Looking for first pcp

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Jerrydude0514

Member
Mar 9, 2023
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Loretto, ky USA
I’m looking to get my first pcp rifle. Wanting to do plinking regularly out to 50 yards with occasional 100 yard days. Some squirrel hunting. Would like to get a .25 cal. Regulated, not picky about cocking mechanism. Not to concerned about how noisy it is but obviously don’t want it sounding like an actual.22 or anything. Really trying to decide between a gauntlet 2 or the avenger. I’m ok learning to work on the rifle as long as it’s things I can do myself. I don’t wanna have to send it off to someone to get work done. I had pretty much decided on the g2 because of the power and tbh I love the way it looks and it has the adjustable cheek piece but I saw a YouTube video by 1 guy pretty much trashing it and it made me nervous about some of the issues he brought up. I’m open to other guns maybe up to the 500 dollar mark. I know I’ll get suggested the maurader but tbh that rifle just don’t do it for me and as silly as it may sound I’m someone that even if it’s a great rifle if I don’t like looking at it I probably ain’t gonna wanna mess with it that much. I plan to by my own compresser to fill the gun so I’m not restricted to options using a hand pump or anything like that. Once I select a gun I’ll start looking at scopes and other attachments. Also I’m wanting to buy new not off the classifieds. I’m sure everyone’s honest sellers and everything but I’ve bought used bows in the past and been dissatisfied with equipment that wasn’t as advertised before. I tried giving as much info as I could sorry for the long post. If I missed anything that needs to be known for a good recommendation just ask :)
 
In my humble opinion, the DAR Gen3’s are a steal right now at $300 from Pyramyd Air. I’ve got two of them in .22. One has been flawless after a hammer spring change and the other had a regulator issue that was easily solved. I will say this: don’t buy a PCP if you feel you don’t have the basic mechanical skills to work on it. They (entry level guns) are very simple designs, but they do operate at pressures that can cause serious injury or even death if you don’t respect what high pressure air can do……. If you want something to perform well out of the box there are a number of great guns out there from Benjamins lineup to the Gauntlet G2 (or G1), Air Venturis line of Avengers, Aircuda or Aircuda Max (VERY similar to the DAR Gen3). If you’re set on 25 that’s fine, but be aware you won’t get as many shots per fill vs. 22 and you will be refilling more often. If you are handpumping that could be a real workout for an afternoon of shooting. true they are putting out at LEAST 45 foot pounds of energy and a couple of them 70+ FPE, but they are air hogs compared to my 22’s which are just as accurate at 50 and NEARLY as accurate at 100 with double the shot count between fill ups. Welcome to the rabbit hole buddy!
 
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Jerry,
Welcome to forum, you've come to the right place, glad you're here. At least weekly, possibly more often, a new member poses this question, it's nice to see you've already done some hard thinking and research. The Marauder and Gauntlets are OK but starting to show their age. Long, heavy and bolt action has given way to lighter, shorter and side levers. The Airacuda Max, DAR Gen 3 and Air Venturi Avenger (wood stock) are the more modern design. I'm with you on the .25. Also, check out the AvengeX, a new Air Venturi line that addresses some Avenger issues. All that being said, the Generation One Umarex Gauntlets (.22 and .25) are only $242 at Pyramyd Air, I paid $310 for mine less than two years ago, a good deal to consider. Best of Luck, WM
 
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I like all my PCPs, a Prod, an Avenger (25) and three P35s (177, 22, and 25). Guess which I like best. My 6 lb plastic stock Avenger is the heaviest and I shoot it the least. It's too long for me to love. But after an initial leak got fixed it has not required any subsequent repairs. It is accurate but less so than my most accurate P35, the 22 caliber. I've never shot a Gauntlet, the weight would scare me off. But if you shoot from a bench it might be great.

Rather than fpe, I would look at getting a pellet of a given weight up to at least 800 fps and not over 900 fps. It seems to me there is too much emphasis of higher fpe guns. If you want or need to shoot at 100 yards or more that may make sense. But for mostly 50 yards or less shooting pellets, I don't see why more than 50 fpe is necessary, even in a 25. 800 fps on a 33.95 grain is just under 50 fpe. I shoot 20 grain FTTs in my P35-25 and 25 grain FX in my Avenger. The P35 was detuned to 32 fpe and the Avenger is about 42 (it is probably too high in velocity but I want to shoot it some more at longer range before deciding).

Even with a compressor stopping the fun to fill the gun is not the most enjoyable part of airgunning. One thing I really like about my P35-177 is I get at least 100 shots per fill.

I am still early in shooting squirrels with my higher powered 22, the P35-22, but it is taking them just as cleanly and quickly as the 25 caliber P35 tuned to the same power. They both knock them flat. 22 caliber pellets tend to be a little cheaper and most guns are sized for the 22 caliber model with things a little undersize for a 25. I like my 25s and I'm glad I have them but I started with a 22 (the Prod) and I still think it is a good place to start.
 
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Jerrydude0514 said:
I’m looking to get my first pcp rifle. Wanting to do plinking regularly out to 50 yards with occasional 100 yard days. Some squirrel hunting. Would like to get a .25 cal. Regulated, not picky about cocking mechanism. Not to concerned about how noisy it is but obviously don’t want it sounding like an actual.22 or anything. Really trying to decide between a gauntlet 2 or the avenger. I’m ok learning to work on the rifle as long as it’s things I can do myself. I don’t wanna have to send it off to someone to get work done. I had pretty much decided on the g2 because of the power and tbh I love the way it looks and it has the adjustable cheek piece but I saw a YouTube video by 1 guy pretty much trashing it and it made me nervous about some of the issues he brought up. I’m open to other guns maybe up to the 500 dollar mark. I know I’ll get suggested the maurader but tbh that rifle just don’t do it for me and as silly as it may sound I’m someone that even if it’s a great rifle if I don’t like looking at it I probably ain’t gonna wanna mess with it that much. I plan to by my own compresser to fill the gun so I’m not restricted to options using a hand pump or anything like that. Once I select a gun I’ll start looking at scopes and other attachments. Also I’m wanting to buy new not off the classifieds. I’m sure everyone’s honest sellers and everything but I’ve bought used bows in the past and been dissatisfied with equipment that wasn’t as advertised before. I tried giving as much info as I could sorry for the long post. If I missed anything that needs to be known for a good recommendation just ask :)
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Go with .22. The pellets are cheap and the Avenger is not too picky about the grains.

unnamed.jpg
 
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I’ll explain what’s going to happen, if you’re like me, I said I’d never buy a $1000 pellet gun. I eat my words, I have several that cost way more. If I were you, I’d save my money and buy a quality used one off a member here on the forum. I started with a cheap gun and ended up giving it away. I did shoot that gun a lot though, I put over 6k rounds through it. The difference between the lower end guns and the premium ones is huge. You get what you pay for and if you’re like most on this forum, you’re headed down that road anyway. Just my opinion, welcome to the forum, happy shooting.
 
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Jerrydude0514 said:
I’m looking to get my first pcp rifle. Wanting to do plinking regularly out to 50 yards with occasional 100 yard days. Some squirrel hunting. Would like to get a .25 cal. Regulated, not picky about cocking mechanism. Not to concerned about how noisy it is but obviously don’t want it sounding like an actual.22 or anything. Really trying to decide between a gauntlet 2 or the avenger. I’m ok learning to work on the rifle as long as it’s things I can do myself. I don’t wanna have to send it off to someone to get work done. I had pretty much decided on the g2 because of the power and tbh I love the way it looks and it has the adjustable cheek piece but I saw a YouTube video by 1 guy pretty much trashing it and it made me nervous about some of the issues he brought up. I’m open to other guns maybe up to the 500 dollar mark. I know I’ll get suggested the maurader but tbh that rifle just don’t do it for me and as silly as it may sound I’m someone that even if it’s a great rifle if I don’t like looking at it I probably ain’t gonna wanna mess with it that much. I plan to by my own compresser to fill the gun so I’m not restricted to options using a hand pump or anything like that. Once I select a gun I’ll start looking at scopes and other attachments. Also I’m wanting to buy new not off the classifieds. I’m sure everyone’s honest sellers and everything but I’ve bought used bows in the past and been dissatisfied with equipment that wasn’t as advertised before. I tried giving as much info as I could sorry for the long post. If I missed anything that needs to be known for a good recommendation just ask :)
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Avenger x 22cal. 25cal is available if you must. Tactical w/tube under $600. Probably will be "GOTY", gun of the year. Bill and Addi.
 
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oregondude said:
Avenger x 22cal. 25cal is available if you must. Tactical w/tube under $600. Probably will be "GOTY", gun of the year. Bill and Addi.
Click to expand...
The

Air Venturi Avenger Bullpup, Regulated​

looks like a steal at $399 at Pyramyd. 45 reviews worth reading.

Since "looks" is important to you, do you like the looks of this P-Rod converted to a carbine? The MTC S.W.A.T. 12x50 scope really lightened it up. A perfect backyard friending .22 for me. Deadly accurate.

P-Rod with MTC S.W.A.T (2).jpg
 
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