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Accessories Daisy 880: Part 6

Daisy 880: Part 6

by Tom Gaylord, a.k.a. B.B. Pelletier

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5

Daisy 880
The Daisy 880 multi-pump is a classic.

This report addresses:

• Mounting the scope.
• Sighting in.
• Accuracy testing.
• Loading problems.
• Summary.

Today, we’ll look at the accuracy of the Daisy 880S at 25 yards. As you may recall, Daisy sent this rifle to me to test after I had problems with the velocity of my old Daisy 880, and also with a brand-new one that Pyramyd AIR supplied. We tested the velocity of this rifle in Part 4, and it was right where it should be, so we moved on to accuracy 10 meters. That was in Part 5. I showed you the targets Daisy sent, and then targets I shot. I managed to do a little better than Daisy, but on the whole my best targets were comparable to what they sent.

The rifle they sent is an 880S that has a 4X15 scope and rings included. I thought it was identical to the 880, but a sharp reader pointed out the 880S rifle doesn’t have fiberoptic sights. If you want plain sights, this is the model to get. And the first step for today’s test was to mount the scope.

Mounting the scope
I’ve had other scopes that were difficult to mount, but this one ranks right there with the worst of them! The small, thin clamping jaws gave me fits when I tried to attach them to the scope rail. It took me 15 minutes of repeated tries to get the scope to clamp to the rifle, and even then the scope was pointed off to the right. I remounted it and had the same problem. Up to this point the scope, was still clamped tight in the rings, which may have been the problem.

I loosened the scope tube in the rings and found that it really helped with positioning. Finally, after about 25 minutes, I managed to get the scope mounted reasonably straight. Loosening the rings was the key. However, even at its best, the scope was still pointed to the right.

Sight-in
I looked back at the velocity data for this rifle from Part 4 and decided that 6 pumps per shot would be best. That’s a compromise between velocity and the time it takes to pump the rifle. When you shoot 10-shot groups, each group takes 60 pumps to complete. I was going to be shooting pellets that were mostly lighter than those used in the velocity test, so the rifle would probably be shooting just over 600 f.p.s.

Beeman H&N Match
I sighted-in with Beeman H&N Match pellets. No particular reason for this. From the 10-meter test, I knew that only RWS Hobbys were accurate enough (of those pellets that were used in the 10-meter test) for shooting at 25 yards, and they would be included — but I was almost out of them.

As most of you know, I sight in most airguns at close range, then back up to the target distance I want to shoot when I’m on paper. The first shot from 12 feet landed low and about 3 inches to the left. That’s how far to the right the scope was pointed. If it was off that far at 12 feet, it would be several feet off the target at 75 feet (25 yards). I cranked in a lot of right adjustment; and by the third shot, the pellet hit below the bull at 6 o’clock.

Then, I cranked in a bunch of up elevation. The scope that comes with the rifle doesn’t have click detents, so it was several turns of the adjustment screw. I knew I should now be on target, so I backed up to 25 yards before shooting again. Time to shoot the first target.

The first shot hit the target in the bull but very high up. That was okay, though, because in an accuracy test we don’t care about hitting the center of the target — only in how close the pellets group. When the second shot went to the same place, I stopped checking the target with the spotting scope and just finished the first 10-shot group.

The first 10 shots landed in a group that measures 1.958 inches between centers. That’s not what I was hoping for. I tried my hardest to shoot well; I shot off a rest and with a scope. This was the best I could do with this pellet.

Daisy 880 Beeman H&N Match target
Ten Beeman H&N Match pellets went into 1.958 inches between centers at 25 yards.

RWS Hobby
Next up were the RWS Hobbys. These were by far the most accurate pellets at 10 meters, so they earned a spot in this test. Nine of them went into 1.154 inches at 25 yards, but the tenth shot opened the group up to 2.216 inches. It certainly wasn’t a called flier; but given where the other 9 landed, I think Hobbys showed fair accuracy, overall.

Daisy 880 RWS Hobby target
Ten RWS Hobbys made this 2.216-inch group at 25 yards, but 9 of them went into 1.154 inches, which is fairly good.

So far, the groups were only average or worse. Since I was pumping 6 times for each shot, this test wasn’t going to continue much longer, but I felt the rifle deserved at least one more chance. This time it would be with a domed pellet of known quality — the Falcon from Air Arms.

Air Arms Falcons
The Falcon pellet has shown real promise in some airguns I’ve tested. I hoped that it would also shine in the 880. Since it was the only domed pellet I tried, and since 25 yards is about the maximum distance at which accuracy can be expected with wadcutter pellets, I hoped to see a real star.

Ten Falcons went into 1.482 inches at 25 yards. The group is reasonably round with no fliers, which tells me the Falcon is very stable in the 880. The group is actually the best of this test, though not as good as I’d hoped based on what people had said about their 880 rifles. But, I was shooting 10-shot groups, and they really point out the accuracy potential of an airgun in a way that 5-shot groups often can’t.

Daisy 880 Falcon target
The Falcon group was the smallest of the session at 1.482 inches between centers. Of course, the holes are harder to see because this is a domed pellet.

Loading problems
I had two loading accidents with the Falcons that didn’t occur with any other pellets. Two pellets fell back through the BB loading port and disappeared. They didn’t tie up the gun, but it was disconcerting. Daisy warns about this possibility in the manual, and it happened to me twice in a row. If it happened just once, I’d say, “Shame on me.” But two times in a row is the rifle’s fault.

Daisy 880 hole in breech
The BB feed hole at the back of the 880’s breech is so large that it swallowed 2 Falcon pellets.

Summary
No one can say this rifle didn’t get a fair test! It turns out to be an okay plinker that’s easy to pump and reasonably accurate at close range. I would not choose the scoped model, nor would I mount a scope on any 880 unless my eyes demanded it. A dot sight might be best for those who can’t use the open sights.

The loading of pellets is a real problem area. It isn’t easy under any circumstances, and it’s all too easy to lose a pellet in the action because of the large BB feeding hole. Perhaps the 880 is a better BB gun than a pellet rifle for this shortcoming.

Given all the problems I had, I would have to put the 880 lower on the list of inexpensive multi-pumps than some other brands and models. I think it’s a fine gun for those who appreciate it for what it is, but it’s not a diamond in the rough. Taken for what it is, the 880 will satisfy a purpose and will be a good plinker and informal target rifle.

author avatar
Tom Gaylord (B.B. Pelletier)
Tom Gaylord, also known as B.B. Pelletier, provides expert insights to airgunners all over the world on behalf of Pyramyd AIR. He has earned the title The Godfather of Airguns™ for his contributions to the industry, spending many years with AirForce Airguns and starting magazines dedicated to the sport such as Airgun Illustrated.

101 thoughts on “Daisy 880: Part 6”

  1. My 880 does not have the loading port problem. The BB port is behind the pellet loading ramp, so I can pull the bolt back just far enough so the front is flush with the rear of the ramp, but still covering the BB port. Mine has the cast aluminum receiver, and was made when Daisy was part of Kidde.

    • I also have an older (i.e. 1990’s) Model 880 with the same type of ramp that DryCreekRob described. As mentioned, I have to be very careful to pull the bolt back just enough to allow a pellet to be inserted into the tray and yet cover the BB loading port hole. If you retract the bolt all the way to the rear, a pellet can fall back into the BB port which I learned from experience. I inherited the Daisy 880 from my Father, who used to sit on his porch and shoot gophers when they popped up in his country home yard. My son-in-law now successfully uses the same Daisy 880 (with a 4x -15mm scope) to take care of pigeon pest problems around his house and yard. I enjoyed getting familiar with the Daisy 880 and it reignited my interest in airguns. My grandfather game me a Daisy Red Rider when I was 10.

      • For this reason I’m glad I cashed mine in I have enough trouble trying to load my AM77. I’m currently outta .177 lead balls or it would be full of them and I would be enjoying shooting it right now instead of sitting here stressing about “real world” problems and waiting for the government to step up and return the favor of reliable and steady income they have received from me for the last 30 years. I feel the most let down by the VA which has repeatedly denied any support or involvement. Granted I wasn’t in that long but while I was I gave the USAF my everything, apparently for nothing other than an education in Hard Knocks. Time to check my blood pressure!
        Aargh!

        Reb

      • I feel your pain and sympathize with you! Sometimes that thing seems like a black hole from which there is no escape. and if possible to shake it back out the shooting session has to be postponed for recuperation from the contortion tongue wringing required to do so.Gotta hold it just so & shake like a paint mixer!

        Reb

    • It’s the same with the Daisy Model 35. You have to push the pellet ram forwrd just enough to cover the bb port, or you could get a pellet suck in there. I have never owned or shot an 880.

    • It’s disappointing that you had trouble with your 880’s. The Crosman 2100 you tested seemed to be so much better of a gun. My experience with these guns has been exactly the opposite. I have owned three 880’s over the years and had not one problem from any of them. They were all the most accurate msp’s that I have owned. My Crosman 2100 will shoot around 0.75″ at 10 meters, and my Daisy 901 will do about 0.6″ at the same distance. The last two 880s that I have owned have been much better. I tested one today and got an average of 0.23″ from three 5-shot groups with RWS Hobbies. 10-shot groups are consistently well under 1/2″. My smooth-bore Daisy 35 is more accurate at 10 meters with RWS Hobbies than my Daisy 901, Crosman 2100 or Crosman M4-177, and it can’t come close to any 880 I have owned. My Daisy rifles are also much easier to pump and their bolts are much easier to operate. My 2100 is probably the least accurate rifle I own.

  2. Hi B.B.

    I didn’t pick the 880S to get the scope it just happened, Wally World doesn’t carry the plain 880. I have to say you are more persistent than I was as far as trying to get the 4×15 scope to work, I gave up after only 10 minutes and mounted a 3×32 Center Point scope I had on the shelf. Using the same RWS R10 match pellets I used in my 10 meter test, 1.19 was as good as it got. All the other pellets I shot did worse. I haven’t lost any pellets down the BB feed hole yet though I came close several times with the scope mounted. Got to agree even with a better scope the 880 isn’t much of a gem beyond 10 meters. I’m gonna pick up some BBs for this thing and save the pellets for my other guns.

    David

    • The 1.19 was a 10 shot group at 25 yards 6 pumps none were fliers. Pellets were the same 7 grain RWS R-10 Match Pistol that shot a .479 @ 10 meters.

      David

  3. Apologize for being off-topic ladies and gentlemen, but Crosman just announced yesterday that its shipping the Benjamin Nitro Piston 2’s now via a press release on Twitter. The only places that even list them at all are still only allowing pre-orders. Pyramyd here still lists June 30th as the expected date, that seems a bit of a delay to me? As many of you may know, I’ve been chomping at the bit to get one of these, and a few of you fine folks probably are as well, since they were announced at SHOT Show. Here’s hoping they are excellent well built accurate air rifles since they claim to be domestically produced. This is the site link Chip Hunnicut from Crosman posted for the press release by the way. I hope its alright to post that here? http://t.co/IVb6PKm2rS

      • GF,

        Let me know how you like the NP2 against the X20s. I have not finished breaking in the X20s, but its pretty accurate with that new trigger and the 4x12AO scope. Still no groups to report yet, but at the sandpit at my range, I am able to pick off empty shotgun shells at 35 yards no problem with Crosman domed hollow points. Once I put 2 tins of pellets thru it, I will see how it groups at 50 yards. I stuck the Stoeger 4x on my QB78, it was like they were made for each other.

        Jim

    • That’s OK Mitchell, I wasn’t much interested in the Daisy anyway.

      As far as the NP2 is concerned, after BB puts one through the wringer, I might give one consideration. My problem is that if I should get one, the next thing I will have to do is spend a few hundred dollars on it and have a new stock made. I will also have to buy a scope for it. It isn’t long before that new FWB starts looking affordable. I probably should just get the TX200 Mk3 in walnut and be done with it.

      • Already have a Benjamin Trail NP with wood stock so I was thinking along the same lines. I’m thinking TX200 MkIII or LGV Master at this point. I almost picked up the LGV a few weeks back when it was on sale but I’m still torn between the two. Since we are already off topic maybe B.B. or some of the veteran readers can jump in and offer some input.

        Thanks,

        David

        • David,

          I haven’t tested the NP2, yet, so I can’t really comment. When I shot it at the SHOT Show I was greatly impressed. If the rifle I test performs like that one, and if the rifle is accurate, then I will be the biggest cheerleader you ever saw.

          Right now I know what the LGV can do, and also the TX200. I am one of their biggest fans.

          As far as the money goes, I look at it this way. Every major purchase is a struggle, but only the ones that don’t deliver are ever remembered that way. My TX is brilliant, so its cost doesn’t concern me. The LGV was a gift, but I would have bought it.

          If the NP2 delivers I plan on buying one.

          B.B.

      • Get the TX 200 Mark 3. When you buy a new airgun (Or Truck, Car, Boat, etc.) get everything you want. Then, get a little bit more on it.

        Then you know you will be happy with it!

        Mike

      • You know, thats probably what I’m ultimately after as well. A TX200. My only issue if you can call it that is that everything I own is .177 and everyone seems really super keen in TX200s in .22. I don’t exactly have much money and every airgunning dollar has to go as far as possible, so I stick to .177 for simplicity and the fact I can run all my pellets through anything I have since its all the same caliber. My real goal in all of this is to try and hone my longer distance shooting skills. Like pa.oldman I too had been mesmerized by the new LGV as well, but the more I think about it, I really think a TX200 is a better fit for me and my particular needs. I feel like a TX could function really well as a do-everything airgun for me. I would say 80% of my shooting is mostly plinking at around 10 yards in the backyard, but being able to take it to my grandparents property and attempt 60+ yard shots at knockdown targets and spinners would be a blast as well. That new FWB Sport break-barrel they have been talking about might end up shaking things up too, and we all might end up lusting after one of those as well? Hahaha… Guess I need to win the lottery…

        • Probably the best way to approach the cost of quality airguns is to not keep spending on the lower quality ones and wait until you can scrape up enough for the top shelf stuff. I have been guilty of that myself. I have one pistol and five rifles right now. By the end of the year at least two of the rifles will be sold to help fund a top shelf sproinger, likely a TX200 or maybe a HW.

            • All great air guns LGV TX FWB the LGV master can be had for just under $450 plus its simpler to cock load shoot the TX is close to $700 and takes some getting used to cock load shoot and the FWB is over $800. I need to scrape up $2000 asap…

              • I’m good as far as 10M guns go, I picked myself up a really sweet Anschutz LG-380 a little bit ago. Between that and my IZH-46M, I’m totally covered for laser-beam accurate guns and I couldn’t be happier. I just need a really killer field gun now, hopefully something to fuel the fire of my wanna-be field target aspirations. Since I can’t justify getting into PCPs yet, since the guns I want are thousands of dollars instead of hundreds of dollars (I cant even afford the hundreds of dollars ones! LOL) I’ll stick with my tried and true springers and multi- pumps….

                  • I guess I could, but I’m just a bit leery of knocking around the nicest gun I own by quite a bit out in the field and woods. It does 600 fps with match wadcutters, so it could lob round nose pellets in there with the best of them, but a little more velocity wouldn’t hurt either (read 12ftlb or so?) to flatten out the trajectory somewhat.

            • You ain’t buying the beer I buy… Think I paid $9 a bottle for some… I’m sure I could find a cheap sparkly faux champagne for less (once you account for volume of the bottles)

    • Mitchell,

      Got the same press release. Have you noticed that one of the NP2 guns has been in stock for some time:
      /product/benjamin-trail-np2-air-rifle-scope-wood-stock?m=3368

      The ones that are not in stock are the ones with camo & black stocks:
      /product/benjamin-trail-np2-air-rifle-black?m=3367
      /product/benjamin-trail-np2-nitro-piston-2-rifle-camo?m=3369

      So, if you want one, you could have been shooting one a long time ago by picking the wood-stocked version. It’s the same price as the one with the black stock, and considerably cheaper than the camo version.

      Edith

      • One more thing, Mitchell. Pyramyd AIR will change the in-stock date of the 2 NP2 guns when they’ve been notified that their shipment has been sent. They calculate the travel time plus the time it takes to receive and shelve the shipment. When a vendor says they’re now shipping a product, it doesn’t mean that every single order has gone out the door. It usually means they’re working fulfilling the orders. Some have been shipped, some haven’t. I don’t know Crosman’s situation, so I don’t know if all orders have been fulfilled & are on the road or if some are still waiting to leave their warehouse.

        Edith

          • Thank you so much Edith. Somehow I knew you’d get back to me and let us all know the scoop on the new rifles. I’m a little embarassed to admit this, but I haven’t actually ordered from Pyramyd in over 8 years, but it looks like thats going to change here really soon! Thanks so much for checking into that for me and anyone else who has been eyeing one. You and BB take care!

    • “The new Benjamin Trail rifles drive 30% more air into the chamber, resulting in speeds 55% faster than coiled spring powered airguns and double the effective range of simple gas piston powered guns,” said Jesse Caster, Product Manager. “

      Wow, double the effective range of simple gas piston powered guns.

      Does this mean B.B. will be accuracy testing the new NP2 at 50 yards, 100 yards or ?? to confirm this statement?

      kevin

  4. I have an 880 that I had got for my son when he was about 8. I mounted an old scope on it, and we only use it with BBs like you just mentioned. He would spend hours shooting an empty 1 gallon plastic water bottle at about 20 feet. I have no idea how it groups, but it would hit that gallon jug and not endanger the neighborhood, that and the joy he had with it was worth it. It sat in the back of the safe for the longest time till only recently. My dad is getting pretty old. He wanted a bb gun to scare the crows away in the mornings, this is a feud that has been going on for 30 or 40 years. So, I pulled that old 880 out, gave it a good dose of Pellgun oil, and filled it up with BBs. I don’t think he actually hits anything with it, but its all he can handle now, and it makes me smile when I see him pull it out when the crows are taunting him from the front yard. It gives him a lot of joy now too, you would think he was holding an M1 Garand. The neighbors and crows are all still pretty safe. 🙂

  5. B.B.,
    Your tenacity amazes me! I can’t believe you’re still beatin’ this horse.If it was one of the old school metal receiver designs I could understand your persistence however these models are not available to the general public as they must be purchased used and these plastic ones are as close as it gets, I don’t see Daisy being interested in offering the type of improvement required to satisfy serious airgunners when it would just cost them money.They are cheap and in stock at any retailer that sells inexpensive airguns They shoot BB’s as a repeater and I believe they do fill this niche. Like Jim said above, It’s a great gun for scaring off varmints and pests and when you do get that lucky shot it makes it all seem worthwhile.
    That’s whatcha get for $40, or in my case FREE !

    Reb

  6. I spotted a Crosman 140 in a pawnshop yesterday! When I asked to look at it the broker had a reluctant look as he reached for it.As he handed it to me I saw part of the reason for this was that the last 6-8″ of the stock had apparently remained submerged in flood water for a substantial amount of time.It was stained which wasn’t So bad but also cracked about 4″ lengthwise, with the grain, when I asked if I could pump it to check how well it might build pressure the broker asked if my intention was to purchase it.I told him as long as the price was reasonable enough to rework the stock and still have a decent gun for the money.When he asked if I had $125 in my pocket because he had more than that in it I offered my condolences along with my opinion of what the gun was worth and wished him luck as I handed it back.I believe the conversation ended with “Good luck with that!”

    Reb

        • B.B./Tom,

          My one and only pawn shop air gun experience was what led me to the air gunning hobby.

          It was about 17 years ago when I looked into the pawnshop knife and camera case and saw a strange looking pistol. When the guy handed it to me I read on its side that it was made in England, distributed by Beeman of San Rafael, and was something called a Webley Hurricane. It was in mint condition (probably never even fired once) and came with the original Beeman pistol scope and mount. I had never heard the words “Beeman” or “Webley” before in my life.

          When I asked what it was, the guy said, “I dunno, some kind of BB gun. I’ll let you have it for $25.” I hefted it and could tell it was a quality something, whatever it was. I asked, “Will you take $20, and you eat the sales tax?” He shrugged his shoulders and said, “Sure, glad to get rid of it.”

          That was the moment my becoming an air gun enthusiast began. From there I bought a used Crosman CO2 pellet pistol for $5 at a garage sale, then a new Crosman CO2 BB pistol, and then it was off to the races.

          I still have that Hurricane, and out of sentimentality, I doubt I’ll ever sell it.

          As I child with my dad I had shot an all-metal Marksman 1010 and HIS childhood Daisy 25 (version 1 or 2, my dad would be 81 today and my grandpa bought it used long before my dad was born to shoot mice in the attic with lead shot). I still have those, too. But I hadn’t shot an air gun since I was probably 10 years old, about 25 years before.

          That $18.50 Webley Hurricane started it all. In retrospect that experience changed (and enriched) my life greatly.

          Michael

          • Michael,
            Awesome steal! This is the reason I always ask about airguns & double- check prices at pawnshops!
            Definitely worth it that time!
            Congratulations

            Reb

        • Speaking of pawnshop ineptness I called around looking for a timing light yesterday.-WOW! You shoulda witnessed the confusion I almost wish I had asked in person,just for kicks! I’ll have to try it in person some time! needless to say we went to AZ to buy the only one in town.

          Reb

        • I’ve heard of this gun and maybe even saw it for sale before but I just looked at it for the first time.Have you written any material on it? I’ll see if I can find it in the archives but it looks like one I’d want to know intimately!

          Reb

        • B.B.,
          I just found a magazine on Ebay for$47,of course all profit must be consumed before something like this reaches deserving hands!Still be nice to have one

          Reb

      • If the price wouldn’t have been so outrageous and the service been more customer friendly I’d have offered $40- $50 so long as it worked, just to salvage what was left of it.Definitely a walk away type deal all-around!
        Thank You for digging it outta the spam folder Sir & Ma’am and Thanks again for the confirmation B.B.

        Reb

  7. B.B.and Edith,
    I just submitted a comment about a pawnshop experience I had yesterday.It may have landed in the spam folder,Then again AVG popped up outta nowhere requiring an update,or something and may have scrubbed my last 30 minutes worth of typing. Could you please check for it?
    Seems to be one of THOSE days.
    Appreciatively yours,

    Reb

  8. The LG55 adventure continues. For a gun the fits so nicely, feels good when shot, has a beautiful trigger and is pretty accurate at 9-1/2 yds, its powerplant is giving me fits. I get about 6 out of a dozen shots with great consistent velocity and a few wanderers outside the ES that I think it should hold and then a couple of way out of wack shots (+ or – 50 fps from the rest). I thought it was just in need of break-in so I shot a few hundred rounds through it, but it’s still acting the same. Thought maybe it was my chronograph, but I checked that with my 46M and it seems to be right in there with an ES of 19 fps over 20 shots with the same pellet… Now I’m beginning to think that tree seal wall is too stiff for such a low powered gun. So apart it will come and I’ll thin that out on my lathe. It’s a journey….!

    /Dave

  9. Off subject.I just wanted to say thank you PA for replacing a new PCP pump inside of a week because the first one did not work.If most company’s would treat their customers like this what a wonderful place it would be.

      • Edith,
        It’s things like that that build pride & a willingness to strive for customer satisfaction which in-turn builds even more business due to excellent customer relations.Good work deserves a pat on the back and this ones for you Babe!

        Reb

      • Edith, It’s easy for one to respond when things do not go as planed and one receives a object that is default or just the wrong thing. In other words,people get on the net and complain about service or what ever dissatisfied them. Its human nature to voice dissatisfaction very fast.It is not human nature for many to compliment when something is good.Liston to talk radio and my point is made.People react very quickly when angered but not so quickly when happy.Most of us are wired some what like that it seems. So when something is good,more should say so. Thank you.

  10. After a very uneven experience with two Daisy Model 35s (the first quite accurate with pellets, but broke just shy of a year. They sent me a free one under warranty, and it is not able to shoot a decent group), I decided to take a chance and pick up a new Crosman Model 66. I think they call the kit a model GT664, or 664GT or some such, and it has a rifled barrel. It came with a super cheap 4×15 scope also. Anyway, that scope wasn’t too bad, but the gun showed me that it deserved a much better scope, so I installed a Winchester 2×7 scope with AO. My eyesight is not good any more at 60 years old. This scope has the best optics of any of my scopes. However, the elevation adjuster feels like it has gears with some broken teeth of something. You can feel it when you try to adjust the scope. But, I am still able to zero it in and use it. I actually bought the gun for $40 with a special that was going at the time. I had braced myself, when I ordered the gun, to find that it wasn’t very accurate. Owners on forums had said that the muzzle end of the barrel was a loose fit, and so wouls change position a bit affecting accuracy. Their fix was to remove the barrel shroud and then use electrical tape to wrap around the barrel to take up this slop. Well, it became evident that my gun must not have this problem. Though the gune does seem to be picky about it’s pellet preferences, I have to say that, if I shoot pellets on it’s happy list, at 10 yards it can flat put ’em in a tiny one hole group. My 66 likes Crosman Field Hunters, followed by Crosman Destroyers. These would be my choice for any hunting duty. It also like Crosman Premier wadcutters. I use 6 pumps with the first two pellets, and 3 pumps with the wadcutters. This air rifle uses a 5 shot “magazine”, that you index yourself at each shot. You open the bolt, push the magazine inward till it indexes, and close the bolt. You can pump up the air pressure at any point, before or after advancing the magazine. I kind of like the magazine idea. I haven’t tried to single load a pellet, but it looks like I’d have to use a pair of tweezers or something, as it’s a tight area to get to.

    This is another plastic gun like the Daisy Models 35 and 880, that I wish had a metal receiver on it. I was even able to group well with the open sights on this air rifle. It has an all black rear sight with a front blade that uses a brightly colored insert. It seemed to me that, when doing sight alignment on a bullseye, that there isn’t enough of a space between the rear sight notch, and the front sight blade. Yet, it seemed to work just fine, and I shot some nice groups even with my bad eyesight.

    I hope to get years of service from this Crosman Model 66. I’d like to see Tom test one of these, but I’m sure he is always pretty booked up. Crosman has made the 66 for quite a while I think. I have not tried, nor will I try shooting bb’s in this gun, as I want to preserve the rifling.

    Anyone else own a Crosman Model 66?

    • Jon,
      I received the remnants of a Powermaster 66 which was pretty well down to the pump tube,valve,forearm and sights. I put this powerplant on a 760 which I now refer to as my 760SS for super stroke.Talk about a Hot-Rod!I’ve gotta get some onboard lighting for my Chrony. Just tried to get a reading but it’s too cloudy right now. While unloaded I use it for a fly-swatter with 3-5 pumps indoors, very effective but leaves a ringing in your ears and a sticky mess. 🙂

      Reb

  11. Hi BB,

    any word whether Crosman is going to sell a .25 version of the NP2? A friend bought the NP in .25 and it was pretty impressive save for the trigger.. It got me to thinking that an improved version would be a nice addition to my collection. By the time I add the Walther LGV and the TX 200, the NP3 version will probably be around and all the kinks will have been worked out.

  12. Yeah, me too. Added to my experiences with the 2 Model 35’s…… I would, however, still conside a Dasiy Model 953, or the Champion 499 BB target rifle.

  13. I don’t think the 880 is all that bad it can put a smile on fist time airgunner. Every one knows it pumps with ease for preteens or girls and 500-700 fps is pretty powerful and when your a beginner 20 -30 feet is what one will start off with till they get used to holding a gun the right way and $40 is inexpensive if they decide they don’t like shoot much anyhow.

  14. B.B.,
    Your earlier comment about a Crosman 400 repeater prompted me to look it up which opened another window,when I went to close the window I rolled the dice with “used air gun for sale” as I often do.This search turned up my second big discovery of the day a Crosman 600 repeater I’m having a difficult time finding much information on either of these seemingly magnificent guns. Is there a good reason for this?I’m very intrigued by this design.Why didn’t Crosman follow this one through?Any information you can come up with would certainly be appreciated.
    Discovered 2.22 repeaters in one day. Thanks for helping make it a better one!

    Reb

  15. I feel that you gave it a good go for what you had to work with. I would say that your review was overall a fair one.

    I have seen a few Accuracy issues with Daisy 880’s when the barrel does not fit snug in the guide in the muzzle (the center of the front sight assembly), so I can see the poor accuracy of the one you got. I tape the barrel to fit correctly on all of my Daisy 880’s, 901’s, and 22X, so I am sure that this makes a difference.

    Also I noted that you used the scope that comes with the rifle. As such I would question how much the scope wondering (as these scopes are known to) effected your test.

    Thank you for your review, and for giving the Daisy 880 a fair shake with out spending an extra $80 for a good scope (I use CenterPoint 4-16X40mm mill-dot scopes on all of my Daisy 880’s and 901’s).

    One thing more is that you left the limiter slot in the piston as it came, filling this gets the real performance of the stock 880.

    I think that your review is a good representation of what those that will never tune there Rifle can expect on average.

    • I have a model 800 since perhaps 1979 or 1980, brass pressure chamber.
      I would like to take it apart and replace the foam pad and the rubber spacer right behind that (the stuff you can easily see when pumping) as both have shredded (it got 3-in-one once, arrgh). The air gun pumps and shoots OK(pretty accurately @ 20 yards, fine enough for me) so the rings and such are still pretty good.

      -I haven’t found yet a good video or take-apart. I have the rebuild kit from the Daisy repair guy in AZ, and that schematic.
      -I’m curious about the tuning you mention to remove a limiter and any other items.

      Does anyone have a link to videos or how-to posts that cover these for the old brass 880? I’ve been looking for a bit without much luck.

      Thanks!

      • Brian,

        You have posted to an old report that few people see.

        I believe Daisy will have instructions for the pump head parts.

        Also, come to the current blog where you can ask anything. We have over 100,000 readers there who are willing to help you.

        /blog//

        Welcome to the blog.

        B.B.

      • Sorry I can not help you with the older 880. Also the older 880’s did not have the limiter slot that I was talking about. I believe that the limiter was added in 2004, and it is a poor addition (just as the removal of the 22X and 22SG AirRifles from the Daisy line was a bad idea).

  16. I must say you gave it a good set of tests. I am sorry that you managed to get the worst of the quality control on two Daisy 880’s in a row.

    The only Daisy 880’s I have ever seen shoot that poorly are those where the owner did NOT tape the barrel (pull of the shroud, wrap electrical tape around the barrel about 2/3rds of an inch from the muzzle until it fits snug in the hole in the front sight, and reassemble).

    As I am sure that you already know, taping the barrel for a snug fit is a needed step with all low cost shrouded barrel MSP air rifles (except for the Daisy 901, the 901 has a guide insert to take care of that). As such I would assume that you did tape the barrel and still got these poor results.

    • I tried taping the barrel on my new model 880, even repositioning the tape a few times, to no avail. Mine shoots all right to seven yards, but is not near my best shooter. I have a handy little 4.5 power rifle scope with a small etched dot which is also illuminated. Crosman Premier Super Match and RWS Basic pellets always shoot the best. Both are wadcutters.

  17. Mr. B.B., Mrs. Gaylord

    I had taken my 880 apart for the first time Sunday and was looking to stabilize my inner barrel so I wrapped it very neatly at two points with electrical tape, just behind the sight and then just forward of the shroud opening making a snug fit as I slid the inner barrel in place… It shoots like a snake now. at good zero elevation, Far left, dead center bulls eye and then far right. In my mind I could just see the barrel twisting like a snake. my o my I’ll be taking it apart for the second time now. I just laugh at my self.

    Have a great week,
    T.T.

  18. new to the forum and been reading about the daisy 880 just did a review today on the 880 waiting for my review to be approved fyi i have both old and new 880 my new 880 chrony competition electronics 10 pumps using jsb 10.34 gr 640 t0 680 . zero both rifles at 30 yards both with 50 mm ao scopes scopes cost more than the rifles lol bench rested and can shoot mothball bottle caps little green army men dead aa & aaa batteries spinners all day long or until my arms get tired. how i got my metal 880 up on power is by using the current bolt 1 pc valve body with shot tube junk the older valve body its 2 piece valve and tube and the shot tube is a smoothbore not accurate at all the new 880 with rifle barrel will out shoot the older metal 880 fact if you call daisy they will tell you that their new valve assembly will not work have to order parts from the above guy in the thread the new valve will fit with a little grinding on the metal reciever. i used a dremmel tool and valve will drop right in. dont forget to get a new bolt too older will not work

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