This report covers:
- RidgeRunner’s outing
- Confession
- The point
- What about it?
Today’s report is one I just have to write! It’s about those airguns you hate — until you learn to love them.
RidgeRunner’s outing
On Tuesday RidgeRunner started writing about tuning his Benjamin Armada precharged pneumatic (PCP). Our little RidgeRunner has fallen out of the nest and is trying to learn to fly! Oh, he still talks about the old ladies who live at RidgeRunner’s Home for Wayward Airguns, and we all know that he invites other old ladies to come and stay with him, but I suspect his dark secret is that he is also the landlord of RidgeRunner’s Halfway House for Modern Magnums (RRHHMM).
On the one hand he tells us how little money he has to spend on airguns while on the other hand he says he got rid of his HW100 because it was too boringly accurate! Am I right about that? That’s what my remember keeps telling me, but it may be misfiring. RidgeRunner and an HW 100? I must be wrong about that. I apologize if that is a mistake. That does sound like way too much spondulix for RidgeRunner to have parted with. Hoot mon!
I think what we should do is try to convince him that the Armada he is testing is really made in China. It isn’t, of course, but if we can make him believe that it is it will be like pouring salt on a garden slug!
Confession
As long as I’m shining the bright light of truth on RidgeRunner I have a confession to make. I sometimes shoot handguns with two hands! Yes, I know I have criticized shooters for holding a handgun in both hands, but, truth be told, I shoot my 9mm Sig P365 that way all the time. Yes — I even shoot the P365 BB pistol, that way. “Hello, my name is BB Pelletier and I sometimes hold and shoot handguns with both hands.”
This is like discovering that reader Yogi has a closet full of PCPs or that reader shootski mounts a trolling motor on his kayak!
Yeah — and none of you do secret stuff with airguns that you won’t tell us! Maybe Tyler Patner plays cowboys and Indians with BB guns when he isn’t training for the next World Field Target competition.
The point
There really is a point to today’s report. While many of us are shocked to see RidgeRunner trying to teach a modern PCP to dance, in truth he’s just being honest. Airguns have more than one dimension and the sooner you find out about it the more fun you will have.
Yes Diana 27s are fun to shoot, but HW30s and HW50s are available new and can do the same things. They may need to be tuned a bit to act like a 27, but heck — 27s are better following a lube tune, too. And stop telling me how expensive these Weihrauchs are. Have you priced a nice Diana 27 lately?
Diana 27.
What about it?
So — have any of you ever branched off and tried new airguns, only to find you liked them? Be honest. I promise I won’t ask you to write a guest blog. Oops — my fingers were crossed!
Hi Tom.
Once again Google lead me back to your blog when I searched for a review of a pellet rifle. Always puts a smile on my face. Nothing really new on my end, but worth mentioning my youngest daughters is getting married this year and out shoots her fiance with everything from a Daisy 499 to a BL-22 to a S&W .38. That also puts a smile on my face. Take care. Volvo
Volvo,
Good to hear from you again! Most of my Daisy 25s have one problem or another and I’m pretty much out of 25s that actually shoot. I think about you and the nice ones you got from me.
Thanks for commenting and congratulations on your daughter’s upcoming marriage,
BB
Thanks BB
My air gun collection has grown embarrassingly small at this point. After all the frantic buying and selling I did, an older R 7 in .20 caliber is pretty much the only one that sees use. No scope on it, just a peep sight. Once again you were correct, a sweet shooting lower to mid power springer is really a joy.
I do still search the web and daydream occasionally but that’s about the extent of it. Lately I’ve been considering a new PCP as it looks like the compressors have become more affordable for the average shooter. I do feel, however, lost with so much new stuff out there.
Who knows, hopefully I have a couple chapters left.
Volvo
Volvo,
Congrats on the daughter’s wedding. Of course she out shoots everyone –she’s YOUR daughter!
Kindest regards,
Derrick
P.S. The Walther is in superb condition.
Derrick,
Glad to hear you are still enjoying Walther. I occasionally think about our trip together to the store on the east side and the excitement of going through that absolute time capsule of new old stock air guns. What a fantastic day that was!
I have a CO2 rifle that Rich in Mich made custom for me based on a design he had used for his daughter. Don’t believe he is in business anymore. Anyway, if I recall the letter correctly it makes 20 plus foot pounds. I have been a bad caretaker of it and never bothered to get new paintball tanks, guessing the ones I have now expired a decade ago. I would be more than happy to donate it to your collection if you’d like. I feel bad as he did this one as a favor and I never even put a scope on it, certainly deserves a better home. (No iron sights) I moved about 10 minutes north of where I was before. Let me know if you want it.
Found this on your Walther:
https://namericanairguns.blogspot.com/2010/05/walther-lg-55-part-1.html
Volvo
It was like a museum of vintage airguns.
I’d be honored to have another airgun from you. Aside from the .20 cal, are you also shooting any .177 or .22? I’m sure I have some pellets around here you could use.
Derrick – “Someday, and that day may never come, I will call upon you to do a service for me. But until that day, accept this air rifle as a gift on my daughter’s wedding day.” 🙂
No need for pellets, I still have .22 ammo from the 1980’s.
Let me know what days are good for you.
Volvo
Volvo,
Long time my friend. Glad to hear you’re still playing with airguns. Congratulations on your daughters marriage. Must assume that it will cost you around 50 airguns or more.
kevin
Hi Kevin,
I thought about you a couple weeks ago when I sold a home to a lady moving from Colorado to here. The real estate market in this area has slowed due to interest rates, which I’m assuming is the case all over. The upside of the downturn is more time to play with toys. I ordered a wrist rocket slingshot last week and while not like the one I had in the 1960’s I am excited to shoot it. I guess at this rate I will be riding a tricycle again soon.
Hope things are going well for you!
Volvo
I always knew I’d be buying a PCP or nice European springers; but until I got my 3622 and Cometa 220, I didn’t know how great they are!
OP,
Those are both good starts. Now you need to shuck out the bucks for a nice Weihrauch sproinger.
B.B.
Not gonna happen. I like shooting springer because it is hard. I drive a three pedal sports car because it is hard. Life should not be about making life things to easy that there is no skill in using items to 100% of their capability. A Dutch Uncle of mine once said, the difference between doing something and doing something right is usually just an extra 10%. FWIW-He was mainly talking about construction stuff.
-Y
PS A guy at the range was asked which is his most accurate airgun. He said his PCP pistol, smile.
Hi everybody,
I’m all for trying out new stuff. Reviewing the Diana Twenty-One FBB was what led me down the HW30S and Diana 27+25 rabbit hole…
As for PCPs… I don’t need or want one right now, but I can see their appeal. I also have too many toys, but that’s what I always say 🙂
BTW, here’s a little preview of my FWB300S test. The Cobra pellets clearly make better use of the target than the JSB “Simply” pellets. If you pay for the whole target, why just use the part in the middle?
Kidding aside, I’m done shooting and need to take some photos and write the text.
Meanwhile, it seems the FWB 600 is impressively accurate in BB’s hands and his 300 can’t quite keep up.
There *might* be a chance that I can shoot my 300S at more than 10 meters. But no promises 🙂
Stephan
High priest of the ICHW30S (International Church of the HW30S)
Stephan,
Now you are using my line. When I miss the bullseye I tell folks that I’m saving it for later! 😉
BB
BB,
No skeletons in my closet – I’m pretty transparent about the fact that I’m attracted to new technology.
I never figured out if I like new tech because I am a Designer by trade or if I became a Designer because I enjoy new tech.
Like the advertising claims, “New and Improved” is interesting!
Hank
Hank,
Sorry, but I for one do not go for that “new and improved” stuff. Usually something has to be around for a bit and prove itself before I go for it. I hear that all of the time, but really do not see much of it.
You guys really need to get rid of your old airguns and buy all this new stuff. How do you think I get such great deals on these “old gals” anyway? I try to stay a step or two ahead of this blog as once it is written about, the price of the airgun usually climbs into the unobtainium level.
BB, it is good to see you have your sense of humor in good shape. I would assume that probably means you are feeling better after the surgery. I have been told that I have an irreverent sense of humor. But I have no trouble laughing at my own self when the time arises. I am trying to imagine Tyler as a cowboy, but maybe he would be better as an Indian. 😉
I suppose this is a good time and place to admit that I have been quietly experimenting with a couple of PCPs. I have a Crosman 3622. I also found a practically new used Crosman Challenger that I couldn’t resist. I am enjoying both of them a lot! However, I think that getting the springers out and shooting them regularly is important simply because of the different shooting techniques involved. Same thing for the pistols.
There is also an idea that I came up with regarding sights that I have been quietly experimenting with and having good results. I will probably contact you soon to see if you might be interested in letting me write a guest blog from me on this idea.
Elmer,
Write away dude! We will be most anxious to read your idea on sights. Please show us your “experimentation”.
Elmer,
What he said.
BB
BB,
RidgeRunner’s Halfway House for Modern Magnums (RRHHMM). I like that. Now I have to open another facility.
It was an HM1000X in .357. I would not have parted with an HW100. It is true that most of the “old gals” around here are sproingers. Most, but thankfully not all. Obtaining an antique PCP is nigh on impossible. Many of them seem to be made of unobtainium.
I do have a rather old version of the AirForce Talon SS. It does not have the set screws in the side for the barrel rings. I have not shot it as of yet. I am most definitely going to have to dig out my round tuit.
As for this Armada, I think it has been “customized” some by the previous owner. This one seems to be a little shorter than what you had pictured in my report. Instead of the long section out front of the barrel, just in front of the end of the air reservoir there is a muzzle break. There is also one of those angled grips forward of the action under the barrel. I myself have added my old UTG scope and a two-piece M Loc bipod. I will have to include a photo of it the next time around. Now if I can just figure out how to take that corset off of her.
RR,
Thanks for clearing that up. I knew it was .357 and couldn’t not reconcile that with the HW 100.
Send me a pic of your Armada with the next installment so everyone can see it.
BB
BB,
That I will do. I have not been doing so well with the blogs lately, most especially when it comes to pictures. I will have to do better.
I will have to do a little better with my writing, I see.
No, you are not about to make me think that the Armada is made by Wang Po Industries, although some of the parts may be made over there. I do know that TCFKAC does get some of their parts from Uncle Xi and company.
More pics = better!
RG,
There was just not that much to take a picture of that time. Now, when I start punching holes in cardboard with that thing, I will include some more pictures.
B.B. that was a fun, light-hearted read. I hope it means you are feeling better and steadily recovering from your surgery.
As for me, my secret is that I have spent a lot of time these last couple of days perusing online auctions and have found so many tempting potential deals that I’m going stir crazy. I saw an auction house called Bradford’s in Sun City, AZ that is having a ton of airguns for sale. A lot of Daisy 747 and variants and 853 and variants and many others. There is lots of stuff on gunbroker if you limit to new old stock or used, and on other sites. Today I may find the time and energy to do some airgun stuff and take stock of my collection.
RG,
I what? You did not finish.
What can I say, when I type on this phone, I’m all (fat) thumbs. Edited version above.
RG,
Another reason for me not to get one of them there “smart phones”. I am way too clumsy typing as it is.
Yes, somewhere down the line I have a touch of Scottish blood in me, so I tend to be very frugal. I am also retired on a very limited income and there are some very expensive projects around RRHFWA and RRHHMM that I have to do for Mrs. RR.
What this means for me is I am likely going to have to reduce the number of airgun transactions I have been doing and just “play” with what toys I have. You folks will be the beneficiaries of such as I will be forced to slow down a bit and start writing about dancing with some of these “old gals” around here.
I really do not mind that at all. I need to learn to refocus on projects around here now anyway. I do indeed have a few of the “modern” airguns around here. Most of them will end up being used for bartering for some of the “old gals” out there.
Right now, I have a Texan LSS up for sale so I can pay for another air rifle I have bought. From time to time I will let others go so folks out there can enjoy them also. As BB himself has stated, (I am paraphrasing of course) we only have these for a period of time. Sooner or later, they end up in someone else’s hands. How many hands has my 1906 Lincoln Jeffries Model BSA gone through?
“…I will be forced to slow down a bit and start writing about dancing with some of these “old gals” around here.”
RidgeRunner, now that is something to which I look forward! 😉
Of course, that is if Mrs. RR will let me. I have learned over the last few months that she has ideas of her own as to what I should be doing now that I am retired. At this moment she is wanting me to get out my pencil and graph paper and design our new garage.
“…she has ideas of her own as to what I should be doing now that I am retired.”
RidgeRunner, I hear you, man!
I’ve been retired for over 3 years.
I had many of my own projects I wished to do.
My wife was fine with that…as long as her list got done first.
Her list is all stuff that will “make her feel like this house is our home.”
Hence, having been married for 32 years, I realize those things MUST come first, LOL! 😉
I wish to stay married also.
I agree with Dave!
This brings to mind something that occurred to me. We humans get sentimental about our possessions but most things get thrown into the landfill and become mysterious curiosities to future anthropologists.
I have a Diana 16 that I bought specifically for my son when he was a younger lad because at that time, even the Embark and the Red Ryder were too big for his small frame. The Little Diana was littler still because the prior owner’s grandfather had cut down the buttstock to make it fit his granddaughter. The seller was the now retired husband of the prior owner. I tried to encourage him to tell me the story of what that gun meant to the little girl and her relationship with her grandfather so that story could live on and get passed down with the gun, but I never got any more correspondence from them.
I also have a custom sporterized Mauser 98, with WWII German stampings on the action. It was re-barreled with a very thick and heavy .257 Roberts barrel and a gorgeous stock that initially caught my eye. The owner had traveled extensively with it and had put those reflective gold letter stickers with his initials on the baseplate. I purchased a few rifle cases and other things from the same estate auction. A gold mine of interesting hunting stuff from another age. I would have loved to hear the tales of the western pronghorn, mule deer, or other game that fell to that rifle.
So I guess it is a reminder to write down what that “certain” gun means to you and keep it with your gun stuff for the next steward to enjoy.
No real skeletons here. I still don’t like multi pumpers much, although I am glad to have a Streak and cherished 102. I regret buying the dragonfly and it will be the last MP gun that I buy. I do not care much for the tactical looking rifles that it seems like 90% of the new releases are designed with. But…who knows, someday that may change.
Outside of those 2, I have pretty much embraced all platforms from the get go. My tastes lean towards old European low powered sproingers and replica CO2 pistols that I can shoot indoors when it is super hot outside like it is now. Speaking of which, any recommendations for someone to send my Mendoza RM-377 to for repair? It has a free floating torsion spring in the trigger group that I can not for the life of me get reinstalled. Soooo fustrating!! One little spring!!
It’s a shame we have lost so many air gun repair experts that work on these old girls.
Bob
Bob,
It will only likely get worse. More and more the airguns, like everything else, will not be repairable. You just toss it and get a new one. I know some are of the belief that we are in the “golden age” of airguns. I for one am not convinced of such.
My favorite thing about the Diana 27 is how slim it is. It is just a pleasure to hold in my hand. I prefer it to R7s but I do have an affinity for pre safety R7s.
My only dislike of the Diana 27 is that when I shoot it the back of the trigger guard hits my middle finger. After a few shots it starts to get sore. I have sometimes put a bandaid on my middle finger to protect it.
David Enoch
David, try hanging your pinky finger below the bottom of the pistol grip. That may move the rest of your fingers down enough to avoid the painful bump. Hopefully, it won’t change your point of impact too much.
DavidEnoch,
Could you take a rasp to it?
It could be the Flute (front of the Comb) is forcing your hand too far forward.
Or, it could be the space behind the trigger guard and front of the pistol grip is to short. The wood rasp might work there too. You could also get a different trigger guard or bend the existing one to give your middle finger more space.
Hard to tell without a picture of the problem hand, trigger guard, and riflestock wrist.
shootski
Take a rasp to a Diana 27? Maybe if you have a spare stock, or better yet one of Hank’s firewood stocks.
While we are at it, perhaps suggest he can scratch his initials on the spring cylinder with a rusty nail?
Sorry to come on too strong, but I was just shocked at the suggestion. Perhaps you were joking and I missed it.
Roamin Greco,
It was a question and no it was not a joke on the rasp or bending the trigger guard.
I am a shooter and my view is that if gun does not work for the owner or makes it unpleasant the shooter needs to apply some sort of fix.
If David E. is a collector then he can choose to not listen to my advice.
I have no need for New In Box (NIB) “collectors” of any sort! I would advise folks to stop listening to collectors who say not to collect things that folks have carefully modified to make them work for that owner. They are “collectors” of Soulless things with NO history or love.
My opinion.
shootski
shootski,
I complained on the blog (sorry!) about the pistol grip of a rifle not fitting me well. You said that I shouldn’t put up with that. I should go take off wood with the rasp, add putty, or do whatever needs doing to make the grip fit your hand.
Well, after that suggestion rattled around in my head a while, it inspired me to make a butt stock for a Daisy 25 and carve me a custom grip! Could I actually do it? What an interesting experience it was! And of course, the first effort won’t be the best, so one does another.
The grip that has been bugging me is going to get some oil-based sculpting clay smeared on it and shaped. If all it takes is adding clay, that would be great. If the rifle really fits me better after that, then the clay can be replaced with a wood-like, structural putty. It can be prettied up after.
I’ll only find out by doing it! shootski, you are another enabler! Thank you.
Will S.,
Your Welcome!
At least i am consistent ;^)
Building up with clay or Sculpey.com type products is always easier than removal of wood, metal, or plastic. More fitted guns are always more shootable and fun.
Enable, enable, enable…
shootski
B.B.,
“…or that reader shootski mounts a trolling motor on his kayak!”
NEVER!
Well…if i lost the my physical ability to do this human powered long distance boating i might need to install a big electric fan on back and make an Air Kayak ;^)
For now i will add to the quiver of 6 paddles that i own.
My latest paddle was rolled out by Greg Barton this past fall and i ordered one immediately. Greg has never rolled out a kayak, surfski, or paddle that didn’t improve in some way on what came before. He worked on the mid-twist for years before releasing it to the public.
My first paddle with the production Mid-Twist in November just brought a big smile within the first Nautical Mile that hasn’t gone away since; it just feels right and is noticeably (4-8%) more efficient and just plain faster for the same effort than my mid wing paddle.
https://www.epickayaks.com/mid-twist
In the Airgun World Dennis A. Quackenbush has done the same level of work that instills that level of confidence in me. How many airgun designer/builders are that successful?
Thanks Tom for the quality of your Blog.
shootski
Thanks, shootski, for inspiring me to park a little further away from the grocery store entrance….
;o)
You are the man!
I think I want to get you and Bill together at a quiet coffee shop in Greece near the water and just listen.
Roamin Greco,
Sounio, Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sunion at sunrise or sunset!
shootski
Guys
You must visit the Temple of Poseidon in Sounio on a sunset before a full moon night. With your beloved “girls”, snacks and their preferred wine.
Ahh, sounds lovely.
And it just occurred to me that tomorrow IS one of these days.
“Date Night” for Bill!
Vassili
You may want to read my comment to Shootski below. If your thought could become reality I might have some good suggestions about the place but coffee would not be in the plan. Afterwards probably to sober up…
Roamin Greco,
My pleasure!
It really is just a bunch of small things we can do that improve our physical fitness way more than being able to paddle 20 NM in under 4 hours; that stuff is just the gravy of an active life.
The real pay off of all those little things comes when we are in your late seventies and i believe in our eighties, nineties and beyond.
shootski
I had never owned a traditional Daisy BB gun. My first airgun was a HW30s, so why would I want a lowly BB gun. To me, they were just inexpensive toys. Well, while going through a consignment shop I ran across a Daisy 99B. They were not asking much $ for it and I remembered BB’s blog about one. The Daisy came home with me. I shot it a few times and put it away. Maybe it was something in BBs blog about BB guns that got me to try shooting it again.
I oiled it up and started shooting cans. I was amazed at its accuracy and how much fun it was. I now shoot it often and have thoughts of getting a 999B. I guess it’s a case of try it, and you might like it.
sw1917
I have a Daisy 499 that is the best. Is that what your talking about with your 99?
If so just shoot it and enjoy it.
I never really hated any guns. Being a collector may lead me to think that way. However, I have a lot of dislikes with some particulars. Like an extremely poor trigger guard design or sharp edge that digs into your hand or finger. Easy to modify things for the most part if you are going to shoot it a lot. Had to reshape the entire trigger guard on a China made spring pistol once just to keep from hurting myself every shot.
I recently picked up two new kids bb airguns dirt cheap on sale just for the heck of it. I never had one growing up and wanted to see what they may be good for.
One is a basic single pump, not a Model 25, and the other is a basic lever action. Not a Red Rider. Both are low powered rock bottom priced springers.
I can’t even say they are fun to shoot and unless your child is absolutely dying for any “BB Rifle” to replace their slingshot and money is a big factor, I would not suggest getting any of these beginner airguns to impress them. Look into airsoft perhaps?
Not knowing any better they may be impressed and overjoyed like Ralphy or if they will be destroying it ASAP through neglect, fine but I would recommend spending a few bucks more for something more shooter friendly for anything other than plinking.
May be a lawyer thing or trying to compete for the lowest price?
Hey all,
Was going to say this on the current days blog but figured I would say it here.
So yesterday I received a remanufactured Diana 240 I just orderd from PA. Figured what the heck 80 something bucks was a good enough deal for me.
Well so far happy with it. First shot with AA 10.34’s hit the bullseye at 25 yards dead center. And that was standing unsupported. 9 more following shots made a 3/8th inch group.
I was like what the heck this gun rocks. But it had one thing I did not like. It had a pretty heavy thunk at the end of the shot cycle. But no vibration or other noises.
Well you know ole Gunfun1, I took it apart. The seal was good no burrs or nicks or anything in the air tube. It was lubed with what looked like something light and grayish white colored. Of course I cut about a inch and a half off the spring. And to note the spring still had about a half inch of preload. Then I lubed the spring up with a small amount of thick and tacky blue grease.
Man the gun is so smooth and quiet now. I shot it last night for a few hours and woke up today and shot for a few hours. Couldn’t wait to shoot it again this morning.
Another one of those you never know till you try moments. Anyway back to shoot’n. You all stay safe and have fun.
Over and out for now. 🙂
GunFun1, great to hear from you. That two forty is the modern reincarnation of a Diana Model 24. I wrote a guest blog about a Diana Model 24J some time ago, and recently picked up a 24D, and would like to pick up a 240 to compare them. They are nice, all day plinkers. Shooting them is like eating potato chips! The HW30S is more refined, of course, but the 240 is a great value! Glad you got yours for a great price, too!
RG
Was actually looking for a 24. I looked at a review about the 24 and the 240 and saw the refurbished 240 at PA. Decided to buy it.
The next day after I ordered the 240 a 24 came up for sale that is resealed. I bought it. Still waiting for it. But same I want to compare and see how they are. All I know is that the 24 has its work cut out for it. Don’t know but it seems like I got a lucky one with the 240. But it is definitely a keeper.
I’ll let you know how it turns out. And you let me know if you get a 240. But sounds like fun to me. 🙂
Hopefully your 24 will be the D version with the adjustable trigger. I wrote all about my adventures with my 24J (same trigger, I believe) in my guest blog on that model.
The adjustable trigger will make a great plinker into the perfect plinker…for you.
RG
Ì don’t know what version of the 24 is that I’m getting. And yes I hope it has the adjustable trigger.
The trigger on my 240 is nice as it came.
Will let you know about the 24 when I get it.
Gf1
10 shots, 3/8″ group at 25 yards, unsupported! That’s great shooting. Why didn’t you give a try for the Olympics team?
Bill
Well maybe it was a hair over 3/8th inches. 😉
And the Olympic team, that sounds like work. But nope I shoot for fun.
By the way my FWB 300s will do that also but it gets heavy by time I get done with a 10 shot group. So after practicing with the 300 the 240 seems light. I believe that is helping me with the 240. Plus since I retired last October I started exercising and lifting weights again. And I do notice the difference shooting and with other things.
But I can’t give all the credit to me. The 240 I got is amazing. Was luck on my side with the 240, maybe so. Either way I’m happy and thankful. 🙂
Gunfun1,
“Plus since I retired last October I started exercising and lifting weights again. And I do notice the difference shooting and with other things.”
Great news my friend!
Live long, live healthy, and prosper! :^)
shootski
Shootski
Thanks. And you to my friend.
Stay safe and have fun as best you can.