Spring/Piston Spring Piston vs. PCP: Is the Debate Over?

My springers were awesome to me from “my” then perspective. Mine were, are very accurate for pesting out to 40+ yards. Where they became deficient to me was in “follow up” shots or when presented with multiple opportunities. My first PCP, a Gamo Urban simply astounded me with what I could do with it. That it was a repeater, simply sealed the deal. Have zero interest in springer though I am holding on to my Beeman R7 and HWK .177. carbine…
Also when hunting with a spring gun it's either ready to shoot; chambered with a pellet (spring fatigue and can be seen as unsafe) or it's empty and you risk missing the quarry while loading. Multi shot pcps are mint for pesting, and I don't need a few pellets in my hand either for backup🤭...but when target/paper shooting I love my springers just as much, and single loading is zen. My slowest to-load air rifle is the TX and the small amount of pesting I've done with it I was actually impressed with how quickly I could have a second shot ready to go in the moment (needed that once or twice this yr)
 
I have both and target shoot them. If I were to hunt again it would be with my Liberty in .22. I use to hunt ground squirrels many decades ago with my Diana 48 in .177 and will never get rid of it. If I ever go after coyotes it will be with my Sumatra.25. I'd have no problem putting down a song dog with that bad boy.
 
Sometimes you need a Ma Deuce, sometimes you need a blunderbuss. And some are still throwing rocks and the occasional stick, cause that's what they did when they were 10. I'll still pick up a PCP while they are out refilling their carbide lanterns they use for headlights on the buckboard. Movin' on.
 
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Sometimes you need a Ma Deuce, sometimes you need a blunderbuss. And some are still throwing rocks and the occasional stick, cause that's what they did when they were 10. I'll still pick up a PCP while they are out refilling their carbide lanterns they use for headlights on the buckboard. Movin' on.
Lol we all get that, no one is hunting bears or shooting 200yards with springers but some don't want the hassle, or the expense of all the extras that come with pcps. Or hey they love a challenge... I generally don't understand people who hate on either... although... if you want to rag on C02 guns I'm in🤣🤣 I've night hunted with a Diana 350mag (heavvyy) there was nothing I didn't shoot that dropped almost instantly. 100% pass throughs.
 
Here's the thing about springers - they're fun because they're a challenge.

For some shooting, a good PCP is the obvious choice. The power/range, etc. favor PCPs. But it's a fairly sterile experience - hold on target, pull trigger, hold on target, pull trigger, over and over. It's still shooting, so obviously it's all good, but springers require more on the shooters part. Some won't want to bother with that, some will really take to it.

They may both be airguns, but to me they are very different.
 
Lol we all get that, no one is hunting bears or shooting 200yards with springers but some don't want the hassle, or the expense of all the extras that come with pcps. Or hey they love a challenge... I generally don't understand people who hate on either... although... if you want to rag on C02 guns I'm in🤣🤣 I've night hunted with a Diana 350mag (heavvyy) there was nothing I didn't shoot that dropped almost instantly. 100% pass throughs.
Hey, CO2 guns are less work than springers or PCPs! Sometimes you just want to put holes in pop cans fast.
 
Kragman1 said, "Here's the thing about springers - they're fun because they're a challenge...".

OK. I get that. But I've got enough "challenges" to keep me busy all day long. It's kinda like Danman said above, "Sometimes you just NEED to put holes in pop cans fast."!!

Years ago I bought a big, beautiful Benjamin Titan NP in .22. Mounted a scope, collected a a variety pellets, set up a target and bench rest in the basement with live, close up video of the target, and started shooting. No matter what I tried the paper always looked like a scattergun pattern board.

After reading here and other places, I came to the conclusion that it's really kinda simple: that big steel PISTON slamming to a stop (before the pellet moves) not only seriously jars the scope and mounts but causes barrel harmonics, no matter how you hold or don't hold it. Then, the stock (the resistance to that slam) is offset to and below the axis of that slam which causes the muzzle to rise. All this means that you would have to hold the gun in exactly the same way every shot to get any consistency/accuracy. Between both hands, shoulder, cheek, and a rest, all needing to have the same pressure and resistance for every shot, it's more than a challenge. On a bench it might be possible, hunting not so much.

The only way to get a springer to cooperate with physics is to have a hybrid system where the piston compresses the air before the shot, then the trigger releases the air to the chamber, like a PCP. Viola!! NO SLAMMING going on, just the recoil from the pellet acceleration and the compressed air leaving the muzzle. It would help to have the butplate in line with the bore, like an AR, too.
 
Kragman1 said, "Here's the thing about springers - they're fun because they're a challenge...".

OK. I get that. But I've got enough "challenges" to keep me busy all day long. It's kinda like Danman said above, "Sometimes you just NEED to put holes in pop cans fast."!!

Years ago I bought a big, beautiful Benjamin Titan NP in .22. Mounted a scope, collected a a variety pellets, set up a target and bench rest in the basement with live, close up video of the target, and started shooting. No matter what I tried the paper always looked like a scattergun pattern board.

After reading here and other places, I came to the conclusion that it's really kinda simple: that big steel PISTON slamming to a stop (before the pellet moves) not only seriously jars the scope and mounts but causes barrel harmonics, no matter how you hold or don't hold it. Then, the stock (the resistance to that slam) is offset to and below the axis of that slam which causes the muzzle to rise. All this means that you would have to hold the gun in exactly the same way every shot to get any consistency/accuracy. Between both hands, shoulder, cheek, and a rest, all needing to have the same pressure and resistance for every shot, it's more than a challenge. On a bench it might be possible, hunting not so much.

The only way to get a springer to cooperate with physics is to have a hybrid system where the piston compresses the air before the shot, then the trigger releases the air to the chamber, like a PCP. Viola!! NO SLAMMING going on, just the recoil from the pellet acceleration and the compressed air leaving the muzzle. It would help to have the butplate in line with the bore, like an AR, too.
The inaccuracies your gun suffered could be a host of issues...a mid power springer (10 - 16fpe in .177) ,is truly the sweet spot and will reward you by shooting sweetly, accurately, and not murdering your scopes, or spitting out all it's stock screws. I shoot 2 family members magnum springers a bit and it's not overly pleasant. My 13fpe TX springer hits almost everything but yeah vital shots are 100% needed....if pesting its pcp time for me! Final statement lol: my brother has mastered his 350magnum springer shooting slugs and he and I had a starling slaying competition this past summer. Me and my .22 30fpe dead nuts pcp vs him and his Diana .177 20fpe springer. Didnt feel fair, well....He destroyed me😒 In all fairness he has a mulberry tree that was attracting them to his yard so he had more opportunity but he also rarely missed! Oh....and a Jsb 10.03 slug going 925fps annihilates starlings!! And it's a good workout cocking it😆...OK that's actually a negative.
 
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Google says the Titan NP delivers 21 fpe so that puts me in the stinky spot. Figures. But I'll keep it just for it's looks.

That's why it's still laying on the top shelf where I left it several years ago
 
Share Your Real-World Experiences!
Indeed, it would depend on the intended use. Springers are straightforward to operate and don't require an air compressor, yet their range, caliber options, and FPE are limited. PCPs, on the other hand, necessitate an air compressor but offer greater power, a wider selection of calibers, and the ability to shoot over longer distances. As a hunter targeting woodchucks, raccoons, and coyotes, I opt for a PCP due to the necessary power.
 
Amen to that Grunt64. Who in they right mind wants to take on a wounded trash panda or coyote with a spring? I've proclaimed,"Hold my beer", numerous times to many things, but this country boy ain't never been that stupid. gimme my tuned PCP back, quick!
Thank you, but I am merely echoing what many of us are already aware of. Yet, we all observe those few who believe they possess superior knowledge.
 

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