Thats a great point that really never came to mind BUT is extremely valid when I did buy my frost PCP I also bought the air tank to use as my air source being filled at the local paint ball store
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Umarex Whats your Favorite Affordable PCP Airgun
- Thread starter Squirrel hunter
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Like so many other things this is all relative.
If you compare the cost of what I have invested in three PCPs, optics, support equipment, pellets and slugs that I have bought, then compare it to three of my favorite conventional firearms I own and enough ammo to equal what I have shot over the past 4 years, my PCPs would seem quite affordable by comparison.
No, I never shot my conventional firearms as much as my PCPs, but that kind of factors into this also.
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Yes, affordability is relative, but you cannot ignore the numbers. HPA is by far the most expensive element of the PCP air gun hobby. If you doubt this statement, you have not done the math. it is not just the compressor. You need to consider the the tanks, bottles, valves whips, fittings, adapters travel time, expended fuel in chasing air. It is not even a drag race. No matter how you elect to resolve your HPA requirement, it is still the most expensive element of this hobby.
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I am not disputing that the initial cost is high, but I look at the compressor and other support equipment the same way I do the tools of my trade. Long term investments.
With that in mind, if you do the math, the cost of the guns, support equipment, and 15 to 20,000 pellets and slugs fired, each year over the past 4 years then the cost is much more reasonable.
I don't factor in travel time and fuel because unlike my other firearms, I just walk out my back door to shoot.
Now run the same numbers on just the guns, cleaning supplies and a mix of 9mm, 10mm, & .223 ammo in the same quatities as the pellets and slugs I have bought since falling into the PCP rabbit hole without HPA equipment, the costs of shooting my air guns is much more reasonable.
So in my case, my PCPs are a quite affordable way to keep my shooting skills up to speed.
For those that a tin of pellets can last weeks or months, PCPs may be less of a desireable option.
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I have 6 pcps so far and 5 of them cost less than $500 (each). My favorites are the 3 P35s (essentially the same as a Stoeger bullshark). They are light (5 lbs), powerful, and accurate. I shot my first 200 on the 30 yard challenge with my P35-22.
I do not agree that the air is the most expensive part of the hobby. My Yong Heng, even with extras, was about the same as an inexpensive PCP. My Scott tank was only about $100. I bought a somewhat expensive fill set which was about 200. It doesn't add up to what I spent on the one higher priced PCP, let alone what I spent on all 6.
I do not agree that the air is the most expensive part of the hobby. My Yong Heng, even with extras, was about the same as an inexpensive PCP. My Scott tank was only about $100. I bought a somewhat expensive fill set which was about 200. It doesn't add up to what I spent on the one higher priced PCP, let alone what I spent on all 6.
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I am not disputing that the initial cost is high, but I look at the compressor and other support equipment the same way I do the tools of my tradethen if you do the math, the cost of the guns, support equipment, and ammo. over 4-5 years and 25-30,000 pellets and slugs fired, then the cost is much more reasonable.
Now run the same numbers on just the guns, cleaning supplies and a mix of 9mm, 10mm, & .223 ammo in the same quatities as the pellets and slugs I have bought since falling into the PCP rabbit hole.
Again, it is relative. Affordable to you might be totally different that what it is to me.
For me, it is as stated above, the long term cost to me, and the usage I get from an item over it's effective life.
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IDK... when I think "affordable" when it comes to PCP shooting I think the cost of day to day shooting. Virtually anything hobby/sport has the initial cost to get into. That said, the affordability now comes down to ammo costs. (of course there is maintenance and repairs) There ain't no disputing the fact that airgun ammo is a heck of alot cheaper than PB shooting when done at the same rate. Also, if you don't live where you can shoot PB on your property, you have travel and range costs in most cases.
Next level.... the "rabbit hole effect". Nothing I have ever done in my life has drawn me deeper into a rabbit hole than airgunning. Over the 10+ years of airgunning I have undoubtedly spent more money than the cost of a new car. I have as many as 100 airguns of all types, shapes and sizes, 5 compressors, 4 tanks and casting equipment for 2 calibers. And we may as well add accessories such as mags, scopes, rests and anything else airgun related.
But nothing gives me more personal satisfaction then the time I spend with all things airgun.
(Disclaimer alert: Time spent with wife excluded)
Next level.... the "rabbit hole effect". Nothing I have ever done in my life has drawn me deeper into a rabbit hole than airgunning. Over the 10+ years of airgunning I have undoubtedly spent more money than the cost of a new car. I have as many as 100 airguns of all types, shapes and sizes, 5 compressors, 4 tanks and casting equipment for 2 calibers. And we may as well add accessories such as mags, scopes, rests and anything else airgun related.
But nothing gives me more personal satisfaction then the time I spend with all things airgun.
(Disclaimer alert: Time spent with wife excluded)
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I'd say the air is the cheapest part of my PCP set up. I power 3 different guns with a single, lonely little hand pump I picked up for $75. My favorite "affordable" gun is my Marauder. Almost 11 years old, she is. Still kickin butt!
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Nice! More on the sights please. And that bottle cap, l have an extra cap lifter if you need one.
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I run my PCP with a hand pump only and it was maybe 15% of the overall setup cost. A PCP rifle will still shoot fine even without a compressor/buddy bottle/scuba tank/etc. From my perspective those items are non-essential luxuries and yeah, luxuries will add to the cost.
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I envy you folks with the wherewithal to handpump. I own 2 of them and both have only been used to test them for function. Matter of fact, I think I've robbed gauges and whips from them for other uses.
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The sights consist of a Williams aperture rear sight and a 3D printed front sight that attaches using the thread protector on my moderator adaptor (or you could use the moderator itself). I offer this every time I speak of it: It is a very simple OpenSCAD file I am happy to share with anyone who would like it. Just PM me.
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100 guns is a lot... Do you actually shoot most of them? Are there some that you never shot?
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The Umarex Notos is my most expensive PCP by some margin, and even though it was the one I was least excited about when I bought it, I can't deny it's every bit as good as people say. It's the only one I don't tinker with and even the looks have grown on me. I'd recommend it to anyone who thinks they might like one or isn't sure what to get. That's saying a lot because I've had nothing but success with cheap PCPs, and I've been so happy with all of them that it emboldened me to get a nice CS2 compressor and I constantly keep an eye out for more PCPs.
With all the others I get so distracted swapping optics and moderators or playing with power settings that I lose track of whether they're ready to shoot at any given moment. My Notos is just always ready to go, and that turned out to be great for me.
Raider .177, Stormrider .22, and 3622 are all great value and I shoot the heck out of all of them every chance I get, but if I could only keep one, it would be the Notos and I don't even have to think about it.
I'm 100% back yard plinking and hunting so YMMV.
With all the others I get so distracted swapping optics and moderators or playing with power settings that I lose track of whether they're ready to shoot at any given moment. My Notos is just always ready to go, and that turned out to be great for me.
Raider .177, Stormrider .22, and 3622 are all great value and I shoot the heck out of all of them every chance I get, but if I could only keep one, it would be the Notos and I don't even have to think about it.
I'm 100% back yard plinking and hunting so YMMV.
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Shot the all at some point or another but I do have some that I haven't shot in some time. Some of them are pairs that the wife and I shoot together.
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Yeah, nothing high end like alot of these guys. And I have some vintage guns.. Sheridans, pre war Crosmans and the like and some metal/metal Daisy 880s. Several sub $500 PCP guns.
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Right there with you on that one. I pick one up a month or so ago from the classifieds as a parts package. I put it back together and modified the included stock to fit it as a bottled gun. My first experience with a bottled gun. I really enjoy the simplicity of single loading and shooting this gun. the accuracy and the shot count.
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