Has the popularity of airguns fallen off from years past?

[delooper]

I think the regulation of anti-gun states and regulated cities have done its part in the USA. Still seems with the greater firearm restrictions around the world that airguns would be more popular than firearms but have no data to back that claim up.

It's more the opposite. In most of the world, airguns are regulated like powderburners. The USA is perhaps the unique anomaly on that front.

So if you have to clear silly legal and financial restrictions to buy a gun, why not just get a 22lr or a 6.5cm, rather than an airgun? Powderburners are more of a known commodity.

 

[Motorhead]

Last couple years ... Political uncertainty equates to spending control for many compounded by the Glut of so many new products coming to market those who are spending money on air gun stuff don't necessary post or contribute on the forums.

Yea it is a wave as in it's been larger and also been smaller .... Ride your own wave as they say

 

[cosmic]

The shooter always wants accuracy info.. Then they look at both PB and air.. Most choose the PB... With all the auxiliary equipment needed for a PCP and the lack of accuracy of them, it is a easy choice.. Spend 1000-3000 and still have to mess with it to even come close to a PB accuracy!! Lack of quality is another issue.. Air enthusiast like a challenge !! We are a different breed altogether....

 

[MongooseV8]

While I have only been at this for a few years now, I certainly have noticed a change in the used market. Things have slowed waaaaay down, but plenty of new air rifles are flying off the shelves still.

 

[keefd]

I got into airguns during COVID, then my interest fell off for a while.

I recently got back into it because as was said earlier, I can shoot .22 pellets for a measurably lower cost than what a powder burner, even 22LR, would run me. I consider the compressor and tanks a nearly one-time cost. Plus it's something different - everyone seemingly has an AR, not many have a good airgun.

The community here at AGN is pretty nice, too.

 

[DNF]

Gold…the market is telling you you’re charging too much. You’ve been trying for a year, no offense but dude, take a hint.
Also not sure what you’re doing to manipulate the re-post count but it ain’t cool.

 

[blackdog899]

That is my problem with .22lr, you have to buy match ammo to actually be accurate. It is so much more expensive to shoot over pellets or even slugs. I shoot a tin or 2 a week, at 350 rds a tin it is $20 or less, with eley or lapua it would be $120-$140. That is a new airgun each year on minimal ammo savings if i had the cash to shoot a .22lr the same amount. Then to be quiet around my dogs I am looking at even more cash out of pocket , plus dealing with the alphabet folks for them to Let me have a moderator. Airgun win if you shoot often.

I like it but can’t agree. (( I came back to this point and added this edit. I can see how 22lr could be more expensive but a person would have to stick with the hobby and shoot a really great deal of ammo to make up for the initial cost of setting up a medium level of air equipment. I personally will never get there )) My expense for the air world I’m now in would have been cost prohibitive in my family years. According to some on this forum I have cheap explosive gear they wouldn’t use. Now if you take that thinking , big $$.
Started off with a hand pump, seriously screw that and at first I was only filling a Reximex rpa pistol.
I’ll admit I don’t know the current price of 22lr ammunition but I can assure you Eley and Lapua are not needed.
One very fine shooting round is the CCI standard. Ive tried many successfully but like I said any edge.
Aguila used to make a 60g subsonic that I used out the window. It was quiet and short range accurate, can’t find.

Hold that thought ! I just googled it . Per 50 rounds , bricks can save .
CCI Standard $6
Federal Game Shock. $6
Remington Premium Target. $7.25. Just the first that came up
Blazer $10
CCI Velictor $11 Except Lapua
Eley Match. $20
Lapua Midas $21

It’s been 5 years at least since I shot NRA silhouette competition and sporter class bench. I think Eley Match was $15 . I still have some bricks of it and Lapua. I only did it for the perceived edge. Most people used non “ match grade” ammo.

 

[Scotay42]

I like it but can’t agree. (( I came back to this point and added this edit. I can see how 22lr could be more expensive but a person would have to stick with the hobby and shoot a really great deal of ammo to make up for the initial cost of setting up a medium level of air equipment. I personally will never get there )) My expense for the air world I’m now in would have been cost prohibitive in my family years. According to some on this forum I have cheap explosive gear they wouldn’t use. Now if you take that thinking , big $$.
Started off with a hand pump, seriously screw that and at first I was only filling a Reximex rpa pistol.
I’ll admit I don’t know the current price of 22lr ammunition but I can assure you Eley and Lapua are not needed.
One very fine shooting round is the CCI standard. Ive tried many successfully but like I said any edge.
Aguila used to make a 60g subsonic that I used out the window. It was quiet and short range accurate, can’t find.

Hold that thought ! I just googled it . Per 50 rounds , bricks can save .
CCI Standard $6
Federal Game Shock. $6
Remington Premium Target. $7.25. Just the first that came up
Blazer $10
CCI Velictor $11 Except Lapua
Eley Match. $20
Lapua Midas $21

It’s been 5 years at least since I shot NRA silhouette competition and sporter class bench. I think Eley Match was $15 . I still have some bricks of it and Lapua. I only did it for the perceived edge. Most people used non “ match grade” ammo.

I have a $300 compressor and traded aroumd alot to get the pcps i shoot. I outshot my biddies hotshot 10/22 with a Kral NP03 at 50yds. With lapua and eley he is close, but still not quite. He couldnt touch my delta wolf i had nor any of the impacts i have owned. I just like to shoot and get that trigger time. I am teaching my girls to shoot as well. It is still cheaper to shoot pellets and slugs. With as much as i shoot, the guns are almost free if i compare to what i spent on 22lr alone, not counting 5.56/.223 and .308.

 

[Richieg]

It seems just 4 years ago the interest in airguns was massive and now it seems to have cooled off substantially, with the crack down on moderators and airguns in general, not to mention the higher cost of airgun over real guns seems to caused a cooling off towards the sport too.
Even selling off old gear seems to be slower also, I've had one of my rifles for sale at a reasonable price for over a years and no interest
What do you think?

with the crack down on moderators and airguns in general...
I haven't heard of this going on in The United States where I live. But I also live in RED state.
Where is this crack down on air rifle moderators and air guns in general, you are refering to?

 

[daddypaddy]

a majority of people are not aware that airguns are producing as much power and accuracy at range as they are now.
many of my PB friends laugh at airguns when i talk about them but they haven’t shot a k1 or even a notos for that matter. there aren’t many places to shoot them for many people living in the city or suburbs and i feel like many airgun enthusiasts have private land or have access to open areas to shoot.
i’m 100% sure that all it would take for a PB shooter to fall into our rabbit holes is one pest hunt with a quality airgun.

 

[L.Leon]

with the crack down on moderators and airguns in general...
I haven't heard of this going on in The United States where I live. But I also live in RED state.
Where is this crack down on air rifle moderators and air guns in general, you are refering to?

Yup, haven’t heard or read anything … @Goldwing, maybe a link to such…? As to the OP, In my situation I am set with my four PCPs for what I do with airguns. So I simply am not currently looking at purchasing more PCPs. But do have one of the GX series HPA on my radar…

 

[daddypaddy]

i also think that airgunners nowadays already have guns that are performing more than adequately for their needs.
new guns probably don’t interest them for that reason, along with the bloated costs of some of these airguns that are performing slightly better than their current rigs.. why would they spend their money?

 

[blackdog899]

I have a $300 compressor and traded aroumd alot to get the pcps i shoot. I outshot my biddies hotshot 10/22 with a Kral NP03 at 50yds. With lapua and eley he is close, but still not quite. He couldnt touch my delta wolf i had nor any of the impacts i have owned. I just like to shoot and get that trigger time. I am teaching my girls to shoot as well. It is still cheaper to shoot pellets and slugs. With as much as i shoot, the guns are almost free if i compare to what i spent on 22lr alone, not counting 5.56/.223 and .308.

Haa ! 10/22 I was definitely a favorite at a club shoot. Only 15 shots per target so 150 perfect score. We often have to
count Xs . A coworker showed up with a fancy Ruger , he won with a 148..

I understand the economy way of anything as I lived it till later in life. Somebody going to the range or shooting in yard for the most part has less equipment to buy and maintain with the lr. You can equate this to a very casual every now and them shooter or the guy that insists you need a $5000 commercial compressor and $4000 guns. You can have a Ruger American for $350. You can have the zelos I’m impressed with $450. It takes more of everything to shoot the zelos.

 

[Ricklin]

I love shooting in the backyard and basement. I first considered cans for my .22 PB's, no go I am barely in city limits, no discharge of FIREarms inside city limits. The air guns with lead collectors on them are better health wise too. PB primers are bad news breathing wise, the smoke is an issue too. I have just enough space for 10 meters in the basement. Can stretch it out more in the backyard. I'm also rather fond of full auto. I could do that with PB's, however I'd be down by the freeway with a sign, will work for ammo. A mag dump of CPHP's in the Blitz costs 35 cents. That would be about 8-10 bucks with a PB .22. Not to mention legal .22 in full auto is more than a little pricey, transferable full auto .22's are few and far between when you can find one.

 

[blackdog899]

with the crack down on moderators and airguns in general...
I haven't heard of this going on in The United States where I live. But I also live in RED state.
Where is this crack down on air rifle moderators and air guns in general, you are refering to?

I’m in the Soviet Socialist Society of NY and other than getting a $200 tax stamp for a ” blank” for a real gun haven’t heard of anything Airguns related and was shocked when in November a unremembered company wouldn’t send a zelos.

 

[BABz58]

High interest rates, slow economy, banks collapsing, 50% of home mortgages in delinquent, commercial properties are even worse shape, inflation through the roof, food prices and shortages. Etc etc Ect.
This definitely isn’t a sellers market.

It’s time to buy gold, silver. Not time to buy expensive toys for most.

 

[blackdog899]

with the crack down on moderators and airguns in general...
I haven't heard of this going on in The United States where I live. But I also live in RED state.
Where is this crack down on air rifle moderators and air guns in general, you are refering to?

Rewrite for moderator:
im in the SSS of NY and other than getting a $200 tax stamp for a “blank” for a real gun haven’t heard of anything Airguns related and was shocked when in November an unrememerbed company wouldn’t sends zelos.
Im also in the NYS Rifle and Pistol Association and never heard of airgun topics

 

[DeanB]

people wanting 90 percent of new for their guns or more doesnt help sales, just because some accessories are added to gun doesnt necessarily make the gun worth more. A lot of guns for sale that Ive wanted but not going to pay almost new prices for them especially if gun if older even in great shape.
I think a lot of people have figured out also that a lot of the mid tier guns will shoot as good or better then high dollar ones. Quality of workmanship may not be as good but for most they are good enough.

 

[blackdog899]

I think reasonable pricing of used gear is very subjective. Most sellers think their stuff is worth more than buyers do. New models come out older model prices drop. Heck I have a gun listed almost 1k below what it cost when it was new and I realize there is probably a snowballs chance in hades I get that. Will just keep it as it makes a great bench gun

PS —I don’t know what happened here , I’m mean Trucker
by the way Trucker I know you know all this and everyone else too
just passing time drinking beer

The money we get from the prominent things sold from hobby type activities depends on how you bought. Did you buy new at close to list ?

Unless it’s special and can’t be obtained anymore it sold at a loss. Did you get at a steep discount and the price and popularity of the item is back up ? You may break even or even make a little.

Now I don’t know the used air gun market at all. When brand new like a lot of oft criticized future members you tried to look at the classifieds before buying new. Realizing that often the gun is available new at around the same price as used, and it’s been there for 3 months, and they dont lower the price ! I think for myself $$ wise this will be a costly endeavor long term.
I don’t see the market or most shooters concern or knowledge about “ BB guns”
So out of my major later life endeavors % wise this could be the most expensive.
Guitars , vintage motorcycles , telescopes, and 1 Corvette were close or at break even

 

[Dead-On]

I think the Economy is definitely part of it, but overall I think technologically airguns have some hurdles that still need to be overcome. I was really excited about them, but having used a few now, I find I just keep going back to my .22 LR because it is so much easier and straightforward. So if .22 LR is an option where you live, its hard to justify air rifles except for very specific applications.

I agree, the economy along with the social enviroment, time, new technology have had an impact It's that last part which is a big chunk of the airgun community. Specific applications. I, like many here, first started in my youth. Then as I got older I also appreciated quality airguns and new disciplines. This is where it branches out. I can shoot benchrest, FT, Hunter FT, Siholuette, 10 meter pistol, 10 meter rifle, pesting, and plinking with the guns I own. To have all the equipment necessary to shoot and maintain all these is expensive and took time to acquire. Tank, compressor, scopes, ammo, tunes, accessories, targets, tools, CO2, ammo, let alone learned knowledge. I do not compete, even more expensive, but if I did I would also have a backup gun and scope.

Obviously the same could be said about .22lr. Plenty of disciplines and uses. But for me .22lr has it's place. Lots of $$$$$ cab be spent in both depending on your experience.