HOW MANY "PRACTICAL" AIRGUNERS DO WE HAVE, OR IS IT JUST ME ?

[Big_Bill]

Hey All,

How many of you give a great deal of thought, concerning an AirGun purchase ?

How many of you think about the caliber you'll need, the velocity, the accuracy, the power ?

Do you try to find just the right airgun, for the job you intend for it to perform ? And one that fits you best ?

I'm the guy that weights everything, I have all my life, as I want just the right item the first time ! I don't want to find that I could have had product "X", that would have just been 20% better, but because I didn't do my research, I'm stuck with product "Y". I don't buy a hammer at Wally World for $1.75 that will only last me a few uses, and feels like heck in my hand. I have always used Plum hammers, they fit me nice, and have lasted me over 30 years !

Around 10 years ago, I bought my first springer, a Gamo 890 S, I liked the way it looked, it fit me well, but was a little too powerful for my intended use, well we all know that turned out OK as she will never shoot 1000 fps. Now, if I had known that the trigger was that bad, I never would have bought a Gamo. But we didn't have the Forums then that we have today, and I sure didn't know about CDT's trigger ! Now it's the rifle that I had hoped that I had bought !

So, who here demands the proper AirGun for their needs, and who is an impulse buyer ?

Bill

[thsixscrews]

Bill,
   I am one that did just that.  I wanted a fixed barrel, enuff power to knock out tree rats, crows, etc.....  And it had to have enuff weight to feel like a real rifle in hand.  Didnt want to spend alot, but was willing to spend enuff to get a good one.  Then I found this forum and that answered alot of my questions about things, read alot of reviews, found that GREAT GRT III trigger, (man I love that trigger!!!!!) and then I knew I had to get the CFX.  I have gotten 8-10 tree rats, lost count on the crows, and I love the way it shoots.  I do need to get a better scope than what came with it.  But I wouldnt trade it for anything (as of now anyways) the accuracy is alot better than I can shoot it, so, I sure cant complain about that.  but to answer your question??  Yeah, I weighed out my options and then matched the gun to what I needed it to do.  Guess I rattled off enuff, thanx fer ya time.
Kent

[Splash]

Bill, I would have to say that I'm a little of both. I usually do my research and compare prices, then make my decision, but if something catches my eye and has the right price, then more than likely it's going home with me. I have a S1K that was purchased on impulse, but for $74, I don't think many would have passed on that either. I got a CFX.22 to use as my hunter, but it was just a tad heavy for me to tote around, with my back. That's the reason I got the 2250xt from Gene, along with a QB-79. The 79 was kind of an impulse, but again for the price I could not pass. Of course it will not be long and it will be too hot here for CO2, hence the reason they will soon both be sporting HPA tanks. My 1st and 3rd boats were bought on impulse, but then again boat, motor and trailer for $200 and $500, price comes into play. I still have the first and the motor off of the other. My 2nd and 4th boats were carefully thought out, the 2nd one my wife wanted me to get one that the 2 of us and our 2 girls go go out on and enjoy. I wanted a bass boat, no room for the kids, but after some research and a little luck, I found a Stratos 284 F/S, bass boat with a back seat, for a great price. I sold it 5yrs later for $500 less than I paid for it. The 4th one had to have something to go offshore with, so I started looking and lucked up on a 20' Bayliner Trophy, kept that one until I messed up my back and sold it for $1500 more than I paid. I'm sorry that I got off track, but the more I think about it all of my air rifles were bought for one reason, to have fun with and they all serve me well.
Mike

[Big_Bill]

That's one for us Kent,

I get the shakes over some airguns, and want them so bad, until I stop and think what am I going to use thisairgun for. And the list is long, and not too distinguished ether !

I am just wandering if I over analyze things to much. It seems to work for me, in 51 years I have only had 11 air rifles and 6 air pistols total, and I loved them all, and wish I had held on to some that I gave away when the seals let go. No one to fix them back then, that I could find.

Keep up the good work Kent !

Bill

[shadow]

You know me Bill because all my gal's have hunted. So I do a indepth check on the shooter that I would like to hunt with and it's hunting history. Some like my B3's require a tune and a few mod's to set them up right for hunting. Ed

[Big_Bill]

Hey Mike,

Your just a bargain hunter, that I can understand that, I did that just the other day. hehe..he

A good deal on an airgun that you kinda wanted is a much better deal !!!!

And don't start me on boats, I love them, but in the end they are just holes in the water that you through money into. :emoticon: And the "boat friends", they went when I sold the boat..

Bill

[Splash]

Yeh boat friends are like drinking buddies, lose the boat, or quit drinking and they don't come around anymore, but that's one way to find out who your TRUE friends are. Oh and BOAT  stands for Brake Out Another Thousand, if your lucky.
Mike

[Gene_SC]

Great question Bill.. At first I did not know nuttin about the differences in the calibers, models, etc. After a period of time and several air rifles later I begain to understand what I wanted out of my air rifles.. Now I shop for quality, accuracy, esthetics etc. I have managed to take my original fleet of air rifles and between CDT and myself tune and tweak them into what I like. Each one has its own use now and of course now I have a pretty good handle on what I want out of an air rifle. Looking and hunting for the right bargain is always part of the formula as well..

Each of my air rifles have a particular use. There are three catigories.. Targets shooting, Hunting and just plain fun plinking.. hehe. And I have an air rifle or two for each and every one of the three catagories..

Thanks again for asking Bill and I hope the new air gun addicts that read thesee threads will discover what the different air rifles are ment for and used for...


Gene

Gene

[SDale]

I'm in the same boat Bill. I do all my research and price comparo's and all. But alas... I'm STILL searching for that one "DO ALL GUN"  hehehehe  

But so far, my Quest 800 is doing a fine job of being a Do All Gun. But then again, so was my Talon and my B3's!!!  :0

[HNT5]

Practical and impulse. When I got my 2nd PCP I made up a list of features I wanted. Then I did all the internet research and ranked all the various contenders and made my decision. When I contemplate buying something else (which seems like a daily occurence) I say "well I already have a sidelever, or I have enough .22 magnum breakbarrels etc" to be resonable and keep from owing too many of one type. The 2 impulse buys that come to mind was the Theoben Eliminator which I drooled over annually in the Beeman catalogs and the Logun MK II which I wanted for a long time.

[Big_Bill]

Gene buddy,

You have a Collection, that puts you into the Collector category !

Otherwise you would be an impulse buyer. :p

hehe..he, Ten airguns for plinking :emoticon:

Don't be mad at me Gene, I'm just jealous of those beautiful babies on your wall ! And the fact that my wife has her own guns, and there not airguns....

Your airgun buddy, Bill

[Big_Bill]

Hey Sam,

Most of the airguns out there will do some of everything, but not great at anything. The best target rifle is good for plinking, but way to heavy to have fun for an afternoon !

I think you need at least 4 air rifles, one for target, one for plinking, one for hunting small game, and one for larger game animals. That's all, now select the best 4 rifles that fit you and these duties. :emoticon:

Good luck buddy !
Bill

[leftcoast1]

I do research on everything I buy except groceries. I even researched dog food for my puppies for a week before buying the one I thought was best. As for buying guns for a particular use I would say no not really. I like to shoot them so that's the category they fall in "SHOOTERS". I will impulse buy if it's a deal and I have some knowledge of the product but, most are calculated purchases.

[Big_Bill]

WoW Nathan,

I had my eye on the Theoben Eliminator also, as well as the Beeman Kodiak, and other beautiful babies ! But after considering just what I need and wanted, I ended up with a Beeman R-9 Goldfinger in .20 cal., it had everything that I needed and wanted, without being too beautiful to remove from her case...But I'm sure that you babies fill your needs, and that you are satisfied with your selections also ! :emoticon:

Bill

[dank]

Becoming unemployed makes you real practical!

I started out buying any and everything inexpensive because I was totally thrilled by the Idea that this much fun could be had for so little money, besides it has been a ball working on these less than perfect shooters.  

I became more fussy as I discovered what turned me on and what didn't. Becoming more aware of the previously mentioned categories I began to purchase accordingly.

Now, well... I don't purchase at all unless it's a steal or a mutually beneficial trade.

I'm glad I over bought when I did because now I have returned to rebuilding and dollying up a lot of my prior silly purchases so I'm still having a ball.

I think when the money starts to flow again I'll find I'm a more mature airgun buyer keeping it down to only 2 or 3 for each category. But then there's the sub-categories!!!

Target/Plink

Plink/hunt

Hunt/target

field target/hunt

Plink/field target etc.... And then there is unusual and just plain fun!