Precision Air Rifles

[brokeasajoke]

For those interested in a accurate custom budget PCP (yes, kinda an oxymoron), I have 10 or so I would like to get to people that will actually shoot them. I build airguns for a hobby. I build a new gun, tweak it until it shoots one hole out to 25 yards, then they go into a safe. Then I would build a new one. Most guns I have about $800 to $1.2K in them for parts including scope and mounts. Most are in Boyds stocks. If you want one, they come with a no BS guarantee. I will sell them for half of my parts cost plus shipping. Labor is free. I will only sell to members who actually contribute to the discussions here. No internet bargain dweebs.

They are .22 cal with fpe from 20 to 60 ft-lbs. They are all Benjamin/Crosman hybrids. All have modified power valves. They have power adjusters, custom hammers, custom hammer springs, pressure regulators. Triggers have been tuned to get a crisp trigger break at 8 oz to ~ 2.5#. Barrels are lapped, crown redone, and the leade is polished. Barrel bands are modified to minimize POI wander, etc, etc, etc.

The way I roll is, I send you the gun, you do an op test. When/if you are satisfied you pay me. If not, I'll pay for the return shipping. Let me repeat, this offer is only good for members who actually contribute to the discussions here.

Yeah, I know this should be in the classifieds, but that would expose the offer to internet dweeb merchants.

PM me if interested. Mike

Thats first class right there. I think PCP guns are kind of thought of as toys, especially by those I know until I pull out some target pics. I'm betting others think so too. Quality air rifles kinda fly under the radar with most of the people I know and they are missing a great opportunity in shooting sports. The next county over is trying to get a winter air rifle competition and practice going and I hope they do. My two middle kids compete in 4H small bore with my daughter going to state soon. Great practice. @MikeT49 is the Marauder the base platform you begin with? Those are hard to go wrong with in the PCP world.

 

[CharlieNC]

For those interested in a accurate custom budget PCP (yes, kinda an oxymoron), I have 10 or so I would like to get to people that will actually shoot them. I build airguns for a hobby. I build a new gun, tweak it until it shoots one hole out to 25 yards, then they go into a safe. Then I would build a new one. Most guns I have about $800 to $1.2K in them for parts including scope and mounts. Most are in Boyds stocks. If you want one, they come with a no BS guarantee. I will sell them for half of my parts cost plus shipping. Labor is free. I will only sell to members who actually contribute to the discussions here. No internet bargain dweebs.

They are .22 cal with fpe from 20 to 60 ft-lbs. They are all Benjamin/Crosman hybrids. All have modified power valves. They have power adjusters, custom hammers, custom hammer springs, pressure regulators. Triggers have been tuned to get a crisp trigger break at 8 oz to ~ 2.5#. Barrels are lapped, crown redone, and the leade is polished. Barrel bands are modified to minimize POI wander, etc, etc, etc.

The way I roll is, I send you the gun, you do an op test. When/if you are satisfied you pay me. If not, I'll pay for the return shipping. Let me repeat, this offer is only good for members who actually contribute to the discussions here.

Yeah, I know this should be in the classifieds, but that would expose the offer to internet dweeb merchants.

PM me if interested. Mike

To provide a public interest response, please post pics of some rifles and targets.

 

[JEFFPPC]

So this is 50yds the FIRST time my wife ever shot a Springer. 2 upper targets back to back with the same spring gun at 100ds. Diana 54 in .22
The others are pellet testing at 20meteres/22 yds with various springers. 5 shot groups. The circles are notebook paper reinforcement rings.

 

[MikeT49]

To provide a public interest response, please post pics of some rifles and targets.

Here's some pics. Top pic is Benjamin Discovery hybrids, Bottom pic is Crosman 3622 hybrids. FYI: My builds only need 2200 to 2500 psi fill pressure. Easily obtainable with a hand pump. I don't save targets so I will shoot a couple for show and tell. Hopefully my brain and trigger finger play together nice.

 

[dgeesaman]

Interesting - do you buy Boyd's as flat-tops and machine the inlets yourself?

 

[MikeT49]

I did save one target. I was testing the new JSB 20.83 grain pellets. 15 shots at 10 meters. Kind of a big one hole group. But, it was shot using 3 different pressure reg settings and five different MVs.

 

[CharlieNC]

Here's some pics. Top pic is Benjamin Discovery hybrids, Bottom pic is Crosman 3622 hybrids. FYI: My builds only need 2200 to 2500 psi fill pressure. Easily obtainable with a hand pump. I don't save targets so I will shoot a couple for show and tell. Hopefully my brain and trigger finger play together nice.

View attachment 1688977View attachment 1688978

Very Nice!

 

[MikeT49]

One of the issues people have with going with a PCP is the conception that the required auxiliary equipment is too costly. Yah, it used to was, 15 years ago. Either very expensive or too much of a PITA to deal with. You could use a hand pump ($150 or so) They required constant repair cycles (they are a PITA to rebuild) or replacement. And who needs arms like legs anyway? Too much exercise for me.
You could go the DIY route and get yourself a shoebox compressor kit. ~$400 and you had to assemble it yourself. You also needed to have a shop compressor to act like a first stage pump. They required almost constant lubrication. At that time, decent sized certifiable carbon fiber (CF) SCBA tanks w/fill adapter were about $1K or more. Gas engine powered HP compressor about $2K.

Fast forward to today. Hand pumps are in the $50 range. Air cooled AC/DC 4500 psi compressors are less than $200. The air cooled compressors are not suitable for large tank filling but work great for just filling your gun. Water cooled compressors that can handle filling tanks, about $250. A new certifiable 9.0l CF tank with fill adapter is about $380 @ Amazon.. Most dive shops or Fire stations will fill certified tanks.

I currently use mostly surplus CF SCBA (4500 psi fill) tanks that are out of cert. CF tank certification lasts 15 years in the USA. They can be recertified for 15 more years. Certification in Europe is for 30 years. You don't need a cert if you have a water cooled compressor for filling at home.

I pick up my used SCBA tanks from eBay. I only use Scott tanks w/Scott valve included. $100 or so. The 45 minute size equates to 6.8l, the 60 minute tanks are 9.0l. Amazon has fill adapter assemblies in the $60 range

If your gun only requires a 2000 psi fill or so you can use a SCUBA tank. You can fill SCUBA tanks only to 3200 psi (hot) They are typically much cheaper than CF tanks, in particular used tanks.

My current setup:

 

[MikeT49]

Interesting - do you buy Boyd's as flat-tops and machine the inlets yourself?

No, the stocks are inletted by Boyds. They typically fit very well. On occasion, a little hand fitting is needed. Once in a while I use aluminum tape for snugging up the fit. These Boyds stocks are for the Benjamin Discovery. They also fit the Maximus. With some slight mods and a stock lug (part #2260-012) the new Crosman 3622s will also fit. I get the smaller diameter main tube to fit snugly with aluminum tape bedding.

 

[MikeT49]

Thats first class right there. I think PCP guns are kind of thought of as toys, especially by those I know until I pull out some target pics. I'm betting others think so too. Quality air rifles kinda fly under the radar with most of the people I know and they are missing a great opportunity in shooting sports. The next county over is trying to get a winter air rifle competition and practice going and I hope they do. My two middle kids compete in 4H small bore with my daughter going to state soon. Great practice. @MikeT49 is the Marauder the base platform you begin with? Those are hard to go wrong with in the PCP world.

I mostly use Benjamin Discoverys and Maximus' for my upgrades. Those models were discontinued but you can still find them on eBay. Most parts are still available from Crosman, eBay and internet merchants. My newest platform for development is the Crosman 3622 which just came out a couple of years ago. I don't use Mrods for development because I hesitate to disassemble a $800 gun that is working fine. I do have a Mrod pistol that I got for a song that I've hopped up a smidge.

 

[MikeT49]

I did manage to shoot a target, here's a pic. Shot with one of my Hybrid Discos @ 10 M. I shoot off a harris style hunting bipod w/rear bag. Pellets were 20.83 grain JSB EXACT Jumbo monster LIGHT. Unsorted, directly out of the tin. Average MV: 787.3 ES of 2.6. The gun works. The shooter, well, not so much. The idea is for head shots only. Edit to add: This is not the best of a bunch of targets. I grabbed a gun out of the safe, readjusted the sights. I normally sight my PCPs to shoot ~ 0.3" low at 10 M (~11 yards). Dead on again @ ~35 yards, PBR is ~40 yards. Perfect for my backyard vermin. Took about 5 shots to adjust scope. Then I hung this target and shot. You get what you get. I've got to 9 in a row, and things go to chit. I'm a hunter, not a target shooter.

 

[6.5 forever]

For those interested in a accurate custom budget PCP (yes, kinda an oxymoron), I have 10 or so I would like to get to people that will actually shoot them. I build airguns for a hobby. I build a new gun, tweak it until it shoots one hole out to 25 yards, then they go into a safe. Then I would build a new one. Most guns I have about $800 to $1.2K in them for parts including scope and mounts. Most are in Boyds stocks. If you want one, they come with a no BS guarantee. I will sell them for half of my parts cost plus shipping. Labor is free. I will only sell to members who actually contribute to the discussions here. No internet bargain dweebs.

They are .22 cal with fpe from 20 to 60 ft-lbs. They are all Benjamin/Crosman hybrids. All have modified power valves. They have power adjusters, custom hammers, custom hammer springs, pressure regulators. Triggers have been tuned to get a crisp trigger break at 8 oz to ~ 2.5#. Barrels are lapped, crown redone, and the leade is polished. Barrel bands are modified to minimize POI wander, etc, etc, etc.

The way I roll is, I send you the gun, you do an op test. When/if you are satisfied you pay me. If not, I'll pay for the return shipping. Let me repeat, this offer is only good for members who actually contribute to the discussions here.

Yeah, I know this should be in the classifieds, but that would expose the offer to internet dweeb merchants.

PM me if interested. Mike

Wishing you good carma for your offer!!!

 

[brokeasajoke]

I mostly use Benjamin Discoverys and Maximus' for my upgrades. Those models were discontinued but you can still find them on eBay. Most parts are still available from Crosman, eBay and internet merchants. My newest platform for development is the Crosman 3622 which just came out a couple of years ago. I don't use Mrods for development because I hesitate to disassemble a $800 gun that is working fine. I do have a Mrod pistol that I got for a song that I've hopped up a smidge.

The 3622 is very affordable.

 

[7315br]

Old thread. Has much changed? I keep toying with the idea of getting a Daystate Alpha Wolf. My son is becoming more and more interested in shooting as well so something for a suburban backyard would be a good addition.

Are longer barrels (28") worth it?

I get the convenience of a dive-shop-filled SCBA tank but is that better than lugging a portable compressor?

Recommended caliber? 22?

Any suggestions re scope and mount?

Since you asked...lol!

I've had a FX .25 cal Wildcat (24" bbl) for 7-yrs. NEVER had a problem with it. It still holds air after setting for months at a time between Ground Squirrel seasons. I have thousands and thousands of rds through it.

I took the Discovery FFP scope off it last week to mount it on a .22 rimfire Bergara for a upcoming rimfire match. I remounted it yesterday and shot a .1" group with it at 25 yds. It is still very accurate.

I still use SCBA fire fighter tanks to re-air. The best and cheapest way I've found. Just had two bottles recharged. Still only $18/re-fill at my local dive shop. I get 800+ shots between re-fills on the SCBA bottles. Hard to beat for cost in my opinion.

If you are just starting out in this PCP game, you might consider a UMAREX Notos in .22 caliber. It's not a FX by a long shot...but for $260 it's hard to beat as it is extremely accurate for the money.

I have Discovery FFP scopes on both of my PCP's after trying several scopes in the past. The best I've found for the money.

Best of luck on your decision.

Note: Third picture was shot at 25 yds out of the Notos last week.

 

[brokeasajoke]

Since you asked...lol!

I've had a FX .25 cal Wildcat (24" bbl) for 7-yrs. NEVER had a problem with it. It still holds air after setting for months at a time between Ground Squirrel seasons. I have thousands and thousands of rds through it.

I took the Discovery FFP scope off it last week to mount it on a .22 rimfire Bergara for a upcoming rimfire match. I remounted it yesterday and shot a .1" group with it at 25 yds. It is still very accurate.

I still use SCBA fire fighter tanks to re-air. The best and cheapest way I've found. Just had two bottles recharged. Still only $18/re-fill at my local dive shop. I get 800+ shots between re-fills on the SCBA bottles. Hard to beat for cost in my opinion.

If you are just starting out in this PCP game, you might consider a UMAREX Notos in .22 caliber. It's not a FX by a long shot...but for $260 it's hard to beat as it is extremely accurate for the money.

I have Discovery FFP scopes on both of my PCP's after trying several scopes in the past. The best I've found for the money.

Best of luck on your decision.

Note: Third picture was shot at 25 yds out of the Notos last week.

The Notos gets great reviews and one can mod it until their wallet runs dry. I believe there is a way to do a FX barrel on them now. I should have gotten one when you could find them for sub $200.

 

[snert]

I just went outside and shot these two groups in the dark, using a McFadden tripod and a streamlight flashlight to light my targets. The gun is a MikeT49 Disco with a Weaver T10.
The carboard target is at 65 feet, 5 shots and it is actually "high" not right...its the photographer.
The other "target" requires explaining. It is 55 yards away and I was holding on the hole atop the steel white target. I could hear but not see hits. Turns out all five hit just below the steel target on the T Post. You can see three of them, but they were splattering all over. I'd say they were in a quarter. ignore the old hit on the "neck" of the steel target.

The gun shoots!