A look back at 2017 threw a tuners eyes. The year of the ELG(entry level gun)

[oldpro]

 Ill call 2017 the year of the budget gun, as there really In my eyes were not many other guns that to me made me go WOW except maybe the Veteran and Im saying this because I get to shoot a lot of guns and get to really get into the workings of them and see how they work. The budget or Entry Level guns sure came in from every where from makers like Diana and Umarex and Gamo all of whom had no real track record but turned out some decent guns. I will say FX came in late but with a very unique x-barrel system that I find intriguing but it was still overshadowed by the ELG offerings. To me it was and off year for myself also but late in the year I could smell the fires burning again and the excitement of new ideas coming to fruition. I think 2018 might be the BIG year in PCPs I really do.

[MJP]

How BIG Travis? 

Marko

[oldpro]

How BIG Travis? 

Marko

Not that big Marko lol

[FuzzyGrub]

It will be interesting in what comes out of Shot Show.  Will these ELG suppliers have rapid improvements planned, add to their line-up, etc?   

[Motorhead]

So long as the MASSES view Air guns as child's / non serious shooting systems will the majority still be entry level purchases.
Unfortunately the modern "Quality" air gun contains more complexity than a powder gun & therefor cost more to produce.

Unlike a lot of Europe where high power "Powder Burners" are strictly regulated, the USA is very pro to Powder guns and a $1000 buys quite nice powder guns, yet is just getting traction in Nice Air guns ... sadly.

Tho looked at another way, with so many finding limited places to shoot powder guns, cost & noise associated with them, MANY are coming around when accuracy & precision, noise & ease of shooting become more important than Power, Big game hunting, Ego feeding etc ...

Like Travis, I too get to handle a lot of Air guns and see the trend for now still being one of sticker shock with the better guns having folks testing the waters of Air Guns on the low end more so than mid/high offering.
Even in the competitive world of Field Target many come into it with inexpensive gear & ONLY if they get serious do most up there game with better gear & guns.

Just another view point   
Scott

[tomiboy]

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Tho looked at another way, with so many finding limited places to shoot powder guns, cost & noise associated with them, MANY are coming around when accuracy & precision, noise & ease of shooting become more important than Power, Big game hunting, Ego feeding etc ...

I agree with this

[Springrrrr]

Wouldn't it be hot stuff if someone took an entry level PCP, with few to no mods, to the nationals and won the big one. 

Bet that would rattle a cage or two and although I don't really think it will happen, it would be a hoot to see.

[Acapulco]

Don't think high end airguns cost more to produce, just the markup is more.

I say this after seeing AoA purchase cost sheet from FX, years ago.

[FuzzyGrub]

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Tho looked at another way, with so many finding limited places to shoot powder guns, cost & noise associated with them, MANY are coming around when accuracy & precision, noise & ease of shooting become more important than Power, Big game hunting, Ego feeding etc ...

I agree with this

Sadly, I see allot of city and suburbs adding restrictions to airguns.       While I'm rural, and powder guns are fine, I prefer the quiet of airguns.  If you shoot a little every night after work, the whole valley doesn't label you a phyco.   

[toddbrat]

If you shoot a little every night after work, the whole valley doesn't label you a phyco. 

+1

While I'm outside of the city limits and could legally get away with shooting whatever I wanted, I'm also smack in the middle of a subdivision. There are a few folks that live on the edges that shoot occasionally (maybe every couple of months), I prefer to keep my shooting as stealthy as possible. There is an indoor range a few miles from me that I use pretty often for pistols, but the nearest rifle range is 45 minutes one way. The PB's don't see much action these days when I can go out back and shoot my air guns all day for a fraction of what a couple of hours at the range will cost.

It was thanks to entry level guns that got me back into air power and, at least for the foreseeable future, it will be entry level guns that keep me there.

[Wayne52]

I'm looking forward to what the shot show in Las Vegas has, I heard some rumors but I ain't going to say anything because I haven't seen anything written in stone yet but as usual I'm sure there'll be some neat stuff.  I'm really hoping for a wider selection of big bores myself, time will tell and not too much longer either, I think it's supposed to be Jan 18th

[MJP]

Yet another shot show coming but still no Hammer from umarex, and all the rumors have faded.

Marko

[aceflier]

Marko I was just about to say the same. Still no hammer! I did see a video of a Gamo .45 on airgun web that was said to push 350gr at 400fpe. Haven’t heard any talk about it here though? Look like an Airforce knockoff to me. And the Winchester looks like a rainstormII.

[Ribbonstone]

  Even thoiugh I'm not an "entry level" airgunner...can see 2017 as the best year for entray level PCP's in "forever".


With a little immagination:

The Disco could be a Maxi for all the differnce it makes:
Add a Gamo Urban (the recent price drop makes it an exellet choice)
Add a Gaunlet.
The old FDPCP could as well be a new FDPCP.
MAYBE a Sentry (prices are a little questionable)>




So in 2017, and NOW, are 8 choices in the low price range ($170- $300) that may just do it for you.


MIght be the odd guy...but even with more expensive toys to play with, I still spend most of my trigger time with the ones shown.  Why not?  They work, are accurate, get the job don't break my heart they get a giant barb-wire fence scartch, get ranined on, or other wise abused/disfugured.

[MJP]

Marko I was just about to say the same. Still no hammer! I did see a video of a Gamo .45 on airgun web that was said to push 350gr at 400fpe. Haven’t heard any talk about it here though? Look like an Airforce knockoff to me. And the Winchester looks like a rainstormII.

Yeah it's an Evanix rebrand. "The guns did really well! And so on and so for... today we are shooting st 35 yds..."
Oh come on, really well with 2" groups at 35yds I call that shotgun pattern at 100 yds.
Did like the under lever on the bottle guns.

Marko

[BlindPig95]

I too have been "drawn in" to the airgun realm due to many of the points stated in other replies here.  I can shoot CO2 all winter indoors for the cost of 1 or two nights of High Power in the summer.  Plus, I can punch paper in the basement at home, which I suspect will be more rewarding and informative than using the laser cartridge in my AR-15.  Travel time and cost is another factor: driving to a range that's 30 miles away, after work, with gas up to $2.80/gal vs shooting in the basement?  No comparison!

It's still early for me, but so far, I'm glad I've gotten into this! ~$230 for initial gun purchase, CO2 powerlets and targets, and I'm ready to go!

Terry

[Ben in Va]

Agreed. 

There was deff some really cool ELGs this year.  I like that the PCPs are getting more hunter ready.  Multi shot.  Factory regulated. 

I'm kind of sad that that Hammer never came to fruition.  Even if it couldn't achieve the fpe it was aiming for, it has some pretty cool features.