100yrd + Airguns?
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Few things are more worthless in hunting then PCP....that is unless you only plan on shooting 5-6 times or want to carry a SCUBA tank around the woods all day with you.
PCP is pure crap where it comes to that, nothing on the planet more worthless.
Get yourself a good springer and then LEARN how to shoot it. Problem with most people that bad mouth entry level springers are they lack the gray matter to learn to shoot the things correctly.
A $100 gamo rifle will be fine out to about 50, but nothing past that. Minute of squirrel head if you do your part. Reaching out to 100 and still having enough punch to ethically take an animal with a 177 is a VERY tall order....as in I would not do it. If you want to take small game/pests that are larger then a starling, I would look to a minimum of a 22, and perhaps a 25...problem is with a 25 you are going to be tied to a stupid tank if you want to do much shooting.
Save your pennies and look to an RWS 48, or perhaps one of the Xisico copies from Mike at Flying Dragon.
And even at that you better do a bit of practice, you want to take that animal clean.
That's one, if you don't mind dragging around the woods something that weighs as much as a Garand that is fine. Then all you need is a SCUBA tank to fill it up, a souped up bicycle pump and hours of pumping, or a multi thousand $$ compressor.
No thanks I will pass.
I do admit the PCP guys are rabid about their choice of power and drink the Kool-Aid like it is going out of style. I will take a good ole springer and a pocket full of pellets and be gone from dawn to dusk shoot hundreds of starlings and other pest birds and just have a ball doing it...something no PCP can ever think about doing. But that is ok PCP does have its place you just need all the support gear to get those 30 shots out of the gun and I don't have the deep pockets to afford it, I gave up on bicycle pumps when I was 8 years old and the most close dive shop to fill a tank is over 30min away....one way.
As soon as a GOOD compressor comes along that cost less then my last car I will own a PCP....till then I will pass, but even at that I do not think they are the best tool for a day in the woods.
No thanks I will pass.
I do admit the PCP guys are rabid about their choice of power and drink the Kool-Aid like it is going out of style. I will take a good ole springer and a pocket full of pellets and be gone from dawn to dusk shoot hundreds of starlings and other pest birds and just have a ball doing it...something no PCP can ever think about doing. But that is ok PCP does have its place you just need all the support gear to get those 30 shots out of the gun and I don't have the deep pockets to afford it, I gave up on bicycle pumps when I was 8 years old and the most close dive shop to fill a tank is over 30min away....one way.
As soon as a GOOD compressor comes along that cost less then my last car I will own a PCP....till then I will pass, but even at that I do not think they are the best tool for a day in the woods.
Uhhh. Cough.
Before I got the Cyclone, I had...
- My Benjamin B1500EP [Spinger] weighing in over 8-lbs
- My RWS Diana Model 460 [Springer] weighs in at 8½ lbs
- My Garand weighs in at 10-lbs
......
- My "weighty" FX Cyclone[PCP] tips the scales at 5¾ lbs
I admit I don't take a pocket full of pellets into the woods w/ the Cyclone.
Instead I'll take three to four 8-round clips -- whose pellets cycle into the action each in about a 1-second cycle of the bolt toggle
'Does kinda remind me of the Garand though: 8-round clip, fast cycling, magnificent engineering, sleek lines, ...total class....
...for about half the weight.
I'm not a fan of PCP airguns--don't own any because I prefer springers. But this characterization isn't at all accurate.
Generally only the high-power big-bore airguns are that limited in terms of the number of shots. It's not at all uncommon for a good PCP airgun to hold enough air for upwards of 20-30 shots at essentially full power.
Some of them have compact detachable spare tanks that can be filled and easily carried in a backpack to increase the amount of shooting before a refill tank is required.
Lugging a SCUBA tank around isn't necessary. Even if one does want to take the tank approach to refills, there are small, light carbon fiber tanks that will fill the bill just as well as the much larger and heavier SCUBA tank.
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If you love your PCP so much just rush right out and pick up your FX Independence, it is only $1,800 you don't have to worry about tanks, get your big bore, and only have to give it about 3 pumps between shots. Perfect for the PCP fanboi out there, I just wonder why more don't have them.
Only thing I can think of is you really do not mind being tied to a tank, or spending a few hundred here and a few hundred there to get to where you can shoot your gun, then driving to the dive shop and spending $10 to get your tank filled....if you can find one that will do it for you.
But to the OP question and all the PCP fanboi's out there....here is your answer and it will only cost you a paultry $1,800...buy yourself an FX Independence.
Thread can now be closed.
But would the Independence be the top of the PCP chart...or would it be the top of a MSP....makes you really think don't it.
PCP is like Hybrid. A huge dead end that so many think is the perfect solution.
Only thing I can think of is you really do not mind being tied to a tank, or spending a few hundred here and a few hundred there to get to where you can shoot your gun, then driving to the dive shop and spending $10 to get your tank filled....if you can find one that will do it for you.
But to the OP question and all the PCP fanboi's out there....here is your answer and it will only cost you a paultry $1,800...buy yourself an FX Independence.
Thread can now be closed.
But would the Independence be the top of the PCP chart...or would it be the top of a MSP....makes you really think don't it.
PCP is like Hybrid. A huge dead end that so many think is the perfect solution.
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For just under $1800 you can get a 12cuft, 3lb carbon fiber mini-tank, a Shoebox compressor to refill it at home and a .22 Benjamin Discovery PCP.
Should be about 25 shots per fill on the Discovery, and if more shots than that are needed in the field, the mini-tank easily fits in a backpack. Should be enough air in a full tank to shoot a tin of .22 pellets.
If that's too much money, the mini tank Crosman sells is an option. It's only about $100 and would be enough for 6-8 refills. That would get the total price for the package down under $1500.
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Sounds like someone is angry with PCPs...everyone is entitled to his/her options...after all it's the internet and everyone is an expert in their own mind.
Back on topic as this thread has really been derailed by ole boy.
Since I made my first post, I've been looking at PCP's much more. I am impressed how far airguns can shoot and I've been looking to buy a replacement for my PRod. My 5 Y.O. daughter shoots it so well, I decided to give it to her.
I'm debating between a used Hatsan AT44 and Sumatra 2500...both airguns are in 25 cal. They are both very good shooters and going to 100 yards will not be an issue.
Hatsan offers many airguns, but the AT44 long is the one I'm looking at since it's used and has a few extras. I like with the Hatsan that I can buy spare air cylinders. I can use my hand pump and fill up spare air cylinders for hunting and if I don't want to bring my hand pump with me. From a prepper standpoint that is great to have the option of using a pump. I could pump up the air cylinders when I'm not shooting and have enough air for an day/weekend shooting.
I am going to get a CF (carbon fiber) tank as the weight savings is nice. But in the meant time before I get my CF tank, I can still use the hand pump.
The biggest drawback IMO of the AT44 is it's weight at nearly 10lbs just for the rifle. Most airguns aren't super heavy, but the Hatsan is heavy compared to the Sumatra.
Huge pro for the Sumatra is that you can adjust the power level. I like being able to adjust for power level depending on type of shooting and type of animal being hunted. Sumatra comes in standard or a carbine...the carbine version is 6lbs, so it's 2lbs lighter compared to the standard. If I get a Sumatra, I'd def. want to get a CF tank as the airguns hold 500cc of air.
I'm really going back and forth between these two airguns. The AT44 is a great value in that it comes with a moderator and the I'd need to buy a moderator for the Sumatra as it's loud.
ETA: I own two springers...nice airguns, but I dislike the spring/recoil and having to use a different hold to get good shots. I don't think there is anything wrong with springers, pumps, co2, and pcp's. It's all about choices and options.
For the poster that said "better to go with 22LR subsonic" that depends on who you ask. I own a suppressor and when shooting 22LR subsonic loads it's quiet, BUT in most townships/boro's you might not be able to discharge a firearm. Airguns are not regulated such as "real" firearms, so take that into consideration. An airgun moderator/LDC is very quiet in comparison to an NFA suppressor.
Back on topic as this thread has really been derailed by ole boy.
Since I made my first post, I've been looking at PCP's much more. I am impressed how far airguns can shoot and I've been looking to buy a replacement for my PRod. My 5 Y.O. daughter shoots it so well, I decided to give it to her.
I'm debating between a used Hatsan AT44 and Sumatra 2500...both airguns are in 25 cal. They are both very good shooters and going to 100 yards will not be an issue.
Hatsan offers many airguns, but the AT44 long is the one I'm looking at since it's used and has a few extras. I like with the Hatsan that I can buy spare air cylinders. I can use my hand pump and fill up spare air cylinders for hunting and if I don't want to bring my hand pump with me. From a prepper standpoint that is great to have the option of using a pump. I could pump up the air cylinders when I'm not shooting and have enough air for an day/weekend shooting.
I am going to get a CF (carbon fiber) tank as the weight savings is nice. But in the meant time before I get my CF tank, I can still use the hand pump.
The biggest drawback IMO of the AT44 is it's weight at nearly 10lbs just for the rifle. Most airguns aren't super heavy, but the Hatsan is heavy compared to the Sumatra.
Huge pro for the Sumatra is that you can adjust the power level. I like being able to adjust for power level depending on type of shooting and type of animal being hunted. Sumatra comes in standard or a carbine...the carbine version is 6lbs, so it's 2lbs lighter compared to the standard. If I get a Sumatra, I'd def. want to get a CF tank as the airguns hold 500cc of air.
I'm really going back and forth between these two airguns. The AT44 is a great value in that it comes with a moderator and the I'd need to buy a moderator for the Sumatra as it's loud.
ETA: I own two springers...nice airguns, but I dislike the spring/recoil and having to use a different hold to get good shots. I don't think there is anything wrong with springers, pumps, co2, and pcp's. It's all about choices and options.
For the poster that said "better to go with 22LR subsonic" that depends on who you ask. I own a suppressor and when shooting 22LR subsonic loads it's quiet, BUT in most townships/boro's you might not be able to discharge a firearm. Airguns are not regulated such as "real" firearms, so take that into consideration. An airgun moderator/LDC is very quiet in comparison to an NFA suppressor.
Nope...not at all, PCP does have its place, but it is not the end all and be all.
And if you are like myself and live in the boonies where you can walk out your front door and shoot your BB gun or your 308, the drive in to get a tank filled is a true pain.
Now when the tech gets to the point where it is a little more main stream I think a gun like the Ind. will be in my future. But I don't think that is really a PCP....but more of a MSP.
And if you are like myself and live in the boonies where you can walk out your front door and shoot your BB gun or your 308, the drive in to get a tank filled is a true pain.
Now when the tech gets to the point where it is a little more main stream I think a gun like the Ind. will be in my future. But I don't think that is really a PCP....but more of a MSP.
jmorris
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I transfer HP gasses quite often. My portable MIG and TIG welders use small tanks that cost a lot more to refill than the large tanks, so I refill them until the cert is about to run out and go swap them out. I use steel brake line and the apropreate fittings to transfer.
I just exchange them out, There are no welding shops around here that "refill" welding tanks of any size. Be they argon or any other gas, or gas mix. I only use the small "home" type tanks as I don't weld that much, but I have not seen any kind of certification labels on these little tanks, guess they get recycled so often that if they get too old they are just not refilled by whoever does the filling......The small tanks are also VERY HEAVY for their size....much more heavy then a normal SUBA tank. I am not sure why you would want to use that.
I only mess with MIG anymore so mine is usually a little bottle of argon mix, I am old and losing my mind a little more each day and have forgotten to turn off the gas at the end of the day. IIRC it is much more expensive to exchange that out then to refill my SUBA tanks back when I could dive.
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