Author Topic: So many choices... (Read 2194 times))

MeatNtaters · « **on:** February 03, 2018, 11:55:09 PM »

Hi everyone,

While I’ve been taking advantage of the experience of the knowledgeable GTA members for over a year now, I’ve just recently joined the forums and I find myself in a bit of a pickle...

I have a disco .22 that I’m looking to unload (never quit fell in love with it, though I really tried!), and want to find something in the entry-mid level .22 range that will be (1) .22 caliber, (2) easy to fill with a hand pump, (3) good for small game hunting and general back yard plinking.

I’ve seen so many potentially viable replacements (i.e. fortitude, rainstorm, urban) that it almost makes my head spin. Any advice from you would be most appreciated!

ranchibi · « **Reply #1 on:** February 04, 2018, 12:13:15 AM »

Jeremy, as you said there are SO MANY CHOICES LOL! Hatsan has the new flash series coming very soon...$300 for the synthetic stock rifle and $400 for the walnut stock flashpup. Your list is spot on too. It is going to boil down to what meets your requirements...I fill by hand pump so I made sure I picked one that does not have a large (bottle) air reservoir but still gives me the shot count (40-45) I was comfortable with...40-70 pumps to top it off with a 163cc reservoir on mine....very easy and I am only 150lbs. Enjoy your research as we all go through the same process! No matter which one you choose you will enjoy it

Nomadic Pirate · « **Reply #2 on:** February 04, 2018, 12:25:05 AM »

.22 cal ? .....take a hard good look at the Urban

MeatNtaters · « **Reply #3 on:** February 04, 2018, 12:30:13 AM »

Thanks, Randall! Oh, I’m definitely enjoying the research aspect of this “pickle” lol. But enjoyment doesn’t always equate to clarity ha! But that’s ok too, just makes the ride all the more interesting, right?

I appreciate your reply! I hadn’t considered the flash, but will certainly be looking in that direction now along with all the others I’ve been contemplating. Thanks friend!

MeatNtaters · « **Reply #4 on:** February 04, 2018, 12:35:23 AM »

Nomadic Pirate,

Thank you for the recommendation (or affirmation in this case)! And I’ve been following your posts for quite some time now... I’ve got lots of airgun hog hunting questions for you, but I’ll save those for a more appropriate thread lol

You definitely know your stuff!

TunedAccuracy · « **Reply #5 on:** February 04, 2018, 12:54:26 AM »

Quote from: MeatNtaters on February 03, 2018, 11:55:09 PM

(2) easy to fill with a hand pump, (3) good for small game hunting and general back yard plinking.

I always advise to buy a tank first.
None of them are easy to fill with a hand pump.
All of them are good for small game and plinking.

I would highly recommend the Daystate Regal XL mechanical gun over anything that will be advised here.
Buy once cry once. It is a masterpiece that will shoot with or better than any regulated gun.
It's two stage trigger will be better than any FX gun of which I own three.
And 1000 times better than some Urban gun.

Be warned that, you will be advised to purchase a 400 dollar gun,...............and then encouraged to add after market parts, dollar after dollar............
When for a few hundred more..........you take it out the box. Marvel at it , like a fine piece of art. And then gasp when it makes one single pellet hole over 5 shots at 25 yards. Which I have never seen an Urban do. Nor will I ever, under any consistency. Unlike a fine airgun, mechanical or not.

Another option is Troy Hammers built Kral. This will be a gun that has been gone thru and tuned.
I have never touched any of his work but I personally know people who have.
He takes an $)((#(ELturdo) and polishes it into a stellar, , reliable, performer.

This test target has been duplicated time and time again by, yours truly.

smythsg · « **Reply #6 on:** February 04, 2018, 11:57:15 AM »

Jeremy, add the Dominator/M16 to your list. (Available now as a Diana badged rifle) Very accurate, high shot count, deadly on small game, and quiet enough for back yard friendly.

Luis Leon · « **Reply #7 on:** February 04, 2018, 11:58:39 AM »

Quote

(2) easy to fill with a hand pump, (3) good for small game hunting and general back yard plinking.

Quote

I always advise to buy a tank first.
None of them are easy to fill with a hand pump.
All of them are good for small game and plinking.
And 1000 times better than some Urban gun.

Quigley, I appreciate your insights I'm a PCP newbie also so please regards these questions as such. About buying the tank first, I've contemplated doing just that but not having convenient fill sources nearby has precluded that. Did you take the tank route first? Some of the tanks are more costly than an entry-level PCP. For me the true barrier is not the price of the better guns, but the price to have those guns filled. I could spend $500+ for a tank and then $1300+ for a good plug-n-play compressor, but I refused to pay those prices. The Urban is not difficult for me to pump, but we are all built differently. And while I'm not foolish enough to compare the Urban to a Daystate Regal XL. For me at this point in time the Urban makes sense.

Quote

Be warned that, you will be advised to purchase a 400 dollar gun,...............and then encouraged to add after market parts, dollar after dollar............
When for a few hundred more..........you take it out the box. Marvel at it , like a fine piece of art.

The upgrading bug is something I'm personally being wary of... If I put a regulator in my Urban and have the pickle up front replaced with a shroud... I could just spend that money on a better gun from the get. So it is a fine line. But since I know for a fact that I will be owning more than one PCP rifle, my next one will definitely be a step above my current darling, the Gamo Urban.

Quote

This test target has been duplicated time and time again by, yours truly.

I don't think I could shoot a group like that, I'm always the limiting factor with any gun I shoot, that said, that is some impressive accuracy and shooting.

ranchibi · « **Reply #8 on:** February 04, 2018, 02:53:39 PM »

Jeremy, as Quigly pointed out upgrade costs add up, and his recommendation of the Daystate HRXL...that is the route I took for my first PCP and I do not regret that decision. As Quigley noted, an out of the box wonder..no upgrades needed, best mechanical trigger I’ve ever encountered, stupid accurate! So, if you save a bit longer that would also be my recommendation...good luck my friend! Enjoy the search!

Tweeter · « **Reply #9 on:** February 04, 2018, 03:02:26 PM »

Bsa Scorpion is the one of the best mid range pcp's you can buy. They often have very good sales on Amazon for these.

MeatNtaters · « **Reply #10 on:** February 04, 2018, 04:40:09 PM »

A lot of really insightful advice above. Thanks guys, truly.

I hadn’t been considering a tank first approach, followed by a high end pcp purchase, but I’m certainly open to entertaining that option. I’ve always been a “buy once, cry once” kind of guy with *most* of my powder burner purchases... *I would be lying if I said I didn’t have a small soft spot for the occasional “cheap” firearm lol.

Dang, you guys were supposed to make this easy and say “buy this (fill in the blank) one, dum dum.” Now I’ve got even more options to drool over... my wife is not going to be pleased with all of you

But on a serious note, thanks again for all the great advice and suggestions. GTA and it’s knowledgeable members are a lifesaver for a pcp newbie like myself!

maxtrouble · « **Reply #11 on:** February 04, 2018, 06:52:49 PM »

I also recommend the Daystate Regal XL .22 - shooting is believing. A joy to shoot and handle.

Tweeter · « **Reply #12 on:** February 04, 2018, 06:57:47 PM »

Not as easy as it used to be to settle on one pcp airgun. There are a lot more options now than there were just a few years ago when I started airgunning and it's only getting better.

You're not going to stop at only one anyhow so don't think too long, just pull the trigger! There will be time later to buy a few more airguns...

Nomadic Pirate · « **Reply #13 on:** February 04, 2018, 07:18:40 PM »

Quote from: Tweeter on February 04, 2018, 06:57:47 PM

Not as easy as it used to be to settle on one pcp airgun. There are a lot more options now than there were just a few years ago when I started airgunning and it's only getting better.

You're not going to stop at only one anyhow so don't think too long, just pull the trigger! There will be time later to buy a few more airguns...

Agree,

......and yes not so easy to decide, gotta figure out first how much you wanna invest, see what power level you want and desirable shot count, regulated or not ?
Prefer side lever or bolt action ? Rifle, carbine or bullpup ? Wood or synthetic ?
Bottle or tube ?

.....Yep it was way easier a decade ago to decide

redlined_b16a · « **Reply #14 on:** February 04, 2018, 09:41:00 PM »

Maybe I'm biased
Hatsan AT44 can be had as low as $360
Dail it down for shot count.
Crank it up for power.I like the .22 tuned to 30-33 fpe.
Still alot of shots and alot of power.

Yes its heavy.

NitroBobby · « **Reply #15 on:** February 04, 2018, 11:39:34 PM »

is your Disco stock?
I'll take it off your hands. I love the Disco platform and I've got a Mac 1 breech/barrel/LDC sitting in my gun locker looking for and air tube...

kgb

toku58 · « **Reply #16 on:** February 05, 2018, 02:28:46 AM »

Quote from: MeatNtaters on February 03, 2018, 11:55:09 PM

Hi everyone,

While I’ve been taking advantage of the experience of the knowledgeable GTA members for over a year now, I’ve just recently joined the forums and I find myself in a bit of a pickle...

I have a disco .22 that I’m looking to unload (never quit fell in love with it, though I really tried!), and want to find something in the entry-mid level .22 range that will be (1) .22 caliber, (2) easy to fill with a hand pump, (3) good for small game hunting and general back yard plinking.

I’ve seen so many potentially viable replacements (i.e. fortitude, rainstorm, urban) that it almost makes my head spin. Any advice from you would be most appreciated!

I was in the same boat! First PCP was a Disco. Never liked it. Way too loud for what I got out of it.

I love my Prod it pumps up rather easily with the hand pump, and a full charge gives me 48 good silent shots. It's a tack driver with Polymags. But the range is limited.
Aslo if pumping isn't your cup of tea and your budget is limited the 2250 co2 .22 is a nice option.

MeatNtaters · « **Reply #17 on:** February 05, 2018, 12:01:02 PM »

Yeah, like I said... I really did try to convince myself that I liked the disco more than I really did. And that is in no way a knock on the gun. I know many absolutely love theirs, and it is a tack driver, but I’m a pretty tall fella and it just never quite “fit” me. Also, I didn’t want to invest another $100+ for a stock that did feel right.

Keith, it is bone stock tuning-wise, but I did add an aftermarket brass trigger (Alliance Hobby I believe it was), a TKO muzzle device, and a couple other smaller items. If you’re interested, send me a message and I’ll give you all the details

And I will repeat myself (my wife says I do that a lot ha!), thanks so much to everyone for the feedback and suggestions!

All the best,
Jeremy

Maineiac · « **Reply #18 on:** February 05, 2018, 12:29:03 PM »

Do you have a specific budget in mind? I agree with the Daystate Huntsman suggested here but that might be out of your price range. If you can swing it, you won’t be dissatisfied for sure.

toddbrat · « **Reply #19 on:** February 05, 2018, 02:37:22 PM »

Quote from: MeatNtaters on February 03, 2018, 11:55:09 PM

Hi everyone,

While I’ve been taking advantage of the experience of the knowledgeable GTA members for over a year now, I’ve just recently joined the forums and I find myself in a bit of a pickle...

I have a disco .22 that I’m looking to unload (never quit fell in love with it, though I really tried!), and want to find something in the entry-mid level .22 range that will be (1) .22 caliber, (2) easy to fill with a hand pump, (3) good for small game hunting and general back yard plinking.

I’ve seen so many potentially viable replacements (i.e. fortitude, rainstorm, urban) that it almost makes my head spin. Any advice from you would be most appreciated!

Based on your criteria, I'd recommend the Urban from my experience with it. I have never owned/held/shot any of the aforementioned Daystates or other high-end PCP's but that in no way detracts from the joys I get from my Urban and .177 Maximus. The Urban can go straight from the box to the bench or the field, there aren't a lot of bells and whistles and if it gets scratched up on briar bushes, who cares. As a rule, they are extremely accurate. They do have a hidden gem in their power adjuster, it allows you to go from about 24FPE all the way down to about 14FPE. Both of those ranges are well within ethical limits of squirrels and rabbits and pretty much anything that flies. I do not hunt with mine, only backyard target shooting just over 60 yards. I've shot 5 shot groups in this setup in good conditions that can practicaly be covered by a dime. Also, with the power left unchanged, most of them seem to do very well with the cheap CPHP's from WalMart if you don't want to spend a small fortune on higher-end pellets. While it can go all the way up to 3300psi and some change, the sweet spot starts about 2800. With the lower power setting I use, I only pump to 2k psi. That gives me 20 shots with little POI change or 30 if I want to hold over the last 5 or 6. Going over that and the curve is pretty pronounced. With the 105cc tube, hand pumping is a breeze. When I'm planning a long session, I fill from my SCUBA tank, it is 3k psi not 4500 but was much cheaper and I can get it filled from a local paintball field for $10.

Good luck with the search, there are a ton of great options now and if you wait a few more months more are coming down the pipe.

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So many choices...

Author Topic: So many choices... (Read 2194 times))

Nomadic Pirate

Nomadic Pirate