My Five Stages of PCP Airgun Ownership

[JungleShooter]

If those are the first 5 stages, I gotta be on about stage 87.

I go back and forth about selling off a bunch, but then try to pare it down and realize each has a use. And I've got enough to have some very specialized uses. Read that as very specific justification for keeping each of them.

I've got one that get used for one or two pistol matches a year (1720T).

I've got two that get used for garage offhand practice on long cold winter nights. FWB 300 and FWB 300s Mini. One with a low power scope and one with diopter iron sights.

Veteran Long for high power long range field target. Couple matches a year. Pellets out to 100 yards for those matches.

Veteran Standard for one of my sons to shoot matches with. This one gets used quite a bit.

USFT with .20 and .177 barrels, for serious sub20 field target matches that I would like to win, couple matches a year.

Vet Short in .20 for clandestine relatively low power pesting and for the other son to use in matches. I also shoot it in a match or two here and there.

Ghost .20 for long range slugging (mostly) of prairie dogs and Ultimate Field Target. Can stretch this one into a couple hundred yards so it's the long ranger.

Ghost testbed for barrel testing and development.

HW50s as a general use low power springer. Gets used very little. It's bout 8.5fpe.

Add in a stack of alternate barrels for most of these and various bottle sizes and filling paraphernalia, and scopes on them all, and enough pellets and slugs to not need to buy any for more than a decade.... Yeah, I'm a few more than 5 stages deep into this insanity.

Yeah, you've made very good progress, Cole.
You have sucessfully passed the stage where you realize that the money you've spent so far would buy you a nice car.

Now you will soon encounter the stage where the amount spent would be enough for a down-payment on a house.


You have great potential.
Keep it up!!

Reaching higher an higher stages.
Or rather, deeper and deeper down the rabbit hole you go.

Matthias


PS: I'm a bit behind you down-the-hole, but I'm hurrying up, don't worry. (I just started too late in life to catch up to you.)

 

[Franklink]

Yeah, you've made very good progress, Cole.
You have sucessfully passed the stage where you realize that the money you've spent so far would buy you a nice car.

Now you will soon encounter the stage where the amount spent would be enough for a down-payment on a house.


You have great potential.
Keep it up!!

Reaching higher an higher stages.
Or rather, deeper and deeper down the rabbit hole you go.

Matthias


PS: I'm a bit behind you down-the-hole, but I'm hurrying up, don't worry. (I just started too late in life to catch up to you.)

Lol. Ive moved past the point of acquisition addiction. I currently don't have any plans to buy/try anything else. No more niche needs to fulfill.

The pumping of the breaks occured when I realized I dont even have time to enjoy what I already have sitting in the gun room. Sure, I'll be involved in some barrel testing here and there, maybe review a gun that is supplied to me with that express purpose, and if I really am interested in the platform, but the heated days of passionate buying and trying are behind me.

The last gun I bought was that Condor .20 last summer. And while I liked it, it was the straw that broke the camels back and I sold it within a few months of buying it. It was just too many guns. The last gun I bought and kept....had to go look it up...was a used Veteran in March of 2022. So, a bit over three years ago. In the 6 years prior to that I bet I bought 15-20 guns, many of them being sold but some kept.

So yeah, I'm settled into being quite satisfied with what I've got for what I use airguns for. No plans to go on anymore buying/trying sprees.

 

[JungleShooter]

I've moved past the point of acquisition addiction.
So yeah, I'm settled into being quite satisfied with what I've got for what I use airguns for. No plans to go on anymore buying/trying sprees.

It is nice to come to a place of rest and peace and
CONTENTMENT —
after
the buying frenzy,
the accessorizing accidents,
the modding madness, and
the must-have-brand-spanking-new-gun sprees....


I am so blessed for those black beasts of shooting machines I get to call my own — only since very recent times.
They are way more than I had dreamt I would ever get to own.
Way more in number.
Way more in quality.


Same goes for scopes:
Over years of patient waiting for good second-hand deals I have now come to own some of the scopes that are at or near the very top of the hundreds of scopes in my Scope Specs Tables.
Blessed.
That's the word.


➧ I still look....
Can't help it....
But not with that buy-button burn on my index finger.
Rather with serene contentment, evaluating what's out there and how it compares to what I have and what I use it for. And growing in thankfulness — that I have really good stuff (compared to some of you, that is... — I don't own March, NF, or electronic guns....).


➧ However, I sometimes get to help buddies by buying guns and scopes for them, as I have better access.... — spending other people's money (with their permission) is a great thrill I don't mind indulging....

Matthias

 

[Grunt64]

I just came to this realization today and was wondering if anyone has gone through something similar. FYI, this is just my humorous take on owning my first PCP air gun.

1. Ooh, PCP airguns are cool.
2. What? It costs how much?
3. Finally found a PCP airgun in my price range.
4. So excited! It's on the way.
5. What have I done?

I feel like PCP airguns (and hand pumps) should have come with a warning. Something like:

PCP Airgun Owner Warning: Please be advised that owning PCP airguns may cause happiness, excitement, satisfaction, frustration, irritability, and test your patience. Proficiency in reading owner manuals and schematics to problem solve and tinker will be required. When all else fails, please refer to advice from those who have been there and done that.

My son and I shoot various multi-pump pistols / air rifles and break barrel air rifles ... that just work as intended. However, we've only had our PCP air gun and hand pump for just over a month and have had to troubleshoot and clean the hand pump (still not sure if it's 100% fixed) and are now in the process of troubleshooting a leak with the air gun. We actually enjoy this type of tinkering, but we didn't think it would occur this soon of ownership.

I don't want this thread be about fixing my problems ... just see if anyone else has had similar thoughts.

Scott

The only part we differ is "what have I done' is when I modified it and just before getting it all back together lol .

 

[WildBman]

I just came to this realization today and was wondering if anyone has gone through something similar. FYI, this is just my humorous take on owning my first PCP air gun.

1. Ooh, PCP airguns are cool.
2. What? It costs how much?
3. Finally found a PCP airgun in my price range.
4. So excited! It's on the way.
5. What have I done?

I feel like PCP airguns (and hand pumps) should have come with a warning. Something like:

PCP Airgun Owner Warning: Please be advised that owning PCP airguns may cause happiness, excitement, satisfaction, frustration, irritability, and test your patience. Proficiency in reading owner manuals and schematics to problem solve and tinker will be required. When all else fails, please refer to advice from those who have been there and done that.

My son and I shoot various multi-pump pistols / air rifles and break barrel air rifles ... that just work as intended. However, we've only had our PCP air gun and hand pump for just over a month and have had to troubleshoot and clean the hand pump (still not sure if it's 100% fixed) and are now in the process of troubleshooting a leak with the air gun. We actually enjoy this type of tinkering, but we didn't think it would occur this soon of ownership.

I don't want this thread be about fixing my problems ... just see if anyone else has had similar thoughts.

Scott

Yes they require a lot of fixing and tinkering. I gotta say you will learn a lot!

 

[PasadenaMike]

1. Buy a Hatsan
2. Regret Hatsan so you sell it and buy an Avenger
3. Like the avenger so you buy 29 high end PCPs
4. Realize they all do the same thing and you just spend 32k in PCPs and accessories
5. Sell everything and just keep the Talon P

 

[Renée]

I just came to this realization today and was wondering if anyone has gone through something similar. FYI, this is just my humorous take on owning my first PCP air gun.

1. Ooh, PCP airguns are cool.
2. What? It costs how much?
3. Finally found a PCP airgun in my price range.
4. So excited! It's on the way.
5. What have I done?

I feel like PCP airguns (and hand pumps) should have come with a warning. Something like:

PCP Airgun Owner Warning: Please be advised that owning PCP airguns may cause happiness, excitement, satisfaction, frustration, irritability, and test your patience. Proficiency in reading owner manuals and schematics to problem solve and tinker will be required. When all else fails, please refer to advice from those who have been there and done that.

My son and I shoot various multi-pump pistols / air rifles and break barrel air rifles ... that just work as intended. However, we've only had our PCP air gun and hand pump for just over a month and have had to troubleshoot and clean the hand pump (still not sure if it's 100% fixed) and are now in the process of troubleshooting a leak with the air gun. We actually enjoy this type of tinkering, but we didn't think it would occur this soon of ownership.

I don't want this thread be about fixing my problems ... just see if anyone else has had similar thoughts.

Scott

oh one more thing-
If you have a friend who already has lots of wonderful (PCP) things, he/she is going to cost you money as your collection grows.
As a friend of mine says and told me upfront: "With a friend like me, and so much fun, guaranteed it is going to cost ya!
Enjoy, great hobby!

 

[Florida_Man]

A difficult leak will always test the meddle if a PCP owner.
Are you in it enough to endure the madness it creates.

 

[abstruse]

If I remember correctly from an early post, you are using a hand pump? If so, I think you need to graduate to pressure bottles filled at dive shops or a compressor. I finally bought a compressor and I’m glad of it because I can keep my SCBA bottles topped up.

 

[PasadenaMike]

1. Buy a Hatsan
2. Regret Hatsan so you sell it and buy an Avenger
3. Like the avenger so you buy 29 high end PCPs
4. Realize they all do the same thing and you just spend 32k in PCPs and accessories
5. Sell everything and just keep the Talon P

Woah this actually happened lol guess I’m Nostradamus or Mikestradamus

 

[FL22]

Woah this actually happened lol guess I’m Nostradamus or Mikestradamus

The Man, the Myth, and the Legend .

 

[Danman]

The Man, the Myth, and the Legend .

He did it so we wouldn't have too

 

[JimT66]

He did it so we wouldn't have too

I have learned a ton reading his Airgun adventures and misadventures since I joined the group. I learned extremely quick to heed his advice, and ask him before I made any buys too. Was never steered wrong. Mike does know his airguns.

 

[PasadenaMike]

I have learned a ton reading his Airgun adventures and misadventures since I joined the group. I learned extremely quick to heed his advice, and ask him before I made any buys too. Was never steered wrong. Mike does know his airguns.

I appreciate it I don’t claim to know everything but I help when and where I can ,

 

[kcender]

Lol. Ive moved past the point of acquisition addiction. I currently don't have any plans to buy/try anything else. No more niche needs to fulfill.

The pumping of the breaks occured when I realized I dont even have time to enjoy what I already have sitting in the gun room. Sure, I'll be involved in some barrel testing here and there, maybe review a gun that is supplied to me with that express purpose, and if I really am interested in the platform, but the heated days of passionate buying and trying are behind me.

The last gun I bought was that Condor .20 last summer. And while I liked it, it was the straw that broke the camels back and I sold it within a few months of buying it. It was just too many guns. The last gun I bought and kept....had to go look it up...was a used Veteran in March of 2022. So, a bit over three years ago. In the 6 years prior to that I bet I bought 15-20 guns, many of them being sold but some kept.

So yeah, I'm settled into being quite satisfied with what I've got for what I use airguns for. No plans to go on anymore buying/trying sprees.

And then there's that gun safe thing when we run out of room!!

 

[mobilemail]

1. Buy a Hatsan
2. Regret Hatsan so you sell it and buy an Avenger
3. Like the avenger so you buy 29 high end PCPs
4. Realize they all do the same thing and you just spend 32k in PCPs and accessories
5. Sell everything and just keep the Talon P

I was going to say, " step 4b - repeat step 4 fifty times!" But this is pretty darn close!!!

 

[PasadenaMike]

Sell everything and just shoot powder burners lol.

 

[Jaabaa]

Sell everything and just shoot powder burners lol.

Trying to think of the last time I shot the 30-30 maybe at least 35 years ago.
The M16 25+ years ago, bought from Cabela's
Thought that's what I wanted and haven't shot it since I got it. So 25 years since I've cleaned a burner... hadn't really thought about it till now.

 

[PasadenaMike]

Trying to think of the last time I shot the 30-30 maybe at least 35 years ago.
The M16 25+ years ago, bought from Cabela's
Thought that's what I wanted and haven't shot it since I got it. So 25 years since I've cleaned a burner... hadn't really thought about it till now.

I don’t shoot big guns just rim fire. I still have my Airgun

 

[jps2486]

Stage 6-bankruptcy.