Is airgun interest going away?

Interesting to look at the world of tools. Hammers are darn near obsolete, air powered "nail guns" are available for everything from cabinets to framing. We might note that high pressure air is not used at all. Instead powder actuated is employed when serious power is required. Shop air pressure and air tools typically max out around 125 PSI, painting with my broad brush. Beyond that, powder actuated rules the roost. Rather like electric cars vs. internal combustion, the energy density of nitro powder is very efficient and effective.
 
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I don't have access to industry metrics. I'm expressing my opinion as a "newbie" to this. We have one manufacturer introducing bottled N2 as an alternative.
They "get it" with regard to the primary issue with PCP guns. I like to say the air is free, compressing it is not.
yes but you could shoot a brick of 22lr for the price of that again disposable nitrogen tank.. you are totally right about air being free but compressing it is not, I have no idea how to qualify how much it costs for air, I'm fortunate that I have a Omega trail charger and it's been trouble free for 8 years.. now so far that would be $100 per year.. longer it lasts, cheaper it gets.. got a leaky gauge on a scba bottle and gave up on it, been wondering if I should get a new bottle.. but I also was thinking about the GX duel battery compressor, at least for field and backup.. you can have a case of pellets and a few guns but no air and you can't do anything..
been trying to find out how those GX duel battery compressor is but like most things on AGN I only find what I accidentally see.. unless someone kind sends me a link 😊 I'm just not good with computer.
Mark
 
Interesting to look at the world of tools. Hammers are darn near obsolete, air powered "nail guns" are available for everything from cabinets to framing. We might note that high pressure air is not used at all. Instead powder actuated is employed when serious power is required. Shop air pressure and air tools typically max out around 125 PSI, painting with my broad brush. Beyond that, powder actuated rules the roost. Rather like electric cars vs. internal combustion, the energy density of nitro powder is very efficient and effective.
I'd be tempted to go nitrogen on my airguns since I'm a welder and have nitrogen bottles, but I don't know much about those booster pumps or how much they cost or even where to get them.. because I don't like to turn any bottles back in partially filled.. so if one could transfer gas from a bottle that was low to top off another bottle that would be great.
Mark
 
I like shooting PCP's but they are a total pain in the butt and a powder burner is so much easier and cheaper to get into. Pellet guns whatever you wanna call them are fine and serve a place but people can go out and buy a Ruger 1022 or a cheaper savage or Ruger rimfire for what we consider the price of a cheap PCP. Sure it cost more money to feed it but you don't have all the BS of O-rings tanks bottles compressors fill lines to worry about. Just grab the gun and shoot. And don't say oh cheap gun shoot just as good as a $2000 Gun 99.9% of the time that's not true. It's the quality that cost the money. But yeah people have lost interest because money is tight and what limited money they have they want something that's long lasting and don't need a lot of upkeep.
Why I chose a disposable economy break barrel. Yeah no cheap air pellet rifle gonna compete with a $1,200 Diana.
But can a $1,200 Diana compete with a $130 Hatsan with about 4 rebuild kits and a better scope?
Invest about $100 to $300 in work on mods and 2 rebuild kits.
A budget air rifle serves some good purposes to learn basic assembly mechanics on. Especially for the novice.
They are good to learn to break down and maintain.
Cheap on ammo.
Hatsans, Umarex, etc... Are a perfect pellet rifle for small game.
But yeah, I want a Diana or somethiing on the next level
performance. I just got to save up or finance.
 
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Why I chose a disposable economy break barrel. Yeah no cheap air pellet rifle gonna compete with a $1,200 Diana.
But can a $1,200 Diana compete with a $130 Hatsan with about 4 rebuild kits and a better scope?
Invest about $100 to $300 in work on mods and 2 rebuild kits.
A budget air rifle serves some good purposes to learn basic assembly mechanics on. Especially for the novice.
They are good to learn to break down and maintain.
Cheap on ammo.
Hatsans, Umarex, etc... Are a perfect pellet rifle for small game.
But yeah, I want a Diana or somethiing on the next level
performance. I just got to save up or finance.
I loved my Diana 48 and 34 and Beeman P1. maybe someday another P1 and a 54 air king since I can't take recoil anymore
Mark
 
Why I chose a disposable economy break barrel. Yeah no cheap air pellet rifle gonna compete with a $1,200 Diana.
But can a $1,200 Diana compete with a $130 Hatsan with about 4 rebuild kits and a better scope?
Invest about $100 to $300 in work on mods and 2 rebuild kits.
A budget air rifle serves some good purposes to learn basic assembly mechanics on. Especially for the novice.
They are good to learn to break down and maintain.
Cheap on ammo.
Hatsans, Umarex, etc... Are a perfect pellet rifle for small game.
But yeah, I want a Diana or somethiing on the next level
performance. I just got to save up or finance.
I'm a piston guy mostly I have some PCPs for hunting and EFT. I usually shoot my HWs
 
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Naw we can sling lead, just can't use it in shotguns apparently. Now to buy ammo you need your I.D and permit. I have zero idea what happens if you try to buy a case. Of course it's illegal to go to AZ or NV or OR and buy some and bring it in, big brother Nuisance has to make sure you don't have too much. I miss ordering on line and watching the UPS guy struggling with cases.
There is no straw purchase law for ammo if you are not a prohibited possessor. You got an AZ friend like me with ID then for a 6pack of Coors light we might could be friends.
 
I'd be tempted to go nitrogen on my airguns since I'm a welder and have nitrogen bottles, but I don't know much about those booster pumps or how much they cost or even where to get them.. because I don't like to turn any bottles back in partially filled.. so if one could transfer gas from a bottle that was low to top off another bottle that would be great.
Mark
Take the cover off any pcp compressor and find the inlet tube that is sucking air. Attach two tubes to an otherwise sealed bag. Feed nitrogen into the bag and then into compressor to fill a bottle. Just have to match the flow so the bag doesn’t burst or get sucked dry.
 
There is no straw purchase law for ammo if you are not a prohibited possessor. You got an AZ friend like me with ID then for a 6pack of Coors light we might could be friends.
You were on a roll up until the Coors Light. I might be able to make an exception though. Sadly my Brother-in-law who was in Reno, passed away, I understand that someone kept sending him cases of ammo. weird. Let's see, 11 hrs down, 11 back...........
 
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I started selling PCPs almost 2 years ago and I notice this year has been quite the decline in interest. My existing customers love them but I am really struggling to get new people interested more than ever. I am competetive with online pricing at a local level and even fix peoples gun for free and educate them on how to use and work on everything but interest has just about ground to a halt. I don't get it. I love PCP's.

The ones with good reviews are $$. No one likes to spend $1.5k or $2k on an airgun when they can get an AR15 for $600. While not rich, I got some extra money to buy a decent airgun. I like it better thaw walking around with a .22 rifle. If neighbors call cops...it is just a pellet gun.
 
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Thread title is misleading, though the first post makes it clear the subject is PCP airguns specifically.

I bought a cheap multi pump rifle (gateway drug...) in spring 2023, loved that enough to buy a not-so-cheap single-pump pistol half a year later, and then bought a used classic multipump rifle half a year after that. (I'm a bit overdue now if the half-year thing continues.)

I didn't make a decision for or against buying another airgun, PCP or otherwise. It's just that three is enough to keep me contented and motivated to improve my shooting. Also, there are not many lightweight, smaller rifles for us small people in the first place.

What I will need regardless is more ammo and various pieces of gear such as carry bags, maybe a real bench, maybe a chronograph. IF I bought a PCP then I'd need at least a handpump for it. Frankly, that alone is a small deterrent TO ME because I'm a minimalist. It is not about the expense, since the advantages would outweigh the extra cost TO ME. But it is more "stuff", which is anathema to a minimalist.

Finances undoubtedly play a role in what you see happening, but it is not the only factor.
 
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Thread title is misleading, though the first post makes it clear the subject is PCP airguns specifically.

I bought a cheap multi pump rifle (gateway drug...) in spring 2023, loved that enough to buy a not-so-cheap single-pump pistol half a year later, and then bought a used classic multipump rifle half a year after that. (I'm a bit overdue now if the half-year thing continues.)

I didn't make a decision for or against buying another airgun, PCP or otherwise. It's just that three is enough to keep me contented and motivated to improve my shooting. Also, there are not many lightweight, smaller rifles for us small people in the first place.

What I will need regardless is more ammo and various pieces of gear such as carry bags, maybe a real bench, maybe a chronograph. IF I bought a PCP then I'd need at least a handpump for it. Frankly, that alone is a small deterrent TO ME because I'm a minimalist. It is not about the expense, since the advantages would outweigh the extra cost TO ME. But it is more "stuff", which is anathema to a minimalist.

Finances undoubtedly play a role in what you see happening, but it is not the only factor.
Those hand pumps are not easy filling up a tank to 2000 - 4000 PSI either.
Even a body builder will probably have to take a few 10 minute breaks as it gets very hard to pump by hand.
Yeah ask me how I know.
I tried that as a minimalist mindset. In a way you get free propellant. Thats the only positive.
When you have to carry a scuba tank and spare air rifle cartridges under constant pressure.
Thats when the reality set in and the appeal wore off for me.
and led be back to break barrels.
 
2016, 2018, and 2020 were probably some of the biggest years for airgunning and 2/3 of those were an election year...basically 2016-2020 was peak airgunning territory, so seeing a decline from that peak gives the perception that airgun interest is going away, because...well it has compared to those golden years, before product over-saturation and inflation set in.

Today there are easily 20 $2,000-$2,500 pcp options, if you wanna dabble you better have deep pockets, where as 8 years ago you had a handful of options at that price point, and your pockets need not be as deep.

-Matt