Not many people into airguns?
- Thread starter bigHUN
- Start date
When you need $1000 or more to get a PCP going and need at least a PAL, I'd buy a 'real' firearm. I've got a Ruger Blackhawk .177 NonPAL that's fairly accurate, as well as a Crosman 1322 and an Artemis CP-1 in .22. Good enuf for 'winter basement' but I'm inside city limits so not even for pests. I've taken them to the range but these are only good for 25-yds. I had a Vantage Nitro in .177 but the power fell off beyond 25-yds or so also. And the .177 non-PAL is very wind sensitive so not very satisfying even at 25.
I don't talk HPA or PCP handguns that for a stupid reason belong to a same RPAL restrictions as the 9mm Sig.
I talk about HPA/PCP rifles that need a same PAL license as the "real firearms".
But there is a huge difference in between the two - starting with a convenience of having and handling it ...
... The cost is a different story. You can pickup a cheapest rimfire for $500 and pretty much you almost good for a 2-300 meters target with some little homework. PCP air rifle cannot match the performance of a good rimfire rifle but to add an extra zero to tail and that can come pretty close.
Anyway, sad to see not many into that sport.
I talk about HPA/PCP rifles that need a same PAL license as the "real firearms".
But there is a huge difference in between the two - starting with a convenience of having and handling it ...
... The cost is a different story. You can pickup a cheapest rimfire for $500 and pretty much you almost good for a 2-300 meters target with some little homework. PCP air rifle cannot match the performance of a good rimfire rifle but to add an extra zero to tail and that can come pretty close.
Anyway, sad to see not many into that sport.
- Location
- Nova Scotia
Cheapest rimfire 500$? You can find a Cooey for under 100$. I've bought them for 75$. Savage MK2 for 269$. I bought Anschutz's for 600$
You cannot get a decent airgun for les than 600$. Then with PCP you need a pump another 150-300$ Double that for a compressor.
Many can shoot airguns in their back yard. So why you never see them on range.
Airguns I noticed is gateway to firearms or as I see in the states. Reirement or skirt the felony laws.
You cannot get a decent airgun for les than 600$. Then with PCP you need a pump another 150-300$ Double that for a compressor.
Many can shoot airguns in their back yard. So why you never see them on range.
Airguns I noticed is gateway to firearms or as I see in the states. Reirement or skirt the felony laws.
What PCP air pistols available in Canada were over 500 fps and therefore required an RPAL? I can't recall any.
I am 40 minutes North of GTA, for couple years visiting two gun clubs along the Hwy's 404/400 and have not seen airheads shooting target.
What is happening now, the PCP rifles not enough firearms?
most people can shoot airguns at home
like basement 10meters range
low noise, penetration and do not have to travel
and at the range they shoot a powder-burners
hard to get anything good used under $1000
- Location
- Nova Scotia
But people have converted non PAL rated pistols to PAL rated and thus was required to register it. The FRT had several restricted Crosman handguns. I've seen smuggled in P rods for sale.
- Location
- Nova Scotia
Not every range can accommodate every shooting style. It's like west of the city of Halifax. There are no ranges further than 100m, that is not military.
unstableryan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Beautiful Okanagan Valley
I live in town... But the odd magpie has learned to stop squawking over the years.
Probably lots of people into airguns. I have somewhat recently started to shoot high end springers, and am now exploring where I want to enter into the PCP end of it. As a youth I shot a lot of .22 in a disciplined target setting. In my teens I continued with target .22, and then I migrated into an increasing amount of trap and skeet, then transitioned more into handguns, and eventually into reloading for and shooting varying long range powder burners. Only ever interested in accuracy, no spray and pray types of firearms. As with all firearms, there are levels of reliability, usability and accuracy one has to decide upon based upon finances and wants. One can spend $$ on junk just to get totally disillusioned, or get something somewhat useful in the $$$ range and work with it to improve it and yourself. One can also decide based upon the prior 50 years of shooting that it is pointless to buy junk, bypass some reasonable $$$ stuff since you already know from experience that you will end up wanting more, and get into the $$$$ level right off the get-go. I am quite certain that there are lots of airgun shooters in Canada who pretty much keep to themselves and shoot in their basements or acreage ranges with various break-action or PCP airguns. There just doesn't seem to be much discussion about such on CGN as it has been biased towards powder burners as they are seen as 'real' guns. I for one have found that the springers I now shoot are far more challenging to be accurate with than even my entry level CIL .22LR, and it is not due to any deficiency in the airgun but the nut holding on to it. At any rate, rapid changes are happening with PCP now and there is a lot more interest, especially south of the border.
Following with interest!
This is something I am seriously considering getting into. With the cost of ammo and reloading components going up and availability seems to be an issue, I am thinking about the possibility of the higher end PCP's.
If there is a mould available, the cost of shooting should be next to nil. Yes, it's an expensive sport to get started in but after the initial purchase I think it would be great!
This is something I am seriously considering getting into. With the cost of ammo and reloading components going up and availability seems to be an issue, I am thinking about the possibility of the higher end PCP's.
If there is a mould available, the cost of shooting should be next to nil. Yes, it's an expensive sport to get started in but after the initial purchase I think it would be great!
Your mindset is closest to where I've been.
I was actively competing in archery Field and target over 15 years, a many tons of equipment went through my hands no matter the costs. A recent surgery on my shoulder blade completely turned my life around (and that equipment doesn't sell just like that), so I decided lets compete with airguns... shooting sport is shooting sport, right? Everything is mental...
But now I was more careful, no buying cheap starter things. In contrast to some of my friends and families I didn't bought ten or twenty rifles or handguns because there were on sale, but straight up to the tip.
I have one PCP in .25 cal dedicated to 100 meter rings, and capable to reach out to 200-250 according to Strelok.
Also I have one take down semi auto in .22 which I tuned for 50 meter rings, that I like to use for 20-100 silhouettes as well. Yes, the compressor and the support equipment is also a ticket for itself.
And no more, I was eyeing some fancy latest FX models, I would buy, but nowhere to shoot PRS. Unless I convince my wife to trade my city house for a farmland with a chunk of forest at the back ...
Never say never.
But air arms are more fun then powderburners.
A friend has over 15 fifteen rifles, I asked him "OK when did you shoot one"? My closest estimate I shoot between 8K-10K pellets/slugs per year.... no plinking in basement or backyard, but gun range only... and I have not seen anybody with airgun joining me there ... That was a reason for my question.
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I agree that there are a lot of "closet" airgunners. I belong to a range and shoot handguns along with some very accurate CZ 22 rimfires. I also however have been getting more and more into the PCP game. I have a 40 min drive to the range but I can shoot my airguns in my backyard (or basement when I dial them down) or a public spot 5 minutes from home. I'm even planning on buying a large bore 45 this year. TC
A large bore .45 airgun! Slug gun for sure. I personally am going to stick with a .22 PCP, just not sure if it is going to be an AA S510 Ultimate Sporter XS Xtra or the new FX King 500. The AA has been out a while, and has a track record of being an excellent PCP with a fair amount of maintenance and repair info available online. The FX King is the latest and newest kid on the block which basically is very pretty looking upgrade (to my eye) of the Crown/Panthera line, but has little available for long term reliability and maintenance info. I am twisting in the wind but I have a few months to decide.
Your mindset is closest to where I've been.
I was actively competing in archery Field and target over 15 years, a many tons of equipment went through my hands no matter the costs. A recent surgery on my shoulder blade completely turned my life around (and that equipment doesn't sell just like that), so I decided lets compete with airguns... shooting sport is shooting sport, right? Everything is mental...
But now I was more careful, no buying cheap starter things. In contrast to some of my friends and families I didn't bought ten or twenty rifles or handguns because there were on sale, but straight up to the tip.
I have one PCP in .25 cal dedicated to 100 meter rings, and capable to reach out to 200-250 according to Strelok.
Also I have one take down semi auto in .22 which I tuned for 50 meter rings, that I like to use for 20-100 silhouettes as well. Yes, the compressor and the support equipment is also a ticket for itself.
And no more, I was eyeing some fancy latest FX models, I would buy, but nowhere to shoot PRS. Unless I convince my wife to trade my city house for a farmland with a chunk of forest at the back ...
Never say never.
But air arms are more fun then powderburners.
A friend has over 15 fifteen rifles, I asked him "OK when did you shoot one"? My closest estimate I shoot between 8K-10K pellets/slugs per year.... no plinking in basement or backyard, but gun range only... and I have not seen anybody with airgun joining me there ... That was a reason for my question.
Is the .25 more of a pellet or slug gun? I would expect that at 100m you are kind of at the limit for pellet accuracy, even with a .25, but my experience is totally limited to what I have read about them and no actual usage data.
Don't get me wrong, I still get out with the powder burners, and I love reloading, but I find that my shoulder tends to disagree with me about the continued viability of the .308Win or the 300WM. I find I shoot my .22 'Annie' and a Rem700 based .223 most of the time, but the 6.5CM and some of my lever guns still get to come out and play every so often. I just find that the pellet rifles are way more fun these days. And yes, I think I am the only person who pulls out an airgun at the range as well.
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Our club looked pretty seriously into setting up "field target" on our 30 acres property but with the official field target discipline being shot with 500+ fps guns it did not work legally outside our rifle range and the rifle range itself isn't suitable for different distances and kneeling position etc.
Too bad as I think there would be quite the demand for it in my region.
Hopefully the CFO will change some rules/requirements or the field target folks develop a sub 500 fps class.
So now the sub 500 fps pellet guns come out during the weekly family fun evenings and the kids and parents have fun plinking. Nothing really serious.
I like pellet guns, mine are mostly break barrels and just bought a used side lever gun, mainly Diana's.
If we could have pulled off the field target shooting at the club I would have bought a CZ200 pcp in .177
Too bad as I think there would be quite the demand for it in my region.
Hopefully the CFO will change some rules/requirements or the field target folks develop a sub 500 fps class.
So now the sub 500 fps pellet guns come out during the weekly family fun evenings and the kids and parents have fun plinking. Nothing really serious.
I like pellet guns, mine are mostly break barrels and just bought a used side lever gun, mainly Diana's.
If we could have pulled off the field target shooting at the club I would have bought a CZ200 pcp in .177
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With restictions being the toughest in the world and even worse than powder burners in Canada the government has essentually killed the air gun market. Under 500fps... I can't think of another market with such a low threshold. A PAL for everything else and no semis above 500fps, the Canadian market is none existent. The government is so up tight about semis that they would never allow either a PAL or detuned verson of something such as a Sidewinder or Huben to be to be sold here. It makes absolutly no sense that a PAL holder can purchase a semiauto powder burner and not something like a Sidewinder.
