Everyone has an opinion and that's what this is, just my opinion. I have several of each in .177, .22, and .25 and just for everyday plinking I use the springers (especially the .177) and for hunting I use the PCP in .25 because of the accuracy and power. It is hard to be as accurate with springers (which I am not) as with the PCP's. The springers don't require anything more than your arm strength to be able to cock and shoot, but again I use the PCP for hunting and just plink with the springers.
that is known as a open ended question.For a better answer to your question =what is your committed to the budget you what like to stay in?Would you like one that you can use a hand pump to fill?
I take it a single shot would be alright...?
I would think $400 would be low end including hand pump ,but no scope....you can go up from there.
One gives your Tennis Elbow and the other Lackafunditus.. I choose the later
Seriously though your getting a smaller Deviation in your FPS which in and of itself should increase your accuracy. Best bet is a slightly used PCP with as a high a shot count as you can get while maintaining the power required to remove said pests. There are always some nice affordable Air Arms on the boards or if looking for cheaper than 700-800 you could look towards the "starter" pcp of many of us; a Marauder. I would avoid the .25 while it's a great hunter it has a shot count that is simply dismal. This is just an opinion and you know what they say about those. It's like buying a house; start with a budget and understand your needs and ability to maintain it (fill with air in this case). Pump or tank, Aluminum Scuba or Carbon Fiber SCBA.. Hold on to your wallet and good luck.
Any chance there is someone close by that could let you try their PCP? I'm sure you will really like it, just an afternoon with one would help you make a decision on how you like the performance.
I'm so far down that "slippery slope" of PCP guns it's embarrassing. I'll still pick up a springer now and then and enjoy shooting it but prefer the PCP. Several times I've had friends try both. With the springer it's more like "Yeah, I had one of these as a kid". With the PCP it's "Where do I buy one of these?".
The Gamo Urban is a great way to start into PCP's
I liked Mark's post on the Urban and the gear he chose.
https://airgunwarriors.com/community/airgun-talk/entry-level-pcp-setup-for-355/
Hard to beat that price point for a good entry level set up.
Also, once I started shooting PCP, I just lost interest with springers.
Jimmy
I shot springers for a while, and dreamed of having a PCP for hunting. Then some things lined up for me, and I bought a used Shoebox and tank and a few really nice PCP rifles.
Now I hardly ever shoot the PCPs and just hunt and target shoot with lower powered springers. PCPs are amazing, but they just don't have the same charm as a well tuned and easy to shoot springer. And truthfully, hunting with a high powered silent PCP is so easy that it takes all the fun out of it for me.
I keep threatening to unload all my PCP equipment, but haven't bit the bullet yet.
Odd guy out I guess....shoot both. Different systems, different uses, and I'll certainly take a good PCP for a lot of uses, but if I'm just shooting pest birds, plinking paintballs, and the occasional stray squirrel at short yardage (20-30yards) haven't let my springer-shooting rot from disuse.
Hi Ray ,,,,the 34 are still great. Handpumping sucks on PCPs....so figure in a tank, charge hose setup and how much will a local dive shop charge to fill your 4500 psi tank. If you cannot get air they are useless. You own source of compressed air is high dollar ....aka critter99
That's great advice DavidE, I totally agree. To the OP, I would start researching the logistics of how you plan on filling. Maybe a compressor? Or a tank and hand pump? Where will you take your tank and what do you need to transfer from a large tank to your gun? Once you get the logistics then you can start looking into the gun itself. I think that is the most logical path. The impulsive, spend as little as possible and hope for the best method (my preferred method 90 percent of the time) well, ... I'm not sure but there are lots of guns I hear people talking about that are decent shooting budget pcps and if you want upgrades then go for better barrels, tunes, etc. There's a nice Condor on the classifieds now that just came down in price... not exactly a backyard pest gun though.
I have decent springers, RWS D48, D350 and D460. I swayed away from springers when I got into PCPs but eventually came back around. But recently, after getting a 177 and 22 cal Gauntlet I haven't picked up my springers. I have some high end PCPs but for some reason the Gauntlets just work great as grab and go guns. I replaced the bottle with a larger 23ci bottle so I get about 110 shots on the reg. Both are pretty accurate so either will be great for small game. Out to 35 yards I can stack pellets all day long and both shoot the crosman hollow points that you can walk into Walmart and get as accurately as JSB pellets.
I have had only 3 air guns. my first was a $20 something or other pellet gun I found at a yard sale. Was never very accurate, I think I gave it away when I moved. My second is a Weihrauch HW97 springer in 22 cal. I really like the gun. A bit on the heavy side but all in all a nice gun. I have a squirrel problem so it has come in handy controlling the population. After a few years I decided to get a PCP so I saved up and got a Steyr LG110 in 177. I haven't touched the springer since... If you like to exercise then a pump is fine, you'll get a good work out. I get about 70 shots per fill so I don't fill it but once ever few months unless I'm sighting in a new scope or doing some other testing then I may fill it twice in a day. Dont think I will be getting a scuba tank. Seems like to much hassle.
I would recommend if you get a PCP get the best you can afford. I think you will like using one. Just get the dust rag ready for the springers.
Ray, consider a quality pcp with a great barrel for starters. Consider a cz/aa s200. 12 fpe in .177 and 20 fpe in .22. fill to 180 bar (hand pump easy) and brain dead accurate. Right at home for 10 meters in basement or hunting/plinking in the field. Light, compact and quality build.
Is there a pcp that will give a standard deviation of < 10 FPS. All of my springers will. Shot after shot after shot. Thousands of shots in a row. I’m not a pcp guy, but I follow shot strings of those who are. It looks hard to keep 10-20 shots within 10 FPS. I’m not arguing that springers are more accurate to shoot. But they are the champs when it comes to standard deviation
I just punch paper off a bench. JMO. I had one PCP for a couple of months a few years ago. A QB78D converted to PCP. I sold it. I couldn't miss. One holer at 25 yards. Boring as a rock. I've got 68 springers and one gas ram, B3's to Dianas and everything in between. Love'em all. I don't care for gas ram. I had a spring and GRT trigger installed in my Swarm and when the warranty runs out on my Proxima it's getting a spring or sooner maybe. For me it's the beauty of simplicity. It's not so much having the best shooter but getting the best out of what ever I'm shooting that day. But that's just me.
Once I tried a PCP, my springers were history.
I concur. I only shot springers for a couple of years, some nice ones. Still have a 97KT that I'm hanging onto because it was one of the best I had. All the others are gone and the 97 tragically sits in it's case waiting for the day I can put down the PCP's. The extra money was totally worth it in my opinion. Life is not a dress rehearsal, you only go around once. Enjoy it while you're here and at least give PCP a whirl.
I had an Edge that was tuned by Talon Tunes. It was a dead nut hole in hole 10M shooter for me off the bench, but low powered. Next I had an M-rod. OK rifle, then I have had a couple of Discos. Good inexpensive rifles. The best PCP I shot was a AA 510 in .22. That thing was almost as accurate as the Edge, but at 25M and smooth as silk cocking. Fit and finish is second to none.
Where I lost interest in PCP's is when I moved into the country after retirement. No dive shops around here for tank fills, so that meant the hand pump! I lost interest in the PCP's fast! Love the only springer I have which is a low dollar Titan and have shot it all day at times. I will always be a pimp for Co2 rifles. Just love the ease of use, even with the fps variance.
All that said, if I could see dropping the bucks for a quality compressor, I would still be shooting PCP.... a quality one like tha AA 510. But, since I don;t have unlimited $$, I am now diving into HW95 (on order) and will enjoy shooting with just my rifle and a tin or two of pellets. Just something to think about. As Dave said in a post above, buy the compressor first, because a hand pump will get old fast! If you have a source for air, PCP's are great. And so many are coming with regulators as a stock item (or soon wil be) that deviation and shot count can be pretty good.
How much are you willing to spend? I didn’t see that answered but maybe I overlooked it.
What is it that you are wanting that your 34s aren’t doing for you?
Maybe you just want to try something new?
I was in the springer game for 9 years before I tried PCP. My first 2 were QB78 conversions to air. I still wasn’t satisfied. I wanted something more refined so I had my eye set on Daystate or FX. I ended up with a used FX Royale 400 .22. Very nice rifle I think.
There are some features about the rifle that I have really grown to appreciate. These same features may be available in less expensive packages but since this is what I have, I haven’t looked for the others.
first thing that I liked about the 400 is the side lever cocking. I now prefer it over a bolt action. It’s very smooth and positive.
I also like the large air capacity air bottle. I get approximately 100 shots on a 220 bar fill at 30 fpe for energy. I still use a hand pump to fill the rifle. It isn’t fun but it isn’t drudgery either. It’s just part of the experience. The more I pump the less it is an issue.
I really like the 3 power settings on the rifle. At first I didn’t really pay much attention to the power settings. I really came to appreciate it one night after work and I wanted to shoot but stay quiet. I dialed the power to low, took a few shots to figure the POI with the slower pellet speed and held over to hit my targets. It was sooo quiet and it barely sips air for a lot more shots than on high. Medium is a good compromise of shot and power too. Now I really enjoy “plinking” on low power.
Another aspect of the rifle that is nice is the fit and balance of it when shooting. Nothing more to say other than it handles nice either on a bench, off my knee or off hand.
Im really just a backyard plinker so this rifle is overkill for what I do but it sure is nice to have for when I do it. I also have some pride in ownership with it too. It’s nice to own a quality tool for having fun.
I also have some nice spring guns. The nice thing about those is it’s just a grab and go affair. No need to check air pressure or grab a magazine. I can enjoy extended shooting sessions without being interrupted with having to fill the gun. Also a single shot spring gun saves on the pellets. A multi-shot PCP goes through lead pretty quickly.
I enjoy shooting air. I don’t care if it’s a spring gun, PCP, pumper, CO2..... whatever it is, I enjoy it. I can shoot in my backyard and share it with my family and friends and that’s why I shoot airguns to begin with.
If you want to try a new adventure, get yourself that PCP. It may be your thing and it may not but at least you will know. Happy shooting!
Like you I have also looked longingly at PCP and considered them. As a result I am following the replies with interest. Other than a couple of PCP target rifles, one an Airforce target model, I have not had much opportunity with them. Strictly speaking for me, the one thing that holds me back is the additional paraphernalia such as tanks, compressors, etc. If no compressor then getting air would be a big consideration. They do look extremely effective as well as fun. Perhaps someday...
Like you I have also looked longingly at PCP and considered them. As a result I am following the replies with interest. Other than a couple of PCP target rifles, one an Airforce target model, I have not had much opportunity with them. Strictly speaking for me, the one thing that holds me back is the additional paraphernalia such as tanks, compressors, etc. If no compressor then getting air would be a big consideration. They do look extremely effective as well as fun. Perhaps someday...
Totally agree and understand, having a couple of springs. I was in exactly the place as you a year ago, I choose to dive-in (big time). Over the past year I’ve purchased 5 PCPs, a SCBA tank, pump, ect. PCPs are an absolute joy to shoot the accuracy is absolutely unabtainable with a springer.
This is truly next level equipment, unfortunately with next level prices. It’s a tough decision, if you have or can make friends with people that have PCPs that can help curve the cost for a while.
Good luck.
Al
Will show you want I CANNOT do with a springer...any springer...fast or slow, high priced or cheap, for 60 shots.
On 1/4" grid graph paper, with a .25 pellet and a dime for scale.
This is what PCP's are good at, shot after shot. Forgiving of small miss-calcuations in hold strength, not at twitchy as recoiling springer, more forgiving of minor sins.
Not that a springer can't produce little 20 yard groups once in awhile....but so far, never 60 shots in a row at near MOA (which ain't no big-shitzzs at 20 yards, more like 1/5"...but still more than I've been able to get from even the best springers).
The goal IMO is to hit the given target with the best Tool possible. Started with a daisy lever action, then a Model 50 Slide action a bit more power only 50 shots / tube but was goin for accuracy. Many say they like springers, find it a bit more challenging...GREAT! However with the original goal in mind go with PCP and Never L@@K back...The aforementioned "David" on this string....took Years to go PCP....Got a Fine gun albeit tuning ending up with a VERY accurate and valuable Hummingbird (only PCP holding it's Value + Originally they were $1295 ish from Wild West...now gett'n 1500.00 if you can find one!) Advice...take the plunge via PCP.
I too love my springers. But if you want to try PCPs I suggest starting with the Benjamin Marauder in .25. Here's why:
- The price is on a par with springers.
- The barrel of the .25cal model is outstanding.
- The location of the cocking arm is convenient.
- The magazine mounting, unmounting and indexing is robust and proven.
- The magazine price is reasonable (on the order of $15 versus $120 for Atamans)
- Shot count is very good (figure 4 mags worth of .25)
- Pellet choice is excellent.
- Power level for pesting is excellent.
- Noise level is low to med.
- You can run it on CO2 or HPA.
I have several PCPs, but still keep my springers well exercised.
Will show you want I CANNOT do with a springer...any springer...fast or slow, high priced or cheap, for 60 shots.
On 1/4" grid graph paper, with a .25 pellet and a dime for scale.
This is what PCP's are good at, shot after shot. Forgiving of small miss-calcuations in hold strength, not at twitchy as recoiling springer, more forgiving of minor sins.
Not that a springer can't produce little 20 yard groups once in awhile....but so far, never 60 shots in a row at near MOA (which ain't no big-shitzzs at 20 yards, more like 1/5"...but still more than I've been able to get from even the best springers).
You need a Diana M54 in .22. My record is 17 pellets through the same hole at 50 feet from a bag. That is extreme, but my buddies with the same model report similar groups.
No rule that you have to have one type or another, springers have a place in the safe as they do have some positives.
The old match rifles, like the FWB 150/300 and the RWS 75 are also springers, but generally think ofthem sperately.
Personally, could never get an RWS 54 to shoot consistently. Gave some great groups, but would also toss one out at the least little bit of inattention, so never got a long string of great groups. HAve had a secret urge to have one really smoothed, and down tuned to lower speeds to make it even less twitchy.
But if you are willing to shoot 12 5-shot groups in a row, I'll be looking.
