Before we begin, don’t forget that JUly 10, this Saturday, is the Midwest Airgun Show.
Today we have Part 2 of a guest blog titled The High End: As Good as They Can Be from reader Michael.
If you’d like to write a guest post for this blog, please email me at blogger@pyramydair.com.
Take it away, Michael.
The High-End: As Good as They Can Be: Part 2
by blog reader Michael
This report covers:
- Many products are alike
- They kept it in the product line
- Management by the numbers
- Remember who you are
- Remembering the past
- Editor’s notes
- Dale Evans
“Do what they say, say what they mean / One thing leads to another / . . . I know I listen too long, but then / One thing leads to another.”
These lines in a song by The Fixx, a 1980s pop band, could describe my thoughts as I read Tom Gaylord’s blog of July 2, 2021, It’s Always Something. In my mind one thing led to another. Tom’s writing often gets me thinking, and thinking and thinking. I began writing a comment to post after that blog entry, but before I knew it, I had written too much for it to be a comment. It was more “bloggy” in length. It also seemed to me a continuation of my thoughts in my previous blog entry, as It’s Always Something is in part a continuation of Tom’s first piece titled, The Golden Rule of sales, on the purchase of his Harley-Davidson this year and of other blogs of his that have a philosophy of air guns vibe such as What You Want (May 11, 2016).
A classic Indian. This one is a rare model 841 built for the Army in 1944. It’s 500cc 15 hp, shaft drive and the heads stick out to the sides to improve cooling.
Many products are alike
Iconic brands such as Harley-Davidson and Indian motorcycles share many characteristics with innumerable other iconic brands, including those of airgunning. To be clear, motorcycles, guitars and other things that are not literally air guns can be used as metaphors, or analogues, of air guns for the purpose of discussing the topic in-depth (or, as the case might be here, “in-shallow”). Discussing these items in comparison/contrast to air guns is also a way to make ideas concrete which might otherwise be abstract.
The AMF ownership from 1969 until 1981 hurt Harley’s reputation and came close to terminating the brand. When Indian struggled, it went belly-up. (But brand names have value, and Indian the brand exists again.)
This same progression-regression exists with airguns as well. The iconic BSA brand and company was bought by Gamo, and so on. Although BSA has a storied history, it was nevertheless a small fish. Think of it like the bluegill, a tasty but tiny game fish. BSA was consumed by a far bigger fish, Gamo. BSA was just like a bluegill consumed by a northern pike.
They kept it in the product line
At least BSA was bought by an airgun maker. To their credit Gamo kept some classic BSA models in the lineup. Gamo “got it.” During Harley-Davidson’s most grim era it was owned by a bowling equipment maker! Among their other products, AMF made bowling balls.
Would a rebellious biker ride into Sturgis, SD with these?
Management by the numbers
When iconic manufacturers are bought by and run by folks who have little to no understanding of what made them iconic, they lose their way. As Tom wrote, “A successful company does have to be managed by enthusiasts. The minute that changes, out comes the old spreadsheet and management by the numbers begins.” Normally adaptation to changing lifestyles and innovation and evolution are the traits of a healthy company. But certain types of companies are different, it seems.
Remember who you are
When Harley tried to be a motocross bike brand, they lost sight of why their customers had affection for Harley-Davidson motorcycles. They also tried to distance themselves from the outlaw biker image. But Harley-Davidson didn’t realize that for every actual motorcycle club member who rode, there were thousands of weekend riders who wanted to feel individualistic, daring and rugged when they weren’t putting on a suit and tie and commuting to work in the city.
The Air Venturi AV-46M – Might plinkers love it, too?
Are there airgunners who are equivalent to weekend bikers? That is a legitimate question, if there are casual air gun hobbyists who do not hunt or compete but desire a fine sporting airgun, suitable for field target, or a 10-meter target air pistol, simply for backyard plinking. That certainly describes me, although I suspect there aren’t many like that. (If any readers fit that description, please comment below.)
The Philishave SC7920 by Norelco — Jimmy Page would never take this on a concert stage!
Remembering the past
Harley was resurrected by embracing their classic social rebel past and going retro, beginning in the 1980s. The guitar makers I discussed in Part One of this blog, Fender and Gibson, also hit their low points in the 1970s. They had been bought by companies, CBS and Norlin (Norelco) respectively, that knew nothing about what made those brands icons. Think of it, a media company that owned a network of TV and radio stations running a guitar company? That is almost as surreal as a maker of electric shavers running a guitar company.
Those brands were very nearly run into the ground in a decade and a half. At the same time product quality plummeted dramatically. And quality was one of the hallmarks of those makers’ brand. Quality declined because of, as Tom decries, “the old spreadsheet and management by the numbers” dynamic. The irony of such business practices is that ultimately, they are bad for brand value and therefore profit long-term. By the mid-1980s both Fender and Gibson were again run by people who “got it,” and they came back from the precipice. So too did Harley.
Las Vegas is another useful example of a brand with an iconic image as its top selling point as a tourist destination. As the 20th century wound down, Las Vegas tried to sell itself as family-friendly, a wholesome vacation destination for families, a sort of Disney World with slot machines, huge, cheap buffets and discounted air fares to get there.
An iconic sign for an iconic city.
In the early 2000s Las Vegas struggled until it decided, like Harley-Davidson, to embrace its outlaw image of the past. It dropped the family friendly advertising campaign to again become “Sin City.” The city created the “What happens in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas” advertising campaign. The implicit message is, “Leave your dull wholesome doldrums behind, come to the naughty land of neon, 24-hour excitement, and so on.” (Family blog, remember.) And do it anonymously!
It could put your eye out unless you wear safety glasses and don’t shoot hard objects, but there is nothing on earth more cool.
I will admit the connection to air guns might be tenuous. And perhaps the metaphor is imperfect when it comes to icons. Air guns of the past, along with the companies that made them, are admired largely for quality design and build, along with the romantic, nostalgic image of little boys and their Red Ryders defending their families in their imaginations a la A Christmas Story. To this day every time I think of Benjamin and Sheridan multi-pump air rifles, I also think nostalgically about when I was a Boy Scout daydreaming as I studied the ads for those air guns in the back of Boy’s Life magazine. But maybe the metaphor works after all. Air gun makers of iconic products past might take a lesson from Harley-Davidson, Fender, Gibson and Las Vegas: Embrace what people loved about the product and bring it back as authentically as is reasonable.
OK, OK. The Sheridan Supergrade was cooler than the Red Ryder!
Crosman might do well to bring back wood-stocked multi-pump Benjamins on a limited production basis, even if only to foster and burnish the brand identity. Crosman could also resurrect Sheridan, but not with products that bear no connection whatsoever to those marvelous machines from Racine, Wisconsin. A “Streak” is a quality multi-pumper, not a magnum springer that can loosen your dental work when you shoot it. Crosman could even bring back a custom shop, numbered limited edition, Sheridan Supergrade and, in a joint project with Tim McMurray of Mac1 Airguns, offer a “Steroid” Blue Streak that can produce 20 or more foot-pounds at the muzzle with the maximum 14 pumps. Crosman could advertise that a Sheridan air rifle can be ordered in any caliber one desires, as long as it’s .20!
Tom Gaylord (B.B. Pelletier) is right. It’s always something.
Editor’s notes
I thought Michael did well with Part One of this guest blog, and today he has given us even more to chew on. You know, this guest blog is not supposed to be a lesson in business for airgun manufacturers, but this one, plus the others Michael refers to, are certainly food for thought.
And regarding Las Vegas, I went there in the early 1990s with my two boys. We stayed at the MGM Grand and we entered through the lion’s mouth (before MGM figured out that a lion is considered bad luck by Chinese gamblers). So there we were, four family members on vacation surrounded by some very well-dressed soiled doves.
Dale Evans
I promised reader thedavemeister that I would post a picture of my cat, Dale Evans. It was supposed to be in yesterday’s blog but I forgot. Here she is on a fluffy fur blanket I put by her favorite window where she meets her personal sunbeam on most days.
Dale Evans awaits her sunbeam.
“Dale Evans awaits her sunbeam.”
Thanks, B.B., what a sweet kitty…and my cats all agree with me on that! =>
Dave,
Nice pic. Cats are cool,… or can be. All is well and good until it is time to re-do the litter box. 🙁 We grew up with several. Very different personalities,…. from complete aloof,.. to a total pest, at your feet 24/7 and 100% a lap cat, if allowed.
Chris
Chris,
Dale will follow me around the house to show me how aloof she can be. 🙂
BB
I love when cats follow you around…so cool! =>
Chris,
Yes, for sure; they “can” be; these 3 indoor cats are all pretty mellow; the outdoor ones range from lap-sitters to “just put the food down and go away,” but we take care of them all as best we can. =>
Take care,
dave
My bird watching buddies say that feral cats kill 6 billion birds a year in the USA. What can or should be done?
As Bob Barker used to say, ……………
-Y
Yogi
Shoot more birds and feed them to the cats.
tt
twotalon,
Wrong solution!
Just remember, those birds eat lots of nasty bugs!
Just keep those kitties locked up indoors where they belong!
BobF
Yogi,
It’s the circle of life! “A man may fish with the worm that hath eat of a king and eat of the fish that hath fed of that worm . . . ,[which shows] how a king may go a progress through the guts of a beggar.” — Hamlet, Act IV, Scene 3
That 6 billion number is much too high, and it smacks of a made-up stat, like the goldfish that can’t remember anything for longer than 8 seconds during laps in its bowl. How could anyone measure the number? :^)
Michael
Here Michael read these!
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/essay-to-save-birds-should-we-kill-off-cats
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/moral-cost-of-cats-180960505/
Hope you think a little differently now?
-Y
Yogi,
Well, it’s a real story all right. I still say it’s all part of the circle of life. We live in a world in which some living things eat other living things.
Michael
Dave,
Dale says, “Wow!” So many other pretty kitties! 😉
BB
Dale is so pretty; thanks for posting her. =>
Yogi
I’m with twotalon
We had some feral cats on the farm and they helped keep the pest bird population down as well as mice and even rats.
We had a few dogs on the farm. As strange as it may sound they did all get along in thier own way.
I had hunting dogs too. And I had a very special colical bob tail feral cat that was always with me and my hunting dog. We seemed to all know when it was time to get to business when we was out running around in the woods and fields and lake.
Alot of special times when I was a kid growing up
Heck I got a Rat Terrier squerrial dog and a Norwegian forest cat that both run around the house with no problems.
If people could get along half as good as them it would be a different word we live in..
Just say’n.
Gunfun1,
Dogs will often look out for cats and vice-versa when they grow up together, such as on a farm.
Have you seen the viral video of the black cat that calmly goes into the black bear’s pen at a zoo every day, and the bear just looks at it like it’s a tiny black bear. The bear is even O.K. with the cat drinking out of its water dish.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVBcbe_0Wj8
Michael
Micheal
Yep. And the cat we have is about 4 years older than the dog. Maybe if it was the other way around they might not get along. But no problems with them together at all.
Dave,
That picture made me smile ear to ear!
Michael
Michael,
Whoops! I meant to reply earlier (in fact, I thought I had…how sad is that?).
I’m happy that that picture made you smile; I should have taken a pic of the outdoor cats by the backdoor…yowling up a storm! Yes, I had to stop commenting and run out and put out the food for the outdoor cats. Even though this old brick farmhouse has double-paned windows and is well insulated, if I’m not out when they expect me, they will YOWL…like extra loud, as they figure I must still be sleeping…why else would I not be out there waiting on them “paw and hind leg”? =>
Take care,
dave
Dave,
Our smaller cat (always the small ones) Jerry is the absolute king of the household. He wakes us up, tells us to go to bed, yells for us to eat and feed him, yells to be picked up, pretty much everything. And he carries on full, long conversations with us. We can talk with him for a half hour if we were to put up with it for that long. In short, he’s adorable.
Michael
Aw man, that’s awesome; I love it! Thank you. =>
First thing they teach in MBA school is “what is our core competency”. When they get away from that things run amuck.
-Y
PS I’m more of a dog person.
Yogi,
I like all animals (except people), but I would be called a dog person also.
The funny (not haha) thing is, there are so many out there in business who have either forgotten their “core competency” or are afraid to try to step out and make it in such.
That and they are so busy learning all of these made up words so they can play “Buzzword Bingo”.
Yogi, RidgeRunner,
My across-the-street neighbor (in our old neighborhood) was a military dog trainer, who retired from the military, injured, when her chute didn’t fully deploy as she jumped from a plane with TWO bomb-sniffing dogs harnessed to her; she broke her hip in the fall when she ensured that she hit the ground with the dogs on top (to protect them; they were fine)…she’s one tough and cool lady! Anyway, people heard that we were rescuing critters, and cars would pull up between our houses in the middle of the night, doors would open, and a puppy or a kitten would be dumped out. Judith would take all the puppies (her core expertise) and we would take all the kitties. Many animals were rescued by this partnership. The funniest batch were 3 kittens that had lost their Mom and had taken up residence under Judith’s shed. Caleb, her German Shepard helper-dog pulled all 3 kittens out and brought them into the house through his doggie door; he even got hairballs from grooming them; it was kind of funny but sweet; he was an awesome dog. Anyway, I thought you guys might like to hear about that.
Take care,
dave
Dave,
That is wonderful! And your neighbor is not just a military hero, she’s also a hero to dogs for her sacrifice.
Michael
Yes, Judith is awesome for sure. =>
Yogi,
Exactly! (Dogs are wonderful, too.)
Michael
For sure (please see my above comment) =>
Michael,
“Hi, my name is RidgeRunner. I am a plinker.” “Hi RidgeRunner.”
I have an Izzy. At various times I have owned two FWB300s and a FWB601. When I owned the 601, I called Neal Stepp and ordered ten tins of RWS R10 Match Pistol and 10 of Rifle. He asked me what I was going to do with it. I told him I was going to plink. He informed me that there were cheaper pellets I could use for plinking, and I told him that I take my plinking serious.
I used to be a hunter. I grew up hunting. I hunted to help feed my family. I quit hunting in 1986 because I no longer needed to hunt to feed my family. There was a problem though. I enjoyed shooting, most especially long range precision shooting. With the coming of the internet, I discovered the world of modern airguns. I have been an enthusiast ever since.
Did I say I like plinking?
RR,
I included the 46M with you in mind.
Michael
Michael,
I would get that AV-46M, but what would I do with it. I do wish my hand grip was laminated, but I am not really thrilled with the color. I think I will keep my Izzy. 😉
“Hi, my name is RidgeRunner. I am a plinker.”
RidgeRunner,
That totally cracked me up!
Yeah, I guess I’m just a plinker (not as hardcore as you, though, hahaha! =>).
I used to love to hunt; I mostly liked to be outside, with friends, enjoying the outdoors.
In time, as friends dropped out, I found myself hunting alone; then I started bringing along an airgun to plink; next I was like, “Hey, I can do this at home.”
And it’s even easier on the farm; I shoot my .22s some, but mostly air rifles and pistols, and pretty much all plinking…I plink everyday…and that’s not so bad, is it? The word on the street is that old Abraham Lincoln was a plinker…just look at him shooting that Spencer carbine (with Spencer) on the White House lawn (ah, the good ol’ days!). So, I’d say that anyone who is “just a plinker” is in good company! =>
Happy plinking to you,
dave
Dave,
Even I do not plink every day! Unfortunately, I am still working or I would be plinking every day. The dog does not like it though. At all. Oh well.
” I am still working or I would be plinking every day.”
Yeah, man, retirement was the game changer for me; that’s what gave me the time to plink a little every day…that is, in between all of the inescapable things piling up on my “honey do” list; that thing gets bigger every day, LOL!
Michael,
Good article and lots of food for thought. I watch a fair bit of Fox Business for nice mix of political news and financial news (mainly,… for overall trends in both). One of the newer items are SPAC’s,.. (Special Acquisition Companies) that boost the finance of small companies and take them public to be traded on a stock exchange.
Of course, the SPAC’s have their butt covered boom or bust. None the less,.. you have a small company that is (now) overseen by shareholders and stockholders. Maybe good? Maybe bad? You decide.
On buyouts or takeovers,…. most would do well to support, guide, stand back and not ever lose sight of what the company is and what made it that way.
Good Day all,……… Chris
Chris,
You provided lots of food for thought right here. I hadn’t heard of (or rembered hearing of) SPACs, but your “maybe good /bad” question is dead-on. They are likely better than raiders, anyway.
Michael
Michael,
Well,… there is some debate among veteran experts on SPAC’s. Like I said,.. the SPAC’s are covered boom or bust. Some think they are akin to a wolf in sheep’s clothing. We will see. They offer a service for a buck,.. which they will get either way.
Chris
An acquaintance, now gone, had a desk job in a conservative industry, a nine-to-five suit and tie type. On the weekend he would don his black leather, sleeveless vest, put sone cigars in the vest pocket and get on his Harley and just ride. He shed his week day image and put on his alternate identity.
An outlaw biker? No. Well maybe, just a little, and only on weekends. I think that it’s part of maleness to want to preserve a little of the wild. To preserve a little of the lion and not to be entirely a house cat.
Dan
Dan,
Your acquaintance was the definitive market target. And our cats, inside-only, sometimes sit at a window focused on a bird on our patio and as their tails twitch, their bodies vibrate. I like to think they imagine something like being a lion stalking a gazelle.
Michael
Cats and dogs have saved many marriages. My wife and I have had one or the other continuously for our 61 years together.
Michael, put me in the category with Ridge Runner. Have hunted and been around guns for 81 years. Hunted mostly with shotguns and small bore rifles but I reload and love to shoot the big boys at targets, even mud banks. Now days it is mostly airguns since I discovered this blog 7 years ago. Accuracy is everything for me now after going through a quick learning curve with a couple of big store lawyered triggers and the advertised zillion fps. Reasonable backyard noise is important to me. The sound, kick, foot pounds of energy and 2700 FPS of a 30.06 or 8 mm Mauser are available to me anytime I feel the urge to visit the rifle range. I love to compete but at my age the competition is one airgun vs another and me against me. Oh, and I have bought my share of airguns and accessories whether I needed them or not.
Good report
Deck
Deck,
A wise observation about house cats, and your feelings about air guns are similar to mine.
Michael
Michael and BB,
Since you asked, I will will confess to being one of your “casual air gun hobbyists who do not hunt or compete but desire a fine sporting airgun, suitable for field target, or a 10-meter target air pistol, simply for backyard plinking”.
I don’t hunt (but I do take out the occasional pest burrowing critters – regular tree rats get a full pass), and I don’t compete with anyone other than myself (although I do tell myself that when I retire I may take it up). Ninety plus percent of my shooting is done in my basement (I am blessed with a 21 yard shooting lane down there), and 100% of it is on either my property or at my parents (I can also shoot out to 60 yards outdoors at both houses).
Over the years I have several “high end” rifles and pistols, and all the “peripherals” to go with them (Shoebox Compressor and tanks, pellet sorting stuff, dedicated tools etc.).
So I guess that all puts me the category of a seriously dedicated plinker . . . I shoot some pretty much every day, sometimes multiple times a day.
Alan
Alan,
You and I are both basement shooters. Because we have closeby neighbors and cold winters, a basement range is essential. I feel bad for those who are basement-less, although many of them live in far more attractive places than I do.
Michael
Let’s hear it for the Mid-west airgun show. The most ‘enabling’ show I’ve been to. Besides the SHOT show in Vegas! The past and the present of airgunning will be open for all to admire and desire.
The field of dreams and memories is available to all.
My first show was Winston-Salem back in ’91, since then I’ve been to Roanoke, Damascus, Baldwinsville, St. Louis, Connecticut, Standing Stone, Hickory and now the Mid-west show.
See ya’ll in Grove City!
Michael,
Thanks for another thoughtful and interesting guest blog that further emphasizes that companies should keep their focus on the brand’s core product. Back in the 1970s my friend bought a Harley 350 Sprint and it was a terrible bike that constantly broke down. It was awful. As a kid, I was interested in the 100cc Harley Baja, but was talked out of it by a real motorcyclist. “Real” Harleys are not for everybody, though AMF tried to make it so, back in the bad old days.
You asked us to raise a hand if we regular folks buy fine sporting guns for casual shooting. Yep, that’s me! B.B. made the TX200 sound like the rifle to buy and I did buy one as my third air gun after I had turned 50 years old. The second purchase was the Marauder, gen 1, after I restarted shooting my old Crosman Quest after it sat for years. I looked on the net for airgun knowledge and found this blog maybe 15 years ago and have been a front-row student ever since. Yes, between then and now, I bought some air rifles that I wish I hadn’t, but plinking reactive targets and paper-punching is a noble pastime and I enjoy doing it! It makes me happy and so does taking them apart and trying to make them shoot smoother and be more accurate and often they become less powerful. Though I think hunting for food and sport is a fine thing to do, I let others do it and let them feed me when they give me hunks of venison, or have me over for dinner. My powder burner friends love shooting my air guns, too! So yes, you don’t have to hunt or compete to enjoy hitting what you’re aiming for and then hitting it often enough to keep it interesting.
Regards,
Will
Will,
It’s good to hear from you. Thanks for your comments, 🙂
BB
Will,
Thanks for sharing.
With your mentions of the 350 Sprint and Harley Baja you reminded me of how Harley got scared in the 1970s by much higher qualty Japanese bikes. They mistakenly tried to compete with them in their niche, a sure loser. Harley quality sorely needed to be improved, however. The shrewd strategy would have ceen doing then what they eventually did do later, embrace their bad boy image. Once Harley did that, they started selling in Japan!
Michael
B.B.,
Thanks. Correction, I’ve been reading this blog for nine years, not 15.
Will
Re. Core competencies:
David did not allow Goliath or Saul to dictate the choice of weapons. David used the tool with which he was skilled, he stayed with his core competency. Turned out well.
Dan
Dan, I love that story! It’s one of my favorites; and like you said, David stayed with his core competency, and proved that “accuracy beats horsepower.” Goliath had a javelin, a spear, and a sword, not to mention armor; but he got bested by one accurately slung stone…pretty awesome! =>
(from 1 Samuel 17:45-51):
45 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.”
48 So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 49 Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth. 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David. 51 Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it.
And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.
Dave
Wasn’t David a young man or even a teenager up against a giant exsperianced warrior.
Ain’t it amazing how God can take the feeble and make them the giant.
Gunfun1, exactly right! King Saul tried to warn him off for that reason; but God hooked him up. =>
And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.” — 1 Samuel 17:33
Dace,
I think David went into combat with Goliath having just read The Book of Shot Placement. :^)
Michael
Dave
Yep.
What’s that old adage about fearing the man who only owns one gun (sling) because he’s likely to be very good with it?
Motorman
St. Louis, MO
Dave,
In the David/Goliath story, David had experienced God’s provision and protection as he defended his sheep and killed the lion and the bear. It was not a stretch to transfer that forward to taking on Goliath. Saul had confidence in himself and in his army. Both less than confidence building and leaving God out entirely.
A footnote: David picked up five smooth stones. It is said that Goliath had four brothers.
“I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which have committed to Him against that day.”
Dan
Dan, I’m with you 100%, Amen!
Motorman, yes, you are referring to the quote by Clint Smith.
“Clint Smith, President and Director of Thunder Ranch®, is a Marine Corps veteran of two infantry and Combined Action Platoon tours in Vietnam. His experience includes seven years as a police officer during which he served as head of the Firearms Training Division as well as being a S.W.A.T. member and precision rifleman.”
And as to the cool quote:
“Beware the man who only has one gun. He probably knows how to use it!” Yep. Amen to that! =>
Dan
When a person knows how to do something and are very familiar with doing it is hard to beat them.
Get 2 people that know how to do different things and get along then you better watch out.
Exsperiance and working together is pretty hard to beat.
Now days all you encounter for the most part is someone wants to be on top. Usually ending up in not good results.
Add God and it turns into a miracle for those trying to work together.
Some take longer than others but finally see wether they want to or not. It just is.
Gunfun1,
Almost 30 years ago I had a long conversation with a guy at a dojo I was considering joining (but did not). A year later I saw him on TV fighting in UFC 4 (and losing to Royce Gracie). I told him my previous teacher told me it is better to practice one technique ten thousand times than to practice ten thousand techniques one time each. He said to me, “That’s one wise teacher.” The guy was named Keith Hackney.
Michael
Micheal
Yep for sure.
BB and Michael,
America’s core competency has traditionally been manufacturing. America taught the Japanese to manufacture quality cars that people needed in the 70’s. That methodology helped save Motorola in the 80’s. I wanted to put a 22ci bottle on the Benjamin Prod I modded but I cannot find one with the 5/8x 20 thread, not the metric thread that is available. I used to take it for granted that the parts I want are available, but not anymore. If I set up in the living room and open the porch window, I have 42yds or so as the crow flys, and I can really see the effects of wind, trigger pull etc. But without a decent baseline of quality to begin with, I would say that plinking as I do it would be a waste of time and money. I have my cat trained to go outside when the human pulls his guns out. The dog comes to sit next to me. Just purfect.
Rob
Michael,
Excellent blog, lots to think about. Too many companies are willing to compromise their products to gain a fraction of a percent more profit. Fortunately there are still girgun companies around that are run by passionate shooters so we are OK for now.
If Crosman made their 101 ( at a reasonable price- not like Feinwerkbau with their Sport) I would definitely buy one to keep my original 101 company.
I can so relate to many of the people here! Started as a kid with slingshots, bows and arrows and pellet guns. Did the whole powder-burner thing and now that I am retired I an back to slingshots, bows and arrows and pellet guns.
Putting me down as a casual (non- competitive, no longer hunting) plinker. Or I should say: PLINKER!! Hi (RidgeRunner, my name is Hank)
In everything I do I tend to go to the “serious amateur” level and buy the best equipment I can afford. The same with my airguns. I have a 10 meter (SSP) pistol and two 10 meter rifles SSP & springer) that I shoot paper in the basement during the winter. Come along the warm weather the 10 meter airguns are invited out with the rest of the gun cabinet to plink – and they don’t seem to mind at all 🙂
Think that there are a lot of casual people who enjoy quiet plinking sessions and don’t hesitate to break out the serious hardware to shoot spinners and pop cans whenever they can.
Was raining heavily this morning so I had the basement door open and was shooting from inside – the great thing about spinners is you don’t have to go out in the rain to set them up eh?
Cheers,
Hank
Hank,
Your choices in air guns sound a lot like mine.
Michael
Hope everyone had a good, enjoyable, relaxed yet BANGIN’ Independence Day! This is a good read and a reminder that too many companies out there talk the talk but don’t walk it when it comes to product design and customer service.
FM got his brother-in-law into airguns – well, sorta – over the past few days, motivated by pesky flies spoiling our outdoors relaxation. Brought up the Bug-A-Salt as a potential fun problem-solver, had him read B.B.’s review from 2015, and the rest was history. And many a fly was history, more so with two manic gunners firing away. FM nicknamed his fly terminator “Bugsy.”
FM,
Been hearing about these on other forums,…. but not a whole lot.
http://bugblaster.net/
I know nothing about them,…. but since you brought up salt guns…..
Chris
FM,
I keep meaning to get a Bug-A-Salt but never get ’round to it. Maybe with your reminder I’ll do it.
Michael
Michael,
Get one! Forget the round tuit! Just get one! I even saw them for sale at Lowe’s this weekend.
I live a 1/4 mile from a Lowes! Tomorrow! (It’s only a day away.)
Michael
Like was said. Get one. You’ll like it.
FM,
Awesome! I have one also, but Mrs. RR will not let me shoot it in the house.
Mrs. Bro-In-Law imposed the same rule of engagement, but Mr. shot one lurking in the kitchen; she decided she’d rather deal with a little salt than an obnoxious fly. Besides, the salt sanitizes.
B.B. suggested Kosher salt is deadlier ammunition; it is to ordinary table salt what birdshot is to buckshot.
FM
I shoot my Bug A Salt every day out in the breezeway. Pretty cool guns I do have to say.
I loved to hunt with my father as a kid, small game (rabbits, mostly, and the random pheasant, grouse, or woodcock) and whitetails. But he’s 85 and starting to slow up a bit, and I’m a professional and a dad (not a professional dad, as I still haven’t figured out how to MAKE money at being a dad), and I find myself with precious little time. So I thought it would be so cool to have an airgun replica of my deer rifle, which I’m lucky if I put 20 shots through a year. It should have the same weight, shape, and trigger-feel, but shoot accurately at 10 to 25 yards. Just so I could practice with it and then feel super confident when the big buck materializes for that once-in-a-lifetime shot….
I look at the replica revolvers with the fake cartridges housing a pellet or BB and I’m thinking–can you make those in .25-06 size and slip it into a Remington 700 BDL clone?
In the last week I have shot more pellets in my basement than I have shot bullets through my deer rifle…ever. Perhaps a system could be devised where the same basic airgun “guts” can be used to replicate most bolt action rifles, with a different stock and trigger adjustment.
If that was offered alongside a new deer rifle, I would buy them as a package deal, for my kids.
Roamin Greco,
Gletcher has made three different full-size CO2 bolt action air rifles: a Mosin-Nagant M1944, Mauser KAR 98k, and Lee Enfield SMLE. :^) They are pricy and hard to find, but they are out there.
Michael
Way to go Michael! ;^)
Now its raining: Cats (some cute Kitties) Dogs (Hey, dog people, where are the dog pictures?) and THE 10 Step PLINKERS! Basement shooter EVEN! SALT plinkers…there must be a pellet shortage or something.
What is this Blog coming 2?
shootski
shootski,
Thanks for the kind words.
I love dogs almost as much as Iove cats (which trust me, is saying a lot). I am a cat person only because that’s how I grew up plus my wife has always been a cat person.
Now, if there is ever a pellet shortage, we are in trouble! I have seen only one air gun pellet (.177 at that) mold ever, and it didn’t look like a precision device, either.
Michael
Michael,
My wife and I had always been dog oriented. We have on occasion been long term foster parents to our son’s amphibious turtle and our daughter’s cat when they were in places with sever pet entry restrictions or outright bans. We find turtles tolerably interesting but the cat stole both our hearts.
Pellets are interesting projectiles but BULLETS (aka slugs) stole our hearts!
shootski
Hey fellow shooters, I would like to extend a big “thank you” to…sadly, I’m not sure who…RidgeRunner, or Chris, or Gunfun1, or perhaps even B.B. himself; many months ago, SOMEONE suggested that I take my old used CO2 cartridges and turn them into targets (instead of throwing them away).
Anyway, old dave is slow these days, but I finally got around to it; there was one on each end of the target trap, but the one on the other side finally fell down (not properly duct taped perhaps =>).
Anyway, it was a great idea, and saves me from having to run around so much; I can just plink at them whenever I wish; and B.B.’s comments on plinking made me think of that, and my need to thank…someone; so, if it was you, please let me know; and thanks again! =>
Dave,
You can get a better grip by screwing a wood screw into the top of the co2 cartridge and tying the string to that.
No duct tape required.
Mike
Excellent! Thanks; I’ll do that for both cartridges. =>
Dave
I believe that was RidgeRunner that suggested the Co2 cartridges for targets.
I tried in vain to search for that comment, but couldn’t find it. I remember someone commenting about how they drill holes in a board and glue in strong magnets, and then they paint the CO2 cartridges a bright color and stand them up on the magnets. When hit, the cartridges fall over and sometimes even reset themselves. I wish I could find that comment.
B.B., does the search function also search the comments to your blog posts?
Roamin,
I does for me. But with a Mac, I have a search function for any page that works better.
BB
Dave,
If I recall correctly, the .50 caliber Palmer Cap’chur tranq guns can use empty CO2 Powerlets as AMMO!
Michael
Wow, that’s cool! =>
GAYLORD: I just saw on this evening’s news a story of a beautifully animated Calico cat displayed atop a shelf on a skyscraper in Tokyo. This cat appears to naturally sit, stretch, sleep (of course) and do all those things expected of our kitties. Quite a sight from below! Orv
For the cat aficianados:
Thanks for posting this fascinating picture. I couldn’t figure out how to bring it home to the blog.
Hahahahaha! That’s cool; thank you. ->
Shootski,
That is good, it is even better in motion https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJDbSnztUyA?t=30
Mike
Mike in Atl,
Yes, it was all over U-tube but the Still I picked was a great pose.
Now with your Reply those cat lovers can share in the anamatronic! wonder!
shootski
Shootski
No place to reply to you below about the Co2 Bug A Salt pistol.
Really you seen it in stock. I was checking throughout the day. Darn I missed it. I’m going to get one though as soon I see one available.
Shootski,
It was just the oops I almost fell on that video that made it cool. I have seen my cats almost fall and save it, cool stuff.
For the cat folks here is Tank one cool cat.
Mike,
Dale Evans says, “Hi, Tank.”
BB
But wait – there’s more! Introducing the Shred-er…except pricier + proprietary ammunition.
https://www.bugasalt.com/products/shred-er-starter-kit
FM
You shouldn’t of posted that link. Now ole Gunfun1 wants one. Bad.
To bad that link shows they are sold out or I would already have ordered one. But I am going to search around and find one.
Thanks for posting that link.
You are welcome. FM bad.
FM
Oh but FM did just fine.
And thank you. 🙂
Gunfun1,
It was back in stock earlier today!
LOL!
shootski
Everyone,
BB bought a new Bug-A-Salt Shredder and will test it for you soon.
BB
Gladly take the blame for that enablin’ motivation, B.B.; you will have your revenge if you motivate FM to get one after your review. 😉
I like most dogs better than I like most people!
Motorman
St . Louis, MO