Author Topic: Starlings (Read 961 times)

butchb · « **on:** September 15, 2018, 10:42:08 AM »

Can someone recommend a pcp airgun I can use for starlings in my back yard at 25ft range? Reasonable price and dependable if there is such a thing. Also a place to buy it. Prefer .177 Thanks

Alan · « **Reply #1 on:** September 15, 2018, 11:42:48 AM »

Yes. Buy a 397 or 392 Benjamin. Dead stock, they're rather quiet, and with adjustable power to boot. The only drawback is you have to pump them, but that's good for the arms.

If you look around, you can find them for as little as $165, delivered, and sometimes a bit less. You can add a scope mount, scope, a SuperSear from AoA, a barrel adapter from Alchemy Worx, and a suppressor from TKO22. Total cost hovers around $300 (spending on the scope you choose). You end up with a 50 yard tack holer! I have the 397 (.177), and the hammer falling on the valve makes more noise than the muzzle blast.

Yes, break barrels are cheaper, but they're also close to junk in comparison.

butchb · « **Reply #2 on:** September 15, 2018, 03:35:53 PM »

How hard are they to pump? How about the Diana Stormrider for 200 bucks?looks good and has open sites. no scope for me.

Alan · « **Reply #3 on:** September 15, 2018, 03:45:23 PM »

Not bad. The first 5 are easy. I can use extended arms, and pump mine to 8 pumps. But the fact is, 5 is almost all you ever need for stuff under 35 yards!

caniborrowsomeammo · « **Reply #4 on:** September 15, 2018, 04:05:27 PM »

I too have a 397

, I cut down the spring to lighten the trigger pull. 5 pumps at 25 feet will drive a 10 grain pellet clear through a starling. 4 would probably do the job I guess. I use open sights. It is quiet stock but adding a silencer would really hush things up I imagine.

As for a PCP you can tune most of them down as low as you want within reason(4-5 ft/lbs), getting more power out of one is where you start getting into the $$$$$.

I'm still a fan of the Benjamin Marauder. You can't go wrong starting out with one.

butchb · « **Reply #5 on:** September 15, 2018, 04:39:24 PM »

I'll look at that one good. What do you think of the Diana ? I know very little about any of them but the Stormrider really looks good to me.200 bucks looks like it's ready to go out of the box. Am I missing something?

bnowlin · « **Reply #6 on:** September 15, 2018, 05:24:18 PM »

What I wanna know is how they are you can get within 25 feet.
Bobn

BTW I can't seem to get closer that 50 yds.

butchb · « **Reply #7 on:** September 15, 2018, 05:32:46 PM »

Don't tell anybody but i have a good hide !

caniborrowsomeammo · « **Reply #8 on:** September 15, 2018, 06:34:59 PM »

The Diana is a renamed SPA- PR900W. As far as I've heard, get the 2nd gen as the moderator and the trigger are better than the 1st gen. There is a regulator available for the gun that you can adjust down to get more shots at lower power for what you need. But you should just use it for a while to see if you like it. Someone on here should be able to help with tuning, but I haven't personally seen one nor know the adjustments.
I would buy from Pyramyd Air as they are pretty good with returns should something not be right with it.
If I may, I would recommend a Hill pump vs a Benjamin pump as you will need a way to fill it. Or post on the classifieds for a used pump, who knows someone may have one that they aren't using anymore.

butchb · « **Reply #9 on:** September 15, 2018, 06:45:44 PM »

Don't even know how to fill one,thought a compressor would be the way.

caniborrowsomeammo · « **Reply #10 on:** September 15, 2018, 08:02:59 PM »

Well.............yes a compressor is the way to go but, it has to be a high-pressure compressor i.e. 3000+ psi, not a shop compressor @ 150 psi. There are compressors out there that are $200-400, and there is a post or two on them here on The Guild.

butchb · « **Reply #11 on:** September 17, 2018, 10:42:32 AM »

Looks like that pump handle is the way to go but not sure how strong you have to be to pump it consistently. On the other hand I like the Dianna stormrider and almost bought one from Pyramid but then don't know if I could pump the pump verywell but I do know thos tanks are priced too damn much for me.I can still cock my break barrel that takes 40 lbs so I think I'll do that until I can't. Thanks for the input from everyone. Art

caniborrowsomeammo · « **Reply #12 on:** September 17, 2018, 12:56:17 PM »

I went a year hand pumping, and I shot a lot, so I pumped a lot

. One night in the winter time, and the wood fire was keeping the house a toasty 75 degrees I pumped the gun up, maybe 50-70 pumps and I was sweating like a greased pig. Enough I said and ordered a compressor, tank and fill station the next day. I've never looked back as my PCP's still amaze me.

butchb · « **Reply #13 on:** September 24, 2018, 03:39:56 PM »

I've put the pcp idea on the back shelf for awhile. I can buy any of these I want but the idea of having to buy a expensive air compressor that cost as much as a lot of good guns just doesn't set well with me. That would be the only way to go I think because the pump thingy wouldn't work for me.

Alan · « **Reply #14 on:** September 24, 2018, 05:24:37 PM »

Yes, buying a "REAL" compressor costs big bucks. There are some alternatives. Cheap Chinese units are available, as are booster pumps like the Alteros and Shoebox. But in the long run, a top notch compressor is all but a necessity. Other alternatives are dive shops, and fire departments in some smaller towns. You can even bite the bullet (pellet) and use nitrogen bottles. The truth is, all of the various systems made to refill PCP airguns have both positive and negative aspects. In the end, you'll eventually go to owning a high-pressure compressor—the least of evils.