Airguns Archives - Page 6 of 6 -

Brand Focus: Crosman

Crosman is a US manufacturer with a proud history.

In the first of a regular new feature, we zoom in to look at a particular manufacturer in the airguns, firearms, archery and outdoor space. This month we shine a light on Crosman, famous for their Rat Catcher airgun, and much more…

About Crosman Air Rifles

Crosman are an American airgun and outdoor equipment company, that design and manufacture a range of pistols, rifles, pellets, and scopes all in the USA. Their base is in East Bloomfield, Rochester which is near to the East coast in the State of New York. Crosman also have several other highly popular brands which they produce airguns under, including Benjamin, and Sheridan. The Benjamin range or airguns are of a higher quality, and more aimed towards the hunting / pest control side of the market.

Crosman first started production back in 1923, with the introduction of the ‘First Model’ rifle which was a pneumatic rifle. It used what was essentially a bike pump below the barrel, which pressurised the chamber, and this in turn fired the pellet along a rifled barrel. This weapon was of the first of its type, and Crosman has never forgotten this heritage, as a large percentage of their range today is pump up pneumatic rifles, although they no longer need to make use of a bike pump!

Crosman 2240 & 2250

Crosman are perhaps best known for their range of pest control rifles and pistols, such as the Crosman 2240 Rat Buster Co2 pistol, and their range of Ratcatcher rifles, namely the Crosman 2250 XL. These are all powered off the 12g Co2 capsules that Crosman began experimenting with back in the 1930s. In 1954 they introduced the standard 12 gram capsule as we know it today, and are now a standard in almost all airgun manufacturers of today.

Crosman also produce some ‘Big Bore’ airguns in calibres up to .357, making them immensely powerful and aimed primarily at the American market, although they are available in the UK with an FAC. One of their attempts was the Benjamin Rogue, which fired a .357 lead pellet at up to 1000 FPS making it immensely powerful. It also had an electronic controller for the firing mechanism which increased the shot count and consistency.

Crosman 2250 XL with 4x32 Scope — Crosman 2250 XL with 4×32 Scope

In my opinion though, you can’t really beat the Crosman 2250 Ratcatcher. The latest model, the 2250 XL, is a much improved model with a metal breech kit, and a longer barrel with a ½ inch UNF thread for fitting a silencer. The beauty of the 2250 is that it is so elegantly simple, with disassembly taking a few minutes, and a wealth of customizable parts available, which can be found on the internet. There are multi-shot kits, new bolt and probe assemblies, and you can replace literally everything on the rifle for a custom part! It really is the rifle if you like tinkering and improving, as the possibilities are almost endless.

Or, if you prefer something of a smaller size, the Crosman 2240 Rat Buster pistol is great, as it is almost exactly the same as the 2250, the only being difference being the inclusion of a smaller barrel. For instance, take a look at this Crosman 2240 (pictured) pistol where pretty much everything has been customised, apart from the Co2 tube!

Crosman 1077

The Crosman 1077 RepeatAir is a fun, fast and easy to use air rifle. Powered by Co2 capsules, it’s as easy and loading the magazine, loading it into the rifle, and firing to your heart’s content. With a velocity of 6ft/lb, it has enough power for youngsters to play with, and for the learner. A rail is included for optics and other additions.

760 Pumpmaster

Crosman 2240 air pistol. Credit: Carl, Lancs, England.

Other Crosman air rifles which are particularly popular are the 760 Pumpmaster which, as the name suggests, it is a pump air rifle which fires either pellets or BBs. The small frame size is ideal for juniors and female shooters, but can quite easily be used by adults as well, and is an excellent choice for teaching marksmanship skills as well as safe firearm handling.

A firm favourite of pistol target shooters over here in the UK is the Crosman 2300T, which is a CO2 powered pistol, based on the 2240, but with a longer competition barrel, and high quality sights, making it ideal for those wanting to start in target shooting, or teach it to beginners.

Just recently Crosman have released a new product under their Benjamin line called the Pioneer Airbow, and instead of a barrel that fires pellets, it fires arrows from a tube from an airgun based platform. The idea behind this is that you can use a scope, and finely adjust the trigger just like you can on a normal air rifle, to achieve the same high level of accuracy. Unfortunately it’s not available in the UK, but I think it’s pretty cool and shows the innovation that Crosman have.

To learn more about Crosman products, head over to their collections page now. Or check out their full range of Crosman air rifles and accessories on their brand page. Or head to their official site to learn even more.

Three Of the Best: Famous Guns & Their Airgun Equivalents

With the release of the latest instalment in the James Bond franchise, Spectre, recently released into UK Cinemas, we thought it might be a good time to share with you a range of guns that have been made famous on the silver screen. Let us give you a rundown of three of the very best!

Gun #1: Desert Eagle

Movie: Snatch (2000)

The Desert Eagle provides the focal point for one of the many comic scenes in this classic cockney caper movie, when Vinnie Jones’ character ‘Bullet Tooth Tony’ confronts the hapless duo of Vinnie and Sol in a face off, guns pointed at each other, with some fairly memorable dialogue:

“You are shrinking, and your two little balls are shrinking with you. And the fact that you’ve got “Replica” written down the side of your guns…And the fact that I’ve got “Desert Eagle point five O”…Written down the side of mine…: Should precipitate your balls into shrinking, along with your presence. Now… Fxxx off!”

The scene boosted the popularity of this robust, iconic handgun, which has appeared in many movies before and since. Originally designed by Israeli Military Industries, and redesigned by legendary US gun manufacturer Magnum, the good news is that there is a Co2 air gun equivalent. KWC have retained all of the heft, and features of the original, with their premium Desert Eagle air pistol replica for airsoft.

Gun #2: Walther PPK

Movie: Casino Royale (2006)

The legendary Walther PPK is the gun most associated with James Bond, and appears in a host of the movies in the franchise, as well as of Ian Fleming’s books.

One notable example is the 2006 outing, the first for Daniel Craig in a Bourne-style reboot, which took the secret agent back to darker, more dangerous leanings more reminiscent of the original source material. The gun makes an appearance in the brutal opening scenes where Bond gets his double-o stripes with two kills.

Bond uses the Walther in the opening fight sequence, by hitting his adversary, Agent Fisher, on the side of the head, with the hefty German gun. A violent fight ensues after it falls to the floor, before Bond grabs it to complete the kill, setting off the legendary gunbarrel introduction sequence that graces all Bond movies. The incredible violence of the scene introduces a Bond that is worlds away from the campy, softer performances of Piers Brosnan and Roger Moore, and reminds us what a badass Bond really is. The appearance of this gorgeous, robust gun is a bonus.

You can check out the Walther PPK co2 replica, produced by Umarex, here.

Gun #3 Colt M1911

Movie: The Big Lebowski (1998)

Nothing could be more iconic than one of the most quoted cult movies of all time – and the most iconic guns to go with it. An internet meme favourite, John Goodman’s character famously loses it and brandishes a Colt M1911 air pistol when his friend Smokey tries to hand himself a bowling score he doesn’t deserve.

‘You’re entering a world of pain’ Goodman growls, in a raging fit of fury to enforce the rules. You’ll have seen the impressive gun he’s brandishing in 1001 other movies, but none quite as funny. You can check out our range of 1911s by Colt, Tokyo Marui, Remington and Swiss Arms, right here.

How to Take Care of Your Airgun

It’s important to take care of your air pistol or air rifle, in order to ensure that you get the most out of it.

An airgun is a precision instrument – a complex piece of machinery. Rough treatment will cause irreparable problems, shortening the active life of an airgun that should, in the best of circumstances, last for many decades.

When transporting an airgun, ensure that it is settled securely in your vehicle, protected from bumps, falls, and collisions with other objects. Parts of the airgun’s mechanism can be knocked out of alignment, and there are some parts, perfectly adequate for normal use, that will break under stress.

Cocking a break barrel airgun can take quite a lot of force, especially in modern models such as the Gamo Hunter 440 .22 and Hammerli .22, whose powerful locking mechanisms are built to contain intense pressure in the firing cylinder. But once the pellet is loaded, do not slam the barrel closed. If the locking mechanism is damaged, the barrel will be nudged out of position, and accuracy compromised.

When cocking an underlever airgun, like the Air Arms TX200, the lever must be pulled back as far as it will go, and only at the final stage will the safety button engage. If you stop pulling too soon, and attempt to close the lever, it will seem as if the lever is stuck. It is important not to force the lever back to the closed position, but to continue pulling the lever back into the cocked position.

It is advisable to wipe the bore of your airgun, after use, with a dry cotton flannel patch. This serves to remove particles of lead or any moisture. Never use solvents in the bore, because there is a danger of it getting into the valves and damaging the plastic or rubber materials of the valve seats.

bcsha-8822 — To protect your airgun from damage, use Birchwood Casey Barricade Rust Protection

External metal surfaces should be treated with a thin film of Birchwood Casey Rust Protection, and wooden surfaces with a smear of oil.

When changing the cylinder on your CO₂ gun, never over tighten the cylinders, for this can damage the threads. Brush dirt from the threads with a toothbrush and apply a very little synthetic grease to the threads every 20-30 times that you change the cylinder.

Lubrication is important. A dab of Crosman Pellgun Oil on the end of each new CO2 cylinder is sufficient to lubricate the seals that engage the neck of the cylinder. But beware of over lubricating – the gun’s mechanism can be clogged up and damaged by excessive grease.

Airguns seldom need dismantling for cleaning. They burn no powder and therefore produce no residue. They fire clean lead bullets at comparatively low velocity, and so only in the more powerful of airguns is there ever any metal fouling. An airgun can be fired tens of thousands of times between cleanings. If your airgun is being used infrequently, it won’t need a check and thorough clean more than once in six years. Those who shoot on a daily basis, however, should have their guns checked and cleaned annually.

First vital point in caring for your airgun: read the owner’s manual and follow the guidelines.

Second vital point in caring for your airgun: if a lever or button isn’t moving as easily as it should, don’t be tempted to force it. Find out what is preventing normal operation and fix that problem.

To check out our wide and growing range of Airguns, head over to the Pellpax Store.

Intro To Shooting Accessories: Air Rifle Shooting Targets

If you’re a passionate airgunner for hunting, pest control, sport, or hobbying, then you’ll know that you can’t just stop at your chosen weapon. Shooting accessories are essential, for a whole variety of reasons.

To get the most out of your airgun shooting, getting yourself some air rifle targets is vital, whether you’re tracking down pests, or competing with others. By drilling yourself to hit the target, over and over, you can ensure that you will be ready when time comes, whether it’s for competition or catching the varmint that’s chewing up your vegetable patch.

Paper Shooting Targets & Holders

Today’s targets come in a range of designs, and include simple paper targets like these practice targets.

These come in packs of 100, and are are inexpensive at £3.99. The concentric circles help you clearly see where you’ve hit the target, and the smaller targets all over the shooting target area allow for longevity and a greater variety of targets to aim for.

These items are purchased in large volumes, a minimum of 50, but it is essential to have a place on which to rest the paper target. This can be something as simple as an old pillow, but these can be unreliable and messy. To be practical, it’s better if you can invest in target holders and pellets catchers such as this one:

Trumpet Target Holder Pellet Catcher 14cm x 14cm £14.99

This is great for backyard hobby plinking, but also helps to improve your aim, to keep you sharp for competitions, pest control and hunting.

Note the manner in which your many hundreds of shots will be caught, allowing you to keep things tidy, even as you fire at the target again and again. The material that these are constructed from is robust and will ensure that they give many years of service.

Refresh Your Target Shooting With Furry Pests Pictures!

One way of keeping things fresh and interesting is to mount images of pests and hunting animals on your pellet holder. This can stimulate the imagination and keep you focussed as you fire shot after shot, as well as preparing you for the real thing. Rats and squirrels are some of the main reasons people purchase airguns, from amateur pest control all the way up to professional useage. So it’s something that makes perfect sense. To do this, you can also head on over to the BASC to download some realistic looking airgun targets like these:

Knockdown Targets, Zombie Targets & Snooker Targets

These are a good halfway house to some of the field targets that are set out in woodlands to mock up a representation of pests and small live targets normally faced by airgunners. You can also find metal knockdown targets that resemble pests, for example, this knock and reset rat target (below), which allows you to get some of the realism of your quarry while practicing and zeroing in on the rats that might be chewing on your vegetable patch!

In order to keep things interesting, shooters may wish to train their rifle on something a bit different, and this is why a fun trend for things like zombie targets, and snooker targets has allowed airgun enthusiasts to keep interesting. Target shooting should always be done on private land, or with the full permission of the owner or tenant. If you’re headed off to a range, be aware that airguns should always be transported in a secure case which does not allow the gun to be fired. As is always the case with firearms, keep yourself familiar with UK gun law to be safe.

Pellpax has a huge range airguns and related equipment. Check out our range of air rifle targets and accessories today.