PCP newbie

Hello,

I have a Diana 34 but I’ve been thinking about jumping into the PCP world for a few years now. At first I thought about getting a marauder to start. Seems like a decent entry level gun but here lately I’ve been thinking about just going all out and getting an FX impact or maverick. I know nothing about tuning or any of that. It’d mainly be for paper punching (at distance) and pest control (short distance). Money isn’t an issue but curious if I’d be getting in over my head with an FX. I’d like to get something in .25 or .30 cal. Any insight, suggestions, advice, or recommendations would be appreciated.
 
Hello,

I have a Diana 34 but I’ve been thinking about jumping into the PCP world for a few years now. At first I thought about getting a marauder to start. Seems like a decent entry level gun but here lately I’ve been thinking about just going all out and getting an FX impact or maverick. I know nothing about tuning or any of that. It’d mainly be for paper punching (at distance) and pest control (short distance). Money isn’t an issue but curious if I’d be getting in over my head with an FX. I’d like to get something in .25 or .30 cal. Any insight, suggestions, advice, or recommendations would be appreciated.
FX are high quality and accurate. I started with an FX Crown Continuum Mk2 in .25. Very easy to shoot accurately and any "tuning" is straight forward with the twist of a couple of knobs. Plenty of YouTube videos on it. Its ergonomics are traditional walnut and steel rifle. The Continuum comes with two barrels, easily switched (380mm and 700mm)

Beware when you say "money isn't an issue" because the "rabbit hole" has no bottom to it!

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The rabbit hole is only as deep as you are willing to dig. Just remember every gun starts at a different depth.
I started with a Daystate electronic gun and decided while it was super accurate, the electronics were not for me.
Next stop was the FX Maverick. Here I learned about the rabbit hole. Tune and tweak, change projectiles tweak and tune etc. It was all by choice. It was what I wanted to be doing and I learned to tune. Got my hear wrapped around the tuning process and understanding the what the tuning was to accomplish.
Sold that Maverick so I could get an M3. I was somewhat intimidated by the M3 with all the YouTube videos and people saying how they were having a hard time tuning the M3. “Too complicated” was the common lament.
Having cut my teeth on the Maverick the M3 was not an issue. The only real difference is the valve knob. Of course the Maverick’s tuning controls are different but they do the same thing.
I like the M3 a bit more than the Maverick. Just a more pleasant shot cycle and the tuning can be a bit more precise even though at 50 yards the M3 will not out shoot the Maverick. The M3 is a slug gun and the Maverick is a 25 cal pellet shooter.
If you like to tinker the M3 is a gun that will provide an endless supply of experiments. I have mine set up shooting one particular slug and have not changed it since I landed on the combination. Just cuz you can mess with it does not mean you have to.
 
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Do you like to shoot, or do you like to tinker?
Do you want to shoot pellets or slugs?
FX makes some of the finest air guns, and not all models require tinkering.
The FX Crown, Maverick and Dreamline are great examples.
Unless your planning on shooting specific weight, heavy slugs, then they should serve you very well!
I don’t mind tinkering but I definitely prefer shooting. Most likely I’ll be shooting pellets. Sounds like a maverick may be the perfect route.
 
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FX are high quality and accurate. I started with an FX Crown Continuum Mk2 in .25. Very easy to shoot accurately and any "tuning" is straight forward with the twist of a couple of knobs. Plenty of YouTube videos on it. Its ergonomics are traditional walnut and steel rifle. The Continuum comes with two barrels, easily switched (380mm and 700mm)

Beware when you say "money isn't an issue" because the "rabbit hole" has no bottom to it!

View attachment 432712
lol. I’m not made of money or anything like that. I’m just aware it’s an investment and more than just the gun is going to be required.
 
The rabbit hole is only as deep as you are willing to dig. Just remember every gun starts at a different depth.
I started with a Daystate electronic gun and decided while it was super accurate, the electronics were not for me.
Next stop was the FX Maverick. Here I learned about the rabbit hole. Tune and tweak, change projectiles tweak and tune etc. It was all by choice. It was what I wanted to be doing and I learned to tune. Got my hear wrapped around the tuning process and understanding the what the tuning was to accomplish.
Sold that Maverick so I could get an M3. I was somewhat intimidated by the M3 with all the YouTube videos and people saying how they were having a hard time tuning the M3. “Too complicated” was the common lament.
Having cut my teeth on the Maverick the M3 was not an issue. The only real difference is the valve knob. Of course the Maverick’s tuning controls are different but they do the same thing.
I like the M3 a bit more than the Maverick. Just a more pleasant shot cycle and the tuning can be a bit more precise even though at 50 yards the M3 will not out shoot the Maverick. The M3 is a slug gun and the Maverick is a 25 cal pellet shooter.
If you like to tinker the M3 is a gun that will provide an endless supply of experiments. I have mine set up shooting one particular slug and have not changed it since I landed on the combination. Just cuz you can mess with it does not mean you have to.
Great info. Thanks!!!
 
FX are high quality and accurate. I started with an FX Crown Continuum Mk2 in .25. Very easy to shoot accurately and any "tuning" is straight forward with the twist of a couple of knobs. Plenty of YouTube videos on it. Its ergonomics are traditional walnut and steel rifle. The Continuum comes with two barrels, easily switched (380mm and 700mm)

Beware when you say "money isn't an issue" because the "rabbit hole" has no bottom to it!

View attachment 432712
Looks like a nice piece of gear. I’ll look more into those. Thanks!!!
 
I vote for Impact and .25 cal. Get the shortest one they make and use JSB Heavies. You will learn your gun well as you tune it. That goes a long way toward confidence in where the shot will go. Be Well Brothers, Bandito.
If you don’t mind me asking why the shortest and why .25 over .30? Most suggestions seem to favor .25 and that has me curious. Thanks!
 
I will repeat the advice I always give.
1) Do yourself a favor and get a rock solid first PCP. #1 on that list for me is a Daystate Huntsman. The Brocock Sniper,Commander, Concept.. FX Royale. AGT
2) Make your second PCP something that can be tuned.

When your F1 style rifle is down for tuning, you know you can go grab that Huntsman and it will be ready to go.

I started with a Royale, GREAT rifle. Got out of the joint and came back and bought a Hatsan and wasn’t happy. Had a Cricket Tac 2 60 25 cal, but it was too powerful for my use. The Kalibr was a great shooter. Sold that and bought a FX Maverick. I spent more time tinkering and trying to fix its POI shifts than having fun shooting. Sold that. Bought a Revere Safari and love it. Also bought a P35 25 cal to tinker with. I’m in airgun heaven right now with this lineup and a BRK Concept Lite XR 22 on the way. I’m a target shooter and pest control guy. My Revere is always on target when I take it out of the case, the Maverick was not. Simple works better for me.
 
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I will repeat the advice I always give.
1) Do yourself a favor and get a rock solid first PCP. #1 on that list for me is a Daystate Huntsman. The Brocock Sniper,Commander, Concept.. FX Royale. AGT
2) Make your second PCP something that can be tuned.

When your F1 style rifle is down for tuning, you know you can go grab that Huntsman and it will be ready to go.

I started with a Royale, GREAT rifle. Got out of the joint and came back and bought a Hatsan and wasn’t happy. Had a Cricket Tac 2 60 25 cal, but it was too powerful for my use. The Kalibr was a great shooter. Sold that and bought a FX Maverick. I spent more time tinkering and trying to fix its POI shifts than having fun shooting. Sold that. Bought a Revere Safari and love it. Also bought a P35 25 cal to tinker with. I’m in airgun heaven right now with this lineup and a BRK Concept Lite XR 22 on the way. I’m a target shooter and pest control guy. My Revere is always on target when I take it out of the case, the Maverick was not. Simple works better for me.
I appreciate your perspective. I’ve had a few people say exactly what you said and a few say the whole tuning thing isn’t that bad or difficult. Ugh. Guess I need to do some more research. Thank you.
 
I appreciate your perspective. I’ve had a few people say exactly what you said and a few say the whole tuning thing isn’t that bad or difficult. Ugh. Guess I need to do some more research. Thank you.
The tuning isn’t bad at all, until you want to try different things. If you set it for one projectile and quit, you’ll be ok. But people often buy the FX platforms because they want to try different things. As soon as you start doing that, switching around stuff on a regular basis, it will be a time suck. I don’t tell people not to buy rifles like that, I just urge them to have a solid rifle in the collection that’s always ready to go.

If you want to set it and forget it, then you should really look at other rifles that perform similarly. AGT Vulcan and Uragan are solid performers with slugs and pellets. You’ll get a petter trigger in my opinion going to a different platform. As a target shooter, a trigger is very important to me.

My only goal is to share my experience and help a new person have an enjoyable experience with the hobby.
 
Hello,

I have a Diana 34 but I’ve been thinking about jumping into the PCP world for a few years now. At first I thought about getting a marauder to start. Seems like a decent entry level gun but here lately I’ve been thinking about just going all out and getting an FX impact or maverick. I know nothing about tuning or any of that. It’d mainly be for paper punching (at distance) and pest control (short distance). Money isn’t an issue but curious if I’d be getting in over my head with an FX. I’d like to get something in .25 or .30 cal. Any insight, suggestions, advice, or recommendations would be appreciated.
I've had good luck with my Airforce Talon
 
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Hello,

I have a Diana 34 but I’ve been thinking about jumping into the PCP world for a few years now. At first I thought about getting a marauder to start. Seems like a decent entry level gun but here lately I’ve been thinking about just going all out and getting an FX impact or maverick. I know nothing about tuning or any of that. It’d mainly be for paper punching (at distance) and pest control (short distance). Money isn’t an issue but curious if I’d be getting in over my head with an FX. I’d like to get something in .25 or .30 cal. Any insight, suggestions, advice, or recommendations would be appreciated.
if you want to dip your toes into PCP and not want to break the bank i'd recommend one of new Air Venturi Avenge-X's. Its a whole lot of gun for the price.
if you are 100% sure you wanna do PCP get a FX Impact you can literally do anything with that rifle when it comes to target shooting or hunting
 
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if you want to dip your toes into PCP and not want to break the bank i'd recommend one of new Air Venturi Avenge-X's. Its a whole lot of gun for the price.
if you are 100% sure you wanna do PCP get a FX Impact you can literally do anything with that rifle when it comes to target shooting or hunting
I’ve heard good things about the avenger x. Why an impact over the maverick?
 
He said anything. Maverick not good for long range. Strikezone is not misleading you. When I started with PCP, I started at the low end and that brings disappointment and frustration. Uboob is a great place to start. Figure out what you want to do with it as well as where you want to go. Good luck!
Thanks for the response. Didn’t think he was misleading me. I’m new to PCP. I actually haven’t even pulled the trigger on one yet. I didn’t realize the maverick isn’t good for long range. Why isn’t it not good for long ranges? If I got one it’d be the sniper version with the longer barrel. Longer ranges is definitely something I’m interested in. Apologies if these are dumb questions.