You can enjoy air guns with out going down the pcp rabbit hole. But a Benji trail won't do it. Research a little, spring guns exist that are as accurate as pcp far more trouble free and way less of a hassle to keep going. In Texas the 30 caliber pcp restrictions do not apply to hogs. But I would suggest better options exist than a small caliber air gun for taking them. Welcome and enjoy your airgunning emerson it is good medicine for aging shooters. Hope and think you will enjoy it.
 
You can enjoy air guns with out going down the pcp rabbit hole. But a Benji trail won't do it. Research a little, spring guns exist that are as accurate as pcp far more trouble free and way less of a hassle to keep going. In Texas the 30 caliber pcp restrictions do not apply to hogs. But I would suggest better options exist than a small caliber air gun for taking them. Welcome and enjoy your airgunning emerson it is good medicine for aging shooters. Hope and think you will enjoy it.
 
Is Emerson a brand? too new to know. I am now looking at the DAR Gen 3 from Pyramid Air.
If you have the patience, Pyramyd Air usually has 10-14% discounts around holidays, I saved 12% on ammo during Labor Day. Halloween should be good for something off. Casino7095 gun reviewer has a good video on YouTube about DAR Gen 3 in .22, about a year, or more ago, think it was his last due to health problems. Check it out. WM
 
Even if wanting a Hog , as you inscribed above it in stand 30 yards or less a .25 is certainly all you need. Waiting for the perfect shot I would use a powerfull .22 without hesitation and knowing a clean kill guaranteed. All shot placement and you would have the perfect set up. Growing up with used a .20 Sheridan (in a pen, from above with shot placement) pump and no hod ever flinched, just done. This isnt for everyone but thinking you would be fine.
Love our gauntlet Gen 1 .177. Think them and excellent value, and with any care butter smooth cocking, trigger safe & smooth at under one LB -or what ever you might want-. The newer gens are only better and on sale what a value!
LONG and Heavy! The reason I only carry my to the porch for shooting off a bench.
Personally need a Light weight power house for long distance (only out to 70 yards) I grabbed an Airforce Escape UL .25. Tried the gunpower stealth when they came out, YUK. But do love the UL Escape I purchased decades later enough to not sell it even though ALL marmots are long gone from the fruit orchard, barn ... . The darn thing groups so well is about 4.5lb and certainly would take a hog cleanly from a stand at 30 yards. Well under $500 direct from AF as a blem with lifetime warranty.
Does warranty matter to you?
The 1st "DAR" venture was SO bad (hey buddy NIB for $100 on close out. Sold as parts only ... they were nice about refunding money though and NO doubt have improved. Parts? Warranty? Only me but would suggest it to a friend starting out. But.
Other than hog just want to be able to shoot a lot? .22 or .177.
Regulators are nice. And not needed if you can live with only say 30 "perfect shots". (note the little UL get's 6 "good" shots).
HOg for hog but folks in the UK (and many FT shooters) use "12fpe" rigs and humanly take game to 50 meters.
Crosman has the slamin warranty and parts parts parts at Low cost. PA will sell you a new gas ram for your Np for $40.00 pretty well guarantee crosman is less and about $4.00 shipping. You just need to part # and a CC in hand, easy folks to deal with.
Exactly now many miles to your nearest Club? WELL worth several hours driving to learn more in one day than years on forums. Esp. FT shooters never own just one airgun. Took my DAQ .458 to pass around one day, purchased my .22 NP at one along with another 50+ purchased face to face at value pricing.

If at all possible find a/some local airgun folks. Most are really happy to let you try what they have and share information. I've always been happy when some new person (or someone been into it for 30 years) wants to stop by. And I've meet many nice people that way and learned a lot.

Naturally if just wanting a top shelf grab and score rifle, RAW. But $ and again heavy.

Keep us posted.


John
 
Welcome. We are similar in age but I am blessed to be in good health. My only prescription is for Flonase for my sinuses and I take it so seldom the pharmacy usually doesn't still have the prescription when I need a refill. Not bragging, doctor may find something in my annual physical in December, just hasn't so far. I hand pumped at first too. I was 64 and was filling my Prod. It is a fun gun I still enjoy. I wouldn't use it on a hog but it has taken 15 squirrels for me so far. An Umarex Notos seems similar with a little more power and a regulator. Both are also light which I strongly prefer. My second PCP was a 25 caliber Avenger. It will shoot through a 3/4 inch plywood board so I think it would cleanly kill a hog with a shot to the brain from the side but I haven't tried it. I've seen it done on youtubes. But the Avenger convinced me I needed a compressor and I bought a Yong Heng. Later I added an expired SCBA tank and fill set. I could fill the Avenger with a hand pump but only did it to 300 bar once. It is just too much work for me to enjoy. But I could pump it to 3500 psi and get dozens of shots but it took some of the fun out of the experience. My favorite airguns are my 3 P35s. The Stoeger Bullshark is very similar and more available in the U. S.. They are light and short and two of mine are very accurate. The other one is accurate enough for squirrels, it's taken 18 for me so far. I have never hand pumped them but I'm sure I could and I will if the YH every breaks.

I would think hard about a "little" PCP about 20 ft. lbs in 22 that stores 100cc or less air and a cheap chinese hand pump (about $75). The Notos gets the most attention right now and seems like a good choice and is cheaper than the Benjamin Marauder Pistol (Prod). Probably get both for about $350. That would get you started and both are worth holding on to even if you later "graduate" to more powerful airguns. Like most things, when you go up in power, ft lbs, the air it takes goes up exponentially. If you are hand pumping, I think keeping the power down makes sense. If I still shot the Prod exclusively I might still be hand pumping. It takes about one pump on a hand pump per shot to fill the Prod. So maybe 30 to refill the gun. Much easier than the several hundred the Avenger required.