To upgrade or not to upgrade, that is the question... [2025-04-23]

[GTA-Airgunner]

Good morning airgunners and thank you for being part of the GTA!

Before I pose the question of the day, what do you all think of the daily post that I've been doing.  My hope and goal is to be more involved and to learn about the beating heart of the GTA and the folks that live here.  I've been a member for so many years and have my assumptions, but that's not the same as truly knowing.  Anyway, let me know your thoughts.

So today's question.  I just got back the (couple of weeks ago when I was out of town) the Gauntlet rebuild from Haji.  I've spent some time with it at the range and it's certainly NOT the same gun as it was when it left my office.  The list of upgrades is extensive, and the changes to performance, accuracy, and shooting experience are noticeable.  I'm not sure of the over all value of work and parts that Haji put into this for me, but it's probably a lot.  I would assume that a big part of the hobby is the ability to take something that started as a $300 gun and turn it into something that shoots like a $2000 gun.  The investment in time and materials probably doesn't make sense financially, but it's about the journey right?

I'm curious to know how you all view this part of the sport??  Let me know!

Thank you all for being part of the GTA!

Cheers
Rick

[longislandhunter]

I enjoy your daily posts very much and look forward to reading them.  I think it's great that you make the time to compose and post them as I'm sure all of us can attest to how "busy" life has a habit of becoming and finding free time gets more difficult. 

As for the second part of your post...... I fully agree, it is very much  about the journey.  While I honestly have not gone as far as investing in enough upgrades to any rifle to try to make  a   $300 rifle shoot like a $2000 rifle  I have spent quite a bit of money over the years on upgrades to many of my rifles to make them "better" and I consider the money I have spent well worth it.  Perhaps if I had more financial resources I might have  invested more heavily in upgrades to my rifles but I didn't so I'm quite content with the upgrades that I did invest in to make my rifles better shooters and hunters.   I can fully appreciate air gunners who have the financial resources and the desire spending alot of money on upgrades,  but for me I've been content purchasing the basic upgrades I could afford and those guns did in fact become better shooters and hunters.  I would love someday to own one of those really expensive PCP's with all the "bling" but for right now that will have to wait. 

Jeff

[avator]

For me tinkering is as enjoyable as shooting. I don't have the equipment nor the skills to go too deep into the gun but I can do the basic tuning and adding after market upgrades. My budget restricts me from sending them to the professionals. So I guess my answer would be "yes", with limits.

[Roadworthy]

I'll go along with Bill on this one.  I have spent more time tinkering and ironing out wrinkles in performance than I have actually shooting.  I like the feeling of satisfaction I get when I finally resolve a problem.  Along the way I've learned a lot about airguns.

[Blowpipe Sam]

I’m an inveterate customizer.  The aesthetics of an air rifle are as important to me as it’s performance.  My most successful project was a vintage Crosman 2200 with a custom wood stock and modest performance mods.  So I’m more likely to do cosmetic modifications than performance mods.
I follow the rule, “Don’t replace.  Upgrade.”  When doing any repairs.  If a better item is available I will always try to upgrade.  However, I don’t go into a project with the intention of hot rodding even if it sometimes ends up that way.

[Zsigmund]

 I absolutely enjoy modifying, tuning and upgrading airguns. Repairing used airguns is also a passion.
Most of my experience has been with springers, pumpers and Co2, but I'm doing more PCP as time goes by.

 I enjoy this aspect of the hobby just as much as shooting and testing the results of my madness.

[Motorhead]

While Commercially I don't work with or service Chinese, Turkish, Spanish or Korean air guns .... when these time to time fall into my lap on the cheap or better    they indeed get worked over for nothing more than the fun challenge of seeing what might be done in improvements.

As to Top Tier air guns, they too can be made even better with some well placed & executed modifications.  As personally I simply do not own a stock air gun & everyone in the stable is massaged and tweaked upon.  Yes Air Gunning is a full spectrum hobby for me. 

As to the "Upgrade" .... well that is the trend looking at Forums and there Banner Ads, it being whats NEW we can SELL you rather than what can we help you is fixing, improving or restoring.
 

[Airnut]

The greatest enjoyment for me is to take a POS airgun and rework it to be a
decent shooter and look good to. I have the luxury of having a well equipped shop with lathe,mill,3d printer, metal forge/furnace, ect

[avator]

The greatest enjoyment for me is to take a POS airgun and rework it to be a
decent shooter and look good to. I have the luxury of having a well equipped shop with lathe,mill,3d printer, metal forge/furnace, ect

I wish. I'd probably go broke paying the electric bill.