Hi...Our league runs fairly true to the original spirit, ie. recoiling sub 12 lb. springers and open sights.....no apertures, or even sight hoods allowed!....I have seen other leagues where they use PCP match rifles / jackets the lot!....I can't see the two coming together myself....In our league the most popular gun seems to be the HW77, then TX, but people shoot Airsporters / MK3 Webleys / supersports etc. so cost wise you can do fairly well with an out of the box standard gun.
Of course people try and make the recoil smoother with spring guides / delrin top hats etc., and play with triggers....but there is a League "template" that all guns have to conform to, so you don't get all the normal target add ons like butt hooks, hand stops etc.
I personally would have zero interest in dressing up like an Olympic competitor, and shelling out £1300 to shoot 5 shots once a week...It is more of a social, relaxed evening (until the scores are close and it comes down to the last guy)......Also, you are shooting in front of maybe 30 people all having a chat and laugh, with people wandering in with food and beers etc., so people used to 10m ranges, and the quiet studious atmosphere there, must wonder what the hell is going on!....In fact I have seen that guys who have been doing it for a while actually feel the pressure more when the scores are close, and everybody goes quiet as they shoot
Chris...all the very best of luck mate..I hope something comes out of your efforts!