Novice to PCP rifles having fun

Hello everyone, 
Received my Umarex Origin first part of this week and spent most of the day reading the manual (not a lot to read) and going over all the components of the gun. I had a new TruGlo Hunt*Tec Compact Rifle Scope 4x32 in my gun cabinet so decided to go ahead and mount it until I decided what scope I would order for the Origin. I also built a new 4-ft x 4-ft target backstop out of 2x8 treated lumber for my range.

This morning I printed out some targets and put one on the backstop and set up to sight in the scope. Then I used a hand pump to get 2100psi in the rifle, and that turned out to take a lot more effort than I had expected. Boy I am so glad that I have a compressor on order. I rigged up a temporary shooting bench on my back porch, it is raining so cannot set up outside. It only took 9 shots to zero the scope on a ½" circle at a measured 95-feet. 

Due to the weather conditions I set the backstop on a fence line just behind a bird feeder. Went back into the shop and refilled the 10-shot clip and pumped up the rifle again to an even 2000psi. The rain had let up a bit and one of the many local squirrels braved the rain to come and eat the seeds that had fallen out onto the ground. Opened the shop door as quietly as possible and set down at my makeshift bench, cocked the rifle and slowly eased off a shot, OK, one shot and one squirrel 😃. This is FUN. Now cannot wait for the sun to come out, lots of time there will be as many as 10 squirrels under the feeder at one time, so I have my work cut out for a while.

Be safe and have a great day,
ThomasT

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Welcome to the airgun world! Sounds like you have a target rich environment with that many squirrels lol. Not for long. I started out with a hand pump too, got a compressor shortly after learning how much fun airguns are. Happy shooting!

Hello davelarson,

Thank you, and yes I live in the middle of a National Forest in Deep East Texas on Sam Rayburn Lake and 30 miles to the closest town. Every kind of critter there is lives in and around my area. These woods are so thick with squirrels that I do not think I could make even a small dent in their population...and that is good in one way...he he

Yeah, it only took me a couple of days and some good advise here on the Forum to order a compressor. I am too old to fight that hand pump.

Be safe and have a great day,

ThomasT
 
I was in your position 5 months ago when I received my first PCP. Now there 4 in my “collection” and I’m out shooting every day. I haven’t shot a powder burner since I started with the air guns.

Hello Alderman,

I have owned several break-over and pump air rifles but they fail to compare to the PCP, man I love this thing. I'm sure that I will follow you and wind up with more guns in the near future. I just finished a new design for a Shooting Bench and will start to work on it very soon. I have an all aluminum reverse flow smoker to build for my Nephew before I can work on the bench.

Be safe and have a great day,

ThomasT
 
im sure that thing will make short work of the squirrels ... i cleaned about 80 out of my place right off the bat when i first got into pcp .. in fact now i have to control myself so i dont totally extinct them out of the area, i keep it to where i never see more than 4 at a given time and as long as they arnt being destructive, that way i always have a breeding supply around .. this has worked out well over the past 9 or so years, i usually pop a couple every few months, like some were giving my laying hens problems and chasing them away from the food awhile back .. bam done lol ...
 
im sure that thing will make short work of the squirrels ... i cleaned about 80 out of my place right off the bat when i first got into pcp .. in fact now i have to control myself so i dont totally extinct them out of the area, i keep it to where i never see more than 4 at a given time and as long as they arnt being destructive, that way i always have a breeding supply around .. this has worked out well over the past 9 or so years, i usually pop a couple every few months, like some were giving my laying hens problems and chasing them away from the food awhile back .. bam done lol ...

Hello dizzums

When I first moved out here, 15 years ago, I did not pay special attention to the squirrels because of all the other animals ( deer, fox, coons, etc ) but they became pest right away. I bought a 22 cal breakover and it just was not accurate enough to do any real harm. This new gun will surely make a difference. I am pleased how quite this thing shoots. I was target shooting a few minutes ago and the Red Birds, Blue Jays were staying in the bird feeder. Then comes along a squirrel while I was reloading and I popped him.

Be safe and have a great day,

ThomasT
 
You now have "the bug"! That squirrel "pop" is addictive. Have fun, & then have more. Welcome!

Hello Gerry52,

I must agree, I am hooked and the only thing holding me back is that hand pump. Sure is easy to unload two clips of lead but putting more air back into the cylinder is another story. Those squirrels are in big trouble when my compressor gets here.

Be safe and have a great day,

ThomasT