My gun (Titan) vs the fancy stuff

[cclingma]

I've been researching PCPS for months and just bought a refurb Benjamin Titan a few weeks ago to hopefully get my mind off this PCP problem for a while.  It's kind of working as I'm really enjoying the Titan but has also introduced another decision....


So now I'm thinking maybe I just need a kick butt springer/gas gun instead of PCP and the support equipment, or maybe I already have a kick butt rifle.  This is where I need some perspective from the Pros on here. Disclaimer...I put quite a bit of effort and some money into the Titan because I HAD to make it as good as I could.  It has GRTIII trigger, brass pivot washers, crown and leade in polished, compression chamber honed with new piston seal and 70% moly lube, scope upgraded.  It pushes CPHP at 740 according to my Chrono.  I believe I could wear a nickel sized hole out in my target at 25 yards with the rifle as is now.  I was just smacking soda cans at 40 to 60 yards with it last night.  I also admit I'm
a pretty poor shot as I can often feel myself doing things wrong at the shot.  So if I got my hands on a Diana 34 or maybe even Beeman R9/R1 or equivalent am I gonna throw rocks at my Titan?  Maybe I'm a springer/gasser guy and I can just move on from this Pcp torture I'm putting myself through.

[RedRiderF26]

[Roadworthy]

You may be your own worst enemy on this one.  What kind of accuracy do you expect out of an airgun?  At what distance?  How much are you willing to pay for this goal?

In general a fixed barrel will outshoot a springer (barely).  A pcp will usually outshoot a springer.  Is it worth the cost?  For me it is not.

I shoot only against myself, improving my technique and shrinking groups as I go.  I have made a lot of improvements to my Nitro Venom and I can shoot groups under 1/2" (dime size) at twenty plus yards.  I purchased a TX 200 as I was not satisfied with the Venom.  It can do one large hole at the same distance - not always, but I have done it.

Much of my problem has been my learning curve.  A little has been the guns themselves.  My most recent thing is adjusting triggers.  I have found trigger adjustment makes a HUGE difference in my groups.

I would like to improve my groups at a distance.  I can purchase a .17 HMR and a few bricks of ammo for what it would cost for a halfway decent PCP setup.  My next toy will probably be just that.

[cclingma]

Well darn.  One cool little animated dark side picture and I'm
Right back to obsessing on PCP rifles.

[cclingma]

You may be your own worst enemy on this one.  What kind of accuracy do you expect out of an airgun?  At what distance?  How much are you willing to pay for this goal?

I think you've just figured me out.  I've not set a goal but I need to.  Thanks for the insight.

[RinCG]

I've been researching PCPS for months and just bought a refurb Benjamin Titan a few weeks ago to hopefully get my mind off this PCP problem for a while.  It's kind of working as I'm really enjoying the Titan but has also introduced another decision....


So now I'm thinking maybe I just need a kick butt springer/gas gun instead of PCP and the support equipment, or maybe I already have a kick butt rifle....  So if I got my hands on a Diana 34 or maybe even Beeman R9/R1 or equivalent am I gonna throw rocks at my Titan?  Maybe I'm a springer/gasser guy and I can just move on from this Pcp torture I'm putting myself through.

Welcome to the addiction!
Do you enjoy shooting? Are you focused on improving your shooting? Personally I started with just spending "good money" on an R7 and learning to shoot a springer ...then a slew of Dianas... a proverbial ton of pellets and off hand shooting self critiquing... a few impressive low cost high value BAM B40's ...a few more Dianas and Then...the gun that stopped my heart when I first saw one- an HW 97 + A Lot more shooting and searching for what I really want to think an airgun should be.
The higher dollar 97 became what I'd always envisioned- a spring gun I could pick up Any time and enjoy. Of course I still needed to dabble and a few more HW/R guns as well as a QB or two came and went along with all of the Dianas. An HW98 (Awesome break barrel!) and an HW30S followed, along with a Stoeger X20S (tweaked much like you've done with your Titan) compliment the HW 97 to this day. Finally I've added a "lowly" Crosman Fury refurb to my now "meager" stable. The little airgun that could brings the same smile to my face that my HW's and tweaked Stoeger do when I shoot it. I still hang on to that 97 because it is my perfect One Gun. I even tried to think I had to have a PCP gun but just couldn't find the justification to really Neeeeed one.
I guess  what I'm saying is the Titan is everything you need it to be but you'll never be truly satisfied until you try out what you think you want. Not great advice from an AG Addict but it is what it is    You can't just have one

[wjjones]

Do you really want a PCP? Do you really want a better springer?  Life is short! If you really want one get it. 

Personally, I think the next step up would be a quality springer.  I would recommend buying a used one a nd if you're not satisfied with it, you could likely resell it without losing any money.  Then make the move up (?) to a PCP

[Booger]

Well darn.  One cool little animated dark side picture and I'm
Right back to obsessing on PCP rifles.

I am only here to help.

[cclingma]

I sincerely appreciate the insight and advice.  I think you guys have given me some tools to help figure this out....even the pictures of the good looking air gun arsenal.

[silent_airman]

I've had a couple fancy guns, and you know what? I have more fun with my cheap Chinese rifles than I ever had with one of the pricier guns. I was afraid to shoot the TX200 I once had for fear of scratching it. But, maybe someday if I ever have the money, I'll get a fancy shooter. Just something to take photos of and have people say 'Ahhhh ohhhhh' over. (Pokes Booger) 

You just have to weigh the pros and cons, check your bank account, check with SWMBO (If you have one)and make the best choice you can.

[Booger]

But, maybe someday if I ever have the money, I'll get a fancy shooter. Just something to take photos of and have people say 'Ahhhh ohhhhh' over. (Pokes Booger) 

LOL, I do have some nice guns, but since the R11 all my other guns pale in comparison. I just need a good tune. I shot my TX200MK3 today, and she must have been jealous because she just wasn't hitting. I cleaned her the other day and maybe she just needs some lead fed to her.

[silent_airman]

But, maybe someday if I ever have the money, I'll get a fancy shooter. Just something to take photos of and have people say 'Ahhhh ohhhhh' over. (Pokes Booger) 

LOL, I do have some nice guns, but since the R11 all my other guns pale in comparison. I just need a good tune. I shot my TX200MK3 today, and she must have been jealous because she just wasn't hitting. I cleaned her the other day and maybe she just needs some lead fed to her.

I think the best way to enjoy shooting is to be content and just shoot and get to know what you have right now. That's the lesson I have learned the hard way. If and when you get something really good later on, then be thankful.

[longhunter]

^^^ what he said. i found out a long time ago that chasing a dream and chasing your tail are pretty much one in the same.

[Sfttailrdr46]

  The last few posts were good advice . Try not to spend beyond your comfort level that is what I did and I'm very satisfied with mine. MY only regret is that I didn't find the GTA sooner. If  you want an affordable and accurate springer give the Gamo CFR .177 a very hard look by all accounts an "accurate and affordable under lever springer. George there is nothing wrong with springers and there is absolutely nothing wrong with gassers or multi pumps it is just what you get comfortable with, my problem is liking them all

[cclingma]

Thanks for sharing wisdom.  The chasing a dream statement really caught my attention.  I've been down this road before mostly with my compound bows.  It starts innocently enough with a modest model, then as interest and understanding expands so does the price of equipment including "support" equipment.  I can see myself peeking down this road again with airguns.  I enjoy shooting pellets, tinkering with the rifle, and thinking about how to make myself a better shooter.  Oh boy, gotta keep this under control.  I do however still greatly enjoy my bows.  Shot a few arrows last night in fact right after loading enough pellets to discolor my fingertips nicely.

[Benwaller]

Thanks for sharing wisdom.  The chasing a dream statement really caught my attention.  I've been down this road before mostly with my compound bows.  It starts innocently enough with a modest model, then as interest and understanding expands so does the price of equipment including "support" equipment.  I can see myself peeking down this road again with airguns.  I enjoy shooting pellets, tinkering with the rifle, and thinking about how to make myself a better shooter.  Oh boy, gotta keep this under control.  I do however still greatly enjoy my bows.  Shot a few arrows last night in fact right after loading enough pellets to discolor my fingertips nicely.

Know the feeling.  For many decades I was an NFAA bowman (can't use the proper word here but it begins with an "a") and that experience was all about building bows, shafts and strings, participating in the tournament circuit and hunting big game all across the West.  I shot in both freestyle and "instinctive" classes at the "A" level and was very successful in both and I have taken my fair share of deer and elk...and carp...and...sharks.  I actually built my first bow in 1964, real hard rock maple/fiberglass laminated limbs - built the forms and the air-pressure clamping system to do the laminating - exotic wood riser - the whole shootin' match.  Built a few more after that but ended up shooting commercially available (PSE, Pearson, Golden Eagle and a few others, some of 'em custom) compounds.

So, yeah I know the feelin'.

What I learned was that you can be successful and have a really good time with just a simple, unadorned recurve bow if you practice long and hard enough, that going nuts in pursuit of retail tech (guzzle enough of that Kool-Aid) does not necessarily add more fun to a sport that fundamentally is just a very fundamental fun sport. 

Now this comment is not aimed at criticizing anybody's preference regarding tools or technological pursuits, because I loved every minute of that chase myself, but for me today I find that simple makes me more fun, and fun is what life really is all about these days.

Just enjoy the trip.

  Ben

[f4milytime]

Crosman/Benjamin are IMO some of the better chinese airguns.

[45Bravo]

This is from a long time shooter,
Been shooting airguns since I was too young to pump the Benjamin 312 I was given.
Been shooting powder burners a long time too.

I have always drooled over the PCP guns, but funds limited me to the springers, and multi pumps, and also co2.

The co2 gave me my first "taste" of what could be a PCP.

Fast forward many years, I had opportunities in Colorado Springs, to shoot some of the finest PCP air guns in the world at the Olympic training center.

All it did was make me want one more.
But funds and life still limited me.

A while back, I was given a PCP hand pump in need of servicing.
$25 later,
I had the one tool that had kept me out of the darkside. (A way to fill any PCP gun)

I picked up a used Bam B50, in .22, after some tinkering, I had it shooting well.

Now I have a second PCP, and 2 scba tanks, and my hand pump.
(The tanks cost $20 each, and a hydro was $27)

I am still limited on funds, but I find a way..

I waited over 40 years to join the PCP ranks, I wish I had done it sooner.

You may THINK it is too expensive, but if you can get that 1 necessity, (a way to fill) out of the way,
The market is full of used reasonably priced PCP's

I saw a FX CYCLONE PCP sell yesterday online for $275 with the pump.
(It retails for over $1300)
I just missed it..

The pleasure of sending 5 pellets screaming through the same hole, with a $200 gun,
with no kick, and no hold sensitivity, is priceless..

Don't wait, just do it..

B50, PCP at 50 yards, JSB 14.35's
5 shots, the flier is all me, I called it when I pulled the trigger.

[cclingma]

Still thinking on whether I want a nicer break barrel or jump to a PCP.  I think I'm going to have to go for a PCP.  I'm simply fascinated by the PCP concept.  Charge up a pressure vessel with air attached to a barrel and trigger, walk around firing pellets with air from the vessel......How cool is that?!?!!!!

[Booger]

Still thinking on whether I want a nicer break barrel or jump to a PCP.  I think I'm going to have to go for a PCP.  I'm simply fascinated by the PCP concept.  Charge up a pressure vessel with air attached to a barrel and trigger, walk around firing pellets with air from the vessel......How cool is that?!?!!!!

I went PCP, and then I came back to the spring. Truth is I like them both, but the spring has more soul.