Which pellets for your PCP?

by Harley Ayre

Pellet choice is a very personal thing, but you can't buck the system. With all the hundreds of pellets on the market, there are surprisingly few that always perform the best. Perhaps, you've noticed that Airhog doesn't stock hundreds of different brands and styles like other dealers. That's because they know their guns! What's the sense of offering several hundred different pellets if all you ever recommend is two or three?

First, some history
If you were an airgunner before about 1988, you had no idea which pellets to use. The match pellets from the top European makers always did well at short range. But, for long range, you needed more aerodynamics, and the market was glutted with confusing shapes and claims. Then, a pellet emerged from the chaos, and all saavy shooters began using it exclusively. If you guessed I was referring to Marksman Field Target Specials, you're right! From the late 1980s into the middle '90s, they were the pellet to beat. They showed up in field target matches all around the world, and shooters loved them - until another pellet bumped them off their perch.

The Crosman Premier came out in the middle '90s, and I remember being reluctant to try them because of the association with Crosman. Those who did, however, started winning field target matches, because the new Premiers were even better than the Marksmans. Crosman exercised careful control over the making of the pellets and shooters were soon discussing die numbers instead of pellet brands. The Premier reigned for almost a full decade. HOWEVER - this section is about history, and Premiers are almost completely that today!

The absolute best pellet - bar none!
The JSB Exact domed pellet has kicked the Premier off the hill! Two things account for this. First, the JSB is made from pure lead, while the Premier is made of a hard lead alloy. Shooting JSBs will keep your barrel cleaner longer. Premier users have found that their barrels get fouled with lead deposits that must be cleaned periodically. The second reason JSBs have taken the lead is quality control. Josef Schulz is an airgun team coach in his home town of Bohumin in the Czech Republic. He knows what it takes to win, which is where his pellets were first used. JSBs are HAND-SORTED! Most top airgun shooters sort their pellets into weight groups by hand, but here is a manufacturer doing it! Competitors know this is the one thing they can do to best improve the accuracy with any air rifle - but a PCP will REALLY shine when you do this!

For hunting, these are one of the top pellets!
Another great pellet maker is Haendler & Naterman, known to all as H&N. This German firm also exercises great control over their pellets, and it shows. H&N Finale Match are always among the top pellets at the World Cup level. H&N makes another fine pellet they call the Baracuda. It's known all over Europe, but here in the U.S. we know it as the Beeman Kodiak. The Kodiak is a pure lead pellet that goes up against the Crosman Premier 10.5-grain in .177. It weighs 10.6 grains in that caliber. In .22, it's a hefty 21 grains, which really pumps the power out of guns like the AirForce Condor. And, the Kodiak is an accurate pellet. In some guns, it turns out to be the most accurate, but in all quality PCPs with Lothar Walther barrels, Kodiaks are winners.

Beeman still sells the Field Target Special
As you are no doubt aware, Marksman bought the Beeman company in 1994. The Field Target Special that Marksman used to sell under their name (it's made by H&N) is now branded by Beeman. The pellet has undergone some changes over the years (I think!), and many airgunners are rediscovering a great pellet 10 years later.

The bottom line
JSBs will nearly always be the best pellet for premium PCPs with Lothar Walther barrels. Always try them first. Beeman Kodiaks are also uniformly great, plus they have the extra weight that hunters need. Both Kodiaks and JSBs are pure lead, so there is little to clean. Crosman Premiers continue to be good pellets, and sometimes they are the best for a particular rifle. Just remember that when you shoot them faster than about 850 f.p.s., they do lead the bore and you'll have to clean it to restore accuracy. And, finally, give the Beeman Field Target Special a try. I have heard of guns that liked it best of all.

What you do not have to do is buy endless pellet tins and "samplers" in the vain quest for a more accurate pellet. These I have mentioned are the best. Of course it's fun to try new things, and I do it all the time myself, but when I want to get serious and I'm shooting a pedigreed precharged gun, I always come back to these pellets.

Are you ready for a precharged pneumatic?

by Harley Ayre

You've been in airgunning for a while. Lately, you've been looking at precharged pneumatics, wondering if you should make the switch. You love your Beeman R9/Sheridan Blue Streak/Crosman 2200/Daisy 22SG, but you've heard that precharged guns (we call them PCPs) are 1.) easier to shoot, 2.) more accurate or 3.) more powerful and generally more refined guns. Is any of that true and how would you go about taking the plunge?

Let's talk about the claims, first
They're all true! A PCP has virtually zero recoil, so it is much easier to shoot accurately. If you have a multi-pump pneumatic already, this is probably one of the things you like about it. As for accuracy, a Falcon FN-19RW is going to shoot the same size group at 50 yards that your Blue Streak shoots at 15 yards (or your 22SG shoots at 10). It will deliver the same energy on target at that range that the Blue Streak has at the muzzle!

You may like your Beeman R1, and you should - it's a fine spring-piston air rifle. But you'll find that a Falcon FN-19SB that only costs about $65 more is far more refined than your Beeman. Your Rekord trigger is a good one, but when you sample the trigger on a Falcon, you will understand why so many shooters swear by their PCP guns.

"But my Benjamin 392 is lightweight, quick and handy!"
Yes, it is. But did you know that the Falcon Lighthunter 8W is ONE POUND LIGHTER and TEN INCHES SHORTER? The Falcon Lighthunter 8W is just about the lightest hunting air rifle money can buy, yet it's both more powerful and much more accurate than your Benjamin.

What about all the extra stuff I need, like a scuba tank?
This is a big reason why shooters hold off buying a PCP. They hear about all the extras that go along with the gun, and they are either turned off or they're afraid their dealer won't have all the things they need to get shooting. With some airgun dealers, this is a very real concern, but not here at Airhog. We test each airgun, so you are assured of getting exactly what you need to shoot the gun right away. You also get a gun that has passed our tough inspection. If it doesn't shoot good, it doesn't go out. Period!

As for the extra stuff, let's turn that around. When you go hunting with a PCP, you aren't carrying your pump with you every step of the way, like you do with your Blue Streak. The weight savings goes into a larger reservoir, so you have enough shots inside the gun for a full day's hunt. That's the real joy of owning a PCP! Hunters don't shoot a lot of shots like pest shooters do. However if you do want to shoot rats at the dump, we can fix you up with a Pigmee air tank that fits in a holster on your belt. It will fill a Falcon reservoir several times, yet it takes up so little space. There is no need to drag around a 40-lb. dive tank just because you shoot a PCP.

Yeah, but I don't have $665 right now
Fine! You can still get into PCP guns with a Talon from AirForce. For just $460, you get a Lothar Walther barrel, a huge air tank, adjustable power and a lifetime warranty from an American airgun maker. With every AirForce rifle, you can change barrels yourself, which means you can have BOTH .177 and .22 in the same gun! You don't have to buy two different airguns. That's cheaper than buying two R9s!

If you'd like to go even lower, take a look at the Air Arms S200. For $430, you get 16+ foot-pounds in .22 caliber (a little more than an R9) and all the other benefits of a PCP rifle. Remember, this gun is giving you that fine 50-yard accuracy and more power than a Sheridan pumped to the max, and all you have to do is load pellets and pull the trigger!

A buddy of mine told me about a real special deal!
Yes, there are less expensive PCPs. The Chinese make some that are priced in the $350 range. So why hasn't everyone gone that route? Simple - they're concerned. In this business, as in any other, you get what you pay for. With cheap PCPs, the reverse is just as true - you DON'T get what you DIDN'T pay for! If a gun is made without rigid quality controls and backed by dealers who service their products, you could end up with an airgun that doesn't work. That's not too bad when it only costs $39, but when it's nearly 10 times that much, you have a problem. Remember the Yugo? When's the last time you saw one on the road?

There is an economical way to buy a PCP airgun. First, figure out the stuff you really need to buy. It will be more than just a gun. Then figure out what you want to spend. Finally, locate a dealer who has the time to help you make the best choices for your needs. Let Airhog be your expert for that all-important first purchase.