I haven't tried lighter springers, I like everyone else at the time got caught up in a R1 that could do 1000 fps. The R1 given its power is I'm sure not a "easy" springer. There is something nice about using the same gun for plinking with 2-3 pumps and giving it 7-8 pumps if I want to take a squirrel. 95% of the time I will be plinking with 3. There really is almost a cultural divide between the two continents. I personally would love to see a finely made German pneumatic but it would never sell in Europe and no one in America would pay the price. I guess PCP have really taken this market, but again were power mad and your out of the backyard.