Looking to try first pcp

[Mascot01]

So I've been using pumpers and gas rams for a while but have been really considering/wanting to try a decent pcp gun? Was looking on pyramyd air and saw they have the diana stormrider with pump kits for $330, any thoughts or input? Budget is low so I'll admit price did play a part but thought I had seen good things about the stormrider's.. would be going with .177 version  for now  if I did.

[aluminumfetish]

I can say this much... never had a stormrider myself but they seem wildly popular. I am sure there are enough stormrider owners in here to handle any questions or issues.
 If you are inclined to tinker and enjoy to lessons these guns gave to offer, the QB79 HPA conversion is priceless. You end up doing a bit more work (this is the "priceless" part) but will end up with a gun that is truely yours,  a wealth of info, and a sweet shooter.
 The threads on the GTA about the QB rifles are basically a college level class on early generation pcp rifles.
 I told myself "no more budget chinese rifles for me", but the lure is strong and I still have so much more to learn.
 Nervous Trigger, Ribbenstone, and many others have donated years worth of data on these rifles and in my opinion, it's almost a rite of passage to get the QB experience. I am biased because I am currently working on my 3rd QB and am knee deep in these modification threads myself.
 The style of the gun may not be for everyone. It is a bit dated aka.. "classic". It does involve some work and ordering a ninja type tank and a pump. I also cant praise the Rocker LDC paired with th QB enough.
 Long rant, sorry.
Mitch

[Baco]

if you're in US/Canada i'd take a look at a .25 stormrider from Wes, really efficient little gun

[swoab47]

I don't have any first hand experience with anything other than the DAR Gen 2 and Avenger, so take this with a grain of salt.

What do you plan on using this pcp for, and at what distances?

I assume like most of us you will be starting with a hand pump?

The stormrider appears to be a decent gun for the money, but there are some other ones to consider in that same price point.

Gamo Arrow
Barra 1100z
Beeman QB Chief  and chief 2
There is a Crosman one too that I can't think of right at the moment and Umarex has a new one coming out soon as well...

Happy hunting!

[fatmike]

I think a stormrider is a great place to start. You will probably buy others in the future. To me the stormrider is the new disco of airguns. It has the basics and takes mods well, they even sell a reg and fill gauge for the gun or used to. Seems like a solid choice to me.

[Mascot01]

if you're in US/Canada i'd take a look at a .25 stormrider from Wes, really efficient little gun

Who's wes?

[fatmike]

Wes owns airguns archery and fun.  Hes really nice to deal with. Shipping can be kind of expensive though.

[fatmike]

https://airgunarcheryfun.ca/new-25-cal-artemis-cr600w-stormrider-full-power-regulated-pcp-air-rifle/

[NeverEnough]

you know you fixn to go down a rabbit hole with no end??
if it was me I would at buying a used Marauder - can probably get one for the price your looking at and most likely some extras.

[farkousse]

I will give my $0.05 worth of input. The Benjamin Maximus is a hand pump friendly PCP. It's very accurate up to 30 yards with cheap CPHP pellets. You get 25 good shots for 50 strokes of the hand pump. So you won't be tired of pumping very quickly.
Another good thing going for the Maximus is that it's cheap. If you have a bit more cash, the Benjamin Fortitude is a descendent of the Maximus.
You can move to a Barra 1100 Z later on. Maybe a Marauder or something else. If you have a compressor, you should take a closer look at the Air Venturi Avenger. A nice PCP that's accurate beyond 50 yards.

[Hoosier Daddy]

Can you still buy a new Maximus?
I think it was replaced by the Fortitude in the Crosman lineup.

[Antwuan Maxx]

Unless you're set on a .177, I'd jump all over this Gamo Urban deal if I were you.  It was my first PCP, almost four years ago and I still love it to this day.  Pair it with a hand pump from Amazon and you'd still pay less than the Stormrider package for a higher quality gun.  Not to mention, it's backed by a 5 year warranty from Gamo.


Gamo Urban $243.99

https://grabagun.com/gamo-urban-pcp-22-caliber.html

[Mascot01]

Unless you're set on a .177, I'd jump all over this Gamo Urban deal if I were you.  It was my first PCP, almost four years ago and I still love it to this day.  Pair it with a hand pump from Amazon and you'd still pay less than the Stormrider package for a higher quality gun.  Not to mention, it's backed by a 5 year warranty from Gamo.


Gamo Urban $243.99

https://grabagun.com/gamo-urban-pcp-22-caliber.html

Truthfully I'm not picky the .177 was mainly as its what they had in stock, .22 would be preferred . One of other reasons was due to ability to do payments/ or PayPal credit.  Will definitely be checking the urban out though as I think ut may have been one I looked at but can't remember for sure.

[Cyknife]

Unless you're set on a .177, I'd jump all over this Gamo Urban deal if I were you.   


Gamo Urban $243.99

https://grabagun.com/gamo-urban-pcp-22-caliber.html

I second that. I paid that much for a refurb urban.

[Bicycleman]

Ricky, I have a Generation II Stormrider .22 that is  my backup gun for squirrels.  My son uses it when we hunt together.  It is light and easy to shoot.  I checked the accuracy on mine this past week - getting ready for squirrel hunting.  A couple of scope adjustments and it was hitting the bullseye nicely.  This rifle is my second Stormrider in .22.  I had two for a while; but sold one when I got a Marauder.  [I need only two hunting rifles.]
That is a good price for a Stormrider and pump.
Good luck with your new rifle.

[thumbs]

Word to the wise.  I bought an Air Venturi Avenger almost a year ago.  I needed a part, no fault of the rifle, and it seemed like they were doing me a huge favor in finding one.  Now i need a fill pressure gauge and it seems that's a problem also.  Apparently I am not the lone ranger when it comes to not being able to get parts.  The rifle is still under "warranty" and there is still hesitation to get the gauge.  They sell them in packs of two but apparently won't  open a package snd send me one for a warranty claim.  I though I was taking the safe road buy choosing Pyramid air and Air Venturi.  Well we will see but so far not very happy. The rifle is great!! Very nice and very accurate.  Easily tuned and regulated.  Problem is without parts its useless. 

Warranties are only as good as the company standing behind them.

If things change I will post.

[Antwuan Maxx]

Word to the wise.  I bought an Air Venturi Avenger almost a year ago.  I needed a part, no fault of the rifle, and it seemed like they were doing me a huge favor in finding one.  Now i need a fill pressure gauge and it seems that's a problem also.  Apparently I am not the lone ranger when it comes to not being able to get parts.  The rifle is still under "warranty" and there is still hesitation to get the gauge.  They sell them in packs of two but apparently won't  open a package snd send me one for a warranty claim.  I though I was taking the safe road buy choosing Pyramid air and Air Venturi.  Well we will see but so far not very happy. The rifle is great!! Very nice and very accurate.  Easily tuned and regulated.  Problem is without parts its useless. 

Warranties are only as good as the company standing behind them.

If things change I will post.

Another reason to go for the Gamo.  My Urban had a faulty gauge out the box.   Gamo mailed me one free of charge, no questions asked.

My Urban also had a slight magazine alignment issue, which worsened with use.  Gamo sent me two replacement mags and new bolt probe o-rings without a hassle.

Eventually, I decided to send the gun in for repair since the issue was going to continue to damage mags and o-rings.  I had to send the gun to them on my dime,  but the warranty work was free.   I sent them my 3 factory made magazines that had been damaged by the issue and to my surprise not only did they replace the 3 mags, they gave me two extra ones.  Which pretty much made up for the money I spent to send it to them and the return shipping fee.

Can't say enough about Gamo's warranty service. 

I've dealt with Air Venturi in the past and spent a good 30 minutes or so on the phone with a guy named Roger.   Super nice dude who went out of his way to help,  but ultimately he could no send parts if they never received them from China.

[thumbs]

Good News  Things have changed and I promised to post one way or the other.  I just received an email stating the part is in fact on the way.  So all is well.  I was a bit concerned. Not sure what or how many parts they do have but apparently they have the part I need and it's on the way.  So in my case they are still good to go.

[K.O.]

I don't have any first hand experience with anything other than the DAR Gen 2 and Avenger, so take this with a grain of salt.

What do you plan on using this pcp for, and at what distances?

I assume like most of us you will be starting with a hand pump?

The stormrider appears to be a decent gun for the money, but there are some other ones to consider in that same price point.

Gamo Arrow
Barra 1100z
Beeman QB Chief  and chief 2
There is a Crosman one too that I can't think of right at the moment and Umarex has a new one coming out soon as well...

Happy hunting!

The Crosman Icon... seems very related to the Chief II Plus and the Barra... Even though I have gone thru a bit of a trial with mine in the end it has worked out...

Mine is very accurate and not pellet picky even does well with the H&N .217 slugs... and that is before and after chopping the Barrel .3" and recrowning... and Crosman did go the full distance to make things right... got a new barrel a couple days ago...but want to play with the chopped barrel a bit more before changing it...

even with the manufacturer barrel damage my first couple  gave tight groups at 30 yards... till the damage leaded up...

So Crosman customer service in the end went the extra mile and, in the end, when they got the new barrel in, they sent me one...

I cannot help myself am a Crosman/Benji guy since the 1960s... and living here in the U.S. that has worked very well for me...Their parts availability, cost and customer service has been very hard to beat for many years... 

https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=197413.80

I do have a couple BSA Buccaneers (.177 and .22) and a Gamo Urban... They are Very good rifles and a bit nicer finished... But parts will run a bit higher and am not sure how long will be able to get them...

was given a gen 1 Stormrider by my son... Nasty little guy with heavy .177 coming out at about 25 fpe... 

Have three Maximus but can only get them used now... But a very good platform for beginners...

Have Two Gen II .25 Marauders... More a bench rifle than the others but oh so dependable and accurate...

My AT 44 long .22 well got it cheap from Hatsan U.S. when they closed out the pre Quiet Energy models... another heavy rifle but it has power... 44 fpe...

[thumbs]

Well talked to Air Venturi today.  They called me to let me know they were sending the replacement pack to me sent out today.  The pack includes the two gauges the fill gauge and the reg gauge with seals.  I was very happy to hear that.  Should be here on Friday.  So far no complaints with Air Venture.