GTA

All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => PCP/CO2/HPA Air Gun Gates "The Darkside" => Topic started by: Wolfer on May 17, 2018, 10:19:51 AM

Title: Best plinker / Pester caliber?
Post by: Wolfer on May 17, 2018, 10:19:51 AM
Have my 25 cal Marauder as my hunting gun now what should I get as far as a new PCP as a yard / shop / sparrow / pest gun. Nothing to fancy as it will be by the door, work bench, behind the seat of my little truck when I check the duck club water. I guess tuff is what I need. XS60 PCP from Mike, Berman Cheif, Storm rider, the new Flash from Hatson, Maximus. Thanks for any ideas. Have evon toyed with the idea of the new Dragon fly pumper, like the magazine option. Now should it be in .177 or .22. Leaning towards .177. Thanks for any ideas.    Mike
Title: Re: Best plinker / Pester caliber?
Post by: c_m_shooter on May 17, 2018, 10:57:45 AM
.177 is cheaper to feed.  .22 is easier to handle the pellets for single loading.
Title: Re: Best plinker / Pester caliber?
Post by: dmeguy on May 17, 2018, 11:43:53 AM
Personally, I prefer .22, but I suffer from fat finger disease.  :D  The price difference between .177 and .22 is pretty minimal compared to the .25 you've been using.


I would consider the Nova Freedom and P-Rod in addition to the choices you already mentioned. If price isn't a concern, I would look at the Leshiy and the WarP. I'm holding out for more information on the Diana Skyhawk. If they don't release more information soon, I may just go with a P15.
Title: Re: Best plinker / Pester caliber?
Post by: Wolfer on May 17, 2018, 12:02:51 PM
I did not mention the freedom, great reviews. Love the self contained pump system, at a little bit extra a great plus.   Mike
Title: Re: Best plinker / Pester caliber?
Post by: TennX on May 17, 2018, 12:04:51 PM
Deleted.....wrong gate
Title: Re: Best plinker / Pester caliber?
Post by: Wolfer on May 17, 2018, 12:34:12 PM
Yeah the pumper is a great idea. I have a 1964 Silver Streak which has been steroided by Tim atMac1. Also have a modified 2100/legacy. But I want to spend my hideout money. The Dragon fly with the magazine intrigues me.    Mike
Title: Re: Best plinker / Pester caliber?
Post by: HunterWhite on May 17, 2018, 01:11:57 PM
I have a marauder  and a condor, but I am looking at these:
Crosman 1077 Air Rifle, $70.
Sheridan 2260 $150.


Title: Re: Best plinker / Pester caliber?
Post by: TennX on May 17, 2018, 05:51:29 PM
I have a marauder  and a condor, but I am looking at these:
Crosman 1077 Air Rifle, $70.
Sheridan 2260 $150.

I like my 1077 W but all its good for is plinking...IMHO....and look at the QB78D before u settle on the 2260.....good luck
Title: Re: Best plinker / Pester caliber?
Post by: Ribbonstone on May 17, 2018, 06:03:20 PM
Still prefer the .177 for most little critters.
You kind of imply the "rough life" (behind the pick-up's seat/ prooped up by the rear door, etc. so somehting delicate and pretty wouldn't be a plus....more a place for a simple accurate rifle that won't make you angry if it picks up a dent/scratch/ or even a touch of rust.

(Back door rifles are prone to picking up battle damange...we go in and out that door a lot, in rain/fog/snow/humid heat of summer/etc.).


You listed the top inexpensive choices....although a Gauntlet could also fit into that role nicely.

Title: Re: Best plinker / Pester caliber?
Post by: Marc In Iowa on May 17, 2018, 06:08:18 PM
... new PCP as a yard / shop / sparrow / pest gun.

What kind of yard range?
What sort of pests beyond sparrows?

If you want a light, rugged, accurate, ready any time you reach for it rifle ... you might consider the non-PCP, HW30S springer.

Not hold sensitive, well made (probably rugged?), fun to shoot, easy to feed and highly accurate to 25-30 yds and you'll never find it needing air.
Title: Re: Best plinker / Pester caliber?
Post by: Ribbonstone on May 17, 2018, 06:30:37 PM
I do have some springers....actually, pretty accurate spingers...but I don't use them as back yard rifles.   Can shoot them well, but not for that first shot after a long lay of (it might be awhile between unexpected back yard shots).


Title: Re: Best plinker / Pester caliber?
Post by: avator on May 17, 2018, 06:50:32 PM
This being a "Darkside" gate posting, I'll assume we're talking about PCP. For plinking I prefer .177. I don't need power, I want accuracy and shot count. As for fat fingers.... yeah, I got em... that's why I got these....
Title: Re: Best plinker / Pester caliber?
Post by: ranchibi on May 17, 2018, 08:37:42 PM
This being a "Darkside" gate posting, I'll assume we're talking about PCP. For plinking I prefer .177. I don't need power, I want accuracy and shot count. As for fat fingers.... yeah, I got em... that's why I got these....

Bill, LOL..that’s great! I too suffer from chubby finger syndrome:)...great idea!
Title: Re: Best plinker / Pester caliber?
Post by: avator on May 17, 2018, 08:43:33 PM
Check the bargain gate.. Less than $5 shipped. I bought a couple of them. They hold closed to grab the pellet then you squeeze to open them an place the pellet. Great for guns like the Crosman 2100 and such with those cramped loading ports.
Title: Re: Best plinker / Pester caliber?
Post by: HASHTAG on May 17, 2018, 08:58:24 PM
I love my qb78d I have modified it some shorter barrel and ldc along with other minor mods. Fun little gun.
Title: Re: Best plinker / Pester caliber?
Post by: jarmstrong on May 17, 2018, 09:17:38 PM
.22 for pesting, thump'em good
I gave my .177 away and those little pellets are a pain to handle
Title: Re: Best plinker / Pester caliber?
Post by: Wildcatter on May 17, 2018, 09:49:16 PM
For small game pesting, you can't go wrong with a .177.  The power PCP's put out can take down medium size game in that caliber.  My suggestions would be a PRod in .22, around 12-14 fpe out of the box, way accurate and 8 shot magazine.  Short little gun and easy to throw in the truck, keep by a door, etc.  Next I would go with the Umarex Gauntlet in .177.  Good accuracy, LOTS AND LOTS of shots, good price.  It is a heavy, long gun, so that may tip the scales towards my last choice, the Hatsan Flash or Flashpup.  Accurate, light and very hard hitting in .177.  Something like 30 foot pounds for heaven's sake. 
Title: Re: Best plinker / Pester caliber?
Post by: maxtrouble on May 17, 2018, 11:00:00 PM
Have my 25 cal Marauder as my hunting gun now what should I get as far as a new PCP as a yard / shop / sparrow / pest gun. Nothing to fancy as it will be by the door, work bench, behind the seat of my little truck when I check the duck club water. I guess tuff is what I need. XS60 PCP from Mike, Berman Cheif, Storm rider, the new Flash from Hatson, Maximus. Thanks for any ideas. Have evon toyed with the idea of the new Dragon fly pumper, like the magazine option. Now should it be in .177 or .22. Leaning towards .177. Thanks for any ideas.    Mike

.22 caliber - better wind resistance and easier to load over .177.
Title: Re: Best plinker / Pester caliber?
Post by: Gertrude on May 18, 2018, 01:44:58 AM
Here's another vote for a QB78D/PCP (or for easier conversion to PCP, the QB79). Just last weekend, I took 34 GS at 70 to 80 yds on my pesting permission.

if your pesting is more in the 50 yd range, the Gamo Urban would be another good choice.

 I also have taken several GS at 50-60yds with my 1500psi bottled XS60c

With a little tinkering, Any of these guns are fully capable of taking game sizes up to Rabbit, Crow, Skunk at the above noted ranges.
Title: Re: Best plinker / Pester caliber?
Post by: Marc In Iowa on May 18, 2018, 06:46:12 AM
I wish I knew how to delete an inadvertant post.
Title: Re: Best plinker / Pester caliber?
Post by: Back_Roads on May 18, 2018, 08:08:51 AM
 I just hit the back arrow <- , that or one could close the page and start over  ???
Title: Re: Best plinker / Pester caliber?
Post by: avator on May 18, 2018, 08:11:05 AM
Just put NT (no text) in the field.
Title: Re: Best plinker / Pester caliber?
Post by: Glem Chally on May 18, 2018, 12:58:58 PM
I vote for .22 as well,  great all around calibre and depending on the gun you can get tight groups at 100.  Pellets are cheap and great selection.
Title: Re: Best plinker / Pester caliber?
Post by: Wildcatter on May 18, 2018, 01:21:43 PM
 ;D ;D ;D ;D :o
Title: Re: Best plinker / Pester caliber?
Post by: Ribbonstone on May 18, 2018, 06:17:31 PM
OK...you asked for an HW 30-ish type airgun (And as you adked it on this forum, we' addumed it was more of a DarkSide question than a springer question).

Already have a .25 M-Rod, so you could certainly lean that besides the back door of toss it in the back of the pick-up, and it would kill those little critters just fine.

Some of the other options expressed have been for a .22.  While I do NOT think having two well tuned power PCP's are going to expand your uses, it would work.   HAving shot a .22 and a .25, both making about the same energy, there really isn't a lot to recommend one over the other.

Think they would over-lap more than extend the airgun usefullness.



Although it's too late for me...too many already piled up...I could live with 4 PCP's (and a couple of springers).  A .177 "match speed" PCP (say something in the 5-6 foot pound range), a 12-14 foot pound .177 for most of the small critter pesting, a .22 in the 25-30 foot pound range, and a .25 in the 50 foot pound range.

Past that, with big bores, wouldn't get shot enough to really earn a place in the things I do.
Title: Re: Best plinker / Pester caliber?
Post by: Privateer on May 18, 2018, 06:40:11 PM
To bad your not in Ohio. I'd set you up with a nice .22 Discovery including a SCUBA tank.
Title: Re: Best plinker / Pester caliber?
Post by: Wildcatter on May 18, 2018, 10:03:12 PM
I'm with Ribbonstone, but I need 5 PCP's - I need a .177 hard hitter 20-30 fpe for small pesting work.  I need a .22 at 30 to 40 fpe for small to medium pesting work and plinking work.  I need a .25 at 60-70 footpounds for medium pesting and longer distance pesting - neither the .177 nor .22 are much up to the task past 30-40 yards in a any type of wind.  Need the extra horsepower for those 50 to 70 yard shots.  AND I need a .357 PCP in the 130 to 160 range for medium to larger hunting (boar, deer) at distances between 50-60 yards.  I don't feel confident yet as I haven't practiced enough with the .357 to extend my hunting range past 100 yards but feel this is the gun to do it...  Lastly, I need a PRod - a small .177 or .22 carbine for backyard pesting in the 12 to 14 pound range....

But that's just me...
Title: Re: Best plinker / Pester caliber?
Post by: Wolfer on May 18, 2018, 10:37:00 PM
Thanks for the great replies. Just feel like I need another PvP, you all know the feeling. I have a QB78 all ready to convert in pieces right now on the bench. Just deciding whether I should go ahead and order block and tank. Thanks again for the replies. If I had to pick just one my Marauder would be it. Told my wife and kids this one is going in the box with me.    Mike
Title: Re: Best plinker / Pester caliber?
Post by: HASHTAG on May 19, 2018, 01:05:04 PM
I would not over do it on the qb78. I only got so much power out of mine that was good for fun shooting plinking. I take small birds with it time to time. But that is about it. Id go for something bigger better faster stronger. If I were you.
Title: Re: Best plinker / Pester caliber?
Post by: Privateer on May 19, 2018, 04:38:06 PM
Id go for something bigger better faster stronger.
That sounds like The Six Million Dollar Man.
 ;D
Title: Re: Best plinker / Pester caliber?
Post by: Harpoon1 on May 19, 2018, 05:34:40 PM
Thanks for the great replies. Just feel like I need another PvP, you all know the feeling. I have a QB78 all ready to convert in pieces right now on the bench. Just deciding whether I should go ahead and order block and tank. Thanks again for the replies. If I had to pick just one my Marauder would be it. Told my wife and kids this one is going in the box with me.    Mike

Do yourself a favor and scratch Gauntlet off your list. I just purchased one and what a POS!
The trigger alone is like 5 miles of bad gravel road. Pathetic. You have to be kidding me! Unbelievable.

The forend looks like it was designed and thrown together by a bunch of 5th graders, pitiful! Flimsy, cheap, ill fitting, and a nightmare to get reattached.  Did I say flimsy!  :o

The front sling stud is structural, holds the forend on, is only half way up the forend, and right in the way if your trying to use the gun off a rest. hey!? Really? You can't make it up.

If anyone tries to give you one, turn and run!  :'(
Title: Re: Best plinker / Pester caliber?
Post by: Wayne52 on May 19, 2018, 06:19:40 PM
Prod makes a heck of a back yard gun, recently I've been using mine a lot in the field but the way I have it tuned right now I'm getting about 13 good shots before it starts dropping off drastically.  They're super easy to top off too cause they do have a small airtube.  I think I could easily get three clips at about 20fpe with some hammer adjustment, thank goodness for the fine JSAR SS valve that is my most recent upgrade.  Right now I've got it tuned for a little over 30fpe.
Title: Re: Best plinker / Pester caliber?
Post by: Wildcatter on May 21, 2018, 02:13:34 PM
PRod +1 - love mine.  A quiet backyard pester AND plinker.  You get a great amount of shots.  I touch almost 40 full power accurate shots in .22 all between 12 and 14 fpe stock.  Incredibly accurate for such a short gun.  And stupid quiet outta the box.  +1 +1 +1 +1
Title: Re: Best plinker / Pester caliber?
Post by: CK94 on May 21, 2018, 04:31:15 PM
Skimpy, your Gauntlet has a sister. Her name is Stormrider! I didnt expect a Daystate, or an FX for the money I paid. However, its a very sad looking little PCP. That is acceptable, however feeding via single shot tray or magazine is horrible. Before buying it, I asked if the feeding problem had been cleaned up. I was assured that it was just fine now, so I bought one. The harder Crosman dome pellets would feed with a very firm push on the bolt. perhaps 1 in 10 would jam up and refude to chamber.They shot patterns, not groups. So I tried my favorite: JSB. They are a softer pellet and hung up during the feeding cycle very badly. In fact, the 13 grain JSB would hang and jam; I was afraid of bending the bolt handle! So, now its back in Salon, Ohio and I'm waiting for my refund.

Based on my experience, dont even consider a Stromrider. Cheap Chinese quality with a German label.
Title: Re: Best plinker / Pester caliber?
Post by: Back_Roads on May 21, 2018, 08:42:25 PM
 Ok now my vote best all around toss in truck/ keep by the door pesting gun the P-rod is it.
Title: Re: Best plinker / Pester caliber?
Post by: Ribbonstone on May 21, 2018, 11:12:40 PM
Do have a P-Rod...but I'm still a bit PO'ed about it.

Not really a viable pistol used as a pistol, but it makes a pretty decent carbine (why set it on bench bags and hold it as if you had a"pretend" you have a butt stock when you can have a "real" buttstock?).

My eraly version needed a barrel change...so I got an LW barrel.



Was pretty loud, even at it's best settings, so added an extent6ion-LDC to the shroud.


All totaled up...new pistol....LW barrel...shoud extention...it wasn't a "cheap" choice for what it can do.  Probably my LEAST "thriffty" buy all in all.