Opinions and Observations

[Mr.H]

I’ve got one of the guns you mentioned, the huntsman.
To start the Zelos for around $450 new may be equaled ( doubt ) but can’t be beaten

I've checked out one of the Zelos that Firewalker tricks out. Very impressive.

 

[Rob_in_NC]

Airgunners have a lot more choices now than what they did back when I started. The cheaper PCP's back then was either a QB or Crosman conversion or the Techstar which at one point had gone on sale at $199 at Compasseco. The choices now are mind boggling. I wont even get into airing them up.. that's a whole nuther conversation, but it does factor in. There are a plethora of filling options that didnt exist when I started.

Having owned more than my fair share of high end guns, I still find (and rather enjoy) some of the cheaper offerings now. Some folks justify purchases in airgunning saying that it's 'cost effective'. I'm not sure I buy that. Will take a LOT of shooting to justify and with pellets now being so expensive, it makes less sense.

So for me, it boils down to joy of ownership and fun factor. My last purchase was a Snowpeak P35X and I've had as much fun and joy of ownership out of that as I have anything. Shootability in my hands is equal to my high $$ guns and I've been enjoying it a lot despite the relatively minimal time I've had to shoot it.
Not sure I have added much, if anything, to this thread...but just some of my thoughts.

 

[Dairyboy]

The only gun I'd buy in that price range new would be the BSA R10 SE from AOA. Really nice guns and good barrels.

Other than that used market is all I would go for in that price range. Taipans, Crickets, Uragan Gen1s, Daystate Regals/Revere, Royales, BRK XRs, I'm sure there are others but that's just off the top of my head.

Sad to say in that price range your still subject to the duds and I'd rather buy a cheaper gun if I want to play that lottery game.

 

[JimD]

I have a Caiman X I paid about $1400 for new, three P35s, an original Avenger, and a Prod (my first and I still like it). Based upon this limited experience I agree that the Caiman doesn't feel exactly like the others. It cocks more smoothly and I think the trigger is a bit more consistent. It is not more accurate than the best of my P35s, however. Both have given me one and only one 200 on the 30 yard challenge. A better shooter would have gotten more, I'm sure. But my point is that at 1/3rd the price a budget gun can equal a more expensive airgun in accuracy. A Stoeger Bullshark is almost exactly the same as a P35 and more widely available. With an inexpensive printed moderator they are very backyard friendly and they are not very loud with the baffles they come with. But the baffles shift and get dinged by pellets so I think a moderator, especially when they are so reasonably priced, makes them a no brainer choice. A P35X is a similar gun with a longer barrel, a much bigger plenum, and a wood stock. The Bullshark and both varieties of the P35 are made by Snowpeak (aka SPA). SPA also makes the Zellos the very similar M60b and Notos. I think the Zellos is the only SPA airgun with an externally adjustable regulator. The others all have regulators that can be adjusted but some disassembly is required. On the other hand, the hammer spring of my P35s is much easier to adjust than the hammer spring in my Avenger. The main reason I prefer SPA guns to my Avenger is they don't use plastic to support the shroud and seem to generally use better materials overall. I think I saw a review the other day of a higher priced PCP with a plastic trigger but in general better materials also seems to come with a higher pricetag.

So, in short, I suggest you look at the M60b, Zellos, P35, Bullshark and P35X. All are in your price range new. I am pretty sure you would enjoy any of them.