Thanks for letting me sign up for all the great info on these forums. So many PCP to choose from, where in the world to start from?
New to forums and Pcp
- Thread starter BigBlockChevy
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Start simple and cheap. You can work up from there.
My first PCP cost me right at $300 and even came with a pump. That was less than an average day at the range with my CZ Shadow 2 so I considered it a no risk experiment.
Well there was a risk. I is called addiction. My next two PCPs were considerably more expensive, but I didn't go into them blind, and that's why I started off simple and cheap.
Welcome aboard and wishes for a fun PCP journey!
My first PCP cost me right at $300 and even came with a pump. That was less than an average day at the range with my CZ Shadow 2 so I considered it a no risk experiment.
Well there was a risk. I is called addiction. My next two PCPs were considerably more expensive, but I didn't go into them blind, and that's why I started off simple and cheap.
Welcome aboard and wishes for a fun PCP journey!
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I'm with ya. Been a BB/pellet pumper since a kid. Got into springers about 10 years ago. Now getting my first PCP. PCP doesn't have to be expensive. There is good stuff for less than $300 (Air Venturi/Gamo) that works with the hand pumps (100cc/232 BAR). Get a $40 4K PSI pump on Amazon and add a Hawke Vantage AO for $130. Get some Crossman, H&N, JSB Domes and go have fun. Shoot for a while and see if you need to upgrade for your tasks you use. Enjoy!
Spreadsheets... spreadsheets are your friend. And get a chronograph!
Spreadsheets... spreadsheets are your friend. And get a chronograph!
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Welcome to the forum decide what you want to do with the airgun target shooting, hunting, or a combination of the two.
Take your time and gain as much information so you can make the right choice in your purchase.
Take your time and gain as much information so you can make the right choice in your purchase.
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Bigblockchevy, for everything airguns you came to the right place. The rabbit hole can get deep but by your avatar, you have been there. Curious about the rest of story on bigblockchevy. Welcome aboard.
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"where in the world to start from?" At birth!
As you can see, I got a very late start at almost two years of age. But since that 1955 photo I've been trying to make up for those two years of lost airgunning opportunities.
But I still have a long way to go...
And since lately it often seems the hurrieder I go, the behinder I get...
I've decided to just stop hurrying!
As you can see, I got a very late start at almost two years of age. But since that 1955 photo I've been trying to make up for those two years of lost airgunning opportunities.
But I still have a long way to go...
And since lately it often seems the hurrieder I go, the behinder I get...
I've decided to just stop hurrying!
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I started with a full auto .30cal just because it is a full auto .30cal. Something that cool I just had to have.
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My advice would be to get the best, most recommended gun you can afford. Starting small and cheap sounds good at first, but is sort of a waste. You WILL want to upgrade. I wish I had gotten the Taipan Vetty as my first. Would have saved me some coins. Just my 2 cents.
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I don't necessarily agree, but we all have our opinions, But do your research and educate yourself before you spend real money, and all should be well.
In my case, I got up one Saturday and instead of grabbing my range bag and 500 rounds of 9mm, I instead went to Academy and bought a cheap cheap Umarex Origin. I mounted a nice scope on it and burned through a few hundred Crossman pellets. End of the day I probably saved $50 over the range trip I didn't go on.
Over the next six months I figure I had saved enough to buy a better gun, so I did. An Airforce TalonP for pest control.Then a year later, an RTI Prophet Performance from the stay home from the range fund.
I don't in anyway feel that that cheap Origin was a waste. In fact, I still own it and shoot it occasionally. Fun little gun it is.
I do need to go shoot my Shadow2 though. Sometimes one just need some noise and recoil to settle the nerves.
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There isn’t really a wrong answer to the question of your first pcp but there are some situations to be avoided:
- an air hungry model / caliber and inconvenient or unreliable source of air
- an inaccurate gun if it’s accuracy you want
- a high power pcp or slug gun without a good place to shoot it
- a high end pcp without the money for decent scope. I’m not one of those who says you should spend more on optic than the gun, but it also doesn’t make sense to permanently mount a $100 bug buster on a $2500 long range pcp.
At this point you know your personal style; I know I tend to keep only the very best of what I can get. I’m not particularly a hoarder and so I tend toward the buy once, cry once philosophy. But if you don’t know what you want, buy to your best guess. It might be wise to buy used so that if you opt to change your setup, you won’t take a hit on resale.
Anyway, just thoughts.
- an air hungry model / caliber and inconvenient or unreliable source of air
- an inaccurate gun if it’s accuracy you want
- a high power pcp or slug gun without a good place to shoot it
- a high end pcp without the money for decent scope. I’m not one of those who says you should spend more on optic than the gun, but it also doesn’t make sense to permanently mount a $100 bug buster on a $2500 long range pcp.
At this point you know your personal style; I know I tend to keep only the very best of what I can get. I’m not particularly a hoarder and so I tend toward the buy once, cry once philosophy. But if you don’t know what you want, buy to your best guess. It might be wise to buy used so that if you opt to change your setup, you won’t take a hit on resale.
Anyway, just thoughts.
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This PCP air gun is a sport that you learn to grow into. You either accept that you need to spend hundreds/thousands for a compressor and tanks or you just give it up. Once you are setup then you have years of fun in front of you. Life is short, make the most out of it by having fun.
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Some will say “buy once, cry once”. But I enjoyed the journey and learned a lot along the way. Still learning, and there are lots of great people here to help along the way.
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Alright men. Thanks for the opinions on my first pcp rifle. I'm not sure I will start with the best but probably something mid line. I will end up taking it apart to see how it works anyway. BBC is getting me alot attention! No worries I have thick skin!
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I like your analogy, buying guns with cash from your stay at home fund, or whatever you called it. I got in touch with a local group a few weeks ago in hope that I can watch a learn about PCPs. It only took a few emails before my contact was telling me that I need to ditch the air rifle idea "because not too many people ever come to the events for them, but they do for the rimfire rifle matches". If they cops get called on me by my neighbors, I want to see the look on his face when we discuss my air rifle, not my rimfire. Between the 60 mile drive, range membership dues, range work days, and the cost of ammo, I can afford a FX Impact or Maverick along with a decent compressor and still come out ahead.I don't necessarily agree, but we all have our opinions, But do your research and educate yourself before you spend real money, and all should be well.
In my case, I got up one Saturday and instead of grabbing my range bag and 500 rounds of 9mm, I instead went to Academy and bought a cheap cheap Umarex Origin. I mounted a nice scope on it and burned through a few hundred Crossman pellets. End of the day I probably saved $50 over the range trip I didn't go on.
Over the next six months I figure I had saved enough to buy a better gun, so I did. An Airforce TalonP for pest control.Then a year later, an RTI Prophet Performance from the stay home from the range fund.
I don't in anyway feel that that cheap Origin was a waste. In fact, I still own it and shoot it occasionally. Fun little gun it is.
I do need to go shoot my Shadow2 though. Sometimes one just need some noise and recoil to settle the nerves.
With that being said, I can't help but wonder if the upcoming Avenge-X might be the gun of the year. They somewhat inexpensive rifle that everyone is talking about, much like its predecessor the Avenger. I did look at the TalonP and I like everything about it but wish it had more power. Although my lady friend may love it due to its size vs her size. She typically shoots youth model rifles but can handle her AR just fine. Although my Gamo Swarm Magnum is too big for her and darn near too big for me as well.
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Range trips do get expensive when you shoot as much as I do. Before the PCP bug bit me, I burned a lot of gunpowder, and was not kidding. I did buy my next two PCPs with money I saved by shooting air guns in my back yard. I cleared brush and have an 85 yard range and shoot a lot of pellets rather than 9 and 10mm and no range fees or expensive diesel fuel to get to the range.I like your analogy, buying guns with cash from your stay at home fund, or whatever you called it. I got in touch with a local group a few weeks ago in hope that I can watch a learn about PCPs. It only took a few emails before my contact was telling me that I need to ditch the air rifle idea "because not too many people ever come to the events for them, but they do for the rimfire rifle matches". If they cops get called on me by my neighbors, I want to see the look on his face when we discuss my air rifle, not my rimfire. Between the 60 mile drive, range membership dues, range work days, and the cost of ammo, I can afford a FX Impact or Maverick along with a decent compressor and still come out ahead.
With that being said, I can't help but wonder if the upcoming Avenge-X might be the gun of the year. They somewhat inexpensive rifle that everyone is talking about, much like its predecessor the Avenger. I did look at the TalonP and I like everything about it but wish it had more power. Although my lady friend may love it due to its size vs her size. She typically shoots youth model rifles but can handle her AR just fine. Although my Gamo Swarm Magnum is too big for her and darn near too big for me as well.
The Avenger is a good gun to start out with and they sure seem to keep making it better.
lood at the Aircudas too. I have not handled one myself yet, but they sure appear to be a lot of gun for the money.
As for the TalonP. I have one and power is not at all an issue with it. I get right at 60 fps with JSB 33.95 pellets
My other one is Prophet Performance version 1. I looked at the Maverick also, but went with the RTI for its simple straightforward design, but I might still get an FX later this year. They are really good airguns.
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