Friend asked me lowest price point to get into PCP .22's

[Tallbald]

He lives in a suburban area and knows my enthusiasm for air gun shooting sports. I explained a little about PCP's, which he only had an idea about from old Air Force airgun ads. Told him I thought that around $400 would get him a basic rifle but that he's need a pump and a scope. Please suggest a brand and model to suggest he look into. He's been a powder burner shooter for close to 40 years and like others, feels the ammo crunch. Also he could shoot in his back yard he believes. Didn't know what to tell him about suppressors on an airgun though because I don't know how the law works on those here in the USA.
Thanks to everyone. I appreciate your all's time. DOn

[mr007s]

avenger has a large following

[ER00z]

A starter PCP could be had for around $200, pumps as low as $50, and any optics would have to be figured in. My Maximus .177 I bought was under $200 with discount. Had a pump from a .22 Maximus bundle, back when they were $300 for rifle, pump and target.
     A QB79 could take a 13ci regulated hpa tank, around $130 for gun, $60 for tank and $50 for pump. Its gotten cheaper to just buy a entry level PCP.
     Just checked the amazon, a Beeman .22 QB Chief was just under $165 and a pump for $50. Hopefully the .22 doesn't eat bolt Orings like my .177 did. A little dremal work to soften the breech edge helped a lot. They aren't back yard friendly out of the box. But they have a hammer spring tension adjustment screw that can be backed off. Once done you can fill at lower pressure (1600-1800psi). This will quiet the report, and shoot at lower velocity. A ldc/moderator could be added for full power and low report. Lots of options out there to get into Pcp's.

[fv22]

Looking at the lowest price point try this:
Beeman QB Chief $179.99
4500 psi hand pump $45.90 thats todays price, they sometimes are much cheaper
Centerpoint 4-16x40 Scope $78.00

Thats $303.89 with all new items that will have him shooting 1 hole bullseyes all day long at 25 yards or more.

[subscriber]

Don,

Tell your friend to get something with a shrouded barrel.  Suppressed, but look like bull barrels.

Marauder, Fortitude, Avenger, Gauntlet, and more...

He needs to state the mission and range, as that will drive the caliber.

Tell him to look on Pyramyd Air.  The specs for length and weight etc; and user ratings are useful:  https://www.pyramydair.com/air-guns/rifles

[huntr]

Really like my Marauders. Good triggers and quiet, lots of parts and info on tuning and mods. For the money, the Avenger isn't bad. Higher fill pressure, especially for a pump. I do like the side lever on the Avenger.

[Tater]

Moved to the PCP Gate.

[Vee3]

In the past, I've done a few guys a disservice by recommending certain inexpensive PCP's.

Now I try to steer new folks toward a Marauder (Rifle or pistol with stock). Not the cheapest guns but proven, quiet, easy to work on repeaters with a good warrantee and easy parts availability.

Nothing turns a newbie off of PCP more than getting a lemon and not being able to get it fixed easily.

I like helping new guys with their guns but if something goes wrong with one I recommend, I've found it better for all involved if the gun is an easy fix (in or out of warrantee).

Also, I always tell firearm shooters that PCP's are generally more fiddly than the guns they're used to, and will require maintenance that they may not have the tools, ability or desire to keep up with.

[shifty06]

I would get his expectations in what he wants.

Is it just a to shoot? Is he after bug hole groups?

Coming from a high level of competition of shooting long range powder burners.

I bought what I thought was cheap to an give me acceptable accuracy. Only to re-evaluate. Send back an now attempting to buy what I want/“need”

[Rat Sniper (AKA: PaulT58)]

The Fortitude would be a good starter, not the cheapest, but it is a multi-shot, regulated, with a shrouded barrel so it's backyard friendly, and it's backed by Benjamin's 5 year warranty for peace of mind!  It's also hand pump fillable for the beginner.  At $232.50 with the 25% off code direct from Crosman, it's not too much over the $200 price point. 

[csitas]

That price point is something to remember .Any thing with a shrouded barrel will be over it, and thats not getting him any air  or support. Getting started cheap is one thing, you have to know what can come along with cheap. In this case sometimes money talks , although not always. It's a gamble kinda.

[Ribbonstone]

Have stayed out until now.

Do tend to point new guys to a bit more than the bottom line rifles.  Did notice that the prices have increased (PA now wants $250 for a Stormrider).   

Have tried the Beeman Chief...but not the Chief II or the Commander.   Not real thrilled with Beeman’s parts support.  Have not tested their warranty (because it took more than a year for the valve poppet to die).   If you can DIY after a year, might be something for a guy use to working on PCP’s to consider.

Usually point them to Crosman as they are the easiest to get fixed or find parts to DIY.  If you don’t open it up a screw around with it, the 5 year warranty might come in handy (print/save the paper work).

Problem with used rifles s that (1) you aren’t the original buyer  and (2) have no idea w2hat may have been done to it...so the factory warranty is usually void.  Got some great deals in the used market...with an occasional dud.  HAve always considered used rifles to be a bit like heading to the Casino for the day....odds are even worse there, but the same concept.

Knowing he’s going to use a hand pump pretty much excludes all the ones I don’t want to hand pump...so not big volume, high pressure rifles.  Not that you can’t fill those with a hand pump; you won’t want to.

So I’d price a Chinese pump (maybe $50-$60), and a simple Adjustable Objective scope and mounts (maybe another $60-$90).  PCP’s don’t try to kill scopes like springers do.  Leaving maybe $ 250 for the rifle.   

Considering the budget to be FIXED….if it’s $400, it’s not “just a little more”...but a little less would be fine.


All these years, and the cheap guns still get used more often.  May only be on days when I know the pretty/expensive ones would get dented, scratched, rained on, etc.  Bit like my neighbor with the custom hot rod….he doesn't drive it in rush hour traffic too and from work.

[nervoustrigger]

For guns under the $300 price point, there is a high probability of having early issues that require some basic shadetree repairs and tweaks.  As long as you have the right expectations, that’s fine.

By no means is the next price bracket immune to issues but the probability falls as you might expect.  For example, a lot of folks here have had very good experiences with the Gamo Urban.  It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of some of the more recent “price point PCPs” but it does consistently get high marks for accuracy and reliability.

Perhaps another way of looking at it is whether your friend likes to tinker or not.  If he does, something like the Avenger or DAR or Fortitude would be good.  Otherwise something like the Urban or Marauder would probably serve him better.

[Ribbonstone]

Was so much easier just a few years back….there weren’t many choices under $300.  Considering inflation, kind of amazed there are any choices today at the $200 mark.

Still get some “snob”  recommendations that basically translate into, “You’re too poor to join the club”...but over all this might have been helpful.   It’s often worse when the poster is asking about springers;  then the real snobbishness comes out.

[Firewalker]

Tell him to get a DAR .22!  And some o rings, an air bottle, compressor,  scope and some metric hex wrenches.

OH! And lots of spare time.

LOVE mine but I worked for it! 

[Nomadic Pirate]

Today's there's a very nice selection of budget guns, on paper there's some real good ones that have great reviews but also quite a bit of bad ones,

one budget gun you hardly ever if even hear bad things about is the Gamo Urban,

a more simple gun but comes from a quality British pedigree, is easily tunable down and up and already suppressed.

[Ribbonstone]

Higher end of the rifle budget....but with careful shopping for a pump and a scope, could come in at $400....and I like the Urban for a hand-pumped PCP (although high pressure, it's only 105cc's).

Might be the best choice....people do all sorts of things to them, but usually for personal reasons rather than leaking/not working.

[MagnumPI45]

There are some good PCP guns around $300, a little less in some cases when there are sales/discounts.  Chinese pumps can be had for around $25-$50.  If you want a scope you are looking around $10 or more for decent rings and it can vary so much with a scope, since they don't have to survive any kind of recoil you can go from $35 to over $300.  $400 budget can certainly be done, maybe even less if the person isn't too picky about scopes and just wants a basic lower magnification or that $38 big Amazon 6X24 special that is actually pretty decent.

For around $300 you can get a few, some of the most common in that price range seem to be
ATI Nova Liberty-I have one
Avenger
Origin
DAR
Artemis PP750

All of them are multi shot and can have some very good accuracy even at long ranges.

[avator]

Today's there's a very nice selection of budget guns, on paper there's some real good ones that have great reviews but also quite a bit of bad ones,

one budget gun you hardly ever if even hear bad things about is the Gamo Urban,

a more simple gun but comes from a quality British pedigree, is easily tunable down and up and already suppressed.

Love my Urban... if I had one wish it would be that it was regulated. However, that would make the already small air chamber even smaller. Never had an issue with it since day one.

[Insanity]

My urban has been a great airgun as my first pcp. Quiet accurate not big on power but I dont hunt or pest so that's not an issue.