PCP First purchase, new or second hand?

[alexall]

I'd recommend buy a decent checked out secondhand for 3 reasons. Its cheaper (to free your budget for other things such as a air tank), its already sorted/run in from little gremlins as a manufacturer's warranty in itself is not bug free, and importantly, as you are new to pcp, sometimes it takes a few ownership to really find a gun fitting your your needs.

Buying sensibly at secondhand prices means you can always sell it on for the same money with little to no loss. The reason why this is important is that all the gun recommendations are great but guns are very personally from how it looks, handle and feel. and work. What is accurate for one is not accurate enough for another. What is big for one is small for another.

I have 'treated' myself to a few new guns before and they nearly all have to go back. Yes there is the 'safety' of a warranty but that in itself will dent your confidence in the equipment.

Go down to your local club. Nearly all club members are most sociable and will be happy to let you have a go with their guns.

[Gamocfx]

Thanks for this Guys, certainly a lot to think about that I had not considered before... especially buying second hand or even chinese which would indeed widen the possibilities.
As for the club at Blackburn/Feniscowles I used to be a member many many years ago! It was a great easy going place run by a couple of old veterans though I think sadly now they are no longer with us. I am lucky in that I can plink away at home over 10 metres or 15 if I get the house to myself so have not looked at a club for a long time.
Thanks again Guys, lots to think about here, may have a beer and peruse Macovoy guns second hand section! (no C02 and .22 I think!).

[Alakar]

Thanks for this Guys, certainly a lot to think about that I had not considered before... especially buying second hand or even chinese which would indeed widen the possibilities.
As for the club at Blackburn/Feniscowles I used to be a member many many years ago! It was a great easy going place run by a couple of old veterans though I think sadly now they are no longer with us. I am lucky in that I can plink away at home over 10 metres or 15 if I get the house to myself so have not looked at a club for a long time.
Thanks again Guys, lots to think about here, may have a beer and peruse Macovoy guns second hand section! (no C02 and .22 I think!).

Not exactly run by Veterans but Jack was a legend .
If you are who I think you are , and we had a sadly departed mutual friend called Lee, then pop up to the club again sometime for a catch up .
All the best
Alan .

[Sonny200]

Hi Chaps,

I was wondering which would be the best way to enter the PCP shooting side of this hobby? I own over a dozen older style break barrel, side lever and under lever types but as I am not getting any younger a bolt action/side lever pre charge is starting to look very attractive!
I would prefer a pistol grip stock on a rifle and a synthetic stock and have been looking at the Gamo packages out there for around £500.... is this the best way to start with a PCP? (pumping no problem as my bod still works OK thankfully). The rifle would be used at short ranges (25m or less possibly at rats etc).
Is the second hand market a better bet?
Also the Webley Nemesis X has had good reviews... but C02
Whats your thoughts Guys? I am about to pull the trigger and it occurred to me that there is a lot of knowledge out there so I should ask.
Thanks in advance.

Just thought I should ask what are the SMK PCP's like? The Artemis in .25....?

My Personal experience is similar to yourself - I used to be a springer man but switched to pcp last year - it’s been quite the ride!

SMK and Artemis - avoid like the plague if your interested in any form of accuracy/ consistency - they are great for plinking and fun shooting because of the cheap price tag but nothing serious or you’ll just end up getting frustrated. Also they can’t take much wear and tear either - more likely to breakdown. I’ve had an smk and an Artemis - got fed up of both as they weren’t delivering on accuracy or consistency over 30yds

You really only have two choices in that price range if you want quality - either the gammo guns or the Walther Rotex (both synthetic pistol grip)

Gammo - hugely popular and reliable - not top end finish for that price but amazing consistency - cold hammer forged barrel
There’s a few different variants in that range so have a shop around - they mainly have different stocks - all synth - gx40/ phox/ coyote/ vernari

Walther - great consistency and quality - depends if you like the look with the larger bottle but that means more shots too!

Pump vs bottle - mainly effort every time vs effort and cost of refilling the bottle
Alternative - there are some cheaper compressors you can get of Amazon for about 250 all set up so not much more and way less effort afterwards

Good luck!

[Antoni]

I'm confused as to you saying the pcp is attractive as you're not getting any younger, then follow it up with you can pump ok as the bod still works
Pumping is a damn site harder than cocking a break barrel.....

Time shift.

I'm a springer fan. The modest effort of cocking a springer will definitely raise your breathing and heart rate if you are shooting at paper. Less so when shooting at live quarry.

After using a stirrup pump there will be none of that cocking effort with its associated increased heart rate or heavy breathing and therefore loss of accuracy.

With a PCP all of that work has been done 5 hours before steadying yourself and squeezing the trigger.

[where's it gone]

If you're thinking about pcp, you are going to need compressed air. I would start looking as to where you can source this from. This is because an air tank is, by far, the easiest way to charge your rifle. The more you love to shoot your rifle, the more air it will need. So this leads to the question of what size ? A 7 or 12 litre bottle at 300bar is ideal. I've always thought that buying a brand new cylinder is like buying a brand new car. Peace of mind. Untouched by those who think and touched by those who know. When you have 5 years of use, the initial cost isn't that bad. After 5 years of use, retesting the bottle gives the feeling of a car passing its mot, and another 5 years of use.
Now you've got the means of propulsion for your pcp, then it's time to buy the rifle.

[Gamocfx]

Hey thanks again Guys... even more to think about! To be honest I had assumed I was going to get a full kit with a stirrup pump but doing a bit of jiggling a bottle or even a compressor might be the way to go.

Alan... I am who you are thinking of and would love to meet up for a brew and a catch up. Lee is very sadly missed by many, myself included. The two old guys I knew there served in world war two and we used to exchange tales like squaddies do-mostly exaggerated but usually very funny -to us anyway!

Thanks for the help again Chaps-I have a notepad which is repeatedley being scribbled in!