considering bullpup for first pcp rifle?

i live in a rural area with tons of ground squirrels, in fact the last 3 years i have averaged 100 plus a year with my springer.

In the last year i have been really considering a pcp and i think a bullpup fits the bill for what i'm doing. Most of my shots are 20-35 yards and up to 60 yards.

I like high quality equipment but i think starting with a entry level bullpup is wise especially with the total costs involved. 

I was thinking about getting a Hastsan flashpup in .25 it looks like i can do some upgrades down the road if i desire. I will probably get the yong heng compressor and a SCBA tank to charge. Need some help with what optics would work well for what i'm doing... just pesting.

Also i'm completly open to suggestions... i'm not hooked on anything i listed above.

I'm not opposed to buying used but very concerned i would be getting someone elses problem

Thanks Jim




 
Looking at your range, pref for high quality equipment, etc

get a 2ndhand Edgun Matador R3 .22 Standard. Very easy to service, never heard of anybody screwing it up, build like you can drive over it (altho that was not proven until the R5), and very very accurate. Oh yeah, and it only weighs 2.6 kg

it is never sold because it does not work, it is usually sold out of boredom with the accuracy, apparently always hitting what you aim for can do that.

look out in the WTS, these come up for 700-800. Well worth it.
 
 Flash pup is a good gun for the price, has good accuracy, yes has some available upgrades like a regulator. Theres a guy on ebay that makes a good 3d printed baffle that works very well that I'd recommend getting. Parts are fairly easy to come by also through hatsan usa.

As far as optics go, a lot of people have widely different preferences. Budget, weight, fixed or variable power, first or second focal plane, hold over reticle? 

Personally I like a first focal point scope, holdover reticle, parallax adjustment down to 15 yards, varible power and not cheap.
 
A bullpup is AWESOME for shooting GS from a vehicle.

"I'm not opposed to buying used but very concerned i would be getting someone elses problem" EXACTLY. You don't want to start the journey with a project gun that is essentially a 'rolling toolbox.'

If your gonna go PCP then do it right especially with your bottomless supply of GS.

Taipan Veteran Long .25 
 
I also wanted to try bullpups and ordered a Flashpup in 177, I really liked the feel and looks, but it was not accurate. Tried everything and nothing worked, finally aggressively bore polished and that did the trick, really great little rifle. They are not great for bench shooting and I do think mine was just a lemon as most seem to be pleased with the accuracy as received. 

Not sure I would get 25 cal, maybe 22 would be better for your stated needs.
 
I also wanted to try bullpups and ordered a Flashpup in 177, I really liked the feel and looks, but it was not accurate. Tried everything and nothing worked, finally aggressively bore polished and that did the trick, really great little rifle. They are not great for bench shooting and I do think mine was just a lemon as most seem to be pleased with the accuracy as received. 

Not sure I would get 25 cal, maybe 22 would be better for your stated needs.

Wanna trade your 177 for a 22? Just the complete barreled uppers and transfer por. and magazine or how many you got. PM me.


 
Another solid choice is the Walther Reign.

Accurate, fairly quiet as most guns go, easy to shoot, not at all a heavy lump to drag around, that is, lighter than most. The cocking lever can be swapped to either side for the best fit to you. The magazine in the gun is usable for left hand shooters. Although the stock is plastic, it's also very protective of the mechanical parts of the gun.

And it's also on the more inexpensive list. In all of my guns, I'd say that it's a great choice for a first time shooter.

It does need a small fix as soon as you buy it though. The trigger's first stage pull is overly high. Remove the right side of the stock, using a thin bladed screw driver, remove the trigger spring (very easy), and replace it with a shortened ballpoint pen spring, put the stock back together. It's about a 10 minute job, and removing all of the stocks screws takes up most of that time !

Mine's been trouble free for many, many shots.

Mike


 
I have a Hatson Flashpup 22cal. 👍. Enter that in the onsite search engine here and maybe get several hits with reviews in here. When I was looking at bull-pups I also looked at the Kral Puncher. Same price range. Reportably accurate They had quality of metal issues at 1st. I think those have been addressed. Annihilator Airguns specializes in tuning them. Scope wise, I went with a Hawke AMX 2-7x 32.($220).It's size is perfect and not to heavy (16.6 oz). The AMX belongs on a springer but I really like it,s reticle. Hawke makes the Vantage 2-7x 32 mil-dot reticle $120 (14.7 oz) ( save $100 ) ( or an Illuminated Mil-Dot reticle (15.9 oz) $170. I can accurately reach out to 65yds using 18.13 JSB pellets. Some people could take it a little further I'm sure.
 
A bullpup pcp was my first pcp almost a year ago. Unfortunately I do not live in an area that's rural like you and bought a big bore Evanix Max that sounds like a cannon going off so I dont get to use it as much as I'd like, yet. I did three months on AGN and a hundred youtube videos before going with the Max. It is built like a tank and apparently holds air forever and comes in both semi / fully auto and manual (ML) with plenty of area for the fore grip of your choice. It also accommodates a moderator in which I soon hope will reduce the sound enough to enjoy more frequently. As well as a picatinny rail on top for a sling to help support this 8lb + cannon. Its 1" barrel makes finding a picatinny tube mount easy since shotguns are 1". 

I can't help you with a scope, since I decided on using thermals and lasers.

Which ever pcp you decide on, contact both the dealer and manufacturer from the position of getting what you are interested in, on getting leaks repaired. From that perspective you'll see which bullpups to think twice about. 

Asking owners that have listed the bullpup your interested about, here on AGN classifieds, will most definitely help to steer you in the right direction. 

Even after a year with the Max, and another hundred YouTube pcp video reviews and hours more of reading on AGN, I am happy to say, I am satisfied with my choice and for $900, it still is my first choice. My number two, pcp bullpup, for what it's worth, will be the LCS SK19 in the 30 cal when its available later this month. That's almost three times cost though and non existent as of now. 

Cheers!


 
I suggest saving up and get what you really want. You can get a cheap HPA hand pump to hold you off until you save for a tank, compressor, or both. If it's not regulated, you don't have to pump it up to the recommended fill since you will mostly be hunting. For .25cal., any of the following will do and in no particular order;

- EDgun R5m Standard or Long

- Kalibrgun Cricket

- EDgun Lelya

- Taipan Veteran Standard or Long

- Airgun Technology Vulcan Gen4

- Airgun Technology Uragan

If you plan to get a used one, check the members here with good feedback. I personally like to buy new because I have trust issues lol. Buy from a trusted dealer who has a good return policy. In regards to optics, get something that can focus down to 10 yards for close shots. You might need to start another thread on optics to decide what would work for you or look through the optics section here for recommendations. Choosing the right scope can be so subjective.
 
I suggest saving up and get what you really want. You can get a cheap HPA hand pump to hold you off until you save for a tank, compressor, or both. If it's not regulated, you don't have to pump it up to the recommended fill since you will mostly be hunting. For .25cal., any of the following will do and in no particular order;

- EDgun R5m Standard or Long

- Kalibrgun Cricket

- EDgun Lelya

- Taipan Veteran Standard or Long <-- Compact also a great choice 👍

- Airgun Technology Vulcan Gen4

- Airgun Technology Uragan

If you plan to get a used one, check the members here with good feedback. I personally like to buy new because I have trust issues lol. Buy from a trusted dealer who has a good return policy. In regards to optics, get something that can focus down to 10 yards for close shots. You might need to start another thread on optics to decide what would work for you or look through the optics section here for recommendations. Choosing the right scope can be so subjective.


Good list right there ☝️☝️
 
The truth is, I don't like bullpups. The second truth, I have a Taipan Veteran Standard in .22, and it is one of my favorite rifles. I knew, if i bought (and kept) a bullpup, it would have to be very good in every category, and that proved to be the case with the Veteran. Built like a tank, simple, great trigger, very accurate. And you should not be afraid to consider a used Veteran. They rarely give problems, and it's unlikely you would get a bad one.