by Tom Gaylord
Writing as B.B. Pelletier
- What’s coming
- Let’s get started
- MP 40
- Remington 1875
- Benjamin Wildfire
- Umarex ARX ammo
- Umarex Hammer
- Umarex Gauntlet
- A shrouded Texan?
- Other new things
Well, it’s that time again. Here I am at the 2017 SHOT Show in Las Vegas. This year will be the biggest one yet for new airguns. And when I say new, I mean really new designs. I’m not interested in a re-skinned gun that’s had other names in the past. There is so much stuff that is really new this year that everything else will get shoved to the rear.
What’s coming
Yesterday I was on the range with Sig and today I am out at Industry Day at the Range. That’s an event that allows gun writers to try out various new products at a gun range. Actually, it’s more than 50 ranges, all lined up, one after another, in a line that’s about a third of a mile long! A few years ago they started putting ranges on the other side of the walkway, for guns that don’t shoot as far — like shotguns and airguns.
Crosman used the only airgun company that was consistently at Industry Day, with AirForce Airguns coming out a time or two. This year, though Crosman is not there. Gamo is there with BSA, and maybe they also brought Daisy with them, now that they own them. Umarex USA will also be there, which will give me the opportunity to try a couple novel new things I plan to tell you about both today and again tomorrow — hopefully after I have shot them.
Let’s get started
Let’s jump in with some new things that are so hot they just won’t wait for me to see them at the show. I’ll begin with a couple new replicas.
MP 40
MP stands for Maschinenpistole, which is German for submachine gun. As a firearm, the MP 40 is a 9mm Parabellum (Luger) subgun that’s a modernized version of the MP 38. It’s an effective close-combat weapon that was cheaper to produce than the earlier MP 38, because stamped parts were used in place of machined parts. In that respect the MP 40 is like our American M3 “grease gun,” except the M3 comes in a larger caliber and has a much slower rate of fire. The MP 40, firing the smaller, lighter ammo, is easier to control and was a mainstay of many armies from WW II right up through Vietnam and even later.
This is an MP 40 firearm. The BB gun looks similar.
This year Umarex USA is bringing out a CO2-powered 60-shot BB-firing version of the gun. If it’s anything like the M712 Mauser machine pistol they gave us two years ago, we’re in for a treat. I’ll try to give you more info as it comes my way.
Remington 1875
Everyone is familiar with the profile of the Colt Single Action Army revolver, but a similar handgun was made by Remington. There were two main variations — models 1875 and 1890. This year, we will see the 1875 in BB gun form. Obviously powered by CO2, this gun may look something like a Colt, but the lockwork is entirely different. Crosman will be bringing it out later this year, and I hope to have photos for you this week. The gun is smoothbore, but will also shoot pellets, just like the Colt BB guns.
Fellows, prepare your wives! This will be a year of fine new replicas!
Benjamin Wildfire
I don’t think Crosman took the name Wildfire from the male ostrich in the movie Tremors II, but you never know! The Benjamin Wildfire is a pneumatic version of the famous 12-shot 1077 repeating pellet rifle. Crosman calls it semiautomatic, but the mechanism is a double-action-only revolver. That’s why the trigger pull is so long and heavy — it has to both cock the striker and advance the 12-shot revolving clip to the next pellet. With use it becomes smoother.
Benjamin’s Wildfire is essentially a Crosman 1077 running on compressed air. It dawned on me that this could be the $100 PCP!
Umarex ARX ammo
Umarex is bringing out a new hunting bullet called the ARX. These are a polymer/copper matrix in a plastic bore-sized sleeve or sabot, and are also suitable for muzzleloading rifles. I don’t know the calibers they offer yet, but I presume they are for the new .50 caliber Hammer rifle and others. They are designed for maximum expansion in game at lower velocities. Of course I will test them for you when I get some. These will be expensive, but they promise to deliver maximum performance for hunters.
Umarex ARX bullets promise revolutionary performance in game.
Umarex Hammer
I got a call from Umarex representative, Steve Lamboy, last week, He told me about the new Umarex Hammer. The Hammer is a .50 caliber big bore that Umarex claims will deliver 700 foot-pounds at the muzzle. Not only that — it’s a 3-shot repeater. Not only that — it will retail for $650! And, with sabotted ammo, you will be able to shoot several calibers from the same gun. I’m thinking the ARX, though that was not specifically mentioned. I am hopefully shooting this one as you read this, today at the Media Day range! If everything I was told bears out, and of course if it is accurate, the Hammer will raise the bar for big bore airguns.
Umarex Gauntlet
This could be the big deal of the day. No, make that the year. The Gauntlet is a 10-shot repeating PCP from Umarex that comes with a shrouded barrel and a regulator. None of those features is new, but they have never been offered in a $300 package before!
Umarex Gauntlet is a budget-priced repeating PCP with great features.
The Gauntlet comes in .177 and .22 calibers. They are saying it gets up to 70 shots in .177 and 60 in .22. If it is accurate, it will have a major impact on the airgun market this year. This rifle, coupled with several new air compressors, will be the big news for the year.
A shrouded Texan?
Anyone who has visited the Lone Star state knows how hard it is to keep Texans quiet. But this year, AirForce Airguns does just that with their new TexanSS. This novel big bore already leads the market; what will a quiet one do? It’s interesting they have done this just as the United States is moving toward legalizing silencers for all firearms in a modification of the National Firearms Act of 1934 (NFA). Pictures to follow.
Other new things
There are several new air compressors for airgunners this year. Air Venturi has a stout one that fills to 4,500 psi quickly, and AirForce Airguns will have a model of their own later in the year. I have the one from Air Venturi right now and you can anticipate a full report will start soon.
Air Venturi’s new compressor goes to 4,500 psi quickly and shuts off automatically.
My head is bursting with all the other new things I know about. This SHOT will be the biggest one yet for airguns.
Yea, looks like it’s time to start cashing in the smaller 401k.
B.B.,
Nice report. The Wildfire and Gauntlet are exciting. Depending on the weight of the Gauntlet, it might have been a contender instead of the Maximus. The Air Venturi compressor is nice too and I think I saw it was to sell for around 1,400. I wonder if it is self contained, or if it requires a low pressure compressor as the first stage?
I am curious,… and maybe you can ask around,… but do the Manufacture’s ever see their (PCP) products showing up at Walmart and such anytime soon? 3 big name outdoor outfitter stores would be another option. I am talking “brick and mortar” stores. Maybe it does not matter. Maybe they never will. On-line shopping is too easy. Maybe the “brick and mortars” will forever be the home of the 100-200$ break barrels and Red Ryders.
I was just thinking of PCP’s hitting the “mass” market.
Looking forward to more,….. Chris
Chris,
No manufacturer wants to sell at Walmart. The returns would be devastating, because the customer is not airgun savvy, and will not read the manual. Walmart doesn’t pay for the returns; the maker does!
B.B.
Walmart doesn’t even pay for much of the product they have on their shelves until long after it’s sold. Great business model for them, crappy for their suppliers/vendors.
Jim M.
You can order Crosman/Benjamin PCPs through Wally World, but why? You can get a better price elsewhere.
RR,
I do agree. Initially,.. I associated “mass market” with Wally’s. Anyone could walk in and walk out with one. I am sure that the margins for the mfgr. at those retail outlets is low. It could be that they have some “sacrificial” models that they are willing to make little on in order to just get them out there.
In Ohio, we just had several major names pulling out of retail brick and mortar stores. On line seems to be the rule of the land. Less jobs, but lower overhead. Lower cost products. It is what it is. I will be the first to admit that I try to stretch my dollars and try to get the most bang for the buck.
Maybe we will see some brick and mortar air gun stores show up. I see the Shot Show had a program to introduce firearms dealers to air guns and try to get them to carry them. Nothing beats being able to walk in and lay your hands on something, hold it, shoulder it, look through a scope,etc..
Chris,
My slightly cantankerous shooting buddy, Doug, is watching to see if the Wildfire turns up at Wally’s for just the reason B.B. mentions above. If Doug doesn’t like the gun, he can return it quickly and conveniently. I think it would be a mistake for Wally to carry this, or any PCP rifle. The public knows nothing about them.
Have a good, ‘un!
Walt
There is a firearm store in my area that has some air guns on its website but they have no examples in the store. I agree that having some examples to feel would help them move product.
Chris,
It would be nice if some of the firearm shops did start carrying quality air rifles, even if only sproingers. One close to me carries the Benjamin Trail, but that is about it and no one who works there knows anything about them. That is the problem, they are not educated about them.
RR,
We have 2 gun shops. Very minimal air gun and pellet selection. They will be looking at profit/mark-up/margin. Heck,… Walmart has more air gun stuff. I am sure they are aware of air guns from industry publications,….. but they are going to have to first see $$ signs on the wall before taking the “plunge” into air. Then,… they have to compete with on-line,…. which is brutal.
Precisely.
BB,
I am looking forward to the performance testing of the ARX ammo, though because of the sabot it will not be usable in my HM1000X or any other shrouded or suppressed air rifle. From looking at the photos of the ARX ammo I would venture a guess that the Hammer may be smoothbore as the indents on the nose of the projectiles look as though they are designed to impart spin like on a rifled slug.
RR,
I had a nice 4 question post for you and it vaporized. I did search saboted pellets on the blog and found one article from 2005.
1) It would appear that there is less friction involved=faster?
2) If the plastic is .22, for example,… and it is the plastic that engages the rifling,…. then wouldn’t the pellet be smaller than .22?
3) What insures the plastic falls off and not continue down range?
4) I am assuming that when you say that these would not be used in a shrouded/suppressed rifle is because of plastic debris getting caught in baffles?
I see these at Walmart all the time and have never tried any. I bet that there (are) a lot of people using them in shrouded/suppressed rifles. Any added insight you, or others,.. can offer would be appreciated.
Thanks, Chris
Chris
I remember reading a review of ARX ammunition in guns & ammo about 8 months ago. In that version for handguns it has less friction in the barrel. The barrel stays cooler which is of no concern to an airgunner. Also the bullet is lighter for the same calliber so it has a higher muzzel velocity. The cuts in the front are designed to transfer energy into the target. It may have been in Handgunner magazine but that is what I know about ARX bullets.
Chris,
The sabot acts very much like the shot cup in many shotgun shells. As the sabot leaves the bore, the “petals” spread out and act like air brakes and the sabot slows and falls away from the projectile. With a shroud or suppressor this will likely happen within, causing an obstruction.
Remington had a series of sabot rounds and I have seen such for muzzleloaders for some years now, but I have not personally had any experience with how well they perform. I am certain the projectile will attain higher velocities, however I question the accuracy of such as I have not seen much data concerning these.
They have had projectiles like this for powder burners for a couple of years.
The hammer will probably be rifled.
The sabto option is nice, .
.50 caliber rifle, capable of shooting shooting .50 caliber lead bullets.
Air Venturi air bolts.
.45 caliber bullets in .50 caliber sabots. (Faster speeds)
.357 caliber bullets see Line above.
.30 caliber. See line above
.25 caliber see above..
I am not a big bore guy, but for hunters, the options of smaller calibers from the same gun, IF. They are accurate, is very alluring..
That can be a mighty big IF.
No two letter word has ever had the possible impact and expectations of greatness than the word IF.
So true.
I’ve been tempted to buy a box of 9mm arx, de case them then feed them through my bulldog. Not sure how it would work, but it’d be fun.
Auronotcs,
Who knows, it might work.
BB,
While you are at the Umarex booth, please do check out the Havox pellets and the Big Blast bottle caps. I am not sure how well the pellets will perform, but those caps look like fun!
RR I will do it!
B.B.
BB
Thanks for your first report on the 2017 Shot Show. The products you mention sound like real game changers in the airgun community. I hope the next couple of days are equally as exciting as you peruse all the new products that will potentially hit the market this year. I say potentially, as a few interesting products shown at previous Shot Shows proved to be teasers, and failed to make it to actual market. However, it does look like a banner year for low priced PCP’s. Have fun on the range testing, and evaluating the latest products.
Ciao
Titus
Wow, 2017 will be a good year for airguns.
The Hammer being a big bore for under $1/fpe is just nuts. Watch out everyone else.
The Gauntlet should sure put pressure on Crosman. I am glad to see someone paying attention to hobbyists. A regulated QB79 with a shroud is a big deal at that price.
The Wildfire will sell like nothing else. For that price everyone will want one.
I am really interested in the new Umarex MSP pistol, the strike point.
The only thing that makes me a little sad, is the MP40 being a BB shooter instead of pellets, but if it can shoot those lead BBs that would be good enough.
MP40 and the M712. I have never seen a full auto bb gun in action before. For those of that have not either, I urge you to click on the link B.B. provided and watch the short 6 minute video. Jaw dropping, blistering fast with that big hammer rocking and rolling the entire time. The thing looks like it will self destruct it is going so fast. Has some chrony info. too.
Chris,
I have played with the M712. It is awesome! The major drawbacks are you use a lot of bbs and CO2 in a big hurry and the magazines are difficult to reload quickly. If you have one you will want to have multiple magazines so you can keep shooting for a few seconds longer.
It would be pretty cool to have the M712 AND the MP40. It would be advisable to buy stock in Umarex and Crsoman for your supplies of bbs and CO2 though.
RR,
I would not buy one, but I like it. I have to wonder how well they would hold up to heavy use? Same as the blow back pistols that are all rage. I just do not see the typical cast pot metal holding up over time.
As for new products,… I am reminded of car buying advice. Get something with a proven track record. Try to never buy new. Try to never buy a “new model” in which a lot of major changes have taken place from a prior model (or) a first time new model. As for air gun related stuff,.. the word gets around within 6 months it seems. Testing and customer reviews will give you a pretty good idea by then. Maybe a year out is even better. Something expensive like a compressor I would want to have a year. The only exception to that is if the manufacturer had some really good long term data. Something like an accelerated use/wear test.
Chris,
I never bought the M712 because I would not have much use for it. Something like that is fun to pull out when a friend comes over, but otherwise…
Hiya Chris and the rest of the gang here! In the 70’s and 80’s I used to work part time in a very large gun shop here in CT. He was also a class III dealer and thanks to him, I’ve handled and fired just about every iconic MG and SMG, I’m undecided as to wether the MP5 or S&W 76 is my favorite, I realize there is a large dichotomy between the two but there it is.
The one exception was the MP-40 and this new thing may just do it for me. I have the Mauser BB pistol as well and so far it has held up under some fairly heavy usage. My gun club prohibits full auto fire so as to not alarm the neighbors but when I showed up with the M712 they were like kids in a candy store! The Air Venturi Pump is very appealing as it would save me having to depend on the good graces of my local FD.
Kevin,
Good to hear from you. Good to hear that the full autos hold up. I was wondering. Yes, the pumps are nice. Love my Shoebox,… but you can shop around and decide on your own. I will say that I like something with a proven track record.
Exciting stuff!!
I am very interested to hear more about the compressors as that will be my next major purchase. Good that there will be some competition.
Great that the manufactures are starting to target the low to mid priced PCP market but for that to be really successful I believe that there needs to be reasonably priced compressors/fill stations available. People like power and shot-count and that takes high pressure – but they don’t like hand pumps. I am guessing that compressors won’t sell if they are 3 or 4 times the cost of the rifle.
Wish I could attend these shows in person, really appreciate the report B.B.!
Hank
Hank,
I too am in need of a compressor, especially since I picked up that HM1000X. I can and am using a hand pump, but there are times it would be nice to quickly and easily fill it without an aerobic workout.
I am having a very difficult time not getting all excited about all these new toys! I do need to get me some more accessories though!
RR
I bought a 150cf /3442psi (heavy) steel scuba tank and made a little cart to wheel it around. Find it very convenient as I do all my shooting in the back yard.
If I would do it again I would go with a large 4500psi carbon fiber tank with a shorter fill-hose. I have a 3-foot at the moment and it wastes a lot of air. When it comes to replacing it I will probably go to a 2-foot one.
Been shooting the FX 500 quite a bit. Getting 80 shots per fill on high-power and 140 plus (still counting) on low-power. Real pleased with it.
Hank,
Compressor, tank, chronograph, range finder…
Vana2,
I am glad that you are happy with the 500. Those are some amazing shot counts,… amazing. Especially for a .25. Looking forward to some long range accuracy reports when you get the chance.
I was surprised that you were going to a 2′ hose vs the 3′ one you are using now. I did not think that it would make that big of a difference. I love the 3′ and looked out just for that when I got the tank. Waste or not,… I am not going shorter. Heck,… once you get a pump it won’t matter anyways! 🙂
Chris USA,
The 500 is very nice. I prefer the simple mags on the HW100s but getting used to the loading sequence for the FX mags.
I am in break-in mode (both for me and the rifle 🙂 ) shooting at low power and close range (25 yards) so I am shooting fairly fast. .25 to .30 ctc 5 shots groups are pretty typical when I am not shivering too much – with some fun-fliers when I am LOL! It was sunny and -9 F when I was shooting on Saturday.
I am adding a “gun carrier” to my tank caddy so I can get away with a shorter reach hose. It may not make a big difference but they huge whoosh when bleeding 220 bar from a three foot hose makes me think of all the pellets that air could have been propelling. Yeah, when I get a pump I probably won’t think of it.
Thank you for your blog. I’m one of the people out there that reads it every day, but doesn’t comments often. When I saw the photo of the Umarex ARX ammo and your description it made me think of the firearm ammo created by Polycase (http://www.polycaseammo.com/). It would be interesting to know if they are providing the bullets.
Bill,
Welcome to the blog.
Yes, I believe the partnership is with Polycase.
B.B.
I think I read an announcement that Crosman is also introducing a new pressure regulated Marauder this year.
Will you also be reviewing the new Crosman Silencing Barrel Device?
My bad. Stock looks the same and the regulator appears to just be adjustable. I had not looked at the standard wood M-rod stock in awhile. The exciting part is the barrel. If it is any thing like the Maximus, it will be a tack driver. I gave up on 10 shot groups as the last 5 pellets just keep going through the same small hole.
Charles,
Yes to both.
B.B.
B.B.,
It’s no secret here that for me the Holy Grail would be an affordably priced PCP filler, so the Air Venturi and air Force compressors have me excited, as long as their P.O.S. price is low enough to shake up the industry.
Also, I am disappointed that Umarex chose to go with the Remington 1875 instead of the far more iconic Remington New Model “1858.” That model is MUCH more identifiable to Wild West buffs than the 1875. The 1875 was a largely unsuccessful attempt to compete with the Colt Peacemaker. A much better choice would have been either the Remington New Model 1858 or the the Colt 1851. In every single western movie set before the 1870s (the days of the truly “wild” West), these are the revolvers brandished by every hero and every desperado. Westerns set much later feature the Colt SAA, not the Remington 1875. The grand exception among clasics is “The Wild Bunch,” in which the gunfighters are packing Colt 1911 pistols.
I’m excited by the other new products you have reported on, but the Remington 1875 instead of the New Model 1858 (or Colt 1851) has me shaking my head.
Michael
I would also include the Colt Army 1860 as another better choice than the Remington 1875. I had momentarily overlooked that one.
Michael
B.B.,
Above I forgot to applaud Umarex for the MP 40. That could be amazing as a BB gun. Can the Sten MK II be far behind? :^)
Michael
Never thought I’d see the Sabot pellet come back, Sussex Armoury (Now called Air Arms) used to make them in the 80’s, a chapter I’m pretty sure AA would like to forget
They were diabolical
I am surprised that the Wildfire doesn’t have the option of being paired with a under $100 hand pump. It seems odd to have to pay more for the pump than the rifle. Since I usually shoot indoors or in warmer weather I don’t see any advantage to the Wildfire over the 1077. Are there any? Are you going to do a comparison test?
Jeff,
Welcome to the blog.
As PCPs become more popular every day, many more shooters have what it takes to fill them. This was a good move by Crosman.
B.B.
BB
I believe the Wildfire will sale like wildfire. And shoot like wildfire at that. The HPA Wildfire was a no brainer. I bet it takes off like the Discovery’s did back when pcp’s were young.
And I don’t mean wildfire as not accurate. If it’s anything like the HPA converted 1077 I had it will be accurate. And get a a bunch of fast action shots down range.
And if you get a chance can you ask Crosman if they will release a wood stock version of the Wildfire like they did with the 1077’s. I do hope they will.
Oh and have fun there. You can’t work all the time shooting and talking about all that air gun stuff you know. 😉
GF1,
TIME???
My time is spent taking pictures, interviews, writing blogs and answering questions. To get a blog out I have to have it up by 9 p.m. here on the west coast.I am in my room typing as fast as I can. And people want me to have dinner with them!!!
Time, indeed. When I get back home, maybe!
B.B.
BB
Oh but I know your busy.
I just hope your enjoying yourself.
I guess when your done writing the next days blog tonight it will be time to start the next day. Just make sure you keep eating and keep your self replenished.
Pyramyd AIR and Crosman will be at the big NRA Outdoor Show early in Feb in Harrisburg, PA. Do you think you will go?
I always seem to be behind when it comes to anything new. I picked up a Crosman Legacy 1000 multi pump from Wally World this weekend for about 50 bucks with tax. It’s basically a 2100 with an aluminum piston rod that you can pump up 12 times instead of 10. It’s hard to pump and it’s the first three stage trigger have had the displeasure of dealing with. The GTA blog reports 725 FPS with Crosman Premiers at 12 humps and, can you believe it, 880 FPS with 7.9 Crosman CPHP’s. It’s louder at 12 pumps than any other multi pump I’ve ever shot. Can’t understand why Crosman didn’t incorporate these features into the 2100 with its metal receiver and better trigger. That and put a lighter spring in the valve to make it easier to pump. It seems that Crosman is determined to drive its lower-end guns into the ground. Crosman could have one of the best multi pumps around but instead have one of the worst with the bad trigger and hard pumping. I’m going to shoot it for a week to see if anything improves and if it doesn’t, I’m going to tear into it and try to fix these problems.
Brent,
You lost me at the “3 stage trigger”. I am assuming that it has so much creep in the trigger,.. that it feels like 3 distinct stages? Crosman and triggers,….. I just halfed the pull on the Maximus in 15 minutes with a lighter spring. And,…. added adjuster screws,…2,…. with holes that were (already) in the trigger housing. Just screwed them in.
I do not have an explanation.
Lets try ( halved ),…. instead of halfed. Cut in half,…. how’s that? 🙂
Chris USA,
Perhaps it should be Crosman putting in the lighter spring before it even leaves the factory.
Hmmm. ;^)
Michael
Michael,
Yea,… you would think the lawyers would still be happy with 2# and 13oz.
Yep, you’re right. The old 760 Pumpmaster trigger was better than this. I can’t understand why models that were once Mainstays in the Crosman line keep getting worse and worse instead of better and better. Three simple things that they could have done that I pointed out my previous reply and they’d have the best lower-priced multi pump out there. It seems that the gun operates with more pressure because they advertise using silicone chamber oil on the Crosman website but the printed instructions say to still use Pell-gun oil. People are still buying multi palms. The Black Ops Junior sniper was the number two seller for 2016 as reported by Pyramyd AIR on the emails they sent out.
Pumps
Chris USA,
I believe Brent. For example the Makarov Ultra Blowback I bought (and returned) had a four stage trigger. Well, sometimes it was only three stages. How many stages it had fluctuated from shot to shot, although each stage was gritty regardless. Pulling the trigger moved the muzzle more widely than did the blowback.
As I recently insulted the heavy and eccentric trigger of the Crosman 1077 here, I should note the 1077’s trigger is consistent, and the shooter can work with it. The Makarov Ultra trigger is a grab bag.
Michael
The trigger is about par for modern Crosman Rifles in the price range.
Crosman did well in trading the metal reciever away for a metal piston and better bolt head (looks like it probably seals the barrel lead better than the version on the Crosman 2100).
The pumping effort has almost nothing to do with the valve spring (I checked, with a lighter valve spring in one of mine), it has to do with the fact the Crosman Legacy 1000 has a much much more efficient pump, that is more of the air is actually getting compressed, and the pressure of the air being compressed is increasing the pump effort. It would likely be the same on a Crosman 2100 if you were to replace the plastic piston with a solid metal piston.
The Crosman Legacy 1000 is a lot easier to pump than the Crosman 140, many times over easier.
As to the noise level, what do you expect, you put more air at higher pressure behind the pellet and it is going to make a bit more of a pop from the remaining air pressure after the pellet leaves the barrel. That is just the way it is.
The report you reference on GTA (just found it) says 880FPS at 15 pumps, not at 12 pumps. Mine will do 794FPS with 12 pumps and a 7 grain pellet.
Yes the the Legacy 1000 has a terrible trigger, tune it instead of complaining. Yes it has a difficult pump, that is the price of the added power. Yes it has a plastic reciever, that is how they kept the cost down.
If they made it the way you want with a wear out pot metal receiver and better trigger it would be a $120 rifle, do you really want that? It would still be just as hard to pump, as that is the price of power, try pumping a Crosman 140 with good seals one of these days, the legacy will seem easy. I shoot a Crosman 140 daily, so I do not notice the pump effort of the Crosman Legacy 1000.
Being realistic for a $50 rifle the Crosman Legacy is great, quite accurate, very powerful for a low cost pumper.
I almost forgot, if you want to complain about the trigger, try shooting a Crosman 1077 for a few hundred shots, the trigger will not seem nearly so bad after that.
Current low cost Crosman Air Rifles have terrible triggers, that is the way things are to keep the prices down.
No, David. The 760 Pumpmaster, a less-expensive gun, had a better trigger than the Legacy does and you have to believe the Crosman had to invest more money to make a plastic receiver rather than the metal receiver that was already in the 2100. A lighter valve spring would make it easier to pump. You’d probably have to pay $0.25 for it at the most. I’ve known Crosman guns since the 1960s and the level of quality they expect customers to accept now is just unacceptable compared to what it used to be.
What year was your 760 made? And you do know that the trigger/sear are different on the two guns correct?
Yes it did have a one time cost for the retool, it is still saving them money using plastic instead of pot-metal, do a little research.
I DID put a weaker valve spring in one of my two Crosman Legacy 1000’s and if there is any difference in pump force it is not enough to notice. I have to cock that 2100 in order to pump it now because of how weak the valve spring is. The bigger part of the problem is the force of the air, that overrides any effect of the valve spring, as I can not tell the difference, I only did the lighter spring to improve the performance of the rifle slightly.
I agree the quality has went down since the 1960’s, though the price has not went up much with inflation. In order to keep the price down they have to sacrifice something. And if you have been using them that long how are you complaining about the relitively easy pumping of the Crosman Legacy 1000 as compared to the Crosman 140/1400 which is a lot harder to pump to the full 12 pumps recommended in some of the manuals from that time.
Where I said “I have to cock that 2100” should read “I have to cock that Crosman Legacy 1000”. The similarity of the Crosman Legacy to the 2100 has me making that typing mistake often.
” in order to keep the price down, they have to sacrifice something” I haven’t heard a better explanation for the demise of “Made in the USA”
Yes, I would pay $120 for an easier pumping rifle with a metal receiver that you could mount a scope on with no material creep, a good trigger, and a lighter valve spring for easier pumping (every little bit would help). I know that a lot of others on this blog would also because we’ be been having an ongoing conversation about this very thing.
I would pay for it as well if it were available. Though the Crosman Legacy 1000 is just a cheap rifle that is what it is.
If there were available something on the order of a modern Crosman 1400 with an 11mm dovetail for scoping in either .22 cal or .177 cal I would pay $160 for such a rifle (and NOT the Webley Rebel, to many QC issues).
The main thing to me was that the Legacy 1000 looks like a step backwards to something cheaper in build as well as price. I wanted Crosman to make a modest step forward in both areas using what was already available in the Crosman 2100 platform.
880 FPS with 15 pumps.
The Umarex Gauntlet sounds like an interesting answer to the Benjamin Wildfire to me, it only appears to add the availability of .22 cal, and likely a better trigger 🙂 . Is there something more the the Umarex Gauntlet that could make it more worth while?
I guess you are not going to get the opportunity to try the Benjamin Wildfire from the sounds of it? The Benjamin Wildfire is the one new air rifle that I am most curious about, it has my attention.
Finally we are going to have a truly low end PCP, complete with the bonus of a trigger that we can complain about all year, and it looks like they are not going to give you the opportunity to test it out at the Shot Show. I like the Crosman 1077, and am looking forward to an option that does not cost $500 per year in CO2, the Wildfire + Pump + a couple extra magazines + a bunch of extra clips is less than that.
No doubt that the airgun industry has many more new ideas than the firearms industry. That MP 40 is interesting. However, I was a little disappointed to learn that the firearms original had some flaws. One was that the 32 round magazineemptied quickly. That’s not much more than a BAR as automatic weapons go. The bigger problem is that the gun tended to jam when held by the magazine as the ergonomics invite. I believe that in a head to head contest, at least in the rugged environment of the Eastern Front, that the Russian counterpart, the PPSH 41, was often preferred, not unlike the way they oft-maligned Mosin rifle held its own against the Mauser.
Between the new Umarex PCP and the Galahad, the Benjamin Marauder will have its work cut to stay at the top.
I actually came across more airgun innovation the other day in a firearms magazine of all things. I believe it was called Firepower. Anyway, there was a story about how there is a battle against invasive iguanas in Puerto Rico. (These kinds of hunts can call forth some impressive firepower. I was reading how an island somewhere was cleared of feral pigs only after a kind of helicopter assault.) Anyway, the weapon of choice for the iguanas was a pcp made by Hatsan. With its black surface and sling, it looked like something out of James Bond. It also challenged my idea that pcps cannot be used for hunting in rough terrain. These people in the story certainly looked the part wading through streams in a setting that looked like the jungles of New Guinea. Maybe they had their carbon fiber refill tank out of the camera frame. In any case, this is another opportunity to suggest a new product to airgun manufacturers. If you can manufacture a replaceable air reservoir of the kind that Air Arms has introduced, new dimensions will open up for the pcp. A number of these reservoirs can be slung over the shoulder in a canister that would look like a LAWS rocket.
The hunting was quite challenging because of the ability of the iguanas to conceal themselves. As proof the story featured a two page photo spread of a wall of trees where it claimed you could see three iguanas in plain sight, but I couldn’t see a single one. There is an entertaining story called The Most Dangerous Game about a villain who buys a private island so that he can hunt humans for the ultimate thrill. He could have tried iguanas instead. This setting could make for a challenging version of field target.
It also reminds me of another story about iguanas that I might have posted awhile ago. A friend of a friend in Florida can’t stand iguanas and woke up one morning to see a huge one sprawled on the roof of her car. In hysterics, she called a cab company so that she could go to work, but they had no cars available. When she screeched that “he” was still outside, they got concerned. They thought that this might be the case of a stalker that would involve the police. When they finally got it out of her that the assailant was an iguana, there was loud laughter over the phone, but then their whole office joined together to solve the problem. By this time, the iguana had crawled under the car with just its tail poking out behind. The taxi company advised the woman to roll fruit to entice the iguana away. She bowled away with various fruits and finally succeeded in luring the iguana away from the car at which point she sprinted into the passenger side and roared off. An air rifle would have been more efficient, but the woman probably wouldn’t have gone for it.
Matt61
Matt 61
I remember that when you told about the girl and the Iguana. And I watched a show some time back that was about eliminating Iguanas on a Island I believe.it was. But they were making money off of it taking tourists out on Iguana hunts.
And I believe I read a book when I was younger about someone hunting humans on a Island. It’s been along time back so not remembering fully. I need to do search and see if I can refresh my memory.
GF1,
Island of Dr. Moreau.
B.B.
BB
Yep that was it.
Are you done with the work for the night?
Actually, you are referring to a short story from very long ago called, “The Most Dangerous Game,” which I believe was also adapted into a movie of the same title.
“The Island of Dr. Moreau” was a movie about a mad scientist who turned humans into half human-half-animals on his private island.
Then there was a Peter Benchley (of “Jaws” fame) novel called “The Island” with a similar premise of a madman on his private Island. That was a terrible novel made into a terrible movie starring Michael CaIne.
Michael
Michael
Sounds like what I’m thinking of is”The Most Dangerous Game”. I don’t remember the half human animal part. As I mentioned. It was long ago when I read it.
Gunfun1,
“The Most Dangerous Game” is a classic short story (later a movie) that has a wealthy big game hunter on an island who hunts down humans. There is no man-turned-into-animal element to the plot. The island with a mad scientist who alters the species of humans is a movie called “The Island of Dr. Moreau.” There is no connection between the two as far as I know.
Michael
Michael
Yep it was “The Most Dangerous Game”.
Thanks.
Matt61
Oh and forgot theost important part. The tourist wee shooting air guns. I’m remembering breakbarrels though. Not pcp’s.
Oh how I’d love to be a mouse in your shirt pocket BB, I bet your head is on a swivel !
The Hammer sounds entriguing, along with the ARX ammo.
Have fun, look forward to your impressions.
Just pre-ordered a Gamo Swarm break barrel repeater by phone. Guy stuck a coupon on it I was due. $179. Looking forward to it.