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Not the way it has to be

This report covers:

  • Today’s marketplace
  • Who are we?
  • The good guys
  • Accuracy
  • Triggers
  • Sights
  • However
  • The stock — wood versus synthetic
  • The point

Today we consider how an airgun is designed. Several readers’ comments have put this report together. Let’s work together and see if we can design an airgun that has a chance in today’s marketplace.

Today’s marketplace

We first have to have some idea of the people we are selling to. Who are they and what do they want in an airgun? To simplify this discussion I will limit it to rifles. But even when we know the market, we aren’t home. We must also know ourselves.

Who are we?

Are we honest people with good intentions? Are we pleased to make and sell airguns? If so we go down one path and I will explore that path with you today, but know there are other paths. We could be just people wanting jobs for which we get paid. If that’s the case, as long as we do what we are told there is no problem. But if we should be promoted to a position where we can make decisions, our company is in trouble if we only came there for a paycheck. And know this — failing to make a decision is a decision itself!

The most dangerous path is that of the deceiver. I’m sure you are all aware of several scammers. These are people who sell products that don’t work and intentionally sucker people into buying them. For example, the “guy” (there are a great many of them) who “invented” a device that plugs into your automobile’s diagnostic port and “reprograms” your computer to get up to 30 percent greater mileage. The “guy” who “invented” this device was fired from Mercedes Benz, Ford, you pick the car company, for his “invention,” because the petroleum producers didn’t want it on the market. Yeah, sure. Big oil is struggling to get enough crude oil to make gasoline as it is. They sure don’t care when cars use less of it.

The main body of airguns is safe from these scammers, but these guys lie around the fringes of all markets. Primer-powered “air” guns is possibly one example of this, though I’m not condemning all of them. But, if they promise things that can’t happen, like inserts for your S&W 586/686 .357 Magnum revolver that turn it into an accurate target pellet pistol with the power of an air rifle — beware! I actually bought and tested one such device for The Airgun Letter and it was hard enough to just get the thing to work! “Accuracy” was about 12 inches for six shots at 7 feet — when I could get it to fire at all!

Have nothing to do with the deceivers. Now back to our primary path.

The good guys

We make airguns and we want to continue making them for a long time. What should we make? Again there are many paths, but now it is simpler, since all of them want to make a good product. I will avoid the high-end path because if that is where you are, you know more about making good airguns than anybody. Just keep on doing what you are doing.

I will follow the path of the guys who want to make affordable airguns that are good and also priced right. I will keep coming back to the price in different ways, so that’s all I will say about it at this time. What are the things on which you need to focus?

Accuracy

Guns are made to hit their target when shot. So accuracy should be the number one consideration. But how much accuracy is the question. Or better still, how well can we do with the barrels we make in-house? I’ll use the Crosman Corporation as an example of this. In 2006 when they decided to build the Benjamin Discovery they knew that barrels were expensive. So they decided to rifle their own. Crosman’s Ed Schultz showed me their rifling machine when I visited to see how the Discovery was coming. They found that a simple machine that used a conventional button to rifle barrels was all that was needed to make excellent barrels. This was a new technology for them and it no doubt evolved over time, but by 2010 they were rifling all their .177- and .22-caliber barrels for their PCPs.

But Crosman didn’t like the accuracy of the .25-caliber barrels they made, so for that caliber (for Marauders, only) they bought barrels from Green Mountain. But they stuck with perfecting their in-house rifling and discovered that by reaming the tube stock before rifling, the accuracy of all their barrels was improved. Eventually they took over the rifling of .25-caliber barrels as well.

When you make it yourself you always look for ways to make it less costly to produce. You do this without sacrificing quality. 

The opposite to all of this is contracting with Village 13 in mainland China because they can make barrels cheaper than anybody else. Of course you don’t do this — it’s done by Happy Honorable Industries from whom you are able to purchase complete air rifles(in lots of 5,000 or greater) on which they laser-engrave your company name. Your job is to create the artwork they need to make the lithographed boxes for these treasures.

In the example above, Crosman did it right. The company that does it the other way is heading for extinction. Let’s move on.

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Triggers

We all know the the Rekord trigger is legendary! Air Arms, though the genius of Ivan Hancock, took the Rekord one step farther.

Crosman (again it was Crosman) took a well-known precharged pneumatic (PCP) trigger that was already in existence and made it better (easier to adjust, cheaper to manufacture?). The Marauder (once again, Ed Schultz) trigger is so good that, like the Rekord, it now has a place in airgun history. 

But you can’t put a hundred-dollar Rekord trigger or even a lower-priced Marauder trigger on a rifle you hope to sell for $150. What do you do? Well, a guy named Tom Gaylord was sent a youth breakbarrel rifle from Mendoza to evaluate. The stock was butt-ugly and disproportionately sized but the rifle was reasonably accurate, had decent adjustable sights, was easy to cock and had a nice trigger. It wasn’t a Rekord, but it also wasn’t a 12-pound lawyer special. So this Gaylord guy sends the barreled action to a stock maker in Houston and has him make a western-style wood stock for it. The result was the Air Venturi Bronco. Yes it has fiberoptic sights, but even Superman doesn’t always win!

Bronco
Air Venturi Bronco.

The opposite in this instance is not buying from Village 40, where the cheapest triggers in China are made. The opposite in this case is listening to your lawyer who insists that the trigger be harder to pull than the ones Village 40 makes. This is for safety reasons, which really means liability. Even the Village 40 elders argue against this heavier trigger, but your vice president of marketing who was hired last year from the Canadian vending machine company insists that we listen to the lawyer who was her roommate at Smith.

Sights

I won’t cover the sights versus no sights question. There are valid reasons for building air rifles either way. That is a discussion topic — not a live or die decision.

Air rifle sights have to be adjustable. Even your lawyer knows that because, at the last shooting/pizza party your company held, she had to have the sights adjusted on her rifle before she could hit the gallon paint can in the field behind the plant. It was the first time she ever held a rifle, but she understood when she couldn’t hit the can that was 30 feet away until the shop foreman adjusted the sights for her.

Now there are two schools on sights. Some want fiberoptics and others don’t. It used to be possible to ask your employees with former military service which they prefer, but these days they may have only seen back up iron sights (BUIS) that are supposed to be used when the battery in the scope fails.

There is nothing wrong with fiberoptics, as long as they are adjustable and the adjustments work well. In most situations there won’t be enough light to illuminate the optical tubes anyway, but your couch commandos who hunt in the forests of their mind won’t care.

However

This is a biggie. YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SEE BOTH SIGHTS WHEN YOU HOLD THE RIFLE THE WAY IT SHOULD BE HELD! And what do you suppose that leads us to? That’s right, our last topic.

The stock — wood versus synthetic

I personally prefer wood for a stock. But that video of Kirsten Joy Weiss hitting an egg at 300 yards with an offhand shot was real. The video of Matthew Quigley hitting the bucket at whatever distance you prefer to imagine was Hollywood. There ain’t no Matthew Quigley but there is a Kirsten Joy Weiss, and her rifle had a very adjustable synthetic stock. Tom Selleck, who played Quigley, is an actor. Kirsten Joy Weiss is a shooter. Both are very good at what they do but she is the one who can shoot. And she used A PLASTIC STOCK. What does that say?

There is nothing wrong with synthetics when they are used in stocks. As long as they are up to the task, synthetics are fine. But when manufacturers take license to make stocks they think their customers want because they look a certain way, then there is a problem. When the stock is designed to look cool without any shooter ever holding a mocked-up version of the stocked rifle, you have a problem.

I’m not going to step on my own toes by mentioning everything that’s yet to go into the rifle stock series, but there are some basics that must be observed if you want to succeed.

Length of pull for sporting stocks should be between 13.5 and 14.5 inches for most adults. If the rifle is for kids consider strongly making this length adjustable between about 10 and 13 inches. For target rifle stocks that will be held offhand consider 11.5 to 12.5 inches as the optimum adult range.

The cheekpiece, if there is one, needs to be high enough to see the open sights, if they are there. Don’t make it so high that the open sights can’t be seen comfortably.

The last thing I’ll say is don’t make the stock feel like the big end of a baseball bat. You readers will probably not believe this but there are airgun manufacturers who don’t have a range of air rifles available in their plant for their engineers to examine. In other words, they build them without seeing them until it’s too late, because Happy Honorable Industries just does what they are told. And, although he is not a decision-maker, 34-year-old Jeffery, the company’s foreign point of contact with Happy Honorable Industries, flies drones for a hobby. Gimbaled camera mounts he understands. He doesn’t have a clue what shooters want.

The point

I have made a point in this report, and it isn’t in any of the specific airgun details I’ve discussed. I have not written it one time. If manufacturers understand the point I have made, all of the rest of this stuff is gobbledygook (just for you, Michael).

So — what’s my point?

author avatar
Tom Gaylord (B.B. Pelletier)
Tom Gaylord, also known as B.B. Pelletier, provides expert insights to airgunners all over the world on behalf of Pyramyd AIR. He has earned the title The Godfather of Airguns™ for his contributions to the industry, spending many years with AirForce Airguns and starting magazines dedicated to the sport such as Airgun Illustrated.

112 thoughts on “Not the way it has to be”

  1. B.B.,
    What I get out of this is that, to be a good reputable manufacturer of reasonably-priced air rifles, you need to actually make the rifles (not subcontract them out) in your own plant; and there should be a prototype, or prototypes, made before a production run, so you can work the bugs out; in order to work the bugs out, you have to have employees, and hopefully some managers, who are actual airgun shooters, since these are the only type of folks who will have a clue as to whether or not the prototype has potential, or if it needs refinement, thereby saving you lots of cash by not going into production prematurely with a rifle that is not really suited to an airgunner’s needs.
    I may have read into it a bit more than what you actually said, but that’s what I got from this. 🙂
    Blessings to you,
    dave
    P.S. Airgun manufacturers could learn a thing or two from this company:
    https://excaliburcrossbow.com/
    Even though they make crossbows instead of air rifles, all the principles they use apply.
    When my wife wanted a crossbow, I bought one of theirs; I was so impressed with it that
    I called their Customer Service department; the woman I spoke with told me that
    ALL their employees hunt with the company’s crossbows!
    So much for in-house testing…smart!!!

  2. Tom,

    If a gun is no fun how will it sell? Sadly some companies are lured into making retreads of old designs BUT losing focus of what could/should be improved. Instead they just change the stock or the sights or the barrel sleeve.

    Siraniko

  3. I will tell you what is “Not the way it has to be”:

    “SPIN FOR A CHANCE TO SAVE!”, “SPIN NOW”

    I have this pyramydair poo thrown in my face every time I pop into the blog.

    I really like to meet the minds of Tom Gaylord (B.B. Pelletier) and his commenters but, having to run the gauntlet at the door, is getting to me. 🙁

    ———
    thedavemyster, I really like your above comment “B.B., What I get out of this is…”.
    What a superb summing up! 🙂

    ———
    I wonder if the between the lines “point” has to do with a quality airgun fit for purpose? 🙂

    • 3hi,

      LOL! Pyramyd AIR could certainly save a lot of money if they were to rid themselves of some of their advertising department. The one ad that really turns me off is where they have selected a group of airguns that they know I will be interested in. It is obvious that no one is paying the least bit of attention there to what I am buying. All they are trying to do is unload what they have a large stock of, stuff that nobody else is buying either.

    • *** pyramydair poo thrown in my face every time I pop into the blog ***

      hihihi,

      Agree, this is the type of poo that I was concerned about when Pyramyd AIR started advertising on the blog.

      The product links from the blog to the store are convenient, I’ve used the big blue banner as well but now they have escalated to in you face advertising. Figured it would go there.

      @ Pyramyd AIR

      Does the advertising genius at PA not realize that all the people who come to read the blog already know about PA, probably shop at PA and are already familiar with that spinner?

      IMHO, in your face advertising is effective in the open market for attracting potential new customers but doesn’t work well with an established audience, it just pushes them away.

      I don’t think “no thanks” when I hit that button – don’t appreciate in your face advertising, it’s rude – and I react in the same way.

      I appreciate PA hosting this blog, I’d appreciate it even more if they would get rid of that spinner.

      Thank you.

      Hank

      • HHH, and anyone else

        Personally,, I am not enamored with that spinner, either,,, BUT,, when I consider that these are the people who make this blog possible, I simply consider it a small price to pay for the privilege of reading it every day.

        If anyone reads a magazine, they will find far more advertising than content. That is certainly NOT the case here. Tom gives us all both solid information and a great deal to think about. His articles are a very pleasant part of my day and I am definitely a fan.

        But most of all, I appreciate that Pyramyd AIR also recognizes his value and gives him a stage upon which to play. I can hit “No, Thanks” and mean both the no and the thanks.

        Ed

        • edlee, it appears we have rather different tolerance levels! I feel mine dwindling – maybe I should take a break…

          I doubt the people who make decisions at pyramydair comprehend how lucky they are (to have this blog on their website).

          Not that it makes any difference to us, but, I understand that selecting the “X” dismisses the pop up window, while “NO THANKS” is engaging with it.

  4. If you want to build airguns, you have to know airguns. TCFKAC lost sight of that. The new owners seem to have some insight into such. They did bring Ed Schultz back on board. Maybe they will let him fix that damnable sproinger trigger.

    You also have to truly “listen” and understand what your customers want. I personally am not crazy about my airguns being made in Village 13, but they can do a decent job if you keep an eye on them. With government subsidies, cheap labor and materials, etcetera, they can keep the cost down to where you can offer a product that is price attractive to the average consumer and still make a profit.

      • “If you want to build airguns, you have to know airguns.”
        Michael & RidgRunner,
        Yes, that was my long-winded point in my postscript about Excalibur Crossbows.
        My wife LOVED hers, as it had a well-designed stock, great peep sights, and an excellent trigger.
        (also, extremely accurate)
        It was also very easy to use, a very simple crossbow with plain limbs, no gimmicks.
        It didn’t get to be that way by accident; everyone who works there uses their products!
        When the woman in customer service told me that, I was not surprised, but I remember thinking at the time, “What a great formula for success…everyone there KNOWS the product!” 🙂

        • Dave,

          You are SO close to what I’m looking for with my parting question. The point that I made today without mentioning is once is on the tip of what you said.

          BB

  5. B.B.

    Before anybody does any manufacturing of anything, I would suggest that everybody involved learn about William E. Deming. I heard him speak twice and it was game changing! Look him up!

    or you could have ChatBotAI do all the design work……

    -Yogi

    • Yogi,

      Well, now I am jealous. I used to teach the management processes of W. Edwards Deming and Joseph Juran — the two men who made Japan the manufacturing giant it is today. They are also credited with a huge hand in winning WW II. And I believe both men are Japanese national treasures!

      I am SO jealous!

      BB

      • Anyone who might be interested

        What are the 14 points of management according to Edward Deming?
        Deming’s 14 Points

        Create a constant purpose toward improvement. Plan for quality in the long term. …
        Adopt the new philosophy. …
        Stop depending on inspections. …
        Use a single supplier for any one item. …
        Improve constantly and forever. …
        Use training on the job. …
        Implement leadership. …
        Eliminate fear.

        It strikes me that the first might be in line with what Tom was saying.

        Ed

    • Yogi,
      doesn’t mean it wasn’t any good. Could be a number of reasons. Also if not selling anymore means if isn’t any good, how could one explain the Sig AP 20 not being made anymore? It was certainly very very good.

      Doc

      • Doc,

        My understanding is that SIG usa was in BIG legal trouble for selling firearms to Brazilian police.
        This is in violation of German export laws. Same issue with sending tanks to Ukraine. SIG usa then stope production of the ap20 to concentrate on their legal issues.
        As far as I am concerned the cancellation of the AP20made me vow never to think of ever owning a SIG anything….

        -Y

        • Yogi,

          But didn’t Sig come out with the service pistol that can shoot a bad guy while still in its holster without even being touched by the user? Who wouldn’t appreciate that feature?

          Didn’t some ASP20s have trigger quality issues?

          Michael

  6. I wonder what the education and training requirements are for airgun design and manufacturing jobs? Or is it just luck that someone comes along with some OJT experience?
    Perhaps some sort of training course needs to be developed?
    You want to be an aircraft technician? Fine, just get an FAA Airframe and Powerplant License. How, a two-year college degree in Aviation Maintenance Tecnology. But you better have reached a certain level of math in High School before you can even enroll and forget about it if you are not mechanically inclined.
    Is there any documented information on airgun design and or construction goals to be met anyplace? Other than what resides in the minds of Tom Gaylord and blog members.

    • Bob,

      Training for jobs in the airgun industry? Not so much.

      There is almost zero documented information on airguns. That’s because one company doesn’t want to let another company know what it has learned.

      Oh, Bob, you enabler, you! Monday’s blog! 🙂

      BB

  7. The “Not the way it has to be” philosophy should include having service and warranty-fulfillment departments which actually listen to the customer who has problems with his/her gun, without being dismissive and taking quick action to resolve the complaint and/or service issue. FM “hears” some horror stories about service/repair involving certain airgun manufacturers, which is why his money is not going into those companies’ bank accounts.

      • Tom and rk,

        Unfortunately, some companies want the most money for the lowest production costs, with quality not considered at all. That is a consequence of people who no nothing or little of the products they make, a la non-airgunners making air guns. They lack pride in their product.

        Imagine a job interview for a lower to middle level executive at an airgun manufacturer:

        “So, Mr. MBA1, tell me the first thing you think of when I say, ‘air gun.'”

        “”Well, I’ve done some research to prepare for this interview, and I’ve learned air gun manufacturing is an industry with unlimited growth potential, especially in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Additionally, because the low-information new air gun consumer is a rapidly-growing demographic, margins should be quite large and have the potential to get even better with judicious cost-saving measures.”

        Contrast that with the following job interview for a lower to middle level executive at an airgun manufacturer:

        “So, Mr. MBA2, tell me the first thing you think of when I say, ‘air gun.'”

        “Well, I first think back to when I was a little boy spending a few weeks each summer at my grandparents’ summer cottage. My grandpa had a break-barrel pellet gun that was beautiful. It had a figured walnut buttstock and a blued action and barrel. I had learned to read the year before, and I remember it said, “Made in West Germany” engraved in the steel on the breech block. It was powerful enough to put a deep dent into a steel Campbell’s soup can. I begged my grandpa to teach me to shoot it, but he said it was for bigger kids and grown-ups.

        Instead, he handed me an old BB gun. It was shorter than the other gun, but it had a lever cocking mechanism that I could (just barely that particular summer) work, and it had its name engraved in the otherwise plain buttstock. Yes, it was a Dasiy Red Ryder. I forget which era of Daisy it was from, and I kick myself that it somehow ended up with one of my cousins after my grandpa died, but I saw an old one much like it a few years ago and bought it. It was old and didn’t operate well, but I learned how to repair it with parts that were still easy to find and purchase!

        At least once a month I shoot it and my grandpa’s pellet rifle, which I got ahold of before my cousin could grab it. It turned out it is a Diana 27 from the 1960s or early 1970s, I believe. It still dents soup cans like years earlier, but I intend to learn how to properly maintain it and repair it if need be as it’s getting old now. But it’s made very well, all steel and fine wood, so I hope it will outlast me.

        I probably answered your question about what I think about airguns incorrectly. You were probably looking for a business-school type answer, but I answered with what I honestly first think of when I think about airguns, and that’s it.”

        Which 24-year-old would you hire?

        Michael

        • Michael,

          I enjoyed your imaginative take on the two applicants…
          “Imagine a job interview for a lower to middle level executive at an airgun manufacturer:”
          …but i wouldn’t hire either of them.
          The first MBA 1 for this statement: “”Well, I’ve done some research to prepare for this interview,…”
          Only SOME research for this interview?
          Thank you for your time today we will be in touch.
          The MBA 2 for this statement: “I probably answered your question about what I think about airguns incorrectly. You were probably looking for a business-school type answer, but I answered with what I honestly first think of when I think about airguns, and that’s it.”
          Excuse me MBA 2 this is an interview i am conducting and your hubris is underwhelming.
          Thank you for your time today we will be in touch.
          Picks up phone call HR. HRO answers, ” Your fired!”
          Call Dean of Mechanical Engineering Department at Pnue U and ask for three soon to graduate or recently graduated candidates with specialties in Pneumatics that were on the schools NCAA shooting team.
          Three candidates are found that meet the criteria and I hire all three…JUST IMAGINE….

          shootski

          • shootski,

            You missed my point. One knows air guns a little and has a passion for them. The other might know business but will never care less about airguns. That is what I was tryng to say.

            Nevertheless, the implication is that one must hire one or the other (or go without) because those are the only two candidates. Which is better, or, if you prefer, least bad?

            “Three soon to graduate or recently graduated candidates with specialties in Pneumatics that were on the schools NCAA shooting team.” Good luck! :^) (And even if you could find ONE, good luck affording him.)

            The job market these days is tough for employers, not applicants, and in some areas of manufacturing and mechanical repair, it’s been an applicant’s market for decades. Ten years ago Caterpillar had 29 openings for experienced heavy machine repair that they couldn’t fill. The entire country had an average 89 open positions for elevator repair for every single qualified applicant. (Source: Mike Rowe)

            Even 36 years ago as a recent MA in English, on a lark I applied for a position in corporate account (big law firms) photocopier sales in downtown Chicago, right in the Loop. After looking at my vita, which included nothing remotely mechanical, I was offered the position, but the executive asked me if I would instead consider being an industrial photocopier repairman starting the following Monday. I responded that I was completely unqualified. He replied that with a Bachelors in English Composition and a Masters in Literature, I could teach myself on the job by reading repair manuals. “I need three repairmen now, and anyone really qualified demands twice what I can pay them!” (After three weeks on the sales job, I was offered what I really wanted, a tenure-track teaching job.)

            A vintage guitar collecting friend of mine was an electrical engineer in the Chicago suburbs in the early 1980s. He moved from repair and maintenance to design and then middle management at a high-end science equipment manufacturer. He got hired away by a different firm for a 30% raise. He got hired back to the first company 18 months later for another 30% raise. He left a year after that for another raise. In about four years he trippled his salary.

            Finally, in the 1990s an IT professor I taught with left teaching to go back to industry. He was lured away by a guaranteed contract of $2 million with stock options over 3 years.

            And hubris? Hmmm. I seriously am unsure that’s the word you want. I will refer to Inigo Montoya and write that I don’t think that word means what you think it means. :^)

            Michael

          • Shootski: Perhaps there is another and more contemporary element to add to this? That is modern CAD/CAM expertise in a journeyman tool & Die maker with good engineering sense, if not a degree or two?

            One would think that the long-dollars would be found in building modular components that can be SUCCESSFULLY utilized in a whole product line that are immaculate and nearly perfect in function. Say, at trigger assembly that offers exquisite feel and rock-solid reliability that can be used across a whole line of products with minimal, if any modification? Such a refined modular component would solve manufacturing problems and satisfy the customer’s desire for a trigger that works.

            I am a springer guy, so, perhaps I am biased by how my trigger systems work, since they all do fundamentally the same thing; restraining the compression of a spring that desperately wants to be “freed?” But, if the trigger system worked on my Hastan 135 it would likely also work on an ancient RWS Diana 24J. True, the modular trigger in the 24J would be “more trigger” than necessary, but would the economy of scale negate the over-engineered placement therein?

            With modern computer-guided machining, would it be possible to offer, for an upcharge, of course, a system wherein one would provide various measurements OR receive a device that would measure and hold dimensions necessary to build a totally personalized stock? From those measurements or the measuring jig; computer guided machining guided by a stock program could mill a custom wooden stock for the consumer. I would definitely consider having ONE uniquely made and very personal stock in my lifetime!

            One consideration that we have been ignoring nationally in all this is the over-reliance on foreign manufacture for critical industries. In the event of a national emergency, our ability to defend the homeland would be severely limited by overseas shipping. The tax and importation laws need to reflect this risk and curb it. Corporate CEOs and their cheap labor tactics put the nation at risk. Here in Ohio, governor DeWine is answering this question by bringing computer chimp manufacture to the Buckeye State. We need to pull some critical industries “back to the soil” and that might have ripple effects on manufacture in general? Expensive, yes, but also necessary.

            Crosman, in the article, seems to have determined that it could make its own barrels; as it does so and improves it, the need for importation or secondar suppliers will dwindle. As they refine their production, and, hopefully, improve it, they will attain aretae, “excellence.” in the ancient Greek. Let them then make their own triggers and sights HERE…

            Overall, no matter how this might work out, the primary thing is for the manufacturer to have people who want to improve their product and make them the best that are ever made. The economics will take care of themselves when consumers realize that the best product is available from that manufacturer; products that are so well made that they become the cheapest, ever.

            In my 76 years, I have learned that the cheapest is so very often the most expensive, and the most expensive is often the cheapest. I have an RWS Diana Model 36 in .177 made in 1989 that is STILL the very best air gun I own. It has cycled through tens of thousands of rounds, has had three mainsprings and one UMAREX overhaul. Indeed, it shoots, today, better than it did from the start. Not surprisingly, it is inscribed with “Made in WEST Germany,” (at Rastatt}. I have thrown away a number of Chinese airguns that were very expensively cheap. At age 34, the Model 36 shoots, today, BETTER than the day I received it. And…I bought it ONCE. I probably will not have to have anything done to it in the future given its service record. My son may enjoy it and pass it on to his son?

            Businesses exist for profit. Let the profits come, but make innovative and durable products that are worthy of our hard-earned dollars! I think there was an adage about “…building a better mousetrap and the world coming to one’s feet.”

            • LFranke,

              Totally agree with your conception of the current conditions.

              You hit close to one that i have been working at for some time: “our ability to defend the homeland would be severely limited by overseas shipping.” The freedom of the seas to all Nations is under threat in any number of places. Yes China and Russia come quickly to mind but Piracies are on the rise and much more willing to do whatever it takes to gain Booty. For most of the past three Centuries the freedom of the seas have been guaranteed by the Royal Navy and the US Navy; at times with some self serving motivations but mostly to the benefit of all. Neither the Royal Navy or the US Navy can provide that freedom of the seas even if combined and supported by regional allied Navies! Add to the lacking Navies the fact that China owns or controls the vast majority of bottoms as well as shipping containers and the last piece is close to falling into place.
              But local battles and exercises have blinded our leaders to the reality of what is.

              shootski

          • Shootski,
            I retired from a job working as a machinist (CNC & manual, plus CAD/CAM, along with 3D printing) at a shop in a university college of engineering.
            The shop was considered a resource to the college and we were always willing to answer questions about design feasibility, etc. The majority of students expressed little or no interest in what we could do or how we did it.
            We had a few student employees, mostly mechanical engineering majors, and there were a few of them that were actually interested (and good) at what they did in the shop. The best was a card-carrying Tool & Die maker (who went on to get his Phd and teach). All of our student employees were hired immediately after graduation, with job offers coming quickly when prospective employers found out about their shop experience.
            That being said, there is a very small number of people with the ‘proper’ skill set.
            I would love to have just a few engineers that would have a semester (or two!) of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing!
            We can all dream.
            Bill

            • Bill,

              I hear you on the ability to work materials. I chose pneumatics because afterall we are building airguns. EVEN metal spring powered airguns are in the end pneumatic.
              I am appalled by the apparent lack of understanding of the Gas Laws and the consequences of the Gas Path in airgun design. Only a few makers have broken portions of the Gas Handling codex in the modern era of airguns.

              I think the pendulum may be starting the swing…let the politicians keep their fingers, hands, and feet away from the freedom to swing!

              shootski

              • Shootski: You have piqued my interest in what you just wrote. I have little knowledge of pneumatics, but it has occured to me, as a springer devotee, that the pathway of the transfer tube/port in my springers seems to ignore the notion of efficient gas flow. The worst example, necessitated by the layout that demands it is my Beeman P-1 pistol (also known as the Weirauch 45). The compressed aiir must make two (2) 90 degree turns and vacate the cylindrical compression chamber on one side of the cylinder. It works, but, as a once volunteer firefighter, it would seem that there is considerable friction loss in the system.

                Unlike the tortured pathway of the P-1, we have the more linear pathways of the rest of my armory. However, even these don’t seem bent on efficient flow – unless, of course, their is a designed in inefficiency in order to provide a momentary and necessary pressure rise to slow the piston before it collides with the end of the compression cylinder? It would make some sense to design a ramp-up of gas pressure at the very end of the piston stroke to buffer that collision; sacrificing some gas flow to the barrel/pellet in order to cushion the parts from shock?

                I agree that we need some sophisticated and gifted engineering and technical personnel to design innovative products. I suspect that my RWS Model 36 had some German engineering devoted to it in the day, but lots of it was the result of evolutionary trial and error. With modern computer-aided programs that can factor huge numbers of disparate factors, and with the journeyman skill to make prototypes to try concepts, one would think that refined new products could come to market.

                The key, of course, isn’t the technical and manufacturing portion, but the marketing sector to both promote and educate. Unfortunately, there is a lot of the former and little of the latter, as it seems. A walk down the aisle in Wally*World shows the promotion of FPS on stacks of cartons with little notion of accuracy. Virtually no one in the sporting goods department at Wally*World knows Tom Gaylord much less one item from another. (Note: in the next aisle over, they don’t know how to assemble their Huffys or other cheapie bikes with former respectable name-brands painted on them that were purchased by the big cheapie manufacturers from former boutique bike makers.)

                I suspect that the education component is up to us, namely, those of us who are actually dedicated airgun shooters – the same faction that are known by the mass of gun-owners as “BB gun” people. Unfortunately, the knowledge base of the majority of shooters seems as deep as the copper plating on my SmartShot rounds…

  8. FM,

    Looking for something that ticks these boxes?

    Support – service, warranty, documentation, videos, parts, accessories;
    Manufacturering – tight tolerances, excellent finish, quality hardware;
    Performance – accuracy, consistency, ergonomics, power, adjustability, light weight;
    Materials – wood and metal

    Have one, it’s become my favorite all around airgun. Check it out…

    /product/fx-crown-pcp-air-rifle-walnut-stock?m=4406#9627

    Hank

    • Hank-

      That gun looks nice, and it should for almost $2000. Pity it only gets a 3 star rating. This, due to one (of two total) user gushing over how good it is, and then giving it only one star. If you can’t figure out a 5 star rating system, should you really be shooting? Anything?

      Which brings us to one of the biggies on any manufacturer’s must do list- make the product idiot proof. Perhaps I should capitalize IDIOT. After all, the world seems to make more every day and many of those seem to be very determined to engage in idiocy.

      • Paco,

        It goes a lot further than just looks – it’s a real great shooter! I have several other similar quality/level/price PCPs and the .22 Crown MK2 is the best I have. If I had to choose just one (*shudder*) then this would be it.

        I accept the price point of the Mercedes level airguns, think they are good value for the money. Buy once, cry once, ..enjoy it for the long run! 🙂

        You know the saying eh? – Make something idiot proof and they will just make a better idiot!

        Cheers!
        Hank

      • pacoinohio,

        I’m glad you commented on the sometime PA dysfunctional reviewers. Unfortunately it isn’t just on PA it seems there is a great deal of “reviewmanship” happening all over the internet. It seems to be based on Brandolini’s Law and is highly effective in Marketing Game Theory. I don’t bother reading any review good or bad that isn’t from at least a verified buyer. It seems PA also needs to do a better job of cleaning up their review approval/validation process.

        shootski

    • Can see why it ticks all those boxes – from Sweden, where quality no-nonsense products are made. The price is a little rich for FM but, never say never. Never thought would get back into air gunnery either.

      • Know what you mean “Mercedes” level comes at a cost. I was lucky to trade some no longer being used archery gear for my Crown MK2.

        A number of the guys I used to deer hunt with have been getting into airguns. Seem to be an even split between those who have bought several airguns before settling on one and those who did a lot of research, figured out what they needed and bought quality first off. Cost of admission ends up being about even.

        Cheers!

  9. B.B.,

    Dave is correct about: “If you want to build airguns, you have to know airguns.” but then there is the other side of that coin. You need to KNOW your customers.
    The end user has a combination of knowledge, dreams/aspirations, and budget considerations. A manufacturer needs to satisfy as many of those as possible while still remaining in business.

    shootski

    • shootski,
      You are correct; I almost linked a video of the Excalibur guys running over one of their crossbows with a truck, then throwing it out of a helicopter, and, in each case, using the crossbow to shoot a bullseye to show it was still functioning perfectly well; the point they were making is that their bows were tough enough to not let you down, but instead to allow you to finish your hunt, even if you were to drop your bow in a ravine or something. It appears that this crew does know their customers, has listened to their concerns, and has designed and demonstrated that their products meet them.
      Hence, it’s no surprise that they’ve been around so long. 😉
      Blessings to you,
      dave

          • thedavemyster, for a second there, I thought, oh, here is yet another version of my username… 🙂

            I just watched that video of them throwing crossbows out of a helicopter, of a crossbow being slammed onto hard ground, and finally, how a big fellow shoots a couple of bolts into a target. Looks impressive because, well, cameras never lie, etc… ! 🙂

            There is, however, one very simple test, yet it is so tough, I have my doubts, whether even one of those crossbows could pass unscathed : mail it! 🙂

            • “mail it!”
              Hahahahahaha! That is to true!
              One of our sons worked for a shipping service.
              A company I worked for at the time was having parts damaged in shipping.
              Some mechanical engineers put accelerometers on a non-working version of the part that was getting damaged; then they lifted the part a few inches and dropped it.
              Me: “What are you doing?”
              Mech Engr: “We’re testing to see what kinds of forces these parts see in shipping.”
              I took the part (with accelerometer attached), put it in a box, then kicked the box across the lab and bounced it off the wall.
              Mech Engr: “What are you doing?!?!?”
              Me: “Giving you a real test; our son works for a shipping company; THAT is what really happens to a box that gets shipped, especially if marked “FRAGILE.”
              They were quite freaked out. 😉

              • thedavemyster, isn’t ‘looking behind the scenes’ always (!) an eye-opener? ! 🙂
                ———
                One of my shipping related eye-openers was:
                I’ve forgotten the circumstances but remember that, for one day, I was needed to help out at some warehouse.

                At finishing time, I was asked to join a team of 5 guys, to load a lorry. There were no palettes, so to move the mountain of boxes, would have to be very much manual labour, but we would be well recompensed for the overtime and especially, for completing the job as quickly as possible.

                Well, with our motivator primed, we got to work.
                It was fun, because speed was all that mattered. We kicked and threw and got those boxes any which way we could think of into the back of that massive lorry. The poor guys stacking them inside were being hammered. There was a lot of laughter…

                And the items: computers in colourful boxes marked “FRAGILE”, “HANDLE WITH CARE”, “↑↑ THIS SIDE UP ↑↑”, etc…

                That some boxes tore open, the polystyrene inside broke and electronics scattered, ie computers getting badly damaged, didn’t matter. Seeing that fully laden lorry depart was everything.

                Afterwards we were profusely thanked for our effort.
                What utter Madness! 🙂
                ———
                I remember reading somewhere, the correct way to package any item to be shipped, is, to ensure the contents remain safe after being thrown down a flight of stairs. Three times! 🙂
                ———
                So yes thedavemyster, kicking that box to bounce of the lab-wall was a much more realistic test. 🙂

    • Shootski

      “A manufacturer needs to satisfy as many of those as possible while still remaining in business.”

      I think that says it all. It doesn’t do anyone any good to have a manufacturer build the perfect product if they can’t sell it at a price that people are willing to pay.

      Ed

  10. I think the reason the Bronco was dropped was for lack of sales. In my opinion, it would have been a much better seller if it could have been made with the power level of the R7. I think the power level of the R7 is considered the lowest acceptable power level of a rifle by most airgunners. Maybe, I am wrong about that but it is the reason I never bought one.
    David Enoch

  11. B.B. and Readership,

    Tom wrote: “There ain’t no Matthew Quigley but there is a Kirsten Joy Weiss, and her rifle had a very adjustable synthetic stock. Tom Selleck, who played Quigley, is an actor. Kirsten Joy Weiss is a shooter. Both are very good at what they do but she is the one who can shoot. And she used A PLASTIC STOCK. What does that say?”
    Well to the informed it says one thing but obviously to everyone else not so much! https://volquartsen.com/retail_mailers/2018-03-07-have-you-seen-this
    I posted that yesterday after most of you had already read the blog replies. Don’t bother with the video link it is broken or blocked by U Tube!
    As i said yesterday she wasn’t able to sell enough of them to .22LR shooters so the rifles and after market stocks were discontinued by Volquartsen.
    Interesting how they returned to more “traditional” formfactor rifles….

    shootski

      • The holding technique she practiced in the video looked similar to the 10 meter air rifles’. She is standing up but actually resting her arm pretty much on her hip and upper body. She is leaning backwards. It must work only with a recoilless rifle – But try to shoot a 12 ga in that posture!? There is a video of her shooting an M1 Garand standing up, and she is not using that posture at all.

        I did most of my shooting standing up. I sat down for zeroing and checking how a new pellet works – and of course, there was a few lazy days as well. I also hit flying soda cans, not only the sitting ones. I held my 27s like an M1 but loosely, in artillery hold fashion. Good thing about the 27, you can even cheat on the artillery hold part a bit; she still won’t fail you. I cannot imagine having had all my shooting sitting down, it would’ve been boring.

        Nowadays, I have an Adult Red Ryder for in home fun at a 5 m range set up. It needs moving targets, like the ones at carnivals – hard to figure out in all paper environment. It has never occured to me that I can sit down enjoying that. And yes, I hold it like the way I held my 27s.

        What was I going to say?! Oh yeah, the powerful PCPs with no recoil might also benefit from the stock and shooting posture she used in the video.

      • I used the 12ga example, but we can say the same for 7.62×51 or .30-06 as well. The shooting posture in that video won’t work with recoil.

        My point is, a reasonably powerful but recoilless PCP air rifle shot in that posture might like that stock.

        • I was also thinking about it the other way. How would she and other famous shooters do with one of “our” plain vanilla, middle of the road, rifles and pistols (both air and firearms), ones that haven’t been tuned but have been used/tested to ensure they function adequately.

          I think at least some of those folks would do quite well, but I’m curious about how they’d do on the same feats the previously achieved with custom or high quality equipment. Very likely they’ll do well, but I’m still interested in the differences.

          • MisterAP,

            B.B. is (was) a pretty good pistol shot. A few months ago he talked about increasing his practice to see how much of it he could get back.
            What do you think? Sounds like an interesting blog series to me! B.B.’s Pistol Comeback Attempt.
            As far as top shooters shooting one of the Readerships typical airguns and how well could they do their Trick Shots i think it comes down to how long they have to get aquatinted with the rifle. Since the ergonomics won’t be as good on one of our typical airguns how would you factor that in? Would you just bench the gun and get the best groups and then compare how one of the Readership could do and compare it to a Top Shooters results?
            I’ll think about it some more it is an interesting mind castle to build on one of my long paddles in flat conditions.

            shootski

  12. Seems like market research should be part of the training involved in airgun or firearm design.
    Pro-mag and others have been there and done that already. Especially for .22’s.
    Just noticed there is an M1 Carbine 22 stock conversion out there. 🙂 Already have the AR type.

    As mentioned before, establishing an acceptable power range for the type of airgun you design should be considered as well. I imagine there won’t be many buyers for a low powered PCP if a pumper would do just as well.
    I have passed on one or two nice airguns for the price/ power output comparison. I would already own a Sig MCX Virtus PCP if it had 300 more FPS. The CO2 versions are fine. I was really looking forward to the Virtus too. A really nice-looking wood stocked replica springer that shoots like a plinker is not too attractive to me either.

      • B.B.,

        The manufacturers have so far been required to know the market, know airguns, be shooters; not be deceivers, and inform/instruct the buyer.
        So the only thing missing is be AUTHENTICally interested and involved in the Sport or at least the segment(s) of it they are involved in.

        shootski

        PS: CLICK BAIT?

      • Some of the following has been mentioned in later comments.

        I’d add to Fish’s reply, they need to have a sound understanding of the various factors and how they affect the design goals (and what other things are not taken care of to the same level—which would be a deliberate choice). Or more succinctly, a well considered focus and optimization, knowing that when the whole is optimized, often many components will not be able to be optimal. This would be the tactical direction. There will also need to be a person or team thinking of the product lines and thinking ahead to future products; ideally a whole ecosystem that leverages the strengths of individual products and the efforts already made—strategic direction. Likely there will be some overlap between these two teams and also synergies to inform their specific areas.

        Along with this, they need good business acumen covering all aspects—profitability, future outlook, the economy, marketing, sales, delivery, service, etc. All three of these aspects will inform and guide the other.

        While one person having all of the above makes the process more efficient, it is far more likely the talents will be spread amongst a least a few people. That will add the need for a leader who can make the entire group cohesive and effective. Depending on the size of the organization, each of the above groups may need their own sub-leader as well.

      • Tom,

        Maybe the other half is that the shooters should also be educated in what they need and why they need it. Sort of like what this blog keeps doing. I mean the average non-airgunner believes that velocity is the end all and be all for a great airgun. They need to be educated that the BB gun is not the only airgun, that 1000fps and 50fpe mean nothing if you can’t hit what you aim at, that fiberoptic sights have their place in certain situations not in every situation and etc., etc., etc. that you have been writing about all these years.

        Siraniko

        Siraniko

        • That makes me want to add to my previous comment 🙂

          Very likely there ought to also be a very budget product line, with an offer to trade in and upgrade to the even better product lines.

  13. BB,
    Blogs topics like this make it clear you have a highly educated and talented following and although old timers, like me, enjoy the subject matter I’m not sure it attracts younger air gunners too much. That or they may be intimidated enough to avoid commenting. I may be wrong.
    Then again there are other places they can go to. Airsoft is just the opposite. A lot younger.

    Airguns … got to thinking. I believe Engineers probably do not have that much to do with coming up with the overall plan when creating new airguns, unless they are air gunners themselves.
    I think airgun companies are responding to the desires of airgunners and the need for innovation to improve them requires Engineers to make it happen. At least for safety reasons.
    Trial and error have led to many changes and necessity has as well. Droop elimination, gas springs, and larger storage for ‘regulated air’ to support select fire airguns for example. Then there are also air management systems for semi or select fire operation and the designing involved with replicas.
    Airgun knowledge has been around for some time now and achieving perfection is possible.
    So why do we have problems? The decisions involved in production cost, sales and profit.
    The market for perfection may not be that big or profitable.
    You do not find perfection in big box stores.

    • Bob M, with all due respect, I strongly disagree with your first sentence. Neither “..highly educated..” nor “..talented..”, I am merely guilty of being one of those “..old timers..”! 🙂

      I would like to add another facet to your observations: very few salespeople care about their audience’s wants, in the belief that, even Arabs can be talked into buying lorry loads of sand! 🙂

      Here’s my idea of how and where it all falls over: the marketplace appears to be like an arena for combat, in which companies aim to compete, not to support one another. 🙁

      Finally, the measure of success, or perceived “..perfection..”, I think, depends heavily on the point of view. What I mean is, finances seem to be of the very highest priority, in which case, those “..big box stores..” seem to be doing well.

      But money is in everybody’s minds:
      The purchaser ideally doesn’t want to spend any, and then, will certainly look a gift horse in the mouth, while the vendor, well, they want to make a big profit, ie they want more than they give – it’s a mad marketplace! 🙁

      ———

      Engineers, well, traditionally they look after engines, don’t they, while the guy in clean, oil stain free clothes, is just the driver. 🙂

  14. BB,
    The designer, who is a shooter, should build something that he or she would buy, use, and keep as a prized item because it is a fine product.
    It does what it’s supposed to do within its design parameters and the cost of manufacturing is balanced so the company can earn a reasonable profit.
    Will S.

  15. Refined Simplicity

    “I also remember a remark of Albert Einstein, which certainly applies to music. He said, in effect, that everything should be as simple as it can be but not simpler!” — Roger Sessions, composer

    Personally, I like simplicity in everything; I don’t like mechanisms that are overly complicated for no good reason when a simpler one would suffice.

    In a reply to shootski, I put a link to this video, the Sky Fall destruction challenge:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eugwPGMbw3s

    I’m not suggesting that manufacturers design airguns that can be thrown out of helicopters and still work (although that would be pretty cool! =>). The point here is that a nice simple refined recurve crossbow (and scope!) survived a 100-foot fall from a helicopter (exceeding the height of the highest tree stand any hunter might have) and was still able to hit a bullseye without any tuning.

    That speaks of quality, craftmanship, and durability.

    How does this apply to airguns?
    Hanging all kinds of doodads on a new airgun to make it look cool and trendy is not the answer.
    An airgun of refined simplicity that oozes quality and class is a much better answer. 🙂

    • LFranke stated an excellent example of this here:
      “In my 76 years, I have learned that the cheapest is so very often the most expensive, and the most expensive is often the cheapest. I have an RWS Diana Model 36 in .177 made in 1989 that is STILL the very best air gun I own. It has cycled through tens of thousands of rounds, has had three mainsprings and one UMAREX overhaul. Indeed, it shoots, today, better than it did from the start. Not surprisingly, it is inscribed with “Made in WEST Germany,” (at Rastatt}. I have thrown away a number of Chinese airguns that were very expensively cheap. At age 34, the Model 36 shoots, today, BETTER than the day I received it. And…I bought it ONCE. I probably will not have to have anything done to it in the future given its service record. My son may enjoy it and pass it on to his son?”

      The 1989 RWS Diana model 36…an air rifle exhibiting refined simplicity…I like it.
      My first springer was an RWS model 45…not quite as refined, but close. 😉

  16. Hey everybody. Not a direct comment to today’s blog. But…..

    Haven’t commented much lately. But maybe some remember a month ago or so I was moving from maintenance to quality. And remember I have done this type of machine shop job for 40 plus years for the readers that don’t know.

    Well some interesting things have turned up.

    I’m now maintenance trainer as well as inspection trainer.

    When I moved to inspection maintenance was making some wrong calls. What is funny is they put someone in charge of maintenance that has put the machines together put no on the field training. No good.

    In inspection they had people that went by what the blue print said the dimensions were but didn’t looke at fit and finish of the part. That is what I show them now as well. But I got shown a letter from one of our customers last week that asked what changed. All the parts that what was made over the last month have been flawless and assemble correctly.

    What’s crazy on my part is I have fought this all throughout time. Now it’s like it just unfolded like a blink of a eye. And yes my pay has increased as well as as it goes now more respect.

    Something to say is everybody keep doing what you know to do right. In time hopefully it will pay off.

    And not bragging in no way. Just sharing what I experienced this last month.

      • MisterAP
        Would like to stay in contact with them. I don’t have direct contact but I did make sure I told them thanks and it wasn’t just me. There is alot of us involved and they was happy also about the recognition.

        And thanks.

    • Gunfun1, I am happy for your increase in job satisfaction, ie being able to make a real difference to what’s important, at last, eh! 🙂

      I wonder if this changes your plan to retire/ work part time in October? 🙂

    • “Something to say is everybody keep doing what you know to do right.”
      Gunfun1, first off, congratulations to you; I am most happy for you! 🙂
      Second, that saying above made me laugh, as it reminded me of a past incident.

      Years ago, I worked for a guy…we’ll call him “Bottleneck.”
      Basically, that’s what he was, but he was propped up in his job by our program manager.
      Half of our group was pro-Bottleneck; half our group wished dave would replace Bottleneck.
      In the course of time, upper management realized Bottleneck was literally a bottleneck.
      He got boosted out; I got his job.
      One of the [formerly] pro-Bottleneck guys came to me asking if I was going to fire him.
      Me: “Of course not! Now you are free to do your job (Bottleneck was a bottleneck for him, too).
      You know the right things to do; just go ahead and do them; just keep me in the loop.”
      I said the same thing to our whole group.
      A month later, I got a commendation for doing an amazing job increasing group productivity.
      Yet actually, I had not done anything, other than to say what you said,
      “…everybody keep doing what you know to do right.”
      Yeah, Bottleneck was such a bottleneck that by doing nothing (nothing to impede people’s progress) I caused our group’s work output to increase dramatically.
      The funniest part of it all was that the program manager actually admitted that me taking the job was an improvement over his lackey, Bottleneck.
      Oh, he didn’t say so to me (since, like Tony Soprano, could not afford to lose face =>); but he did say so to a friend of mine. Hahaha! Great times, great memories!
      Thank you so much for the timely reminder of:
      “Something to say is everybody keep doing what you know to do right.”
      And once again, congratulations to you!!! 🙂
      Blessings to you,
      dave

    • You go, Gunfun1! But when you go, don’t go in a Yugo. Could not resist that, so sorry. However, in light of our discussion on the subject of quality and simple design that gets the job done, thought to share this. Must say this product is not available in the USA; guess it is too simple, inexpensive and actually works as intended and as advertised, for the most part.

      https://jalopnik.com/dacia-sandero-jalopnik-review-cheap-cheerful-hatchback-1850324819

      In actuality, it would be very hard to go anywhere in a Yugo these days. Don’t know of any that are running, to FM’s knowledge. At least not in the USA.

    • Gunfun1,

      Good deal, glad to hear things are looking good at work, more money and making the company look good are very good things indeed.

      I was kinda concerned that you had not posted for a while as you tend to post almost daily. Good to hear from you again and if your work keeps you to busy to hit the blog that is fine, just keep doing what you know to do right. It is all about doing the right thing and looking out for your self and your family.

      Mike

  17. People who routinely go above and beyond in their work should receive some sort of recognition from time to time to reinforce their outstanding performance. Even if it’s just their personal integrity that demands they always do the best they can.
    It can have lifelong benefits.
    I received a wall plaque for achieving Honor Man in my Navy career training and the ego boost of receiving the Navy Achievement Medal after the Commanding Officer read aloud the reason I was receiving it to a hundred sailors standing in full dress uniform was the ultimate reward for me.
    Wiped out all regrets I may have had for spending extra time to get the job done right when I could have walked away with “Good enough”.

    I wrote a letter of appreciation to Firestone Tire Co. for a young salesman who took the time to educate me and help solve my problem with dried out cracking tires on my Jeep. We decided against long life tires in favor of less expensive softer tires. I did not use them on the street much and they never wore out. They just dried out and cracked.

    Met him later and he was overjoyed that someone would do that for him. Never happened to him before and I believe he got a promotion. I even received a thankyou letter from Firestone.

    Anybody here we know that goes above and beyond for us?

  18. Thanks Tom.
    I was poking around on Gunbroker and came across some air rifles I wanted to research so where else would I go!
    You had blogs on all of them, and I enjoyed reading your comments as always.
    Hope you’re well.

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