Which Gun Should I look At?

[Brawler1588]

So I have a gauntlet in .25 and an aspen in .22 I wanted the Aspen for the reason you can pump it up on the fly. I want to use the .22 for small birds and pests and while it's a great concept even after pumping it 5-10 times your breathing rises and after some testing over the weekend it took some time to be able to settle down and be able to take a shot at something very small. I am looking for a very accurate and fairly light gun that has a decent shot count around the $500 mark. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

[soupyyy]

Have you considered getting pump instead?

[ranchibi]

Mathew, there are quite a few PCP’s in that price range. Benjamin Marauder, Diana Outlaw, a few Kral guns, JSAR Hawk, Air Arms S200 (order from Canada), Airforce TalonP or Talon, BSA Buccaneer, Gamo Urban, Hatsan Flash or Flashpup, Benjamin P-rod just to name a few, I’m sure others will chime in and give you many more options! Also check the classifieds 👍.

[Brawler1588]

Have you considered getting pump instead?

I have a 60 minute scba tank but on the Aspen you get 5-10 and than needs to be topped off before they begin to fall off while on low faster on high. Looking for something that can be filled up and go for some time.

[Brawler1588]

Mathew, there are quite a few PCP’s in that price range. Benjamin Marauder, Diana Outlaw, a few Kral guns, JSAR Hawk, Air Arms S200 (order from Canada), Airforce TalonP or Talon, BSA Buccaneer, Gamo Urban, Hatsan Flash or Flashpup, Benjamin P-rod just to name a few, I’m sure others will chime in and give you many more options! Also check the classifieds 👍.

Out of those I have had my eye on the hawk and have looked at a few kral guns. I have been looking at the classifieds too thank you for the input.

[anti-squirrel]

You say "pump up and go for some time".

This translates in my head to wanting a huge shot count.  Which in turn means either a low power tune and large tube OR a botte-gun.  Combine with very accurate and fairly light.

Now this crosses almost everything in the $500 range off the list- it's all about finding the feature set PCPs that meet all those needs, then correlating to price.  So lets clear some things:

1: how many shots are you hoping to get?  Tune and caliber also play a big role here, so factor in caliber and power level.
2: bottle guns tend to be heavy-ish, unless you go with a carbon bottle, and no CF-bottle gun is $500-ish.  Ish ish ish.
3: Very Accurate.  That's untenable for a desire.  How accurate?  Let's assume MOA out to 50 yards, which also circles around .177, .20, and .22 because no .25 or larger is going to give a big shot count with a tube that's smaller/lightweight for $5000-ish ish ish ish
4: now add other factors- wood or synthetic stock?
5: rifle or bullpup?  I'm leaving pistol out because no pistol is available that is light, has a long shot count, and is accurate, regardless of what anybody claim, because anything that IS, is not a pistol, it's a carbine
6: and we're still talking $500-ish

Knowing these we can cross just about everything off the list unless you want to spend time taking your PCP and working on the barrel, the tune, and generally polishing things up which means, as much as I hate to say, leaving out SPA.  QC hurts them.  Good overall designs, inexpensive, the potential for superb shooting PCPs, and also a good chance of getting a PCP that out of the box needs work.

Hatsan has some potential in their Flash PCPs.  Small air tube so not a lot of shots- unless you tune the power level down.  Flash Synthetic is under 6 pounds
Kral- several PCPs here, such as the various Puuchers, but these are not light weight.  Turkish walnut is heavy!  However, the NP-03 Puncher Carbine DOES make the cut- though the shot count won't be large

So let's look at others...

AA S200 PCP- CZ barrels, lower power levels, but superb accuracy, and available from a Canadian retailer at your budget max- a hair over 6 pounds
Gamo Urban, Gamo Coyote, and BSA Buccaneer (all grouped together since they have so much in common and use BSA barrels)- over 7 pounds
Cometa Orion- just over 7 pounds
Marauder- over 7 pounds- and not a guarantee you will get "very accurate"

Gauntlet is a bottle-gun and heavy

So looking at the information, there is only one PCP that meets the pricepoint, accuracy level, and is relatively light.  Have you ordered your Air Arms S200 yet?  Or will you getting the Kral Punch NP-03 Carbine?  Or do you prefer the Hatsan Flash?

and looking at these three choices, I'd lean heavily toward that Air Arms as the barrel's inherent accuracy is a given.

[Hobbyman2007]

Here’s a link to the CZ 200. Now remember the price is CAD so you pay 2/3 of what is advertised. He also stocks the magazine kit if so inclined. That’s the route I’d take for a lightweight hunting rig but I’d stick to 177.https://www.airgunforum.ca/store/product_info.php?cPath=22&products_id=209

[Brawler1588]

Thank you anti-squirel that kral was on the list to at but I was seeing 20 shots when tuned properly, as for the weight I just want it lighter than my gauntlet .25 which has a heavier scope and the larger bottle. As for the shot count would like at least 40+ if possible and I prefer synthetic if possible. I will definitely take a look at the ones you mentioned.

[anti-squirrel]

Thank you anti-squirel that kral was on the list to at but I was seeing 20 shots when tuned properly, as for the weight I just want it lighter than my gauntlet .25 which has a heavier scope and the larger bottle. As for the shot count would like at least 40+ if possible and I prefer synthetic if possible. I will definitely take a look at the ones you mentioned.

Very welcome!

I'd look very hard at that Air Arms S200- it comes to $410 USD.  I treat these questions as if I were making the same choice for me:  in the sub-$500 range, there's only 5 choices I'd look at, each depending on minor details unique to the gun and feature set I want:
1: AA S200
2: BSA Buccaneer/Gamo Coyote (same gun basically)
3: Hatsan Flash- knowing I'd likely have to do some tuning/cleaning
4: Kral Puncher- either the carbine or the Marine in walnut
5: Cometa Orion

Be sure to check out the Classified section here (and the AGN/Yellow as well), along with vendors such as Aceros de Hispania.  And for slightly LESS money, you can get a Gamo Urban.  this is basically the Coyote/Buccaneer in a synthetic stock.  I'm not aware of anybody who got an inaccurate Urban.  Most folks buy, shoot, and then wax poetic about how awesome they are.

[maraudinglizard]

I have the Puncher Mega Marine .177, shot count is about 60 before I have to top off. It comes in .22 and .25 as well. These guns have a power adjuster built in, just turn a small dial for the power you want.   I hunt with mine and carrying it in woods is not a problem.  Can't go wrong with the Urban either, light weight and accurate.  Just depends on what you want to invest in. The guns mentioned are all good choices. Good luck.

https://kralarms.com/en/kategori/air-rifles/puncher-pcp/
https://www.pyramydair.com/brands/kral-arms?mid=351;sid=1375A617A415&N=0&Ntk=primary&q=kral&cx=002970863286801882398:jlcminxfwdw&cof=FORID:11;NB:1&saSearch

[fatmike]

Diana outlaw gets a decent shot count. Reviews say its accurate.

[Brawler1588]

Anyone know the shot count on a flash .22 without crazy tweaking?

[Nomadic Pirate]

Just cry once and get an Uragan,...it checks all you boxes

[moorepower]

The Gamo Urban can be tuned for a 27-2800 psi fill and around 30 shots and you will have enough left for a scope and rings. For the price of a longer screw and a drop of thread locker the trigger is very nice. The BSA barrel is accurate. With the small air tube, topping it off with a hand pump when your tank runs low is quite easy.

[Brawler1588]

Just cry once and get an Uragan,...it checks all you boxes

I really would if I had the funds but plan on selling the Aspen to help fund it. I am a stay at home dad with no income now and the wife won't finance any more hobbies so If I want stuff need to sell stuff. Have a few larger items to sell but that need to go to bills, we have a little girl due at the end of April. I really like the uragan, that was on the list and so was the raptor mini but they are out of reach that's why I was looking at the hawk.

[moorepower]

Even better reason to get an Urban.

[Wayne52]

I second the Diana Outlaw, people that have never had one of these don't know what they're missing.

[Hoosier Daddy]

Here is one that has been on my wish list for a while...
The Kral Puncher Pro 500. PA now has a refurb for $525
https://www.pyramydair.com/product/kral-puncher-pro-500-pcp-air-rifle?m=4772#10244

[Brawler1588]

Here is one that has been on my wish list for a while...
The Kral Puncher Pro 500. PA now has a refurb for $525

Why that over the knight is it because the knight is a bullpup?

[Hoosier Daddy]

Why that over the knight is it because the knight is a bullpup?

+

Yes, purely a personal preference thing.
I like a conventional rifle over bull-pup, and wood over synthetic.
But that's just me.

Here was my thread on searching a bottle gun.
https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=161068.0