PCP Air Guns VS Firearms- A Comparison in Cost

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steelo32

Member
Jul 15, 2019
124
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South Dakota, United States
 



I did’t get into this to save money, but for convenience. I love being able to shoot out to 125 yards on my property and as such, I shoot every other day. Prior, there was always a big production to load everything up and drive 13 miles down the road to my buddies farm to shoot my firearms. In addition, the last 4 years I haven’t hunted big game at all. My wife’s distaste for wild game and the early mornings were enough for me to quit chasing deer and antelope. I still predator hunt and shoot a lot of foxes and coyotes and enjoy it, but air guns work fine in that application on most days. Air guns are also superior for pest applications around our property as well. All that said, as far as I can tell, air guns are WAY MORE EXPENSIVE than their firearm counterparts both in comparative cost and continuous cost.



Please note this example is me comparing Apples to Apples in my situation. I have always believed that it’s better to buy the more expensive item as it generally last longer and performs better. This has rung true in my experience in the Firearm world for the last couple decades and so far in the air gun world the same appears to be true. There is always a gem in the rough like the Umarex gauntlet that outperforms it’s price point, but by in large, you get what you pay for.



Consider the comparative cost here between a very accurate and well performing air gun in it’s respective caliber and a firearm equivalent (please note ACCURACY is driving the comparison and based on my experience with both units hence the round chosen for the firearm)



Crown Continnum in 25 Caliber $2,100



Vortex 6.5x20x50 Viper Scope $500.00 



Ammunition JSB-pellets 7.5 cents per “round” $11.00 per 150 



Air Source Nomad 2- $799.00



Total $3,400 





Bergara LRP 6.5 Creedmore $1,900



Vortex Viper HST 6x24x50 $750.00



Ammunition Various long distance precision rounds 60 cents per round (average) $90.00 per 150 



Air Source- NA 



Total- $2,650 



Firearm Advantages

  1. No air source required
  2. More foot pounds
  3. Greater accuracy at longer distances 
  4. Cheaper at the start and in the long run (overall the reviews on compressors across the board make one thing clear.. many of these are not going to last 3+ years regardless of which brand or style you buy... the demand for home compressors is new and the various offerings in the market suggest this, hence the problems and lack of durability. Whether it’s the Nomad, AV “big” compressor, a YH, a Benjamin etc etc.. all these units have problems and I don’t think getting three years out of any of them is probably realistic. Hence the air supply cost is probably a recurring cost and not a one time purchase) 
  5. Last forever if cleaned and maintained 
  6. Many players in the market, competition lowers price and increases offerings, performance and quality. 
    [/LIST=1]



    Firearm Disadvantages
    1. Requires a place to shoot- space, noise, etc 
    2. Prone to political legislation- panic swings in the market. At times can be hard to find ammunition (ammunition shortage of 2 years after new town and fear based buying) 
    3. Ammunition is far more expensive 
    4. Not suitable for in city or in town pest control 
      [/LIST=1]



      PCP Advantages 
      1. Quiet 
      2. Effective on multiple sizes of pest, predators, and even large game. 
      3. Can swap calibers on the Crown and Impact for minimal cost... one gun=multiple calibers and applications.
      4. Can shoot in your backyard even in cities and towns 
      5. No wait for a suppressor 
      6. Not prone to political legislation.
      7. Ammunition always available 
        [/LIST=1]



        PCP Disadvantages 
        1. More moving parts- more prone to need repair (air leaks, o-rings, etc.) 
        2. Requires air and a source to fill it. 
        3. Gun Smiths are readily available in most towns and cities should a problem arise with your rifle. Airgun work requires shipment of the unit to a handful of places that can work on PCP air guns. MOST OWNERS are not going to attempt self repair with 2,000 guns—— although I know many of you can and do such work.
          [/LIST=1]

          Just some observations from a firearm guy turned airgun guy. 







 
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Reactions: Steveguy and 2manyAirGunz
Personally I do not like to compare them,one reason is classic and well known powered burners are in a league of their own,not because they are better butt because I was raised with them.

Truth be told I am sold on air guns now,I love them because I can shoot them everyday in my backyard and they are sooo accurate.

Then again I love to fondle my old classic powder burners and truthfully that is about all I do with them nowadays fondle them.I have sold a lot of them and have a ways to go,but I image some day I will be down to a few,butt along the way they are getting replaced with air guns.

Cost =really good air guns cost a lot more,that is life,great stereo gear costs a whole lot more than both.

PS a lot of shooters reload their ammo ... each to their own and whatever makes a person happy....ain't nothing compared to fly fishermen who ty their own flies.......sorry my ADD again.....
 
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Firearms can be just as expensive and even more if you're not buying junk. No offense. Take for example a custom 1911 or even a semi-custom build. They start anywhere from $2500 to $5000. Some European shotguns with crazy engravings and other fine details and craftsmanship easily start at over $100,000. 

Some pre-ban "Assault Rifles" also sell for over $2500 depending on condition but maybe it doesn't fit in this category because they have a history to it. Just some things to think about. One thing for sure is it's cheaper to shoot my airguns and I like having the luxury to shoot them almost anywhere I please. 
 
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It is always pretty interesting to read the "buy the best you can" and cork sniffing going on then read the the love of the 10/22 and what a fantastic gun that is right out of the box.

I enjoy my airguns, they are what they are.....my firearms have the advantage of doing nothing but going up in value...I don't buy black plastic, and provided the 2A is with us....however if the 2A does fall and firearms become worthless, most of the air guns in this country will go the same way as other "firearm friendly countries"
 
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This is not a fair comparison. You should compare a 25 cal PCP vs a 22 LR rifle. Scopes should not be included because you can use the same scope on both rifles.

Good quality 22 bolt Action rifle: CZ 457 -$450. Yes, you can get a cheap Walmart rifle for $150 or you can get an Anschutz for $1400.
Good quality PCP air rifle: FX Dreamline-$1000, There are cheaper ones and more expensive ones. You can start with a $299 Umarex Gauntlet.

Tin of 300 JSB pellets-$15 (depends where you buy them)
Brick of 500 rounds of 22 LR ammo: $15 for plinking stuff like Remington or $65 for decent match ammo like SK Match or Wolf Match target

Now, here's where the big difference comes in. You'll need an air tank: $600, ish.

Prices vary depending on how good a shopper you are. I think that the cost difference is getting pretty close.
 
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This is a interesting line of conversation, but something I have not see brought up is reloading.

a few have talked about the price of a compressor and tanks. But no one has brought up the expense of reloading equipment and components.

many think reloading as a way to make shooting powder burners cheeper, yes it can. But my realoading bench has three progressive presses. 

The shelves are full of reloading dies for every thing from .25acp to .458 mag, many many pounds of powder at $30 a pound replacement cost. Bullets and casting equipment to make more.

All this being said the $3000 I have in my compressor and a few hundred in some used tanks was cheep when compaired.

i have competed in Rifle Pistol and shotgun for 40 years, but none of that shooting has challenged me like learning to shoot Field Target.

i shoot the airguns at least every couple of days, firearms the most I would ever shoot was when I was practicing to shoot the IPSC nationals and that was once a week. I regularly shoot 50-100 round groups when working with a new airgun getting it set up and working out a bell curve. Never would I do that with a .223, much less a 30/06. Did a 20 round group with a .458 one time and paid for that for the next couple days.

I enjoy handling and looking at my older guns flint locks and such, but any more I enjoy my BSA improved model D made in 1911 or my 1930's Diana 26 just as much. 

All in all I try not to compaire powder to air. I enjoy each for different resions.

Shooting, & Motor Racing, are true sports every thing else is just a game. 

Hairsmith


 
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We all have different priorities, right?!

As someone who has burned through 6 rifle barrels I can attest that shooting firearms can get very expensive! I used to shoot USPSA pistol as well and had to stop at A class because 15,000 rounds a year got ridiculous. BTW the Grand Masters go through 50,000 a year!

I have some very expensive 22rf's and some normal ones, I got a good deal at $12.60 a box of 50 for good ammo by buying in bulk 5000 at a time, the best 22 ammo is $23 a box of 50! OUCH. Cheap 22rfr ammo is normally not very accurate so don't buy much of it. Not sure I want to go down the air gobbling, high power, slug throwing PCP way yet, maybe??

Now then, I love my firearms and I love my AG's too but I look at them as each one having a specific intent knowing full well what how much the cost will be. I'll pay it to enjoy each's benefits.

I can shoot firearms within 5 minutes from my house and to 2000 yards within 20 minutes so using them is convenient.

The AG's I can shoot on my own property, that is a nice thing for sure! 

Well it's not very often you can use a AG in a firearms event or vice versa.

No doubt in the longrun airguns are cheaper to buy and use but the cool things you can do with a firearms are worth the cost. The current 600Y world record 5 shot group is .282" and we AG's shooters struggle for 1moa at 100Y. I hit a steel plate at 2500Y with a 375CT, now that's cool!!!!!!!


 
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I appreciate that the ROI on airguns vs. powder burners is pretty far out. But if you own multiple PCPs that lowers the per gun cost of your compressed air setup to a negligible amount. For me - a powder might get taken to that range every few weeks. One of the PCPs get shot everyday, indoors, without disturbing anyone. That's pretty huge to me.
 
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I have and had had lots of both. They are both expensive, PCP’s more at first to get all the support equipment, but less over a long period of time, especially if you shoot a lot. For me, they both have a purpose. I reload, but it still costs me 10-15 cents per round. The most important thing the airguns give me is more opportunities to use it without alerting anti-gun people. Another plus for the airguns is they are great practice/training. Frequent airgun use has made me a better firearms shooter and hunter.
 
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