by B.B. Pelletier
Part 1
I wrote like crazy to get yesterday’s post out on time, but I only touched on a small portion of the show. Today I’ll just show you some more pictures, so you can appreciate how things went.
For the several people who suggested that Pyramyd AIR sell dented tins of pellets and used guns on their website, the problem is time. They have three people updating the websites (there are two primary sites) all day long and they still get behind at times. The idea is a good one and I think after seeing the reaction at the show, they will try to do something about it.
Another shot of Pyramyd AIR, with customers everywhere.
The American Airsoft Practical Shooting Federation is starting leagues for action pistol competition. We will be covering them in the near future.
I blogged a Haenel model 28 for you, but this beauty came in the original box!
The two Model 40 Daisys on the bottom both have their original bayonets.
A pair of spring pistols from the 19th century.
The Crosman model 150 isn’t a rare air pistol, but the one marked J.C. Higgins is!
Precision Airguns and Supplies was the other dealer at the show. They had traffic, too!
This is the last post I’m doing on this show, though I’ll write an article, also. Tomorrow, we’ll get back to airguns. Oh, and I have a special treat in store for you!
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.
Thanks for the report B.B. It must have been great being there. I wish we had these things locally as well… We don’t even have fields for airgun shooting here.
Anyway,
Do you remember our talk about multipumps and the lack of that kind of airguns?
Well I managed to find another one by “ana arms”. Unfortunately it isn’t in production yet and it’s VERY expensive. It seems almost perfect though.
Anyway B.B. thanks again and I can’t wait for the treat…
Andreas
Andreas,
I published the first report about Al Neibecker’s rifle in Airgun Illustrated. It isn’t a straightforward mutipump, eithert. It’s a new type of airgun powerplant.
I’ll see if I can do a report on it for you.
B.B.
B.B.
The show sounds fascinating. Maybe some day…. And I don’t know what the problem is with dented tins of pellets. I would buy those in a flash at a reduced price.
On another note, help! I have really screwed up. I was shooting my great new IZH 61 and got into a pleasant rhythm of cocking and firing when I realized that I had half-cocked the gun after firing off the last pellet in the clip. Since there’s no way to go back, I finished cocking the gun and inserted a new clip. However, the loading rod which is advanced by the cocking lever had been released–to eject the last clip. So, I pressed the loading rod forward. However, it did not stay but came back as I released pressure and indexed the clip. I made a few more attempts advancing the clip each time. When I ejected the clip, there was only one pellet remaining, so now I had four pellets crammed up the barrel of a cocked rifle.
I wasn’t thinking clearly, but it went through my mind that the manual had said that there is no way to uncock the gun and the best thing to do is fire off the pellet. I also remember the literature saying how tough this gun is. I was in too much of an agony of suspense to call Pyramidair or wait for this blog. So, hoping to blow my problem away, I advanced the loading rod which stayed put without the clip and pulled the trigger.
The gun discharged and something came out the barrel. I tried to insert a new clip to see if the gun would still work and it was blocked by something. Looking into the magazine port, I saw a dark mass stuck there which fell out along with something else–they turned out to be two smashed pellets. I didn’t find another pellet, so unless I missed it, the gun must have fired two pellets down the barrel.
What kind of damage could this have done to my gun–rifling, O-rings, seals, anything? I’ve put about 350 rounds through it and it works fine and the accuracy is the same as before as far as I can tell. And what should I do if this happens in future? Not that I plan on repeating such a dumb-ass maneuver. Is there a tool to remove jammed pellets from a barrel? Thanks for your help.
Matt
Matt,
You probably did no damage to the gun.
Try it and see.
B.B.
Hi B.B.,
I assume the .22 cal Beeman R9 is not imported into USA; is the Weihrauch HW95 .22 the same rifle?
Thanks,
JJ Gunn
JJ,
I don’t know that Beeman doesn’t bring in the R9 as a .22. but the metal of the HW 95 is the same. Stock is different.
B.B.
B.B.
That’s a relief. I’ve put 350 or so rounds through the rifle since the incident and it works fine to all appearences. I’m hoping that the makers of the AK-47 imparted the same durability to this model. It’s nice to know that there don’t appear to be problems from a technical viewpoint. Now, I’m waiting for my Leapers Bug-Buster scope and JSB exacts to see what this rifle can really do. Thanks.
Matt
BB – with regards to pyramydair’s dented tins, used/broken guns, and misc. parts that everyone seems to want a piece of, they don’t have to do anything fancy on the web site.
If they just compile a simple list of available stuff and the prices they could easily get it posted to one of the forums. It’d spread like wildfire from there…
B.B.
I’ve mounted a Leapers scope and one-piece Accushot mount I already had onto my new Diana 54. I drilled and tapped a hole in the front of the Accushot mount and bolted on a small metal bar to hang down and catch the front end of the scope mounting rail on the gun. Similar to how you hung the scope stop pin over the front end of the rail. All is working well and the scope is not moving.
But I have a new scope with a 30mm tube and am planning on using a B-Square 17130 adjustable one-piece. I think there is enough metal on the front end of the B-Square to drill and tap the same way as I did the Accushot. Maybe not.
But my question is about all the serrations on the top of the mounting rail on the 54. They look like something ought to mate with them and become locked in place when the dovetail clamp gets screwed tight. Is there something with a mating serration available? Or something that might work with some modification?
As always, all help is appreciated.
Thanks,
Pestbgone
B.B.
Thanks for planing a report on the ANA rifle. The worst thing is that it’s only in .22 and in my country that is illigal, only .177 is allowd.
Believe me, if the law was different, I ‘d already own a Daystate (the three pump rifle)…
Thanks
This comment has been removed by the author.
Pestbgone,
Those striation do mate with sight bases sold in Germany, but not here.
Your plan might work, but remember that rear screw can be sheared off. So use good steel in the pin.
B.B.
B.B.
Ah, now I see. I thought those striations looked useful. Too bad not in the US.
I will avoid applying any load to the little screw in the back. It definitely looks fragile. All the load will be transfered through the fabricated stop to the front end of the mount rail on the gun.
Thanks again,
Pestbgone
just to let you know I’m not a complete fool (just partially one), I meant Weaver “BRAND” mounts, not the style. Thanks for the advice and keep up the good work.
hb
BB,
Cabelas has the “Bargain Cave”. Pyramyd should too! Great idea!
-sumo
i think the bargans are a great idea. however i think the point bb was trying to make was that they cant update the websight quick enough. for example if a hot gun was put up on sale several people might buy the same gun before they had a chance to make it out of stock. i dont know if this is how it actually works, just speculating
and they do have a used guns section you know
ps. any idea of when the next podcast is coming out? thanks
Nate in Mass
Nate,
That is EXACTLY the problem!
The next podcast should be out next week. One a month for now.
B.B.
B.B.,
THanks for the update on the show. I may have to make the long trip out there next year (live in OR).
Also is there going to be a part 4 on the whisper? Also any chance of reporting on the noise levels after a tune?
Thanks again,
LS
I would like some information on co2 air guns.
I have a 2260, I dont shoot very often, how long can I keep it charged with out doing damage to it?
I use it keep unwanted guests out of the yard and hate to dump a cartridge after only firing 1 or shots but that is what I have been doing.
If I store it muzzle down will that keep the liquid co2 off the seals and be ok for a week or two?
Or should I keep wasting all them 12 gram cyls.
Also does anyone make an adapter to use the 88gram or larger tanks on the 2260? I found one place that uses a hose and mounts a 12 or 20 oz. tank under the trigger gaurd but that is buttugly!
Thank You
LS,
There will be a part 4 on the Whisper. No tunes because the gun is borrowed.
B.B.
2260,
I leave my 2240 pistol charged for YEARS at a time! So can you. Just remember to use Pellgunoil on the tip of each new powerlet, and stop wasting gas.
B.B.
BB,
i guess the treat is something you got at the show. I also guess i’ll find out soon. I was going to go but things come up.
-sumo
Maybe a “Bargain Cave” could be an over the phone operation.
-sumo
B.B.–Scott298 here-glad you had a good time at the show. Aweek earlier I had asked you If I could buy one of the four books you had found but had since packed them away for the gun show. Since you didn’t sell them all, would it still be possible to get one? Buy the way I have the atourney’s working on my end for the adotion but for the life of me I can’t find the pick-up truck to clean it-where the heck did you leave it-bucket and brush inhand (also have a little car wax to step it-up )nouthing but the best for you”DAD”. If you need to communicate further on the book let me know and I’ll supply my e-mail. You’ll be pleased to know that I’ve been having a littlt trouble sighting in my rifle latley so I took your advice. Started out at ten yards then within 20 min I was dropping beeman kodiak match heavy into the bullseye with my rws 350 .177 all after noon. Guess it takes a little more than just reading your blogs. Let me know about the book and I’ll be talking to ya.
The Beeman R9 is available in 22 cal as the R9 Goldfinger. From Pyramid Air and other sources. A quick Google will let you find them.
Mike T.
Nate in Mass, B.B, and Mr. Ungier at Pyramyd,
Real time stock information is one of the metrics which separates “Hobby Business” on the internet from the more serious players.
I’ll give a specific role model for you to emulate. Midway USA has proven over and over fully able to provide reliable information regarding *REAL TIME AVAILABILITY* status to internet customers. Every regular Midway customer knows this to be true.
I work and travel for a living. I’m at home during predictable but short time windows. I ABSOLUTELY MUST KNOW if an item is in stock and ready for delivery when I place an order. I can plan around FEDEX/UPS only if your availability report is accurate.
The problem with Pyramyd is that I can never trust what you tell me.
You claim stock on the internet. Then when I place an order it is BO with a random delivery date several months into the future. Subsequent response to email query is to again to claim available stock. When then asked why you can’t simply go ahead and ship the merchandise you respond saying that I’m confused about availability.
Confused? You Bet. Confused about why I attempt to do business with you.
You ARE confused.
First, you give a role model of a firearm dealer. That in itself can’t be insulting, but what’s most unintelligent about that is that the firearms industry commands far more income than airguns do. That means Pyramid Air won’t send someone just to check the inventory every time you buy something, just because the fact you got into airgunning suggests some amount of a certain compassion about the people who acquire and package your prized air-powered weapondry. Second, they don’t mean claim available stock. They MEAN when it comes IN stock, they’ve already marked one of the shipment as yours, and ship it to you almost as fast as it arrives. Third, if you’re not even interested in the rifles, but in the accessories, consider this fact: airgun accessories are not plentiful in terms of supplying. Firearm scopes alone probably outnumber the scopes specially created for airguns by at least ten times, if not more.
I leave you, a rather unwelcome guest here, who didn’t even follow the right channels to customer service, with this question: was it really worth it to direct hate-mail to a valued and helpful business, or was it just of lack of cooperation and understanding on your part? The answer is up to you.
14 in Fla
Confused,
I am sorry that you had a bad experience. My own experience with Pyramyd has been good (I had no problem with either of my orders). However, if Pyramyd doesn’t have a way to keep track of their inventory in real time, they will need to implement such a system to stay successful or at least to continue to grow (in my opinion).
When I worked for a mortgage company’s IT department about 13 years ago (1994-95), we were just implementing a barcode system to track loan documents. Something similar could be used to keep track of inventory for a business like Pyramyd. Whenever a shipment comes in, everything gets a barcode that identifies it. When the barcode is applied, it is also scanned. The scan updates the database so the item becomes available. When an item is sold, it is marked in the database as unavailable. As an item is picked and shipped, it gets scanned so you know its status all the time. If web pages are generated dynamically from the database, the item information will always be up-to-date.
I’m sure this procedure has been refined since 1995, but it works.
.22 multi-shot
Confused, and other Monday morning quarterbacks,
Your ideas are great in concept, but execution is another thing. Your complaints seem to be mainly about back orders, and those are driven by promise dates from suppliers. And promise dates often become missed promise dates, not under PA’s control. Inventory control involving tens of thousands of inventory items, hundreds of suppliers, many of them overseas, and hundreds of orders a day, is extremely difficult. The implication that Pyramyd is fumbling around and that if they would just do it your way all would be peachy, is simply naive. If you are looking for 100% accuracy from everyone, all the time, I imagine life disappoints you a lot. Watch out for that heart attack. LOL
Pestbgone
I was going from the comments of anonymous, BB and confused. According to anonymous and BB, a gun that shows as in stock on the web site may no longer be in stock because the web site isn’t updated fast enough, i.e. more than one person can order the same exact gun (being the only one left).
Sure, there will always be mistakes. People aren’t perfect. There will also be problems with back order dates. However, something CAN be done about making sure real time information is available for the stock you have on hand.
I am a loyal Pyramyd customer and my next order will be from them. Pyramyd has provided good service to me (part of which is this blog). They also need to provide the best service they can on the order side. If they invent their own method, they might even set the standard. That would be great!
.22 multi-shot