Break barrel or PCP?

[duotone]

I'm shopping for my next rifle, and I've been about 99% leaning towards a PCP, but then I got to thinking / wondering.... The HATSAN break barrels are the bomb!

As I stated in the PCP forum, I'm a paper puncher and I want to stack pellets at 50 yards-ish.

I really like the sniper 125 because of its stock adjustments: http://www.hatsan.com.tr/new_airrifles_mod_125_sniper.asp and I also like how less expensive it is as compared to the PCP's.

I'd probably get a 22 cal so it holds its course with a slight breeze...

I'm needing something quiet so those living next door aren't bothered....

Any thoughts from you HATASAN owners?

Thanks

Tony

[HatsanPhantom]

That 125 is on my shortlist but i hammer the tree rats with mod 95(.25) right now

[darthsoul]

i have a 125 sniper in .22 and its absolutely amazing.. it may not be the most accurate gun but its really powerfull... but bear in mind, as a springer that is nearly equal in power to many pcp rifles.. its a hold-sensitive gun.. you must be consistent and patient about your hold and practice a lot when you want to shoot a mag. springer accurately, but when you manage to do this, its joy to shoot as long as you have ammo and you just dont need to carry charging supplies arround or worry about air pressure..

[duotone]

Thanks... that's the reason I'm reconsidering the idea of a PCP. I want to go out with my rifle and my ammo..... there are +/- and I guess I am in the process of figuring out what's most important to me.

[darthsoul]

there is no absolute Yes or No when it comes to compare pcp and springers, they both have their advantages and disadvantages, the important thing is deciding what you need and what you want.. as a student, i just saved my launch, beer and cinema money and i have bought the 125 sniper.. pcps are waay much expensive and you have to spend more when you buy some charging equipment, wheather its a pcp pump ir a scuba tank.. and i dont have a truck to carry all theese equipment to the field so springer is my way, i just pack my gun in a case and put my pellet tin to the pocket of my coat and hit the road..


edit: but if you can afford it, why not buy some spare air tanks and go out without a charging equipment.. its much more easy to shoot a pcp and they are often more accurate due to not having a recoiling piston and spring... well now you get my mind into the pcp.. i love my gun but being able to shoot one pellet after another quickly without a effort and able to hold the rifle tightly without affecting point of impact is getting my mind..

[drewciferpike]

I'm currently sticking with springers. The geek in me likes the idea of a PCP, but my years in Alaska keep me from owning a gun that requires more than me, it, and a tin of pellets.

That said, a Discovery is a great starting PCP: They only use 2000psi, so using a manual pump isn't as bad, as others. I just built my dad a QB79 HPA conversion (13ci bottle regged to 1100psi), and the thing is an accurate hammer. It's loud, too. It gets 44+ shots per fill, but that's still a lot of pumping. You can find Discos bundled with a pump, and you'll also see them refurbed (GREAT value) and for sale in the GTA classifieds.

For noise, PCP/multi-pumps will usually be louder--it's just the nature of the beast. You see a lot of people adding TKO brakes to their guns, for good reason.

I literally just received a .25 125 Sniper from Fedex. I bought it, and had it shipped straight to someone for cleaning and lubing. It's hitting 30+fpe, now, which puts it in line with some PCPs. I don't know if it'll stack pellets at 50 yards, but I'm a hunter, so that's not my goal.

[cherokeesteve]

I say if you can't choose get both! My 125TH camo with gamo laser/light camo. AT44PA with UTG 4X32 AO scope and BSA green laser/light combo and air stripper. Mine are both for hunting purposes. Both are powerful .25   The 125 is HEAVY and a bear to cock, but as stated if you go the PCP route, be prepared for extra cost of charging gear. Can pick up extra tanks for the AT44 so carrying extra fill equipment is not an issue. Good luck deciding, both are awesome guns.

[JSubadya]

I started out with springers, well actually I started with a multipump, but either way I am a big fan of accuracy so I always try to shoot prone.  So besides the obvious accuracy of PCPs one of the reasons I chose them was because I got tired of having get off the floor or roll over to load my break barrels.  Now I can lay in wait and all I got to do is cycle the bolt, My cheek never leaves the stock(except to eat haha)

[darthsoul]

if i can find a cheap at 44.. maybe i can get into pcps too

[duotone]

The more I think about it, the more I'm leaning towards a PCP. My wife gave me permission to spend, but just because I can, doesn't mean I should.... There are a lot of people who need, and sometimes I wonder, who am I that I should just go out and drop a grand on an air gun.... Anyway, I need to try and figure out my goals with this whole air gun hobby, 'cuz it could get real expensive.... real quickly.

[Bullit]

That's a very good point about "why should I",  duotone.
There's lots of money spent on everything needed, and then lost by folks who think they wanna get into it and then, lose interest with the PCP, or even airgunning all together after a year or so.  Been there.  The PCP guns can also be loud, compared to springers.
A good fixed barrel magnum is plenty powerful for 50+yds...no problems.  I use .177s with heavy pellets and they don't stray in wind like you think...plus they shoot much flatter than a 22.  Heck,  having over 10FPE@50yards or 8FPE@75yards, ain't too shabby, is it?  That's 1 reason they are popular with target shooters.  Pellet costs today are also getting pretty pricey, for .22s with only 250-300 pellets per tin.
A good fixed barrel magnum is easier to master consistency with, versus the magnum breakbarrel.  And, If you decide to sell it, you won't take a bath on it.

[drewciferpike]

That's a very good point about "why should I",  duotone.
There's lots of money spent on everything needed, and then lost by folks who think they wanna get into it and then, lose interest with the PCP, or even airgunning all together after a year or so.  Been there.  The PCP guns can also be loud, compared to springers.
A good fixed barrel magnum is plenty powerful for 50+yds...no problems.  I use .177s with heavy pellets and they don't stray in wind like you think...plus they shoot much flatter than a 22.  Heck,  having over 10FPE@50yards or 8FPE@75yards, ain't too shabby, is it?  That's 1 reason they are popular with target shooters.  Pellet costs today are also getting pretty pricey, for .22s with only 250-300 pellets per tin.
A good fixed barrel magnum is easier to master consistency with, versus the magnum breakbarrel.  And, If you decide to sell it, you won't take a bath on it.

+1

[cherokeesteve]

Yes the pcp world can be a strain on the wallet. The 125 is very powerful for a break barrel with the stock spring. I would highly recommend it. Move to pcp if/when you're ready and then I would highly recommend the at44 which is a great bargain as far as pcp's go.

[Bullit]

What's your biggest complaint about using the AT44?

[duotone]

Yes the pcp world can be a strain on the wallet. The 125 is very powerful for a break barrel with the stock spring. I would highly recommend it. Move to pcp if/when you're ready and then I would highly recommend the at44 which is a great bargain as far as pcp's go.

Yes, the Hatsan 44 is basically the Hammerli pneuma elite 10, which I can get for $299 because from what I gather, Hatsan bought it from Hammerli, or bought Hammerli....

[duotone]

What's your biggest complaint about using the AT44?

Mine? I have none to speak of other than how loud they are. They sound like a 22lr going off, so I'd need to buy a sound suppressor, which is fine....

[Bullit]

Yes the pcp world can be a strain on the wallet. The 125 is very powerful for a break barrel with the stock spring. I would highly recommend it. Move to pcp if/when you're ready and then I would highly recommend the at44 which is a great bargain as far as pcp's go.

The question was directed to Cherokeesteve...  I shoulda linked it.

[cherokeesteve]

Yes the pcp world can be a strain on the wallet. The 125 is very powerful for a break barrel with the stock spring. I would highly recommend it. Move to pcp if/when you're ready and then I would highly recommend the at44 which is a great bargain as far as pcp's go.

The question was directed to Cherokeesteve...  I shoulda linked it.

Well it is very loud. I was target shooting in my basement this past weekend and my son asked if I had any ear plugs he could wear, it's that loud. It's extremely accurate, I don't have a chrony but I'm pretty trusting of hatsan's published velocities which puts the at44 right up there with Marauder power. You have to be pretty deliberate with the pump action to properly cycle the pellet magazine but I kind of like that,really mimics a pump shotgun. If you have a forward hold with your rest hand where your support is completely under the pump, there's some back and forth play which I could understand no one liking but my hand seems to be comfortable partially on the pump and partially just behind it so play isn't an issue for me. They have the at44 with alternative pellet cycling to the pump which could be the ticket for those who don't like the pump action. I do like the hammerli's, almost identical guns made by hatsan at more affordable prices but I don't know if the hammerli's come in. 25 caliber, which is what I really wanted.       

[Mod90]

Honestly if I had to recommend someone a new gun, it'd be a PCP. If only for a few reasons. First off is that it's easier to modify a PCP for variable power output than a spring gun, particularly if you had to do some indoor pest control or don't want to worry about how far a pellet might travel. Then there's the accuracy thing.They're just plain easier to shoot. If you're looking for a gun that can be consistently & reliably used to drive down a tack at way past 50-80+ yards, then PCP wins that one hands down. If not a springer will do just fine. And that brings me to the last pro on the PCP side, ACCURATE AND MORE POWER AVAILABLE AT LONGER RANGE A PCP is definitely the better choice for a hunting gun simply for that reason alone.
Now this PCP game gets real expensive real fast, but fortunately all the equipment you'll need to obtain is generally a one time expense, (a cylinder an hose assembly, thats it) and may be usable on other PCP's you may acquire in the future. If you're looking at the AT44 guns they're a good choice for a start. If you mod it right you can get a lot of shots on a charge and use it as a low powered plinker, then swap  the reservoir and you instantly have a gun for hunting. I have one, and I can tell you, thing was loud keyword being was.

All said, if you got the coin and the green light, it's ok to get yourself something nice once in a while once you can afford it. Sounds like you've earned it.

[Bullit]

If you consider a fixed barrel underlever, rather than a breakbarrel, you get a better shooting IMO, platform to compare against a PCP.   Magnum Hatsan125 vs a Diana 460 is a no brainer.  The 460 and can be up and shooting for less than a entry level PCP setup w/accesories.