The future of PCP

[SpindleB]

I agree if you’re into mods and things like that then AF probably is limited. For my life style with almost no time to shoot anymore it works great because it works all the time

I'm more into, as my brother points out, "what can I !@#$% with next". Which includes air guns, my house, my smokers and anything else i can legally !@#$% with .

 

[PasadenaMike]

I'm more into, as my brother points out, "what can I !@#$% with next". Which includes air guns, my house, my smokers and anything else i can legally !@#$% with .

Yeah to each their own

 

[ctshooter]

For me I’ve seen the past 10 years of airgunning chase some serious power levels and make them more mainstream for the masses. What I don’t like is that the whole industry seems to have moved in that direction.

10 years ago a .22 pushing 30 fpe was the standard. Now you need to tune that .22 down, if you even can, from 60-80 fpe to get the simple 30 fpe.

I’d like to see a return to the airgunning roots with more traditional offerings in 177 and 22. Finding a low power option has become more difficult and I can’t be shooting 50fpe 22 in my backyard.

 

[hameditor]

For me I’ve seen the past 10 years of airgunning chase some serious power levels and make them more mainstream for the masses. What I don’t like is that the whole industry seems to have moved in that direction.

10 years ago a .22 pushing 30 fpe was the standard. Now you need to tune that .22 down, if you even can, from 60-80 fpe to get the simple 30 fpe.

I’d like to see a return to the airgunning roots with more traditional offerings in 177 and 22. Finding a low power option has become more difficult and I can’t be shooting 50fpe 22 in my backyard.

Agreed! There's nothing wrong with low power airgunning. We all have to start somewhere and backyard plinking is the most logical place. Plus, many of us do not have easy access to locations where we can shoot powerful, possibly loud airguns at long ranges.

So far as I can see, Umarex is the only company that agrees with this value proposition - they have introduced a slew of new low-end airguns over the past year or two and most of them are actually pretty good.

 

[SpindleB]

For me I’ve seen the past 10 years of airgunning chase some serious power levels and make them more mainstream for the masses. What I don’t like is that the whole industry seems to have moved in that direction.

10 years ago a .22 pushing 30 fpe was the standard. Now you need to tune that .22 down, if you even can, from 60-80 fpe to get the simple 30 fpe.

I’d like to see a return to the airgunning roots with more traditional offerings in 177 and 22. Finding a low power option has become more difficult and I can’t be shooting 50fpe 22 in my backyard.

I shoot 105FPE in my backyard. Of course my target box is backed by 1/4 aluminum plate. I am lucky and have a 45 yard long downhill yard backed by a creek with an opposing bank higher and an empty lot. I occasionally go to one of two range that are Air Gun friendly and within 25 miles. Kind of fun to see the PB guys start noticing 50 and 100 yard shot groupings.

I also tinker with most of my rifles and the usual is figuring out how to get more shots or more power.

My low power rifles are my *classic* 20+ years old British .22 walnut stock beauties that i would never tinker with.

 

[Dogowski]

The Circle of Life for a Shooter

You start with a slingshot.
Then you upgrade to a BB gun.
Next, a break barrel or multi-pump rifle—your first taste of “real” airguns.
Eventually, you step into the world of powder burners.
Then you discover PCPs, go all-in, spend way too much, and realize it’s a whole ecosystem: tanks, compressors, O-rings, leaks, drama.
So, you go back to a nice, simple break barrel for its no-fuss charm.
But then you realize you’ve been spoiled by the raw power of PCPs.
So, you return to powder burners…
…until the ammo prices and range fees make you wince.
And finally—you come full circle—
You grab a slingshot, smile, and think: "This is all I really needed."

But i would have a nice slingshot with the arm brace and the rubber tubes and leather pouch for holding the large stainless ball ammo for maximum devastation! None of these tree branches and rubber bands.

 

[Farmplinker2]

For me I’ve seen the past 10 years of airgunning chase some serious power levels and make them more mainstream for the masses. What I don’t like is that the whole industry seems to have moved in that direction.

10 years ago a .22 pushing 30 fpe was the standard. Now you need to tune that .22 down, if you even can, from 60-80 fpe to get the simple 30 fpe.

I’d like to see a return to the airgunning roots with more traditional offerings in 177 and 22. Finding a low power option has become more difficult and I can’t be shooting 50fpe 22 in my backyard.

I think it's called a Notos, or 3622, or Crosman Challenger.

 

[PasadenaMike]

But i would have a nice slingshot with the arm brace and the rubber tubes and leather pouch for holding the large stainless ball ammo for maximum devastation! None of these tree branches and rubber bands.

You should see my collection I got obsessed for a couple months. I did make one but most are made by Simpleshot. They don’t leak ever but do snap bands quite a bit but I have a ton of bands

 

[jps2486]

For me I’ve seen the past 10 years of airgunning chase some serious power levels and make them more mainstream for the masses. What I don’t like is that the whole industry seems to have moved in that direction.

10 years ago a .22 pushing 30 fpe was the standard. Now you need to tune that .22 down, if you even can, from 60-80 fpe to get the simple 30 fpe.

I’d like to see a return to the airgunning roots with more traditional offerings in 177 and 22. Finding a low power option has become more difficult and I can’t be shooting 50fpe 22 in my backyard.

Low to moderate power airguns shoot more accurately too!

 

[GHairgunner]

This always strikes a cord with me...
Having been inside of hundreds , if not more than a thousand , different airguns... and seen firsthand some of the inner workings of AAA, Daystate-BRK, Thomas and FX, I very much understand they are trying to bring us a product that will sell.
You can absolutely, no question, buy your perfect barrel and most likely any other components ... just bring money... LOTS of money... Back when Woody managed LW-USA, I had that very discussion with him about barrels. LW can and will make you a perfect barrel if you're willing to pay for it. Lillja can and will make them to your spec as well. If you're willing to work for it, TJ can give you a less expensive one that can possibly be really good... they just take a LOT of work to finish.
Most ALL products we use are tradeoffs... airguns are no different. There are decreasing returns for very rapidly increasing costs and effort so perfection is more a combination of getting good enough performance at an sellable price.
For a couple of opposing views, Mike of Thomas rifle fame delivers a pretty finely designed and built competition rifle that I generally think of as expensive, but ready for competition. With the work involved in assembly , tuning, and testing, his hourly wage is quite low. Why does he do it? Love of airguns and competition , I would guess... Tom at AAA is similar but on the hunting end of airguns, not so much competition. At the other end is Crosman. We could buy parts direct from them at one time and I bought a spare barrel for my 140. It was $9 and this was not a closeout or special deal. How in the world could they make a fitted, rifled, and blued steel barrel and sell it for $9? They had just refined the process and designed out every bit of wasted cost with the plan of making a LOT of them. You can see that in every product they sell. I read a statement at some point that they felt they could be more successful selling 1 million for a $1 profit than 1000 for a $1000 dollar profit.
Anyway ... I tend to look at things in their value to me but can easily see the surface costs of the product manufacturing... it's either worth it to me or not but I am not a person who expects to get something for nothing...
Ammo is similar ... apparently there's a good number of people not old enough to remember what ammo was like at one time. Shooting 100 yards with a wadcutter ... Fifty yards with a 6 ft lb springer and wadcutters JSB has kind of revolutionized pellets with their higher bc domed offerings, much like Crosman did with the Premiers in the late 90's. Others are following now...
I feel we are in kind of a Golden Age ... carbon fiber tanks that weigh so little and hold so much, affordable compressors, ammo, accessories ... it's all so GOOD...
I think that valving still has some room for gains like the hammerless and balanced valves , for instance. Not so sure about anything else on the rifles as it's all cosmetics or ergonomics from my perspective. Probably some combinations of features in there, also...
Just my $0.02...
Bob

Interesting points of view, somewhat I agree with some not others. My opinions are slanted as a competitor and not as a back yard low cost point of view. LW barrels I don't agree with tried to talk with them about building a barrel to my specs. They might consider it if I was willing to spend $50K. The LW barrel got lucky with sub 20 ft. lbs. and stopped there, I see nothing in terms of staying with the tech rise in competition. The polygon barrel just lets to much air past the pellet while it is in the barrel and results in a disturbed air that destabilizes the pellet on exit from barrel. Mike builds a great gun, very high end, and still has the major competitors come to him for tunes before the big comps.
Pellets made a big jump from wadcutters to domed and have stopped. Now that guns can fire at higher velocities, the design has not been re-visited with success.

 

[jps2486]

Pellets made a big jump from wadcutters to domed and have stopped. Now that guns can fire at higher velocities, the design has not been re-visited with success.

Agreed! Pellets could stand some design analysis and improvement. Slugs too, for that matter. I believe there is much more to do there so they are less sensitive to velocity. Hollow base, different ogive? They haven't got that right yet. I just did a lot of testing with a springer and a whole raft of different pellets. Those Chines JTS and AEA sure are more accurate than JSB and H&N.

 

[KokoDjambo]

To me it seems future of airguns is titanium airtanks we can see them in airgun brands like huben k1 capable of holding 500 bar in tiny airtube which gives you high velocity and capacity in a lightweight airgun. You can go hiking with it or their shorty gk1 pistol with the same tech. And also AEA have tried to intruduced some extreamly heavy rifles in large calibers using high pressure 7000psi/500 bar for now somewhat unpopular but probabbly we will se something successfull. To me it is attractive to have a high pressure tiny package but if the compressor stops working or the electricity goes out i would preffer to have something that could be hand pumped and still have rhe performance i guess a 7000 psi pipe tube coukd be pumped only to 4500psi and turn some knobs. Maybe changable airtanks and airguns made from tuffer lightweight materials something thats screams quality on a reasonable price and will outlast me with less rubber seal O-rigs brake points that require friequent dissasembly.

 

[Dogowski]

Agreed! Pellets could stand some design analysis and improvement. Slugs too, for that matter. I believe there is much more to do there so they are less sensitive to velocity. Hollow base, different ogive? They haven't got that right yet. I just did a lot of testing with a springer and a whole raft of different pellets. Those Chines JTS and AEA sure are more accurate than JSB and H&N.

AEA are my premium pellet of choice right now. Just got an order in of 22 and 25 caliber ammo!

 

[PasadenaMike]

You should see my collection I got obsessed for a couple months. I did make one but most are made by Simpleshot. They don’t leak ever but do snap bands quite a bit but I have a ton of bands

 

[Dogowski]

Cool looking slingshots man. Nice!

 

[ctshooter]

To me it seems future of airguns is titanium airtanks we can see them in airgun brands like huben k1 capable of holding 500 bar in tiny airtube which gives you high velocity and capacity in a lightweight airgun. You can go hiking with it or their shorty gk1 pistol with the same tech. And also AEA have tried to intruduced some extreamly heavy rifles in large calibers using high pressure 7000psi/500 bar for now somewhat unpopular but probabbly we will se something successfull. To me it is attractive to have a high pressure tiny package but if the compressor stops working or the electricity goes out i would preffer to have something that could be hand pumped and still have rhe performance i guess a 7000 psi pipe tube coukd be pumped only to 4500psi and turn some knobs. Maybe changable airtanks and airguns made from tuffer lightweight materials something thats screams quality on a reasonable price and will outlast me with less rubber seal O-rigs brake points that require friequent dissasembly.

I take pause when thinking about higher pressures being used. I believe PCP has standardized on 4500psi / 300 bar fills due to the SCBA/SCUBA standards already in place. It's so widespread and has DOT/CE certifications. I struggle to see a whole high pressure industry changing/upgrading to higher pressures for a niche like airguns. There would be way to much re-certification of equipment - and a major risk of people filling older 300 bar guns to dangerously high levels.

 

[JimT66]

Personally, I sort of like the "figure it out myself" part. I agree that poor (cheap) manufacturing quality is a drag, but isn't tinkering around the main thing that makes this hobby fun?

Hmmm, considering the age issue, with the largest by far of us being in the 50 to 70 year old range, this leads to one Huge factor. Physical infirmaries. Loss of vision, loss of physical dexterity, Among other issues. This more than anything can put a huge dent in having the ability to tinker, no matter how much some might want to.

 

[SpindleB]

Hmmm, considering the age issue, with the largest by far of us being in the 50 to 70 year old range, this leads to one Huge factor. Physical infirmaries. Loss of vision, loss of physical dexterity, Among other issues. This more than anything can put a huge dent in having the ability to tinker, no matter how much some might want to.

I gave up on .177 due to dexterity issues. Then there is the nerve damage and broken bones that poorly set means I pretty much shoot off a tripod. I have a couple guns I shoot squirrels off hand across the creek but even that can require timing the shake to the target.

The tinkering I'm more into air, plenums, regulators and bottles. Although I'm going to have to set up my drill press to enlarge the transfer port on a couple guns.

Pretty much avoid trigger assemblies. Yep, too many small parts and springs.

 

[JimT66]

I gave up on .177 due to dexterity issues. Then there is the nerve damage and broken bones that poorly set means I pretty much shoot off a tripod. I have a couple guns I shoot squirrels off hand across the creek but even that can require timing the shake to the target.

The tinkering I'm more into air, plenums, regulators and bottles. Although I'm going to have to set up my drill press to enlarge the transfer port on a couple guns.

Pretty much avoid trigger assemblies. Yep, too many small parts and springs.

Exactly my point. I'm in the same boat you are. Have to shoot off a tripod 90% of the time. From my chair, the offhand shots, yeah, the shakes and tremors definitely get in the way, but sometimes get lucky, except for coyote shots. They always close enough, and shake or not, inside 40 yards they ain't gettin away.

 

[Grunt64]

The Future of PCP: Power, Precision, and the Price of Progress

Pre-charged pneumatic airguns are evolving fast—and the trajectory is clear: more efficiency, more power, and more competition for the title of “most powerful.” Whether it’s the Pile Driver, AEA, or AirForce, that arms race won’t slow down. But in the push for bigger numbers, I hope the industry doesn’t forget the shooters who are already content—those who value reliability, balance, and field-ready performance over raw output.

From my own work modifying the AEA .357 Challenger and .308 Texan, I’ve seen firsthand how much room there still is for improvement. Valve tuning, port shaping, trigger refinement—these platforms have potential that’s only beginning to be tapped. But with that potential comes a question: where does the price go?

We’re already seeing PCPs in the $2,000–$3,000 range. That’s a serious investment, and it raises the stakes for both manufacturers and shooters. Will innovation stay accessible, or will it drift into boutique territory? The future of PCPs isn’t just about what’s possible—it’s about who gets to benefit from it.