Health matters tookme away from the Forums and wow what a difference!it seems Springers are treated like antiques compared to PCP's!
The PCP requires a very powerful xpensive support group of equipment!Hundreds of dollars compared to "FREE" air that Springers use! Yes learningbto shoot a Springer proficiently takes work but all you need is a rifle and pellets and maybe a Scope to spend a lifetime of shooting fun !
Seems there are very few dedicated Springer Forums anymore
!
I don't know why the PCP crowd dosen't just shoot with powder?
I've shot airguns of all sorts since 1959 and just can't warm up to PCP's as airguns!
Sorry if I stepped on any toes!
Dave
I really enjoy shooting cheap air guns whether they are springers or pumps.
But getting into PCP or bulk CO2 is not really as expensive as most would think.
A used full size scuba tank can be purchased on Craig's List for as little as $50, just don't buy one made before 1990.
When I bought a brand new scuba tank years ago I paid $125.
I'd be lucky to get $50 for it now even though it still looks like new.
The cost for fills at a dive shop is nominal, perhaps about $5-$10 for a fill that can last for years depending on the size of the tank and the shop.
The required tank inspections are a little costly but not prohibitive.
A visual test must be done yearly at a cost of $20, but if the tank is filled before the year is up, it doesn't need to be done until
the next fill which could be years down the road. So that could average out to paying for an inspection every 2,3,4 years or more
depending on much you shoot and the size of the tank.
Then a combination hydro/visual test needs to be done every 5 years which costs $35, which can also be delayed if you fill up the tank before the period is up.
So a person could conceivably only pay for one hyrdo/visual test every 9 years, and that also includes the yearly visual test.
I only got into PCP because I bought a match PCP pistol to compete in an area NRA sanctioned International Air Pistol league.
People shoot matches with all types of air pistols, including Daisy 747's which I've seen the highest scores obtained with in the
hands of master class shooters.
However some of us would rather not move our hand off the grip in between shots, and PCP allows for cocking & loading
with the off-hand without any need to change the grip while loading. [Which is the same with CO2 pistols]
I also bought a relatively inexpensive Daisy/Avanti CO2 low velocity target rifle for indoor target shooting at home.
The deal that I got from a friend on an old, huge 80 lb. CO2 welding tank was almost like a gift since he no longer had a use for it.
I paid him $20 for it.
All I needed to do was to have a siphon tube installed in the tank which brings the liquid CO2 up from the bottom of the tank.
It cost me about $90 total to have the siphon tube installed and the tank filled for a virtual lifetime supply of bulk CO2.
This tank is almost 5 feet tall and heavy as sin.
It only needs an inspection every 5 years or when it gets refilled after that if ever.
From what I understand, some PCP guns are dual fuel, and can be filled with CO2.
And the industrial gas company here also sells small CO2 tanks that can be swapped out whenever a fill is needed just
like they do with propane tanks at many retailers.
If a person chooses to go the CO2 route, the cost to swap an empty tank for a full one is pretty inexpensive.
The only other expense is buying a yolk to transfer the PCP or CO2 to your gun which attaches the fill tank to
the gun tank via a fitting or a hose, and perhaps a simple adaptor fitting to match the threads. Cost is perhaps $50 - $75 for a PCP scuba yolk,
or even less for a CO2 fitted connector hose from Daisy. For my gun it was about $25- $35 at the time.
And these items can sometimes be bought used, even if the prices have increased since I bought mine.
I'm not interested in buying expensive PCP guns, my match pistol cost enough but was for a special purpose.
But there's also expensive springers for sale, and when the costs are all added up, the difference in cost isn't really that great.
Especially if buying used tanks or guns, since once a person is set up for it, it's just a one time outlay.
I still prefer to shoot the cheap springers and pneumatics for fun.
I have enough .22LR guns to not want to invest in expensive PCP guns or springers for that matter.
But it's nice to have bulk fill PCP or CO2 available if needed.
And if a person has an industrial gas supply company nearby, buying a small CO2 tank is a very affordable option
as is buying a used scuba tank.
I'll bet that people have a hard time giving away used scuba tanks on Craig's List.
One of my sons is a certified diver and he bought used tanks and equipment that was dirt cheap.
So I feel that the cost factor is pretty much an excuse.
I don't blame people for not wanting to spend a lot of money on a PCP gun, just like I don't want to buy expensive springers.
The cheap ones are good enough for me.
I think that a brand new Chinese CO2 target rifle with match sights cost me about $160, not much more than the cost of a springer at Walmart.