PCP air rifle cost

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Fly

Member
May 20, 2018
386
114
Oklahoma, United States
I often wonder about the high cost of pcp air rifles as compared to powder loaders. I must think it would come down to supply & demand. Don,t take me wrong as of the

Last few years there have been some entrey level rifles that are very reasonable. But over all when you compare apple to oranges I just can,t see why a $800 or more 

Air rifle cost justification comes from. You can buy a very nice hunting rifle for $500 or a shot gun. It must be supply & demand.

Fly🤔 


 
I think some of the guns cost a lot of money to make. I listened to Tom Costan of American Air Arms, he said the rifle was so expensive to make he didn’t think he could sell them. Also some of the guns have very nicely finished steel that was machined superbly and rides around in beautiful walnut. You won’t get a powder burner with those features for 500 bones. To me the biggest determining factor is guys will pay 1,000s of dollars to have the new toy, because we’re a super impulsive society that has to have the coolest gadget right now! At the end of the day everything’s value is only what someone will pay for it. Atleast that’s where my brain goes when I ponder your question.

Beau
 
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Consider the cost per unit sold for development and design? The small market for Airguns, incall it a boutique luxury, vs. the market for powder guns. The marlin 60 and Ruger 10/22 have sold around 41 million copies. The latest FX gun might sell 5000 copies, and they are competing against all the other apple iguns, I mean FX guns that have come to market in the last 5 years. 
 
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My best air rifle is more accurate than any powder gun I have ever personally seen or used. It's also highly adjustable, refined, comfortable to carry and use. Quiet and cheap to operate. It's got a lot going for it. The price tag was easily justifiable for me, and having it in my hands, it's plain to see and feel where every penny went. 

Mine is a Mk1 crown continuum. I cannot see me ever replacing, selling, or updating it. No amount of modification or updates would warrant this. For what it does and can do, it is very close to perfect in my mind. 50fpe in 500mm .22, or as low as 15fpe in 380mm .22. 30 cal @ 92fpe 600mm
 
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Compared to metallic cartridge rifles, PCP air rifles are much more complex in design, and require more parts and more labor to assemble. In a custom bolt action rifle, there is some precision machine work involved in clambering and fitting the barrel, the bolt face needs to be square to the breech, and the lugs properly surfaced. That's about it folks, a few big pieces compared to a plethora of little, fragile pieces. When I think of all the valves, O rings, regulator, and the general weak barrel mounting systems, I'm surprised that my air rifles will shoot 100 times without some kind of glitch (and often they don't!). Most air rifle shooters can probably not imagine buying a rifle and shooting it thousands of times, over many years, with hard handling, and not having a single service issue. So, we pay more for a comparatively more problem-prone rifle, knowing that maintenance will be a constant issue. But, it's fun. I guess it's called a hobby.
 
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they know most people are pinched by ammo AND a place to shoot and a noise consideration .. its worth alittle more to me anyway to be able to shoot 'effectively' in my yard at will .. i draw the line at midrange though ..high end you got to really be into airguns or want bragging rights to spend that much, they wont be more effective for MY purpose anyway, likely less effective, id tend to be more careful etc with a frickin 5 grand setup haha .. seriously ..
 
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Although most of us don't like the bite airguns take from our wallets I TOTALLY understand why they cost more than PB's. There's A LOT more going on technologically with an airgun to make it accurate compared to a PB. Just think of the technology jump between a slingshot compared to a PB rifle. For me, it's the same between a firearm rifle & a GOOD airgun. 
 
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Compared to metallic cartridge rifles, PCP air rifles are much more complex in design, and require more parts and more labor to assemble. In a custom bolt action rifle, there is some precision machine work involved in clambering and fitting the barrel, the bolt face needs to be square to the breech, and the lugs properly surfaced. That's about it folks, a few big pieces compared to a plethora of little, fragile pieces. When I think of all the valves, O rings, regulator, and the general weak barrel mounting systems, I'm surprised that my air rifles will shoot 100 times without some kind of glitch (and often they don't!). Most air rifle shooters can probably not imagine buying a rifle and shooting it thousands of times, over many years, with hard handling, and not having a single service issue. So, we pay more for a comparatively more problem-prone rifle, knowing that maintenance will be a constant issue. But, it's fun. I guess it's called a hobby.
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agreed

also, like pcp, pbs can have a big range in msrp. sure my pcp might cost 2k, but my long range pb is over 4k.
 
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You guys bring some very good points. Some I do not totally agree with but don,t totally disagree either. The one pcp that i,m amazed with is air venture. I was on my 

Back porch this morning shooting it. It maybe my favorite pcp. I got to thinking about this topic. If they can produce a air rifle with all the features & accuracy that rifle 

Has for $300 than others can also. Aea has produced some really fine rifles also for a great price. But again we are talking Chinese made guns. I know Benjamin & Airforce 

Being made in USA have there hands tied trying to compete with labor cost being higher. I also have a Hatsan flash that is what brought me into the pcp market that is 

Also a great entry level rifle. Maybe as the pcp market gets more competive we will see the price come down some. Oh yes there will always be the elite air rifles, & that's 

Great. But for the ole Joe lunch bucket guys as i, we will have a place also.😊.

Fly😋 










 
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You do know that Air gun companies have Liability Ins, in case they get sued right ? Advertisement costs ? etc. so if they only sell 5000 copy's of said product thats only 5000 pieces to divide the cost of doing business into .  It is a hobby like Boating and fishing 

There...IS NO..."justification" !

You either do it because you like doing it, or you do not get into ANY expensive sport ! Stick with marbles, or popsicle stick projects .

Simple as that .

Mike


 
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The main reason is the size of the market as has already been stated. Five axis CNC machines are not cheap plus R&D, materials, labor, insurance, buildings, utilities etc. They aren’t cheap and most people think we are nuts for spending that kind of money for a BB gun. I know because 8 years ago, I was one of them. Fortunately, the more expensive ones seem to hold their value pretty well.
 
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You are trying to compare two totally different disciplines. I built powder burners and ammo for them for years. I’m very new to pcps but they have a place and a purpose that cannot be filled with a powder burner. No recoil, virtually no sound, cheap, wicked accurate and even here in rural PA where I could shoot my cf rifles I like the quiet. If I can get into a full up PCP with scope, pellets, compressor and minimal upgrades for around $1200 I’m happy. 
 
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Compared to metallic cartridge rifles, PCP air rifles are much more complex in design, and require more parts and more labor to assemble. In a custom bolt action rifle, there is some precision machine work involved in clambering and fitting the barrel, the bolt face needs to be square to the breech, and the lugs properly surfaced. That's about it folks, a few big pieces compared to a plethora of little, fragile pieces. When I think of all the valves, O rings, regulator, and the general weak barrel mounting systems, I'm surprised that my air rifles will shoot 100 times without some kind of glitch (and often they don't!). Most air rifle shooters can probably not imagine buying a rifle and shooting it thousands of times, over many years, with hard handling, and not having a single service issue. So, we pay more for a comparatively more problem-prone rifle, knowing that maintenance will be a constant issue. But, it's fun. I guess it's called a hobby.
Click to expand...

agreed

also, like pcp, pbs can have a big range in msrp. sure my pcp might cost 2k, but my long range pb is over 4k.
Click to expand...

Also sounds like OP is comparing a Remington 870 with an FX impact lol. Low end PCPs aren’t a lot more expensive than low end PBs. 

I think a lot of the sticker shock people experience with PCPs is because they expect them to be in the same ballpark as the red ryder BB gun they had as a kid. Nope!
 
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I shoot airguns for the backyard friendly aspect and trigger time without having to go to the range. Some airguns are complex and have very nice machining and finish some not so much. But no airgun can do what a Remington 700 can do from 10 meters to 1000 meters. So the best sub $1000 airgun will always have to compare to that standard. If we talk $3000 airguns they still can’t compare to $3000 PB competition guns. We choose airguns for many reasons but not for ultimate accuracy or versatility. 
 
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