My second PcP rifle. Got bit by the bug...

[Mosin Marine]

Got my second pcp yesterday in the mail. The Air max varmint (SPA pr900x) in .22. First impression so far is amazement at the quality that i got for $199 with shipping. Rifle is super lite and feels great both in the shoulder and on the cheek. Have not taken it to the back yard yet to get a feel for accuracy. Will do that early next week when weather cools down.

On a side note comparing it to the maximus it seems much lighter and almost has a superior feel in my hands. Their is also the bonus of it being shorter compared to the maximus. It came with 3 magazines and a single shot tray. The bolt pulls all the way to the rear so now i will be able to load some of the longer .22 slugs that i purchased awhile back from mrhollowpoint. Been itching to see how the heavier grain .22 slugs will perform on ground squirrels. (13 lined ground squirrel) Hand pumping it to 3000 psi compared to the maximus's 2000 psi was not bad at all. Took me one or two more breaks then usual. If a disable veteran can hand pump 3000 psi i believe almost anyone can.

On a final note i believe i just got bit by the SPA bug. Will be getting more of their product in the future. I see they have a whole line of new rifles coming out. Cant wait.

[Rat Sniper (AKA: PaulT58)]

Looks like your headed down the same hole I stumbled down!  I started with a .22 Maximus, then a .22 Varmint, then got lucky and snagged a Wally World clearance .177 Maximus, and just put in an order for a Gauntlet the other day! 

One tip for your Varmint, when chambering a round, use your thumb on the back of the bolt to push it forward to seat the pellet in the chamber.  It will take the pressure off the bolt handle and lessen the chance of breaking it off!

[Ribbonstone]

Think of it as the "hook" in PCP "fishing".  Once you have a fill system, adding another PCP to use the same fill system seems "50% cheaper" than using the fill system for just one PCP.

BUy 2 more, and the cost of the fill system (pump or tank) is spread out between 4 rifles...1/4th....kind of like spreading the cost of a really great lawn mower, then having 4 lawns to cut in place of just one.

[Geronimo]

Haha, I like the way you think!

[anti-squirrel]

Congratulations on your way to becoming a SPAddict, Brandon!

PCPs are fun.  Inexpensive PCPs are more fun.  Powerful inexpensive PCPs are incredibly fun. 

But...

Inexpensive, Powerful, and Accurate PCPs are the most fun   Here's to hoping your newest purchase is every bit as accurate as you hope 

[Mosin Marine]

Thank you all for the replies!

Looks like your headed down the same hole I stumbled down!  I started with a .22 Maximus, then a .22 Varmint, then got lucky and snagged a Wally World clearance .177 Maximus, and just put in an order for a Gauntlet the other day! 

One tip for your Varmint, when chambering a round, use your thumb on the back of the bolt to push it forward to seat the pellet in the chamber.  It will take the pressure off the bolt handle and lessen the chance of breaking it off!

I was looking at the Gauntlet before i bought this rifle also! What caliber did you order? I was looking to get it in .177 for field target. It may be on the table once i see how some of the future reviews on it turn out. The Spa bullpup keep catching my eye tho haha. Do you hand pump all yours also?

[Rat Sniper (AKA: PaulT58)]

Thank you all for the replies!

Looks like your headed down the same hole I stumbled down!  I started with a .22 Maximus, then a .22 Varmint, then got lucky and snagged a Wally World clearance .177 Maximus, and just put in an order for a Gauntlet the other day! 

One tip for your Varmint, when chambering a round, use your thumb on the back of the bolt to push it forward to seat the pellet in the chamber.  It will take the pressure off the bolt handle and lessen the chance of breaking it off!

I was looking at the Gauntlet before i bought this rifle also! What caliber did you order? I was looking to get it in .177 for field target. It may be on the table once i see how some of the future reviews on it turn out. The Spa bullpup keep catching my eye tho haha. Do you hand pump all yours also?

I got the Gauntlet in .22.  SG has it for 242.99 with a coupon that took another $30 off.  Plus using their CC gave me another discount so after all that and Ebates cash back, it ended up being only 201.08 shipped.  I couldn't pass on that deal!

I recently picked up the Benjamin 90ci 4500 psi tank, what a difference that makes!  I filled my Maximus and QB Chief this afternoon from 1000 to 2000 psi, and it took less than 60 seconds each to fill!  It sure beats the heck out of pumping, which I was doing before I got the bottle!  I just need to find a cheaper place to fill it.  The dive shop near me want $10 to fill it.  I'm going to stop by the Paintball range near Hurlburt Field and see what they charge, hopefully it will be cheaper.

[.]

Welcome to the $199 3/mag Varmint mania, Brandon, you have a lotta company here!

And thank you for your service, folks like yourself make the world a safer place for all of us!

If I could shoot a pup, I'd buy a SPA, but I am happy with the fit and weight and size of their pistols and carbines!

[Wayne52]

Brandon for a 30fpe out of the box gun you can't go wrong with the Varmint.



Extremely accurate too.

[Mosin Marine]

Thank you all for the replies!

Looks like your headed down the same hole I stumbled down!  I started with a .22 Maximus, then a .22 Varmint, then got lucky and snagged a Wally World clearance .177 Maximus, and just put in an order for a Gauntlet the other day! 

One tip for your Varmint, when chambering a round, use your thumb on the back of the bolt to push it forward to seat the pellet in the chamber.  It will take the pressure off the bolt handle and lessen the chance of breaking it off!

I was looking at the Gauntlet before i bought this rifle also! What caliber did you order? I was looking to get it in .177 for field target. It may be on the table once i see how some of the future reviews on it turn out. The Spa bullpup keep catching my eye tho haha. Do you hand pump all yours also?

I got the Gauntlet in .22.  SG has it for 242.99 with a coupon that took another $30 off.  Plus using their CC gave me another discount so after all that and Ebates cash back, it ended up being only 201.08 shipped.  I couldn't pass on that deal!

I recently picked up the Benjamin 90ci 4500 psi tank, what a difference that makes!  I filled my Maximus and QB Chief this afternoon from 1000 to 2000 psi, and it took less than 60 seconds each to fill!  It sure beats the heck out of pumping, which I was doing before I got the bottle!  I just need to find a cheaper place to fill it.  The dive shop near me want $10 to fill it.  I'm going to stop by the Paintball range near Hurlburt Field and see what they charge, hopefully it will be cheaper.

You got a steal on that rifle! I have looked at getting a tank also but there is no where near me to fill it. I have looked into one of the compressors to fill it, just seems a bit out of the price range. I do see that Mrod air now has the portable hpa compressors for sale for around 400 that can work on 12 volt or you can use adapter to use 110 volt. May be work it to look at this in the future.

[Mosin Marine]

Brandon for a 30fpe out of the box gun you can't go wrong with the Varmint.



Extremely accurate too.

Thanks for that information, looks like it shoots well for the price point. This may become my primary hunting rifle. What was the accuracy you got with your testing.

[avator]

Think of it as the "hook" in PCP "fishing".  Once you have a fill system, adding another PCP to use the same fill system seems "50% cheaper" than using the fill system for just one PCP.

BUy 2 more, and the cost of the fill system (pump or tank) is spread out between 4 rifles...1/4th....kind of like spreading the cost of a really great lawn mower, then having 4 lawns to cut in place of just one.

RIBBS.... DUDE !!!!    You just justified my next several air gun purchases..... BLESS YOU MY BROTHER !!!

[Wolverineshooter]

Please report back on your field test. I may order one if it is really good.

[Wayne52]

These are all 5 shot groups covered with dimes at 20 yards using a 4x scope that covered the dots, plus the fact I was wobbling on a window sill shooting, no bench or rest here, would be nice but ain't going to happen, I could setup a benchrest rig over at my brothers but to do that I'd have to drive 15 miles every time. 

[K.O.]

I looks like shots 11-16 are the sweet spot for reaching out there with those pellets and that tune...

[WesBob]

Nice grouping!

[Tater]

Congrats Brandon. Hope to see you at one of the future fun shoots.

[Mosin Marine]

Congrats Brandon. Hope to see you at one of the future fun shoots.

Thanks jerry, i will definitely be at the next one!

On a side note my maximus seems to be working just fine. I had left it cocked and loaded for a day waiting for a skunk at night. Seemed to fix itself for some reason. It cocks back like butter again. I am sure it got nervous seeing the new gun and decided it better start working.

Also on a side not Mr skunk is dead. Thanks to a .22 Predator polymag to the heart lung area at about 15 yards. Dinger went off so i waited in the pitch dark of the porch with my green hunting light. Mr skunk decided it was time to raid the bird feeder. Last day of that for him. Guess the maximus still has it going on. Reminded me why i like it so much. It is still way to long to be maneuvering around in the dark.

[Tater]

Thanks jerry, i will definitely be at the next one!

On a side note my maximus seems to be working just fine. I had left it cocked and loaded for a day waiting for a skunk at night. Seemed to fix itself for some reason. It cocks back like butter again. I am sure it got nervous seeing the new gun and decided it better start working.

Also on a side not Mr skunk is dead. Thanks to a .22 Predator polymag to the heart lung area at about 15 yards. Dinger went off so i waited in the pitch dark of the porch with my green hunting light. Mr skunk decided it was time to raid the bird feeder. Last day of that for him. Guess the maximus still has it going on. Reminded me why i like it so much. It is still way to long to be maneuvering around in the dark.

 

Glad it's working better for you, they are fun guns.
Congrats on the skunk, did he spray?

[Wayne52]

Brandon I would start out with either the 21.14 grain H&N's or the Beeman 21.14grain pellets.  When I first got my Varmint the H&N Sniper Magnums seemed to be all over the place but since it's been broken in, it seems to be shooting them great.  I'm getting really antsy about my Domintor which should be a great hunter too.