PCP Air rifles

Goldberg · Jan 6, 2015

looking for a little feedback. and not for guns that have been doped up with illegal pet steroids!
I think the "PCP" stands for "pre charged pneumatic"
my buddy was with a guy who had one- pretty impressive. dropped a jack with a head shot at 70 yards. i think one of these would help me with a pest problem.
any one have one? or have an opinion?
thanks!!!

BIGJOHNT · Jan 13, 2015

I use my Gamo adult pellet rifle. I actually leave my shooting bench set up on my back deck. With my shooting bags and my Gamo set up in my bags.
I have looked into some of those high end air guns. I have been looking at some of the Airforce models . The Talon SS it even has a silencer on it. But I have come to the conclusion that a 22 Cb cap is much more affordable then one of these high end BB guns. So I have been sticking with my Gamo and a Cb cap 22 long rifle. The Cb cap is actually quieter then my Gamo. All though Cb caps have been tough to find over the last few years. Lucky for me I still have a few around. But they are harder to find then regular 22 long rifle ammo.
My Gamo kicks those little Raptor 177 pellets out at almost 1200 fps. The groups opens up a little out at 70 yards to around 3 inches.But at 30 yards its much tighter. I have taken squirrels out to 70 yards.
Maybe some day I will bite the bullet and buy a Airforce rifle. But for right now I will save the 600 to 700 bucks and shoot what I have.

Goldberg · Jan 15, 2015

ya, I have one of those spring air rifles also. i have a heck of a time shooting it off hand. so much time between trigger release and pellet exiting the barrel, I'm just not steady enough! To many birthdays.
Off a sandbag, that rascal is deadly.
i have tried the cb caps in my 22. i have an old, 1950's winchester that is a tack driver. but the cb caps just don't shoot well.
I was looking at the .25 cal version of these guns.
I have a pretty good shooting spot out my backyard where i can whack the stuffin out of those eurasian doves. they are pretty wily, tho. they sit in the furthest tree out, around 50-70 yards, and they keep a pretty close eye on any ground activity, especially me stepping out with my gun! and even if i hit them with the .177 spring air, they mostly fly off. hard to explain to the neighbors me carrying dead birds off their property! they are kind of tasty, plus double the meat of a mourning dove!!
thanks for the response. Just like most guys on this site, i get a kick out of shooting just about any type weapon, at anything that can be shot at.

sageadvice · Jan 15, 2015

"I have a pretty good shooting spot out my backyard where i can whack the stuffin out of those eurasian doves. they are pretty wily, tho. they sit in the furthest tree out, around 50-70 yards, and they keep a pretty close eye on any ground activity, especially me stepping out with my gun!"

Thanks! i like the way you put that, made me laugh out loud! Don't be a stranger.

Joey

"It's all about knowing what your firearms practical limitations are and combining that with your own personal limitations!"

Arrow1 · Jan 16, 2015

I shoot a Benjamin Marauder I have it in .25 cal but they make 22 and 177 as well. Quieter than a spring piston and deadly accurate. At 30yds 5 shots are essentially one hole. Lots of folks use a small scuba tank for filling, but I dropped the bucks (about 2-300 bucks) on the hill hand pump. Takes about 150 pumps to get to the 3000 psi limit, but you can get 10-12 shots before it drops off enough (2200 psi) to where your shots are dropping noticeably. I have been real happy with it so far. Picked mine up at Air Gun Depot. Bought a combo deal where it came with a pretty decent scope as well (Hawke 4-12x50) I looked at a lot of others but the price goes up pretty quick on the high end ones. There is a also the Discovery model which seems to get decent reviews and is a fair amount cheaper. I've got a couple spring piston ones as well RWS 34 in 22 and one in 177 they take a little more time to shoot accurately and as a previous poster mentioned all the recoil occurs before the pellet leaves the barrel so hold is all important. Its not a big deal with PCP

Goldberg · Jan 16, 2015

Thanks for that info. The marauder was one I was looking at. And you are right, they can get hi dollar pretty quick!!
Sage, I always wanna keep it light!! Lotta folks are way to serious. Course I don't have much of a trophy room, so maybe I should get a little bit serious!!
Thanks for comments!!

Gator · Jan 19, 2015

My Buddy shot one fancy air rifles and he got permission to hunt on 3 dairies for shooting pigeons, He just loves it. Some days he shoots 30-40 birds for those places.
So now he got me thinking I need one.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
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BIGJOHNT · Jan 20, 2015

Jim and Eva Shockey did a few shows where the hunted with air rifles. I think it was the Crossman 25 cal. Jim shot a pig in the head and put it down with one shot. It was at like 25 yards.
Then you have Lewis and Clark with their air rifle. Those are some pretty good stories in history.
So maybe down the road I will be upgrading the old Gamo.

BIGJOHNT · Feb 23, 2015

American Rifleman this month March 2015 has a write up on a (PCP). It's the Airforce Condor SS. If anyone would like to read up on them.

jaxdialation · Mar 14, 2015

I bought a used Daystate PCP rifle about 10 years ago.
It still runs like a train Yes great accuracy, depending on the rifle.

airgunners take out-sized game by virtue of pinpoint accuracy.
The accuracy can be matched by rim fire rifles.

For me it is all about noise level and cost/shot

hntbambi · Mar 21, 2015

I too shoot a springer .177 and it is good but springers are hard on optics. I have been contemplating the Hatsan BT65 QE PCP gun for a few weeks now. The .25 caliber is right at the subsonic level, so it will pack some serious energy. They are quiet enough for subdivision deployment. While mail ordering pellets are not overly expensive, you can not go to the MegaLowMart and pick up a tin of pellets for under $10. Having to add in a pump or air tank and the cost shoots up to a grand fairly quick.