Cons of buying a Steyr or other match pistol from Germany.

[Arthur John Smithsplease]

I know what the pros are: delivery to your door and huge reduction in price.

What are the cons? I suppose servicing and repair. Would this be a major issue. I have regularly used the postal service to Germany, and, if these guns are worth the money, they shouldn't often go wrong.

What am I missing?

Even in the UK prices vary. You can pay from £1215 to £1391 for a standard LP10 depending on retailer.

Does Harry Preston still sell directly to the public. I remember buying a silver LP10 from him in about 2006. Wish I still had it.

[Inspector 71]

According to an email from Steyr UK just last week, they sell to trade only.

[Deltawing]

I've ordered target rifles and accessories from Germany and had my reservations about it the very first time.

I can safely say everything I've ordered has arrived safe and sound to my door in less than 2 weeks. As we speak I have yet another order making its way from Germany. Target shooting is an international sport so you should have no trouble getting it serviced or repaired here or anywhere else.

[Arthur John Smithsplease]

I have no reservations at all about the Germans.

I've bought lots of guns from them, both new and second hand, and have found them to be utterly reliable.

What would happen when your gun from Germany needed servicing? Would Steyr UK refuse to work on it?

If so, would there be other alternatives to sending it back to Germany? Would another specialist retailer in the UK be able and willing to sort it?

[18 Wheeler]

...What would happen when your gun from Germany needed servicing? Would Steyr UK refuse to work on it?

Yes. They make something like £3-500 on every Steyr airgun sold in the uk (model dependent), hence don't want anything to do with those Steyr's they've not supplied.

Fortunately Steyr's are so easy to work on that it's "doable" by anyone. I can't think of any other PCP I'd say that about.
It's so easy that Steyr even provide videos to allow users to maintain their own equipment, and provide the required tools. So even they are hinting that no specialist knowledge is required.

With the money saved you could buy a spare reg as a back up (circa £90). It's about the only part requiring any extra knowledge/equipment to service. So rather than have any downtime you simply swap it out and are shooting again in 10 minutes. The remaining cash saving is yours to spend as you wish .

...Would another specialist retailer in the UK be able and willing to sort it?

Yes. There's a lot of commonality across the Steyr range, the popularity of the LG110 means that most of the good airgunsmith's will have no problem undertaking any tasks you aren't comfortable with. XTX for example, and many more besides. HTH

[Arthur John Smithsplease]

Thanks a lot.