PCP vs Spring - long term reliability?

[subwoofer 13]

I have a later Mark 1 Webley Eclipse (it is a mark 1 but has the silencer threading) that was bought in the late 1980s. I gave it a good molyslip treatment and have kept it well stored. Still on the original spring, as after frantically going through 5000 pellets I slowed right down just taking the occasional pigeon or squirrel and the occasional zero check. I never leave it cocked so the spring is still very strong and it hits as hard as ever.

 

The PCP pre-charged pneumatic style I have never owned. Originally these seemed reliant on diving bottles and were very expensive. Now you can get pumps allowing you to charge them yourself so are more economical.

 

What I am wondering is how PCP and spring guns compare on long term reliability? My 20? year old springer has been totally dependable and when needed performs every time. Obviously the springer has a big piston seal and a couple of o-rings which could perish, but a PCP has more seals which are constantly loaded and a regulator to manage the shot power, all of which seems like more to go wrong especially if left on standby for the occasional pest control.

 

Does anyone have experience of how they compare?

[stealthy1 3,964]

Only time will tell which PCP's will become legends, my HW77 I've had since 1987, and is still going strong

[aaronpigeonplucker 32]

there are always different trends going in PCP's all the time. yet springers like the great hw77k have not really changed for 20 years. its partly what makes them so realiable.

[matt_hooks 188]

A decent pump for a PCP will set you back not much less than a diving bottle to fill from. Filling a PCP with a stirrup pump is not exactly an easy task, and with bottle fills running out at about £3 a go, I would definitely go the bottle route!

 

As for "which is better" well, the PCP will make your hunting life far easier. Easier reloading, zero recoil, far less noise and in most cases multi-shot capability. A springer will make you work harder, and can sometimes make for more challenging and therefore more rewarding hunting.

 

Longevity wise unless you are putting a huge number of pellets down-barrell you'll not notice any drop off in performance of any modern spring, gas ram or PCP rifle.

 

The PCP will usually roll out slightly more expensive, and the bunnies are just as dead with a springer, but most people would choose a PCP if cost was not an issue as they're so much easier to use!

[gurtwurz 792]

i agree with the above but i reckon mk1 rapids will prove emselves a cut above the pcp crop, thetre simple to work on and built like tractors, totally made to last... youre definitely all bang on tho, some of the modern pcp's just have so many problems waiting to happen with em, but i think hunting makes far more demands on a rifle than say target shooting just cos of the amount of knocks and bumps we put them through.

in an age where companies build products with an in-built self destruct mode( see any nokia, microsoft,dyson or apple product- you know full what i mean!) though i cant see any pcp staying the course like a good solid springer/gas ram

 

all the best

[zini 1,939]

I think if you look after your rifles to the best of your ability and respect them like you would expect to be respected yourself both PCPs and springers can be reliable tools and only need routine work on them, i.e. breech seals, new springs on springers, new seals on a pcp etc.

 

I have never had 1 problem with either 2 of my PCPs or springers to that fact and I shot my R10 many, many times last year.

 

Nothing is ever un breakable though and from time to time even a top of the range Formula One car has problems and needs fixing.

 

If you were to read Jacks post in regards to his HW95 springer you would see that his rifle needed work on it due to excessive shooting over the years. This is normal.

 

Maybe if you had shot you Webley as often as Jack as his rifle yours too may have needed some work on it pal.

 

It’s the little things that help a rifle i.e. good storage in a warm but not hot location, a nice coat of oil after using it, cleaning your pellets before using them, not throwing your rifle around in the boot of your car etc.

 

Si

[george atkins ga 1]

i got a theoben rapid 7 which i have had for 5 years now and it is very reliable and it has never let me down in the field

Edited June 1, 2010 by george atkins ga