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A few of my favorite things

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by B.B. Pelletier

Whenever a gun writer is at a loss for a subject, he invariably falls back on how to start a collection. There are so many ways to slice that loaf that even the worst hack can fill a quota.

Today, I decided to do something different. You see, I never decided to collect what I’m going to show you. It just happened. Before I reveal it to you, though, I’m going to tell you a story.

My mother was a receptionist/nursing assistant in a family practice doctor’s office in Akron for many years. One day she brought in a cast aluminum turtle I had given her and placed it on her desk. When the patients saw it they often remarked, “Oh, I see you collect turtles.” Over the course of many years, they brought her turtles until her collection dominated her desk and the entire waiting room. When she finally left the job, the count was over 2,000 turtles of all shapes and sizes, including a Steiff footstool.

Of course, her favorite candy was also chocolate turtles, and we’ll never know how many boxes of those she received. When she moved to California, the turtles were displayed in her home and they stimulated more gifts from visitors. I probably gave her 10 over the years. She was easy to buy for. The last Christmas she was alive, we gave her a collection of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. In the end there were over 3,000 turtles. When she passed away, we collectively said, “The Turtle has gone home.”

The point being, she never set out to collect turtles. They just came to her and stayed. And I think that is the way many collections happen. The other day, for no particular reason, I laid out all of my hobo knives, which are camping sets that also contain a spoon and often a fork. Mac has given me several hobo knives and Edith has given me more besides. I never set out to collect them, but today I have a small grouping that can only be called by that title.

Not a huge collection, but more than one man really needs. These hobo knives are a set of dining utensils that travel. The set in the leather pouch was my first. I used them in the field in Germany.

While getting my hobo knives out, I had to dig through all my pocketknives, which I also don’t collect. However, I have even more of them, so a collection is what they are. I enjoy a good pocketknife for the quality of materials, ability to sharpen and hold an edge and, in the case of several, for the additional tools they contain.

And these aren’t all of them! I have other pocketknives stuffed in drawers, tool boxes and cars. Note not one but two Swiss Champs in the upper right corner. I had to buy a replacement when I sent in one to Victorinox for repairs. Notice the Weihrauch knife? A gift from Hans Weihrauch at a SHOT Show a few years back. Second from the top in the same column is a Swiss Army Knife with a single blade! Until I saw it, I didn’t believe they existed.

My pocketknives are in a drawer next to my watches. Over the years, I’ve acquired many different watches for many different reasons. Several are of Russian origin because I’m fascinated by their build quality and timekeeping ability. I have a nice fake Rolex takes the place of an 18kt and stainless Rolex Submariner with a blue dial that I’d really like to have.

I will probably never get the real Rolex because it’s hard to justify spending that kind of money ($6,000 used) for a watch that isn’t as accurate as my old $99 Seiko quartz watch. But thinking about it prompts me to acquire more inexpensive watches from time to time.

Top row, second from the left is a Russian navigator’s watch styled after the watch Yuri Gagarin wore. Like the Omega it copies, it’s manual wind. The dial layout is almost the same as the Omega, too. Watch at the lower left is a Seiko World Timer. It keeps great time in multiple time zones, but it eats batteries like elephants eat peanuts.

I own a Russian navigator’s watch that’s styled after the watch made for Soviet Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space. That watch was, in turn, copied from an Omega Speedmaster chronograph that became the U.S. astronaut watch. The back of the Omega says THE FIRST WATCH WORN ON THE MOON, and they’re very collectible. So are the James Bond Omegas that are like the watch worn by 007, though without all the extra features.

One time, a watch found me. Edith and I were driving in Annapolis, Maryland, early one Saturday morning, when she yells, “There’s a watch in the middle of the road!” I couldn’t swerve or stop fast enough and ran over it with our minivan. I stopped to see what I’d just destroyed, but discovered that the Heuer Regatta Timer, a high-end automatic watch roughly equivalent to a Rolex or Omega Moon Watch, was still ticking! The bracelet was destroyed, but who cares…the best part was still working. I replaced the bracelet and wore the watch for several years until I traded it to airgun collector Marv Freund for a Trapdoor Springfield rifle that I still own.

As a result of these things, I might look like a watch collector to some, though I never intended to be. There are several other small collections in my life, like firearms, airguns and so on. But I’m not a collector.

However, if I were to become a collector, I’d like to start with farm tractors. In my Walter Mitty existence in a quiet corner of my mind, I live on 100 acres of land and own many different kinds of vintage farm tractors and equipment. I don’t use them to farm, but I ride them like a carnival ride whenever the mood strikes me. In my dreams, I own Johnny Poppers and Farmalls and Ford 8Ns; and, if the grass gets too high, I might hook up a mowing deck and have at it. Beyond that, I just revel in the proximity of all that vintage iron.

But, Josh Ungier, the owner of Pyramyd AIR, does own a farm in Ohio…and he’s living my dream for me.

Josh’s Minneapolis Moline hasn’t been restored yet, but it can still do a day’s work on the farm.

Another recent acquisition that awaits restoration, the huge German Steiger tractor dwarfs a Chevy Equinox.

This view shows the size of the Steiger. Five steps to climb up to the cab.

The above are but two recent additions to Josh’s collection.

My point is that a lot of the time, we don’t plan to collect something. A fascination causes the slow but steady accumulation of things over time until they attain a critical mass that could only be called a collection.

I didn’t even show you my flashlights, which is another major fascination of mine. Now, I’m going to sit back and let all of you tell your tales of collecting over the coming weekend!

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.
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183 thoughts on “A few of my favorite things”

  1. Why do I all of a sudden feel so much more normal [and sane]after reading this?I’m pretty envious of the HW pocket knife….Had a Regatta once too,but I don’t know the saililng flags!Pocket knives,watches,airguns,flashlights….yes to all the above!!At 43,there is still time for tractor bug to bite here in Alabama,I do have 4 lawn mowers.AND I was adopted,where were you in ’66?????

      • SlingingLead,wow it’s nice to be missed.Yeah,I’ve been in and out.I assure you it’s not personal or deliberate.I am 43 and still single….I take care of a 76 yr old woman who would otherwise live in poverty.She has been like a mom to me for 15 years.I have no other family…just acquaintences.I have let airguns become an expensive cure-all.Just last night cost me 300$ +.I did get a much sought after Beeman SS3 scope,but too much is too much.I think I need a twelve step program.Anyway I truly value each and every one of my airgun friends…and thanks for noticing my absence.I am just finding my way…Frank B

        • Frank B,
          First we’ve missed you! I want to say sorry that you have no other family, but also glad that you have someone in your life that you care for and from what you say appears to care about you. We are all your friends here, this is a community. If you need to let loose even if it is not about airguns you know can.

          rikib

  2. B.B.

    Quite a collection you have 🙂
    Among my relatives only my elder Grandpa is struck with collector’s disease – he collects tobacco pipes. And hobo knives – that reminds me of an object of my long-time envy 🙂 He brought two hobo sets of them from War, German and Finnish, and he also brought his “tool of the trade” – a fighting knife made from German k98k bayonet. It saw much use if you know what I mean. That knife fascinated me from the first moment I saw it – it’s really amazing, but it is a bit frightening, it has sort of aura around it.
    I have pre-1991 Soviet commander’s watch, a superb thing, but I don’t wear it – I don’t know why, me and this watch just do not fit each other. What I wear in outdoors is heavy duty waterproof Casio quartz/electronic and for everyday use I wear quartz Swiss Military.
    It is MY watch because I won it in rifle match in Interlaken 🙂 I bet my Casio against my opponent’s wrist thing and I shot better that day 🙂
    As for knives… well, I own only three and they all are just working tools made by myself for my own needs.

    duskwight

  3. Hi,

    Daisy states that the 953 targetpro can be dangerous up to 257 yards, if the barrel is at “optimum elevation.” Is this true?

    And about how far will a lightish pellet go if your shooting the gun level? I scanned an article here on PA blog about the 953, but it doesn’t seem to give much info about range.

    • I fed 500 fps (advertised)and a cpl and fed it through chairgun.
      Holding level at 5′ above the ground the pellet would go 80 yds before hitting the ground.
      Max range calculated to 336 yds at 28 degrees elevation.

      Different kinds of pellets can have a considerable effect on these figures, but I think it would be a good idea to use these as a guideline.

      twotalon

  4. Hi BB,
    I don’t have a collection of any one specific thing but a collection of odds and sods including a Russian fob watch commemorating the 41-45 war.
    It is not old I got it in Yugoslavia back in 1990.
    It has a chromed steel body with an ornate red star on the flip down front and a moulded inscription on the back including a hammer and sickle in the middle.
    The face is very pretty in a burgundy red with a moulded design.
    Unfortunately it doesn’t work any more.I may have over wound it 🙁
    DaveUK

  7. B.B.
    Interesting hobbies.

    I’m sure that there will be some discussion as to just what you would call a collection, or what defines a collector.
    There will be quite a few different definitions I would think.

    twotalon

  8. TO: “I’m not a collector” B.B.,

    Denial isn’t just a river in Egypt.

    As usual you’ve taught me something this morning. It’s not a collection but “a major fascination of mine.” Think I’ll borrow that one.

    My frugal nature makes me uncomfortable and even a bit ashamed owning multiple items that all do the same job. However, I’m really good at mentally dissecting a job into small pieces to justify multiple tools.

    In truth, I have more guns, golf clubs and fishing rods than I really need.

    kevin

  9. Frank B,

    Long time no see. Good to see you posting.

    Gotta leave shortly for my place in the hills. If weather holds as predicted, I need to power wash then re-stain the logs on the cabin exterior this weekend. I’m so excited.

    kevin

  10. B.B. – I for one would love to see your gun collection. Seeing the ones you’ve decided to keep for yourself over the years and the stories of why would be very interesting as well.

    On another note, I have finally gotten the 34 to produce very small groups! I don’t know whether to laugh or cry though. I emailed Umarex to let them know of the problem I was having, they sent me an email back saying that perhaps I should try RWS pellets, check my scope mount and lastly – REST THE RIFLE ON A PILLOW! Well after your Why You Shouldn’t Clamp Your Airgun in a Vise, the logic occured to me – the exact opposite of clamping would be as he suggested. So, I rested the rifle directly on my sandbag, barely touched the buttpad with my shoulder, barely brushed my cheek against the stock, and pinched the trigger with my thumb against the back of the trigger guard and finger on the trigger. I made sure that the resting position of the rifle was just about on target and made only small adjustments before pulling the trigger. I wasn’t really holding out much hope, but Oh Boy! It seems that the rifle is every bit as accurate as the 94! One problem though, it doesn’t like to me touched. Not going to work very well for hunting and off-hand shooting. I have a new nickname for the rifle now, but it’s not family friendly so I won’t share it here.

  11. Fused,

    Congratulations! You own a very sensitive gun that’s picky about how it likes to be held. You’re now the member of a large club.

    When shooting the 34 rested, you may want to try putting something slick (piece of silk or a slick mousepad) between the gun and sandbag. For offhand shooting try resting the gun on the backs of your fingers at the balance point for your rifle in order to minimize contact with the gun. This will allow a light touch with your cheek and shoulder.

    kevin

    • I’m trying to ignore the obvious associated parallels, but I’m just sayin’ – Sensitive, picky about how it likes to be held, resting on a silk pillow… Perhaps on certain days it will even be a pleasure to hold, without me being able to make out exactly what made the difference. I think my nickname for her is appropriate. Perhaps she is not happy about the fact that I already have another. In comparison though, the 94 likes to be held, can handle a little excitement when I lift her up instead of just laying there. I’ll have to see how things go to know if this is a long-term relationship or not. I’ve heard those pcp girls are easy, but they are not cheap!

  12. BB,

    Great post for a Friday. Great story with pictures and a “Tomism” or two thrown in.

    I love your knife collection.

    Yesterday my wife and I changed out some of the cabinets in our home ‘office’. That means junk at the bottom of drawers. which some of needed putting away while computer was booting up for the morning read. I laughed when reading today’s post mostly because I had just put 10 or so Jack Antenna balls still in package in a drawer! There are more in the garage!

    As far as you tractor collection, I share that place. My collection is of old Ford trucks. Don’t know why, just is. From ’48 to late 70’s and any interesting ones after that. For 12 years or so the goal has been to have one of every body style. So far I have 6. ’48 F5, 62 F100 Uni-body, ’54 F100, ’64 Ranchero, ’66 F100 ’68 F100, and am trying to acquire a certain ’68 F650N. Most run, ’66 runs REAL good.

    I know, I’m sick, I know. There’s a long list of Chevys too, just not the same passion. Then there’s the Imperials, Lincolns, and ’50’s to 70’s station wagons!

    KA

    (did I mention the Ninja Turtles in a box in the garage? LOL!)

    • KA,

      I learned to drive while hauling dirt in a 1953 Ford 3/4-ton with a flathead engine and helper springs on the bed. The next car I drove I didn’t use first gear at all, because I thought it wasn’t necessary!

      I love Ford trucks and currently own a ’93 F-150 XLT that used to be Mac’s. It may look poor on the outside, but I keep it maintained to spec.

      B.B.

      • BB,

        When I was 15 I worked in a lumber yard and delivered wood to tracts in a ’62 F450 ‘roller bed’. I think it had a 292 Y block. Holes in floor boards, oil spewing on exhaust, window down… I can remember going through almost a case of oil to deliver 6 or 7k board feet 75 miles. I took 5 1/2 hours to get there, less than 2 to get back.

        Ahh, the memories of childhood!

        KA

        • KA,

          My stepdad delighted himself teaching me how to drive that truck. He even let me put it in first one time, but when the clutch came out I instantly knew why that was a bad idea. However, with a yard of dirt in the bed, I could ease the clutch out in first and not even give it any gas. It would just creep along at two mph.

          B.B.

          • BB,

            In high school my truck was a ’54 with flames on the hood! Ha!, Ha! When it ran it was fast. Used to have to borrow dad’s ’67 Bronco w/ 6cyl / 3 on the tree a lot. It would go over curbs w/o driver in 4 low. Great wow factor for high school.

            Well, Thanks for some cool memories. I got some work to do, so gotta go. 1/2 day is better than no day. ck back this afternoon.

            KA

      • Those stories are reminding me of my first car, a 67 Mustang. It looked fast, but had the ‘blue flame’ straight six in it. It was a real dog. My dad was a very smart man, he knew that if it had the 289 in it that I would have wrapped it around a tree, so he gave me the looks without the danger. It had 50’s in the back with air shocks that could be pumped up to give it a really cool look to a 16 year old boy. It was definitely a work in progress, it was probably twice the weight as it was new because of all the bondo used to fill in the holes and dents. The brakes were more of a suggestion that a command, I had to pull off suddenly to the shoulder many times to keep from hitting the car in front of me at traffic lights. It also had no reverse so I had to pay attention to where I parked. We eventually fixed all the problems, it was a great bonding experience with my dad. We even rebuilt the transmission ourselves and when it didn’t work properly afterwards it was me who figured out why. I’ll always remember the proud look on my dad’s face on that day. I kept it for many years until one day on my way back from college, I ran over some sheet metal on the road which cut my coolant hose without me knowing. Next thing I knew, I was overheated off of State Road 84 in the middle of the everglades in the middle of the night! And this was before cell phones. I got back home, but the block was warped and the car went on to greener pastures. 66-68 Mustangs are still my favorite classic cars, but now I want a convertible, red with white interior, stock hubcaps. Interesting how taste changes, but nostalgia remains.

        • Fused,

          You sparked many a memory for me there. My oldest son had a ’67 Mustang in high school too. Junker with a 289 /auto. Soon he had a 302 with all the stuff. (except brakes). I had no idea how fast the car was until after he graduated I finally actually drove the car. Man, when that thing hit 5k rpm’s it literally pinned you in the seat and broke loose, even in second gear. the shifts were exhilarating to say the least! Your dad was smart and I was lucky. Thank God my son was a sensible kid. When I came back (after about an hour), I told him we are converting to disks… tonight!, “and you’re grounded!”

          Today at 33yrs old he still has a Mustang, only this one is sick, supercharged 4.6, I think.

          KA

  13. Hi BB,
    A just got back from a vacation in Colorado. It was nice and cool up there, unlike the Dallas area. While I was up there, I had several airguns with me to shoot but I landed up spending almost the whole vacation shooting a heavy triggered Webley Tempest. I got to where I was getting about 75% hits on a soda can hung from a tree at 25 yards. The trigger is so hard, you just have to pull until it breaks. No feel to the trigger at all. I need to do some trigger work on it. But, it was a fun challenge shooting the Tempest. I think I put over a thousand rounds through it.

    I enjoyed seeing the Hobo knife collection. I didn’t know what they were called. It’s funny how collections like that start. I have a suggestion for you about the tractors. Antique garden tractors are just as much fun but on a much smaller scale. I have a couple 70’s model Allis Chalmers garden tractors. They don’t take much room and make mowing fun. It’s play time to mow instead of work time. To me garden tractors are to me like airguns compared firearms; smaller, quieter, but still the same fun.

    David Enoch

    • David,

      Believe me, I have thought long and hard about an International Farmall Cub. One of the older red ones that accepts a belly mower.

      But we live on a postage stamp in a housing tract. I could keep it in the garage, but mowing would consist of setting the mower down with the tractor parked and I’d be finished.

      B.B.

  14. BB:
    I understand the part about not starting out collecting something.I had a baler just like Josh’s. Sold it and my Farmall “M’ and Case DC -3 when we got married. I got started with old tractors because back in the late 1970’s and 80’s there weren’t many compact tractors around that I could have afforded. I am still part owner of a 52 8N and a Farmall Super C. Still use the Ford to mow own rifle range and hunting trails. Now I don’t farm anymore, but I bought myself a new MF 451 60 HP tractor, which is a lot like my old Ford , only it’s a desiel and has live PTO, two speed tranmission, and modern hydralics. I used it to landscape our ponds, and blow snow with it here in lake effect land. I have a 7 foot snow blower and believe me , I use every inch of it at times. My wife also loves machines and her baby is a MF ZT 33 mowing machine that she mows about six acres with. It’s a six foot cut 33 HP desiel zero turn job. I don’t have much trouble convincing her that we need another machine. I want a bachk-hoe real bad! Robert

  15. BB,
    Here are some pictures of my AC garden tractors. The first is a 914S without the deck mounted and the second and third are my 919H. The girls are mine and the boy is my nephew. The old garden tractors are really heavy made. They weigh about 1200 pounds with the deck attached.

    My Granddad owned a Farmall Cub as well as a neighbor of neighbor my other grandfather. My grandfather always had Allis Chalmers tractors. They started with a B, then a C, a D and then converted the D to a WD45. The WD45 started out with the narrow front end but was later changed to a wide front. They also had a Ford / Ferguson with a belly mower.

    David Enoch

    • David,

      Pictures, no less!

      Those little ACs look like the big ones. Even to the Persian Orange.

      Regarding your long knives,I need to show you some of mine. One I had custom made for a rendezvous outfit I never put together.

      B.B.

    • Davd:
      Very cool pictures! I had a Allis “B’ here for awhile and we still have my father-in laws 30 year old MF garden tractor. We have a york rake, wagon, tiller and broom for it, as well as the mower deck. They were so well made compared to what is out there today, and as you say ,more satifying to own. Robert

  17. Hey BB,
    You mentioned that you were at a loss for a topic to write about. Could you do some Gun articles similar to your Taurus and Wilson combat 1911 write ups? I found those to be some of the most exciting topics.

    • Shadow Express Dude,

      I think there might be a misunderstanding. B.B. has never been at a loss for a subject for this blog. He actually has the opposite problem. If he had the energy and there was an endless supply of time, he could write at least 2 airgun blogs a day. I believe the first sentence of today’s post was acknowledging that some OTHER writers resort to writing about collections when they’ve run out of steam. No lack of steam here. I honestly can’t recall a time where B.B. has ever struggled to find a topic for a blog or any other airgun writing assignment.

      Edith

    • SED,

      I’m never at a loss for topics, but I love writing about firearms occasionally. I will do some more of those in the future. For the next month plus I’m house-bound because of my IV and pancreas drain. The insurance company doesn’t want me out and about. But when the shackles come off I will get out to the range and write something for you.

      B.B.

  18. I just started collecting double edged razors in the last couple of months. I’ve been trying out different German made Merkur razors with different blades from around the world. Yesterday I got a 1960s Gillette Super Speed. I have to say it’s the mildest one of them all. Blades cost anywhere from 10-50 cents. Sure beats any modern cartridge razor. I actually look forward to shaving.

    Also have a small collection of air rifles (of course), vinyl records (3 feet of shelf space), vacuum tube radios, vintage electronic test equipment, guitar and bass amps, old tech books, and other assorted odds and ends.

    • Shawn,

      I lived in Erlangen, Germany, for almost four years and used to shop at the Merkur store downtown. Your mention brought back a flood of 35 year old memories!

      We have the vinyl records, too. At least three feet of them that we never play. Memories of the ’50s and ’60s.

      Great fun!

      B.B.

      • Shawn

        The double edged razors are the way to go. Merkur is a bit pricey but great quality. Vintage Gillette butterflies are magnificent. Or you can spend $20 on 5 replacement inserts for the crappy fusion razor with 23 blades or whatever the hell they are up to now.

        Just as pellets, the quality of razors you use is important.

        • SL,
          I do like my fusion, I guess 🙂 But alias I must admit you can’t (or I can’t) skip a day or out comes the electric beard trimmer first then the shave. I love the double edge but they are getting harder to find, works well with my soap mug & brush. You really can’t beat that feeling, no matter how many blades they try and stuff in there. 🙂

          rikib

      • If you have a vacuum pump, you can make an inexpensive record cleaning machine. I used an old turntable and built a brass arm with a Teflon nozzle for it. I’ve seen just an ordinary vacuum cleaner used for suction but a diaphragm pump is much quieter. With some cleaning solution and a good rinse, you can bring back some old favorites. Anyway, it’s the best thing ever for cleaning old records. The improvement in the noise floor is quite noticeable. Vinyl is starting to be popular again.

        • CJr,
          Believe it or not, yes I have on more than one occasion indoors and out encountered (had crawling on me) spiders. Locals say it is just part of SWGA living. What fun 😉 ! Before you mention it yes we have exterminators that come every month. 🙂

          rikib

  21. I collect lots of different things…but unfortunatley only one of each 😉
    I have a Rolex that I bought new in 1976 for $550…a lot of money then, but no where near what they are worth now. I recently had mine appraised at $6500 used.
    It sits in a safe deposit box along with the Rolex my father had. Each one has been inscribed to one of my two sons…they will each receive them when they reach 18…hopefully they’ll appreciate them.
    I wear a Timex Expedition (the cool one with the compass and temperature readout) and truthfully, at $150 it keeps better time than the Rolex ever did.
    The closest thing I have to a ‘collection’ would be my books. Where as some people will spend a day rooting through garage sales…I hit the local used books stores.
    Of course I’ve got a good start on the airgun collection!!

      • BB

        Certainly you know the incredible history of FedEx. It started as a college thesis from Fred Smith, (for which he got a ‘C’ I think?) and became the premier shipping company for “when it absolutely, positively has to get there overnight.”

        I am very happy PA has switched from UPS to FedEx. They are in a completely different class.

  22. BB

    You didn’t show the flashlight collection! You would have to use a wide-angle shot for that one.

    I also seem to have acquired an assortment [collection] of watches, pocket knives and even have a few hobo knives. Kinda weird.

    I wish you lived closer to me. You could cut my grass. I would even buy you the tractor.

  23. This blog/column has brought back many memories, thanks to all for that. I learned to drive in a ’67 dodge van w/3 spd on the column. It was funny in away, sort of a hippie van flames on the outside fully carpeted inside. It was my dad’s van, he was in the army then but worked on the side as a locksmith so he got the van cheap and mounted all his locksmith equipment in the back. It seemed cool to cruise in until you picked someone up and they realized the whole back end was full of key blanks and locksmith stuff.

    Seems like some of you guys must be pretty well off with the collections you have, I envy you 🙂

    If I collect anything I guess it would be TOOLS!, TOOLS1 and more tools. I’m not a real Handyman (used to be) but I seem to buy so many tools that I don’t use or rarely use. I’m even a life member of Handyman. Anything that sounds like a new good idea I fascinate over, doing all kinds of research trying to justify a purchase, but at least lately I’ve been able to curb my appetite and refrain from purchases.

    If it were not for my wife’s complete disagreement with any type of gun I would easily become addicted. As it is I get obsessed with looking at them on the net and making up wish list. I have to wait for times she leaves the house so I can take out my 2240. She’s still pissed that I bought it. Maybe I should just say how pissed I get when she buys her “Starbucks” coffee 🙂 . Talk about a waste of money!

    Well I guess I have digressed from the point of this blog, sorry. 🙂

    rikib

      • rikib

        Do you have a Dremel? Surely you must. It is the greatest tool ever. I look for very flimsy excuses to use my Dremel.

        My wife is an endless source of amusement. She tries to shame me for spending my time talking to ‘strangers’ online, yet she is on facebook nonstop.

        She was once a very anti-gun person. I have been using my subtle influence to slowly bring her around. She really does enjoy shooting now.

        • SL,

          Good news with your wife showing interest in air guns. Mine does Face book all day too it seems, but as far as the airguns I got my hands full there. There’s hope though.

          I agree with you on the Dremmel, it’s a great tool. I had a Deluxe kit a few years back that was stolen. I replaced it with the Roto-Zip version. Not as nimble as the Dremmel, but I have a long flexible attachment that I can use and it works pretty close.

          KA

          • KA

            It has been a long struggle, but it has been worth it! She lovingly refers to my TX200 as ‘Wyatt’ for some reason.

            As far as the my Dremmel is concerned, it is about the equivalent of a baboon having access to a particle accelerator, but I enjoy it nonetheless.

            • Slinging Lead,

              You had us in stitches when we saw your comment…”a baboon having access to a particle accelerator.” Tom comes up with Tomisms, and your cleverness will be known as Leadites.!

              Thanks for the belly laugh,
              Edith

              • Edith,

                I had re written a comment to SL so many times that I had forgotten to comment on that. I am glad you labled that as a Leadite (or is that a Leaditie?)

                I was going to call him on a Tomism.

                KA

              • So is Slinging Lead a:

                leadite
                n. A person whose opposition to technology manifests itself in, among other things, a preference for pencils. [Blend of lead and luddite.)

                Or a leadities:
                He/She is the 481th most experienced player out of players.
                Compared to yesterday, he/she stayed in the same position.

                The question remains?

                rikib

                • Rikib,

                  Yeah, I’m not sure wich is worse. My word “Leaditie” or your NUMBER “four hundred eighty FIRTH”.

                  Edith, we need some help here! 😉

                  KA

                  • Edith

                    If I brought a smile to you and Tom’s face, I consider that to be my greatest achievement. Most people give me blank stares when I blurt out these things.

                    Rikib

                    It must be the second one, because I find old technology infuriating, unless it is more durable/reliable than new technology. 481st doesn’t sound so great, but considering my luck I will eagerly accept that. Even from a field of 482.

                    You are a good husband because of your valiant efforts to feign interest in farmville or whatever the hell it is called. Even if you don’t care, pretending to care makes all the difference to your significant other. Lying isn’t always bad.

                    KA

                    I think the best label is ‘Lead Poisonings’. I appreciate the curiosity over my unconventional musings. What I lack in small talk, I try to make up for with imaginative metaphors. Unfortunately, my inability to make small talk is a career killer, as that seems to be all that matters where I work.

                    • SL,
                      Sorry I only gave you two lame options to choose from 😉 !
                      As far as the facebook gaming crap I guess I have to care a little to keep her out of trouble. She is too trusting of people on-line. That and the fact I always get the questions, “I don’t why it’s doing this! Can you fix my facebook redo my settings, why can’t I get to this or that, etc.”. So I have to pay a little attention. Like right now she’s on one of those “Farm things” and on a conference call with a couple other people playing the “blanking” thing. One positive thing, she doesn’t keep on at me with the “honey do list” she’s preoccupied 🙂 🙂 🙂

                      rikib

                  • KA,
                    Hey don’t shoot the messenger 😉 I know it was incorrect, but I was doing a copy/paste from another site. I don’t think it is right to change their wording, spelling or whatever. If your interested the site is Roman Arena, some sort of game I think. I don’t get into the whole gaming thing. It’s your fault 😉 your word “Leadities” got me there somehow. 😉

                    rikib

                    • KA.
                      Sorry 😉 I thought I was the one who liked to start crap, in fun of course 🙂 . Okay you should have known it as a quote and that I would never have made such an obvious mistake. 🙂

                      rikib

          • Wife will never come around to any type of gun, she even hates my knives. Hey, DaveUK is this because she’s brit 🙂 . She hates my 2240 (even when I just take it out for a look), but here I am trying to save for a 45lc/410 pistol. But that will be to kill snakes which she dislikes more I believe, so I may have a way in there.

            rikib

            • R,

              You know, I’ve been looking at that 2240 lately. not as a purchase item but running across it in my search for my 1377 project parts. It’s a really cool pistol! It seems to have all the good characteristics of a gun (easy to operate, light to handle, accurate) and none of the bad (pumping, noise, cost, etc…). Is yours .177 or .22?

              KA

              • KA,
                Mine’s a .22 cal, only mod I have made so far is steel breech and red dot. I really like the gun, if only wife would stop sending daggers out her eyes every time I pick it up. Next mod (when she’s not paying attention to mail) is a longer barrel for a little better performance. I’ve been curious about BB’s thoughts on the pistol, but when I type it in the search field it comes up with articles on others maybe with references to the 2240 I don’t know. Maybe it has never been reviewed on its’ own. I’ve been looking at your 1377 but the “c” model of course. Not being a “c” model sounds like you have a bit of work to do. It is one nice looking pistol!

                rikib

                • rikib,

                  The 2240 exists only as a .22. That’s where the model number comes from. If it were a .177 it would be a 1740.

                  I have reported on the 2240 many times. I once wrote a special feature article for Shotgun News about vintage .22 pellet pistols (Crosman Mark I and S&W 78G) against the 2240, and the 2240 came out as the most accurate of the three.

                  B.B.

            • rikib:
              No mate,Brit girls hate anything not to do with them.
              It could even be a nut’n’bolt collection they would still get the hump.
              I said to my missus that seeing her shooting a new HW50s in the back garden could really spice up our marriage.
              Was she interested?was she heck.
              Your Honour,I would like these matters to be taken in consideration and kept on the record. 🙂
              DaveUK

        • SL,
          Maybe a little ashamed to say but I have 3 Dremels. My wife is a Facebook addict as well. Farmtown, Farmville all that stuff. She even sets the alarm clock for the middle of the night so she will not miss “planting” or “harvesting” her crops. Right now she’s on there and at he same time talking long distance to someone in CA., that also plays those games. She’s always asking me while I’m on-line, “what did your friends say”, I try to explain to her that this is not a chat type forum and she doesn’t seen seem to understand why I want to be bothered if it is not. At least this way good or bad you get a chance to collect your thoughts before you post, even then we screw up sometimes 😉 .

          rikib

            • Rikib

              Three Dremels? I am jealous. I have no idea what I would do with them but I like it.

              As far as the airgun blogs are concerned, my Wife likes to insinuate that I am scanning for immoral chicks somehow on airgun forums. That’s like mining for gold on the surface of the moon. Besides, Crystal Ackley won’t respond to my emails. 😉

              • SL,
                My wife would always ask me how many women I was talking to on here. The only thing I could do was let her look through the blog. I told her Edith was and I said basically you just sent messages back forth with each other. No one really cares man or woman it’s just a friendly community based around airguns, but we discuss what ever comes to mind. Occasionally she asks what we’re talking about, I tell her and she’s bored with it 🙂 . But then again I really, really don’t want to hear about all the facebook, farmtown, farmville, cafeworld, etc. stuff she is always doing. I always here the come see what I’ve done on my farm, grumbling under my breathe I say Oh Hell, and go look and say how wonderful it is. Well I think I’ve gone way off track so I’ll close this post.

                rikib

      • Rikib,

        No need to apologize for that, man. That’s all good stuff. Remember it’s Friday. Tools and power tools are the commodity of the working man, more valuable than bread and water. 🙂

        KA

  24. BB and all,

    greetings from Eppinger, Germany. I visited the Transportation museum today in Sinsheim. Guys, do I have some great photos of tractors for you. I’ll be back in a week and will post on Picaso and post invite here. Until then…

    Fred PRoNJ

  26. C-S,
    Found the rifle on the net, it is an Xisico BAM XS-B3 & XS-B3-1, received good reviews by Rick Eutsler. It is available in both .177 and .22 cal. I don’t know why PyramydAir doesn’t carry them. From the review they are very accurate and not expensive.

    rikib

      • rikib:
        C-S has the right of it that you will have to tighten things up and smooth them out a bit on this rifle.
        At less than $100 that has got to be expected.
        When you pay $500 on a PCP and have problems like I did,then Mr Angry comes to town.lol
        Maybe it was fate that I found BBs blog after all my expensive rifles were gone.
        This former’curiosity’amongst all the air rifles I have ever owned has turned into the bedrock of a better understanding about air gunning and the love of it.
        The desire to improve what little I had brought me to these hallowed halls of learning.
        Plus the BAM B3-1 looks good with a beret,gas mask combo 🙂
        DaveUK

  27. My dad was a piping and design engineer from Philly. He bought a 150-acre run-down farm in east Tennessee and tried valiantly to be a southerner. It never worked, but I got to grow up on a farm. Dad acquired an old Ford tractor and a Bush Hog that we were always pulling out of the mud (Dad had an overly optimistic belief in how well the tractor could go through mud) or cutting saplings that the tractor-Bush Hog combo had gotten wrapped around. Later, he added other attachments, like a gang plow and a disc harrow. Dad loved to come home from a hard day of politics at work and relax by cutting, plowing, harrowing or just plain taking the tractor apart and putting it back together. Pop was hard for me to work with for a number of reasons, but in looking back I feel lucky to have had the farm training I got. And it rubbed off in the places I and my own family have lived: 400 acres in southern Oregon, 100 acres in northern Oregon, 40 acres in northern California, two different 3+ acre plots on Maui.

    • Joe B

      It sounds like your Dad was cut from a different cloth than most, and the fruit doesn’t fall from the tree, to mix a couple metaphors.

      After a long day of work, and the even more exhausting politics, I squander my energy by screaming obscenities and then shooting airguns once I calm down. I need a tractor apparently.

  28. Thanks,

    And now I have a similar question.

    Obviously, a heavy pellet is slower to begin with, but maintains that speed much longer than a light pellet. As one uses progressively lighter pellets, the range increases, but the pellets lose punch.

    Eventually, if one uses a light enough pellet, the range decreases, as the pellet loses energy so much faster that it cannot sustain flight. Am I correct?

    • Lighter pellets will not normally give you more maximum range because of the speed. They will give you a flatter trajectory for some distance because of the increase in speed, but since they usually have a lower ballistic coeficient, they lose speed faster. At some distance both the heavy and lighter pellet will be travelling at the same speed. Beyond that, the heavier pellet shoots flatter and farther as the lighter pellet continues to lose it’s speed faster.
      The choice of pellet makes a great deal of difference in what distance both pellets will have equal speed.

      twotalon

    • Not enough coffee yet….
      If you are more interested in range, as in your practical shooting range as opposed to max possible range, then you should choose the pellet that shoots best at that distance.
      The you mentioned a 953 (?) in your previous post. With the low velocity no matter what pellet, you will not have much practical shooting range. Distance to target gets more critical at lower speeds. The need for compensation for distance is more pronounced within very short distances.

      twotalon

    • Malcolm,

      Here is the test for range with a light pellet. Shoot a felt cleaning pellet and see how far it goes. Light pellets slow down much faster than heavy pellets due to their inferior ballistic coefficient.

      I don’t know how useful that information is, since light and heavy should never be the selection criterion. Accuracy should always be first and foremost when selecting pellets. And accuracy means hitting the target, not just tight grouping, so if you are bad at range determination, use a faster lightweight pellet. But if you are good, play the buffalo hunter game and use the heaviest accurate pellet you can find.

      B.B.

    • Malcom…
      You got my curiosity up, so I played with my chrono and chairgun a little.
      853 shooting crosman wadcutters as a light peller, and beeman kodiak match for heavies.

      Wadcutter M.V. was 437 fps.
      Kodiaks M.V. 363 fps.

      Chairgun figured drop to be equal at about 72 yds. Velocity about equal at 27 yds.

      I did not have any of the super light gimmik pellets to test. The 7.9 gr. wadcutter was the lightest with the worst B.C. I had on hand.

      Considering the trajectories of both pellets at these velocities, I don’t think you would want to do much shooting much farther anyway.

      So with this gun or similar it would not be much of a worthwhile difference in pellet weight unless you are looking for retained energy.

      So what B.B. said….use what shoots best.

      twotalon

        • CS

          I am fortunate enough to own many fine airguns. The Slavia is a hole I hope to fill soon. They don’t sell new ones in the US anymore for some stupid reason, but I am sure it is the result of politics, and a short-range view from the bean counters who think 365 meters per second is just the marketing they need to trick the populace.

          I am holding out for one that looks as good as the one BB blogged.

          • Lead you are wright with 177 cal best accuracy can be achieved (only my opinion) between 170 and 220 m/s (720 fps),from 220-270 m/s i would prefere 22 cal 😉

  30. KA,
    The string had reached its limit I guess. No, my 2240 looks nothing like that, I prefer to keep the all black “tactical” look. I have a red dot for now. Plan to get a longer barrel and a scope. The one in that picture is nice looking but just not my “cup of tea”. But we all have different taste that’s why there are so many variables to modify guns with.

    rikib

    • Rikib,

      Not to mention a total lack of desire to spend $200 plus on a grip and pump handle! A little over the top, but pretty none the less. I found that while looking for options for fore stock pump handle that won’t let my fingers get pinched when pumping.

      I looked on Derrick38’s blog this morning to find he’s made a bulk fill adapter for the 2240. (Well, end cap for now. More machining to do for valve and connector). Pretty cool, no more cylinders.

      KA

  31. Anyone,

    I have disassembled 1377 to the point of removing the valve assy(?). Part #1322A013 on the schematic. After removing the bushing or seal at the exhaust port this should slide out of main tube, no? It moves to the front about 1/4″ and stops. I am reluctant to force it further. Any advice???

    KA

    • KA, I don’t have any exact experience with the 1377 but I did rebuild my childhood Crosman 766 pump. Assuming that the designs are similar in some respects, I did have to pop out the valve using a wooden dowel. I had to use a little force, but not very much. Check on Another Airgun Blog, that’s where I found information on the 766. The hardest part for me was taking the cap off of the valve itself. It had been in place for 30 years and was not interested in cooperating. I tried everything, heating in boiling water, using liquid wrench. Brute force won out, but I buggered it up pretty good, it looks terrible but holds air! It’s inside the tube anyway so it doesn’t really matter I suppose.

      • Fused,

        Thanks. I decided that since this thing was working fine but ugly and rusted, I opted for the cosmetic refurbish and left it in the main tube through out the process. I got the gun together about 1/2 hour ago and it works, looks great! I jumped the gun on the cure time for the epoxy paint and it was a little soft for hard gripping and knocking the pins in. I guess just because it’s 109 deg with 20% or less humidity cure times don’t go from 72 hours down to 24 or less! I 600 grit sanded, shot some pellets through it, then applied a light finish coat. It,s hanging in the garage for a couple days. Give it some ‘bake time’.

        KA

  33. Just noticed the “comments RSS” counter is setting at 999. Is this the max the counter can go to or will this post trip the counter to 1000. Just wanted to check. 🙂

    rikib

  35. Does anyone know if increasing the spring weight in a Discovery will achieve higher velocities? It looks as though you could install a small metal disk behind the spring, and use a 10/32 screw to increase the spring’s pressure behind the hammer/striker.

    I’m thinking that at some point, you’d make the valve dwell time too long and just waste air. But the fact that at 2000 psi you can experience a bit of valve lock (as demonstrated by slightly increasing velocities until the reservoir pressure drops to 1800 or so) indicates that the valve could open more at 2000 psi.

    I wonder if this would cause even faster velocities at 1800 psi, or if the gun would only waste air and have less useful shots per fill?

    Also, increasing the striker’s mass could be achieved by adding a metal (tungsten for the most weight) disk or two inside the hollow of the striker in front of the spring. This would both increase the mass impacting the valve, AND add more spring pressure.

    • Ronin

      If I understand you correctly, a certain competitor of PA who shall remain nameless sells something very similar to what you are describing as a ‘Benjamin Discovery Power Adjuster Kit’ I don’t have one.

      Everything else you said sounds about right to me. Its a tuning thing. Gotta give up some shots if you want more power. You would need a chrony of course and a good bit of testing to figure out at what point you were just wasting air.

      If you like your trigger the way it is, so much the butter. That being said, I must say the screw in front of the trigger guard was my favorite to play with. I could set it to a real hairtrigger. I don’t have it set that way anymore because I don’t want to shoot anybody’s eye out.

      It sounds to me that you did a better/more aggressive job of dremeling the trigger parts than I did. I wouldn’t worry about the case hardening much. New sears and trigger parts are easily available from Crosman for cheap.

      • SL,

        It wasn’t so much the Dremel tool that I used for most of the material removal. I used one of those diamond knife sharpening stones, and that took off quite a bit. I used the Dremel for final polishing with a felt wheel and some jeweler’s rouge.

        It’s nice to know replacement parts are cheap and easy to get if they start to wear prematurely, but with a plastic trigger, I think the metal parts will probably outlast the trigger anyway, even if they are not hardened (with the possible exception of the sear/hammer interface).

        As for the aftermarket velocity adjuster, the same design is standard on a whole family of paintball markers called “stacked tube blowback” markers. They have been made and sold by many companies, the most well-known being Spider. I’m lucky in that having been an avid paintball player for a number of years, I have a lot of equipment (high pressure air tanks, CO2 tanks, gauges, regulators, fittings, parts, etc.) that also works for PCP air rifles. For example, I made my own CO2 fill adapter from an old paintball “remote” and some steel braided hose I had lying around.

        What I’m really excited about is that I have an old “nitro duck” brand adjustable regulator that I took off an expired (out of hydro) high pressure tank. I think if I can find a suitably large tank to install it on, I can run a “remote” line to the Discovery and have a regulated 2000 psi air source. If I remove the manometer and install another Foster fitting in it’s place, the Discovery (or any PCP) could be made to shoot hundreds of shots at a regulated pressure (and consistent velocity) without stopping to re-fill.

  36. Also, I’d like to reply to a question Slinging Lead asked of me on one of the older blogs from a few days ago. I missed it until just now.

    SL wrote:

    Slinging Lead Says:
    July 13, 2010 at 6:19 pm

    Ronin

    I’m confused. Which screw did you not install? One of the ones in the back or the one in the front?

    I did the mod and dialed it in, and thought I had it adjusted just right. Then I read a comment on a blog that said to tinker with it. So I did. Man! It was sooooo much better after really messing with it for a while. I was a little weary of the tapped holes in the plastic getting worn larger, but it was worth it. You are right, sadly it will never be a Marauder trigger.

    It is definitely a great mod, that can be done by even the ham-fisted, with parts available from the hardware store. If anyone out there has a Discovery or a 2260 without the Mod, what’re you waitin’ on? Do it now! And definitely Dremel all the trigger parts while you are in there.

    Regarding the Marauder, the only thing worse than waiting for a new rifle, is receiving it only to have to send it back, with two chances of the apes at UPS to mess it up worse.

    ___________________
    So, in response…

    The screws I left out (actually two of them) are the one in front of the trigger guard, and the uppermost of the two holes in the back of the trigger group housing. The uppermost screw only serves to remove “pre-travel” as far as I can tell. But I like the feel of a relatively long, lighter first stage, so I just left that screw out altogether. The screw in front of the trigger guard affects sear engagement. I also chose to leave this screw out because after polishing the sear, the trigger breaks pretty clean as it is.

    My only concern is that with all the stoning and polishing I did, I might have exceeded the depth of the case hardening. This didn’t even occur to me until I read on of BB’s blog posts about the little Crosman PCP pistol and how it might benefit from some careful polishing of trigger parts. He mentions that the case hardening is probably only .015 deep. So it’s possible I could have ground it all off.

  37. WOW, that’s a LOT of comments ! and a few VERY funny ones too !

    I love collecting stuff I think most guys do, the wife on the other hand like most wifes doesn’t like it as much but she’s very comprehensive and I was able to justify buying more stuff since I went shopping with her a few times. I’m patient and helpeful and I know exactly how much she’s spending 😉 so when airguns buying time comes I can leverage it and it will usually go something like this:

    Wife – you’re not really ordering another one of those are you ? How much is it gonna cost this time ?
    me – well sweetie you just spent X amount a few weeks ago on clothes some of wich I haven’t seen you wear yet. How much was that dress exactly ?
    wife – it’s not the same thing !
    me – you’re right… I’ll use the rifle more often than you’re gonna wear that dress and it will last a lot longer.
    wife – uggh… you know how much I love you but you can sometimes be so annoying.
    me – I love you too honey (WOOOHOOO argument won!)

    So I bought my first ever red ryder last week, a 495fps rated benjamin trail NP yesterday and I have a daisy model 25 and Izh 60 coming on monday so that collection is going pretty good. The plan is a daisy 499 in september when my parents go back to the US for a few weeks and then the Marauder Pistol (my first PCP) with some spare mags and a handpump probably next spring.
    So guys GO shoping with the wife and don’t rush her, bring a book or magazine I’ll pay in the long run.
    I’ll try a quote, I may not be as good as Rikib but I’ll try “my wife loves shopping, I love booze, we went shopping for booze… a good time was had by all”.

    I’m also lusting for an old ford 8N or similar tractor but I can’t really justify buying it because there’s no way I could do the lawn here (besides I have battery powered one that does a great job) BUT maybe I could use it to snow blow the driveway, it would be overkill but LOTSA fun 😉 I also have a lot of pocket knife some I bought just because they look nice and we can’t get them here in Canada (a few butterfly knives and a few switch blades) and a nice pair of brass knuckles but no hobo knife, I’ll have to get a few of those they seem nice ! I’m not old enough to have vinyls but my father has a LOT of them, a lot like in a room full from floor to celling and from wall to wall I’ve been telling him to insure them for years… I do have between 300 and 400 CD’s but I don’t condider the a collection, to me it’s not a collection if you have a use for all of them and aren’t buying any “just because you gotta have one like that” otherwise I would have a huge collection of dog food 😀

    What I do have is WAAAY to many die-cast cars I have over 4000 of them now, anyone wants to buy a few of them (so I could buy more airguns) all scales from the smaller mostly available in europe 1/82 the more common 1/64 (hot wheels, matchbox and my favorite Johnny Lightning) then it’s up to 1/43, 1/24, 1/18 and 1/10

    Rikib the storms you sent away a few days ago came here, we had a big one yesterday and because of you I wasn’t able to try my new trail NP 😛

    J-F

  38. J-F,
    Based on your definition of what a collection is I guess I do have a collection, after all. I have a collection of electronic parts.

    I converted one of my bedrooms into an electronics lab that now goes un-used and I have hundreds of parts I’ll never use. I have drawers full of resistors and capacitors, boxes full of transistors and op-amps, stacks of un-used PCB boards, ten unfinished power amplifier projects, an unfinished moog synthesizor, and five finished bat detectors.

    I was gung-ho on building electronic things then bought my first air-rifle. My electronic passion melted away and was replaced by converting my basement into a shooting gallery and buying weapons of lead destruction.

    I can’t say I have an air-gun collection – by your definition – because I use them all the time, except for the 1077, I guess I’m collecting that thing.

    -CJr

    • CJr,

      why is it that you don’t shoot your 1077? It’s on my wish list just because I think it’s cool, repeater and all, similar to a 1022rim fire, and it seems to be very usable.
      Speaking of wish list… It is becoming more and more apparent to me that I have become a collector without the collection! :0

      KA

    • I think an airgun collection starts with the first one since you don’t really have a “use” for airguns.
      You don’t really “need” airguns unless you collect them. The only way it couldn’t be considered a collection is if you had only one and used it only for pest control.

      J-F

      • J-F,

        I see your point. The collector in us kicks in at the first purchase, even though the many to follow haven’t been acquired. Though it’s not often you’ll hear reference to a single anything as a ‘collection’. Nor being referred to as a collector if you only have one. Unless of course it’s a collection of one of everything like Cowboystar Dad’s! 🙂

        Is the 1077 not used because you don,t like it, or is it a thing like my 40th edition 760 that was bought just to collect?

        KA

  39. J-F:
    I miss all my die-cast cars.
    I gave them to my young cousins 30 years ago and a lot were in mint condition.
    What did I know? 🙁
    The best was a DINKY 007 Aston Martin DB7 with the small figure still in the ejector seat.
    I hear the little figure is worth almost as much as the car because most kids lost him.
    Regrets?You bet.
    Mustn’t grumble though,at least I have the missus……Where did you say you got them ‘Brass Knuckles’ again? LOL
    DaveUK

  40. KA,
    The 1077 doesn’t fit in my collection because of my inability to shoot it under 3/4″ at 10m. I thought of letting my grandkids have at it but they’d go through too many co2 carts and I’m saving those for my Walther Lever Action rifle and S&W 586 pistol. The rifle is a blast to shoot, and you can really rip off a bunch of shots in a hurry. Lots of fun for soda/beer can shooting. I haven’t tried cleaning it’s barrel yet so maybe that will help some. I’m not ready to get rid of it, yet, but right now it’s my least used gun.
    -CJr

  41. C-S,
    “why dont they make new discipline in shooting competitions for us -10m basement style shooting”:

    Good idea!! I can see Wacky Wayne right now riding a back-hoe, digging a six foot deep 10m trench for our new event. Pray that it doesn’t rain during the match!
    -CJr

  43. My “experiments 🙂 ” with “ballistic gel” and 631 has led me to conclusion 1.631 can esily go through 12 cm of gel(that is all i have :/ ) 2.i have make too much to little gel 3.i can see cool trail of pellet there and must make more 🙂 😉

  44. BB please help! I am going crazy trying to figure out what is happening with my Diana LP8 magnum. I’ve had it for 6 months now, went through lots and lots of pellets. It’s sighted for 12 o’clock. Recently it’s been shooting higher and higher. The rear sights are maxed out at the lowest. My shooting grip and stance has not changed. I’m using the same pellets. The pistol is shooting very consistent but high. If I am at a certain distance below the bulls it hits it every time, when I aim at the bulls it hits the same spot above it everytime. The barrel doesn’t seem to be bent, it has never been dropped. Has anyone experienced this? Please help.

    Loi

    • loi,

      Did you read the 3 part review B.B. did on your pistol? He had the same problem with vertical stringing. I wouldn’t discount Vince’s assessment of your breech seal since a bad seal can dramatically affect velocity and result in low/high velocity and thus low/high shots. Here’s a link to part 3 but at the top of the article you can click on parts 1, then 2 and read the article in sequence:

      /blog/2009/9/rws-model-lp8-magnum-part-3/

      kevin

      • Kevin,
        Thanks for your reply. Is there a way to visual assess the breach seal? The gun is fairly new, and the seal looks fine. I occationally use chamber lube on it.
        Thanks again.

  46. I know there have been a few a few post that I should have jokingly replied to, but didn’t much in the mood today. A friend of my wife’s had a german shepherd puppy that she could not care for and her husband didn’t want to be bothered with it. She needed to find it a good home or her husband by today or her husband said he would take it to the shelter. My wife and I agreed to take it in (in addition to our 4 dogs and 9 cats), I was really looking forward to it. Anyway the puppy’s trainer met someone she knew at WalMart that wanted it and my wife’s “friend” gave it to them because they had 5 acres of land for it to play in. Sorry I only have a little over an acre. Guess I’m a softy but felt heart broken.

    So I guess no argumentative or sarcastic comments will be coming tonight.

    rikib

    • I need to get a new grammar checker, or at least re-read before I post. That first line was ridiculous, but hopefully you can figure out what I was saying.

      rikib

      • rikib & everyone else who’s asked for a spell-checker,

        Your requests have not fallen on deaf ears! I’ve seen the spell-checker Pyramyd AIR will be adding to the comment section very soon, and it should work like a champ. Watch for it!

        Edith

        • Edith,
          Really appreciate that! 🙂 A really good grammar checker would be excellent, he he! 🙂 🙂 Safari does catch most obvious mistakes though. Thank you very, very much I’m sure we all look forward to the spell checker. 🙂

          rikib

    • rikib

      I am sorry that you too suffer from the affliction of your heart being too big. The world needs more people like you. Take solace in the fact that the dog will have plenty of space and will probably be well taken care of.

      No shame in feeling heart broken. Even the evil, soulless Adolf Hitler loved his German Shepard.

      take it easy Richard

      • SL,
        We hope that it will be cared for. Seems that a lot of people just have dogs for show, not for showing but I think you you what I mean. Then they keep then outside all the time, in this heat I feel that is cruelty. Our dogs (and cats) have a flap in the door so they go in and out as they please, of course so do the flies 🙂 but we deal with it.

        Spent almost 4 hours searching humane societies and rescues up to a 100 miles away and could not find a young German shepherd at any of them, just may make some calls another day. Do not want do go to the shelters without a plan, I’ll want all the animals.

        rikib

      • SL,
        New update! The people that were going to take that puppy haven’t called the owners yet although they were supposed to pick it up yesterday. I trying not to get my hopes up but we are supposed to go see it tomorrow and we are bringing our dominant dog (female great dane) to see how they get along. Hope all goes well.

        rikib

  49. Rikib,

    I would think that the humidity of your area might have more effect on pellet deterioration rather than anything to do with the C02 that is stored behind the exhaust port, not in contact with pellet until valve is open. My guess on your question would be 2 years? Maybe three?

    Did you find one buried in your yard? Is your wife threatening to use your 2240 as an Easter egg? 🙂

    See ya on the next post.

    KA

    • KA,
      I normally always have CO2 cartridge in the pistol, was mainly just wondering about leaving a pellet chambered and ready to fire (safety on of course).

      rikib

      • Rikib,

        I don’t own a CO2 powered gun. But I’m pretty sure the power plant would not come into play on the effects of long time in chamber. Other factors maybe. And of course Wacky Wayne’s Coconut oil would most likely solve any of those issues.
        I keep my 1377 ready to go, pumped 7 times, pellet on the hole, safety on, barrel down, stock up. If I set it in the corner unloaded it’s stock down, bbl up. When the kids were in the house that was our rule. Is your wife ok with loaded pellet gun on stand by? She should know the status of that gun should she do some impromptu sleep shooting in the middle of the night.

        KA

  50. I have a few knives. Some are handy multi use pocket knives. Some I use for filleting and some for hunting. I have a marine K-Bar. Not sure what to use that it for….although it does works great on thick rabbit bones. But my favorite are the swiss army knives. I always carry one around.

    I have a few watches….some real name brands that my wife picks up for pennies on on the dollar and some copies of more expensive ones. One of my favorite is a swiss Breitling copy with japanese movement. A real one could be $2,000, but the copy I have runs about $200.00, but my wife bought it for about $2.00. She’s a thrift store addict and always knows what to buy.

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