I'm a Poor. First PCP?

[EdinGa]

I have 6 SPA guns now. I'm fan of them, and Wes is the man to get them from. I have a regulated .177 Stormrider (16fpe for 30 shots) and a .25 Stormrider (21fpe for 28 shots) and I'm planning to add a 3rd one in .22 when I can.

The valve on these guns was definitely not made for 177 or 22 in light weight pellets. My 177 is also louder than my 22 with the same tune. The efficiency goes crazy with higher weight. I was getting 18 shots out of my 25 cal Bandit with a regulator and 9" barrel at 12 FPE. Crazy for such a tiny air reservoir. It did a great job with the NOE wadcutters even with the horrible muzzle/crown if you kept the range under 30'.

I loved the raw power my .177 had, but after I got my Bullshark I dropped a regulator in the Stormrider and toned it down to 16 fpe for 4 times the number of shots.

[uswood]

Hatsanusa has the flash refurb on sale for $179.It comes with a reseal kit. Can get parts for it.

[Earl]

Hatsanusa has the flash refurb on sale for $179.It comes with a reseal kit. Can get parts for it.

Please post the link to the $179 one.
I found it.
https://hatsanairgunsusa.com/product/_refurbished-flashqe/

[null]

Hatsanusa has the flash refurb on sale for $179.It comes with a reseal kit. Can get parts for it.

Please post the link to the $179 one.

Must've sold, cause it ain't on here no more:

https://www.pyramydair.com/used-air-guns

[Airgunnr88]

I have a Stormrider, and it's fantastic.  I have never been happier with an airgun purchase, or any other purchase for that matter.  I use one of those $50 Chinese pumps.  Never had a problem with it.  I have not handled the Beeman QB Chief, but I do have a Beeman 2027.  Based on that, I would say that the Diana is a better gun.  Particularly in the trigger, which is decent on the Beeman but absolutely perfect on the Stormrider.  And it's also good looking, in a world of ugly airguns.

When I bought it, my budget was $500.  I wanted a repeater with a wood stock and iron sights.  I couldn't find anything I liked more than the Stormrider, even for twice the price.  I wouldn't trade it for a Marauder or anything else.

[fatmike]

The gauntlet is a powerhouse but a pain to pump. It's still a great gun for shooting off the back porch and enjoying the day but its awkward for walking with much.. I'm a fan of the fortitude in 22. Lots of shots, quiet plenty of power, regulated crosman parts center is the best in the industry.  I got mine for 230$ from pyramid air on one of their sales. It's one of my more consistent guns and I have many. It shoots cheap ammo well. I have put a gen 1 marauder trigger on mine but it was just cause I had it.

[Bladebum]

JTS AIRACUDA ALL DAY!!  Hands down the best budget pcp out there, it is PHENOMENAL.  I have pcps that cost multiple thousands and that airacuda sometimes gives them a run for thier money.

[3crows]

Gamo Urban . I have two of them, one basically stock (22 to 24 fpe) and the other modded a bit and tuned for 28 to 30 fpe. Both are supremely accurate.



The one above took a skunk down with a single shot through the shoulder and the pellet went clean through. But I mostly use it to assassinate HOSPs and starlings. It is also a great squirrel rifle.

[uswood]

Hatsanusa has the flash refurb on sale for $179.It comes with a reseal kit. Can get parts for it.

Please post the link to the $179 one.

Must've sold, cause it ain't on here no more: https://hatsanairgunsusa.com/product/_refurbished-flashqe/

https://www.pyramydair.com/used-air-guns

[avator]

JTS AIRACUDA ALL DAY!!  Hands down the best budget pcp out there, it is PHENOMENAL.  I have pcps that cost multiple thousands and that airacuda sometimes gives them a run for thier money.

Personally I'd let this one play out a bit before jumping on that wagon. We haven't seen any reports on customer service yet. Especially if I was new to the PCP game.
Besides.. I think the OP has a bit of a lower budget in mind and he will be hand pumping to start.
I have and enjoy many of the guns mentioned but my vote still goes with a regulated Storm Rider from Wes but I strongly suggest giving him a call and discuss your expectations with him. Wes will line you up with what you want, not with what he wants you to have.
Here is another plus for the SPA guns..
Want a PCP?  same mags
Want a pumper? same mags
Want a C02? same mags
Want a pistol? same mags
And Wes has them all and parts that interchange.

[Spacebus]

JTS AIRACUDA ALL DAY!!  Hands down the best budget pcp out there, it is PHENOMENAL.  I have pcps that cost multiple thousands and that airacuda sometimes gives them a run for thier money.

Personally I'd let this one play out a bit before jumping on that wagon. We haven't seen any reports on customer service yet. Especially if I was new to the PCP game.
Besides.. I think the OP has a bit of a lower budget in mind and he will be hand pumping to start.
I have and enjoy many of the guns mentioned but my vote still goes with a regulated Storm Rider from Wes but I strongly suggest giving him a call and discuss your expectations with him. Wes will line you up with what you want, not with what he wants you to have.
Here is another plus for the SPA guns..
Want a PCP?  same mags
Want a pumper? same mags
Want a C02? same mags
Want a pistol? same mags
And Wes has them all and parts that interchange.

Wes also has aftermarket magazines for the platform, although I have not tried them.

[avator]

I wasn't aware of that... I'll have to check those out.


Just had a look... I may have to grab a couple.
Thanks

[fmh]

My 2 cents on the topic.  One of my first PCPs was a Beeman QB79.  It came as a CO2 gun but after a while I added a regulated at 1,100PSI Air Venturi tank to the gun.  I can shoot the gun with the 9oz CO2 tank, 1 or 2 12gr CO2 cartridges (with proper adapters) or with the Air Venturi HPA tank.  I now just leave the HPA tank on.  I own a compressor now but at first I used a Benjamin Hand Pump and pumping it to 3000psi was not a problem.  I get around 100 shots before it gets below 1100psi in the tank.  Power wise the gun shoots at 10.8fpe with H&N 10.65 pellets.  Accuracy is very good 10-40 yards and I have shot it out to 60 yards but 40 and under is best for this setup. 

Beeman QB79s are cheap new and cheaper used and there are so many of them plus parts and upgrades are pretty simple if you choose to tinker with it.  Besides adding the HPA tank I adjusted the trigger a little and that's it.   I still have this gun after 4 years and shoot it a lot.  8 shot manually rotating magazines are readily available on eBay for around $40 if you want a multi shot gun.  The gun is not flashy but it is one of my favorites all these years.

[shep]

fergetabout it, Gamo Urban is the best for the price! I you can shoot a pistol a Prod, or Marauder pistol is a good choice, the Prod can be made into a little carbine without no work, both these PCP are easy to pump and are accurate....

[Spacebus]

I wasn't aware of that... I'll have to check those out.


Just had a look... I may have to grab a couple.
Thanks

I should have gotten a few with my last order, but there's always next time!

[avator]

Yeah, they look like they might be as good at the CARM for this platform.
I couldn't say until I have them in hand.. I do have a couple of the CARMs.

[Racing]

As the saying goes, my two cents then.

1st up.
Never have there been a wider array of affordable PCP´s. Go figure. That said though... go used. For a first time buyer always go used. Less of a loss if it turns out this isn´t your game at all. Simple as that.

A couple of words of wisdom for better for worse. Take a look at your needs HARD. Reason is that you´ll need to fill a PCP up somehow and ALL options run money.
IMO way to many regard the foot pump as entry level. Might be, but the monetary step for a scuba or even a low end compressor isn´t miles at least. In short i for one at least feel it needs to be considered as pumping a PCP up by hand gets old in a hurry. REAL fast even.

If you insist on a foot pump make sure the gun is a small tank/bottle unit to keep your own sanity.

2nd up.
Spend the time needed to figure out how YOUR gun and pump/compressor and so on goes together. Leaks happen, and power to those that know to remedy the issue themselves. This is NOT hard. Cumbersome at times for the novice, yes. Hard no.
Look how to vids up on YT and what have you and learn from them.

On the actual gun in turn my advice is to go small money wise at wish (a used gun, always a used one) just never go cheap.
In turn, as your fully aware, a PCP sports a number of o-rings and what not. It is downright impossible to judge the status of these from the outside. In turn o-rings are dirt cheap.
Iow it might very well be an idea to even pick a "hurt" gun up (as in leaks) if you´re not all thumbs and know how to read up.
Bargains are to be had on that count.
For a used gun always replace the breech o-ring right out of the hole. You have no idea if that o-ring has seen 50 or 5000 pills. Simple and easy to replace and what´s more a seal that is all to often overlooked.

I´ve had, and have, my fair share of cheaper PCP´s. With few exceptions they can all be had to be great performers. True, there´s the occasional barrel that´s just a dud.. but thankfully far between.

The Artemis/SMK/Snowpeak/Diana Stormrider - PR900 has been brought up. Have had a few and these are in my mind great value. More often than not more accurate than the average shooter.
Wouldn´t say build quality is bad by any measure, but on some counts though.. weak - for lack of better words.
Doesn´t matter, it´s STILL great value for money

On that note, in my book at least Co2 and PCP simply do not compare. It´s by no means a fair fight. Keep to the PCP´s i say..

3d then.
Regulator. Uhu, these days regs are more the norm than anything, but as i regard it many fail to take their NEEDS into account. Is this a plinker only? Is this a gun that will shoot paper mostly, and loads of it? Is it an occasional plinker that is to double for pest control?
What i´m saying is that most have some sort of bias to their shooting and to the novice a reg sure as ---- add complexity, and this on more than one count.
I´ll put it this way. I own a plethora of PCP´s by now and yeeeep.. some sports a reg while others do not. Me to got hellbent on installing regs into guns that crossed my path, and have come to a dead halt on that one.
Bell curve yadda yadda yadda. Sure. But the bottom line is what happens on target, and that´s NOT as clear cut or simple, for an entry level gun.
Can a non reg gun be a hole in hole one at 50 meters/yards for two series (10 shots). Sure. Those claiming otherwise are just full of it..
Will the regulated gun keep speeds out the snout more consistent? Yup. Sure.
See my point here?
Cause within realms most likely OTOH the non reg gun will be of greater power and if not at least way easier to modify so.

All that being said then a summary.
I for one would NOT spring for the "dirt cheap" one. If hurt (leaking) alright.. as i within realms know what i´m doing. For a new gun or even just newer gun.. nope.
I´d fork over a few dollars more for a lower midrange gun, and reason for that is that those few dollars will hand rather big returns to my findings.

[AlanMcD]

Nice to see somebody else is recommending used . . . . without a doubt, the best path to the best value in most cases of consuming "durable goods" (vehicles, guns, appliances etc.) . . .

But on the hand pump I would go new with one of the low cost Chinese pumps.  Hand pumps are easy to abuse by doing long continuous pumping sessions on them (the ideal is 50 strokes or less, vent, and let cool before repeating, if needed), and there is no way to know if one was abused without tearing it down.  A new avoids having to find that out, and they are cheap enough now that there is not much to save in buying them used - of course if one is available, especially as a package deal from someone getting out of the game, it wouldn't hurt to take it.

I'd have to agree on advice to avoid regulated on a first, and potentially only, gun.  You can always upgrade or swap to a different gun later if this proves to be a space you want to play in long term.  While I love them, I am also able to rebuild them (I bought the parts and testers and have used them) and have multiple guns so if one "goes down" I have others to use if needed.  They are great in use, but do add a point of failure and servicing requirements.  That is part of the reason that my Air Ranger will never get regulated as it is just so rock solid reliable and accurate without one (pretty much everything else is regulated).

[bear air]

I would keep an eye on the classifieds here and airgun nation as well. I had a storm rider and it was a kick butt lil gun! I ended up gifting it to someone.

[UnderPressure]

Let me preface this by saying  my range is only 35 yards.  I mostly shoot paper and steel targets but I am the designated critter getter amongst my neighbors.  I have several Daisy 880's and 901's that I've converted to .22 cal and they are pretty decent.  However, I'm getting the PCP bug.  Not out of necessity but just because it seems like the logical next step.  I will skip over the break barrels because I want something with no recoil, magazine fed and is backyard friendly.  I also don't want to have to break the barrel between shots to cock it.  I occasionally go out to the country and can take longer shots 100  yards plus but not enough to justify spending a lot of money to do so.  I will mainly be sitting on my porch drinking coffee and ringing steel. 

I am a poor.  So I was drawn to the beeman QB chief and the Diana Stormrider.  If you were looking at these two options.  Which would you choose and why?

I would buy one of these instead:

https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=206364.0

If you scroll down you will see Pyramid has it for $202 in either .22 caliber or .25 caliber.

Perfect for your stated usage.

Also check out Hajimoto Productions for his extensive development work and upgrades on this platform.