Springer vs PCP

[chuck d]

Hi All,

The air gun thing really appeals to me. I was going AA 200, but the weight concerned me. Then I read where the PCP guns go 7-8 lbs and seem the way to go.
So a few questions:
Benjiman Marauder vs AA 400? which one is best value?
.177 or .22
Tank/pump, both? Will a small welding/co2 typr tank work?
Can some one explain (readers digest version) how the PCP thing works? Pumps, Scuba tanks, carbon fiber tanks, filler hoses and adaptors. My last pellet gun I gave 10 pumps to and shot the vermin. (I was 12)
I will do the research on site as there is a lot of good info, but these are questions I need before ordering things.
thanks
chuck

[Baja_Traveler]

Nobody seems to have chimed in yet, but I can give you an idea based on my experience. I have both - My springer is an RWS 75 .177 match rifle, and my PCP is a .22 Benjamin Discovery. In a word - go for the PCP! My Disco is an awesome hunting rifle. I have it topped with a Vortex Crossfire scope (4-12 x 40) and its tack accurate out to 100 yards. The rifle takes down ground squirrels as hard as my 10/22.
I brought it to the last small bore silhouette match to play with, and did the shoot down with it after the match. It drops silhouettes as good as squirrels! Another shooter wanted to try it - he has the Marauder, so he gave me a comparison. The Marauder is much quieter with the shrouded barrel. Mine sounds like a .22 short going off when I fire it. The Marauder weighs quite a bit more though, he liked the feel of my rifle better than his for carrying around hunting. Triggers are about the same. I use a scuba tank to fill mine using a scuba tank adapter. The scuba tank is cheap and does 50+ fills. The drawback is the size - I have to leave it at the truck, so no filling out in the field for me. A smaller carbon tank in a back pack might be useful if you are out hunting and taking lots of shots. I generally dont take more than 8-10 shots, so no issues there. I've read that using the pump is a real workout, and the seals wear out fairly quickly. I got the rifle and adapter from http://www.mac1airgun.com/pcpcomponents.html Mac 1 in Los Angeles, they accuracy prep the rifle before sale. I highly recommend them.

[silhouette13]

hi Chuck,

there are limited opertunitys up here for air rifle, Jud Durant does a indoor league at pioneer in the winter, he also has a set of resettables for AR silo matches, if a couple more folks show interest i am sure he would run a few matches a year. for just that reason i will be getting a HW97 as soon as the wife is not looking.

as far as the 22 or 177 thing goes, i would say go 177. some folks are of the mind that 22 will cause more target damage, also most places you shoot paper will have a scoreing gauge for 177.

springers or pcp....springers are rougher on scopes, pcp is dependant on a fill source. both are fun to shoot and will be worth the investment.
best
dave

[chuck d]

Thanks Guys!

[Finprof]

Just so that you know that there are three classes for air rifles - Sporter (springer) Target ( usually low power PCP) and open (usually high power PCP).
The springer would be in sporter class and the Marauder would be in open class.
Most matches shoot at least two relays. If you buy both you can shoot both.

I started with a target class PCP, then bought a springer and later bought an open PCP so that I can shoot all three classes.
Beware. The same could happen to you.

[silhouette13]

if memory serves...and sometimes it doesnot, a springer is legal for all classes. like a hunter can be used in std etc. the rules become more restrictive as you get away from open, so a stock(tuned) springer could be used in all classes.

dave

[Dee]

You can shoot anything in "Open" class. I usually shoot my Target rifle in Open as also. I don't think you will be allowed to shoot a fast 800+ fps springer like a TX200 in target class. You may be able to get away with shooting a 10m spring target rifle in all 3 classes or a CO2 powered rifle but that is about it. For Target class you need to be around 600 fps max.



Dee

[silhouette13]

Dee is correct! target rifle has to be "designed" for 10m comp. and a PCP is not legal for hunter. so a target rifle will get you one class, a PCP will get you maybe 2 depending on if it was "designed" for 10m, like a cz or the ugly pcp AA gunor an avanti, maybe a crossman challenger w/ 12 gram might get you all 3 classes. and a springer will get you 2 classes.

dave