What features do you want to see in your ideal PCP gun?

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zebra

Member
Sep 29, 2015
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New York
It's very easy for us to play armchair quarterback and say what we like and don't like about an air gun after it has been released - when it is too late for a manufacturer to do anything about it. I don't know if manufacturers read forums like this (they should) but let's pretend they do. What features would you ask them to add to improve the existing air gun designs?

Who knows, maybe one of them will read this and say "ooh, that's a good idea, Tony, come and read this forum, they have some great ideas for our new air rifle", or something to that effect anyway. 

A few ideas I was thinking about are:

- higher capacity mags that hold 50+ pellets. Loading tiny little pellets into miniature mags is a fuss and kinda annoying in the field. I don't want to reload until I need to refill the air cylinder. If Air Ordnace can produce functional 100 round drum mags on their first air gun, why not our favorite pcp brands?

- Markings on power adjusters in fpe with JSB pellets so I can set the power without a chronograph - that would be far more useful than "high, medium and low" or nothing at all

- Electric push-button cocking on electric guns. If a gun has an electric mouse click trigger, why do I have to put up with a manual non-ergonomic side lever? A conveniently placed cocking button on the forearm or near the trigger would be perfect. It would make guns like the Pulsar become totally awesome

- The phasing out of all thin soft metal components from air gun manufacturing. I want my favorite guns to last for years so moving parts and anything that takes stress needs to be properly hardened. Oh and no more plastic threaded components either. Kalibrgun, I'm talking to you!

- More choice in configurations. Companies release the same gun in different dresses. I don't want to buy the same gun twice so why not sell me my own dresses....um...fine I admit it... I want to buy dresses! I want to be able to switch from rifle to bullpup, carbine to full length, tactical to traditional all with easily available aftermarket parts from the manufacturer.

What do you guys want to see from airgun Santa? I know you've all been thinking about it.
 
"I would like" Taipan to offer some additional features and options for my Mutant: a nice wooden or synthetic stock, a forward lever I think would be very handy or even a charging bolt, and of course I would love to have them in all calibers like 20fpe .177, 30fpe .22, 50fpe .25 and 80fpe .30. a few more mag's wouldn't hurt also. Otherwise it is the ideal airgun for me.

MOD EDIT: REMOVED ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, PLEASE STICK TO THE QUESTION IN THE OP.
 
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Flush fit totally encase all mags in the action.
Treat the interior of bottles, tubes and passages so moisture is far less a problem .
If you insist on keeping the goofy corn ball side lever at least recess it so when closed
every limb and vine in the woods wont snag it.
Make an extendable butt plate ( at least an option) on all bullpups
Use only high quality materials for build, so my 2000 dollar gun don't look like a collaboration
between Nasa and fisher price.
 
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This is what I'm talking about. I want all those things too. Good ideas!

The only thing I would say about adjustable butt-plates is that if they are going to be used on a hunting rifle, I would prefer it if they designed a mechanism that didn't add 3lb like the exiting adjustable stocks I have. The benefit shouldn't be outweighed by the compromise. 

I transfered an adjustable butt-plate / recoil pad from an old stock to a carbon fiber one I made for an AT44. Just the mechanism was over 2lb and it added over 3lb all in. It's those enormous metal screws that cause the issue.

I designed a simpler mechanism to achieve an adjustable length of pull. I used an aluminum bar clamp attached to the underside of the chassis and the recoil pad was then attached to a carbon fiber tube stock. It could be extended back and forward by loosening the bar clamp screws. It weighed less than 1/2lb. I'm sure FX, Daystate and Kalibrgun could design a better one with their skills.

Fuznut, what was you thinking for encasing the mags in the action? I can think of several benefits including: it not interfering with scope placement. Pellets wouldn't need to be squeezed as hard to stop them falling out the mag. Air guns with less exposed breaches seem to be quieter. Is that what you were thinking or something else?

 
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Orderable in Grades of Wood stock. If you are willing to pay a bit more you can get a highly figured wood stock. Want to save a bit? Order the straight grain option.
​Larger air tanks for more shots per fill. For a hunter this would be nice, especially for the larger calibers.
For Gosh sake, get rid of the dove-tail mounts.
​For single shots, make the breech more accessible.
​Improved factory moderators optionally available for all models. Especially large calibers.
Easy mount options for bipods.
 
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"addertooth"Orderable in Grades of Wood stock. If you are willing to pay a bit more you can get a highly figured wood stock. Want to save a bit? Order the straight grain option.
​Larger air tanks for more shots per fill. For a hunter this would be nice, especially for the larger calibers.
For Gosh sake, get rid of the dove-tail mounts.
​For single shots, make the breech more accessible.
​Improved factory moderators optionally available for all models. Especially large calibers.
Easy mount options for bipods.
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Good point on the factory moderators. My favorite air guns are the quietest ones. I tend to reach for them above all the others regardless of any other features. It's as important as accuracy to me. A loud airgun is literally useless where I live and I think that is true for a majority of people. It's one of the main reasons why people use air guns.

Too many air guns have shrouds that are far too thin for the amount of energy they put out. The Taipan Mutant is a shining example of how it should be done. They use the right diameter tube which makes it super quiet without making it too long. I never have to worry about the neighbors. 

You can always add aftermarket LDCs but I don't want to. They just make air guns longer, heavier and more expensive. I want the manufacturer to use wider tubes so they arrive quiet without me having to add anything. 

25 cal shrouds need to be twice as wide as the 22 shrouds, not just longer and the current 22 shrouds need to be twice as wide as they are currently (in most cases). 

I'm sure many of us can name a number of airguns they have avoided buying because they were too loud. I can definitely think of some which I like and would have bought if they were quiet. 

The ideal airgun is not just quiet enough to use without hearing protection. It's quiet enough that I can use it in my garden and people walking past in the street can't hear anything at all. 
 
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"addertooth"
​For single shots, make the breech more accessible.




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This would be a good thing. I had three of FILARMS (Philippine) PCPs, all three custom-made. Each had a flip to the side breech/pellet loading port in the rear. Makes it a breeze to clean the barrel.

Unfortunately, I was stupid enough to sell them back in 2010 when I had to move for work to high-power airgun unfriendly Canada.

This is the .177cal MK2 model (this is the former FILARMS flagship model) customized with 24" floated barrel, full shroud, a very very effective moderator built in, pressure gage, adjustable trigger, screw on tank with charger at the end as well. Liked JSB heavies and CPs. Adjusted to 900fps, but can shoot over 1040 fps, and possibly more. Got about 45-50 good shots, and up to 60 overall.





This was a small take-down model, never got to shoot it. I think it was .22.






And this was a very light weight Caiman JR that again I regret I sold.
Filarms Caiman JR PCP .177cal (short length and about 5.5 lbs) 
- unique piece 
- new, never shot 
- free floating and shrouded barrel with built in moderator 
- removable tank (screws out), but also has a charging port at the end 
- 2 extra screw on tanks (without charging hole, it screws on pump hose adapter) 
- charging adapter that came with rifle 
- end of grip has adjustment screw for hammer spring and another adjustment screw in trigger housing (not sure what is it for) 
- pellet loading port flips to the side (also makes it easy to clean the rifle) 
- up to 3500psi 
This photo was posted by the new owner.











 
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"fe7565"
"addertooth"
​For single shots, make the breech more accessible.



Click to expand...
This would be a good thing. I had three of FILARMS (Philippine) PCPs, all three custom-made. Each had a flip to the side breech/pellet loading port in the rear. 

Unfortunately, I was stupid enough to sell them back in 2010 when I had to move for work to high-power airgun unfriendly Canada.

This is the .177cal MK2 model (this is the former FILARMS flagship model) customized with 24" floated barrel, full shroud, a very very effective moderator built in, pressure gage, adjustable trigger, screw on tank with charger at the end as well. Liked JSB heavies and CPs. Adjusted to 900fps, but can shoot over 1040 fps, and possibly more. Got about 45-50 good shots, and up to 60 overall.





This was a small take-down model, never got to shoot it. I think it was .22.






And this was a very light weight Caiman JR that again I regret I sold.
Filarms Caiman JR PCP .177cal (short length and about 5.5 lbs) 
- unique piece 
- new, never shot 
- free floating and shrouded barrel with built in moderator 
- removable tank (screws out), but also has a charging port at the end 
- 2 extra screw on tanks (without charging hole, it screws on pump hose adapter) 
- charging adapter that came with rifle 
- end of grip has adjustment screw for hammer spring and another adjustment screw in trigger housing (not sure what is it for) 
- pellet loading port flips to the side (also makes it easy to clean the rifle) 
- up to 3500psi 
This photo was posted by the new owner.











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That looks like Kamagong wood on that stock. I can't believe you sold it. It's literally impossible to buy it in this part of the world. I love that wood.
 
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"The_one"You know what I would like........a Web searchable exploded parts diagram with corresponding pricelist and direct check out with paypal or credit card.

Example: part#0303a 1.5mm X 10mm Buna 70 o-ring. 2 req'd



Wouldn't that be sumpin.......
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Good call. It would make me feel much better about buying an air gun if I could order replacement parts online easily. 

I don't want to call and speak to anybody during office hours. I definitely don't want to fill in any silly online form and wait for somebody to get back to me. I don't even want to email the service email address and get someone replying three days later asking for my serial number instead of telling me how much the new part will cost (why do they need my serial number to sell me a part???). 

I just want to go to their website, click on the part which is labelled with something helpful and descriptive (instead of "A7743Ab77" written over a black and white parts diagram with no clear view of exactly which part it refers to) and then pay via PayPal. 

I would like the list of available parts to be 100% comprehensive. Not just O rings or small internal parts. If I need a new stock, barrel or air cylinder, I want that to be available too. 

The closest I have seen to this is RAW but their parts list is not comprehensive as only small parts are available in their web store. 

 
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"zebra"
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That looks like Kamagong wood on that stock. I can't believe you sold it. It's literally impossible to buy it in this part of the world. I love that wood.
Click to expand...
I was young and foolish :) These were my first PCPs, had a RWs 54 AirKing at that time. I sold them here in the US for what I paid for them there. Easily worth double IMHO.

The Caiman JR had two extra air tubes too..which should be a good option for the FX Impact and others with valved air tanks...Ted also mentioned that in his video.
 
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Anschutz type rail on the fore-end.
Adjustable butt plate, and comb.
Designed with 4 position shooting in mind---Standing, Kneeling, Sitting, and Prone.
Generous loading port for single loading, and uses magazines (at least 8 shots).
Magazines need to be quickly changed with the shooting hand.
Relatively inexpensive magazines---I want to have at least five to come with the gun on purchase.
Partial loading of magazines allowable---that is say two or five rounds may be loaded with no complicated loading procedures.
Provisions for aperture front sights and rear sights as well as scope mounting.
Scopes should allow for significant forward mounting---I shoot prone a lot and need scopes mounted forward.
Sub minute precision out-of-the-box with JSB heavy pellets.
Some velocity adjustment, with ~820 ft/s being the middle range with above pellets.
Both .177 and .25 calibers need to be offered. Bonus if barrels can be swapped and power adjusted for different calibers.
 
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"fe7565"
"zebra"
Click to expand...
That looks like Kamagong wood on that stock. I can't believe you sold it. It's literally impossible to buy it in this part of the world. I love that wood.
Click to expand...
I was young and foolish :) These were my first PCPs, had a RWs 54 AirKing at that time. I sold them here in the US for what I paid for them there. Easily worth double IMHO.

The Caiman JR had two extra air tubes too..which should be a good option for the FX Impact and others with valved air tanks...Ted also mentioned that in his video.
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Double? Try 5x just for the stock. Kamagong is rare and expensive. It may as well have been a live Dodo. It is impossible to buy a kamagong stock anywhere in North America. I want one so bad....
 
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"zebra"
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Double? Try 5x just for the stock. Kamagong is rare and expensive. It may as well have been a live Dodo. It is impossible to buy a kamagong stock anywhere in North America. I want one so bad....
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I know little about wood, hope it wasn't that rare wood. Now I feel even worse for selling it :( I had several ebony wood carvings (you mentioned it in another thread) they are nice but very heavy. Not sure if good for rifle stock. The ebony carvings I had were at least twice as heavy as the other wood carvings they were selling which were maybe mahogany or teak. But ebony did not crack like the other wood. I found a couple of photos that the new owner posted online. The middle one was not mine. By the way the cheek rest and butt are not adjustable, only for the show as it was originally configured.





 
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I like light weight, compact rifles. I don't like bottles (ugly) and would be perfectly satisfied with only 10 shots per fill, with 20 shots being ideal. I prefer nice wood stocks, although an option to buy a rifle with a synthetic stock and a professionally camo wrapped job using the camo pattern I choose when purchasing would be cool. Each rifle should come with a minimum of 2 magazines. I will only purchase quiet rifles, and it should be quiet enough not to disturb birds and squirrels in the area I am shooting. I really like the Taipan Mutant, and would buy one if the stock design was not so ugly, and also came in nice wood. Although, with bullpups, a more forward cocking lever is really nice. I really like the design of the Brocock Compatto; it's nice and compact, but still looks more like a traditional rifle. I probably would have bought one instead of the Daystate Regal XL if it had come in a nice wood stock (and maybe with a less tactical design to it).
I don't like to fiddle around with settings or changing parts; I just want a rifle that is accurate, quiet, light weight, and compact.
 
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Well accuracy above all else, Simple, I mean simple to work on and simple design, A changeable power seating , Quiet and no PING,
I like synthetic stocks as I am a shooter and I do not like so pretty stocks you hate to get them out to shoot,
People that say the Mutant is ugly , DO NOT OWN ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just the way they shoot and handle makes them pretty.
Oh light weight, under 5 LBS is good for me.
seem all my post have been delegated lately, Maybe this one will make it, LOL
Mike
 
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"fe7565"
"zebra"
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Double? Try 5x just for the stock. Kamagong is rare and expensive. It may as well have been a live Dodo. It is impossible to buy a kamagong stock anywhere in North America. I want one so bad....
Click to expand...
I know little about wood, hope it wasn't that rare wood. Now I feel even worse for selling it :( I had several ebony wood carvings (you mentioned it in another thread) they are nice but very heavy. Not sure if good for rifle stock. The ebony carvings I had were at least twice as heavy as the other wood carvings they were selling which were maybe mahogany or teak. But ebony did not crack like the other wood. I found a couple of photos that the new owner posted online. The middle one was not mine. By the way the cheek rest and butt are not adjustable, only for the show as it was originally configured.





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I can't tell in that light. It looks different in those pics. I know that Ernest posted a pic of that gun and it did have a kamagong stock but I guess it is an option you can choose or not.

Either way, those guns are awesome. It would be too expensive to make them like that here unfortunately.

You just triggered a memory. Did you post about that gun when you first bought it on another forum? The thread I read described the buying experience and I remember thinking "I wish we could buy guns like that here". 

Kamagong (Philippine ebony ironwood) is one of the strongest (if not the actual strongest) woods in the world. Since they banned it when it became and endangered species, it is kinda like ivory or white rhino horn these days. 

While it would do no good to add kamagong stocks to my wish list, there is something else they do over there which I would love here and that is making it truly custom. I really like the idea that everyone can order it exactly how they want it. There is very little that we can order here that is actually custom. We have "made to order" but that benefits the manufacturer more than us. 

Just look at how different all of our wants and needs are on this thread. That little Philipine garage shop is one of the only airgun manufacturers on earth that could make every one of us happy. 
 
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