by B.B. Pelletier
Daisy’s new model 35 multi-pump air rifle is designed for youth. It’s a smoothbore with several interesting features.
Today, we’ll look at the velocity of the Daisy Powerline model 35 multi-pump air rifle. You’ll remember from Part 1 that this is a smoothbore, and as such we’re going to be testing the accuracy with diabolo pellets. One reader asked me to test the velocity of the gun with round lead balls, so I did that, as well. There’s a lot to test, so let’s get to it.
Number of pumps
A multi-pump lets the shooter select the number of pumps for every shot — up to the maximum recommended number. In this case, that’s 10 pumps. I decided to test the model 35 on 5 and 10 pumps, just to simplify the test and to bound the amount of work to be done. Five pumps takes us to the place where the gun is shooting fast, but also where each successive pump provides diminishing returns. Ten pumps takes us all the way as high as the gun is recommended to go.
Crosman Premier lites
The 7.9-grain Crosman Premier pellet is a good choice for this gun if weight is the criteria. Because the model 35 is a pneumatic, this pellet won’t suffer like it would in a spring-piston gun of the same approximate power.
Five pumps
On five pumps, the velocity averaged 478 f.p.s. and ranged from 472 to 481 f.p.s. That gives us an average muzzle energy of 4.01 foot-pounds. This velocity should be okay for target shooting at 10 yards; but if I were shooting farther than 15 yards, I would probably pump it more.
Ten pumps
The model 35 is rated to develop 605 f.p.s. with pellets, but of course that would be with the lightest ones. I expected to see 550 f.p.s. with these 7.9-grain Premiers. They actually averaged 565 f.p.s. and ranged from 559 to 570 f.p.s. That’s a muzzle energy of 5.6 foot-pounds. I would have to say the gun meets my expectations when it comes to power.
Loading difficulties
I mentioned this in Part 1, and I’ll reinforce that now. This gun is very tricky to load with pellets. You must watch the large hole at the back of the short loading trough that’s there for BBs, or you’ll get a pellet stuck in it. I find it best to point the muzzle straight down and let the pellet tip over the edge of the receiver, where the nose will fall into the breech if you’re fortunate.
RWS Hobbys
Next to be tested were the 7-grain RWS Hobby pellets. You might think that these would be a lot faster because they’re almost a full grain lighter than the Premiers; but in a pneumatic gun, velocities don’t increase that fast.
Five pumps
Five pumps gave an average 495 f.p.s., or just 17 f.p.s. more than the Premier did at the same number of pumps. The range went from 492 to 503 f.p.s. The average muzzle energy was 3.81 foot-pounds.
Ten pumps
On the full 10 pumps, I expected to see the Hobby pellet approach 600 f.p.s., but it did not go quite that far. The average was 577 f.p.s., and the velocity ranged from 567 to a high of 586 f.p.s. At the average velocity, the muzzle energy was 5.18 foot-pounds.
BBs were next
Next up were steel BBs. I had to shoot either BBs or pellets. If there’s even a single BB in the gun’s internal reservoir, the magnetic bolt tip would attract it. I counted the BBs as I loaded the gun, because I didn’t want to have excess BBs remaining after this part of the test. Of course, I used Daisy zinc-plated BBs because this is a Daisy gun.
Five pumps
On 5 pumps, the BBs averaged 517 f.p.s. They ranged from a low of 505 to a high of 529 f.p.s. The average muzzle energy was 3.03 foot-pounds.
Ten pumps
Ten pumps bumped the average velocity to 616 f.p.s. — breaking the 600 f.p.s. level for the first time in the test. The velocity ranged from a low of 612 to a high of 619 f.p.s., so BBs were more stable than pellets in this gun. You don’t often see that. The muzzle energy was 4.3 foot-pounds.
Trigger-pull
The trigger-pull was noticeable throughout this test because it’s so heavy in relation to the overall weight of the gun. When a 9-lb. rifle has a 5-lb. trigger-pull, it seems right. On the other hand, when a 3-lb. gun, like this model 35, has a trigger that breaks at just over 6 lbs., it’s too much. It’s a single-stage and fairly free from creep, but the sheer weight of the pull is daunting. I think it’ll affect me during the accuracy test.
Round lead balls
I tried shooting some round lead balls in the gun because a reader asked me to. Since I will also shoot them for accuracy, I selected the largest lead balls in this caliber. Beeman Perfect Rounds, which were made by H&N and are identical to the H&N Rundkugel were the ones I chose. They measure 0.176-0.177 inches in diameter and weigh 8.3 grains.
Five pumps
On 5 pumps, these balls averaged 414 f.p.s. and ranged from a low of 396 to a high of 434 f.p.s. At that speed, they generate 3.16 foot-pounds.
Ten pumps
On 10 pumps, they average 504 f.p.s. and range from 480 to 522 f.p.s. They produce an average of 4.68 foot-pounds. With such a large velocity spread, I don’t look for great accuracy — especially at longer distances.
Evaluation so far
To this point, the model 35 is proving to be an interesting little pneumatic. The upcoming accuracy test of a smoothbore airgun is what I’m really waiting to see. Feeding with BBs was 100 percent positive, but with pellets it was difficult to load the gun. The lead balls loaded easily enough because they have no sharp shoulders like the pellets to grab things and turn them around. After all — they are balls — so who knows where the front is?
The trigger is heavy, but the sights are crisp. I’m looking forward to seeing what this little gun can do.
I will say this. The model 35 is very quiet! It has a No. 2 noise rating on Pyramyd Air’s site, and it deserves one. Only a Red Ryder would be reliably quieter.
I lay the pellet on that little “ramp” on the right of the actual loading port, and kinda roll it in with my thumb. It’s really easy once you do it a few times. In fact you’ll find yourself wondering how anyone ever had a problem.
flobert,
That was the method I mentioned in Part 1, but when testing this time I had several pellets scoot out and go into the hole.
B.B.
B.B.
I think you have made a good choice in ammo selection for this test. Wadcutter, domed, steel and lead ball.
Could you please take note if the pellets seem to snag when loading? It dicks up accuracy badly.
twotalon
twotalon,
I had no snags when the bolt went forward. Just snags on the parts of the receiver as I loaded into the trough. I think the breech is pretty good.
B.B.
Tom,
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. You mentioned that loading pellets in this gun can be tricky. I find the same with the 880 and similar Daisy airguns. Try this. It works for me. After cocking, just slide the bolt forward ever so slightly to prevent your pellet from falling back into the action. There will still be plenty of loading “port” left in which to place your pellet.
Kind regards,
Michael
Michael,
I wondered about that. It didn’t look like there was enough room after the bolt was pushed forward. I’ll give it a try during the accuracy test.
Thanks,
B.B.
Yepper. I grew up with the 880, and this method makes all the difference in loading pellets. You move the bolt forward enough to block the BB port, but not so far that it interferes with pellet skirts and encourages them to flip backwards.
An advanced variation on this technique 😉 can be used to load pellets while keeping the BB hopper full of BBs. You cock the gun, bringing the bolt back only to this “pellet loading” position, never letting it get far enough back to load a BB. Tough, but almost completely repeatable with practice; and not the end of the world if you accidentally load up a BB once in a while…
Of course, I never shoot my 880 anymore, since B.B. and friends got me all loaded up on PCPs. No regrets!
-Jan
The Beeman perfect rounds that I have measure only .173 in dia and roll out of any bb gun barrel I have. I find that if you push the bolt on the gun ahead just a little bit, it blocks the bb port off enough so that pellets don’t fall back into it. Then you roll them in like Flobert said, takes some practice but works good.
Robert,
Wow! You have some very small Perfect Rounds! All of mine mike 0.176-0.177. I suppose there could be one that might be smaller, but never as small as you are seeing.
H&N also makes zimmerstutzen balls, so perhaps some were mixed in with the Beeman tins?
B.B.
The tins of them I have are marked from the Santa Rosa location, so they are old . I have two tins of them . The only use for them I’ve found was in my Crosman 120 .22. I load a felt cleaning pellet or a clean lubed cloth patch and then two of them. Puts both in a 2″ circle at 10 yards. I ‘m ordering some fresh stuff in RB from PA and some bb shot, as I’ve acquired some smooth bore guns to try out.
I never had one of these, but it seems that it is Daisy’s answer to Crosman’s 760. I wonder how these would do in a head to head test. The older Crosman 760’s have their own pellet loading problem in that the pellet can catch on the recess for the barrel screw. New ones have the clip, so that isn’t a problem… I’ll have to try you guys’ rolling them in trick.
/Dave
I had a good time with my grandson Nicky, shooting at the police range here in Ogallala yesterday. He was shooting my Daisy 856 with a 3-9×32 Powerline scope. I was using my Crosman Storm XT with a TASCO 3-9×40 scope.
We were shooting at Shoot-n-C 6″ targets and ping-pong balls. The ping-pong balls were the most fun.
We would continue shooting the ping-pong balls where they landed after hitting them, as long as they remained in the target area and we could still see them. There were patches of snow on the ground, so provided “camo” for the white balls.
Both guns were shooting Beeman pointed pellets.
He is getting pretty good at this!
I would took a couple pictures of him shooting yesterday, and would like to submit them, if you could tell me how.
Les
Les,
Why not submit your pictures for the Airgunner of the week?
B.B.
Les,
There are some directions for uploading images on Pyramyd Air’s facebook page. The Big Shot of the Week has a special Xmas Big Shot of the Week component. It’s so easy to upload images that even I’ve been able to figure it out! Here ya go:
To enter you upload a pic to the “wall”
Look near the top of the center part of the above page.
You’ll see “Share: Post — Photo — Link — Video”
Click “Photo” & follow the prompts.
Click here for a screenshot:
/images/FB-screenshot-2.jpg
Edith
Edith,
I have a couple nice pictures of him shooting. Can you tell me how I can submit them without going through Facebook? I do not trust Facebook, and will not become a member of it.
Les
Les,
To upload images, it has to be done through facebook. I cannot upload it for you because it would be listed as coming from me.
I have a facebook page and have friended Pyramyd AIR plus one person at Pyramyd AIR. My facebook page info is private because I don’t want my stuff visible to people I don’t know. I haven’t even friended my brother or my nephews.
I provide little info for facebook to use…stuff that’s already available through other internet sources, so it’s not like I’m providing anything new to them.
Edith
Edith,
I broke my own rule and signed up on Facebook. I was surprised to see how many people wanted me to be their buddy. I only picked a very few I knew personally.
I also put Nicky’s picture on the Pyramyd Wall, but don’t know if it will make it into the contest. I’m not very computer-savvy.
You can check me out on Facebook, and check Pyramyd AIR Wall for Nicky’s picture.
Thanks.
Les (Leslie Foran)
Les,
Make sure you LIKE Pyramyd Air’s facebook page. That way, your picture will be considered for the contest. Maybe you already did…I don’t know how to tell 🙂 You don’t have to FRIEND them.
Love the picture of your grandson. I’m sure it’ll be considered!
Edith
Edith,
Well, I think I did it right.
Les
Question for you all: For Christmas, my amazingly wonderful wife found a Crosman 2289 Backpacker for me. I really like it, but it’s winter and really cold out. I’m dying to take it out and shoot, but I’m not very familiar with the Crosman pneumatic mechanisms and what temps they can handle. Is there any guidance from the wealth of knowledge here on cold weather shooting? I guess this question applies to the new M417 as well, since the pump mechanisms are similar (same?). Thanks everybody.
Bristolview,
Congrats on scoring a great gun! I guess you already know this, but your wife is definitely a keeper 🙂
Edith
Absolutely!
Bristolview,
I have tested multi-pumps down to zero degrees F for short periods and they work well. But I know nothing about long-term operations over many hours and days.
B.B.
Thanks, much appreciated. Should be fine to sight in outside then. Once sighted in, I can take it downstairs and shoot in my basement 10m range, at least on the really cold days. I’m not big on sighting in an unknown gun downstairs, not until I know where it’s shooting. Thanks again Tom and Edith.
Edith/Tom I searched for the Sam Yang Recluse but I can’t find it… I’m only getting Part 1
I tried by going to the Airgun page and using the “review/article/latest buzz” and got the same result but if I remember right there was a part 2 and part 3 done on this rifle doesn’t it?
J-F
J-F,
The Recluse has only had one part done. Your search is correct. However, you may be remembering the 4-part series B.B. did for the Sam Yang Dragon Claw.
Edith
J-F,
The Recluse has a leak that I haven’t yet addressed because of the end of year work.
I will be doing those two parts.
B.B.
It wasn’t for me, some guy on the CAF wanted to know about it, he’s interested in the dual reservoir one.
And Edith must be right (but you already knew that, right) I confused the Dragon Claw and the Recluse.
J-F
B.B.,
Would it help to use a thin straw to feed the pellet into the chamber? That helped my father-in-law with his Crosman. He was having trouble keeping the pellet from flipping over backwards.
Victor
Oh, one little detail. I cut the straw diagonally at one end.
Victor,
I think I can get it with the bolt trick. Thanks for sharing your idea.
B.B.
Well I have this BB gun in the part where u cock it i took of
The four screw drivers and a thing fell since I did this the
Cock won’t go until where it’s supposed to what do i do?Please Reply!!
Andres,
That is why we don’t take these guns apart — ever! I can’t help you because I don’t know how this gun goes together.
Maybe Daisy can help you. Have you contacted their Customer Service department?
One thing, though. If you do contact them, you will have to be able to explain what you did in very clear terms. From what you have written no one could know what is wrong.
B.B.