Start with a quality springer like a HW. They deliver PCP accuracy and you can skip a PCP with all the tralala that comes with it....I shoot fingernail size groups on 40 yards with all my HW springers. Springers are reliable, PCP's have a lot of moving parts, O-rings, gaskets, valves, that can cause problems. Simplicity is best and you never run out of air. I own also a S410 and it's a great rifle but shooting a springer makes you a good shooter. Do you want to shoot coke cans for fun a Gamo will do.
I started with a springer in my teens over 50 years ago. No such thing as a PCP then. Shot until my early 20s and then other interests took over. Always fancied giving it another go and came back to air rifle shooting when I retired a few years back. Tried a number of guns and found PCPs impressive, easy to shoot and just not very interesting. A big part of coming back to it was to recapture the fun I had all those years ago and I found a PCP a bit lacking in soul. I acknowledge their technical superiority, but they just don't do it for me. I ended up buying a LGV and have since acquired several HWs. Of course, I've stripped and fettled them (something the average hobby shooter can't do with a PCP), in the same way I do with my cars and anything else I'm interested in. You''ll probably out-shoot me with a PCP, but I reckon I get more fun and satisfaction. It also costs me less and no need to worry about pumps, bottles and associated paraphernalia. Grab a gun and a tin of pellets and I'm good to go.
@@jimmynich4791 If you fancy another, there was a nice one on Guntrader the other day. They come up occasionally. I have the Master. The Pro is a bit weighty for me at my advanced age.
Lgv and lgu sweet shooting rifle I think there's alot of air arms brain washing from the old guys at clubs . It is because they don't no any better and can't move on 👍
I have a HW100 bullpup and a HW97 sporter. I know which one I grab when I have a barn full of rats and I know which one I grab when I want to sit and just shoot. PCPs are superb tools and I wouldn't be without mine but they are nowhere near as much fun to shoot as springers. And my PCP shooting gets measurably better if I've done a session on the springer the day before.
I cut my teeth on a webley Falcon lovely little rife still got it. Last 20years I’ve been shooting my tx 200 and it’s never mist beat love it. Thanks for your great show😊
In spite of all the comments recommending the opposite (springer first), I totally agree with you, Gary. Learning to shoot with a gun which doesn't present you with all issues a boinger add, WILL speed up your learning journey.
A superb post there Gary, you’ve addressed a really important aspect for air gun shooters who are just starting off in the sport 👍 Looking back I may have been fortunate having an older friend who lent me his Diana .177 when we went off shooting rats, with him using his new .22 and both using open sights. Little did I know then how fortunate I was to have gained experience from that simplistic introduction, a fact I’m sure which helped me in my shooting years later.
97/TX smack down: group sizes at 25 & 50yds at Pete’s Airgun farm indoor 50yd range. Prone and from the bench with no wind. I would be very interested to see your results. Thanks Gary, Matt.
Learn to put a pellet where you want it with a springer, ideally something with TX or HW in front of its name, and then you'll get the best out of any PCP you come across. But the be all and end all is is to shoulder a few guns and find one that fits, don't get hung up on which one you're going to get until you've handled it.
Why can’t people see this. It’s just to easy il buy a pcp and then brag to everyone how good I am. Get good with a springer and you will become a very successful shot
@@woodnugget1301 yep, you see it all over TH-cam, people putting pellet after pellet through the same hole with a tuned FX off rests and thinking they're the mutt's nuts but put them in the field, shooting of their knee and it'd be a whole different story.
Started with HW95K Then progressed to PCP hw100, AirArms S410, Shinsung Career 11, and eventually ended up with AirArms tx200 and Pro Sport, Few years break and now back at it with a WH 97K.
Such a true honest and helpful video, a path that I have followed and in doing so have met some great new friends from the shooting community and a fantastic new hobby. Cheers Gary.
I am currently learning with. Remington Express XP, it is a cracking springer and I would highly recommend it to any newbie to the sport. I’ve found that learning with a springer has made me a better all round shooter and I can put pellets through pellets while bench shooting a PCP, but give me a springer and some spinning targets and I’m happy as larry trying to plink them at 18-25 yards.
Proper advice. I have two friends whose lads wanted to start off-road motorcycling. One asked me what sort of bike he should get his 8 year old. A soft power twist and go was my recommendation. the other friend was an experienced expert motocross rider and bought his 8 year old a peaky two-stroke mini scrambler with a six speed gearbox. The lad stalled it a hundred times then out of frustration revved it up and let the clutch go. he went 50 yards on the back wheel and fell off. He never wanted to ride it again and it mouldered in the garsge. The other lad loved his baby bike and rode it every day until he wanted something more challenging. He got his dad to buy the other lad's bike. If you start with a springer and only hit 20% of what you aim at you will become disillusioned and probably give up. Start with a PCP or even a CO2 rifle and you will hit most of what you aim at and extra precision will become a pleasurable pursuit.
Spot on! Excellent advice.Unfortunately, I did it the wrong way round and started with an AA TX200HC. Learning to shoot it was such a hard journey for me as a newbie, I almost quit altogether. Thankfully, a mate showed me what a PCP was like when he took me to the local range. Now I've got an Impact M3 and shoot at the range as often as poss, not for the range but, because of the people you meet and learn from.
I definitely agree with your sentiment to start with a PCP, I am however on a very tight budget around £200 including scope so started with a co2 rifle and it has brought me many many hours of enjoyment and even took my channel to over 2k subs. I live in South Africa so don't have the same temperature challenges as you in the UK but obviously co2 is a lot closer to PCP than a Springer
Once again a great video Gary, I would like to see a video that is informative to new shooters regarding unregulated pcp rifles as some manufacturers are misleading regarding shots per fill and not all newbies are aware of a rifles sweet spot. Cheers kev
In 1979 I bought a Bavaria 55 springer in .177. Best thing I could've spent my money on. It has given me yeoman service since then. Has taken countless pests and rodents.
I started 40 plus years ago with a BSA Meteor, then BSA Mercury plus an old Relum. Then for my sixteenth birthday had a Fienwerkbau Sport in 177, amazing gun. Then started hunting with terriers, lurchers and stuff and knocked the guns on the head. Now, older and wiser I'm back shooting, man it's different now. I've got 3 guns, HW100 in 177, HW110 in 177 and FX Dreamline in 22, all employed for a specific job. I used to put my pellets in my mouth back then, still here though. Lol.
i don't mind gabbing , as it's all about airguns . I'm a springer fan , but yes for quick results a pcp probably has the edge for New shooters & for those who want to reassure themselves of their proficiency and competence , but let's face it if You can shoot a springer well ,then virtually any other type will be a piece of cake . Thanks Gary catch You next episode . Shoot Straight Stay Safe & Stay Well.
Hw97 v tx200 smack down. Look at comfort in the holding of them, recoil, accuracy, twang on firing and weight. Love your videos, keep them coming Gary.
Learn on a springer, master a springer and you will excel on a pcp. buy a quality spring gun as it won’t make you disillusioned from buying a piece of junk. Make sure it has open sight, learn the basics. Smack down……. Paper targets and tin chickens at various distances.
I started shooting with a break barrel. ( brake barrel is the proper name not springer ) . I brought myself a PCP, with all the expensive accessories required. Cost me a fortune, what a waste of money . What fun is it when you rarely miss the target . No recoil , no challenge , anyone could shoot one .PCPs get more faults , seals, regulator etc.
I have just decided to try shooting ( at the grand old age of 67) fenix and chose a springer ( Cometa 400 fenix).Why? Firstly I didnt want to spend loads of money to find out 6 months down the line it wasnt for me,and a decent springer is cheaper than a pcp, secondly with a springer all you need is the gun and some pellets and you're away, Im a great believer in keep it simple stupid ,and thirdly, probably most importantly I want to learn how to shoot, to learn a new skill, and a springer will challenge me ( I even went as far as to choose a .22), if I dont get the technique right I wont shoot straight. But I can see where you're coming from Gary and enjoyed your video and thought provoking argument.
I'm what you would call a 'garden shooter' with the occasional rat shoot. My 1st experience with airguns was 31yrs ago with a Crossman 357 revolver then some 20yrs ago with a Chinese sidelever AK47 training springer. About 5yrs ago I got a Benjamin Marauder FT and a handpump, loved it so I now have 2 in .177 and a semi-auto Marauder added to it. I watch vermin hunting videos from the UK and had to have an Air Arms and a Weirauch. Decided on the TX-200HC, TX-200 MK3 and the HW97K and love them because of their simplicity and beauty! I absolutely love the Semi-auto Marauder and it's the only PCP that equals my European Springer rifles! When I got my first HW97K, in .177, I just got it zeroed when I saw a rat nest and proceeded to get 7 with no problem just by consistently using my variation of the artillery hold. Not bad for a beginner I thought.. Most days it's a springer for me but the PCP still comes out now and again!
My first air gun was bought out of my mum’s catalogue and it was a BSA meteor in them days you could also buy shotgun’s as well out of catalogue’s how times have changed.
My first proper air rifle was the HW 77 back in the eighties,then come the late nineties it was airarms S410 now I am finely getting the HW110 in August any hints on the pellets the hw prefers I got some hades in the cupboard
Good stuff, I did start with the springer. They shoot fine a lot of work for shooting. Then went to pcp stoeger 22 cal xm1, came with a hand pump. I pumped that once and then bought a compressor. This was a fairly inexpensive gun, man it shoots really good . Quarter size at 25 yards. My gripe is the small magazine, think it holds 7 pellets. I think it was around 400.00. The compressor was a little more than that. So this is a very addictive sport. Here the states you can buy a silencer with no problems. I right now have 7 air guns not done yet want to buy a FX something, saving for that. This was a great video for the starter, just be aware that with PCP you gotta have a compressor that can do a minimum of 3000 psi. Or another way of filling gun.
I returned to air rifle shooting after a break of 35 years. My first rifle was an AA S510 in .177. You could say I recut my teeth with that rifle. I quickly found I could shoot the S510 very accurately out to 50 yards. I needed more of a challenge. I purchased a HW95, but couldn't get on with it. Then I got my first TX200HC. That's when my love affair with my shooting and TX200 really began. I now have 3 TX200's, 2 HC's in .177 & .22, and a full length in.177. I have since added a HW98 and a HW77. Although I still have the S510, my go to rifles are TX200 and HW98, both in .177. Spring rifles give me the challenge I need to shoot accurately and consistently. My buddy and I are always arguing over which is best, TX200 or HW97, so I'll be interested in side by side test you will be doing in the future
Another gun to chuck in the mix which, half way though the vid, I've not heard you mention is an AA MPR. Prob rarely seen on the 2nd hand market, but undoubtedly worth considering if you can track one down. Has the quality and reliability of an S400 but with all the adjustability in the stock to make the gun fit you.
Loved this! I’m literally shopping for my first pcp at the moment. Just getting into the sport so this is really helpful, spoke to Lee at Cambridge Gun Club today and looking forward to my first visit soon. Will be following you guys now. Thanks again
Start with a Gas-Ram,Gamo-maxxim,Hatsan speedfire with a 8-10 round magazine, so you don't have to continually reload and handle lead, which can be finnicky and frustrating for a beginner. Don't buy a springer, you need excellent handling technique and they are best in FAC. Go and buy one on the recommendation of a friendly dealer. They know the same as your gun-club and will cater for your budget. Then in your gun-club you can have your own gun, and not feel left out, because they will teach to shoot with some ancient WW2 model. I spent £275 on a Gamo gas ram and still use it, but in FAC. Then you can move onto a range of PCP''s which are an essential addition to any air rifle collection.
For the April video (hw97 v’s tx200) how about smoothness out the box? I have a Hw97k, and to me it shoots beautifully, but some people tend to say they don’t get on with it and end up with a tx200.
I gotta admit PCP once filled they are convenient to shoot and very powerful. But the idea of keeping it with air filled as well as with so many connections and seals to take care of, simply put me off. Now I'm learning to use the good ole springer, and gonna upgrade to Ox accelerator mainspring.
Hi Gary, great video, I'm looking to upgrade from springer to PCP. Have you had any experience with Gamo PCP's? I've read good things about them having bsa parts in them. Just wondering if you've used one? Cheers
Just like many things these days it’s a case of let’s go the easy route. An untuned spring powered air rifle of quality will teach you many lessons and you will become a very competent shooter of rifles. That said just occasionally there is the odd rifle we just do NOT get on with mines the HW95 I’ve had 3 and every one was a nightmare to me even a very special one that was tuned by the master himself a personal friend Mr STEVE POPE and I still could get the success that i achieved with my 35 80 an 77 it just didn’t fit me yet I absolutely love that rifle. But I guarantee you if you find a spring gun that fits you will have rewarding shooting and great success and if you decide to purchase pcp later you will be amazed at you success. One pcp air rifle that does teach you well I’m my humble opinion is the air arms s410 series. It’s definitely not point n shoot you have to shoot that rifle with competence ability. God bless you all what ever your choice enjoy your shooting and be accurate because the target deserves it 🙏👍
I'm an old springer user but not for many years. I'm back and looking for hard hitting power and a good FPS for hunting. I was told that you can't get that power from a PCP. Any comments appreciated as I know nothing about PCP's. Cheers.
Hi Kev, The pellet leaves the barrel of my springer at 780fps, it leaves the barrel of my HFT500 at 780fps. The only difference is most modern PCP's are fitted with anti-tamper, so when you buy, check the FPS with the pellet you want to use. Chilly
this is exactly how i feel right now so many to choose from tried to join my local club just got the brush off so i am really confused and dont have a very tight budget but desperatley want to have a go at pcp shooting rather than a springer so with that in mind and knowing a s400 even second hand is out of my price range could you maybe suggest some good rifles designed for someone new to the sport
I had stop stop at the trigger being heavy compared to a PCP. I have a HW97K, Walther LGU and Walther LGV and I keep hearing the TX200 triggers is a bit better than the HW97K. These are my 3 target guns I shoot from a bench and I was just thinking yesterday I might need to adjust them to a little heavier weight because after shooting some of my other springers I have a bad happen of pulling the trigger on accident when going back to these really light triggers. I also have a BSA R10 Mark 2 with a really sweet trigger that's about the same. all three of these triggers will adjust so light that they will go off if your not careful when you take up 1st stage while getting on target. There so light you barely feel second stage before they go off. What am I missing here? This is with them at around 10 ounces if I remember right. Been a few years since I set them up and had the gage on them. How do you have a TX200 which is rumored by many to be slightly better than the Rekord trigger on the HW97K. I have aftermarket triggers on my Walthers that rival the trigger on my HW97K and there all 3 set and feel the same. Lesser quality triggers did have more pressure on the sear because of the pressure from the spring. I have aftermarket and modded triggers on most my springers that will get me well under a pound and no creep in second stage. I really can't speak of starting out because I started with a Benjamin pumper almost 50 years ago. Pump those up between shots when your 9 years old. The HW97k and Walthers are effortless to cock. Especially my HW97k set up to shoot at 12 FPE. Most beginners don't have the cash to shell out for even a cheap pcp and a compressor. When I with PCP's started compressors where still 500.00 and up and a pump came with my first PCP. Try hand pumping a PCP. I bought a compressor and big tank within a month. That doesn't say go with a springer or a PCP. Just that triggers aren't a deciding factor. In a nutshell, PCP's are way easier to mount scopes on and shoot accurately. They tend not to be as pellet picky and you can rest/hold it pretty much any way you want and it hits in the same place. They just require extra support equipment unless your not going to shoot more than the air stored in your gun. Springer's are freedom. Just grab gun and pellets and you can shoot as long as you have pellets without every looking at an air gauge or refilling. No worry about a broken compressor or bad fill hose. No worry about how much moisture is being pumped into your gun corroding up internals.
Pcp is a luxury. Most guys recommend pcp yet didn't start on one themselves. Maybe this has changed. A springer is a labour of love but harder to master.
Can you test target rifles adapted to HFT and very successful in this discipline for example Walther LG400 or Steyr Challenge? What is your honest opinion about difference between typical field target rifle like Air Arms HFT500, Weihrauch HW 100 and for example Walther LG400 ? Is Walther much better ?
i have a HW98. i would like to find something on Target Pistols. They are out there but why do these people buy a pistol and either rest it or go to the bother of putting a stock on them. buy a rifle for Gods sake. Always good to watch.
Sorry Gary but I'd say deffo go springer for your first air rifle it's harder to shoot and if you get any hint of being good at shooting them when you shoot a PCP You will be better than most of the pcp shooters who can't shoot Springer's 100%
@@garychillingworth Thanks I shoot my very heavy (12lbs scoped) .25 pcp from a 6 ft. tall tripod. I don’t shoot in competitions instead I do nighttime rat hunting and backyard target practice (30yard in my own backyard and up to 100yard at friends and family).
Totally agree with this assesment Gary . I think that the reason that a lot of new shooters lose interest is there lack of success after purchasing a Springer; wrongly believing that its there lack of ability. After struggling for over 18 months and being driven to the depths of despair, I finally saw her light and bought my first pcp - what a difference ! Now tiny group sizes are attainable as unlike a Springer a pcp doesn't have a mind of its own. I'm sure that lots of Springer fans will disagree and say 'learn to shoot a Springer and you can shoot anything ' but after shooting rimfire , a pcp acts more like a powder burner. I feel very much that spring guns are akin to straight razors , ie a thing of the past - it's not impossible to shave with them, but for most people not worth the hassle.
What you need to is learn how to shoot. Spring guns of quality are exceptionally accurate in the right hands. I’ve used them for nearly 50 years learn how to shoot one and it will teach many lessons something a pcp will never do point and shoot. And yes I do own a pcp but some of my most memorable shooting and shots have been with a break barrel spring gun. Now that said occasionally there are some spring guns that are difficult to shoot for some people mines the he 95, I owned an 80 35 77 97 but the 95 was a bitch to me and that gun was tuned by a personal friend and MASTER air gun engineer. Mr STEVE POPE sadly missed by the air gun world. Anyways get a good spring gun that fits and stick with it. Enjoy your shooting 🙏👍
@@woodnugget1301 I'm sure I'm quite capable of shooting and spent many hours learning, cheek weld,and loading a bipod , none of which will help with a Springer. What you need for a reliable rifle is one that hits the tat
target time after time , not trying some kind a free masons special hold . If you are hunting, or undertaking pest control , a Springer is just not ethical in my book
@@martybennett1861 what a crock of shit I’ve pest controlled with a spring gun for 40 years with a spring gun. Learn how shoot one untuned 1st and then you will become extremely competent. Look up John darling. A spring gun has an awful lot to teach if only people stick with them. But that’s the problem with society let’s have everything easy then they knock the good stuff the life lessons. Occasionally there is a rifle that we just do not get on with mines the he 95 it’s a bitch to me no matter how hard I try needs weight upfront other than that practice. Also a very well tuned spring gun is an absolutely joy to shoot. 35-80-77-97. Especially in a reduced capacity. I had privilege of having my air rifles tuned by the master himself Mr Steve Pope these air rifle were sublime and every bit as accurate as any pcp
That good to know the target deserves accuracy. Never felt the need for a fixed bipod myself occasionally use a primos but then again I’m a woodland hunter not a bait shooter. like you said bipods are useless for spring guns never felt the need don’t even use one on my pcp because I don’t bait shoot I hunt.
Have to disagree a little since PCPs require a Firearms license here in NZ. I would go CO2 or Springer but would recommend non-budget, non-chineese model... and yes, first decide what you want to do with a air rifle before buying.
To me Gary fit, feel and balance are as important as anything, accuracy with both is a given, followed up closely by reliability. Cocking effort, can be an issue if you use them a lot in a session also !
The British sure like their pcp’s. I don’t get it, they have no built in power so without a fancy expensive complex finicky machine to pump it with air it’s worthless. Definitely aren’t built to last either compared to springers.
At the start of the video, I’d have disagreed but the reasons you gave for starting with pcp (trigger control, scope usage, etc) make absolute sense. I like it, Chilly. Some great advice here. 👍 Can’t wait to find out who’s sponsoring the channel. I’m thinking possibly Tetley’s Beer or Weetabix. 😂 🫣 😉
Learn on a springer, master a springer and you will excel on a pcp. buy a quality spring gun as it won’t make you disillusioned from buying a piece of junk. Make sure it has open sight, learn the basics. Smack down……. Paper targets and tin chickens at various distances.
Start with a quality springer like a HW. They deliver PCP accuracy and you can skip a PCP with all the tralala that comes with it....I shoot fingernail size groups on 40 yards with all my HW springers. Springers are reliable, PCP's have a lot of moving parts, O-rings, gaskets, valves, that can cause problems. Simplicity is best and you never run out of air. I own also a S410 and it's a great rifle but shooting a springer makes you a good shooter. Do you want to shoot coke cans for fun a Gamo will do.
I started with a springer in my teens over 50 years ago. No such thing as a PCP then. Shot until my early 20s and then other interests took over. Always fancied giving it another go and came back to air rifle shooting when I retired a few years back. Tried a number of guns and found PCPs impressive, easy to shoot and just not very interesting. A big part of coming back to it was to recapture the fun I had all those years ago and I found a PCP a bit lacking in soul. I acknowledge their technical superiority, but they just don't do it for me. I ended up buying a LGV and have since acquired several HWs. Of course, I've stripped and fettled them (something the average hobby shooter can't do with a PCP), in the same way I do with my cars and anything else I'm interested in. You''ll probably out-shoot me with a PCP, but I reckon I get more fun and satisfaction. It also costs me less and no need to worry about pumps, bottles and associated paraphernalia. Grab a gun and a tin of pellets and I'm good to go.
Well said! I Love my LGV.
Exactly how I feel about pcps vs springers. Had an lgv, fantastic should never have sold it, but I know it's getting lots of use now.
@@jimmynich4791 If you fancy another, there was a nice one on Guntrader the other day. They come up occasionally. I have the Master. The Pro is a bit weighty for me at my advanced age.
Lgv and lgu sweet shooting rifle I think there's alot of air arms brain washing from the old guys at clubs . It is because they don't no any better and can't move on 👍
I have a HW100 bullpup and a HW97 sporter. I know which one I grab when I have a barn full of rats and I know which one I grab when I want to sit and just shoot. PCPs are superb tools and I wouldn't be without mine but they are nowhere near as much fun to shoot as springers. And my PCP shooting gets measurably better if I've done a session on the springer the day before.
Learn on a springer, if you can learn to shoot one with consistent accuracy, then shooting a PCP should be a piece of cake.😁👍😁
Totally agree with you. Start with a quality springer. Maybe you don't even want a PCP with all the tralala that comes with it.
Well said.
Love your honesty and enthusiasm
I cut my teeth on a webley Falcon lovely little rife still got it. Last 20years I’ve been shooting my tx 200 and it’s never mist beat love it. Thanks for your great show😊
Did you get the TX before the anti bear trap nonsense?
No mine has anti bear trap mate.
@@shirleydrury5565 so glad mine hasn't, but have had it for 28 years, think only the first 3000 didn't have it.
In spite of all the comments recommending the opposite (springer first), I totally agree with you, Gary. Learning to shoot with a gun which doesn't present you with all issues a boinger add, WILL speed up your learning journey.
A superb post there Gary, you’ve addressed a really important aspect for air gun shooters who are just starting off in the sport 👍
Looking back I may have been fortunate having an older friend who lent me his Diana .177 when we went off shooting rats, with him using his new .22 and both using open sights. Little did I know then how fortunate I was to have gained experience from that simplistic introduction, a fact I’m sure which helped me in my shooting years later.
97/TX smack down: group sizes at 25 & 50yds at Pete’s Airgun farm indoor 50yd range. Prone and from the bench with no wind. I would be very interested to see your results. Thanks Gary, Matt.
Learn to put a pellet where you want it with a springer, ideally something with TX or HW in front of its name, and then you'll get the best out of any PCP you come across. But the be all and end all is is to shoulder a few guns and find one that fits, don't get hung up on which one you're going to get until you've handled it.
Why can’t people see this. It’s just to easy il buy a pcp and then brag to everyone how good I am. Get good with a springer and you will become a very successful shot
😊
@@woodnugget1301 yep, you see it all over TH-cam, people putting pellet after pellet through the same hole with a tuned FX off rests and thinking they're the mutt's nuts but put them in the field, shooting of their knee and it'd be a whole different story.
Started with HW95K Then progressed to PCP hw100, AirArms S410, Shinsung Career 11, and eventually ended up with AirArms tx200 and Pro Sport, Few years break and now back at it with a WH 97K.
Thank you for the invaluable advice have a great day take care 🕊
Such a true honest and helpful video, a path that I have followed and in doing so have met some great new friends from the shooting community and a fantastic new hobby.
Cheers Gary.
My Dad bought me a BSA meteor in .177 when I was 9.
Perfect start.
I am currently learning with. Remington Express XP, it is a cracking springer and I would highly recommend it to any newbie to the sport. I’ve found that learning with a springer has made me a better all round shooter and I can put pellets through pellets while bench shooting a PCP, but give me a springer and some spinning targets and I’m happy as larry trying to plink them at 18-25 yards.
Proper advice. I have two friends whose lads wanted to start off-road motorcycling. One asked me what sort of bike he should get his 8 year old. A soft power twist and go was my recommendation. the other friend was an experienced expert motocross rider and bought his 8 year old a peaky two-stroke mini scrambler with a six speed gearbox. The lad stalled it a hundred times then out of frustration revved it up and let the clutch go. he went 50 yards on the back wheel and fell off. He never wanted to ride it again and it mouldered in the garsge. The other lad loved his baby bike and rode it every day until he wanted something more challenging. He got his dad to buy the other lad's bike. If you start with a springer and only hit 20% of what you aim at you will become disillusioned and probably give up. Start with a PCP or even a CO2 rifle and you will hit most of what you aim at and extra precision will become a pleasurable pursuit.
Absolutely spot on, that's exactly my point 😊
Spot on! Excellent advice.Unfortunately, I did it the wrong way round and started with an AA TX200HC. Learning to shoot it was such a hard journey for me as a newbie, I almost quit altogether. Thankfully, a mate showed me what a PCP was like when he took me to the local range. Now I've got an Impact M3 and shoot at the range as often as poss, not for the range but, because of the people you meet and learn from.
I definitely agree with your sentiment to start with a PCP, I am however on a very tight budget around £200 including scope so started with a co2 rifle and it has brought me many many hours of enjoyment and even took my channel to over 2k subs. I live in South Africa so don't have the same temperature challenges as you in the UK but obviously co2 is a lot closer to PCP than a Springer
Excellent, Sir! Liked and subcribed.
Once again a great video Gary, I would like to see a video that is informative to new shooters regarding unregulated pcp rifles as some manufacturers are misleading regarding shots per fill and not all newbies are aware of a rifles sweet spot.
Cheers kev
In 1979 I bought a Bavaria 55 springer in .177. Best thing I could've spent my money on. It has given me yeoman service since then. Has taken countless pests and rodents.
I started 40 plus years ago with a BSA Meteor, then BSA Mercury plus an old Relum.
Then for my sixteenth birthday had a Fienwerkbau Sport in 177, amazing gun.
Then started hunting with terriers, lurchers and stuff and knocked the guns on the head. Now, older and wiser I'm back shooting, man it's different now. I've got 3 guns, HW100 in 177, HW110 in 177 and FX Dreamline in 22, all employed for a specific job. I used to put my pellets in my mouth back then, still here though. Lol.
Started with a Diana springer .177 when I was 8 .Nearly 50 years later I have a Rapid 7 mk1 which has NEVER broke in over 30 years .
i don't mind gabbing , as it's all about airguns . I'm a springer fan , but yes for quick results a pcp probably has the edge for New shooters & for those who want to reassure themselves of their proficiency and competence , but let's face it if You can shoot a springer well ,then virtually any other type will be a piece of cake . Thanks Gary catch You next episode . Shoot Straight Stay Safe & Stay Well.
Hw97 v tx200 smack down. Look at comfort in the holding of them, recoil, accuracy, twang on firing and weight. Love your videos, keep them coming Gary.
Cheers Paul.
Learn on a springer, master a springer and you will excel on a pcp.
buy a quality spring gun as it won’t make you disillusioned from buying a piece of junk.
Make sure it has open sight, learn the basics.
Smack down……. Paper targets and tin chickens at various distances.
These are both the rifles I want to get tx200 or hw97 so will be watching with alot of interest starting with an underlever springer
I started shooting with a break barrel. ( brake barrel is the proper name not springer ) . I brought myself a PCP, with all the expensive accessories required. Cost me a fortune, what a waste of money .
What fun is it when you rarely miss the target . No recoil , no challenge , anyone could shoot one .PCPs get more faults , seals, regulator etc.
I have just decided to try shooting ( at the grand old age of 67) fenix and chose a springer ( Cometa 400 fenix).Why? Firstly I didnt want to spend loads of money to find out 6 months down the line it wasnt for me,and a decent springer is cheaper than a pcp, secondly with a springer all you need is the gun and some pellets and you're away, Im a great believer in keep it simple stupid ,and thirdly, probably most importantly I want to learn how to shoot, to learn a new skill, and a springer will challenge me ( I even went as far as to choose a .22), if I dont get the technique right I wont shoot straight.
But I can see where you're coming from Gary and enjoyed your video and thought provoking argument.
I'm what you would call a 'garden shooter' with the occasional rat shoot. My 1st experience with airguns was 31yrs ago with a Crossman 357 revolver then some 20yrs ago with a Chinese sidelever AK47 training springer. About 5yrs ago I got a Benjamin Marauder FT and a handpump, loved it so I now have 2 in .177 and a semi-auto Marauder added to it. I watch vermin hunting videos from the UK and had to have an Air Arms and a Weirauch. Decided on the TX-200HC, TX-200 MK3 and the HW97K and love them because of their simplicity and beauty! I absolutely love the Semi-auto Marauder and it's the only PCP that equals my European Springer rifles! When I got my first HW97K, in .177, I just got it zeroed when I saw a rat nest and proceeded to get 7 with no problem just by consistently using my variation of the artillery hold. Not bad for a beginner I thought.. Most days it's a springer for me but the PCP still comes out now and again!
"VS" idea; what spring will launch across the conservatory fastest!
Another great video Gary. Thank you.
My first air gun was bought out of my mum’s catalogue and it was a BSA meteor in them days you could also buy shotgun’s as well out of catalogue’s how times have changed.
Yep great times
Mine too. An A.S.I. Rangemaster .22 from Grattan!
Yep ,hard to even get air pistol delivered these days
Great show once again. Thanks
My first proper air rifle was the HW 77 back in the eighties,then come the late nineties it was airarms S410 now I am finely getting the HW110 in August any hints on the pellets the hw prefers I got some hades in the cupboard
Good stuff, I did start with the springer. They shoot fine a lot of work for shooting. Then went to pcp stoeger 22 cal xm1, came with a hand pump. I pumped that once and then bought a compressor. This was a fairly inexpensive gun, man it shoots really good . Quarter size at 25 yards. My gripe is the small magazine, think it holds 7 pellets. I think it was around 400.00. The compressor was a little more than that. So this is a very addictive sport. Here the states you can buy a silencer with no problems. I right now have 7 air guns not done yet want to buy a FX something, saving for that. This was a great video for the starter, just be aware that with PCP you gotta have a compressor that can do a minimum of 3000 psi. Or another way of filling gun.
1946, First gun BSA Cadet 177, first kill a starling at I would say about 18 to 20 yrds.
Cheers Tippo. UK. GB.
I returned to air rifle shooting after a break of 35 years. My first rifle was an AA S510 in .177. You could say I recut my teeth with that rifle. I quickly found I could shoot the S510 very accurately out to 50 yards. I needed more of a challenge. I purchased a HW95, but couldn't get on with it. Then I got my first TX200HC. That's when my love affair with my shooting and TX200 really began. I now have 3 TX200's, 2 HC's in .177 & .22, and a full length in.177. I have since added a HW98 and a HW77. Although I still have the S510, my go to rifles are TX200 and HW98, both in .177. Spring rifles give me the challenge I need to shoot accurately and consistently. My buddy and I are always arguing over which is best, TX200 or HW97, so I'll be interested in side by side test you will be doing in the future
Definitely prefer springers, my nearly 30 year old MK1 TX200 is still my favourite rifle.
Another gun to chuck in the mix which, half way though the vid, I've not heard you mention is an AA MPR. Prob rarely seen on the 2nd hand market, but undoubtedly worth considering if you can track one down. Has the quality and reliability of an S400 but with all the adjustability in the stock to make the gun fit you.
I would never forget the MPR Mike. 20m50sec in :-)
What a great informative video.
Gary great honest review 👍
Another great video. Thanks Gary. Keep them coming :)
Loved this! I’m literally shopping for my first pcp at the moment. Just getting into the sport so this is really helpful, spoke to Lee at Cambridge Gun Club today and looking forward to my first visit soon. Will be following you guys now. Thanks again
Great video Gary
Tx/97 smack down: comparing the first 10 shots from a cold gun for accuracy with the pellets each prefer, say at 30 yrds.
👍 brilliant... Really interesting thanks 👍
Start with a Gas-Ram,Gamo-maxxim,Hatsan speedfire with a 8-10 round magazine, so you don't have to continually reload and handle lead, which can be finnicky and frustrating for a beginner. Don't buy a springer, you need excellent handling technique and they are best in FAC. Go and buy one on the recommendation of a friendly dealer. They know the same as your gun-club and will cater for your budget. Then in your gun-club you can have your own gun, and not feel left out, because they will teach to shoot with some ancient WW2 model. I spent £275 on a Gamo gas ram and still use it, but in FAC. Then you can move onto a range of PCP''s which are an essential addition to any air rifle collection.
I love my current HFT setup (Air Arms S400 with a GRS stock, PRS butt plate and hamster)
For the April video (hw97 v’s tx200) how about smoothness out the box? I have a Hw97k, and to me it shoots beautifully, but some people tend to say they don’t get on with it and end up with a tx200.
I gotta admit PCP once filled they are convenient to shoot and very powerful. But the idea of keeping it with air filled as well as with so many connections and seals to take care of, simply put me off. Now I'm learning to use the good ole springer, and gonna upgrade to Ox accelerator mainspring.
Hi Gary, great video, I'm looking to upgrade from springer to PCP.
Have you had any experience with Gamo PCP's? I've read good things about them having bsa parts in them.
Just wondering if you've used one?
Cheers
Just like many things these days it’s a case of let’s go the easy route. An untuned spring powered air rifle of quality will teach you many lessons and you will become a very competent shooter of rifles. That said just occasionally there is the odd rifle we just do NOT get on with mines the HW95 I’ve had 3 and every one was a nightmare to me even a very special one that was tuned by the master himself a personal friend Mr STEVE POPE and I still could get the success that i achieved with my 35 80 an 77 it just didn’t fit me yet I absolutely love that rifle. But I guarantee you if you find a spring gun that fits you will have rewarding shooting and great success and if you decide to purchase pcp later you will be amazed at you success. One pcp air rifle that does teach you well I’m my humble opinion is the air arms s410 series. It’s definitely not point n shoot you have to shoot that rifle with competence ability. God bless you all what ever your choice enjoy your shooting and be accurate because the target deserves it 🙏👍
I'm an old springer user but not for many years. I'm back and looking for hard hitting power and a good FPS for hunting. I was told that you can't get that power from a PCP. Any comments appreciated as I know nothing about PCP's. Cheers.
Hi Kev, The pellet leaves the barrel of my springer at 780fps, it leaves the barrel of my HFT500 at 780fps. The only difference is most modern PCP's are fitted with anti-tamper, so when you buy, check the FPS with the pellet you want to use. Chilly
this is exactly how i feel right now so many to choose from tried to join my local club just got the brush off so i am really confused and dont have a very tight budget but desperatley want to have a go at pcp shooting rather than a springer so with that in mind and knowing a s400 even second hand is out of my price range could you maybe suggest some good rifles designed for someone new to the sport
Congrats on getting a sponsor.
I had stop stop at the trigger being heavy compared to a PCP. I have a HW97K, Walther LGU and Walther LGV and I keep hearing the TX200 triggers is a bit better than the HW97K. These are my 3 target guns I shoot from a bench and I was just thinking yesterday I might need to adjust them to a little heavier weight because after shooting some of my other springers I have a bad happen of pulling the trigger on accident when going back to these really light triggers. I also have a BSA R10 Mark 2 with a really sweet trigger that's about the same. all three of these triggers will adjust so light that they will go off if your not careful when you take up 1st stage while getting on target. There so light you barely feel second stage before they go off. What am I missing here? This is with them at around 10 ounces if I remember right. Been a few years since I set them up and had the gage on them. How do you have a TX200 which is rumored by many to be slightly better than the Rekord trigger on the HW97K. I have aftermarket triggers on my Walthers that rival the trigger on my HW97K and there all 3 set and feel the same. Lesser quality triggers did have more pressure on the sear because of the pressure from the spring. I have aftermarket and modded triggers on most my springers that will get me well under a pound and no creep in second stage. I really can't speak of starting out because I started with a Benjamin pumper almost 50 years ago. Pump those up between shots when your 9 years old. The HW97k and Walthers are effortless to cock. Especially my HW97k set up to shoot at 12 FPE. Most beginners don't have the cash to shell out for even a cheap pcp and a compressor. When I with PCP's started compressors where still 500.00 and up and a pump came with my first PCP. Try hand pumping a PCP. I bought a compressor and big tank within a month. That doesn't say go with a springer or a PCP. Just that triggers aren't a deciding factor. In a nutshell, PCP's are way easier to mount scopes on and shoot accurately. They tend not to be as pellet picky and you can rest/hold it pretty much any way you want and it hits in the same place. They just require extra support equipment unless your not going to shoot more than the air stored in your gun. Springer's are freedom. Just grab gun and pellets and you can shoot as long as you have pellets without every looking at an air gauge or refilling. No worry about a broken compressor or bad fill hose. No worry about how much moisture is being pumped into your gun corroding up internals.
Pcp is a luxury. Most guys recommend pcp yet didn't start on one themselves. Maybe this has changed. A springer is a labour of love but harder to master.
What about a CO2 rifle like the CP2 for garden shooting and learning?
Can you test target rifles adapted to HFT and very successful in this discipline for example Walther LG400 or Steyr Challenge? What is your honest opinion about difference between typical field target rifle like Air Arms HFT500, Weihrauch HW 100 and for example Walther LG400 ? Is Walther much better ?
Ótima carabina meu amigo
My first gun was Chinese spinger under lever than later side lever Chinese airgun. Than slavia brake barel all guns are good.
I’ve had a hw80 a theoben rapid now I have a feinwerkbau and I’m after a new pcp is there much difference between an air arms and daystate
Ghost or AGT Vulcan 3? I’m so undecided? Any initial thoughts? Cheers pal.👍
I've not shot either I'm afraid, however, I know someone with a Ghost and they like it
i have a HW98. i would like to find something on Target Pistols. They are out there but why do these people buy a pistol and either rest it or go to the bother of putting a stock on them. buy a rifle for Gods sake.
Always good to watch.
Sorry Gary but I'd say deffo go springer for your first air rifle it's harder to shoot and if you get any hint of being good at shooting them when you shoot a PCP You will be better than most of the pcp shooters who can't shoot Springer's 100%
You bet. A springer has no running out of air to worry about, it shoots indefinitely. Less seals less hassle.
The only gun you will ever need is a TX200, lazer accurate give or take 20mm's lol
Excellent Chilly! Think bags on a bench for the knockdown, a cheap version of Matt Gleaves😁👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍😎😎😎😎😎😎
I’m unable to shoot laying or sitting down, but am very curious what the purpose of the peg is.
Hi Mighty, you should get some shooting sticks. In hft we have a pegvat each lane and you grip it to help stabilise the rifle.
@@garychillingworth
Thanks
I shoot my very heavy (12lbs scoped) .25 pcp from a 6 ft. tall tripod.
I don’t shoot in competitions instead I do nighttime rat hunting and backyard target practice (30yard in my own backyard and up to 100yard at friends and family).
Totally agree with this assesment Gary . I think that the reason that a lot of new shooters lose interest is there lack of success after purchasing a Springer; wrongly believing that its there lack of ability.
After struggling for over 18 months and being driven to the depths of despair, I finally saw her light and bought my first pcp - what a difference !
Now tiny group sizes are attainable as unlike a Springer a pcp doesn't have a mind of its own.
I'm sure that lots of Springer fans will disagree and say 'learn to shoot a Springer and you can shoot anything ' but after shooting rimfire , a pcp acts more like a powder burner.
I feel very much that spring guns are akin to straight razors , ie a thing of the past - it's not impossible to shave with them, but for most people not worth the hassle.
What you need to is learn how to shoot. Spring guns of quality are exceptionally accurate in the right hands. I’ve used them for nearly 50 years learn how to shoot one and it will teach many lessons something a pcp will never do point and shoot. And yes I do own a pcp but some of my most memorable shooting and shots have been with a break barrel spring gun. Now that said occasionally there are some spring guns that are difficult to shoot for some people mines the he 95, I owned an 80 35 77 97 but the 95 was a bitch to me and that gun was tuned by a personal friend and MASTER air gun engineer. Mr STEVE POPE sadly missed by the air gun world. Anyways get a good spring gun that fits and stick with it. Enjoy your shooting 🙏👍
@@woodnugget1301 I'm sure I'm quite capable of shooting and spent many hours learning, cheek weld,and loading a bipod , none of which will help with a Springer.
What you need for a reliable rifle is one that hits the tat
target time after time , not trying some kind a free masons special hold .
If you are hunting, or undertaking pest control , a Springer is just not ethical in my book
@@martybennett1861 what a crock of shit I’ve pest controlled with a spring gun for 40 years with a spring gun. Learn how shoot one untuned 1st and then you will become extremely competent. Look up John darling. A spring gun has an awful lot to teach if only people stick with them. But that’s the problem with society let’s have everything easy then they knock the good stuff the life lessons. Occasionally there is a rifle that we just do not get on with mines the he 95 it’s a bitch to me no matter how hard I try needs weight upfront other than that practice. Also a very well tuned spring gun is an absolutely joy to shoot. 35-80-77-97. Especially in a reduced capacity. I had privilege of having my air rifles tuned by the master himself Mr Steve Pope these air rifle were sublime and every bit as accurate as any pcp
That good to know the target deserves accuracy. Never felt the need for a fixed bipod myself occasionally use a primos but then again I’m a woodland hunter not a bait shooter. like you said bipods are useless for spring guns never felt the need don’t even use one on my pcp because I don’t bait shoot I hunt.
Have to disagree a little since PCPs require a Firearms license here in NZ. I would go CO2 or Springer but would recommend non-budget, non-chineese model... and yes, first decide what you want to do with a air rifle before buying.
To me Gary fit, feel and balance are as important as anything, accuracy with both is a given, followed up closely by reliability.
Cocking effort, can be an issue if you use them a lot in a session also !
100% agree
A good springer will always be my go to, consistent power and never have to walk a mile back to the car to refill it.
After owning a pcp I’d never go back to a sprinter they have to many negatives.
Try say that when you are a mile from your car and you need a refill,
Can you use knee pads for kneeling in hft
100% yes,
Tx200/hw97 + slugs
Any chance of watching a tx200 Sr and action
I'll see if I can track one down
Thanks mate
New sponsers and a professional intro eh Gary.....well don't worry about the call from makeup, just settle on what eye shadow and lipstick suits.
Learn with a springer first I bet you any money shooting a pcp will be so much easier everytime.
Velre good
what did you miss? CO2!!
And … what else doctor !!! 🥕🐰
The British sure like their pcp’s. I don’t get it, they have no built in power so without a fancy expensive complex finicky machine to pump it with air it’s worthless. Definitely aren’t built to last either compared to springers.
Also if you think springers are really that hard too shoot what with the recoil then your first gun should be a multi-pump pneumatic
s200...£200...ok!!!
I should have said second hand.
A guy at our range just bought 2 cracking ones from a scout group for £50 each.
They even had the instruction books with them. 😃
Would you be willing to donate a rifle for a good cause ,if you could please get intouch, it would be for a very good cause ,
Sorry, all my rifles are used for the channel. Good luck though.
@@garychillingworth ok thankyou
Lee Enfield Sentry is my first PCP air and for the cost of around £300 you can't go wrong.
I've heard good things about those
At the start of the video, I’d have disagreed but the reasons you gave for starting with pcp (trigger control, scope usage, etc) make absolute sense.
I like it, Chilly.
Some great advice here. 👍
Can’t wait to find out who’s sponsoring the channel.
I’m thinking possibly Tetley’s Beer or Weetabix. 😂 🫣 😉
Learn on a springer, master a springer and you will excel on a pcp.
buy a quality spring gun as it won’t make you disillusioned from buying a piece of junk.
Make sure it has open sight, learn the basics.
Smack down……. Paper targets and tin chickens at various distances.