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Derek · Member

Hey fellas I have always loved airguning. I am 36 and have a 17 year old son who loves it also. Ive had a couple of Magnum Springers a Beeman Rs1 I believe in .177 and a Gamo Hunter in .22 The Gamo I really enjoyed! Love the .22 Cal. Anyways its sort of been come and go with air rifles with me. I have been making some purchases though Pyramyd Air and have bought the Air Venturi rifle for myself and a Gamo Recon my son wanted which by the way for a small model airgun we have had great results with. The Bronco Ive yet to shoot yet not sure why just havent. Also bought the Desert Eagle and the Crossman 1077 which in the Crossmans case not very happy. Oh and have a Tech force .177 Co2 on the way should be here 2day. So guess what Im saying is Im spendin a bunch of money on your average plinkers and Im looking at the money Ive spent....these guns plus 20 different types of pellets ect and Im thinkin I could have 1 or 2 nice rifles. I dont want to buy Magnum Springers and thinkin about PCP. Thing is about the PCP its expensive! Plus the more I read into it the I get confused about it. Ive found 3 models that really interest me the Mrod in .22 or.25 cal and the Evanix AR6 hunter and Evanix Halestorm. The price of the rifles to me is not an issue its the cost of these pumps, compresers, tanks, adapters ect causing me worries. I know Im not gonna foot out 3-4 G's for a compreser and the Pumps well here good and bad then theres tanks. So sorry for the long post but I really want some advice and experience here as I have NONE with these rifles.
Thanks!!!!

Derek · Member

As a side note all these .177 cal Pellets I have I will send to at my expense once I figure out which ones the plinkers like to who helps me to who I feel helps me the most here on this subject. I want Accuracy, value and great experience with my help on these PCPs.

oddtodd · Silver Status Member

My personal opinion is, if I were going to get another PCP, I'd have to buy a shoebox pump and a scuba tank. The hand pump just doen't do it for me. They shoot excellently, and they are lightweight. In other words they are a lot like a powder burner. I just can't deal with the hand pump. I can't afford a shoebox compressor either so I am just out of luck. If you can afford a tank a pump and a rifle, then you've got it made, but I couldn't pull it off myself.I am on disability though so I can't afford much more than walmart rifles. lol

AirGunEric · Site Admin

What is it you want to do/shoot with the PCP?

Also, I believe you meant Air Venturi Halestorm (not Evanix)? If so, it is actually a Hatsan AT44.

You can get by with only a hand pump ($200-300) to fill your PCP, but that gets old, fast- so you're likely going to have to find a local dive shop and buy a used SCUBA/SCBA tank. As the rifles you have mentioned all will accommodate 3000psi fills for maximum power, you will need to get a 4500psi carbon-fiber tank (more $$$) or get used to keeping the reservoir in the gun below 2500psi if using a 3000psi tank. That being said, you need to be sure the local shop can fill to 4500psi- many only have equipment for 3000psi fills.

rualert · Member

I agree with Eric, you can start out with a hand pump, but it will get old quickly. A dive shop, and a used tank, from said shop goes a long way when needing fills without a "dive card", as they already know you, and what your doing with the tank. Joe I think it's Branco, over on the yellow generally has tanks for sale, complete with all needed lines and fittings. As for the gun, I don't have personal experience with the specific models your looking at, but have read many excellent reviews on the M-Rods in both 22 and 25 cal. the 25 seem to have quite a bit of punch. I have a couple of HPA guns, Crosman 2250 series converted to run on regulated bottles, and the guys were all right. Lots of power when you need it, and plenty of consistency. Some of my most accurate air rifles. I just finished mocking up a 2250, haven't quite yet decided if it will be a carbine, or pistol, but it's using a custom shop tube, disco valve and fill, currently only testing around 1100 - 1200 PSI (.177) and getting 740FPS average for 10 shot strings. This is only the 2400 KT tube, same length as the 2250, and this is only using a 12" barrel. I would say, run down a solid air source bottle, and a place to get it filled, so you can calculate that cost into your initial investment, then pick the gun you like, and check any reviews from the other members here, and a few other boards. Once you enter the PCP world, it gets very different, and tons of fun being on the dark side.

Casey

SMP · Silver Status Member

Sorry I have very little to add to this thread other than several of the guys on this thread bought the Hatsan AT44 at the same time and they are RAVING about it. It's the thread that just wont die.

http://www.airgunforum.ca/forums/topic38466.html

Cheers and good luck on the quest

domer_pyle · Senior Member

Grab yourself an AR6 and some Eun Jin 32 grain pointed pellets and be ready to hit anything you aim at. If you plan on hunting that is. I've had some trigger time with the thumb hole stock version and it's the raw deal. I believe it's kicking those pellets out at about 1125ish but I'd have to ask to be sure

AirGunEric · Site Admin

SMP · Silver Status Member

Excellent point Eric. We are a little sheltered here. I realized that on my last quest when every single recommendation could not be had here.

I have my heart set on a marauder which I've been promised for christmas Wink

Derek · Member

Oops yep the Halestorm is made by Air Venturi my bad. I was quite figuring the pump would get old and be a pain is the A$$. So if I go with a scuba tank set up how approx how many fills do ya get? Would seem pointless to get only 1 fill then back to the dive shop. Also concerned about getting the right fittings suppose PA can help with that. Also heard somethin about buddy bottles youe can take in the field with ya. Def want a reapeater PA has got a used AR6 right now for under 500$ but like I said the Marauder and the Hale Storm look quite appealing. I definately would be attempting to take some squirels and other small game but Def want a great target shooter also. Just seriously in the cost of making the rifle be able to shoot you can spend as much or more then the cost of a real rifle and it seems like these manufactores are banking on these fill Accs. If ya wanna play ya gotta pay I guess!

broommaster2000 · Moderator

packrat · Senior Member

I spent a fortune on guns, determined to NOT EVER spend the amount of money on a single gun (read as UPPER SHELF) when for the same amount of money I could buy several of the cheaper models
EVENTUALLY, I gave up on having guns that were NOT up to the quality level that I wanted, I broke down and bought a "top shelf"gun Air Arms S410, BNIB. Couldn't be happier, I can hit EVERY thing I aim at and I ENJOY airgunning so much more than before.
You can get a really nice used "upper shelf" used airgun, along with SCBA tank and complete hook-up for $1200.00 and up... Air Force makes excellent "tactical guns" as accurate as 98% of available airguns ( and look waaaay cool)....Air Arms 400 /410 series are bulletproof, super accurate and known world wide for their dependability and reliablity. Also BSA, Beeman, and FX...just to name a few..Naturally, some models of some of these brands are going to be WAY above that $1200.00 I quoted, even used!!!! Just depends on how much flex is in your budget (if at all) I sold ALL my other rifles and now have only two. They are both "above" the average airgun, but man the performance, and just pure enjoyment of owning something of quality makes it a much better buy ,IMO ,than all the others combined...
Just for reference, I'll tell ya that between Nov. of 2009 and today, I have bought 15 new air rifles ...not bragging, just showing you that it took ma a LOT longer to learn than it does most folks Embarassed

Good luck with whatever you decide.

packrat · Senior Member

Just to give you an idea of accuracy..here's some 5 shot groups I shot this afternoon...Air Force TalonSS, .177 caliber, Power Wheel set down to #4.....front of gun rested, rear of gun on my shoulder...and a picture of my gun also Cool

AirGunEric · Site Admin

Perhaps an idea here would be to price out the basic PCP accessories at your local dive shop- i.e. a SCUBA or SCBA tank, then a yoke and hose to attach the tank to the fill nipple on the airgun (typically about $50-60 and $30 for the hose from an online airgun vendor)- and then determine how much would be left in the budget for the actual rifle. I only suggest this because if you have $800.00 as a budget and the accessory parts will run you $300.00- the choice of PCP would be cut down- i.e. no Evanix.

kanyon · Silver Status Member