I'm new to the hobby. Is this the beginning of the Golden Age for air guns, or has it been around for a while? Sure seems like it's a good (expensive) time to be an airgun enthusiast.
The Golden Age of air guns?
- Thread starter kwaping
- Start date
It depends who you ask. PCPs are getting more powerful, versatile, smaller/lighter, and overall more reliable than they ever have been. At the same time, there seems to be a bit of a drop off in innovation; the market is flooded with guns that look the same (tacticool AR doppelgängers) and essentially run on variations of the same system (there are a few hammerless semi autos and they’re great, and a few over-barrel reservoir options, which is more-or-less an aesthetic choice—and that’s about it for the cutting edge of PCP tech). The GK1 was the last really exciting, game-changing airgun in my opinion, and it’s been around now for almost 4 years.
So definitely a golden age for quality, if not so much a golden age for innovation.
So definitely a golden age for quality, if not so much a golden age for innovation.
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I'd say it's a golden time to be into airguns. 
There's a huge variety of airguns available for all kinds of applications, tastes and budgets. Much of the past couple of years of hectic developments has settled into reliable, feature-rich products from many manufacturers.
There's all kinds of accessories available and the choice of pellets and slugs has never been better.
There's a huge variety of airguns available for all kinds of applications, tastes and budgets. Much of the past couple of years of hectic developments has settled into reliable, feature-rich products from many manufacturers.
There's all kinds of accessories available and the choice of pellets and slugs has never been better.
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More GoldI'd say it's a golden time to be into airguns.
There's a huge variety of airguns available for all kinds of applications, tastes and budgets. Much of the past couple of years of hectic developments has settled into reliable, feature-rich products from many manufacturers.
There's all kinds of accessories available and the choice of pellets and slugs has never been better.
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I still think FX Royale platform with its Original Smooth Twist barrels for pellet accuracy are still relevant today but not actively marketed. It was & still is (imho) a great innovation. I guess it's the golden age in the aspect of choices & options for different disciplines being greater than ever before. Guess we'll never really know until the next truly game changing innovation shows up.
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Maybe a mini golden age.
I'd be more inclined to call it a golden age if there was some major improvements in quality and affordability of compressors. That would allow a lot more people to enter the market, and spur more development. The market for PCPs is handicapped by there just not being a tonne of new buyers.
I'd be more inclined to call it a golden age if there was some major improvements in quality and affordability of compressors. That would allow a lot more people to enter the market, and spur more development. The market for PCPs is handicapped by there just not being a tonne of new buyers.
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Started with an amzon hand pump now have 3 perfectly working compressors. The expensive one to me was a Gxcs4i for $580. It will do whatever I want but do it slow. For $360 which I consider cheap for what it is I got a Tuxing TX edm042.
That was bought because I was curious only. I’m impressed by the speed but the operating temperature goes up quick.
Im good with the quality and the availability of parts should I need. I’m just saying there’s affordable options.
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We won't know until it ends, but things are pretty good at the moment. And for all who seem to have forgotten, let me remind you all that before the internet, there was no pool of knowledge readily available and to most it was impossible to figure out all of the equipment and HPA stuff and the only compressors available were the diving compressors.
With the introduction of compressors like the Yong Heng, forums on the web for know how, and Price Point PCPs, the market has exploded for everyone and not just the early adopters. Now, new people get into the sport and complain about the YH and why things aren't better, when originally we saw them as our ticket in, and were happy for them. Things have gotten way better. In 2024 a lady won a 3 card match with an Avenge X pcp with a stock barrel against all comers, which were the big boys, Daystate, FX and RAW. That would have been inconceivable just a few years ago. This is certainly a Golden Age enjoy it while it lasts.
With the introduction of compressors like the Yong Heng, forums on the web for know how, and Price Point PCPs, the market has exploded for everyone and not just the early adopters. Now, new people get into the sport and complain about the YH and why things aren't better, when originally we saw them as our ticket in, and were happy for them. Things have gotten way better. In 2024 a lady won a 3 card match with an Avenge X pcp with a stock barrel against all comers, which were the big boys, Daystate, FX and RAW. That would have been inconceivable just a few years ago. This is certainly a Golden Age enjoy it while it lasts.
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Indeed! I look forward every day to shooting one of my rifles for grouping on paper, to get in the 'zone'...breathing, focus, and pull through...good for the mind, soul, and body.
I'm a big small bore enthusiast, but to take the powder burners to the range is a hassle a lot of days when all I have to do with my air guns is set up range in my back yard, sit on the porch and feel the peace, stability and happiness of making those rat holes come true.
Just as accurate as some of my high end powder burners and less expensive to shoot
Life is good!
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