Gun prices vs. quality? Or how to catagorize a PCP thread

[Joekrooz]

Entry/Beginner level sub $400
Mildly Addicted level $400 - $1000
Full blown addict $1000- $2000
In need of psychiatric care at $2000 and beyond. I'm there to the 2nd power ;-)

I went from entry/beginner level to in need of psychiatric care in about 4 years 

[Fussell]

Entry/Beginner level sub $400
Mildly Addicted level $400 - $1000
Full blown addict $1000- $2000
In need of psychiatric care at $2000 and beyond. I'm there to the 2nd power ;-)

I went from entry/beginner level to in need of psychiatric care in about 4 years 

I hear ya Joe. Took me a little over 2 years. Now I'll pay more for a scope than I used to would pay for an airgun?

[Rich7777]

Entry/Beginner level sub $400
Mildly Addicted level $400 - $1000
Full blown addict $1000- $2000
In need of psychiatric care at $2000 and beyond. I'm there to the 2nd power ;-)

Love it!

[kingrude1]

I like to stay below the $200 range in scopes.  I've bought 2 Athlon's, a Nikon EFR and a couple of the BSA 6-24x side focus scopes when they went on sale.  All were under $200.

One day I'd like to get a Super Sniper, just to see what they're all about.

Most of my scopes are under $100.  I don't see the return on investment of a $1000 scope on an air rifle.  I could see if you were competing at 1000 yards with a powder burner and making money doing so.  Ok.  99% of my shooting is under 20 yards so I don't see the benefit, for me personally.

I don't think the cost of scope should figure into the rifle category.  Everyone has a different use or purpose for the rifles they buy.  One could get the job done with a $60 scope while another wants or needs a $1000 scope.

Taso

I am in this camp. Just can't see what I am getting extra in an expensive scope. Every time I have asked the question "what is this expensive scope going to do for me that a cheap one won't"? I haven't gotten an acceptable answer for that to me, that would justify in my mind spending the extra coin.

Cheap scopes zero and hold zero, that is all that is required. These are airguns and unless you are match shooting where every your trying to squeeze every bit of accuracy out of your rifle, I think it's just wasted money to have that expensive scope sitting on an airgun shooting at paper, hunting or pesting. I would rather take my savings and buy more airguns.

[Nomadic Pirate]

I like to stay below the $200 range in scopes.  I've bought 2 Athlon's, a Nikon EFR and a couple of the BSA 6-24x side focus scopes when they went on sale.  All were under $200.

One day I'd like to get a Super Sniper, just to see what they're all about.

Most of my scopes are under $100.  I don't see the return on investment of a $1000 scope on an air rifle.  I could see if you were competing at 1000 yards with a powder burner and making money doing so.  Ok.  99% of my shooting is under 20 yards so I don't see the benefit, for me personally.

I don't think the cost of scope should figure into the rifle category.  Everyone has a different use or purpose for the rifles they buy.  One could get the job done with a $60 scope while another wants or needs a $1000 scope.

Taso

I am in this camp. Just can't see what I am getting extra in an expensive scope. Every time I have asked the question "what is this expensive scope going to do for me that a cheap one won't"? I haven't gotten an acceptable answer for that to me, that would justify in my mind spending the extra coin.

Cheap scopes zero and hold zero, that is all that is required. These are airguns and unless you are match shooting where every your trying to squeeze every bit of accuracy out of your rifle, I think it's just wasted money to have that expensive scope sitting on an airgun shooting at paper, hunting or pesting. I would rather take my savings and buy more airguns.

I completely agree with you on one point "I would rather take my saving and buy more airguns."

But I gotta tell you if you want to shoot long distance you need a good scope, I did try shoot 100 yards with my scopes and the reticle would just make it impossible to even see the bullseye even if my gun could shoot 1" at 100 yards I would never be able to do it because I can't actually see where I'm supposed to shoot

But since I don't care much for long distance shooting and my hunting is at a 30 yards average I'm perfectly happy with my 100 bucks UTGs   

[Cindi]

I like to stay below the $200 range in scopes.  I've bought 2 Athlon's, a Nikon EFR and a couple of the BSA 6-24x side focus scopes when they went on sale.  All were under $200.

One day I'd like to get a Super Sniper, just to see what they're all about.

...[Quote Shortened]...
Taso

Hi Taso,

I very selective on optics (eye glasses, Scopes, etc) as I'm very sensitive due to my slight astigmatism combined with  old and tired eyes.

I very pleased with my "SWFA SS 10x42M" scope. I am impressed with the clarity of the image and the sharpness of the fine details of the reticle on that scope as compared to low end scopes I have purchased.
https://swfa.com/swfa-ss-10x42-tactical-30mm-riflescope-6.html
The model with Rear Parallax Adjustment (down to 10 yards) often goes on sale for $230 to $250.

I will say that I am also very impressed with the clarity of the Nikon PROSTAFF® Target EFR Riflescope.  https://www.cabelas.com/product/Nikon-PROSTAFF-Target-EFR-Riflescope/1344779.uts?slotId=0
I think it is worth the regular price (even better at the $149 sale price back in March)

My requirements are based on my joy of paper punching and interest in HFT and Silhouette.

70% here -> Entry/Beginner level sub $400
30% here -> Mildly Addicted level $400 - $1000
Could happen -> Full blown addict $1000- $2000
Only if I become a much better shot ->In need of psychiatric care at $2000 and beyond.

Oh !@#$* very likely -> Building my own AG, spending so many hours on that addiction as to make buying a Thomas FT with a high end scope seem like the sane thing to do.

-Cindi

[bman940]

from joe- I went from entry/beginner level to in need of psychiatric care in about 4 years 

Hilarious! When my son was younger we used to shoot the 2 Beeman's I have topped with Nikon's PROSTAFF 3-9 Target EFR's. Love the scopes and the accuracy of these .17's. My son and I have put 1000's of pellets through these air rifles. I have even loaned them to a few friends who wanted to get their kids into shooting the right way. Come to think of it, I am not sure they were ever returned......

[Joekrooz]

Entry/Beginner level sub $400
Mildly Addicted level $400 - $1000
Full blown addict $1000- $2000
In need of psychiatric care at $2000 and beyond. I'm there to the 2nd power ;-)

I went from entry/beginner level to in need of psychiatric care in about 4 years 

I hear ya Joe. Took me a little over 2 years. Now I'll pay more for a scope than I used to would pay for an airgun?

Amazing how it progresses isn’t it?

[mobilemail]

I come from a slightly different angle than the tinkerers.  I'm happy to find 0-2 hours a week to get on an airgun trigger, so I really don't want to spend time always working on one. I want to shoot!  So I really look for a gun that I can take out of the box and get good performance without needing to do any more than clean the barrel.  That's not to say that a tinkerer wouldn't want to look for things to change, but it isn't required.
For example: my .177 Mrod needed a lighter hammer and considerable tuning work to get efficiency out of it and set the shot string and power where I wanted.  My .177 Scorpion SE just came out of the box and did its job. Absolutely worth the difference in price! 

Another thing to consider in this conversation is older guns.  My Daystate Harrier SE is from the 90s and is a tremendous shooter (except when gunning for paintballs at the GTA fun shoot....but I digress).  Did it decrease from a "mid level" or "high end" gun just because of its current market value?  Or is value determined by original price?  And is using the price point from 15 years ago really fair?   Obviously, this is a somewhat complex discussion. 

And finally, the economics.  For a while I was oggling some of the nicer $1200-1500 guns until reality set in. That's a darn bunch of cash!   I have nothing against folks spending it, but I just can't justify diverting that amount of my income toward a gun.  (Now if I can figure out how to get it with hotel points...different story!!)    It seems the airgun market is in a race to the bottom with all the guns at the sub-300 price point.  But where are the nice guns in the 500-1000 price point?  Something that shoots like a Air Arms or Daystate but with a beech stock and maybe not quite as pristine a finish?  These guns would give higher margins than the cheapies for the companies and good options for the shooters.  (And throw in some left-handers there, willya??) 

Anyway, these are my worthless opinions.  Next!   

[moorepower]

Eventually I will get a Huntsman, because I slobber every time I see one. So far I don’t think I have paid over $325 for any of my Mrods. I have been putting Mueller APT scopes on the Mrods and love them. They are under $180. I may put a Cabelas Covenant 6x24 ffp on my most accurate gun because I really like the ffp moa reticule, and I get them for $250 on sale. I have a really hard time spending Sako $$ on an airgun. I picked up a very lightly used L461 varmint with a Leupold vxII for less than the Huntsman I want. 

[KnifeMaker]

I come from a slightly different angle than the tinkerers.  I'm happy to find 0-2 hours a week to get on an airgun trigger, so I really don't want to spend time always working on one. I want to shoot!  So I really look for a gun that I can take out of the box and get good performance without needing to do any more than clean the barrel.  That's not to say that a tinkerer wouldn't want to look for things to change, but it isn't required.
For example: my .177 Mrod needed a lighter hammer and considerable tuning work to get efficiency out of it and set the shot string and power where I wanted.  My .177 Scorpion SE just came out of the box and did its job. Absolutely worth the difference in price! 

Another thing to consider in this conversation is older guns.  My Daystate Harrier SE is from the 90s and is a tremendous shooter (except when gunning for paintballs at the GTA fun shoot....but I digress).  Did it decrease from a "mid level" or "high end" gun just because of its current market value?  Or is value determined by original price?  And is using the price point from 15 years ago really fair?   Obviously, this is a somewhat complex discussion. 

And finally, the economics.  For a while I was oggling some of the nicer $1200-1500 guns until reality set in. That's a darn bunch of cash!   I have nothing against folks spending it, but I just can't justify diverting that amount of my income toward a gun.  (Now if I can figure out how to get it with hotel points...different story!!)    It seems the airgun market is in a race to the bottom with all the guns at the sub-300 price point.  But where are the nice guns in the 500-1000 price point?  Something that shoots like a Air Arms or Daystate but with a beech stock and maybe not quite as pristine a finish?  These guns would give higher margins than the cheapies for the companies and good options for the shooters.  (And throw in some left-handers there, willya??) 

Anyway, these are my worthless opinions.  Next!   


UH, RainStorm II---Hello!  Where ya been?

Knife

[mobilemail]

Ha! Still learning. 😉

[accu fan]

Hard to beat that bsa sqorpion se for the price. & also the swfa 10x42 ss scope.
I have a freind who wants to jump in the rabbit hole & I cant find that bsa
sqorpion se for sale any where.