on the percentage of airguns that are over rated, over priced, won't stand up to regular
usage because they're cheap and crappy or are kinda classy yet still kinda crappy, come
right out of the box needing work/attention/sent back/etc. and so on - you get the picture!
I'd say 75% to 90%!
What about dealers, tuners, smiths, etc. - how many are less than honest, have ripped folks
off, etc.? Heck I'm going to say again 75% to 90%!
Just my opinion after 10 years of reading tons of airgun stuff from forums to books, talking
with a lot of airgunners, dealing with a number of dealers, smiths, tuners, etc.
Say I'm way off and it's more like 25% - that still stinks!
There's always that popular guy, that 'guru' that'll speak up and say "yes there's a few
bad apples" and then he tells a joke or two and so on. More often than not that guy is one
of the baddest, the rottenist of apples!
I still enjoy airgunning and still sleep well even though there's a lot of dirty lowdown
going on in the airgun world and all the other worlds. Even on a battlefield a man must
find a spot dig in and get some rest.
Lately I've been noticing way more masochist airgunners - guys that send a gun back several
times, spend lots of money on upgrades, fixes, etc., wait months to years and so on yet still
defend and speak well of the manufacturer, dealer, tuner, gun, etc. Eyes glazed and Koolaid
dripping off their chins!
I know it's only airguns. It's only houses, cars, etc. - no biggie! LOL
My rude awakening was that these things are just not as reliable as firearms (or maybe they don't make em like they used to). I never had to tune an Ithaca shotgun or unjam a Remington trigger, fix a S & W cylinder problem, send in a Weaver scope for repair......Yet these kind of things are common with airguns. I fool with mine because of the first couple that broke. I can't fix the scopes; just send them in under the Lifetime Warranty. Getting to know John Pan!
All of that gives people the opportunity to have issues with other people and detect varying degrees of honesty/personal interaction.
It always amazes me how many tuners/authorities out there were asking for help taking stuff apart a few months back and now are forum gurus. Stick around long enough and the antics will be the same just with different names. Stick around longer than that and you'll just expect it and not worry about it anymore.
anymore. I repair/maintenance my own guns, don't hang out/read/post much these days
and may not ever purchase another airgun. I've done sampled a good variety and pretty
much "taken the ride". I'm back to just simple enjoyment plinking/pesting/hunting
like a young lad only a little wiser.
Why did I post? Maybe just a warning, a cautioning to newer guys with stars in their
eyes.
you have been in this hobby for a long time but now it turns out it is not a hobby anymore, a Hobby that can cost $100.00 to $1,000.oo and where there is money to be make the SHARKS emerge
be it $100 or $1,000, lot's of BS artists out there for your $$$ with promises and the glinter in your eyes'
1,000 fps air rifle for $189.00 in .22 cal is an example, NONSENSE
but with a $200.00 tune I can make that air rifle SMOOTH, again NONSENSE
a whole lot of experts come out of the woods even after a new air rifle has been produced, recently with BRAND new ideas to improve that air rifle, BUT you have to give him your wallet
don't believe ME, look at what these firms are selling; RWS 350 in .22 cal. shooting 950 fps in .22 cal., your jaw would RATTLE and they say a 1/2" CTC at 40 yards
a tuner that takes 11 months to tune a M34 for $200.00, they do exists and YOU can do it for $30.00 in 3 hours
a lot of FOUL play happens in these forums and I mean a LOT
some of the most knowledgable people don't even post in these forum's and the are HAWK's when it comes to collecting the best of the best, they look at the classified forums', garage sell's, Pawn Shop's, etc
I know a couple by phone and e-mail, but there are 100's like these
sleep well and let the NEWBIS get in the mix, if they want to learn it will be from the OLD timers like you
I don't think there's that level of dishonesty among tuners. For one thing, they wouldn't stay in business very long. Everyone has their favorites and dislikes. I have heard VERY negative things about certain tuners and then experienced exactly the opposite. There's a LOT of opinionization (new word?) in the air gun community - much more so than in firearms. And, like firearms, you get good, grade A gunsmiths and then you have your gun butchers. Always get a couple of references before entrusting your $$$ and baby when you shop out the work.
There's a whole ton of air guns that are more or less entry level. Even Diana. Can these be improved? Sure. So can a lot of firearms, for that matter. People do have occasional problems with firearms, even S&W revolvers. (Remember the sorry runs of Bangor Punta guns from the early 70's?) That's why themajor manufacturers sell parts and have service centers. And, while the Ruger 10/22 is one of the most fool-proof designs going, look at the after-market upgrades that abound for it. Barrels, triggers, hammers, same as JM's spring/seal kits. There are few mass produced goods that can't be improved in some way or another.
There definitely are "Air Gun Gods" still around, although I think that has toned down a bit in the last few years. But you get those on every forum. Comes with the Internet and the safety of long distance sniping.
Like someone once said, "Things sure ain't what they used to be. In fact, they never were!"
