PCP airguns represent the top of the airgun food chain. There was a day when they required a significant investment just to think about getting started. That’s not the case today. Don’t get us wrong, PCP airguns still require more gear and planning than Break barrels, CO2, and Pump-Pneumatic airguns, but the upfront investment is a fraction of what it was even just 10 years ago. So when should you buy a PCP? Let’s get into it.
Why PCPs are so popular.
PCP airguns combine the best of what airgunning has to offer most shooters. They produce a lot of power without the reverse recoil of a spring or gas ram airgun. They have less mechanical noise and are often very quiet or can be made so. They have very little recoil as compared to firearms. And provided you can supply them with high-pressure air, they require very little effort on your part other than to sight and shoot. PCP airguns give shooters the closest experience to shooting a traditional firearm without needing a firearm.
What are the barriers to entry, and are they still too high?
Before we talk about the barriers to PCPs, let’s look at the other airgun options. Breakbarrels require pellets and elbow grease. That’s it. If you can cock the gun and feed it pellets, you can shoot until you either run out of energy to cock the gun, run out of pellets, or run out of daylight. They are awesome. But they are difficult to shoot and have limited range, power, and accuracy. CO2 airguns are easy to shoot but require CO2 and have limited energy. Pump-pneumatic airguns have a self-contained power source, but they need to be pumped up for each shot and, like CO2, have limited energy.
So it makes sense why people look to PCP to give them maximum power with range and accuracy. But where the other systems have their power sources “built-in” or at least highly available and portable (CO2), PCPs require a lot of pressure, and that either comes from hand pumping, a compressor, or a high-pressure tank. And if you have a high-pressure tank, you need to have a way to keep that topped off so that you can fill your gun. While PCPs deliver the ultimate shooting experience, they also require the most gear and upfront cost. But is it as bad as it used to be?
Today’s entry costs for PCP airgunning.
The short answer to the last question is a resounding emphatic “no.” Not only have PCPs dropped in price dramatically, some come in well below medium-priced breakbarrels, but the gear needed to feed them high-pressure air has also dropped to a fraction of what it used to be.
It was about 10 or so years ago that we started seeing affordable personal compressors hit the market. Previously, you would have had to source a full-on scuba compressor from the likes of Bauer (or a similar brand), with a starting price of about $6000. Today, you can get a decent-quality personal compressor for around $500. You can always spend less if you are on a tight budget, but you can also spend a lot more depending on your needs.
Two good PCP starting points.
Let’s take a look at two entry paths into PCPs. Both are exceptional values and will get you shooting faster, further, and with more energy than you could ever have with a Breakbarrel, CO2, or Pump-pneumatic. The first option is the Umarex Origin .22 kit with an included hand pump. Where most PCPs require a LOT of work to fill with a hand pump, the Origin uses an integrated booster to make filling much easier, only taking about half the number of strokes to fill. And at only $360 (on sale at the time of this article), it’s an amazing value. You will need to add an optic, however, but that will be the case with most PCP setups.
The next combo would be the Air Venturi Avenger Classic. It’s an entry-level PCP that boasts an adjustable regulator, hammer spring, and two-stage trigger. It’s available in .177, .22, and .25 calibers and has a starting price of only $350 at the time of writing this article. You’ll need a way to fill it and we would recommend the RovAIR, also from Air Venturi. At $500, the RovAIR personal compressor can fill your PCP from either a standard 110v outlet or a 12v automotive battery. And before you ask, yes. It’s universal and can fill any PCP you may want to acquire in the future.
Back to our original question…
So let’s get back to our original question, when should you buy a PCP? The answer is pretty simple. Basically, anytime you’d like to enjoy the best of what airgunning has to offer. Given the cost of entry is only a fraction of what it used to be, shooters can get into PCP airguns much easier and much more affordably than ever before. And once you are into the PCP world, then you can start looking at more than just entry-level, small-bore options, as there are big-bore airguns capable of taking large game with ease or long-range bench rest guns to rival the accuracy of competition firearms.
Today’s landscape of PCP airguns is simply awesome. It can be a bit overwhelming if you are just getting started. And if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to give us a call. We are always ready to help you make the most of your budget and maximize your airgunning experience.
