
The most "expensive" PCP I own is a Hatsan AT44 10 QE that I bought new for $420. The AT44 has been great for me, but I mainly shoot from a car and I wanted something shorter to be more managable. Recently got a synthetic Flashpup and it is just what I needed! $300 on sale with 20% off. I have not experienced higher end PCPs, but for the price I am actually impressed with the Flashpup. Accurate, nice trigger, and good amount of power for what I need.(34ft/lbs)
 
I see myself going back more to my old tuned springers,that said, I love my PCP pistols.Since I hand pump I also want as many shots as possible with my PCP rifles,I demand accuracy in all of my guns, so for shot count and accuracy I find my Crossman Challenger hard to beat. The older I get the simpler I want things. I should menton most of my shooting is at 30yds.
Hard to beat a Crosman challenger for simplicity and fun