PCP for plinkers in Illinois?

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whm1974

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Due to some not so recent changes in Illinois laws governing the laws on Airguns without requiring a FOID card. Airguns in large calibers then .177 are now legal as long as the pellet or BB doesn't go faster then 700 fps...

Personally if I had a place to safely shoot an airgun I would want a low cost low powered PCP .22 caliber pellet rifle and pistol that is quiet without requiring a suppressor. The last which I have no clue wither my State allows such things or not on airguns.

Are there such PCP airguns?
 
Depends on what you want, and if a pcp with a factory shroud is acceptable.
If not and low noise is a requirement, small caliber and lower power is the way to go.

you can tune most pcps with some work to deliver lower noise and energy, but each is unique so cant say how on each gun without having one in hand.
 
If I did any hunting at all with an Air Weapon it would very likely be rats or small pest critters...
 
A PCP with pressure regulator to 1000 psi will keep .22 pellet velocity down to less than 700 fps. Regulator also helps to maintain constant velocity shot to shot and last more shots. Or, just get a CO2 gun like QB78. CO2 operates at 1000 psi if I remember correctly. A tuned .22 QB78 runs close to 700 fps but under. The advantage of PCP with regulator is more shots available, CO2 QB78 only gives about 30 shots before losing velocity, but PCP will need a pump to charge, even a hand pump cost another $100 and you make sure use desiccant to dry the air otherwise may introduce moisture and corrosion. I have a CO2 QB78, looked into PCP once, decided just shoot my springers!
 
HankC said:
A PCP with pressure regulator to 1000 psi will keep .22 pellet velocity down to less than 700 fps. Regulator also helps to maintain constant velocity shot to shot and last more shots. Or, just get a CO2 gun like QB78. CO2 operates at 1000 psi if I remember correctly. A tuned .22 QB78 runs close to 700 fps but under. The advantage of PCP with regulator is more shots available, CO2 QB78 only gives about 30 shots before losing velocity, but PCP will need a pump to charge, even a hand pump cost another $100 and you make sure use desiccant to dry the air otherwise may introduce moisture and corrosion. I have a CO2 QB78, looked into PCP once, decided just shoot my springers!
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Another option for the pcp game is a qb79 with a small regulated aluminum hpa tank. again not stupendous power, but decent, cheap and if you want you can run on a 88g co2 powerlet, or a 3-9oz co2 bottle.
 
HankC said:
A PCP with pressure regulator to 1000 psi will keep .22 pellet velocity down to less than 700 fps. Regulator also helps to maintain constant velocity shot to shot and last more shots. Or, just get a CO2 gun like QB78. CO2 operates at 1000 psi if I remember correctly. A tuned .22 QB78 runs close to 700 fps but under. The advantage of PCP with regulator is more shots available, CO2 QB78 only gives about 30 shots before losing velocity, but PCP will need a pump to charge, even a hand pump cost another $100 and you make sure use desiccant to dry the air otherwise may introduce moisture and corrosion. I have a CO2 QB78, looked into PCP once, decided just shoot my springers!
Click to expand...
Thanks but don't pumps for PCPs have filters anyway? How hard it it to learn airsmithing? Perhaps build my own PCP myself...
 
I believe the law is not about "legality" but rather whether or not they are classified the same as firearms with attendant 4473 and waiting period requirements. .177 and under 700 fps is exempt. Larger bore all are not exempt. Over 700 fps not exempt regardless if .177.
Has this been changed? When and refer me to the legislation, please.
 
What I see there, among the zillion words of legalese, is "not greater than .18 caliber", or not exceeding 700 fps. I'm not a lawyer but I've been working in an Illnois gun shop for years and have not seen anything that exempts over .18" or over 700 fps. I might be slow so bear with. I'd really like to see something that states it clearly.
 
whm1974 said:
Thanks but don't pumps for PCPs have filters anyway? How hard it it to learn airsmithing? Perhaps build my own PCP myself...
Click to expand...
Its not, the principles are simple enough, you just need the skills to turn your own parts, or to be able to piece together other parts to make a whole.

It just isnt usually worth the cost unless do machine work for fun, and or, really want something special.
 
I think it maybe wise to stick to a air rifle with published fps, maybe get a cmp daisy 853 I just got one recently. $119.95 tyd.
There not powerful tho only 177 510 fps but most seem to be about 450-475 fps.
 
LoonWulf said:
Its not, the principles are simple enough, you just need the skills to turn your own parts, or to be able to piece together other parts to make a whole.

It just isnt usually worth the cost unless do machine work for fun, and or, really want something special.
Click to expand...
Build my very own .45 Caliber air rifle based off of late Middle Age tech? Lewis and Clark carried an improved model with them but in .41 Caliber(I think). The first Air rifles were repeaters back when all firearms were muzzleloaders.
 
Most of those had brass aircylinders in the stocks if i remember correctly. Id assume they used an inline poppet valve, probably like the airforce guns, but ive never looked at the diagrams for them.
You could modernize them a bit by going to a tight tolerance spool valve, but otherwise there would be little to change from the original design....id be interested to know if the pump design was multi stage or just a small bore single.
 
Quite impressive, I know the air rifle saved Lewis and Clark bacon a few times. The Lewis and Clark books were a good read tho everyone is different. Like to find a better more detailed one. There 46 cal went thru a one inch pine board at 100 yards.

Don't think I'd ever build modern air guns other then mods but building copies of the old ones would be very cool to do.

 
For low power shooting, .177 is perfect. Just saw you wanted it cheap. Airforce isn't cheap, but high quality for the money.
 
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