PCP airguns.. besides price, what's the catch?

randyhub said:
You can only use non petro based lubes with a PCP or you might get a kaboom!
Click to expand...

Well with piston actions like Nitro Piston, or Spring Power pistons ( basically anything with a slamming forward piston ) The chamber lube they recommend is normally 100% silicone to prevent dieseling. But the pelloil for C02 or Multi pump.. Yeah that just straight up 30 Weight non detergent motor oil ( MSDS for Crosman Pelloil, confirms it )

Most of the PCP uses 100% silicone.
 
OkayShooter said:
Anything that releases 2000 PSI of air pressure is going to be as loud as a 22LR. That is the down fall.

Compressing air creates heat, and thus moisture. Moisture builds up and corrodes the alum, causing seals to leak.

Regular pneumatics you have coating of oil on the piston seal, that keeps everything with a layer of oil. And C02 you normally lubricate the Co2 before inserting.

Most people store PCP with air in the tube, unlike piston driven, pneumatics or Co2, that doesn't.
Click to expand...

If you have the balance between the hammer spring tension and the valve/regulator set correctly the noise can be lowered. Excess air leaving the muzzle helps attribute to a noisy shot cycle.
Tuning to 95%-97% of the maximum fps for a given reg pressure is regarded by any as where a rifle should be tuned. Lots of tuning info on Airgun Nation.
 
Even an unregulated pcp will shoot consistent velocity over a certain string of shots. As pressure drops, velocity may slightly increase as the hammer is more easily able to open the valve further and release more air, then eventually you see a drop in velocity. i fill mine with a scuba tank. It's easy, and ensures dry air. Also, if you shoot it tethered to the tank, you get really consistent velocity.

Also, at the price of ammo today, you may find a pellet that shoots really well and only cost $15 for 200. My 22 cal pcp shoots very well at 50 yards with JSB Jumbo super heavies.
 
Last edited:
Just remember the more complicated the design the greater chance of failure. I have had no issues working on my PCP and never understood a one year warranty on something costing over a $1000.00.......
 
.22 cal
~1000 fps -yes
No loud/annoying twang sound- they are quite loud actually
No wonky recoil so I can mount any optic - yes
Oldskool wood & metal construction- not always
Proper triggers depending on price yes
Proper stocks -yes
Proper picatinny rails rather than 11mm dovetail- dovetails work
Follow-up shots -yes
Decent-looking offerings under $800 - look into Weihrauch, anschutz or on the CAF forum there is a used styer right now.

I would not go cheap on a PCP if you shoot within 40 yards they can do some pretty amazing things compared to how inconsistent 22lr can be and with a regulated rifle you can get as many as 30 shots per fill without pulling out the scuba tank or compressor. They are also very light compared to scoped spring rifles.

I talk about how great they are but dont have one. I am happy enough with rimfire and my HW and Diana airguns to go PCP.
I have shot an Air arms and a Condor they are really nice.
 
Last edited:
I don't have firearms in my house, meaning powderburners. I have only two air rifles, one in .22 (Edgun Leshiy2) and one in .25 cal (FX Impact MK2), fully loaded with Japanese optics, with supporting equipment (compressor, airtanks). Don't ask what was a cost, but a hint...over $10K and I cannot even recalculate.
I am shooting in a gun club only, 15 minutes from my house, I can go there just any day, it is well organized, I can train there, practice, and I am shooting 50 meters and 100 meters paper rings only no hunting or pesting.
Last year I shot some 10K pellets, this year since the snow melted I am down about >6 thousand already. I think I am mentally ready for 200 meters rings and will start shooting those within next couple weeks.
Hunting is fun, but if you like to thinker you will pickup a specific gun for it and you will start shooting rings as well.
 
Above: Looks like he was shooting it tethered to the larger tank (early part of video where he shoots at paper). That produces very consistent velocities. Easy to do, when shooting from the bench or prone, or other situation where you don't need to move the gun and larger tank. Also, tethered to a tank, you can shoot with lower pressures (say 2000 psi) and not suffer from dropping velocity shot to shot, as the larger tank will hold consistent pressure so much longer than the small tank on the gun.

I set my Hatsan 10-22 to around 850 fps, and with the 18 grain pellets, it will go through 7 tuna cans.
 
Our .25 Condors reach out easy to 100 yards and are very accurate. They are equivalent to .22 Rimfire Longs. Accuracy with JSBs is amazing, we use Polygonal and standard rifling with Lothar barrels. Lothar Polygonal airgun specific barrels prefer JSB. I love the look on farmer's faces when they say sure you can use your pellet guns and you lay out your mat, scuba tank, laser rangefinder, and Condor on a bipod and whack gophers out to 150 yards. :)
 
Grizzlypeg said:
Above: Looks like he was shooting it tethered to the larger tank (early part of video where he shoots at paper). That produces very consistent velocities. Easy to do, when shooting from the bench or prone, or other situation where you don't need to move the gun and larger tank. Also, tethered to a tank, you can shoot with lower pressures (say 2000 psi) and not suffer from dropping velocity shot to shot, as the larger tank will hold consistent pressure so much longer than the small tank on the gun.

I set my Hatsan 10-22 to around 850 fps, and with the 18 grain pellets, it will go through 7 tuna cans.
Click to expand...

That's a regulated rifle, the tethered tank does nothing for consistency just shot count.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom