why?

[kobidog 1]

recently ive been looking around at different pcp air rifles as i am thinking of getting one to replace my springer.

What i dont understand though is the such large price range on the rifles, for example for example the bsa r10 costs about £600 whereas the scorpion which only cost about £400 boasts the same power and accuracy as the r10.what more do you want? sorry for the lack of knowledge but im just interested because i wouldnt want to spend a large amount of money on a rifle like the bsa r10 only to find there are guns out there which are just as good for £200 cheaper.

cheers

[pianoman 3,584]

I don't own a pcp kobidog, I am a fervant spring rifle disciple. And you can add that a good £380 springer can offer the same level of power and accuracy as a £1,000-plus Daystate PCP...If you know how to shoot it right

 

What about that for a difference?

 

But let's assume you have set your heart on a pricy pre-charged pneumatic. And after the initial high purchase costs of your chosen pcp rifle, then add in the additional charging gear costs, refilling the diving bottle costs, suitable ammo and a decent scope...

 

You still end up with a rifle that's no more accurate than a top quality spring rifle!

 

So what exactly have you bought for a good £250-£300 or even more, that a TX200, HW80, HW90, HW95 or HW77 cannot do?

 

The short answer should be that PCP rifles cost the prices asked because they are constructed of precision-made parts and are precision accurate shooting engines. The price differences reflect the level of quality and efficiency built into one model, next to, or, above another. Look after it well and keep it clean and in use as often as you can and you'll never be let down.

 

One of the nicest pcp rifles I ever shot with is a BSA R10 that belongs to one of my friends here on the forum. Yet there is very little of the original BSA left inside it. It's factory fitted BSA regulator has been replaced with a more efficient, custom made unit and the whole action has been tweaked, honed and polished by a specialist tuner who really knows his stuff. It's barrel came from a BSA Ultra which is fitted with a Twink silencer. The magazine is also the work of the tuner and it indexes and operates far better than BSA originally made it. Only the stock seems to be the one original BSA component that has not been physically reshaped in some way. The result is a lightweight, ultra compact .22 carbine that delivers each shot with perfect efficiency onto the scope's retical at the target. It is a lovely handling and really superb shooting rifle.

 

But you can't go to BSA and order a copy of it. It's a customised special.

 

Now, with the money charged for an R10 from new, why hasn't BSA made this particular rifle as efficient and reliable with their own components for the price?

 

This is not the only case, but with other manufacturers today. An aftermarket tuning industry is seemingly flourishing with all kinds of goodies to make your PCP better than it left the factory!

 

The only true advantage you money buys with an off-the-peg PCP, is that, being recoiless on firing makes them easier than a heavier spring rifle for just about anyone to shoot well with them. They bring accuracy to those who have none of their own and, these two factors makes them enormously popular with most first-time shooters.

 

Consequently too, those who do have the skills and the know-how, produce some awesome shooting at all ranges with them.

 

You have to consider if this one, recoiless shooting advantage they offer, makes pcp rifles worth their asking prices with your shooting requirements.

 

To me they do not really. They are, generally, very good, but not that good. They could be a lot better than they are!

 

You shouldn't have to take a rifle costing £600 or more to a specialist cottage-industry tuner to get it to function as efficiently as it should. That is the manufacturer's job. Tuning refinements should be a pleasant nicety, not a necessity and some makers are not delivering as well as the price tag should infer. This alone is what makes them far too costly for what they deliver, to my way of thinking.

 

Others of course, will have their own point of view. This is just mine.

 

Simon

Edited April 10, 2011 by pianoman

[77 si 21]

Hi kobidog

 

If you want to learn about pcp rifles you are in the right place there are a lot of good lads on here that have probably forgot more than I will ever no. But I think that a lot of the time the price can reflect the quality. I am not for one minute saying that the cheaper ones are not good quality because you can get good quality kit at very reasonable prices. But if you get your self around a few gun shops and have a feel of a few and you will understand what I mean. As for the £400 budget if you could stretch just a little bit more you would be able to get your self a second hand s410 or something like which will be all the air rifle you will ever need.

 

ATB

 

Si

Edited April 10, 2011 by 77 si

[markha 99]

I had springers from boyhood, I went to the dark side or PCP last year ( note that precharged air rifles pre date spring powered air rifles by quiet a few years though )

 

My last springer was a HW80 probably the best spring powered rifle you can buy, solid and accurate, however I had a shoot with a friends PCP and was very tempted, it was lighter, was not 'hold sensitive' and seemed pin point accurate.

 

So months down the line, how do I feel about PCP rifles? The same, no recoil, just as accurate but a lot more sterile, theres no recoil, no effort in adjusting your grip/hold on it and the pellets do the same job at the end point, just in a way very much duller than a springer.

 

I went out with my 1st ever air rifle the other day, a Meteor in .177, It was great to be plinking away with a springer again.

My old HW80 is still in the rack at the gunsmiths, I may well (funds allowing) buy it back as I miss it.

[pianoman 3,584]

Mark I think you HW80 is holding out for you to buy her back.

 

The wand chooses the wizzard lad!

 

Simon

[lurchermania 25]

I don't have a massive price range but my smk xs19 does the job great for me and with all the bits and bobs comes to others price range just for there gun. It delivers 10.5 ftlbs for the first 50 shots give or take so can't see why you should pay more for a pcp but I'm no expert and not realy in a possition to give advice but the more experienced guys have helped you out x

[Catcher 1 639]

Mark I think you HW80 is holding out for you to buy her back.

 

The wand chooses the wizzard lad!

 

Simon

 

 

Seen this gun in FAC .Power house.

[shepp 2,285]

You could always go for an HW100, works straight out the box without costly tuning.

Edited April 10, 2011 by shepp

[secretagentmole 1,701]

Shepp the problem with the HW100 is you could but a gun that needs tuning, get it tuned and probably still have money left over from that to get the charging kit! Lets see:

 

The HW100 is £799! BSA Ultra Multishot £399, add £144 for JB to do his magic on it (including VAT) and that makes £543, more than enough to get the diving cylinder, silencer, scope, gun bag, bipod, camo gear, camo and bleeding lunch too (probably enough left out of that to get a pint) adn a tin of decent pellets!

 

All JB's work comes with a lifetime guarantee, so if it does go wrong, he fixes it! Do HW put a lifetime guarantee on their work? Think not! So sometimes it can be better to get something and then let the original designer fix it up! Also do HW do a 50 yard pellet comparism and recommendation test and suppluy the results to you? No, you have to find out what pellet works best in your HW gun!

Edited April 11, 2011 by secretagentmole

[silentshot1 206]

My solution to your dilemma would be to buy a decent used R10. Nearly same price as a hornet but with the added bonus of circa 200 full power, regulated shots.

 

I've never bought a brand new gun and had nearly no problems with the used ones.

 

Good luck with your choice and keep an open mind!

[clubshot 22]

As often post New or Returning or Upgrading

 

Check out Local Air Gun Club and see what's about and why others are using them

 

Well worth Checking out Brocock AimX Rifles - within Budget & made in UK

 

 

Not forgetting most Clubs have a For Sale Table - where members move on unrequired Gun's etc

 

Far Better than dealers price - plus a chance to try them on the Club ranges before buying

 

BOB/R

Edited April 12, 2011 by clubshot

[fry 209]

You could always go for an HW100, works straight out the box without costly tuning.

true as do air arms pcps

[bunny killer 19]

hi i own a daystate airwolf in .177 cost new £1260 plus scopes,mounts,silencer,,,a mate of mine shoots a air arms s200 in .177 awesome little gun,,he doesnt miss many with it,,cheap enough to buy,,,it proves a point you dont have to spend a grand plus like me ..its down to the individual on getting used to his and the guns capabilities,,,

[leegreen 2,099]

You will never look back. Ptaaannnnngg!

[davyt63 1,839]

hi i own a daystate airwolf in .177 cost new £1260 plus scopes,mounts,silencer,,,a mate of mine shoots a air arms s200 in .177 awesome little gun,,he doesnt miss many with it,,cheap enough to buy,,,it proves a point you dont have to spend a grand plus like me ..its down to the individual on getting used to his and the guns capabilities,,,

 

 

well said my friend :thumbs: